Camera having film cassette hold back/film exit shade

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a camera comprised of a plurality of housings pivotally coupled to each other for automatic movement from a compact collapsed position to an erect condition in which an exposure of a scene is made and then back to its original compact collapsed position, such movement preferably occurring in response to the actuation of an exposure cycle initiating button.
The camera includes first and second housings which are pivotally coupled to a third housing for movement in opposite directions as the camera is erected, and toward each other as the camera is collapsed.
The first housing includes means for mounting a shutter and lens assembly and a mirror for reflecting an image toward a focal plane.
The second housing includes an open ended chamber for receiving and locating a film cassette in position for the sequential exposure of a plurality of instant or self-developing film units contained therein.
The third housing is located intermediate the first and second housings and a bellows extends between the first and second housings and through the third housing so as to define a lighttight path therebetween when the camera is in the erected position.
A forward end of the third housing is provided with a spread roller assembly.
The spread roller assembly is pivotally connected to the third housing for movement between an operative position, wherein the bite between the rollers is located in position to receive a film unit as it is moved from the film cassette subsequent to its exposure, and an inoperative position in which the rollers are disconnected from their drive gear and are accessible for cleaning, such movement being in response to the pivoting of a door into an open position.
The door is pivotally mounted adjacent the exit side of the spread rollers for precluding the entry of ambient light into the camera.
A resilient coil of opaque sheet material has one of its ends secured to an interior surface of the door such that when an exposed film unit is being advanced by the spread rollers toward the door while a processing liquid is being spread across a layer of the film unit, the leading edge of the film unit engages the interior surface thereof and starts the pivoting of the door toward an open position while simultaneously sliding down such interior surface until it engages the coil of opaque sheet material