FR3030792A1 - PHOTO ARM SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

A photo arm is proposed here. A rotating control wheel is equipped to drive a transmission mechanism causing the photo arm to rotate, so that a camera attached to the photo arm can shoot at different angles along a circular path. The photo arm is also equipped with a power connection box and signals to provide power to the camera and output image information and control instructions. In addition, a lift control wheel is equipped to adjust the height of the center of rotation of the photo arm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photo arm system, which is manually operated to rotate along a circular path with a given radius, a shooting radius. A camera can be attached to the photo arm system to shoot from different angles along the circular path. The photo arm system is equipped with a connection box and signals for powering the camera and giving instructions for controlling shots. In addition, a height adjustment device is set up to adjust the height of the center of rotation of the photo arm. Description of the Related Art For a photo arm system, the camera's shooting angle is attached to one end of the photo arm, and a counterweight is arranged on the other end for balance. The shooting angle of the camera is adjusted manually, a transmission mechanism of a new type being used. General automatic photo-arm systems are not driven by worm gear or worm gears, but by servomotors. Regardless of the manual photo arm system or the automatic photo arm system, there is no power and signal connection box on it, so the shooting range and the height of the center of rotation are not. not adjustable. The cable length of a camera power adapter is normally not sufficient to reach the power outlet. If there is no power and signal connection box installed on the camera arm system or the camera's attachment compartment, the computer can not control the camera using the power cord or USB cable, and aesthetic problems and imperfect contacts appear. The shooting range should be set according to the size of the object to obtain a better photographic effect. However, the photo device is normally confined to a circular track with a fixed radius. It is very inconvenient to have to change the circular track according to the objects. The center of rotation is not adjustable if there is no lifting mechanism. Therefore, one can not place a rotating platform and the center of rotation at the same height levels to cause an image shift when taking 3D photos. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has several aspects and several embodiments. Aspects are cited first; the second embodiments. Control wheels, straight bevel gears, worms, worm gears are applied to the photo arm system of the present invention to tilt a vertical arm and a horizontal arm to drive a camera, installed on the horizontal arm, to take shots of an object from different angles along a circular path. A power and signal connection box is arranged on a photo arm or camera mounting compartment, and a computer can control the camera through the power connection box and the camera. signals. A lifting mechanism is applied to the photo arm system of the present invention to adjust the height of the center of rotation of the photo arm. The photo arm system of the present invention comprises a set of horizontal arms and a set of vertical arms, the set of horizontal arms being, by means of at least one slide, fixed on the set of vertical arms to be able to adjust the radius shooting. In one embodiment, the photo arm system of the present invention includes a plurality of vertical arms, for example a left vertical arm and a right vertical arm, to enhance the firmness of the photo arm system.

In one embodiment, the photo arm system of the present invention includes a front tilting plate, connected to the vertical arm set, and a rear tilting plate for counterbalancing the torque to reduce wear to the center of the arm. rotation.

