JP2787686B2 - Collapsible camera with lens barrier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention has a lens barrier for protecting a photographic lens, and a position where the photographic lens protrudes forward from a camera body, and a body beyond the position. The present invention relates to a camera using a retractable photographing lens that can move between a retracted position and a retracted side.

(Prior art)

Conventionally, as a camera having a lens barrier mechanism for protecting the taking lens, a lens barrier is arranged on the front of the camera body, and is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis on the front of the taking lens to open and close. 2. Description of the Related Art A camera with a lens barrier configured to protect an entire photographing lens including a lens barrel is known.

In such a camera with a lens barrier, in order to reduce the size of the entire camera, it is necessary to reduce the amount of projection of the photographing lens from the camera body. When the projection amount of the photographing lens is large, the thickness of the entire camera has necessarily been increased.

On the other hand, by having a zoom function and functions such as a standard function and a telephoto function, the photographing lens, that is, the lens barrel is protected even when a photographing lens that is relatively large and projects a large amount from the camera body is used. There is a need to provide a lens barrier for the purpose.

However, when the above-mentioned lens barrier is used in a conventional type of camera, the camera must necessarily be enlarged in order to secure a space for accommodating the lens barrier.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for the entire camera to be large even when a relatively large photographing lens as described above is used, and to eliminate interference of the lens barrier with the photographing lens, that is, the lens barrel. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a lens barrier that effectively protects a lens barrel and is easy to handle.

[Means for solving the problem]

A collapsible camera having a lens barrier according to the present invention includes: a lens barrier movable to an open position retracted from a front surface of a photographing lens barrel and a closed position covering a front surface of the photographing lens barrel; A photographing lens mirror movable to a retracted position that is retracted closer to the camera body than a movement locus of the lens barrier and a protruding position that protrudes forward from the movement locus of the lens barrier from the camera body. A barrel; a barrier driving unit that drives the lens barrier to a closed position; and a lens barrel that starts moving the photographing lens to the retracted position in response to the lens barrier starting to move to the closed position. Driving means, the lens barrier so that the lens barrier does not reach a position where the lens barrier interferes with the photographing lens barrel until the photographing lens barrel moves to the retracted position. And having a delay means for delaying the movement to a position.

[Operation] With the above configuration, if the lens barrier is to be closed when the taking lens barrel is in the protruding position, the taking lens barrel starts to move to the retracted position, and the delay means causes the lens barrier to close. Since the movement is delayed, interference between the lens barrier and the taking lens barrel is prevented.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are perspective views of a collapsible automatic focusing camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a lens barrier 1 on the front surface of a lens 2 is slid laterally for photographing, and FIG.
This shows a state in which the taking lens 2 is retracted into the camera body 3 and the lens barrier is closed. The photographing lens is of a bifocal type, and is configured to protrude forward from the position where the lens barrier slides as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a portion A in FIG.
A flange 20 protruding from the inner wall of the barrier main body 1 is joined to the barrier main body at a surface 21 indicated by oblique lines, and on this flange 20 is a closing prevention / lens drive signal generating means provided on the camera body side. A flock boss 22 that can be engaged with the closing prevention block 30 and a swing lever boss 23 that can abut a swing lever 31 provided on the camera body side are arranged.

A closing prevention block 30 serving as a closing prevention / lens drive signal generating means is attached to the camera body 3 so as to slide in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens. It has a block concave portion 30a to be engaged, a block slope 30b, and a block convex portion 30c to be engaged with a locking lever 32 provided on the body side.

The swing lever 31 and the locking lever 32 attached to the camera body are both supported coaxially rotatable about a lever boss 34 (see FIG. 4A) on the camera body. The swing lever 31 includes a wall portion 31a for limiting the rotation of the locking lever 32, a hook portion 31b for stopping the spring 35, and a swing lever slope 31c. The locking lever 32 includes a locking claw 32a that engages with the block projection 30c of the locking block 30, and a bent portion 32b that stops the other end of the spring 35 and limits the rotation axis of the swing lever 31. Is done.

The spring 35 is a torsion spring, and is arranged around a lever boss 34 on the camera body side like the swing lever 31 and the locking lever 32. One end of the spring 35 contacts the hook portion 31b to move the swing lever 31 counterclockwise. , And the other end contacts the bent portion 32b to urge the locking lever 32 clockwise.

