Polaroid 636 restyle Operating instructions

Repair Manual
Americas Business Center
Technical Services
201 Burlington Road
Bedford MA 01730
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
636/636AF Instant Camera
December 1995

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Model 636 Camera Service Manual
CONTENTS
Section Page
1 General Description 1
2 Sequence of Operation 3
3 Theory of Operation 13
4 Disassembly & Reassembly 36
5 Troubleshooting 75
6 Testing with the Star Tester,
Camera Adjustments and Tester
Calibration 85
7 Testing with the B-600 Tester,
Camera Adjustments and Tester
Calibration 106
PARTS CATALOG: Separate document.
See Polaroid Model 636 CAMERA PARTS CATALOG,
January 1994 for part names, numbers and exploded views.
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure Description Page
(SECTION 1 Model 636 Description)
- 636 Camera 1
(SECTION 2 Sequence of Operation)
- Flash charging, fire & exposure switches 3
- Strobe charging 3
- Strobe ready sequence 4
- Exposure sequence 4
- Exposure sequence: clock & photocell 5
- Fill flash sequence 5
- Flash quench, shutter closing 6
- Motor drive of pick, counter, S5 actuator 6
- Low ambient exposure sequence 7
- Subject near/far determination 7
- “ “ “ 8
- Low light near exposure control 8
- Motor drive of pick, counter, S5 actuator 9
- Subject far determination 9
- Low light far exposure sequence 10
- Motor drive of pick, counter, S5 actuator 10
- Non-flash exposure control 11
- Camera Operating/Exposure Sequence Diagram 12
(SECTION 3 Theory of Operation)
- 636 Camera 13
- 600 film pack 14,15
- 636 Flash 16
- Flash charging 17
- Flash quenching 18
- Three flash picture conditions 20
- Flash control methods 21
- High ambient, fill flash mode 22
- Photocell light measurement 23
- Low ambient flash exposure 24
- Subject near/far determination 25-28
- IR light measurement 28-33
- Exposures without flash 33
- Camera inhibits 34-35
(SECTION 4 Disassembly and Reassembly)
- Strobe components 37
1 Removing Strobe Cover 38
2 Discharging Strobe capacitor 38
3 Removing Lower Housing 39
4 Removing Flex 39
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Figure Description Page
5 Removing Flashtube, Flash Shield, Insulator 40
6 Unsoldering Flashtube wire leads 40
7 Removing PC Board & Plunger 41
- Apron Disassembly components 42
8 Removing Apron from Body 43
9 Removing Panel/Front Plate 43
10 Disassembling Close Up Lens & Trim Button 44
11 Reassembling Close Up Lens 45
12 Replacing Shuttle 45
- Body Disassembly components 46
13 Removing Cone from Body 47
14 Removing Strap Assembly 47
15 Removing Pack Spring, Tripod Nut if present 48
16 Removing Eye Cup/Retainer 48
- Shutter Disassembly components 49
17 Removing Viewfinder Housing 50
18 Removing Opening Blade Spring & Trim Slide 50
19 Removing Ambient Cal Disc, IR Cal Wedge, IR
Lens Filter & Ambient Lens Filter 51
20 Removing Lens Mounting Plate 51
21 Removing Inertia, Walking Beam, Shutter
Latch & Shutter Blades 52
22 Disassembling Inertia & Walking Beam 52
23 Removing Flex from Contact Support Block,
Motor and Wire Block 53
24 Removing Base Block from Cone 53
25 Removing Flex from Base Block 54
26 Removing Solenoid from Base Block 54
27 Replacing Solenoid in Base Block 55
28 Replacing Flex on the Base Block 55
29 Remounting Base Block on Cone 56
30 Reconnecting Flex to Contact Support Block,
Motor and Wire Block Assy 56
31 Replacing Shutter Blades 57
32 Reassembling Inertia, Walking Beam & Spring 57
33 Replacing Walking Beam/Inertia Assy 58
34 Replacing Shutter Latch 58
35 Replacing Lens Mounting Plate 59
36 Replacing Trim Slide 59
37 Replacing Photometrics on Lens Mtg Plate 60
38 Replacing Opening Blade Spring 60
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Figure Description Page
- Drive Assembly components 61
39 Removing parts from Gear Drive Cover 62
40 Releasing Springs and Drive Cover detents 63
41 Removing Gear Drive Cover 64
42 Removing parts from Gear Drive 64
43 Removing Counter, Gears & Pick 65
44 Removing S1 Slider and S5 Actuator 65
45 Replacing Actuator and Slider Assy 66
46 Verifying Slider-Switch contact relationship 66
47 Gear placement guide 67
48 Replacing Door Pawl and Spring 67
49 Replacing Counter 68
50 Replacing Pick & Return Spring 68
51 Replacing the Timing Gear 69
52 Setting Counter and Pawl Springs 69
53 Reconnecting wiring to Contacts 70
54 Removing Spread System from Door 71
(SECTION 6 Camera Testing with the Star Tester)
1 Graywall setup 87
2 Installing modified Strobe Fixture 12657B 88
3 Aligning Camera on Horn with Tester window 89
4 Installing risers under leveling legs 90
5 Test setup and Horn Riser position 91
6 Star Tester Controls & Indicators 94
7 Setup for 636 Graywall Test 98
8 Removing 636 Front Plate 100
9 Adjusting Blade Spring 100
10 Replacing Front Plate w/modified Front Plate 101
11 Adjusting Ambient Calibration Disc 101
12 Adjusting IR Calibration Wedge 102
(SECTION 7 Camera Testing with the B-600 Tester)
1 B-600 Tester and Model B Light Source 108
2 Camera on Horn, ready for testing 111
