JPH11112846A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of parts and to simplify a hinge mechanism. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a main body part and a liquid crystal display part and the liquid crystal display part is supported to the main body part through a hinge 4. In this case, a turning shaft part 21 and a rotary shaft part 22 extended in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the turning shaft part 21 are integrally formed at the hinge 4, the liquid crystal display part is freely turnably or freely rotatably supported by the turning shaft part 21 or the rotary shaft part 22 and the rotary shaft part 22 or the turning shaft part 21 is freely rotatably or freely turnably supported to the main body part. Then, by providing an energizing means 24, the hinge 4 is energized to a tip side in the axial direction of the rotary shaft part 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for reducing the number of components and simplifying a hinge mechanism in a camera that supports a liquid crystal display unit via a hinge with respect to a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera which has a main body and a liquid crystal display and supports the liquid crystal display with respect to the main body via a hinge includes:
For example, there is a video camera.

FIG. 9 shows an example of such a conventional video camera.

The video camera a is a so-called movable liquid crystal display video camera which can be used by setting the liquid crystal display portion c at a suitable angle with respect to the main body portion b. The liquid crystal display portion c is connected via a hinge d. It is supported on the side surface of the main body b.
Before the use of the video camera a, the liquid crystal display c is positioned with its display surface (liquid crystal surface) facing one side surface of the main body b.

The hinge d has a rotating shaft portion e and a rotating shaft portion f extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft portion e. The rotating shaft portion f is provided at an intermediate portion of the rotating shaft portion e. It is rotatably supported and formed in a T-shape. The hinge d is such that the rotating shaft e is the main body b.
One of the side surfaces is rotatably supported by bearings g, g provided at the front end thereof, and the front end of the liquid crystal display unit c is fixed to the front end of the rotating shaft f.

As described above, the rotating shaft e is rotatably supported by the bearings g, g of the main body b, and the liquid crystal is mounted on the rotating shaft f rotatably supported by the rotating shaft e. Since the front end of the display unit c is fixed, the liquid crystal display unit c can be rotated to open to the outside of the side surface of the main unit b, and the liquid crystal display unit c opened to the outside is rotated by the rotation shaft unit. f can be rotated around the axis.

As described above, in the video camera a,
By rotating or rotating the liquid crystal display portion c with respect to the main body portion b, or by rotating and rotating with respect to the main body portion b,
The liquid crystal display section c can be set at a suitable angle and used as a large view finder.

[0008]

However, in the hinge d of the video camera a, the number of parts is large because the rotating shaft e and the rotating shaft f are formed separately. At the same time, an operation for supporting the rotating shaft portion f on the rotating shaft portion e is required, and the manufacturing time of the video camera a is lengthened accordingly.

In a video camera a which is a movable liquid crystal display section video camera, the liquid crystal display section c is fixed with respect to the main body section b when the liquid crystal display section c is rotated or rotated in use. In order to maintain the angle of the rotation, a certain friction is generated between the rotating shaft e and the bearings g, g of the main body b, and between the rotating shaft e and the rotating shaft f. Must be generated. Therefore, a mechanism for generating friction between the rotating shaft e and the bearings g, and between the rotating shaft e and the rotating shaft f (hereinafter, referred to as a mechanism).
It is called "friction mechanism". For example, it is necessary to provide a mechanism that causes one end of the spring member to be fixed to one member and the other end to be elastically contacted with the other member to generate friction, which complicates the structure of the hinge d. There is a problem that the number of parts increases because a plurality of friction mechanisms are required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above problems, reduce the number of parts, and simplify the hinge mechanism.

[0011]

According to a camera of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a hinge has a rotating shaft portion and a rotating shaft portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft portion. The liquid crystal display unit is rotatably or rotatably supported by the rotation shaft or the rotation shaft, and the rotation or rotation shaft is rotatably or rotatably supported by the main body, An urging means is provided for urging the hinge toward the distal end in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.

Therefore, in the camera of the present invention, friction occurs in each part required by one urging means.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to a video camera.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the video camera 1 has a main body 2 and a liquid crystal display 3, and the liquid crystal display 3 is connected to one side of the main body 2 via a hinge 4. 2a.

The front side of the main body 2 has a front lens frame 5, and the rear finder 6 has a rear view. The upper half of the side surface portion 2a of the main body 2 has a width smaller than that of the lower half portion, and a storage portion 7 for storing the liquid crystal display portion 3 is formed therein. A support hole 7a is formed at the center in the vertical direction of the portion near the front end (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

In the video camera 1, the liquid crystal display unit 3 can be used as a large view finder, and the rear finder unit 6 can be used as a view finder.

