JP6131219B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus.

  An imaging optical system including an imaging element, a movable lens movable in the optical axis direction, and an actuator for moving the movable lens are provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and zooming and focusing are performed by moving the movable lens. Endoscope apparatuses that perform the above are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2001-208951 A JP 2004-16337 A

  The actuator provided at the distal end of the insertion portion is extremely small and generally expensive. Therefore, for example, when a malfunction occurs in the moving mechanism of the movable lens or the imaging optical system including the movable lens, it is desired to reuse the actuator.

  In the endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the cam ring is rotated by the actuator, and the movable lens is moved along with the rotation of the cam ring. The small-diameter actuator housing that holds the actuator is configured separately from the lens housing that holds the movable lens and the cam ring, and the small-diameter actuator housing is configured so that it can be inserted into and removed from the large-diameter actuator housing integrated with the lens housing. . According to such a configuration, when a malfunction occurs in the moving mechanism of the movable lens or the imaging optical system including the movable lens, the small-diameter actuator housing is separated from the large-diameter actuator housing integrated with the lens housing, and the actuator can be reused. It becomes possible.

  However, a sufficient joint strength is required between the small-diameter actuator housing and the large-diameter actuator housing to receive the reaction force of the actuator. As described above, the actuator is extremely small, and the small-diameter actuator housing that holds the actuator is also extremely small. Therefore, when the small-diameter actuator housing and the large-diameter actuator housing are joined by an insertable / removable fitting, there is a possibility that the joint strength between the two is insufficient and the movement of the movable lens may be hindered. Therefore, if the small-diameter actuator housing is press-fitted into the large-diameter actuator housing to increase the joint strength between the two, the separability between the two decreases, making it difficult to reuse the actuator.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope apparatus in which an actuator can be easily reused.

An imaging optical system including an imaging element, at least one movable lens movable in the optical axis direction, an actuator, a driving member that transmits the driving force of the actuator to the movable lens and moves the movable lens, and the actuator And a second holding member that holds the movable lens and the driving member, and the first holding member and the second holding member have joint portions that are joined to each other. The actuator and the driving member are detachably connected, and the joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are detachably bonded to each other , The joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are each formed in a cylindrical shape that can be fitted to each other, and are outside in a state of being fitted to each other. An endoscope apparatus which is bonded along the tip of the joint.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the endoscope apparatus with which reuse of an actuator is easy can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of an example of the insertion part front-end | tip part of the endoscope apparatus for demonstrating embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which decomposes | disassembles and shows the structure of the insertion part front-end | tip part of the endoscope apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the connection part of the drive member and actuator of the endoscope apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the junction part of the 1st holding member of the endoscope apparatus of FIG. 1, and a 2nd holding member. It is a figure which shows the structure of the other example of the insertion part front-end | tip part of an endoscope apparatus for describing embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the junction part of the 1st holding member of the endoscope apparatus of FIG. 5, and a 2nd holding member.

  1 and 2 show an example of the configuration of the distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

  The endoscope apparatus 1 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type or CMOS (Complementaly Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type imaging element 10, an imaging optical system 11 that forms a subject image on a light receiving surface of the imaging element 10, and an actuator 12. A drive member 13, a first holding member 14, and a second holding member 15.

  The imaging optical system 11 includes at least one movable lens that can move in the extending direction (optical axis direction) of the optical axis A1 of the imaging optical system 11, and in the illustrated example, two movable lenses 20a and 20b are provided. ing. The imaging optical system 11 includes an objective lens 21 disposed on the subject side of the movable lenses 20a and 20b along the optical axis A1, and a fixed lens 22 and a prism 23 disposed on the image side. Yes.

  The movable lens 20a is held by the movable lens frame 30a, and the movable lens 20b is held by the movable lens frame 30b, both of which are housed in the lens barrel 31 of the second holding member 15. Each of the movable lens frames 30 a and 30 b is movable in the optical axis direction within the lens barrel 31.

  The objective lens 21 is held by an objective lens frame 32 inserted into the subject side end of the lens barrel 31, and the fixed lens 22 is held by a fixed lens frame 33 inserted at the image side end of the lens barrel 31. In both cases, the position on the optical axis A1 is fixed. The prism 23 is held by a housing 34 attached to the image side end of the lens barrel 31, and its position on the optical axis A1 is fixed.