FIG. 4 (a) is a plan view of an upper cutaway in which the flange portion of FIG. 3 is further enlarged. FIG. 4A shows the barrier closing prevention mechanism in a state where the barrier is opened and the photographing is in a standby state. The spring 36 has one end fixed to the locking lever 32,
The other end is connected to the camera body 3, whereby the locking lever 32 is constantly urged clockwise. To prevent the rotation of this locking lever 32, a locking boss is attached to the camera body side.
38 is provided and is in contact with the locking claw 32a of the locking lever. The spring 37 has one end connected to the closing prevention block and the other end connected to the camera body 3 so as to always bias the closing prevention block 30 in the direction of the subject parallel to the optical axis (arrow 42).

Although not shown in the drawings, the closing prevention block 30
A brush for a main switch of the camera is provided on the back surface of the camera. FIG. 4 (b) shows this switch. The brush 48 attached to the block 30 moves on the substrate 45 in the vertical direction of the drawing (that is, in the direction of arrows 41 and 42 in FIG. 4 (a)). Slide. When a transition is made from the pattern 47 on the substrate 45 to the pattern 46, the main switch is turned off, and this trigger signal activates the drive system of the lens barrel, and the lens barrel starts collapsing. Conversely, the main switch is turned on when moving from pattern 46 to 47,
With this trigger signal, the taking lens starts to protrude from the camera body.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show the operation of the barrier closing prevention mechanism in FIG. 4 (a). The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Will be described.

In FIG. 4 (a), the barrier has been opened,
The barrier closing prevention mechanism in a state where the main switch is turned on and the photographing lens projects is shown. When the block boss 22 and the block concave portion 30a are engaged, and the closing prevention block 30 is in the closing preventing position shown in FIG. 4, the block boss or lens barrier moves in the direction of arrow 44. Can not do. However, the block boss 22 and the block concave portion 30a have a click structure in the direction of arrow 43, and when a predetermined force or more is applied to the lens barrier, that is, the block boss 22 in the direction of arrow 43, the block 30 Spring 37 biasing in the direction of arrow 42
Is moved in the direction of arrow 41 against the force of. At the same time, the block boss 22, that is, the barrier advances in the direction of arrow 43.

When the block boss 22 hits the block slope 30b, the brush attached to the block 30 moves on the board 45, and switches the main switch from on to off. Therefore, the lens barrel starts collapsing in response to a trigger signal to the barrel driving device. Further, when the block boss 22 advances in the direction of the arrow 43 while contacting and pressing the block slope 30b,
The locking claw 32a of the locking lever 32 engages with the block projection 30c. When the block 30 is further moved in the direction of the arrow 41, the block protrusion 30c presses the locking claw 32a, and the locking claw 32a
The locking lever 32 rotates counterclockwise as a result. Thereafter, when the block 30 moves more than a predetermined amount in the direction of the arrow 41, that is, when the block protrusion 30c moves in the direction of the arrow 41 beyond the locking claw 32a, the locking lever rotates clockwise and the locking boss again. Abuts 38. At this time, the locking claw 32a is at a position where the block projection 30c is locked,
The whole is prevented from moving in the direction of the arrow 42.

Further, when the lens barrier is moved in the direction of arrow 43 at the closing preparation position, the block boss 22 moves in the direction of arrow 43,
It comes into contact with the flat portion 30d of the block 30. FIG. 5 shows this state. In this state, the block 30 is at the release position for releasing the closure prevention of the lens barrier. By this time, the lens barrel has been retracted to a position where it does not interfere with the lens barrier.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the barrier is moving from the closing preparation position to the closing position via the opening position. The swing lever boss 23 comes into contact with the slope 31c of the swing lever 31, but when the swing lever boss 23 is moved in the direction of the arrow 44 by a force larger than the force of the spring 35, the swing lever 31 rotates clockwise. Thus, the barrier is easily closed. When the barrier moves to the closed position, the contact between the swing lever boss 23 and the swing lever slope 31c is released, and the swing lever 31 rotates counterclockwise and returns to the original position.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the barrier is moving from the closed position to the open position. When the swing lever boss 23 comes into contact with one end of the swing lever 31, the swing lever 31 starts rotating counterclockwise, but since the wall 31a of the swing lever 31 presses the bent portion 32b of the locking lever 32, The locking lever 32 also rotates counterclockwise simultaneously with the swing lever 31 against the force of the spring 36. Then, the engagement between the locking claw 32a and the block projection 30c is released, and the block 30 moves in the direction of the arrow 42 by the force of the spring 37 until the arm 30e of the block 30 contacts the block boss 22. FIG. 7 shows this state. When the barrier is further opened, the lever boss 23 and the swing lever slope 30c
The block boss 22 slides on the arm 30e, and the block boss 22 moves to and engages with the block concave portion.

