Disassembly and Study of a Single Use Camera

By: Brian Courtright, Jasmine Jacob, Kathleen Prilutski, Gabriel Rosenwald

Functional ComponentsContains three

different processes: Energy ProcessingMaterial ProcessingSignal Processing

Each process contains different components that enable the camera to function accordingly.

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Energy ProcessingDivided into three components:

LightElectricalMechanical

Each lower component can be subdivided further

LightDivided into two components:

Lens Image projected on film plane Light sensitive film

Image StoredViewfinder

Select View

ElectricalDivided into two components:

Viewfinder Select view

Battery Flash charging

Flash discharge

Mechanical Divided into three components:

Cock shutterAdvance film by one frameOpen shutter

Material ProcessingOperates by:

Advance film and wind up shutterFrame counting

Signal ProcessingOperates trigger by:

Trigger shutter open

Trigger flash discharge

Operates flash by:Turn on flash

chargingFlash ready signal

Materials Used for PartsCamera unit as a system:

Previously used componentsNew Injection molded plastic partsNew Metal componentsNew Printed Circuit Board Assembly of the

Flash unitNew Batteries for the Flash subassemblyFilm rolls in canistersPackaging

Disassembly ProcedureTake apart the plastic housing covers. Use a

small screwdriver to pry rear and front sections off. Be firm, but gentle. The pieces should come apart without breaking. In the rear of camera body you will see the film chamber and the flash battery, in the front you’ll see the lens with shutter and the flash circuitry-do not touch it yourself.

Removal of AA energy cellIdentify and remove the AA energy cell

from the camera. Remove the exposed film cassette and put it away for processing later.

Assembly ProcedureWind the shutter up by turning the sprocket whelel (above

film window) until you hear a firm click. Turn the front of the camera away from yourself and others. Press the shutter to discharge the remaining power in flash circuit.

Final DisassemblyTake apart the camera mechanism as far as

possible in order to discover principal compents.

http://mitocw.udsm.ac.tz/NR/rdonlyres/Mechanical-Engineering/2-003Spring-2005/76DBE959-78D0-47C9-AB71-5E435E0BDB81/0/chp_d_camera2.jpg

Kodak Funsaver Flash Unit

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/kflashf.gif

Camera Components

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Assembly ProcedureReverse the process you took in taking the

camera apart.Carefully put each component back into the

camera. Lastly, put the plastic cover back on the

camera.

How does the camera work?When the user is ready to take a picture, she

simply aims the camera at the desired subject and presses the shutter-release button. This button activates a spring-loaded shutter in the side of the camera which flicks open for a fraction of a second; the exact length of exposure depends upon the shutter speed of the camera

 http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4727778_disposable-camera-work.html#ixzz11uyoIlgU

RecyclingIronically, disposable cameras are anything

but disposed of. In fact, the recycling industry for disposable cameras has surpassed that of aluminum beverage cans. Retailers are incentivized and provided with services to increase their willingness and desire to help Kodak recycle the single use camera. Among these services is a silver management service that includes refining, recovery, and recycling. This service is primarily concerned with recovering the silver from developed and therefore unnecessary film.

http://www.americanrecycler.com/0804picture.shtml

The Circuit Board

One of the most important components recycled is the circuit board. The ability to reuse this piece is fundamental in making the recovery process economically viable. These boards are tested to ensure quality, and then reused. Being that the camera components are tested to ensure quality, Kodak no longer considers tracking the number of times they have been reused relevant. It is not unheard of for this component to be reused ten times.

http://www.americanrecycler.com/804picture.shtml http://prc68.com/I/Images/KodakFlshFrs.jpg

Other Reusable Components

Like the circuit board, the plastic frame, and associate plastic components, are also reused after quality has been assured. The frames are reused and average of three times, and have been specifically designed to be reused. In fact operating instructions are printed on recyclable polystyrene panels, which subverts the need to augment decals. The only plastic component not regularly reused is the lens, which is ground up, and designed using easily recycled plastics.

http://www.americanrecycler.com/804picture.shtml http://gicl.cs.drexel.edu/wiki-data/images/b/b5/Original.jpg

PackagingThe recycling process for single use cameras

is so developed that they are also associated with specific facilities dedicated to recycling the paper packaging.

http://www.americanrecycler.com/0804picture.shtml

Reduce WasteImproving the durability of the circuit board

itself, the key component in making the recycling process commercially viable, would lead to increased reuse and overall minimization of input materials

Fewer, in terms of reconstitution, more durable items would lead to increased lifetime of the component, and minimized expenditures for the corporation.

Single Use Camera

Energy Processing

Light

Lens

Image

Projected on Film Plan

e

Light

Sensitive Film

Image saved

View

Finder

Select View

Electrical

Battery

Flash Charg

ing

Flash Discharg

e

Mechanical

Cock Shutter

Advance Film By

One

Open Shutter

Mechanical Processing

Advance Film & Wind Up Shutter

Frame Counting

Signal Processing

Trigger Shutter Open

Trigger Flash Discharge

Turn on Flash Charging

Flash Ready Signal

Functional Decomposition of a Single Use Camera