GB2044479A - Self processing cameras, film units and film packs - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-processing film unit 5 has a magnetic sound-recording band (8) on one end part thereof, preferably opposite to a bag (6-Fig. 1(b)) containing developing fluid. It is used in self-processing camera which has a magnetic recording/reproducing head (24) that sweeps along and touches the magnetic sound recording band (8), thereby enabling recording of the ambient sound of a scene that is photographed, or reproduction of the recorded sound while viewing the developed photograph. The several film units are contained in a pack having an exposure opening and also an opening for the recording head to engage the magnetic band. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Instant-printing films, instant-printing film pack cases, and instant-printing cameras This invention relates to instant-printing films, instant-printing film pack cases, and instantprinting cameras.

Instant-printing films comprising small bags of developing solution for each frame of film are known. Such films can be developed within the camera in a time as short as from several tens of seconds to several minutes by passing them through pinching rollers provided in the camera thereby breaking the bag and spreading the developing solution on the film emulsion. During the developing period, the user of the camera, namely the photographer, must wait for development to take place, thus wasting time.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an instant-printing film having a bag of developing solution for the or each photographic frame and a magnetic recording band on the or each said frame in a part of the film other than a part to be exposed for photography.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an instant-printing film pack case capable of containing a specified number of instant-printing films and of being installed in an instant-printing camera, the film pack case having a recording opening through which a magnetic head can touch a magnetic recording band of the instant-printing film.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an instant-printing camera comprising a dark box, a photographic lens, a shutter for making a photographic exposure of light focussed by the photographic lens on an instant-printing film, an instantprinting means, and a magnetic recording means for magnetically recording a signal on a magnetic band formed on the instant-printing film.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide instant-printing films with sound recording media and cameras therefor with which the photographer can take pictures and at the same time can record sound, for example, during waiting for the instant developing of the film.

Accordingly, besides the photographic scenery, the ambient voices or other sounds present at the time of or after the photograph has been taken can be recorded without carrying a tape recorder, but instead by means of the camera.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1(a) is a fragmental perspective view of the front face of an instant-printing film in accordance with the present invention; Figure 1(b) is a perspective view of the back face of the instant-printing film of Fig. 1(a); Figure 2 is a perspective view of another instant-printing film in accoradance with the present invention; Figure 3(a) is a perspective view of a film pack case in accordance with the present invention Figure 3(b) is a perspective view of another film pack case in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3(c) is an enlarged partial perspective view of a further film pack case in accordance with the present invention;; Figure 3(d) is an enlarged partial perspective view of a conventional film pack case modified to be in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4(a) is a perspective view of the back face of a modified instant-printing film in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4(b)-is a perspective view of the front face of a modified form of the film of Fig. 4(a); Figure 5(a) is a perspective view of a recording part of a camera in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5(b) is a perspective view of a magnetic head of the recording part of Fig. 5(a); Figure 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the recording part of Fig. 5(a); Figure 7 is a front view of an instant-printing film showing magnetic recording bands on a part thereof;; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified camera in accordance with the present invention Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a state of operation of the camera of Fig. 8; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further modified camera in accordance with the present invention.

The following disclosure of embodiments of the present invention relates to sound-recording instant-printing films and to cameras which are capable of photographing, instant-printing and sound-recording.

An instant-printing film 5 in accordance with the present invention has a surface layer 1, a backing sheet 2 and a photosensitive emulsion layer 3 between the layer 1 and sheet 2, the components 1, 2 and 3 forming a composite film. A peripheral member 4 is provided on peripheral parts of the composite film 1-2-3, to prevent developing solution pouring out of the film during or after development.

On one end part of the back face of the instant-printing film 5 there is provided a bag 6 of developing solution for developing and printing the photograph. The developing solution is squeezed out of the bag 6 by known squeezing rollers in a camera when the film is moved in the camera for developing and printing. Hitherto, the end part of the face of a film opposite to the part having the developing solution bag 6 has been left vacant and blank.In films embodying the present invention, a magnetic sound-recording band 8 can be provided in such vacant blank space as shown in Fig. 1(a). More specifically, a known magnetic sound-recording strip or band 8, which comprises a uniform layer of a mixture of a synthetic resin binder and a magnetic powder substance containing principally y-Fe203 (y-hematite} or iron, is formed at an end part 7 of the film 5 on the opposite face to the face having the developing solution bag 6.

A known magnetic orientation treatment of the magnetic powder substance (principally of 0.8 m needle shape crystals) in the lengthwise direction of the magnetic strip or band 8 is carried out by applying a suitable magnetic field thereto, and the mixture is dried to form the magnetic sound-recording strip or layer.

