US3804204A

US3804204A - Self-timer

Info

Publication number: US3804204A
Application number: US00363820A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Shono
Original assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Pentax Corp
Priority date: 1973-06-08
Filing date: 1973-05-25
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16

Abstract

A self-timer is driven by a spring motor through a drive shaft that is arrestable by an anchor. The motor is wound by a charging lever which is independently rotatable about the shaft. A starting member is also rotatable about the shaft to release the anchor. If it is desired to interrupt the timing operation, the starter is returned to its original position to cause the anchor to terminate rotation of the shaft. The starting member can also be returned to its original position by manually rotating the charging lever back to its restored position.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Shono SELF-TIMER [75] Inventor: Tetsuji Shono, Ranzan-machi, Japan [73] Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo-to, Japan 22 Filed: May 25,1973 21 App]. No.: 363,820

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 28, 1973 Japan 48-63983 [5 21 U. s. ss /sg m z [51] Int. Cl. G035 9 6 4 [58] Field of Search 95/53.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,117,505 1/1964 Weller ..l 95/533 3,008,395 11/1961 leda et a1. 95/53.3 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3,620,835 10/1961 Japan [111 3,804,204 [451 Apr. 16, 1974 412,033 I 2/1966 Japan 244,748 1/1966 Austria 95/533 231,809 2/1964 Austria 95/53.3

Primary Examiner-Fred L. Braun Assistant Examiner-Russell E. Adams, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Griffin, Branigan and Butler [5 7] ABSTRACT A self-timer is driven by a spring motor through a drive shaft that is arrestable by an anchor. The motor is wound by a charging lever which is independently rotatable about the shaft. A starting member is also rotatable about the shaft to release the anchor. If it is desired to interrupt the timing operation, the starter is returned to its original position to cause the anchor to terminate rotation of the .shaft. The starting member can also be returned to its original position by manually rotating the charging lever back to its restored position.

17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 16 m4 3,804,204

SHEEI 2 0F 2 22C 22b ITb WC BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a self-timer that is particularly useful in cameras. In this regard, one type of cam- I era self-timer uses the shutter button itself as a starting operations because of variations in photographic conditions such as changes of the subject, lighting, or the like. In most conventional self-timers of the separate starter button types, however, it is not possible to interrupt the timers operation. There have been a few selftimers wherein the timing operation has been interruptable by manual operation of the starting member. In addition, there have been mechanisms in which a selfcharging or winding lever has been manually operable for recharging or resetting the self-timer after it has started its initial timing operation. Structures of this type are described in Japanese Patent Publications No. Sho 36(1961) 20835; and No. Sho 41(1966) 2033.

The above mentioned known devices have not been entirely satisfactory. For example, many have tended to be too complex and bulky, particularly for use on cameras where they have necessitated unpleasant camera designs. Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and compact self-timer that can be used with cameras so as to give them a smart external appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selftimer wherein the timing operation can be interrupted by merely moving the timers winding lever; and, in so doing, placing the timers starting member in an interrupt position. In this regard, a related object is to provide an anchor or interrupting mechanism itself which is sufficiently simple and yet easily regulated by the above described motion of the starting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selftimer which not only has wide utility, but when used in a camera, will permit the photographer to use the camera in conventional hand-held photographic operations after the timing function has been interrupted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A spring motor is coupled to a drive shaft by a star wheel or ratchet so that the drive can be interrupted by selective insertion of an anchor or pawl controlled by an anchor arresting lever which is biased to place the anchor in its anchoring position. A charging lever is rotatable about the shaft, but has a pin thereon for engaging a plate on the shaft so that the motor is wound up by rotation of the charging lever in a charging or winding direction.