At this time, the block 30 moves in the direction of the arrow 42,
The brush 48 on the back side of 30 slides on the substrate 45, and the main switch is turned on. Therefore, the photographing lens starts to protrude to the focusing operation position.

With the configuration described above, interference with the photographing lens when opening and closing the barrier is eliminated.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is also a bifocal collapsible autofocus camera, and its appearance is shown in FIGS.
The external appearance of the collapsible automatic focusing camera shown in FIG. 1 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion corresponding to the portion.

The closing prevention mechanism of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Barrier flange 1a provided on barrier 1
Denotes a surface protruding from the inner wall of the barrier 1, and a surface 1d indicates a joint surface with the inner wall of the barrier 1. The boss 1b traveling on the barrier flange 1a is a flange protrusion 1b, and when the barrier performs a sliding motion and the flange 1a moves rightward, the flange protrusion 1b is arranged so as to abut on the lever end 13b of the lever 13. ing.

The closing prevention block 12, which is a closing prevention and lens driving signal generating means, is provided to prevent the closing of the barrier, and is slidable in the directions of arrows B and C. The guide groove 12b is provided for sliding in the directions of the arrows B and C. The guide groove 12b is moved until the closing prevention block 12, which is the closing prevention and lens driving signal generating means, does not interfere with the barrier flange 1a. Is possible. Further, the block pressing portion 12a projects from the camera body in order to move the closing prevention block 12 urged in the direction of arrow c in the direction of arrow B by a finger.

The lever 13 has a shaft 13c as a rotation axis and is urged clockwise, and in the state shown in the figure, the lever claw 13a of the lever 13 is in contact with the lever surface 12c of the opening block 12 parallel to the guide groove 12b. . When the closing prevention block 12 is retracted to a position where it does not prevent the movement of the barrier flange 1a in the closing direction, the contact between the lever surface 12c and the lever claw 13a is released, the lever rotates clockwise, and the lever claw 13a is closed. Locking surface 1 of prevention block 12
2d is engaged to prevent the closing prevention block 12 from moving in the direction of arrow c.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the closing prevention mechanism of FIG.
One end of the lever 13 is urged clockwise by a spring 14 engaged with the camera body 3. Closure prevention block 12
Is located in the guide groove 12b and is fixed to the camera body.
It slides along the guide pin 16 of the book.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the block pressing portion 12a of the closing prevention block 12 indicated by an arrow BB in FIG. A brush 17 is fixed to the block pressing portion 12a of the closing prevention block, and a finger slip stopper is provided on the upper portion of the block pressing portion 12a. Printed circuit board fixed to the camera body side
Wiring patterns 19 and 20 are provided on the block
The brush 17 fixed to the lower part of 2a
The block pusher 12a and the printed circuit board 18 which slide on the upper and lower parts 9, 20 constitute a main switch of the camera. When the brush 17 moves from the pattern 20 to the pattern 19, the main switch is turned off, and the brush 17 moves from the pattern 19 to the pattern 20.
Is moved, the main switch is turned on.

The operation of the retractable self-focusing camera of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 shows a closing prevention mechanism when the barrier is opened as described above, and the photographic lens and the barrier (not shown) are in the same state as in FIG. The closing prevention block 12 is urged downward by a spring 15 to abut the surface 1e of the barrier flange, and cannot move the barrier flange rightward in the drawing. Therefore, the barrier cannot be closed.

In order to store the lens barrel and close the barrier from this state, first, the block pushing portion 12a of the closing prevention block 12 is
Press upward on the drawing. Thereby, along the guide pin 16,
The closing prevention block 12 slides upward in the drawing against the force of the spring 15. On the way, the brush 17 moves from the wiring pattern 20
At 19, the main switch is turned off, and a signal for retracting the lens barrel is generated. In response to this signal, the lens barrel driving device is operated, and collapsing of the lens barrel starts. When the upward movement of the block 12 is further continued, the lever claw 13a of the lever 13 urged clockwise by the spring 14 engages with the locking surface 12d. The closing prevention block 12 is restricted from moving upward by one of the guide pins 16 and stays at that position. This state is shown in FIG. 10, where the closing prevention block 12 and the barrier flange 1a are disengaged as shown in the figure, and the barrier can be slid rightward. Also,
During the transition from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10, the taking lens is retracted to a position lower than the barrier, and the barrier can be closed without interfering with the taking lens.

