JP3762464B2 - Dial mechanism and method for assembling the dial mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dial mechanism that obtains a predetermined signal by sliding a code plate and a contact terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
In a conventional camera, as a dial mechanism, a code plate having a land portion of a predetermined conductive pattern is provided on a shaft portion of an operation dial provided rotatably on a camera body in a plane direction substantially orthogonal to the shaft portion. There are some which are fixed and assembled in a state where the code plate is brought into contact with an electric conduction brush provided with a plurality of contact terminals fixed to the camera body. In this dial mechanism, a predetermined signal can be obtained by rotating the operation dial to change the contact state of the land portion with the electrically conductive brush.
[0003]
By the way, when assembling such a dial mechanism, there is no problem when the electric conduction brush is moved relative to the cord plate in the axial direction of the operation dial. However, depending on the camera, an electric conduction brush is fixed to the internal components of the camera body to form a sub-assembly, and the code plate is made substantially orthogonal to the shaft at the tip of the shaft of the operation dial pivotally attached to the front ornament of the camera body. May be fixed to form a sub-assembly, and these sub-assemblies may be moved relative to each other for assembly. At the time of this assembly, for example, when the code plate is circular and there are arc-shaped burrs around its periphery, the contact terminal approaching the code plate is caught by this burr and pushed outward in the radial direction of the code plate. May be excluded. Normally, the contact terminals can withstand a certain degree of deformation due to elasticity in the direction of elastic contact with the code plate, but are weak against the arrangement direction of a plurality of contact terminals, that is, the deformation of the code plate radially outward. Therefore, the contact terminal is pressed outwardly in the radial direction of the code plate by the burr and is plastically deformed, resulting in a problem that the contact terminal cannot be normally contacted with the land portion of the code plate.
[0004]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a dial mechanism that does not deform the contact terminal when the code plate and the contact terminal are assembled, and a method for assembling the dial mechanism.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Dial mechanism of the present invention for achieving the above object, a contact terminal, and a rotatable code plate having a land portion having a predetermined conductive pattern for sliding contact with the contact terminal and a contact terminal and the code plate A linear portion substantially orthogonal to the relative sliding direction is provided on the outer edge portion of the introduction section of the code plate into which the contact terminal is introduced when being assembled while being relatively slid.
[0006]
The dial mechanism of the present invention, relative rotation, contact terminals and, a rotatable code disk having a land portion having a predetermined conductive pattern for sliding contact with the contact terminals, relative sliding of the contact terminal and the code plate A linear portion that is substantially orthogonal to the relative sliding direction is provided on the outer edge portion of the introduction section of the code plate into which the contact terminal is introduced when assembled by moving.
[0007]
Furthermore, the dial mechanism assembling method of the present invention is such that when a contact terminal and a rotatable code plate having a land portion of a predetermined conductive pattern for slidingly contacting the contact terminal are assembled by sliding relative to each other, The linear portion provided in the outer edge portion is slidably contacted with the contact terminal in a state of being substantially orthogonal to the relative sliding direction.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment in which the dial mechanism according to the present invention is applied to a shooting mode change dial mechanism of a camera for selecting and setting a plurality of shooting modes.
[0009]
As shown in the figure, this photographing mode changing dial mechanism has an operation dial 12 in which a shaft portion 13 is rotatably inserted into a shaft hole 11a formed in a substantially vertical direction above the front ornament 11 of the camera body. is doing. On the inner side of the front ornament 11, a substantially circular code plate 15 made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin is fixed to the tip portion of the shaft portion 13 along a plane direction substantially orthogonal to the shaft portion 13. . The code plate 15 has a substantially oval key hole 16 (see FIG. 1) provided at the center thereof fitted in a key portion having a substantially oval cross section provided at the distal end portion of the shaft portion 13. It is fixed with a screw (not shown) screwed into the portion 13. The code plate 15 is also provided with a land portion 17 of a predetermined conductive pattern made of a conductive material such as metal on the back surface, with the key hole 16 as the center. The operation dial 12 locks the code plate 15 with respect to the electric conduction brush 20 at each rotational position shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 by a click stop mechanism (not shown).
