Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Single Use camera
Project 1 Web report
Introduction: (Kodak Single Use Camera)
The Kodak Funsaver was a pioneer of the disposable, single use camera market. When
disposable cameras were popular, the Funsaver was considered Kodak’s flagship
product, due to its low cost and easy-to-develop film. The one-time use of the camera
meant the camera generally was in the hands of a single consumer for just a few months
at a time. However, almost all the parts in the camera, under normal conditions, had
lifespans far beyond a few months. Kodak took advantage of this, and decided to reuse
many of the parts of old cameras in new ones. This meant that the few dollars that
Kodak charged per camera paid for the few new parts needed for that camera, which
maximized profit for the company, while still keeping the consumer happy with the
overall low cost of the camera.
A main aspect of the reusability of these parts was that most of the parts where
entirely mechanical. In other words, the only electrical parts used were those that
powered the flash function of the camera. The actual picture-taking function was
entirely mechanical and chemical. The user pressed a button that opened a shutter which
let light into the camera through a lens that then cast that light onto light-sensitive film
momentarily, until the shutter closed again. A user-operated wheel then spun the used
film into the film cartridge, and the camera was ready to use again. Most of this process,
however, took place within the confines of the camera’s outer plastic casing. So, to the
user, simply, a button was pressed, and a wheel was turned. After this process was
repeated about 30 times, they took the camera to the nearest convenience store, where
in a few days, they returned and were given an envelope of their pictures, never to see
the camera again.
However, this is where the cost-effectiveness was most prevalent for Kodak.
The convenience store developed the film by removing the film through the bottom of
the camera and putting the film into a far more complex machine that read the
information stored on the film, and processed the information into photographs. The
film was then discarded, and the camera, if the convenience store chose to, was then
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Project 1 Web report
sent back to Kodak in return for money. At this point the film was replaced, as well as
the AA battery used to power the flash function, and as long as the camera seemed to
be in working order, was repackaged and sold as an entirely new camera. And although
it might not have been new, the parts that were considered used were still very capable
of doing their jobs properly. These parts had lifespans of several years, so a few months
of wear and tear did nothing to the overall performance seen by the consumer.
Part A:
Part-Material
Function
Outer casing
Protects and holds the inner components
of the camera
Lens
The image forming function of the
camera.
film
A recording function for the pictures
taken on the camera.
Central Casing
Holds together the inner parts of the
camera
View finder
Allows camera user to view what they
are capturing
Frame counter
Counts remaining pictures on film
Flash Circuit
Charges the flash
Flash component
Provides flash
Lens holders
Holds the lens in the camera
Resistance Spring
Provides force for film advancement
mechanism to complete cycle and Pulls
shutter into place
Film advance gear
Moves film into cartridge after taking a
picture
Magnifier
Magnifies the frame count
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Battery
Project 1 Web report
Provides power to circuit board to
complete flash process
Shutter Mechanism
Function of closing and opening the
light path of the camera
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Project 1 Web report
Part B:
The camera is considered a complex system made up of multiple systems that are
arranged in such a way to allow the passage of light and to process the image captured
in a well-defined way to ensure that every step is executed in the way it suppose to be.
These subsystems that are within the camera are different but function together when
the camera is working or when the capture button is clicked. As for the subsystems
inside this camera, the mechanical system, which is considered an important system
since the grey plastic gear, is used to rotate the inside parts till the parts lock behind the
capture button so that the camera is ready for picture to be taken. Also, this mechanical
system is connected to the lighting unit as well as the viewfinder group in order for the
image to be taken at the right time and as well the proper amount of light is entered the
frame and be exposed on the film so that the image is properly stored on the film. As
for the lighting unit it is operated by the electrical system in which a battery is used to
power the unit itself giving you a bright flashlight during snapshots. As for the process,
when the person aims and capture the picture the parts latched behind the capture button
are released and on the other hand the shutter opens and let the light pass and be exposed
on the film to store the image captured and the rotating parts are then placed back into
their original position.
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Project 1 Web report
Part C:
The most dominant material in this camera is made from is plastic making large part of
the camera recyclable. Since the most material used for many parts of the camera such
as the gears, latches, as well as holders, the shutter system, and the camera internal ad
external frame are made of plastic these are the commonly recycled parts and placed in
new recycled single use camera and this might be a reason why they are so cheap. And
other parts such as springs, battery, film, and various components of the electrical
circuit are made of metals and chemicals. As for the disassembly/assembly processes,
they are almost the same the person should follow the same process of disassembly to
re-assemble the camera but it is just the reverse of disassembling and follow certain
safety procedures to avoid getting electric shock. To disassemble the camera the
following steps must be followed, take the screwdriver and rip off the sticker on the top
of the outer frame so that you can split the frame and open the camera into two parts.
Then take the part with the camera frame and take away the film and start the process
by pulling all components ad parts away but keep in mind not to touch the electric
circuit since it can be charged so discharge it first before pulling it and continue pulling
the parts off the camera frame but fore safety purposes take off the electrical circuit at
the end to avoid electrical shock.
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Part D:
A: Plastic Casing/Frame
B: Chemical Subsystem
- Film
C: Electronic Subsystem
- Flash Circuit board
- AA Battery Cell
D: Mechanical Subsystem
- Shutter Mechanism
- Film Advancing Mechanisms
- Flash Charging Mechanism
E: Light Subsystem
- Lens
- Viewfinder
Project 1 Web report
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Project 1 Web report
Part E:
The single use camera is made up with few different materials. These materials
include mainly plastic, but also include copper, steel, and silicone. According to
Kodak, more than 1.5 billion single use camera have been recycled and reused since
1990. Also, according to their website, 84% of Kodak single use camera are recycled
and reused, which make them the champion of recycling in US. The only things that
can’t be reused are the AA battery and the film itself. Internal parts that are in perfect
working condition are just reused in newer cameras and everything else, such as the
outer casting cover are ground up and recycled to be molded into new parts.
Part F:
Obaid Al-Ali
Saeed Alkaabi
Eric
Project 1 Web report
References:
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=4213&pq-locale=el_US
As for the part that we think it must be modified or redesign in order to
minimize waste as possible is to change the packaging of the Kodak single use
camera. Also, redesigning the packaging so that it can be recycled or biodegradable so
that it’s environmental friendly. In addition, changing or modifying the packaging
would contribute largely to reduce waste associated with the camera and might be the
cheapest choice compared to others in terms of reducing waste.