  The light beam incident on the objective lens 21 travels along the optical axis A <b> 1, is bent by approximately 90 degrees at the prism 23, and is emitted from the prism 23. The image sensor 10 is disposed at a position opposite to the emission surface of the prism 23 and deviated from the optical axis A1, is held by the housing 34, and receives the light beam emitted from the prism 23. Note that the prism 23 may be omitted and the image sensor 10 may be disposed on the optical axis A1.

  The driving member 13 transmits the driving force of the actuator 12 to the movable lenses 20a and 20b, and moves the movable lenses 20a and 20b back and forth in the optical axis direction. In the illustrated example, the actuator 12 is a rotary motor. The drive member 13 is a cam shaft.

  The drive member 13 is disposed on a rotation axis A2 parallel to the optical axis A1, and is rotatably accommodated in a cylindrical portion 35 provided alongside the lens barrel portion 31 of the second holding member 15. A cam groove 40 a for moving the movable lens 20 a back and forth in the optical axis direction and a cam groove 40 b for moving the movable lens 20 b back and forth in the optical axis direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive member 13.

  The actuator 12 is accommodated and held in a first holding member 14 formed in a cylindrical shape. A stepped surface 16 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first holding member 14 covering the output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 on the distal end side. The actuator 12 abuts the edge of the distal end surface 17 on the stepped surface 16. The first holding member 14 is bonded and fixed. In addition, the base end portion of the first holding member 14 that covers the connection portion 18 provided at the base end portion of the actuator 12 is filled with an adhesive, thereby protecting the connection portion 18.

  The first holding member 14 is joined to the second holding member 15. The output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 held by the first holding member 14 joined to the second holding member 15 is disposed on the rotation axis A <b> 2 and is coaxial with the driving member 13. 42.

  The lens barrel portion 31 and the tube portion 35 of the second holding member 15 communicate with each other, and the movable lens frames 30 a and 30 b accommodated in the lens barrel portion 31 are connected to the drive member 13 accommodated in the tube portion 35. Each is engaged.

  The engaging portion 36a of the movable lens frame 30a that engages with the driving member 13 and the engaging portion 36b of the movable lens frame 30b that engages with the driving member 13 are both formed in a cylindrical shape, and are formed in a cylindrical shape. The drive member 13 is inserted through the engaged portions 36a and 36b. Accordingly, the movable lens frames 30a and 30b are supported so as to be movable along the drive member 13, that is, movable in the extending direction of the optical axis A1 parallel to the rotation axis A2 where the drive member 13 is located.

  The engaging portion 36a is provided with a cam pin 43a that engages with the cam groove 40a of the driving member 13, and the engaging portion 36b is provided with a cam pin 43b that engages with the cam groove 40b of the driving member 13.

  The drive member 13 connected to the output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 is rotated by the actuator 12. As the drive member 13 rotates, the movable lens frame 30a having the cam pin 43a engaged with the cam groove 40a and the movable lens frame 30b having the cam pin 43b engaged with the cam groove 40b are respectively moved back and forth in the optical axis direction. Moved. As a result, the movable lenses 20a and 20b are moved back and forth in the optical axis direction to perform zooming and focusing.

  In the endoscope apparatus 1 configured as described above, the first holding member 14 that holds the actuator 12 and the second holding member 15 that holds the movable lenses 20a and 20b and the driving member 13 are separably bonded to each other. Has been. The actuator 12 and the drive member 13 are also detachably connected to each other.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a connecting portion between the actuator 12 and the drive member 13.

  The output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 and the base end portion 42 of the drive member 13 arranged coaxially with the output shaft 41 are connected via a connecting member 43.

  The connecting member 43 is fixed to the output shaft 41. In the example shown in the figure, the connecting member 43 includes a substantially annular fixing portion 44 that is fitted on the output shaft 41, and a protrusion 45 that protrudes in the radial direction from the fixing portion 44. Yes. A recess 46 into which the connecting member 43 is fitted is formed in the base end portion 42 of the drive member 13. When the connecting member 43 is fitted into the recess 46, the output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 and the base end portion 42 of the driving member 13 are connected to each other so as to be able to transmit rotation and to be separated. The connecting member 43 is not limited to the shape shown in the drawing, and may be formed in a noncircular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the output shaft 41 as a whole.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a joint portion between the first holding member 14 and the second holding member 15.