Fig. 2 shows another instant-printing film 5, wherein a strip or sheet 9 of magnetic soundrecording sheet material is bonded by an adhesive layer 10 on a blank space 7 on an end part of the face of the instant-printing film 5, thereby to form a recording band. The magnetic soundrecording sheet is made by forming a uniform layer of a mixture of a synthetic resin binder and a magnetic powder substance containing principally y-Fe203 (y-hematite) or iron on a plastics sheet. A known magnetic orientation treatment of the magnetic powder substance in the lengthwise direction of the strip or sheet 9 and drying is made to form the strip or sheet 9.

The above-described exemplary sound-recording instant-printing films 5 are compatible with conventional instant-printing films, and the addition of the magnetic sound-recording strip 8 or 9 can be made without changing the sizes or shapes of the instant-printing film. The application of the magnetic sound-recording band, layer or sheet to the instant-printing film can be made for any instant-printing film, i.e. for films from various manufacturers.

The place where the magnetic sound-recording band, layer or sheet is formed or situated is not necessarily limited to the back face of the film (i.e. the face remote from the developing liquid bag), but can be on the front face or on any part of the back face, depending on the configuration of the instant-printing film. For example, the magnetic sound-recording band can be formed on the back face of a part of the peripheral frame 4 or of a soaking pad which is for soaking up residual developing solution bag 6 with respect to the exposure area of the film 5.

Fig. 3(a) shows an example of a film pack case 11 which contains a specified number of instant-printing films 5 as shown in Figs. 1 (a) and (b) or in Fig. 2. The film pack case 11 has a peripheral frame 13 which contains, for example, ten instant-printing films 5. The peripheral frame 13 has an oblong window 15 for exposing the magnetic sound-recording band 8 or 9 on the adjacent instant-printing film 5, and a larger photographing or exposure window 14. The instant-printing films 5 are pressed upwardly (as viewed in Fig. 3(a)) in the frame 13 by known spring means (not shown). A magnetic recording/reproducing head as shown in Fig. 5(b) slidingly touches the magnetic sound-recording band 8 or 9 through the oblong window 15.

Due to the provision of the oblong recording window 15, a recording can be made on the magnetic sound-recording band 8 or 9 in a dark box of an instant-printing camera.

In a film pack case having the recording window 15, there may be a possibility of undesirable leakage of light through the recording window 15 to the photographic film. Accordingly, in a modified film pack case shown in Fig. 3(b), a light shielding cover 16 having an adhesive on the back face thereof is provided to cover the window, in order to prevent the undesirable light leakage to the film face. Of course, the exposure window 14 at first has a known light shielding cover and this together with the light shielding cover 16 which covers the recording window 15, ensures that the undesirable leakage of light can be prevented. The light shielding cover 16 is removed immediately after or during installation of the film pack case in the camera.

Pack cases for some types of instant-printing film have an easily-removable end cover at the end part, such as that shown at 17 in Fig 3(d), in order to prevent light leakage from the film outlet at the end part of the pack case. Accordingly, by linking the end cover 17 and a light shielding cover 18 to each other as shown in Fig. 3(c), the adhesively-attached light shielding cover 18 can be easily removed simultaneously with the end cover 17. As a result, light leakage is completely prevented.

Some other kinds of instant-printing films have a bag 20 of developing solution on an end part of the same face as the exposure face 19 of the film, as shown in Fig. 4(a). The surface of the developing solution bag 20 is soft and does not have a fixed face, and therefore, if a magnetic sound-recording band is disposed on the surface of the bag, satisfactory recording/re- producing of sound will be difficult. Therefore, for instant-printing films of this type, it is preferable that the sound recording be made after development of the film and subsequent removal of the developing solution bag 20.

An example of a magnetic sound-recording strip layer for such type of instant-printing film is shown in Fig. 4(b), wherein the magnetic sound-recording strip or band 8 is disposed on the back face of the part on which the developing solution bag 20 is disposed. In such type of the film, the recording should be made after development of the film.

Another example of a magnetic sound-recording strip layer for the type of instant-printing film is that, as shown in Fig. 2, at first the magnetic sound-recording strip has not been formed on the film 5 and, after development of the film, the magnetic sound-recording strip is attached to a suitable part of the surface of the film. The sound recording can be made either before or after development of the film or even before the photograph is taken. The attachment of the magnetic sound-recording strip can be effected either manually or mechanically.