In one embodiment, a set of fixing levers is used in the photo arm system of the present invention to simplify the installation and adjustment of the photo arm system. Embodiments are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front view of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a left view of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a top view schematically showing the detailed structure of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a front view schematically showing the detailed structure of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a front view of a power supply and signal connection box of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a top view of a power supply and signal connection box of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a side view of a power supply and signal connection box of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a drawing schematically showing the possibility of installing multiple cameras in a plurality of dedicated securement compartments of a horizontal arm constructed in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings to complete the demonstration of the objects, features, and functions of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a front view of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user can rotate a control wheel 1 to drive a transmission mechanism for tilting a vertical arm and a horizontal arm. A rotating handle 2 is installed on the control wheel 1 to facilitate the maneuver. In this embodiment, the control wheel 1 drives a right conical gear 3, a right bevel gear 4, a worm 5, a worm gear 6, a drive shaft 7 and a synchronization axis 8 (shown in Figure 4). The drive shaft 7 is connected to the ends of the vertical arms 11 and 12, and a horizontal arm 17 is fixed on the other ends, on the opposite side to the drive shaft 7 of the vertical arms 11 and 12. drive shaft 7 drives the vertical arms 11, 12 and the horizontal arm 17 to tilt them from an angle between 0 and 90 degrees. A camera attachment compartment 36 is arranged at one end of the horizontal arm 17 to carry a camera, so that the camera can shoot an object from different angles along a circular path having a radius (radius of view). In Figure 1, 0 ° designates a horizontal shooting position (lateral shooting) and 90 ° indicates a vertical shooting position (shooting from top to bottom). The right bevel gears of the transmission mechanism serve only to change the direction of tilting of the photo arm and can be omitted. The number of vertical arms 11, 12 or horizontal arms 17 is not limited; there may be one or more; furthermore, the horizontal arm 17 may have branches (detailed in FIG. 9). In one embodiment, a front tilting plate 9 and a rear tilting plate 10 are respectively arranged on the drive shaft 7 and the synchronization axis 8 and are connected by a connecting rod 22. The vertical arms 11 and 12 are connected to the front tilting plate 9. The front and rear tilting plates 9 and 10 can counterbalance the torque of each other to reduce wear on the center of rotation. The synchronization axis 8 and the rear tilting plate 10 may be omitted if the wear on the center of rotation may be negligible, and the vertical arms 11 and 12 are driven by the drive shaft 7 and the tilting plate before 9, or even driven by axis 7 only. The front tilting plate 9 uses the lower arm attachments 13 and the upper arm attachments 14 to secure the lower and upper parts of the left and right vertical arms 11 and 12. The number of upper arm attachments 13 and lower arm attachments 14 is not limited: there may be one or more of each of them. The attachment levers 15 and 16 serve to facilitate the installation / removal of the left and right vertical arms 11 and 12. A slide block or a fixing block serves to secure the horizontal arm 17 and the vertical arm. In one embodiment, a sliding block 19 serves to couple the horizontal arm 17 to the left and right vertical arms 11 and 12 by means of a fixing lever 18 and a fixing block 58. The sliding block 19 can move vertically along the left and right vertical arms 11 and 12 to change the shooting range. In another embodiment, an attachment block serves to couple the horizontal arm 17 to the vertical arm, and the shooting range is not adjustable. The left and right vertical arms 11, 12 and the horizontal arm 17 swing between 0 and 90 degrees along a circular path, with the possibility of falling. End plates 20 are arranged on the ends of the left and right vertical arms 11 and 12 and fixed by fixing levers 21 to prevent the horizontal arm 17 from falling.

The transmission mechanism is arranged inside a transmission housing 23, which has an upper plate 24 and a lower plate 25 and is installed on a frame 26. Fastening frames 27 provided with fastening adjustment devices 28 and rollers 29 are arranged on the corners of the transmission housing 23 to facilitate movement. For system stability, extended hoses 30 and adjusters 31 are used. The extended pipe 30 passes through a pipe support 35 and is secured, by means of a washer 33, to a support pin 32 by a fixing lever 34. The camera mounting compartment 36 is installed on one end. of the horizontal arm 17 to carry a camera 48. The camera mounting compartment 36 comprises fixing plates 37 and 38, which are, by means of collars 43 and 44, secured to each other by the fixing levers 45. The fixing compartment of the camera 36 is, by means of a collar 39, coupled to the horizontal arm 17 and fixed by a fixing lever 40 so as to be able to turn around the horizontal arm 17. The fixing lever 42, by means of a washer 41, is used to tighten the fastening compartment of the camera 36 or to loosen it to move it along a slot made in the fixing plate 37. A unit fixing the camera 47 is fixed on the fixing plate 38 by via an adapter 46 to mount the camera 48. The support ribs 51 and 52 are attached to the attachment plate 38 to hold a support plate 50 on the bottom of the camera mounting compartment. 36 to prevent the camera 48 from falling at the 90-degree angle of view. A power and signal connection box 53 may be installed on the horizontal arm 17, the left or right vertical arm 11 or 12, or the camera mounting compartment 36 to provide power to the apparatus. and transmit image signals or control instructions, such as those of the USB transmission protocol of this embodiment. This kind of configuration of the power connection and signal box 53 greatly reduces the need for a long power cord for the camera 48 and improves the convenience of use and aesthetics of the camera system. photo arm.