  In the first holding member 14 that holds the actuator 12, an end portion that covers the output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 is a joining portion 37 that is joined to the second holding member 15. Further, in the second holding member 15 that holds the movable lenses 20 a and 20 b and the driving member 13, the end portion that covers the base end portion 42 of the driving member 13 to which the output shaft 41 is coupled is joined to the first holding member 14. The joint portion 38 is used.

  The joint portions 37 and 38 are both formed in a cylindrical shape and can be fitted to each other. In the illustrated example, the joint portion 37 of the first holding member 14 is configured to be fitted around the joint portion 38 of the second holding member 15, but the joint portion 38 of the second holding member 15 is the first holding member. It can also be set as the structure fitted to the junction part 37 of the member 14. FIG.

  And the joined joint parts 37 and 38 are mutually adhere | attached so that isolation | separation is possible. By bonding the joint portions 37 and 38 in addition to the fitting of the joint portions 37 and 38, the joint strength between the joint portions 37 and 38 can be increased, and the joint strength sufficient to receive the reaction force of the actuator 12 can be obtained. It can be secured between the joint portions 37 and 38.

  For example, when a malfunction occurs in the imaging optical system 11 including the moving mechanism of the movable lenses 20a and 20b and the movable lenses 20a and 20b, the adhesive AD that bonds the joint portions 37 and 38 is removed. By separating the first holding member 14 holding the actuator 12 from the second holding member 15 holding the movable lenses 20a and 20b and the driving member 13, the actuator 12 can be reused.

  From the viewpoint of facilitating removal of the adhesive AD adhering the joints 37 and 38, the adhesive in the illustrated example in which the joint 37 of the first holding member 14 is fitted around the joint 38 of the second holding member 15. AD is applied along the tip of the outer joint 37. The adhesive AD applied along the tip of the outer joint portion 37 is exposed even after the joint portions 37 and 38 are bonded. For example, the adhesive AD is applied between the inner peripheral surface of the joint portion 37 and the outer peripheral surface of the joint portion 38. It can be easily removed compared to the case where it is used.

  As the adhesive AD, for example, an adhesive that can be disassembled by an external stimulus such as a solvent, heat, or light is preferably used. As described above, external stimulation can be easily applied to the adhesive AD that is exposed even after the bonding of the bonding portions 37 and 38 by being applied along the tip of the outer bonding portion 37. The adhesive AD can be easily disassembled and removed.

  Further, from the viewpoint of increasing the bonding strength of the bonding portions 37, 38 by the adhesive AD, a step surface 39b facing the front end surface 39a of the outer bonding portion 37 in the fitting direction is formed at the rear end portion of the inner bonding portion 38. The front end surface 39a of the outer joint portion 37 and the step surface 39b of the inner joint portion 38 are bonded by an adhesive AD. Generally, in bonding, as the thickness of the adhesive layer increases, the bonding strength tends to decrease due to an increase in defects and internal stress. According to the above configuration, the tip surface 39a and the step surface 39b are opposed to each other. The thickness of the adhesive layer can be sufficiently reduced, and the bonding strength of the bonding portions 37 and 38 can be increased.

  Further, by providing a step surface 39 b at the rear end portion of the inner joint portion 38, the step surface 39 b is brought into contact with the tip surface 39 a of the outer joint portion 37 to position the actuator 12 with respect to the drive member 13. Thus, the output shaft 41 of the actuator 12 and the base end portion 42 of the drive member 13 can be appropriately connected.

  In the above-described example, the imaging device 10 is described as being held by the housing 34 that is separately attached to the second holding member 15. However, for example, the prism 23 is omitted and the imaging device 10 is disposed on the optical axis A1. In such a case, the second holding member 15 may be configured to hold the image sensor 10, and in this case, the first holding member 14 may be set to the second even when a malfunction occurs in the image sensor 10. By separating from the holding member 15, the actuator 12 can be reused.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration of another example of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus for explaining the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified by attaching | subjecting a common code | symbol to the element which is common in the endoscope apparatus 1 mentioned above.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the joint portion 37 of the first holding member 14 and the joint portion 38 of the second holding member 15 are both formed in a cylindrical shape and can be fitted to each other. A protrusion 50 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner joint portion 38, and a notch 51 for receiving the protrusion 50 is provided on the outer joint portion 37. In the illustrated example, one protrusion 50 and one notch 51 are provided, but a plurality of protrusions 50 and a plurality of notches 51 may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the joint portion 37 and the joint portion 38.