A starting ring is also rotatable about the shaft and has a first pin thereon which, when rotated in a first direction, moves the anchor arresting lever against its bias so that the anchor no longer prevents the motor from driving the shaft. The shaft and its plate then drive the charging levers pin so that the charging lever is restored to its initial position. Near the end of the charging levers restoration, however, it engages a second pin on the starting ring so that the starting ring is also returned to its initial position and its first pin no longer engages the anchor arresting lever. When the starting ring is thusly effectively driven by the shaft, however, a cam on the shaft continues to hold the anchor arresting lever in a position so that the anchor remains out of its anchoring position. In this manner, all of the timers elements are automatically restored to their initial positions and an output lever is actuated.

Since the charging lever is separately rotatable, it can be restored to its initial position independently of the shaft. In so doing, however, the charging lever engages the starting rings second pin so that the anchor arresting lever is rotated to place the anchor in its anchoring position and interrupt the timers operation. The timing cycle can later be completed by merely rotating the starting ring to release the anchor; or the entire timing cycle can be started over by rotating the charging lever through its entire charging motion.

Alternatively, the timing cycle can be interrupted without regard to the charging lever by merely rotating the coaxial starting ring to its original position so that the anchor restrains the star wheel without motion of the charging lever.

The illustrated embodiment is used to release a camera shutter which is operated by an actuating plate. In this regard, the plate itself is controlled by a pivotable actuating lever which is pivoted in a non-actuating di rection by a second cam surface on the shaft during the winding operation; and pivoted in an actuating direction by a third cam surface on the shaft as it completes its driving motion at the end of the timing cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodimentthereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily intended to be to scale, but rather are presented to illustrate the principles of the invention in a clear manner.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a self-timer according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 at a time when the self-timer has completed its operation; v

FIG. 3 is similar to the view of F IG. 2, except that the self-timer is illustrated at a time immediately after the beginning of its timing operation;

FIG. 41 is a front view of the inner mechanism of the self-timer illustrated at a time corresponding to FIG. 2 when the self-timer has completed its operation; and

FIG, 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but at a timewhen the selftimer is charged and about to begin its timing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 to 3, a camera body fitting ring 2 is secured to a camera body l by means of a screw 3. A ring 4 is fixedly mounted on the fitting ring 2 by a screw 3 and rotatably supports both a charging lever hub 8 and a starting ring 5.

The ring 4 has a notched portion 4a for receiving a protrusion 5a on the starting ring 5. The protrusion 5a includes a releasing pin 6 which extends through an arcuate opening 2a in the fitting ring 2. As will be described shortly, this pin 6 coacts with the self-timers internal mechanism to initiate the timing function. The starting ring also has a starting pin 7 mounted on an extension 5b thereof.

The charging lever hub 8 is rotatably supported by ring 4 and has a projected ridge 8a of an Oldhams coupling on the rear surface thereof for engaging it with the internal mechanisms main shaft section 15 in a manner to be described later.

A charging lever 11 has a friction spring mounted thereon by a stopper pin 13. These elements are rotatably mounted on the hub 8 so that they rotate about the hub as a unit As shown in FIG. 2 the hub 8 has a flattened portion 8b thereon for engagement with a stopper plate 9. In this manner, the stopper plate and the hub 8 operate together as a single unit. The stopper plate unit and the charging lever assembly, however, are held onto the self-timer by a suitable fastener such as set screw 12 in FIG. 1.

The friction spring 10 acts to bias the charging lever 11 leftwardly in FIG. 1; and, as noted, rotates with the charging lever about the hub 8. A recessed portion 110 in the charging lever 11 is adapted to receive. the starting pin 7 as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. In this regard, it is again noted that stopper pin 13 is afiixed to the charging lever 11. Hence, the subsequently described rotation of the charging lever 11 is accompanied by corresponding rotation of the stopper pin 13. Another stopper pin 14 is mounted on the ring 4 which is affixed to the camera body. Hence, stopper pin 14 remains stationary throughout the timers operation while

pins

6 and 7 on the one hand and 13 on the other hand undergo their various motions to be described.

