JP2000047081A - Waterdrop-proof lens barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterdrop-proof lens barrel which is a domestic-water- proof type, whose structure is simple and whose water-proof performance can be enhanced, and which can be manufactured at a low cost. SOLUTION: This lens barrel has a first mirror frame 30 and a second mirror frame 40 relatively moving by zooming operation, etc., a sealing member 31 constituted of an elastic body and pressing either one of the mirror frames in a radial direction is fixed on the other mirror frame and both frames are pressed and fitted through the seal member, so that water-proofness between the two mirror frames can be performed, and also means 40a and 40b increasing pressing amount in the case of a specified focal distance and a housing condition are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof drop lens barrel, and more particularly to a waterproof drop lens barrel having a waterproof property that can be used even during rainfall.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to provide a camera having a zoom lens with a waterproof or waterproof droplet function, when the zoom lens barrel moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction during zooming, the internal pressure of the camera changes accordingly. Therefore, the structure must be designed to absorb this. Such a device is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,931,816 and
It is already known in JP-A-113137.

The above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,931,816 has an air circulation passage for communicating the inside and the outside of a camera, in which a water-repellent microporous member is disposed, and the water-repellent microporous member is disposed in the passage. This is a waterproof camera that allows air to circulate through a passage by a microporous member, while preventing water from passing through. This camera is a completely waterproof camera that prevents water from entering, and is based on the premise that the water-repellent microporous member uses a special material known by trade names such as Gore-Tex, Entrant, and Micro-Tech.

Also, the camera disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-113137 is different from the camera disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,931,816 in that it is a waterproof camera for daily life, that is, waterproof enough to be used even during rain. The present invention relates to a waterproof drop lens barrel having: However, its structure is substantially the same as that of the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,816. Etc.).

[0005]

By the way, the conventional waterproof or waterproof drop technology related to the above-mentioned waterproof drop lens barrel of the present invention is to secure the waterproofness of the camera and to control the air pressure between the inside and the outside of the camera. Adjustment of change is made by water droplets (100μ ~ 300
μ) and water vapor (0.0004
It is performed with a material having a large number of holes having a diameter larger than μ). Such materials can be quite waterproof, but not very breathable. Therefore, if such a material is used for the purpose of ensuring waterproofness and air permeability, it takes a sufficient time to adjust the difference in air pressure between the inside and the outside of the camera. That is, the zooming operation or the like must be performed very slowly, and the load of the zooming increases due to the lack of the ventilation performance, and therefore, a great load is imposed on the zoom motor and the reduction gear system. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a powerful zoom motor and strong gears and gear shafts are required, and there is a problem that the cost is increased and the space is increased, which hinders the miniaturization of the camera. Was.

Further, since these materials having both waterproofness and air permeability are provided with fine holes, there is also a problem that careless touching causes clogging and impairs air permeability. Therefore, such means must be provided in a place where the user normally does not touch the hand while holding the camera, and there is a drawback that the design is restricted. Further, the cost is high due to the specialty of the material, and there is a problem that the cost of the camera is also high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to provide a waterproof waterproof lens which is not a water immersion preventive type but has a simple structure, a waterproof structure which can improve waterproofness and can be manufactured at low cost. To provide a lens barrel.

[0008]

The waterproof drop lens barrel according to the present invention is a lens barrel having a first lens frame and a second lens frame which relatively move by a zooming operation or the like. A seal member made of an elastic body that presses the other lens frame in the radial direction is fixed to one lens frame, and both frames are pressed and fitted via the seal member to perform waterproofing between the two lens frames. In addition, there is provided a means for increasing the pressing amount in a specific focal length or a stored state.

Further, the waterproof drop lens barrel according to the present invention comprises:
A lens barrel having a first lens frame and a second lens frame that relatively move by a zooming operation or the like, and is made of an elastic body that radially presses the other lens frame on one of the lens frames. The seal member is fixed, the two frames are pressed and fitted via the seal member, and waterproofing is performed between the two lens frames, and at a specific focal length or in a stored state, the other of the lens frames is used. The lens frame is provided with a pressing amount increasing means for increasing the pressing amount, and the pressing amount increasing means is a stepped portion of the lens frame changed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a waterproof drop lens barrel according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The waterproof drop lens barrel according to this embodiment has a zoom lens barrel, and the zoom lens barrel includes a fixed frame 10 that is integrally attached to the camera body 1, as shown in FIG. The upper half shows the state where the zoom lens is moved to the wide position, and the lower half shows the state where the zoom lens is moved to the tele position.