When the barrier is slid in the closing direction and the barrier flange is moved rightward, the lever end 13b of the lever 13 and the flange protrusion 1b abut just before the barrier is closed, and the lever claw 13a The block 12 is disengaged and the closing prevention block 12 moves downward until it comes into contact with the surface 1f of the barrier flange 1a, and stops in the state shown in FIG. This second
FIG. 11 shows the state of the closing prevention mechanism when the barrier is moved to the closing position. In this case, although not shown, the taking lens is collapsed, and the appearance of the camera is as shown in FIG.

Starting to open the barrier to the left from the closed state in FIG. 11,
The surface 12f of the block 12 and the barrier flange 1a surface 1f serve as sliding surfaces, and the barrier flange 1a moves to the left in the drawing. When the barrier is opened and the barrier flange moves to the position shown in FIG. 9, the closing prevention block 12 moves to the surface 1f of the barrier flange.
Is released, moves downward by the force of the spring 15, and comes into contact with the surface 1e of the barrier flange. Since the brush 17 is also moved by the movement of the closing prevention block, the main switch is switched from off to on. By the switching of the main switch, a signal for projecting the lens barrel is generated, the lens barrel driving device is operated, and the lens barrel projects to the projecting position of the focusing operation. At this time, the closing prevention mechanism returns to the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a retractable automatic focusing camera brake means and a locking means according to a third embodiment of the present invention. When the barrier 1 in the closed state is slid to the left to the open position, the main switch provided on the barrier 1 is turned on, and the trigger signal activates the lens barrel driving device, and the lens barrel starts to protrude. I do. The lens barrel protrudes to a position higher than the barrier and stops and enters a standby state. The standby state in which the barrier is opened is as shown in FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment. One end of the barrier 1 is constantly urged in the closing direction by a spring 58 fixed to the camera body, but can be easily moved manually in the opening direction (left direction in the drawing).

The locking means includes a barrier locking member 56 and a locking protrusion 1a on the barrier side.
The barrier locking member 56 includes a locking claw 56 at the right end.
The locking projection 1a provided on the barrier 1 is locked by b, and the barrier 1 can be held in the open position. The direction of clockwise rotation by the spring 57 using the boss 56c provided on the camera body as a rotation axis. Has been energized. However, rotation of the barrier locking member 56 in the clockwise direction beyond the position shown in the figure is restricted by a boss (not shown) provided on the camera body side. A knob 56a provided on the barrier locking member 56 protrudes from the camera body.
By operating 6a, the barrier locking member can be turned around the boss 56c.

Next, a brake mechanism for adjusting the barrier closing speed will be described. Reference numeral 51 denotes a rack attached to the back surface of the barrier, and the rack is mechanically connected to the planetary gear units 52, 53, and 59. The planetary gear device includes a sun gear 52, a planetary gear 53, and an arm 59. The governor mechanism includes a stepped gear 54 composed of a spur gear and an escape wheel, and an ankle 55. The gears 52, 53, the stepped gear 54, and the ankle 55 are each rotatably held by the camera body 3.

The barrier 1 is provided with a main switch (not shown). The structure of the main switch is almost the same as that of FIG. 4B, and as in the description of FIG. 4B of the first embodiment,
The main switch is turned on or off by sliding the brush on the substrate. That is,
When the main switch is turned on while the barrier is open and the barrier is slightly moved in the closing direction from the open state, the main switch is turned off. When the main switch is switched from off to on, the lens barrel starts moving to the protruding position. When the main switch is switched from on to off, the lens barrel moves to the retracted position.

 The operation of the third embodiment will be described below.