A base plate 16 is affixed to the camera bodys inner portion (not shown) by screws 34 (FIGS. 4 and 5); and, as is schematically illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1, a gear train and a driving spring mechanism are coupled to the rear end of the self-timers main shaft which extends through the base plate 16. V

The main shaft 15 has a cam plate, 17 secured thereto by a nut 18. In this regard, the front end of the main shaft 15 has a projection 15a which is received in an Oldhams coupling member 20 which is engaged at its opposite side by the hubs projection 8a. Hence, the shaft 15, the cam plate 17, the hub 8b, and the stopper plate 9 are sufficiently interconnected that all undergo corresponding rotary motion. A shutter or actuator plate 19 which is secured about the shaft 15, however, is adapted to be independently rotated about the shaft 15 as will soon be appreciated.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pin 21 is mounted on an arm 19a of the shutter actuating plate 19; and a U- shaped actuating lever 22 is pivotally mounted on the base plate 16 by a screw 23 so that a lower or innermost arm thereof is adapted to coact with the cam plate 17 and an upper (or forwardmost) arm 22a thereof is adapted to coact with the pin 21. In this regard a spring 24 is mounted around the screw 23. One end of the spring 24 is engaged with the pin 21; and the other end engagesa spring stopper pin 25 which is affixed to the base plate 16. Hence, the spring 24 biases the actuating plate 19 in a counterclockwise direction to abut against a stopper pin 26 which is also affixed to the base plate 16.

g is restrained in FIGS. 4 and 5 by engagement of the upper arm 22a with the shutter actuating plate s pin 21.

An anchor arresting lever 28 is pivoted on an axle 29 which is affixed to the base plate 16. A spring 30 disposed around the axle 29 is engaged at one end with the spring stopper pin 25; and at the other end with the anchor arresting lever 28 so that the anchor arresting lever 28 is biased in the counterclockwise direction. In FIG. 4, however, the arresting lever 28 is arrested in the illustrated position, because cam plate surface 17a is in contact with the anchor arresting lever 28 at 28a.

FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrate an anchor 31, a star wheel 32, and an anchor weight 33. These .elements prevent the spring mechanism from driving the shaft 15 in the clockwise direction whenever the anchor 31 restricts rotation of the star wheel 32; but permit the shaftlS to be rotated in its winding direction. Such operations are-common, however, and will not be described in detail herein.

OPERATION The driving spring mechanism illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1 is wound up by motion of the charging lever 11 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2. That is, such motion of lever 11 rotates the stopper pin 13 and the stopper plate 9 in the counterclockwise direction which, in turn, rotates the charging lever hub 8; coupling member 20; and the main shaft 15,50 that the driving mechanism is wound up. During this rotation of the charging lever the recessed portion 11a is shifted from the position shown in FIG. 2 into the phantom position of FIG. 3. The starting pin 7, however, remains behind; the starting ring 5 is maintained in its FIG. 2 position; and the releasing pin 6 is maintained in a position away from the arresting lever 28 as shown in FIG.

As also shown in FIG. 4 the cam plate 17 is also rotated in the counterclockwise direction during the winding-up or charging operation. Consequently, the cam surface 17a and the arm 28a are disengaged from each other so that the anchor arresting lever is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the arresting lever spring 30; and the arm 28b presses on the anchor weight 33 to force it into counterclockwise rotation and arrest the star wheel by means of the anchor 31. This state is maintained until completion of the charging operation when the stopper plate 9, which is forced to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, engages with the stopper pin 14 so that charging lever 11 cannot be wound up anymore.

The winding operation also affects such shutter releasing members as the actuating lever 22 and the shutter actuating plate 19. That is, when the cam plate 17 is initially rotated in the counterclockwise direction the cam surface 17b is brought in contact with the lower surface 22b of the actuating lever 22 which is then rotated in the clockwise direction against the force of the actuating lever restoring spring 27. Continued rotation of the cam plate 17 toward its FIG. 5 position causes the cam surface 17b to disengage from the surface 22b so that the actuating lever is returned in the counterclockwise direction by spring 27 until the pin 21 on the shutter actuating plate is brought into contact with the actuating levers upper arm 22a. It will be obvious that, during the above-mentioned charging operation, the shutter actuating plate 19 does not make any movement at all.