An instant-printing film shown in Fig. 4(b) having a magnetic sound-recording strip or layer 8 on the back face 191 of the film can also have a recording made thereon in an instant-printing camera having recording means designed to function with a different type of film having the magnetic sound-recording band 8 on the front side as shown in Fig. 1(a), by installing the film in the recording position in inverse relation with respect to the front and back faces.

A camera in accordance with the present invention in which a sound-recording instant-printing film is used to take photographs and record sound comprises a known photographing and instant-printing means, and further comprises a recording/reproducing head which moves relatively to and slides on the magnetic sound-recording band 8 or 9.

Fig. 5(a) shows the mechanical configuration of one such instant-printing camera which is designed for use with the instant-printing film of Fig. 1(a). A recording/reproducing head 24 is pressed by a spring 23 against a magnetic sound-recording band 8 on an instant-printing film 21 and is driven to sweep along the magnetic sound-recording band 8. The recording/reproducing head 24 is fixed to a carrying means 25, which is fitted into a groove 26 on a travelling screw 22. The travelling screw 22 is mechanically linked to a drive motor 31 by a reduction gear means 30 comprising gears 27, 28 and 29 so that the travelling screw 22 rotates slowly in response to rotation of the drive motor 31 and the carrying means 25 sweeps along the magnetic sound-recording band 8 in a horizontal direction.When the travelling screw 22 rotates in the direction shown in Fig. 5(a) by an arrow 32, the carrying means 25 moves in a horizontal direction shown by an arrow 33. Therefore, the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps along the magnetic sound-recording band 8 from right to left. When the recording/reproducing head 24 reaches the left end part of the magnetic sound-recording band 8, a switch 35 is actuated by a left end part 34 of the carrying means 25 thereby supplying a logic signal to a motor control circuit 45 shown in Fig. 6. The motor control circuit 45 then controls the rotational direction of the travelling screw 22 to rotate it in the opposite direction to that shown by the arrow 32.

Accordingly, the carrying means 25 moves in the opposite direction to that shown by the arrow 33. When the recording/reproducing head 24 reaches the right end part of the magnetic sound-recording band 8, a switch 37 is actuated by a right end part 36 of the carrying means 25 and the direction of rotation of the drive motor 31 is again inverted under the control of the motor control circuit 45. Thus, the recording/reproducing head 24 carries out a reciprocating sweep of the magnetic sound-recording band 8.

Fig. 5(b) is an enlarged view of an examplary recording/reproducing head 24 that can be used in instant-printing film cameras in accordance with the present invention. The recording/ reproducing head 24 comprises four heads 52, 53, 54, 55 in the top to bottom direction.

Therefore, the recording time is made to be four times that of a single track by using four recording tracks on the magnetic sound-recording band 8 by selectively operating in turn respective ones of the four heads 52-55 when the recording/reproducing head 24 carries out its reciprocating sweeps of the magnetic sound-recording band 8.

An examplary calculation of recording time is given below by comparison with a Philips standard micro-cassette tape. When the sound-recording is made by employing the minimum micro-cassette tape speed of 1.2 cm/sec (this gives sufficient results for most recording items such as human voices) and the length of the magnetic sound-recording band 8 is assumed to be 8 cm, then recording can be carried out for 6.6 sec with one recording track on the magnetic sound-recording band 8. Therefore, total recording time amounts to 26.4 secs (6.6 sec X 4) by successively using four tracks by using the above-mentioned automatic switching.

The operation of the motor control circuit 45 in effecting the reciprocating sweeping of the recording/reproducing head 24 will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 6. The circuit shown in Fig. 6 is designed to control the sound-recording so as to select one head among the four heads and to switch in turn the recording/reproducing heads while the recording/reproducing head carries out its reciprocating sweeps of the magnetic sound recording band 8.

The motor control circuit 45 for controlling the drive motor 31 for driving the magnetic head comprises two transistors 38 and 39, by which current flow directions in a coil of the drive motor are alternately interchanged. The motor control circuit 45 controls the direction of rotation of the drive motor 31. The motor control circuit 45 is so constituted that the transistor 38 is on when the transistor 39 is off and so that the transistor 39 is on when the transistor 38 is off.

When the transistor 38 is on and the transistor 39 is off, current flows through a resistor 40 to the drive motor 31 in a direction shown by an arrow 41. On the other hand, when the transistor 39 is on and the transistor 38 is off, current flows through a resistor 42 to the drive motor 31 in an opposite direction shown by an arrow 43.