The liquid crystal display section 3 comprises a cabinet section 8 and a liquid crystal panel section 9 whose external shapes are substantially the same as the side faces of the storage section 7, and the cabinet section 8 comprises a frame section 10 and a cover section 11.
Are formed by combining A liquid crystal panel unit 9 includes a frame unit 10 and a cover unit 1 in the cabinet unit 8.
1 so that the display surface 9a of the liquid crystal panel 9 is exposed to the outside through the opening 10a of the frame 10 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 3, a support wall 12 is formed on the inner surface side of the frame portion 10 so as to be adjacent to and extend in parallel with the front end wall 10b, and the surface of the support wall 12 on the front end wall 10b side and the front end wall 1 are formed.
0b is formed in an arc shape with the surface on the side of the support wall 12, and these arc-shaped surfaces are formed continuously, so that the front end portion 13 of the frame portion 10 except for the center portion and both end portions thereof is removed. Portion 13 having a substantially semicircular horizontal cross-sectional shape
It is formed as. The central portion of the first portion 13 is formed as a large-diameter groove portion 13a whose inner surface is made larger in diameter than other portions. The large diameter portion 13a has a substantially quarter circular shape, that is, an arc shape of 90 °.
A notch 14 is formed from the front edge of 3a to the front end of the front end wall 10b.

A second portion 15 similar to the first portion 13 is also formed at the front end of the cover portion 11. That is, a support wall 16 is formed on the inner surface side of the cover portion 11 so as to be adjacent to and extend in parallel with the front end wall 11a, and the surface of the support wall 16 on the front end wall 11a side and the surface of the front end wall 11a on the support wall 16 side. Are formed in an arc shape and these arc-shaped surfaces are formed continuously, so that the front end of the cover portion 11 has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape excluding its central portion and both end portions. It is formed as a second part 15 to be performed.
The central portion of the second portion 15 is also formed as a large-diameter groove 15a having an arc shape of 90 ° like the first portion 13, and extends from the front edge of the large-diameter groove 15a to the front end of the front end wall 11a. A notch 17 is formed.

Thus, the above-mentioned frame 10 and cover 1
1 are combined with each other to form a cabinet portion 8, at which time the first portion 13 of the frame portion 10 and the cover portion 11 are formed.
The bearing portion 18 is formed at the front end of the cabinet portion 8 by being joined to the second portion 15 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). That is, the center of the bearing portion 18 is the large-diameter groove 13a of the first portion 13 and the large-diameter groove 15a of the second portion 15.
Large-diameter portion 1 whose horizontal cross-sectional shape is semicircular due to coupling with a
8a, and portions on both sides of the large-diameter portion 18a are formed as small-diameter portions 18b, 18b having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion 18a. Further, the notch 14 of the first portion 13 and the notch 17 of the second portion 15 communicate with the large-diameter portion 18a and open portions reaching from the front end of the side surface of the frame portion 10 to the front end of the side surface of the cover portion 11. 19 are formed.

The outer edge of the open portion 19 has a slightly projecting surface and is formed as a projecting portion 20. The central portion of the projecting portion 20, that is, the liquid crystal display portion 3 is a display portion of the liquid crystal panel portion 9. When stored in the storage unit 7 in a state where the surface 9a faces the side surface of the storage unit 7 of the main body 2, the surface located on the front side is formed as a flat surface portion 20a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge 4 has a substantially T-shape, and a rotating shaft 21 and a rotating shaft 22 are integrally formed.

The rotating shaft portion 21 is formed in a vertically long cylindrical shape, and a central portion thereof is formed as a flange portion 23 having a larger diameter.
A substantially cylindrical rotating shaft portion 2 extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction
2 are protruding. The inside of the rotating shaft 21 and the rotating shaft 22 is communicated with each other, so that an arrangement space 4 a in which a wiring cord described later is arranged is formed inside the hinge 4. Further, an annular fitting groove 22a is formed in a portion near the tip of the rotating shaft portion 22.

Thus, the frame portion 10 to which the liquid crystal panel portion 9 is attached and the cover portion 11 are joined so as to sandwich the hinge 4 from both sides. The portions on both sides of the flange portion 23 in the rotating shaft portion 21 are arranged in the small diameter portions 18b, 18b. And the rotating shaft 2
2 has a front end portion protruding from the opening 19.

In this way, the liquid crystal display unit 3 is rotatably supported by the hinge 4 via the rotation shaft 21 by sandwiching and connecting the hinge 4.