  The notch 51 includes a guide portion 52 that extends in the axial direction from the front end surface 39 a of the joint portion 37 toward the rear end side of the joint portion 37, and a latch that extends from the guide portion 52 in the circumferential direction of the joint portion 37. Part 53. As the joint portions 37 and 38 are fitted, the protrusion 50 is received in the notch 51 through the guide portion 52. Then, with the relative rotation of the joint portions 37 and 38, the protrusion 50 is disposed on the locking portion 53 in the notch 51.

  In a state where the protrusion 50 is disposed on the locking portion 53, the joint portions 37 and 38 are detachably bonded to each other. By bonding the joint portions 37 and 38 in addition to the fitting of the joint portions 37 and 38, the joint strength between the joint portions 37 and 38 can be increased.

  Then, by bonding the joint portions 37 and 38, relative rotation of the joint portions 37 and 38 is prevented, and the protrusion 50 is held by the locking portion 53. The protrusion 50 held by the locking portion 53 is prevented from moving in the fitting direction of the joint portions 37 and 38 that intersect the circumferential direction by the locking portion 53 extending in the circumferential direction. 37 and 38 are prevented from coming off from each other. Thereby, the joint strength between the joint portions 37 and 38 can be further increased.

  The bonding locations of the bonding portions 37 and 38 can be, for example, the tip surface 39a of the bonding portion 37 and the stepped surface 39b of the bonding portion 38 as in the endoscope device 1 described above. Further, in this example, the side surface of the notch 51 of the joint portion 37 and the outer peripheral surface of the joint portion 38 exposed to the notch 51 and the protrusion 50 may be bonded. In particular, the notch 51 is bonded to the adhesive. It is preferable to fill with. By filling the notch 51 with the adhesive, the movement of the protrusion 50 in the notch 51 can be more reliably prevented, and the joining strength between the joining portions 37 and 38 can be further increased. The adhesive filled in the notch 51 is exposed even after the bonding portions 37 and 38 are bonded, and can be removed relatively easily.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a modified example of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus of FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, the locking portion 53 is provided with an inclined surface 54 that is inclined from the front end side to the rear end side of the joint portion 37. With the relative rotation between the joint portion 37 and the joint portion 38, the protrusion 50 is disposed on the locking portion 53. At this time, the protrusion 50 slides on the inclined surface 54. Accordingly, the joint portion 37 is urged in the fitting direction with the joint portion 38, and the tip end surface 39 a of the joint portion 37 is pressed against the step surface 39 b of the joint portion 38.

  When the tip surface 39a is pressed against the step surface 39b, a frictional force that prevents the relative rotation of the joint portions 37 and 38 between the protrusion 50 and the inclined surface 54 or between the tip surface 39a and the step surface 39b is generated. Arise. Thereby, the joint strength between the joint portions 37 and 38 can be further increased.

  The bonding locations of the joint portions 37 and 38 may be, for example, the front end surface 39 a of the joint portion 37 and the stepped surface 39 b of the joint portion 38, or exposed to the side surface of the notch 51 and the notch 51 of the joint portion 37. The outer peripheral surface of the joining portion 38 and the protrusion 50 may be used. In addition, it is sufficient for the joining between the joining parts 37 and 38 by the frictional force generated between the fitting of the joining parts 37 and 38 and between the protrusion 50 and the inclined surface 54 or between the tip surface 39a and the stepped surface 39b. When strength is obtained, the bonding of the joint portions 37 and 38 may be omitted.

  As described above, the following items are disclosed in this specification.