An input terminal and an output terminal of an inverter 44 are connected to the bases of the transistors 38 and 39, respectively. Signal levels to be applied to the bases of the transistors 38, 39 are opposite to each other so as to make one of the transistors turn on. Therefore, the direction of rotation of the drive motor 31 is consequently controlled in accordance with the logic level states of a logic signal applied to the inverter 44. The logic signal applied to the inverter 44 comes from an exlusive OR circuit 46 in a direction control circuit 47, which further comprises the switches 35 and 37. The function of the direction control circuit 47 can be seen by referring to Table 1.

TABLE 1 Output of Direction of exclusive OR motion of Switch 35 Switch 37 circuit 46 head 24 OFF (L) OFF (L) L LEFT Il ON (H) OFF (L ] H RIGHT Ill ON (H) ON (H) L LEFT IV OFF (L) ON (H) H RIGHT When the recording/reproducing head 24 is initially at the right hand end of the magnetic recording band 8, the switches 35 and 37 are set to be off (state I in Table I) and, hence, high logic levels are not applied to the exclusive OR circuit 46. The logic levels at the input terminals of the exclusive OR circuit 46 are also shown in brackets. In state I, the output signal level of the exclusive OR circuit 46 is L (low level).

The logic circuit of Fig. 6 is formed by C-MOS ICs (complementary MOS ICs) in this embodiment, but it is naturally possible to instead form it by using TTL (transistor transistor logic) and IIL (integrated injection logic).

When the output signal level of the exclusive OR circuit 46 becomes L in state I, the level L is applied to the base of the transistor 39 thereby turning off the transistor 39 and the inverted H (high level) through the inverter 44 is applied to the base of the transistor 38, thereby turning on the transistor 38. Accordingly, current flows through the drive motor 31 in the direction shown by the arrow 41 and the recording/reproducing head 24 moves in the leftward direction shown by the arrow 33 in Fig. 5(a). The direction of rotation of the drive motor 31 and the sweeping direction of the recording/reproducing head 24 can arbitrarily be determined and designed by the mechanical and structural combination of the reduction gear means 30 and the travelling screw 22.However, let it be assumed that in this embodiment the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps in the leftward direction shown by the arrow 33 when the current flows through the drive motor 31 in the direction shown by the arrow 41.

When the recording/reproducing head 24 reaches the left hand end of the magnetic recording band 8, the switch 35 is actuated by the left end part 34 of the recording/reproducing head 24. The switch 35 turns on and high logic level comes out via a resistor 49. The output logic level of the exclusive OR circuit 46 goes to H thereby turning on the transistor 39 and turning off the transistor 38. Accordingly, the current flow through the drive motor 31 is reversed and it flows in the direction shown by the arrow 43. The recording/reproducing head 24 begins sweeping in the rightward direction opposite to that shown by the arrow 33. This state is shown as state II in Table 1.

After the recording/reproducing head 24 has swept along the magnetic recording band 8 in the rightward direction and when it reaches the right hand end of the magnetic recording band 8, the switch 37 is changed over by the right end part 36 of the recording/reproducing head 24. Then, the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps again in the leftward direction shown by the arrow 33. This situation corresponds to state Ill in Table 1. In this embodiment, the switches 35 and 37 are of such a type that they stay in the turned-on state once they are turned on and that they are turned off by the successive switching actuation keeping the turned-off state.

After the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps in state IV shown in Table 1, it begins sweeping again in a sequential order from state I to state IV.

A head change-over circuit 50 and a head drive circuit 51 are further provided in the circuit of Fig. 6. The head change-over circuit 50 switches to select one tracking head among the four tracking heads 52-55 provided in the recording/reproducing head 24 in turn in cooperation with the motion of the recording/reproducing head 24 as it effects its reciprocating sweep of the magnetic recording band 8 under the control of the head drive circuit 51. The output signals of the direction control circuit 47 are fed to the head change-over circuit 50. The logic function of the several parts of the circuit of Fig. 6 are shown in Table 2, wherein the logic levels H and L for the switches 35 and 37 correspond to the on and off-states, respectively. Operational modes in states l-IV in Table 1 are similarly designated in Table 2.The logic levels H and L for the four tracking heads 52-55 correspond to operational and non-operational states of the tracking heads 52-55, respectively.

When the logic signals corresponding to state I shown in Table 2 are fed to a NOR gate 56 and AND gates 57, 58 and 59 in the head change-over circuit 50, the output logic levels become H for the NOR gate 56 and L for the AND gates 57, 58 and 59, respectively.

Accordingly, a transistor 60 turns on thereby actuating a relay 61 connected to the emitter of the transistor 60. A switch or contact set 62 is closed by the actuation of the relay 61 and the first head 52 is electrically connected to a recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 and an AC bias circuit 65 via a recording/reproducing change-over circuit 63. As described above, the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps on the magnetic recording band 8 in the leftward direction (shown by the arrow 33 in Fig. 5(a)) in the state 1, and therefore recording or reproducing is made by means of the first head 52 for a first track 93 on the magnetic recording band 8 shown in Fig. 7 in the leftward direction.