The hinge 4 is rotatably supported by the main body 2. That is, the distal end of the rotating shaft 22 of the hinge 4 is
, And a substantially U-shaped leaf spring member 24 is externally attached to a portion of the rotating shaft portion 22 on the base end side of the fitting groove 22a inside the main body portion 2, and furthermore, The hinge 4 is supported on the main body 2 by externally fitting a retaining ring 25 having an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the rotary shaft 22 in the fitting groove 22a. The leaf spring member 24 is provided as urging means for urging the hinge 4 toward the distal end side in the axial direction of the rotating shaft portion 22 (hereinafter, referred to as “distal direction”), and has a rectangular plate-like base. End 24a and base end 24a
Spring portions 24b, 24b protruding from both ends of the rotating shaft portion 22 and curved so as to expand toward the tip end of the rotating shaft portion 22;
Tip portions 24c, 24 provided continuously to the tip of 24b
c is integrally formed.

By attaching the leaf spring member 24 and the retaining ring 25 to the tip of the rotating shaft 22, the hinge 4 is rotatably supported by the main body 2. At this time, the proximal end 24a and the distal end 24c of the leaf spring member 24,
24c is elastically contacted with the inner surface of the main body 2, and the springs 24b,
When the hinge 4 b is elastically contacted with the retaining ring 25, the moving force in the tip direction is urged to the hinge 4, and the projecting portion 2 of the liquid crystal display unit 3 is formed.
0 makes elastic contact with the side surface of the storage section 7.

As described above, the liquid crystal display unit 3 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 21 of the hinge 4 and the rotating shaft 22 formed integrally with the rotating shaft 21 is the main body 2. The liquid crystal display unit 3 is rotatably and rotatably supported with respect to the main unit 2 by being rotatably supported by the main body 2. Therefore, the liquid crystal display unit 3 can be rotated with respect to the main body 2 via the rotation shaft unit 21, and the liquid crystal display unit 3 can be rotated together with the rotation shaft unit 21 and the rotation shaft unit 22. Can be rotated with respect to the main body 2 by rotating in the direction around the axis.

Before using the video camera 1,
The liquid crystal display unit 3 is stored with the display surface 9a facing the side surface of the storage unit 7 (see FIG. 6), but as described above, the display surface 9a of the projecting portion 20 of the liquid crystal display unit 3 is Since the orthogonal surface is formed as the plane portion 20a,
When the liquid crystal display unit 3 is rotated from the storage state, a so-called click feeling occurs where the display surface 9a and the side surface of the storage unit 7 are orthogonal to each other and the display surface 9a faces rearward.
The state in which the side surface of the storage unit 7 is in contact with the flat surface unit 20a and the display surface 9a of the liquid crystal display unit 3 faces rearward is maintained (see FIG. 7).

As described above, in the video camera 1, the liquid crystal display unit 3 can be reliably and easily held with the display surface 9a facing backward. In the video camera 1, the front lens frame 5 is projected forward, so that
At the time of photographing, the photographer also shoots forward, but the state in which the display surface 9a faces rearward can be reliably and easily held as described above, so that the display surface 9a is oriented in the direction of the photographer. It is located and easy to shoot and very convenient.

In the video camera 1, as described above, the leaf spring member 24 and the retaining ring 25 are attached to the rotating shaft portion 22 inside the main body portion 2 so that the hinge 4 moves in the distal direction. Power is energized. Therefore, only one friction mechanism composed of the leaf spring member 24 and the retaining ring 25 allows the rotation axis of the hinge 4 between the projection 20 of the liquid crystal display unit 3 and the side surface of the storage unit 7 of the main body 2. Part 2
When the liquid crystal display 3 is rotated or rotated with respect to the main body 2 when the friction between the liquid crystal display 1 and the bearing 18 of the liquid crystal display 3 is reliably generated, the liquid crystal display 3 is suitable for the user. Can be held at an appropriate angle.

Further, the hinge 4 of the video camera 1
In this case, the rotating shaft 21 and the rotating shaft 22 must be integrally formed, and the rotating shaft must be rotatably supported by the rotating shaft to generate friction between the two. Unlike a video camera having a conventional hinge, there is no need to provide a friction mechanism between the rotating shaft and the bearing of the main body, and between the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft. And the number of parts of the friction mechanism can be reduced.

Further, since only one friction mechanism is required, the mechanism can be simplified, and the work of providing the friction mechanism can be reduced, and the working efficiency can be improved.

In the conventional hinge, since the rotating shaft is rotatably supported with respect to the rotating shaft, a part of the rotating shaft protrudes into the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft is rotated. Since a friction mechanism between the moving shaft and the rotating shaft was required, and this mechanism was sometimes provided inside the rotating shaft, a wiring cord for supplying a current to the liquid crystal display was provided inside the hinge. It was difficult to pass through. Therefore, it is necessary to expose a part of the wiring cord connecting the main body part and the liquid crystal display part to the outside, and the appearance is poor, and a hole for exposing the wiring cord in each of the main body part and the liquid crystal display part is required,
There is a possibility that dust and the like may enter the inside of the main body and the liquid crystal display through the holes.

