JP3475593B2 - Lens barrel - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens barrel having a lens barrel provided with a switch covered with a protective member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional camera with an autofocus (AF) function, an autofocus operation is started by, for example, half-pressing a release button. Then, the shutter operation is performed by fully pressing the release button.

Some cameras with an autofocus function have an AF lock mechanism. The AF lock mechanism is a function for the photographer to forcibly stop the autofocus operation during the autofocus operation, and is used when it is desired to focus on an arbitrary position regardless of the autofocus. The switch for performing the AF lock is provided, for example, on the lens barrel.
A conventional example of the lens barrel is shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a lens barrel 110 and a protective member 130 which covers a switch 140 not shown here.
And the resin block 2 for pressing down the protective member 130.
00 and four fixing screws 170 for attaching the resin block 200 to the lens barrel 110 are shown.

This switch structure is provided at four positions at equal intervals in the outer peripheral direction of the lens barrel 110, and when one of them is pressed, the AF lock described above is executed.

The internal structure around the switch 140 is shown in FIG.
Is shown in. As shown in the figure, the lens barrel 110 has a fixed barrel 111 fixed to the camera body, and a cylindrical member 112 fitted in the fixed barrel 111. Fixed cylinder 111
The cylindrical member 112 and the cylindrical member 112 are both made of metal. The cylindrical member 112 has a recess 112a in which the resin block 200 is inserted.
Is provided, and a through hole is formed in the bottom surface of the recess 112a. The peripheral surface 112b of the through hole is shaved off at its upper surface. The protective member 130 is a rubber cylindrical container having a flange 130a at the lower end,
The flange 130a is fitted to the peripheral edge 112b with the switch 140 accommodated therein. With the main body of the protective member 130 penetrating itself, the protective member 1
The resin block 200 pressing the flange 130a of 30 from above is fixed to the cylindrical member 112 by four fixing screws 170, as shown in FIG. The switch 140 is mounted on the circuit board 150, and the circuit board 150 is fixed to the upper surface of the switch receiving plate 160. The switch receiving plate 160 is fixed to the cylindrical member 112 with a stop screw 180. The wiring 151 drawn from the circuit board 150 is connected to a control circuit (not shown).

[0007]

However, in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the manufacturing process thereof, a step for molding the resin block 200 and a step for molding the metal cylindrical member 112 are performed. A process was needed. Specifically, it was necessary to align the two molds separately and perform each step. Further, in the conventional example, the resin block 200
It was necessary to form four screw holes for the fixing screw 170 for mounting the resin block in one resin block, that is, a total of 16 screw holes. Further, recent cameras are required not only for performance but also for designability. However, like the conventional example, the fixing screw 170 is exposed to the outside, and the joint between the resin block 200 and the cylindrical member 112 is visible. If this happens, there is a problem that the aesthetics will be impaired.

In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel in which the number of parts is reduced and the working process is simplified.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in a lens barrel having a lens barrel provided with a switch covered with a protective member, the lens barrel A cylindrical member forming a part of, a support plate for supporting the protection member and the switch, and a mounting tool for mounting one end of the support plate to the cylindrical member,
A flange is provided at a lower end portion of the protection member, and a first difference in which the through hole for exposing the upper end portion of the protection member to the outside and the other end of the support plate are inserted into the cylindrical member. The support plate having an insertion hole formed therein and having the other end inserted into the first insertion hole has the one end attached to the cylindrical member by the attachment, and the penetration plate leaving the flange. A lens barrel is provided, which supports the protective member inserted in the hole and the switch covered with the protective member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the first aspect, the switch comprises:
It is configured to include a mover and a retainer that holds the mover,
A lens barrel is provided, wherein the first insertion hole is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the mover.

According to a third aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the first or second aspect, the support plate has elasticity, and in place of the fixture, One end of the support plate is folded back, a second insertion hole is formed in the cylindrical member, and one end of the support plate is further folded and deformed in the second insertion hole. Or the one end is inserted in a state where the folded back is deformed so as to open, and the one end is fixed by a spring action force generated in a direction in which the inserted one end returns to its original shape. A featured lens barrel is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the first, second or third aspect,
A lens barrel is provided, wherein the protection member has a protrusion formed on an upper surface of the flange, and the cylindrical member has an engagement groove formed therein for engaging the protrusion.