TABLE 2 state of heads Output of Direction exclusive of motion 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Switch Switch OR of head head head head head 35 37 circuit 46 24 52 53 54 55 L L L L LEFT H L L L II H L H RIGHT L H L L Ill H H L LEFT L L H L IV L H H RIGHT L L L H When the operational mode is turned into state II by actuation of the switch 35, the output logic levels become H for the AND gate 57 and L for the NOR gate 56 and the AND gates 58 and 59, respectively. Accordingly, the transistor 60 turns off and a transistor 66 turns on thereby actuating a relay 67 connected to the emitter of the transistor 66. A switch or contact set 68 is closed by the actuation of the relay 67 and the second head 53 is electrically connected to the recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 and the AC bias circuit 65 via the recording/reproducing change-over circuit 63.The recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps along the magnetic recording band 8 in the rightward direction opposite to that shown by the arrow in Fig. 5(a) in the state II, and therefore recording or reproducing is made by means of the second head 53 for a second track 94 on the magnetic recording band 8 shown in Fig. 7 in the rightward direction. During this recording or reproducing time by the second head 53, no recording or reproducing is made by the first head 52 since the switch 62 was turned off when the transistor 60 was switched off.

When the operational mode is turned into state Ill by actuation of the switch 37, the output logic levels become H for the AND gate 58 and L for the NOR gate 56 and the AND gates 57 and 59, respectively. Accordingly, the transistor 66 turns off and a transistor 69 turns on thereby actuating a relay 70 connected to the emitter of the transistor 69. A switch or contact set 71 is therefore closed and the electrical connection is made for the third head 54. In state Ill, recording or reproducing is made by the third head 54 for a third track 95 on the magnetic recording band 8 in the leftward direction along the arrow 33.

Similarly, recording or reproducing is made in state IV by the fourth head 55 for a fourth track 96 on the magnetic recording band 8 while the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps along the magnetic recording band 8 in the rightward direction.

Therefore, the recording time on the magnetic recording band 8 can be made four times that of a single sweep by successively selecting one appropriate head among the four heads for the recording head in accordance with the reciprocating sweeping of the recording/reproducing head 24. The apparatus in accordance with the above-mentioned example is so designed that the selection of the head is made in accordance with the operational states (ON and OFF) of the switches 35 and 37. Therefore, recording is made for different recording tracks on the magnetic recording band 8 by one specified head among four heads in one specified direction.

The circuit of Fig. 6 further comprises the recording/reproducing change-over circuit 63, the recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 and the AC bias circuit 65. The constitution and operation of these circuits are known and, accordingly, they are not described in detail herein.

The recording/reproducing changeover circuit 63 selects functional modes of the recording/reproducing head 24 by means of an interlocking switch 75. When the interlocking switch 75 is connected to terminals R, the head drive circuit 51, the recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 and the AC bias circuit 65 are in the recording mode. On the contrary, they are in the playing (reproducing) mode when the interlocking switch 75 is connected with terminals P.

In the recording mode, sound signals from a microphone 76 are fed to the recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 via a switch 77 of the interlocking switch 75. The recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 comprises a low frequency amplifier 78 and an output circuit 82, the latter circuit comprising a transistor 79, an equaliser 80 and a bias trap 81. The amplified recording signals are then fed to one head among four heads in the recording/reproducing head 24.

In general, an AC bias signal having a frequency as high as about five times that of the maximum recording frequency is superimposed on the signals to be recorded in a recording apparatus in order to obtain good recording characteristics. In the example of Fig. 6, the AC bias circuit 65 comprises a transistor 83 and a transformer 84. The AC bias signal from the AC bias circuit 65 and the signals to be recorded are mixed and fed to one head of the recording/reproducing head 24.

In the playing mode, sound signals are reproduced from the magnetic sound-recording band 8 by the recording/reproducing head 24. The reproduced sound signals are fed to the low frequency amplifier 78 and amplified. Power amplification is then effected in an amplifier circuit 85, thereby reproducing the recorded sound by means of a loudspeaker 90.