[0010]
Further, the electric conduction brush 20 fixed to the support plate 19 provided in the camera body is located below the code plate 15 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric conduction brush 20 has a support 21 made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin material, and a part of the support brush 21 embedded in the support 21 so as to be equally spaced in the horizontal row and at the same height. The four contact terminals 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d having both ends projecting outward are provided. The contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) insulated from each other are independently connected to a control board (not shown) by different lead wires 23. The contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) are all bent at a predetermined angle toward the upper side, that is, toward the code plate 15 in a side view (see FIG. 9). Therefore, the free end portions of the contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) are positioned above the code plate 15 in a free state where the contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) are not in contact with the code plate 15, and are assembled at predetermined positions. Then, it is bent in contact with the code plate 15 and makes elastic contact.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 9, the dial mechanism of the present embodiment has a sub-assembly in which an electrically conductive brush 20 is fixed to the support plate 19 and a code plate at the tip of the shaft portion 13 of the operation dial pivotally attached to the front ornament 11. It can be assembled by relatively moving the fixed sub-assembly. At the time of this assembly, if the code plate is circular as shown in FIG. 10 and the arc-shaped burrs 15A remain on the peripheral edge thereof, the contact terminals 22 approaching the code plate 15 'are caught by the burrs 15A. It will be pushed away radially outward of the plate 15 '. The plurality of contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) of the electric conduction brush 20 can withstand a certain degree of deformation in the direction of elastic contact with the code plate 15 ′, but the plurality of contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) It is weak against deformation in the direction of arrangement (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 10), that is, radially outward of the code plate. Therefore, when the contact terminal 22 is pressed outward in the radial direction of the code plate 15 'by the burr 15A, the contact terminal 22 is plastically deformed and cannot normally contact the land portion of the code plate 15'. Occurs.
[0012]
The code plate 15 according to the present invention has the following features in order to solve the above problems. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the code plate 15 is assembled with the code plate 15 and the electric conduction brush 20 approaching in the direction of the arrow A while being relatively slid, and a plurality of contact terminals 22 (a, b , C, d) have linear portions 15a, 15b that are not inclined (not arcuate) with respect to the contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) at the outer edge of the introduction section E into which the components are introduced. . The code plate 15 is formed with stepped notches formed by two sets of substantially orthogonal edges at positions where the land portions 17 are avoided (does not overlap) , and the straight portions 15a and 15b have two sets of edges. It consists of one of the parts. That is, the straight portions 15a and 15b are parallel edge portions facing in one direction in the stepped notch, and the relative movement direction A during relative movement with respect to the contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d). Are substantially orthogonal to each other. Accordingly, in this case, the straight portions 15a and 15b are substantially parallel to the direction in which the contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, and d) are arranged (the direction of arrow B in the figure).
[0013]
In addition, the straight portions 15a and 15b are not cut out in the introduction section E, but instead form a protruding portion, and the edge of the protruding portion can be configured as a straight portion 15c (two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). . Further, depending on the shape of the land portion 17, it is possible to form a notch of only one step as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 instead of a stepped shape, and configure one of the two orthogonal edges as a straight portion 15d. it can. In these cases, the same effects as the straight portions 15a and 15b can be obtained.
[0014]
When the code plate 15 is assembled to the contact terminal 22, the straight portions 15 a and 15 b are arranged in the direction in which the plurality of contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) are arranged at the initial rotation position of the code plate 15 (see FIG. 1 (see arrow B). In the assembled state, the maximum rotation angle of the code plate 15 with respect to the contact terminal 22 is set within a range of about 270 ° from the initial rotation position by a regulating means (not shown) (see FIGS. 2 to 8). This is because when the code plate 15 rotates clockwise more than the angle shown in FIG. 8, the straight portions 15a and 15b are detached from the contact terminals 22 and cannot be returned counterclockwise.
[0015]
Therefore, the photographing mode changing dial mechanism according to the present invention is assembled as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the code plate 15 and the contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) are relatively slid by bringing the sub-assies fitted with the code plate 15 and the electric conduction brush 20 close to each other. When moving, first, the operation dial 12 is appropriately rotated to position the linear portions 15a and 15b of the code plate 15 so as to be substantially orthogonal to the relative sliding direction A (see FIG. 1). When the code plate 15 and the contact terminal 22 approach in this state, even if burrs remain on the peripheral portion of the code plate 15, the burrs of the straight portions 15a and 15b in the introduction section E are substantially the same as the relative sliding direction A. Due to the orthogonal linear shape, no force is exerted such that the contact terminal 22 is pressed outward in the radial direction of the code plate 15. Accordingly, all of the four contact terminals 22 (a, b, c, d) are smoothly guided to the land portion 17 side without being deformed, and are positioned at appropriate contact positions with the land portion 17.
[0016]
The mode change switch assembled in this way operates as follows. That is, when the operation dial 12 is positioned at the initial rotation position, the code plate 15 has the positional relationship shown in FIG. In this state, only the contact terminal 22d is in contact with the land portion 17, and no signal is generated.
[0017]
When the operation dial 12 is rotated from this state and the code plate 15 is rotated in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 2 and locked at the next locking position, the code plate 15 is shown in FIG. The positional relationship is as shown. In this state, the contact terminals 22b and 22d are conducted to generate a predetermined signal.