In one embodiment, a pointer 55 is arranged on the transmission housing 23 and a scale 54 is arranged on the rear tilting plate 54. When tilting, the scale 54 also turns, and the pointer 55 can indicate the angle tilt, the tilt angle of the photo arm.

A lifting control wheel 56 is installed on the top of the transmission housing 23 and is coupled to a lifting mechanism, the detail of which is shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. Lifting control 56 raises or lowers the lifting mechanism for adjusting the height of the center of rotation of the drive shaft 7. In one embodiment, for convenience, a rotary handle 57 is arranged on the control wheel. In one embodiment, a motor 126 is used in place of the lift control wheel 56 and the rotary handle 57 to directly drive the lift mechanism for height adjustments of the center of rotation of the elevator. This makes it possible to position the center of rotation at the same height as the rotating platform to prevent image shifts during the creation of 3D photos. Fig. 2 is a top view of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Synchronizing pulleys 60 and 62 are respectively installed on sliding screws 59 and 61. A timing belt 63 passes through the timing pulleys 60 and 62, so that the timing pulleys 60 and 62 can rotate synchronously. A flanged tensioner roller 64 can move forwards and backwards to regulate the tension of the timing belt 63; see detail in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Lifting control wheel 56 / 1e motor 126 are attached to sliding screw 59, and sliding screws 59 and 61 are inserted into an upper sliding plate 73 and a lower sliding plate. 74 of a set of sliding plates, which serves to fix the photo arm. Ball bearings 66, 68, 70 and 72 are respectively installed at the four corners of the upper sliding plate 73 and the lower sliding plate 74 to enhance the stability of the movements.

The rotation of the sliding screw 59 is controlled by the rotating handle 57 of the lifting control wheel 56 / the motor 129 to rotate the synchronizing pulley 60, and the synchronizing belt 63 drives the synchronizing pulley 62 to rotate. the sliding screw 61 synchronously. The rotation of the sliding screws 59 and 61 drives the upper and lower slide plates 73 and 74 up and / or down. This adjusts the height of the center of rotation of the photo arm. Fig. 3 shows a left view of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention. When turning the rotary handle 2 of the control wheel 1, the photo arm switches, as the scale 54, so that the pointer 55, fixed on the transmission housing 23, can indicate the angle of inclination of the photo arm. Fig. 4 is a top view schematically showing the detailed structure of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention. When manually turning the rotary handle 2 of the control wheel 1, the rotation drives the right bevel gear 3 and 4, then the worm 5, then the worm 6, then the drive shaft 7 , in rotation. The rotation of the drive shaft 7 causes the tilting plate before 9 and the photo arm to tilt. A stop 93, a screw 94, a stop 95 and a screw 96 serve to limit the tilting of the front tilting plate 9 within a specified range, 0 to 90 degrees in this embodiment. Alternatively, a stop 97, a screw 98, a stop 99 and a screw 100 may be arranged on the rear tilting plate 10 to perform the same function. The technical means of adjusting the synchronization belt 63 by means of the flanged tensioner roller 64 is as follows. A screw 101 penetrates a fixing block 87, then contacts the sliding block 86, the sliding block 86 being able to move forward or backward by virtue of the rotation of the screw 101. The flange tensioner 64 fixed at the bottom of the sliding block 86 also moves forward and backward, which regulates the tension of the timing belt 63. The screws 104 and 105 engage the slots 102 and 103 of the sliding block 86 to secure the flanged tensioner roller 64 to the below. Fig. 5 is a front view schematically showing the detailed structure of a photo arm system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Two ends of the sliding screw 61 of the sliding screw-nut assembly are respectively fixed on two ball bearing units 89 and 88, which are respectively fixed on the upper plate 24 and the lower plate 25. A thrust bearing 92 is arranged on the lower plate 25, the location of penetration of the sliding screw 61 to prevent the set of sliding plates from going down too low. The sliding screw 61 also penetrates and locks onto the lower sliding plate 74 via a nut 91. The installation of the sliding screw 59 is similar to that described above, and the description is not repeated here. Four linear sleeves 65, 67, 69 and 71 are respectively arranged on four corners of the upper sliding plate 73, and four linear sleeves 75, 76, 77 and 78 are on four corners of the lower sliding