Having described the winding operation, the starting operation will now be described with reference to FIGS. Sand 5. In this regard, with the cam plate 17 in its FIG. 5 position, the starting ring 5 is manually rotated in the counterclockwise direction to the FIG. 3 position. This forces the releasing pin 6 to also rotate in the counterclockwise direction until it reaches the position 6" as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. During this startin g motion, pin 6 contacts and rotates a tapered portion 280 of the anchor arresting lever 28 in the clockwise direction as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5. This releases the star wheel anchor 31 so that the star wheel can move; and the self-timer starts the timing operation by slow clockwise rotation of the charging lever 11, transmitted through theshaft l5, stopper plate 9, and pin 13 as noted above, As the charging lever 11 is restored toits FIG. 2 position, it again engages the starting pin 7 in the recessed portion 11a, and the starting ring 5 is rotated, along with the lever 11, to its original position when the self-timer ceases its timing operation.

In the above regard, when the pin7 is engaged and rotated by the lever 11, the releasing pin 6 is also rotated in the clockwise direction and is disengaged from the anchor arresting lever 28 simultaneously with the restoring operation of thestartingring 5 to its FIG. 2 position. At this time, the cam surface 17a is brought into contact with the arm 28a as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the anchor arresting lever 28 remains disengaged from the anchorweight 33 and the self-timer keeps operating until the charging lever 11 is restored.

Having described the self-timers basic charging and timing operations, the self-timers operation will now be described when it is desired to interrupt the timing operation after it hasbeen initiated. In this connection, it is merely necessary to manually rotate the starting pin 7 in aclo'c'kwise direction from its FIG. 3 position to its FIG. 2 position. This'causes the releasing'pin'6 to alsornove out of its 6' position (FIGSJ3 and 5) and into its FIG. 2 position. The shaft and cam plate 17, do not follow the starting rings motion, however, so that the anchor arresting lever 28 is permitted to rotate in a clockwise direction to engage the weight 33 and arrest both the anchor 31 and the star wheel 32 and interrupt the self-timer.

It should be. noted'that the main shaft 15, the cam plate 17, the hub 8, and the stopper plate 9 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the charging lever 11 and its pin 13. When undergoing clockwise motion during the timing operation, however, the stopper plate 9 is driven, through its connected elements, by the spring motor. Hence, during the charging operation the stopper plate 9 is driven by the pin 13; and during the timing operation the pin 13 is driven by the stopper plate 9. Consequently, the above described interrupting'operation can also beaccomplished by rotating the charging lever in its clockwise direction until it engages the starting pin 7 and moves it to the FIG. 2 position so that the timer is interrupted in the same manner described above. When the charging lever is permitted to be rotated through its entire clockwise motion by the stopper plate 9, on the other hand, the cam plate 17 moves through the same angle so that cam surface 17a prevents the anchor arresting lever from rotating in its counterclockwise arresting direction as the release pin 6 is moved out ot its 6' position into its FIG. 2 position. Hence, although the self-timer can be selectively interrupted by rotation of the starting ring 5, it is not inadvertantly interrupted when it is returned to its starting position during the normal timing operation as described above.

The shutter releasing operation itself involves shutter releasing members such as cam plate 17, actuating lever 22, and shutter actuating plate 19 as will now be described.

After the self-timer is charged, it starts operation by the slow clockwise rotation of the shaft 15 and charging lever II as noted above. As this rotation progresses, the cam surface contacts the lower surface 220 on the actuating lever 22 so that theactuating lever 22 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. This causes arm 22a to push pin 21; and rotate the shutter actuating plate 19 in the clockwise direction I which, in turn, presses a shutter releasing member 35 downwardly for effecting a shutter releasing operation. Further clockwise rotation causes disengagement of the cam surface 170 from the surface 220 so that both the shutter actuating plate 19 and the actuating lever 22 are returned to their original state as shown in FIG. 2.