[0013]

According to the present invention, in the first insertion hole of the cylindrical member,
The supporting plate having the other end inserted is covered with the protective member and the protective member inserted into the through hole of the cylindrical member with the flange left, with one end attached to the cylindrical member by a fixture. Support the switch.

Further, if the first insertion hole is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the mover of the switch,
The force acting when the mover is pressed does not act in the direction in which the other end of the support plate is displaced within the first insertion hole.

When one end of the support plate is inserted into the second insertion hole of the cylindrical member in a deformed state, the one end is fixed by the force of the spring action.

If the projection of the flange of the protection member engages with the engagement groove of the cylindrical member, the degree of joint between the members increases.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a telephoto lens of a camera will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the first embodiment of the present invention.

The telephoto lens of this embodiment is provided with an AF lock mechanism in addition to a drive mechanism for performing autofocus (AF). The AF lock mechanism is well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the AF lock mechanism is a function for the photographer to forcibly stop the autofocus operation during the autofocus operation. Used when you want to focus. The AF lock can be performed via the protection member 30 by pressing a switch 40 not shown here.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the telephoto lens around the switch 40.

As shown in the figure, the telephoto lens includes a lens barrel 10 and a plurality of lenses 20 housed in the lens barrel 10. The lens barrel 10 is a metal fixed barrel 11 that is detachably attached to a camera body (not shown).
And a metal cylindrical member 12 fitted in the fixed cylinder 11.

The cylindrical member 12 is provided with a recess 12a having a shape that fits the photographer's finger.
A through hole 12b for exposing the upper end of the protection member 30 to the outside is formed. Recess 12a and through hole 12b
Are formed at the same time when the cylindrical member 12 is formed from a metal plate as a raw material. If the hollow 12a is provided on the cylindrical member 12, the problem that the photographer inadvertently presses the protection member 30 does not occur.

The inner surface of the cylindrical member 12 has a through hole 12b.
An annular groove 12c is formed so as to surround the. The protection member 30 is a rubber cylindrical container having a flange 30a at the lower end. An annular protrusion 30b is formed on the upper surface of the flange 30a, and the annular protrusion 30a is engaged with the annular groove 12c. Thereby, the protection member 3
The degree of bonding between 0 and the cylindrical member 12 increases.

The switch 40 is a movable element 4 which moves in the vertical direction.
1 and a holder 42 that holds the same. The mover 41 has a mechanism such that a click feeling is obtained each time the mover 41 is pressed, and inside the holder 42, a contact that is electrically turned on / off is provided. The switch 40 is mounted on the circuit board 50. The circuit board 50 and the protection member 30, which is covered with the switch 40 and has its upper end exposed to the outside through the through hole 12b, is supported by an elastic metal support plate 60. One end of the support plate 60 is attached to the cylindrical member 12 by an attachment tool (stop screw 70 in this embodiment), and the other end is inserted into an insertion hole 12d formed in the cylindrical member 12. The insertion hole 12d is formed in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the mover 41 of the switch 40. The force applied when the mover 41 is pressed acts in the same direction as the moving direction of the mover 41.
Can receive a given force at both ends.
Further, since one end of the support plate 60 is fixed by the stopper screw 70, the other end of the support plate 60 does not need to be fixed inside the insertion hole 12d, but the other end of the support plate 60 is the insertion hole 12d. There is no deviation within. The wiring 51 drawn from the circuit board 50 is inserted into the dedicated hole 60a and connected to a control circuit (not shown). The penetrating direction of the insertion hole 12d does not need to be strictly perpendicular to the moving direction of the mover 41, and is set so as to be able to receive the force applied when the mover 41 is pressed. If you have.

FIG. 3 shows the inside of the telephoto lens of the second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, one end of the support plate 60 is fixed to the cylindrical member 12 without using the above-mentioned stop screw 70.

