Team 8
Study of a Single Use Camera
Diagram of Functional Components
How Components are Arranged
Two plastic shells make up the outer covering of the camera. These shells contain all the parts that make
the camera work. Within the outer shell there is the inner casing with the attached button press.
Attached to the back of the inner casing are the film reel and the film canister. Connected to these are
the exposure’s dial and the film advancer. Also attached is the silver spring which provides the energy to
quickly open the shutter. The lens assembly, which contains the lens, is located on the front side of the
inner casing. Also included is the circuit board. Underneath the lens is a shutter which is controlled by a
small spring. On the front side of the camera there is the circuit board, battery, and flash lens. The
viewfinder is on the back of the container. All of the functional components are contained in the paper
and plastic packaging in the above image.
How it Works
As you wind up the film advancer the film is advanced to the next frame and the silver spring is wound
up to prepare for the next shot. The flash is then charged by the AA battery when holding the button on
the front shell casing. Once the capacitor is fully charged, the camera is ready to take a picture. When
the button press is pressed, the shutter is quickly retracted letting light traveling through the lens to
strike the film frame. If the flash is charged, the capacitor will hold the charge until the button press is
activated. Once the film is exposed, the shutter returns to its previous position and the camera can be
prepared for the next picture
Disassembly Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rip packaging off Camera
Use a small tool (screwdriver) to push tabs and separate the casings
Remove battery
Remove Circuit Board. Warning: Do not touch capacitor or metal on circuit board
you will be shocked. You must discharge the capacitor with the screwdriver.
5. Remove film canister and film advancer
6. Remove the lens, front of lens assembly, shutter spring, lens assembly, and the
shutter
7. Remove the exposure dial, view finders, and shutter openers
Assembly Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Replace the exposure dial, view finders, and shutter openers
Replace the lens, front of lens assembly, shutter spring, lens assembly, and the shutter
Replace film canister and film advancer
Replace Circuit Board
Replace battery. Warning: Do not touch capacitor or metal on circuit board you will be
shocked.
6. Assemble the casing by lining up the tabs and pushing the two halves together
7. Place packaging back onto the camera
Reused Parts: The listed parts are reused multiple times until they fail. Outer parts are reused less than
inner parts.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Small spring
Big spring
Casing (outer piece)
Battery
Film Reel
Lens (outer piece)
Circuit Board
Non-reused Parts:
1. Packaging
2. Film Canister
Recycled Parts:
1. Everything is recycled except the circuit board.
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Spring – Steel
Casing – ABS Plastic
Battery – Metal and Acid
Film Reel – Composite Plastics
Lens – ABS Plastic
Circuit Board – Electronic Components
Packaging – Plastic and Aluminum
Film Canister – Composite Plastics
Shutter – Steel
A possible redesign of the disposable camera is a change to the packaging of the camera and a
change to the canister that holds the film. The packaging could be made of a type of biodegradable
material to reduce waste. Another way to reduce waste is to redesign the film canister. Currently the
film canister is not recyclable or reusable. If there was a way to make the canister reusable once the
film was extracted, the amount of waste would greatly be reduced. An example of a recyclable material
is ABS Plastic similar to the type used in the casings.