However, the hinge 4 of the video camera 1 has a rotating shaft portion 21 formed in a tubular shape.
And the rotation shaft 22 are integrally formed, and the interior communicates with each other to form the arrangement space 4a. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Can be passed through the arrangement space 4a of the hinge 4. Therefore, it is not necessary to expose a part of the wiring cord 26 to the outside, so that the appearance of the video camera 1 is improved and the main body 2 is improved.
There is no possibility that dust or the like enters the inside of the liquid crystal display unit 3.

In the above description, the liquid crystal display unit 3 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 21 of the hinge 4 and the body 2 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 22.
Conversely, the liquid crystal display unit 3 may be rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 22 of the hinge 4 and a bearing may be formed inside the main body 2 so as to rotatably support the rotating shaft 21. Good. In this case, a bearing protruding from the front end of the side surface of the main body 2 is formed, the rotation shaft 21 is rotatably supported on the bearing, and the rotation is provided on the front end of the liquid crystal display 3. A support hole for inserting the shaft portion 22 is formed, and a leaf spring member 24 and a retaining ring 25 are attached to a tip end of the rotation shaft portion 22 inserted into the liquid crystal display portion 3 so that the liquid crystal is formed on the rotation shaft portion 22. What is necessary is just to support the display part 3 rotatably.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, the camera of the present invention has a main body and a liquid crystal display and supports the liquid crystal display with respect to the main body via a hinge. The hinge is formed integrally with a rotating shaft portion and a rotating shaft portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotating shaft portion, and the liquid crystal display portion is rotatable or rotatable about the rotating shaft portion or the rotating shaft portion. The rotating shaft or the rotating shaft is rotatably or rotatably supported by the main body, and biasing means for biasing the hinge toward the distal end in the axial direction of the rotating shaft is provided. Therefore, only one urging means reliably causes friction between the liquid crystal display and the main body and between the rotation shaft of the hinge and the liquid crystal display. When rotated or rotated, the liquid crystal display is held at a suitable angle for the user. Door can be.

Accordingly, as in a camera having a conventional hinge which needs to rotatably support the rotating shaft portion with respect to the rotating shaft portion and generate friction between the two, the rotating shaft portion and the main body portion need to be rotated. There is no need to provide a friction mechanism between the bearing and between the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft,
It is possible to reduce the number of parts of the friction mechanism together with the number of parts of the hinge itself, and thus it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the entire camera.

Further, since only one mechanism for generating the friction is required, the mechanism can be simplified and the operation for providing the friction mechanism can be reduced.
Work efficiency can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the hinge has a rotating shaft portion and a rotating shaft portion each formed in a hollow shape, and communicates with each other to form an arrangement space. Since the wiring cord for supplying the current to the liquid crystal display unit is arranged in the space, it is not necessary to expose a part of the wiring cord to the outside, and the appearance of the camera is improved.

Further, since it is not necessary to form a hole for exposing the wiring cord to the outside in the main body portion and the liquid crystal display portion,
There is no danger that dust and the like enter the inside of the main body and the liquid crystal display.

It should be noted that the specific shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiment are merely examples of the embodiment when practicing the present invention.
These should not be construed as limiting the technical scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the camera of the present invention together with FIG. 2 to FIG. 8, and FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the video camera.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2 showing a liquid crystal display unit and a hinge.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 2 showing a liquid crystal display unit and a hinge.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state before the liquid crystal display unit is rotated with respect to the main body unit.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the liquid crystal display unit is rotated by 90 ° with respect to the main body unit.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a wiring cord is passed through a hinge.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing an example of a conventional video camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video camera (camera), 2 ... Body part, 3 ... Liquid crystal display part, 4 ... Hinge, 4a ... Arrangement space, 21 ... Rotating shaft part,
22: rotating shaft portion, 24: leaf spring member (biasing means), 26
… Wiring code

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera having a main body and a liquid crystal display, and supporting the liquid crystal display with respect to the main body via a hinge, wherein the hinge is a rotation shaft and an axial direction of the rotation shaft. A liquid crystal display unit is rotatably or rotatably supported by the rotating shaft or the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft or the rotating shaft is a main body. A camera rotatably or rotatably supported by the portion, and biasing means for biasing the hinge toward the distal end in the axial direction of the rotation shaft portion. 2. An arrangement space is formed in the hinge so that a rotation shaft portion and a rotation shaft portion are each formed in a hollow shape and communicate with each other inside, and an electric current is supplied to the liquid crystal display unit in the arrangement space. The camera according to claim 1, wherein a wiring cord for supplying the camera is arranged.