One end of the support plate 60 is folded back in advance, and the cylindrical member 12 is formed with an insertion hole 12e into which this portion is inserted. The insertion hole 12e is formed in a direction perpendicular to the movable direction of the mover 41, like the insertion hole 12d formed on the opposite side.

Since one end of the support plate 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 12e in a state of being folded back further than the initial state, a spring action is exerted on the one end in the insertion hole 12e. . That is, a force is always applied to the one end in the direction in which the folded back is opened, and the one end is pressed against the side surface of the insertion hole 12e. Therefore, one end of the support plate 60 can be attached to the cylindrical member 12 without using the fixing screw 70 as in the first embodiment.
Can be fixed to.

FIG. 4 shows the inside of the telephoto lens of the third embodiment.

In this embodiment, the protective member 30 in which the above-mentioned annular projection is not formed on the flange 30a is used.
Further, correspondingly, the cylindrical member 12 is not formed with an annular groove with which the annular protrusion engages.

According to this structure, it is possible to omit the removing step for scraping off the annular groove.

FIG. 5 shows the inside of the telephoto lens of the fourth embodiment.

Here, one end of the support plate 60 of the third embodiment is folded back as in the second embodiment, so that the set screw 70 is omitted.

With this structure, the number of parts can be further reduced.

It is to be noted that one end of the support plate 60 is tightly folded back in advance, and one end is inserted into the insertion port 12e while applying a force to temporarily open the folding back, and the support plate 60 is positioned below the insertion port 12e. You may make it attach so that it may pinch.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the resin block and the fixing screw for mounting the switch protection member on the lens barrel can be omitted, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing process thereof can be simplified. In addition, since the joint between the resin block and the lens barrel and the exposure of the fixing screw are eliminated, the appearance of the lens barrel is improved.

[0037]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a first embodiment of a lens barrel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view around a switch of the lens barrel of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view around a switch of a second embodiment of the lens barrel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view around a switch of a third embodiment of the lens barrel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view around a switch of a fourth embodiment of the lens barrel according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a conventional lens barrel.

7 is a partial cross-sectional view around a switch of the lens barrel of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 110: lens barrel, 11, 111: fixed barrel, 1
2, 112: cylindrical member, 12a: hollow, 12b: through hole, 12c: annular groove, 12d, 12e: insertion hole,
112a: concave part, 112b: peripheral edge, 20: lens, 30, 130: protective member, 30a, 130a:
Flange, 30b: annular protrusion, 40, 140: switch, 41: mover, 42: cage, 50, 15
0: Circuit board, 51, 151: Wiring, 60: Support plate, 60: Exclusive hole, 70, 170, 180: Stop screw, 160: Switch receiving plate, 200: Resin block

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 7/02 G03B 17/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lens barrel having a lens barrel provided with a switch covered with a protection member, comprising: a cylindrical member forming a part of the lens barrel; and a support plate supporting the protection member and the switch. A mounting tool for mounting one end of the support plate to the cylindrical member, a flange is provided at a lower end portion of the protective member, and the cylindrical member has an upper end portion of the protective member exposed to the outside. And a first insertion hole into which the other end of the support plate is inserted. The other end of the support plate is inserted into the first insertion hole. A lens mirror, characterized in that, in a state of being attached to the cylindrical member by an attaching tool, the protective member inserted into the through hole leaving the flange and the switch covered with the protective member are supported. Cylinder. 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch includes a mover and a retainer that holds the mover, and the first insertion hole is substantially in the moving direction of the mover. A lens barrel characterized by being formed in a vertical direction. 3. The support plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support plate has elasticity, one end of the support plate is folded back instead of the attachment, and the cylindrical member has Two insertion holes are formed, and one end of the support plate is further folded back and deformed in the second insertion hole, or the one end of the support plate is deformed so that the folding back is opened. A lens barrel, wherein the one end is fixed by a force of a spring action generated in a direction in which the inserted one end returns to its original shape. 4. The protection member according to claim 1, wherein the protection member has a protrusion formed on an upper surface of the flange, and the cylindrical member has an engagement groove with which the protrusion engages. Lens barrel characterized by.