plate 74. The ball bearings 66, 68, 70 and 72 respectively traverse the linear sleeves 65, 67, 69, 71, 75, 76, 77 and 78, and their two ends are fixed by the axis supports 84, 82, 85 and 83. The bearings Balls 66 and 70 are fixed in the same manner, the procedure not being repeated here. This kind of design is useful for providing stable and synchronous movement to the upper and lower sliding plates 73 and 74. When the timing belt 63 rotates the sliding screws 61 and 59, the sliding screws 61 and 59 can raise and lower The front view clearly shows the method of regulating the tension of the timing belt 63 by the flanged tensioner roller 64. The flanged tensioner roller 64 is fixed under the sliding block 86. The upper front and lower sliding plates 73 and 74 are fixed. , and the screw 101 enters the fixing block 87, then connects to the sliding block 86. When the screw 101 is driven to push the slide block 86, the flanged tensioner roller 64 advances to stretch the timing belt 63. When the screw 101 is driven to push the sliding block 86, the rim tensioner 64 back to relax the synchronization belt 63. In a real mode In this embodiment, the photo arm system adopts a single sliding screw 59, a single nut 91 and a single timing pulley 60 to raise and lower the upper sliding plate 73 and the lower sliding plate 74 of the sliding plate assembly. In this embodiment, the sliding screw 61, the timing pulley 62, the timing belt 63 and the flanged tensioner roller 64 are omitted; in addition, all linear sleeves and all ball bearings can also be omitted. Alternatively, only a pair of linear sleeves and a pair of ball bearings are arranged on two diagonal corners. Figures 6, 7 and 8 show respectively a front view, a top view and a side view of a power supply and signal connection box 53 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The power and signal connection box 53 may be installed on the horizontal arm, the left vertical arm, the right vertical arm or the camera mounting compartment. In this embodiment, the power and signal connection box 53 is installed on the horizontal arm 17. However, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention; it is given only as an example. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the power and signal connection box 53 is installed on the horizontal arm 17 with the fixing plates 108 and 109, and the fixing screws 115, 116, 117 and 118 on the bottom of the a box body 106. An upper cover 107 of the power and signal connection box 53 is fixed to the box body 106 with the cap screws 119, 120, 121 and 122. In addition to a cable entry 110 and a cable outlet 111 of the power and signal connection box 53, tabs 123 and 124 are arranged to secure the power cords and signal cables, but it will be appreciated that the input of cable 100 / cable outlet 111 may be single or multiple. As illustrated in FIG. 7, an insulating plate 112 is arranged inside the power and signal connection box 53, and at least one universal power plug 113 and at least one USB port 114 are arranged on the plate isolator 112 for respectively supplying power to the camera 48 and outputting USB signals, including image signals and control instructions, and the fixing block 126 serves to secure the USB ports 114. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the fixing blocks 126 and 127 respectively fix the USB port 114 and the universal power plug 113 to the power and signal connection box 53. The fixing screws 128 penetrate the fixing plates 108 and 109 and, being fixed to the bottom of the horizontal arm 17, avoid sliding and rotation. No power and signal connection boxes are installed on the conventional system's photo arm, so there is no power outlet for the nearby camera, and therefore lengths Power and signal cables must be put in place from the external power outlet and the computer directly to the camera, which has many drawbacks and is detrimental to aesthetics. In the present invention, the power and signal connection box 53 is installed on the vertical arm, the horizontal arm or the camera mounting compartment, which considerably reduces the need for a length of adapter cord. power supply of the camera and a length of USB cable, which is very convenient and very aesthetic. In one aspect, the horizontal arm of the photo arm system may have only one branch or have a plurality of branches. Each branch has a camera mounting compartment for attaching cameras. The other end of the horizontal arm is attached to the vertical arm. When the rotating vertical arm pulls the horizontal arm to tilt it along a circular path, the cameras can shoot from different angles simultaneously. Fig. 9 is a drawing schematically showing that the cameras 134, 135 and 136 are respectively installed on the camera mounting compartments 131, 132 and 133 of the horizontal arm 17 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, a