As described above, the instant-printing film camera of Fig. 5(a) with the recording/reproducing circuits of Fig. 6 is so constituted that a long recording time is obtainable for the limited space on the magnetic sound-recording band 8. It is naturally possible to further lengthen the recording time by disposing more unitary heads in the recording/reproducing head 24. The recording order for the tracks on the magnetic sound-recording band 8 can be modified from the above-mentioned sequential sweeping by using interlaced sweeping. Such interlaced sweeping diminishes cross-talk between the neighboring tracks.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an instant-printing camera having the recording/reproducing apparatus of Fig. 6 built inside a body thereof. Such camera is referred to hereinafter as an instant camera with recording apparatus. The photography system of the instant camera with recording apparatus is of conventional configuration except for the magnetic recording part. A film pack case 11 as shown in Fig. 3(a) having ten instant-printing films with magnetic soundrecording bands thereon is used in the instant camera with recording apparatus of Fig. 8. The instant-printing film with the magnetic sound-recording band is taken out and printed by a gear means 97, which is driven by a printing motor (not shown).The uppermost instant-printing film 86 in the film pack case 11, with the magnetic sound-recording band 8 thereon, is pushed out by a lever (not shown) and then clamped between two rollers 87 and 88 connected to the gear means 97. The instant-printing film 86 with the magnetic sound-recording band 8 is then taken out or ejected by rotation of the rollers 87 and 88 as shown in Fig. 9. During the abovementioned feeding-out or ejection of the instant-printing film 86 the bag 6 of the developing solution is subjected to a mechanical pressure between two rollers 87 and 88. In conventional manner, the developing solution then spreads into the photosensitive emulsion layer 3 thereby developing and printing the instant-printing film 86 in'a specified length of time.

Sound recording on the magnetic sound-recording band 8 formed on the instant-printing film 86 is made by the mechanical system of Fig. 5(a) and recording apparatus 89 including the electric control means of Fig. 6. The recording apparatus 89 is disposed inside the camera body and the recording/reproducing head 24 sweeps along the magnetic sound-recording band 8 exposed via the recording window 15.

Since the film pack case 11 and the recording apparatus 89 are disposed inside the camera body, it is possible to record on the instant-printing film 86 with the magnetic sound-recording band 8 before a photograph is taken. It is also possible to record sounds after a photograph has been taken, by withholding the feeding-out or ejection of the instant-printing film 86 with the magnetic sound-recording band 8 for a short time. Therefore, the instant camera with recording apparatus has the advantageous feature that a sound recording can be made before and after a photograph is taken.

When the recording apparatus 89 further comprises the recording/reproducing change-over circuit 63 and recording/reproducing amplifier circuit 64 of Fig. 6 in the camera body, it is also possible to check, immediately after recording, whether the sounds are well recorded. It is preferable that the recorded sounds can be reproduced from the recorded magnetic soundrecording band 8 at the place where an instant photographs taken. This is possible by installing the above-mentioned circuits 63 and 64 in the camera body, thereby utilizing the otherwise wasted time taken for developing after photographing.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another instant camera with recording apparatus. The photographing mechanism of this camera is of conventional configuration except for the magnetic recording part. The light from the object to be photographed passes through a main lens (not shown), is rotated through 90 by a reflection mirror (not shown) and is focussed on a photosensitive face of the instant-printing film 86. This type of instant camera generally has a sloping back face due to the optical configuration with the reflection mirror. By utilising the sloping back face, a loudspeaker 90 of a reproducing apparatus 92 is provided in the instant camera with recording apparatus of Fig. 10. The loudspeaker 90 is disposed in the camera body along the sloping face and the reproducing apparatus 92 is disposed under the reflection mirror.

The recorded instant-printing film 86 with the magnetic sound-recording band 8 is inserted from the upper part of the sloping part and fitted in the sloping part of the instant camera with recording apparatus.

When the recorded instant-printing film 86 with the magnetic sound-recording band 8 is inserted through an insertion slot 91, then the recording/reproducing head 24 is disposed on the magnetic sound-recording band 8. Then a start switch (not shown) having a known actuating knob to be pressed by the film 86 is actuated, thereby starting reproducing from the four tracks 93-96. In this example, observation of the photographed image on the instantprinting film becomes easy by disposing the instant-printing film 86 with the magnetic soundrecording band 8 in the sloping part along the reflection mirror. A photographer can clearly hear the recorded sound from the loudspeaker 90 disposed in the sloping face.