3 Removing Front Plate/Lens Panel 115
4 Adjusting Opening Blade Spring 115
5 Replacing Front Plate w/modified Front Plate 116
6 Adjusting IR Calibration Wedge 116
7 Adjusting Ambient Calibration Disc 117
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SECTION 1 - MODEL 636 CAMERA GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Model 636 OneStep/CloseUp Camera is an evolutionary, reliable, low-cost design in the
Polaroid “600” family of integral strobe, fixed focus hardbody cameras. It makes extensive use of
the 640 Camera technology and has many derivative characteristics of the 630 and 635 Camera
designs as well. The 636 offers automatic exposure control, fixed focus and rapid strobe recharge.
Model 636 was introduced in worldwide and U.S. markets in 1992 and 1993, and offers users the
following features:
* Close-up lens for subjects 2 - 4 ft. (0.6 - 1.2m) from Camera. An oval frame outline visible in
the Viewfinder helps position subject correctly.
* Depth of field 4 ft. (1.2 m) to infinity.
* Built-in, fold down, integral quench SPAR Strobe with 2 to 10-ft.(0.6 to 3.0 m) range, in
swing-up housing. Strobe charges automatically in 4 sec. when erected. Green strobe-ready
LED in rear of housing; remains ON for about 30 sec.
* Electronic logic for fill-flash in outdoor brightness, in approximate proportions of 75% ambient
light and 25% strobe fill.
* Uses 10-picture Polaroid 600 (ASA 600) color film.
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* Non-flash button allows pictures to be taken without strobe firing (e.g., through glass window).
* Lighten/Darken (trim) control for adjusting exposure + or - 3/4 stop. When in L or D position,
double arrows are visible in Viewfinder as reminder to user.
* Exposure control utilizing both ambient and IR light measurement. Flash exposure control via
IR quench full dissipation SPAR strobe.
* Picture counter shows number of exposures remaining (counts down).
* “Talking Camera” version plays pre-recorded message just before shutter opening, to encour-
age subjects to smile.
* Adjustable neck strap and on some models, tripod socket.
SPECIAL NOTE: 636 AF AUTOFOCUS CAMERA:
Model 636 AF Autofocus Camera, from a service standpoint, is similar to the 636 OneStep/Close
Up only in outward appearance.
As an extension of the 636 Camera line, the 636 AF uses a slightly modified version of the Impulse
shutter and a repackaged version of the Joshua electronics and software. It uses wink autofocus
from two feet to infinity, a rapid recharge strobe with a range of 10 feet, and has a maximum
shutter aperture of f/12.
In addition to more than two dozen unique parts, the 636 AF camera uses a combination of parts
from the 636, the Impulse Shutter and Joshua electronics.
* * * * * *
For more information, please refer to:
NPI 600AM #95-44, dated March 27, 1995
636 AF CAMERA CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION MANUAL
MARCH 1995
MODEL 636 AUTOFOCUS CAMERA PARTS CATALOG
MARCH 1995
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SECTION 2 - MODEL 636 SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
1. Shown here is the location of the switches which regulate flash charging, flash fire and
exposure. We will now run through a flash exposure sequence.
2. Lightly pressing the exposure button closes the S10 contacts, charging the strobe main
capacitor.
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3. Within five seconds the green LED at the rear of the strobe comes on, indicating that the
main capacitor is fully charged. The picture taker may now press in the exposure button
fully. This closes S1 and S10 remains closed. Closing S1 energizes the solenoid which
pulls in slightly.
4. As the solenoid pulls in, it releases the walking beam from the shutter latch. The spring-
loaded S5 actuator drops down, closing the S5P and S5L contacts. S5L starts an internal
clock. The camera electronics signal the solenoid to deenergize.
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5. With the solenoid deenergized and the walking beam free of the shutter latch, spring-
action opens the shutter blades. The internal clock is running and the photocell starts to
measure light.
6. In a fill-flash exposure, when the photocell sees 75% of the light needed for a proper
exposure, it signals the flash to fire. The flash provides the remaining 25% of the
necessary light. Note that in a fill-flash exposure, the photocell always beats the internal
clock in ordering flash fire.
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7. When the photocell sees 100% of the light needed for the exposure, the camera electronics
orders the flash to quench and the solenoid to energize. The solenoid then pulls the blades
closed.
8. After the blades close, the motor is turned on, activating a gear drive system similar to the
system in the OneStep. The timing gear:
advances the pick
indexes the counter
brings the S5 actuator back to its original position.
The solenoid deenergizes and the shutter system is again latched closed, ending the fill-
flash sequence.
6

