Camera assembly with automatic winding mechanism

摘要

A camera assembly including a motor drive unit is formed with a base casing having a very small thickness dimension which conforms to and is removably mounted on the bottom panel of the camera housing. A grip fixedly secured to the base casing and upwardly extending along the right front corner of the camera housing facilitates stable manual holding of the camera, and also houses an electric motor located internally within the grip. A speed reduction gear train located within the base casing connects the motor to a film winding mechanism in the camera housing, and a battery is located in an attachment casing removably mounted on the bottom of the base casing by a locking device which enhances the portability of the camera by facilitating removal of the attachment casing from the base casing. An electromagnetic clutch provided between the gear train and the electric motor to control automatic driving of the camera and to minimize electrical energy consumption is also located in the grip to contribute to the compactness of the motor drive unit.