Moreover, it is naturally possible to install both a recording circuit and a playing circuit in the instant camera with recording apparatus of Fig. 10, thereby enabling the editing by monitoring and recording in the magnetic sound-recording band and/or enabling the recording of music sounds or any other sounds in the studio or home. A microphone for the sound recording can be attached to any part of the camera body of the instant camera with recording apparatus or can be made detachable and fitted by an appropriate clamp means. In the camera of Fig. 10, sound recording is also possible before and after photography for a packaged instant-printing film which does not have a recording band. This is accomplished by making the sound recording on the magnetic recording sheet 9 of Fig. 2 which is stuck onto an end part of the film after photography. This sticking of the recorded magnetic sheet 9 on the instant-printing film can be effected in an automatic manner by using an appropriate jig or the like.

Claims (22)

1. An instant-printing film having a bag of developing solution for the or each photographic frame and a magnetic recording band on the or each said frame in a part of the film other than a part to be exposed for photography.

2. A film according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording band comprises a layer of a mixture of a binder and a powder of a ferromagnetic substance, the layer being magnetically oriented in the lengthwise direction of the magnetic recording band.

3. A film according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording band is an oblong sheet having a layer containing a powder of a ferromagnetic substance, the layer being bonded with an adhesive layer to the film.

4. An instant-printing film substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 (a) and 1(b), Fig. 2, Fig. 4(a) or Fig. 4(b) of the accompanying drawings.

5. An instant-printing film pack case capable of containing a specified number of instantprinting films and of being installed in an instant-printing camera, the film pack case having a recording opening through which a magnetic head can touch a magnetic recording band of the instant-printing film.

6. A film pack case according to claim 5, which has a light shielding cover which covers the recording opening until the film pack case is installed in an instant-printing camera.

7. A film pack case according to claim 6, wherein the light shielding cover comprises a lightshielding film and an adhesive layer.

8. An instant-printing film pack case substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figs. 3(a) to 3(d) of the accompanying drawings.

9. An instant-printing camera comprising a dark box, a photographic lens, a shutter for making a photographic exposure of light focussed by the photographic lens on an instantprinting film, an instant-printing means, and a magnetic recording means for magnetically recording a signal on a magnetic band formed on the instant-printing film.

10. A camera according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic recording means comprises a magnetic recording/reproducing head, a driving means for carrying out relative driving of the magnetic recording/reproducing head and the magnetic band, and an electrical control circuit for operatively controlling said driving and switching the magnetic recording/reproducing head.

11. A camera according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic recording/reproducing head has a plurality of individual heads for recording and reproducing signals on plural channels on the magnetic band, and the electrical control circuit comprises a head switching means operative to connect the individual heads in turn to a recording/reproducing circuit in relation to said relative driving of the magnetic recording/reproducing head and the magnetic band.

12. A camera according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of individual heads are arranged in a row perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the magnetic recording band, and the electrical control circuit comprises another switching means operative to reverse the direction of rotation of a reversible electric motor.

13. A camera according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic recording/reproducing head is mounted on a slider which is drivable lengthwise of the magnetic recording band by rotation of a driving screw.

14. A camera according to claim 13, wherein a reversible electric motor is coupled by a speed reduction means to the driving screw to rotate the driving screw, the magnetic recording/reproducing head comprises a plurality of individual heads, and the electrical control circuit comprises switching means to connect the individual heads in turn to a recording or reproducing circuit and another switching means to reverse the direction of rotation of the reversible electric motor.

15. A camera according to claim 12, wherein the driving means comprises a slider on which the recording/reproducing head is mounted and which is driveable lengthwise of the magnetic recording band by reversible rotation of a driving screw driven by a reversible electric motor, and a direction control circuit for generating an electric output to the motor and switching the direction of the electric output in response to the relative position of the recording/reproducing head.

16. A camera according to claim 12, wherein the head switching means is connected to the individual heads and comprises an electronic change-over switching circuit for selectively switching one individual head in turn in response to motion of the magnetic head.

17. A camera according to claim 9, which comprises a sound reproducing apparatus for reproducing signals recorded on said magnetic recording band.

18. A camera according to claim 17, wherein the recording apparatus comprises a head driving means for driving the recording/reproducing head and an electric control means for controlling a recording and driving operation of the recording/reproducing head, and the reproducing apparatus comprising a recording/reproducing change-over circuit and a reproducing amplifier circuit for reproducing the recorded sound signals.

19. A camera according to any one of claims 9 to 18, which comprises a recording amplifier circuit for amplifying recorded sound signals and a bias circuit for generating a recording bias signal with a frequency higher than that of the recording signals to be fed to the recording/reproducing head.

20. A camera according to any one of claims 9 to 19, wherein the recording means is disposed in a body of the camera.

21. A camera according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the reproducing apparatus is disposed at the same place as the recording means in a body of the camera.

22. An instant-printing camera substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 5(a) to 7, Figs. 8 and 9 or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A camera according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the reproducing apparatus is disposed along a side face of a body of the camera.