(1) An imaging element, an imaging optical system including at least one movable lens movable in the optical axis direction, an actuator, and a driving member that transmits the driving force of the actuator to the movable lens to move the movable lens And a first holding member that holds the actuator, and a second holding member that holds the movable lens and the driving member, and the first holding member and the second holding member are joined to each other. The actuator and the drive member are separably connected, and the joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are separably bonded to each other. Endoscope device.
(2) The joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are each formed in a cylindrical shape that can be fitted to each other, and in the state of being fitted to each other, the tip of the outer joint portion The endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the endoscope apparatus is adhered along the endoscope.
(3) Of the joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member, the rear end portion of the inner joint portion in a state of being fitted to each other has a front end surface of the outer joint portion. The endoscope apparatus according to (2), wherein a step surface facing the fitting direction is provided, and a tip surface of the outer joint portion and a step surface of the inner joint portion are bonded to each other.
(4) When the front end surface of the outer joint and the stepped surface of the inner joint contact each other, the actuator is positioned with respect to the drive member and connected to the drive member (3 ) Endoscopic device.
(5) The joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are respectively formed in a cylindrical shape that can be fitted to each other, and the outer periphery of the inner joint portion in a state of being fitted to each other At least one protrusion is provided on the surface, and a notch for receiving the protrusion is provided on the outer joint, and the notch extends in the circumferential direction, and the outer joint and the inner joint The endoscope apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), further including a locking portion that locks the protrusion with relative rotation with the portion.
(6) The rear end portion of the inner joint portion is provided with a step surface facing the front end surface of the outer joint portion in the fitting direction, and the locking portion includes the outer joint portion. An inclined surface inclined from the front end side toward the rear end side is provided, and the protrusion slides on the inclined surface with the relative rotation between the outer joint portion and the inner joint portion. The endoscope apparatus according to (5), wherein the tip surface of the joint portion is pressed against the stepped surface of the inner joint portion.
(7) The endoscope apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the actuator is a rotary motor, and the driving member is a cam shaft disposed coaxially with an output shaft of the actuator.
(8) The output shaft of the actuator is connected to the drive member via a connecting member fixed to the output shaft, and the connecting member is formed in a noncircular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the output shaft. The endoscope device according to (7), wherein the driving member is formed with a recess into which the connecting member is fitted.
(9) The endoscope apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the second holding member further holds the imaging element.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope apparatus 10 Image pick-up element 11 Imaging optical system 12 Actuator 13 Drive member 14 1st holding member 15 2nd holding member 20a, 20b Movable lens 37, 38 Joint part 39a Tip surface 39b Step surface 41 Output shaft 43 Connecting member 46 Concave part A1 Optical axis A2 Rotating axis AD Adhesive

Claims (8)

An image sensor;
An imaging optical system including at least one movable lens movable in the optical axis direction;
An actuator,
A driving member that transmits the driving force of the actuator to the movable lens to move the movable lens;
A first holding member for holding the actuator;
A second holding member for holding the movable lens and the driving member;
With
The first holding member and the second holding member each have a joint portion to be joined to each other,
The actuator and the drive member are detachably connected,
The joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are bonded to each other so as to be separable ,
The joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are respectively formed in a cylindrical shape that can be fitted to each other, and along the tip of the outer joint portion in a state of being fitted to each other. An endoscopic device that is bonded . Out of the joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member, the rear end portion of the inner joint portion is fitted to the front end surface of the outer joint portion and the fitting direction. Is provided with a stepped surface facing
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a front end surface of the outer joint portion and a step surface of the inner joint portion are bonded. The inner surface according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator is positioned with respect to the drive member and connected to the drive member by abutting a tip surface of the outer joint portion with a step surface of the inner joint portion. Endoscopic device. The joint portion of the first holding member and the joint portion of the second holding member are respectively formed in a cylindrical shape that can be fitted to each other, and at least on the outer peripheral surface of the inner joint portion in a state of being fitted to each other. One protrusion is provided, and a notch for receiving the protrusion is provided in the outer joint portion,
The notch extends in the circumferential direction, any one of claims 1-3 having a locking portion for locking the projection in accordance with the relative rotation between the said inner joint part and outer joint part The endoscope apparatus according to item. The rear end portion of the inner joint portion is provided with a step surface facing the front end surface of the outer joint portion in the fitting direction,
The locking portion is provided with an inclined surface inclined from the front end side to the rear end side of the outer joint portion,
With the relative rotation between the outer joint and the inner joint, the protrusion slides on the inclined surface, and the tip surface of the outer joint pushes against the step surface of the inner joint. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, which is applied. The actuator is a rotary motor;
The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the driving member is a cam shaft disposed coaxially with an output shaft of the actuator. The output shaft of the actuator is connected to the driving member via a connecting member fixed to the output shaft,
The connecting member is formed in a non-circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the output shaft,
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the driving member is formed with a recess into which the connecting member is fitted. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second holding member further holds the image sensor.

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