First, the operation of moving the barrier 1 from the closed state as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The barrier 1 is moved leftward against the spring 58. The leftward movement of the rack 51 causes the sun gear 52
Rotates in the counterclockwise direction.
Also rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the engagement between the planetary gear 53 and the stepped gear 54 is released, and the rotation of the sun gear 52 is not transmitted to the governor mechanisms 54 and 55. That is, the barrier can be easily opened. When the barrier is further moved in the opening direction, the locking projection 1a of the barrier 1 is locked by the locking claw of the barrier locking member 56.
56b is pressed upward in the drawing, and the barrier locking member 56 is once rotated counterclockwise to completely open the barrier and the locking projection
When 1a moves leftward from the locking claw 56b, the main switch is switched from off to on, and the lens barrel starts moving to the projecting position. At this time, the barrier locking member 56 rotates clockwise and returns to the state of FIG. 13 again. As a result, the barrier locking member 56 locks the locking protrusion 1a, and the barrier 1 is opened. Lean on. When the movement of the lens barrel to the projecting position is completed, the camera is ready for photographing.

Next, an operation until the lens barrel is moved to the retracted position and the lens barrier is closed to accommodate the photographing lens after the photographing is completed will be described. Knob of barrier locking member 56
When the lock 56a is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the lock between the lock protrusion 1a and the lock claw 56b is released, and the barrier 58 starts to move in the closing direction by the force of the spring 58. When the barrier 1 slightly moves from the open state to the closed state, the main switch is switched from on to off, and the lens barrel starts collapsing. Further, the barrier 1 continues to move in the closing direction, but this time the sun gear rotates clockwise, and the arm 59 also rotates clockwise. As a result, the planetary gear 53 and the stepped gear mesh with each other, and the rotation of the sun gear 52 is transmitted to the governors 54 and 55. In other words, the governor cannot move the lens barrier quickly. The lens barrel 2 is collapsed to a position where it has escaped in the height direction (height in the optical axis direction) before the barrier 1 comes. The barrier is closed without interfering with the lens barrel.

In the retractable self-focusing camera of the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide a lens barrier for protecting the taking lens while keeping the camera small. In particular, it is easy to prevent the photographing lens from being inadvertently damaged by providing a barrier closing prevention means and providing a switch function of starting collapsing or providing a braking means for delaying the closing of the barrier. Became possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible automatic focusing camera with a barrier closed, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retractable automatic focusing camera in a state where the camera is opened, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the retractable automatic focusing camera of FIG. 1, showing a closing prevention mechanism in the camera. FIG. 4 (a), FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are partially enlarged plan views of a third closing prevention mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main switch provided in the closing prevention mechanism. 8 to 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a first collapsible automatic focusing camera, showing a closing prevention mechanism in the camera. 9, 10, and 11 are partially enlarged plan views of the closing prevention mechanism of FIG. 8, and FIG. 12 is provided on the closing prevention mechanism of FIG. 8. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a main switch. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a brake means or a closing delay mechanism of a retractable self-focusing camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Description of Signs of Main Parts] 1 ... Lens barrier 2 ... Lens barrel 3 ... Camera body 12 ... Close prevention / lens drive signal generating means 13 ... Lever 17 ... Brush 18 ... Printed circuit board 20 … Flange 30… Closing prevention and lens drive signal generating means 31… Swinging lever 32… Locking lever 56… Barrier locking member 56 a… Knob 51… Rack 52, 53, 54, 55… ... Brake means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tokuyasu Otani 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Nikon Oi Works Co., Ltd. No. 6-3 Nikon Oi Works (72) Inventor Hiroshi Wakabayashi 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Nikon Oi Works (56) References JP-A-59-22039 (JP, A) JP-A-62-245233 (JP, A) JP-A-1-231035 (JP, A) JP-A-62-246020 (JP, A) JP-A-7-45070 (JP, Y2) Photographic Industry 1989 March / Nikon Pikaichi Chizumi Quartz Date (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03B 17/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A lens barrier movable between an open position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens barrel and a closed position covering the front surface of the photographing lens tube; A retractable position retracted to the camera body side relative to the movement locus of the barrier, a photographing lens barrel movable to a protruding position protruding forward from the movement locus of the lens barrier from the camera body, and the lens barrier. Barrier drive means for driving to a closed position; lens barrel drive means for starting movement of the taking lens barrel to the retracted position in response to the lens barrier starting to move to the closed position; A delay that delays the movement of the lens barrier to the closed position so that the lens barrier does not reach a position where the lens barrier interferes with the shooting lens barrel until the shooting lens barrel moves to the collapsed position. And a retractable camera having a lens barrier. 2. The lens barrier according to claim 1, wherein said delay means includes a gear that is interlocked with the movement of the lens barrier to a closed position, and a governor mechanism that acts on the rotation of the gear. Collapsible type camera.