The Focal Plane Power Spring
The lower roller
In fact
there are two torsion springs inside the tension roller. Both are connected with
one end to the middle of the inner shaft and the other end to the left
or right of the shaft.
The disc on the
left is connected to the left end of the outer shaft. The right disc is connected to the
tooth wheel as well as to the outer shaft.
The curtain is glued to the outer shaft while the inner shaft is connected to
the shutter wind-and-release mechanics and the other end to the bearing in the
camera housing.
Turning the inner shaft with the slotted end turns the middle disc and thus both
springs. Tension increases on both sides of the spring and thus on the tooth
wheel which is controlled by the camera release mechanism.
The inner shaft should be brought under tension (some 8 turns) before connecting
it to the wind/release mechanism of the camera.
When winding the shutter, the tension between the outer and inner shaft will be
more and more increased by each turn of this action.
The more the shutter will be wound up, the higher the tension will be in order
to draw back the outer shaft and thus tearing the curtain with the slit back in numbered start position.
Since both springs are connected in the same way to inner and outer shaft, both
are working together towards the same direction!
The inner
shaft is connected to the outer shaft by two brass discs each equiped with 6
toes fitting into matching notches
of the outer shaft.