, While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the independently movable starting ring can have a lever attached thereto so that it might be more easily independently rotated. In fact, such a manually operable member need not even be coaxially mounted. Similarly, where it is desired that the starting ring be rotated by the charging lever, it might be more convenient touse a different form of coaction between the charging lever and the starting ring rather than the illustrated notch llla. lt mighteven be an internal mechanism located near the charging 'levers axis. Also, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, although the application describes a specified arrangement of lever and cam surfaces, they can be arranged in different configurations and still transmit similar movements at the desired times.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

.l. A self-timer comprising:

a center shaft;

driving means coupled to said shaft for driving said shaft in a driving direction;

a charging lever rotatably mounted on said shaft and having means affixed thereto for rotating said shaft from an initial position in a winding direction opposite to said driving direction;

anchor means having an anchoring position for preventing rotation of said shaft in said driving direction and a non-anchoring position for permitting rotation of said shaft in said driving direction;

anchor arresting means for placing said anchoring means in said anchoring position; and

a starter ring rotatable about said shaft and having .starting means thereon for selectively engaging said anchor arresting means, said anchor arresting means being operative in response to such engagement for removing said anchor means from said anchoring position to thereby permit said driving means to drive said shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a cam plate mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said cam plate having a first surface thereon for engaging said anchor arresting means to place said anchor arresting means in said non-anchoring position when said shaft is in said initial position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including:

an actuating plate rotatable with respect to said shaft so that rotation of said actuating plate in an actuating direction represents an output motion of the self-timer;

means for biasing said actuating plate for rotation in a non-actuating direction; a projection on said actuating plate;

a pivotable actuating lever having a surface thereon for engaging said plate; and means associated with said actuating lever for biasing .said actuating lever in a direction tending to rotate said actuating plate in said actuating direction when said actuating lever surface engages said first projection. 1 4. The, apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cam plate has a second surface thereon for moving said actuating lever in a direction opposite to the bias force thereon during rotation of saidshaft in said driving direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a third surface on said carn plate for engaging a second surface on said actuating lever during rotation of said shaft in said drivprojection on said actuating ing direction so that said first surface on said actuating lever causes said projection on said actuating plate to overcome said actuating plate bias and rotate in an actuating direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including means on said starter ring adapted to be engaged by said charging lever'when said charging lever is moved in said driving direction so-that said starting means is moved out of engagement with said anchor arresting means when said charging lever is restored to its original position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including means on said shaft for engaging said charging lever when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction so that said charging lever is effectively driven by said shaft and restored to its original position when said shaft is returned to its initial position.

8. The apparatus in claim 1 including:

means for biasing said anchor arresting means in a direction tending to place said anchor in said anchoring position; and

whereinsaid starting ring is operative, when rotated in said driving direction, to move out of engagement with said anchor arresting means so that said anchor arresting, means urges said anchor means toward said anchoring position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including means on said starter ring adapted to be engaged by said charging lever when said charging lever is moved in said driving direction so that said starting means is moved out of engagement with said anchor arresting means when said charging lever is restored to its original position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including means on said shaft for engaging said charging lever when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction so that said charging lever is effectively driven by said shaft and restored to its original position when said shaft is returned to its initial position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 including a cam plate mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said cam plate having a first'surface thereon for engaging said anchor arresting means to place said anchor arresting means in said non-anchoring position when said shaft is in said initial position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 including means on said starter ring adapted to be engaged by said charging lever when said charging lever is moved in said driving direction so that said starting means is moved out of engagement with said anchor arresting means when said charging lever is restored to its original position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 including means on said shaft for engaging said charging lever when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction so that said charging lever is effectively driven by said shaft and restored to its original position when said shaft is returned to its initial position.