[0018]
From this state, when the operation dial 12 is rotated in the same direction and the code plate 15 is in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 4 with respect to the electric conduction brush 20, the contact terminals 22b, 22c and 22d are electrically connected to each other to generate a predetermined signal. Let When the operation dial 12 is further rotated in the same direction and the code plate 15 is in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 5 with respect to the electrically conductive brush 20, all of the contact terminals 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are electrically connected to each other. Generate a signal. Then, when the cord plate 15 is in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 6 with respect to the electric conduction brush 20 by the rotation of the operation dial 12 in the same direction, the contact terminals 22a, 22b and 22d are electrically connected to each other to generate a predetermined signal. Further, when the positional relationship shown in FIG. 7 is reached, the contact terminals 22a and 22d are electrically connected to generate a predetermined signal, and when the positional relationship shown in FIG. Signal is generated.
[0019]
In the above embodiment, the dial mechanism according to the present invention has been described with respect to the shooting mode changing dial mechanism provided in the camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and other devices using the dial mechanism are also described. Can also be used.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dial mechanism that does not deform the contact terminal when the code plate and the contact terminal are assembled, and a method for assembling the dial mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a code plate and a contact terminal during assembly of a dial mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an initial rotation position of the dial mechanism after assembly.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation position of the dial mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an operation position of the dial mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an operation position of the dial mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an operation position of the dial mechanism.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an operation position of the dial mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an operation position of the dial mechanism.
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing the positional relationship between two subassemblies when the dial mechanism is assembled.
FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining a problem when the code plate is circular.
FIG. 11 is a plan view in an assembled state for explaining problems when the code plate is circular.
FIG. 12 is a side view in an assembled state for explaining problems when the code plate is circular.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Front decoration (first support)
11a Shaft hole 12 Operation dial 13 Shaft portion 15 Code plate 15a 15b 15c 15d Straight line portion 17 Land portion 19 Support plate (second support portion)
20 Electrically conductive brush 21 Support 22a 22b 22c 22d Contact terminal A Relative sliding direction B Alignment direction E Introduction section

Claims (9)

A contact terminal;
A rotatable code plate having a land portion of a predetermined conductive pattern for slidingly contacting the contact terminal;
With
When the code plate and the contact terminal are assembled by sliding relative to each other, a linear portion substantially orthogonal to the relative sliding direction is provided on the outer edge of the introduction section of the code plate into which the contact terminal is introduced. Features a dial mechanism. 2. The dial mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the straight line portion is an edge portion of a notch formed at a position not overlapping with a land portion forming region of the code plate. In claim 2, the notch constitutes the outer portion of the code plate are formed by at least a pair of straight edges substantially perpendicular to each other, the straight portion has a pair of straight edges in the substantially perpendicular relationship A dial mechanism comprising one of the above. In claim 3 , the notch has a stepped shape having two sets of the pair of linear edges, and the linear part includes two linear edges parallel to each other out of the two sets of linear edges. A dial mechanism characterized by that. 2. The dial mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the code plate has a substantially circular shape, and the straight line portion is an edge portion of a protruding portion that is formed to protrude from the peripheral edge portion of the circular code plate in the outer diameter direction . 6. The code plate according to claim 1, wherein the code plate is fixed to an operation dial pivotally attached to the first support portion along a plane direction substantially orthogonal to the shaft portion of the operation dial. The contact terminal is positioned and fixed to a second support portion facing the first support portion so as to be elastically contactable with a land portion of the code plate. 7. The support plate according to claim 6, wherein the first support part is a front decoration that forms the appearance of the camera body, and the second support part is provided in the camera body and is a member separate from the front decoration. The code plate is fixed to the tip of the shaft portion of the operation dial penetrating the shaft hole provided for the front decoration, and the shooting plate for changing the photographing mode is configured by the code plate and the contact terminal. Features a dial mechanism. A relatively rotating contact plate; and a rotatable code plate having a land portion of a predetermined conductive pattern for slidingly contacting the contact terminal;
When the code plate and the contact terminal are assembled by sliding relative to each other, a linear portion substantially orthogonal to the relative sliding direction is provided on the outer edge of the introduction section of the code plate into which the contact terminal is introduced. Features a dial mechanism. When a contact terminal and a rotatable code plate having a land portion having a predetermined conductive pattern for sliding contact with the contact terminal are assembled by sliding relative to each other, the linear portion provided on the outer edge portion of the code plate is moved to the relative slide. A dial mechanism assembling method, wherein the contact mechanism is slidably contacted with the contact terminal in a state substantially orthogonal to a moving direction.

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