plurality of branches may be arranged horizontally or vertically on the end of the horizontal arm 17. In this embodiment, three branches are arranged horizontally, each having a camera mounting compartment for mounting the cameras, such as 131, 132 and 133 in Figure 9. Several sets of photographic devices can therefore take pictures simultaneously. It is emphasized that the number of branches is not limited. The invention has been described in terms of what are currently considered the most practical and preferred embodiments of all, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. . On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements forming part of the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which must be understood in their broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims (13)

REVENDICATIONS1. Photo arm system comprising a vertical arm (11, 12); a horizontal arm (17), one end of said horizontal arm having at least one leg, the other end of said horizontal arm being coupled to one side of said vertical arm, and each of said legs having a camera mounting compartment (36); a drive shaft (7) fixedly installed on the other side of said vertical arm (11, 12); an auger / worm gear assembly (5, 6) coupled to said drive shaft; and a control wheel (1) coupled to said worm gear / worm gear assembly for driving said worm gear worm assembly, said worm gear / worm gear assembly also driving said spindle drive to tilt said vertical arm and said horizontal arm. The photo arm system of claim 1, wherein the number of said vertical arms (11, 12) is one or greater than one, and wherein the number of said horizontal arms (17) is equal to one or greater than one. The photo arm system of claim 1, further comprising a slide block (19) slidable vertically along said vertical arm (11, 12), wherein said horizontal arm (17) is coupled to said vertical arm by the intermediate said sliding block (19) for adjusting the shooting range. The photo arm system of claim 1, further comprising a fixing block, wherein said horizontal arm is coupled to said vertical arm through said fixing block. The photo arm system of claim 1, further comprising a tilting plate (9, 10) coupled to said drive shaft (7), wherein said vertical arm (11, 12) is attached to said tilting plate (9). , 10) by one or more arm attachments. The photo arm system of claim 5, wherein said tilting plate comprises a front tilting plate (9), a rear tilting plate (10) and a connecting rod (22), said connecting rod connecting said tilting front plate and said tilting plate back. The photo arm system of claim 6, further comprising a scale (54) arranged on said rear tilting plate (10). The photo arm system of claim 1, wherein said camera mounting compartment (36) comprises a fixing plate (37, 38); a camera fixing unit (47) fixed to said fixing plate via an adapter (46); and a plurality of collars (39) for securing said fixing plate (37, 38) to said horizontal arm (17) and rotating said camera mounting compartment (36). The photo arm system of claim 8, further comprising a support tray attached to the bottom of said attachment plate by a plurality of support ribs to prevent the camera from falling. The photo arm system of claim 1, further comprising a set of sliding plates (73, 74) carrying said drive shaft (7); a sliding screw-nut assembly (59, 61) penetrating said plurality of sliding plates and raising and lowering said vertical arm, said horizontal arm and said camera mounting compartment; and a lift control wheel (56) or motor (126) rotating said sliding screw-nut assembly to raise or lower said slide plate assembly. The photo arm system of claim 10, wherein said sliding plate assembly comprises an upper sliding plate (73) and a lower sliding plate (74), and wherein said driving axis moves between said upper sliding plate. and said lower slider plate. The photo arm system of claim 10, wherein said sliding screw-nut assembly comprises a front sliding screw-nut assembly and a rear sliding nut-and-bolt assembly, and wherein one end of said sliding screw of said nut-and-bolt assembly. forward sliders and one end of said sliding screw of said rear sliding screw-nut assembly are respectively engaged with two timing pulleys (60, 62), and wherein said timing pulleys and said sliding screws are driven by a timing belt (63). ) to rotate synchronously to raise or lower in turn said set of sliding plates, said vertical arm, said horizontal arm and said camera mounting compartment. The photo arm system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of linear sleeve assemblies (65, 67, 69, 71) and ball bearings (66, 68, 70, 72), said linear sleeve assemblies, and ball bearings penetrating said slide plate assembly (73, 74) to stably raise or lower said slide plate assembly, said vertical arm, said horizontal arm and said camera attachment compartment.