14.The'apparatus of claim 11 including:

means for biasing said actuating plate for rotation in means associated with said actuating lever for biasing said actuating lever in a direction tending to rotate said actuating plate in said actuating direction when said actuating lever surface engages said first projection.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said cam plate has a second surface thereon for moving said actuating lever in a direction opposite to the bias force thereon during rotation of said shaft in said driving direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 including a third surface on said cam plate for engaging a second surface on said actuating lever during rotation of said shaft in said driving direction so that said first surface on said actuating lever causes said projection on said actuating plate to overcome said actuating plate bias and rotate in an actuating direction.

17. A self-timer comprising:

a central shaft;

anchor means having an anchoring position for preventing rotation of said ahaft in said driving direction and a non-anchoring position for permitting rotation of said shaft in said driving direction;

anchor arresting means for placing said anchoring means in said anchoring position;

means for biasing said anchor arresting means in a direction tending to place said anchorin said anchoring position; r

a starter ring rotatable about said shaft and having starting means thereon for selectively engaging said anchor arresting means, said anchor arresting means being operative in response to such engagement for removing said anchor means from said anchoring position, said starter ring being adapted to .be engaged by said charging lever when said charging lever is moved in said driving direction so that said starting means is moved out of engagement with said anchor arresting means when said charging lever is restored to its original position;

a cam plate mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said cam plate having first, second, and third surfaces thereon; said first surface being operative to engage said anchor arresting means to place said I anchor arresting means in said non-anchoring position when said shaft is in said initial position;

an actuating plate rotatable with respect to said shaft so that rotation of said actuating plate in a actuatingdirection represents an output motion of the self-timer; v a

means for biasing said actuating plate for rotation in a non-actuating direction; i

a a projectionon said actuating plate;

apivotable actuating lever having a first surface thereon for engaging said projection on said actuating plate; I

means associated with said actuating lever for biasing said actuating lever in a direction tending to rotate said actuating plate in' said actuating direction when said first actuating lever surface engages said projection on said actuating plate, said second surface on said cam being operable to move said actuating lever in a direction opposite to the bias force thereon when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction, and said third surface on said cam being operable to engage a second surface on said actuating lever during rotation of said shaft in said driving direction so that the first surface on said actuating lever causes said projection on said actuating plate to rotate and overcome said actuating plate bias to rotate said actuating plate in an actuating direction;

means on said shaft for engaging said charging lever when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction so that said charging lever is effectively driven by said shaft and restored to its original position when said shaft is returned to its initial position; and means to limit rotation of said charging lever and thereby said shaft when said'charging lever is rotated in said winding direction. a a: g at 7523?" I UNITEo STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 11033 3 I Dated April 16, 1974 Inventor S) T913511 j i OnO It is certified that error appears, in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The Foreign Application Priority Data section (30) is corrected "to read:

June 28, 1972 Japan..J+7-63983 a I Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974 (SEAL) AttESt:

. Mccoy M. GIBSON JR (3. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 1 i i l i 1 I 1 i 1 mg I I ITEo STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3, Dated April 16, 1974 Inventor (15 Te tsuji Shono Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

F A I an The Foreign Application Priority Data section (30) is corrected to read:

-- June 2 8, 1972 JapanHJW-63983 Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 4 l 1 i l