9. The sequence for low-ambient conditions begins identically to the fill-flash sequence. The
flash is charged via S10 and the shutter blades open the same way. However, the flash is
fired by the internal clock reaching 74 ms, rather than by the photocell light measurement.
This happens because there is relatively little light passing through to the photocell.
10. Next, the camera logic asks whether the subject is NEAR or FAR. This information is
needed to properly set the electronics for low ambient pictures.
7

11. The camera determines whether the subject is NEAR or FAR by measuring the amount of
light reflected back to the photocell 2 milliseconds after the flash has fired (76 ms into the
exposure sequence). If the measurement is more than 50% of the total needed for a proper
exposure, the camera decides the subject is NEAR. If the subject is NEAR, the electronics
sets the clock to time-out at 124 ms.
12. In a low-light NEAR picture, the blades open partially so that the photocell is measuring
infrared light through the infrared filter. The flash is quenched and the shutter blades
closed either when the photocell sees 100% of the light needed for a proper exposure or
when the internal clock reaches 124 ms.
8

13. After the blades close, the motor is turned on. The timing gear advances the pick, indexes
the counter, and brings the S5 actuator back to its original position. The shutter system
is latched closed, ending the low ambient NEAR sequence.
14. If the light measured 2 milliseconds after the flash has fired is less than 50% of the total
needed for a proper exposure, the camera decides the subject is FAR.
9

15. In a low-light FAR picture, the blades open fully and the photocell sees scene light
through the photopic filter. When 100% of the necessary light is seen or when the internal
clock reaches 396 ms, the flash is quenched and the shutter blades close.
16. After the blades close, the motor is turned on. The timing gear advances the pick, indexes
the counter, and brings the S5 actuator back to its original position. The shutter system is
latched closed, ending the low-ambient FAR sequence.
10

17. For a non-flash picture (through a window), the exposure is started by pressing S1 only.
The end-exposure command is given either when the photocell sees 100% of the necessary
light for a proper exposure or when the internal clock reaches 396 ms.
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Camera Operating/Exposure Sequence Diagram
12

SECTION 3 - MODEL 636 THEORY OF OPERATION
1. This is the Model 636 Camera which is one of a new line of 600 cameras.
2. The Model 636 shares many of the features of the 635 and 640 Cameras. Among these are:
Fixed Focus Lens, Electronic Shutter, Film Shade, Lighten/Darken Control, Empty Pack
Lockout, Film Counter, Carrying Strap and a Fill Flash Capability.
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3. One of the major differences between the Model 636 and the OneStep is the type of film it
uses. Like all of the 600 line, the 636 uses a new film format. The film has a speed of 6O0
ASA.
4. On the inner edge of the 600 film pack is a set of molded plastic tabs which interface with
the pack spring in the camera. The two middle tabs press down the ramps of the pack
spring, allowing the film pack to slide over the stop for insertion into the camera. On older
style SX-70 packs there are no tabs. As a result, the pack is prevented from being inserted
into a 600 line camera by the pack spring stop.
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