23. An instant-printing camera substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 5(a) to 7, Figs. 8 and 9 or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS (25 Feb 1980)

1. An instant-printing film comprising a surface layer, a backing sheet, a photo-sensitive emulsion layer in between the surface layer and the backing sheet, a frame surrounding the periphery of the surface layer, backing sheet and photo-sensitive emulsion layer, a bag of developing solution disposed on a part of said frame, and a magnetic recording band at least on one side of said frame.

2. A film according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording band comprises a layer of a mixture of a binder and a powdered ferromagnetic substance, the layer being magnetically oriented in the lengthwise direction of the magnetic recording band.

3. A film according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording band is an oblong sheet having a layer containing a powdered ferromagnetic substance, the layer being bonded with an adhesive layer to the film.

4. An instant-printing film substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 (a) and 1(b), Fig. 2, Fig. 4(a) or Fig. 4(b) of the accompanying drawings.

5. An instant-printing film pack case containing a plurality of instant-printing films and capable of being installed in an instant-printing camera, the film pack case having a recording opening providing access to a magnetic recording band provided on an instant-printing film with the case whereby, in use, a magnetic head can touch the magnetic band.

6. A film pack case according to claim 5, which has a light shielding cover which covers the recording opening until the film pack case is installed in an instant-printing camera.

7. A film pack case according to claim 6, wherein the light shielding cover comprises a light shielding film and an adhesive layer.

8. An instant-printing film pack case substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figs. 3(a) to 3(d) of the accompanying drawings.

9. An instant-printing camera comprising: a dark box; a photographic lens; a shutter for making a photographic exposure of light focussed by the photographic lens on an instant-printing film which is formed by a surface layer, a backing sheet, a photo-sensitive emulsion layer in between the surface layer and the backing sheet and a frame surrounding their periphery, said frame having a bag of developing solution on a part thereof; an instant-printing means; and magnetic recording means for magnetically recording a signal on a magnetic band at least on one side of said frame of the instant-printing film, the magnetic recording means including a magnetic recording/reproducing head, a driving means for carrying out relative driving of the magnetic recording/reproducing head and the magnetic band, and an electrical control circuit for operatively controlling said driving and switching said magnetic recording/reproducing head.

10. A camera according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic recording/reproducing head has a plurality of individual heads for recording and reproducing signals on plural channels on the magnetic band, and the electrical control circuit comprises a head switching means operative to connect the individual heads in turn to a recording/reproducing circuit in relation to said relative driving of the magnetic recording/reproducing head and the magnetic band.

11. A camera according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of individual heads are arranged in a row perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the magnetic recording band, and the electrical control circuit comprises another switching means operative to reverse the direction of rotation of the driving means.

12. A camera according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic recording/reproducing head is mounted on a slider which is drivable lengthwise of the magnetic recording band by rotation of a driving screw.

13. A camera according to claim 12, wherein a reversible electric motor is coupled by a speed reduction means to the driving screw to rotate the driving screw, the magnetic recording/reproducing head comprises a plurality of individual heads, and the electrical control circuit comprises switching means to connect the individual heads in turn to a recording or reproducing circuit and another switching means to reverse the direction of rotation of the reversible electric motor.

14. A camera according to claim 11, wherein the driving means comprises a slider on which the recording/reproducing head is mounted and which is drivable lengthwise of the magnetic recording band by reversible rotation of a driving screw driven by a reversible electric motor, and a direction control circuit for generating an electric output to the motor and switching the direction of the electric output in response to the relative position of the recording/reproducing head.

15. A camera according to claim 11, wherein the head switching means is connected to the individual heads and comprises an electronic change-over switching circuit for selectively switching one individual head in turn in response to motion of the magnetic head.

16. A camera according to claim 9, which comprises a sound reproducing apparatus fo reproducing signals recorded on said magnetic recording band.

17. A camera according to claim 16, wherein the sound reproducing apparatus comprises a recording/reproducing change-over circuit and a reproducing amplifier circuit for reproducing the recorded sound signals.

18. A camera according to any one of claims 9 to 17, which comprises a recording amplifier circuit for amplifying recorded sound signals and a bias circuit for generating a recording bias signal with a frequency higher than that of the recording signals to be fed to the recording/reproducing head.

19. A camera according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein the magnetic recording means is disposed in a body of the camera.

20. A camera according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the sound reproducing apparatus is disposed at the same place as the magnetic recording means in a body of the camera.

21. A camera according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the sound reproducing apparatus is disposed along a side face of a body of the camera.