Claims

1. A self-timer comprising: a center shaft; driving means coupled to said shaft for driving said shaft in a driving direction; a charging lever rotatably mounted on said shaft and having means affixed thereto for rotating said shaft from an initial position in a winding direction opposite to said driving direction; anchor means having an anchoring position for preventing rotation of said shaft in said driving direction and a nonanchoring position for permitting rotation of said shaft in said driving direction; anchor arresting means for placing said anchoring means in said anchoring position; and a starter ring rotatable about said shaft and having starting means thereon for selectively engaging said anchor arresting means, said anchor arresting means being operative in response to such engagement for removing said anchor means from said anchoring position to thereby permit said driving means to drive said shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including: an actuating plate rotatable with respect to said shaft so that rotation of said actuating plate in an actuating direction represents an output motion of the self-timer; means for biasing said actuating plate for rotation in a non-actuating direction; a projection on said actuating plate; a pivotable actuating lever having a surface thereon for engaging said projection on said actuating plate; and means associated with said actuating lever for biasing said actuating lever in a direction tending to rotate said actuating plate in said actuating direction when said actuating lever surface engages said first projection.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cam plate has a second surface thereon for moving said actuating lever in a direction opposite to the bias force thereon during rotation of said shaft in said driving direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a third surface on said cam plate for engaging a second surface on said actuating lever during rotation of said shaft in said driving direction so that said first surface on said actuating lever causes said projection on said actuating plate to overcome said actuating plate bias and rotate in an actuating direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including means on said starter ring adapted to be engaged by said charging lever when said charging lever is moved in said driving direction so that said starting means is moved out of engagement with said anchor arresting means when said charging lever is restored to its original position.

8. The apparatus in claim 1 including: means for biasing said anchor arresting means in a direction tending to place said anchor in said anchoring position; and wherein said starting ring is operative, when rotated in said driving direction, to move out of engagement with said anchor arresting means so that said anchor arresting means urges said anchor means toward said anchoring position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 including a cam plate mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said cam plate having a first surface thereon for engaging said anchor arresting means to place said anchor arresting means in said non-anchoring position when said shaft is in said initial position.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 including: an actuating plate rotatable with respect to said shaft so that rotation of said actuating plate in an actuating direction represents an output motion of the self-timer; means for biasing said actuating plate for rotation in a non-actuating direction; a projection on said actuating plate; a pivotable actuating lever having a surface thereon for engaging said projection on said actuating plate; and means associated with said actuating lever for biasing said actuating lever in a direction tending to rotate said actuating plate in said actuating direction when said actuating lever surface engages said first projection.

17. A self-timer comprising: a central shaft; driving means coupled to said shaft for driving said shaft in a driving direction; a charging lever rotatably mounted on said shaft and having means affixed thereto for rotating said shaft from an initial position in a winding direction opposite to said driving direction; anchor means having an anchoring position for preventing rotation of said ahaft in said driving direction and a non-anchoring position for permitting rotation of said shaft in said driving direction; anchor arresting means for placing said anchoring means in said anchoriNg position; means for biasing said anchor arresting means in a direction tending to place said anchor in said anchoring position; a starter ring rotatable about said shaft and having starting means thereon for selectively engaging said anchor arresting means, said anchor arresting means being operative in response to such engagement for removing said anchor means from said anchoring position, said starter ring being adapted to be engaged by said charging lever when said charging lever is moved in said driving direction so that said starting means is moved out of engagement with said anchor arresting means when said charging lever is restored to its original position; a cam plate mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said cam plate having first, second, and third surfaces thereon; said first surface being operative to engage said anchor arresting means to place said anchor arresting means in said non-anchoring position when said shaft is in said initial position; an actuating plate rotatable with respect to said shaft so that rotation of said actuating plate in a actuating direction represents an output motion of the self-timer; means for biasing said actuating plate for rotation in a non-actuating direction; a projection on said actuating plate; a pivotable actuating lever having a first surface thereon for engaging said projection on said actuating plate; means associated with said actuating lever for biasing said actuating lever in a direction tending to rotate said actuating plate in said actuating direction when said first actuating lever surface engages said projection on said actuating plate, said second surface on said cam being operable to move said actuating lever in a direction opposite to the bias force thereon when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction, and said third surface on said cam being operable to engage a second surface on said actuating lever during rotation of said shaft in said driving direction so that the first surface on said actuating lever causes said projection on said actuating plate to rotate and overcome said actuating plate bias to rotate said actuating plate in an actuating direction; means on said shaft for engaging said charging lever when said shaft is rotated in said driving direction so that said charging lever is effectively driven by said shaft and restored to its original position when said shaft is returned to its initial position; and means to limit rotation of said charging lever and thereby said shaft when said charging lever is rotated in said winding direction.