A camera having this waterproof drop lens barrel is:
The zoom lens barrel, the front cover 2 covering the camera body 1, the rear cover 3 covering the rear part, and the back cover 4 constitute the main part. The zoom lens barrel 80 is
A drive frame 20 rotatably fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed frame 10, and a drive frame 20 rotatably fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the fixed frame 10, and rotated by the drive frame 20 to rotate. The first lens frame 40 holding the first lens holding frame 41 supporting the first lens unit L1 and the cam barrel 30 composed of the first lens frame that moves back and forth in the optical axis direction while moving. The frame constitutes a second mirror frame in the present invention), a second lens frame 50 holding a second lens holding frame 51 supporting the second lens group L2, and a third lens group L3. A third lens frame 60 holding a third lens holding frame 61,
Barrier unit 70 supported by first lens frame 40
And a shutter unit 5 supported by the second lens frame 50
The main part is constituted by 1 etc.

A light-shielding rubber 5 made of synthetic rubber or the like is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the back cover 4 attached to the rear cover 3 so as to be openable and closable when the back cover 4 is closed. , Is pressed between the back cover 4 and the rear cover 3 to prevent light and water droplets from entering from outside. A waterproof rubber 6 (see FIG. 8) made of silicone rubber or the like is fixed between the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3 over the entire circumference, so that light from the space between the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3 can be prevented. Water droplets are prevented from entering. Further, an O-ring 11 made of silicon rubber or the like is fitted to a fitting portion between the inner peripheral surface near the front end of the front cover 2 and the tip of the fixed frame 10.

A seal member 12 made of silicon rubber or the like is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the fixed frame 10 near the distal end. A seal member 31 made of, for example, is attached. The outer peripheral surface of the cam cylinder 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the first lens frame 40 are coated with a fluorine-based water-repellent coating. Therefore, the water-repellent coating and the two sealing members 1
The liquid-tightness and light-tightness that prevent intrusion of light and water droplets between the fixed frame 10 and the cam barrel 30 and between the cam barrel 30 and the first lens frame 40 are maintained by the base plates 2 and 31. It has become.

The front lens of the first lens unit L1 supported by the first lens holding frame 41 and the first lens holding frame 41 are fixed with an adhesive. This adhesive also serves as a shield between the first lens holding frame 41 and the lens, thereby preventing water droplets from entering from the front side of the lens.

Further, as shown in FIG.
For example, a plurality of air holes 4a are formed, and a sheet member 7 having water repellency and air permeability is fixed to the inner surface side of the air holes 4a with an adhesive. The ventilation hole 4a
As shown in the rear view of the camera in FIG. 3, the hole is formed in a rear grip portion 4b provided on the back cover 4. The rear grip portion 4b has a finger hook projecting portion 4 near its upper outer side.
c is protruded, and a patrone window 4d for observing the presence or absence of a patrone is provided in a central portion closer to the inside. In the present embodiment, four ventilation holes 4a are formed at equal intervals in the vertical direction below the finger hook projections 4c and outside the patrone window 4d.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the camera, and a release button 9 is disposed on the upper right side of the upper surface of the front cover 2 near the front right side. The rear grip portion 4b is formed so as to protrude slightly rearward toward the outside. The ventilation hole 4a formed in the rear grip portion 4b of the back cover 4 as described above usually has a human hand H when the camera is held as shown in FIG.
It will not be blocked by.

The sheet-like member 7 is made by immersing a cloth woven of polyester fibers in a water-repellent agent such as silicon or fluorine, and drying. This sheet-shaped member 7 usually has a gap between the fibers, and if this gap is not subjected to a water-repellent treatment, water droplets will enter or permeate in this state. It is of the order of magnitude. By the way, since the waterproofing action of the sheet-like member 7 made of the woven cloth subjected to the water-repellent treatment as described above is performed because the water-repellent treatment is applied even if many water droplets adhere to the sheet-like member 7, Water drops gather together,
This becomes a water droplet which is larger than the cloth eyes, and performs a waterproofing effect of blocking the large water droplet. Also,
Such a material is a very common material, for example, used as a material for a coat.

The waterproof lens barrel of the present invention is thus constructed. Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when zooming from the wide state of the upper half to the telescopic state of the lower half, the internal volume of the camera changes significantly, so that all units are completely sealed. If you have
I can't zoom. However, in the camera having the lens barrel according to the present invention, since the ventilation hole 4a is provided in the back cover 4 as described above, air flows through the air-permeable sheet member 7. Therefore,
In normal use, zooming can be performed smoothly.

When the camera having the lens barrel is used during rainfall, a waterproof drip action is performed as follows. (A) When raindrops or the like adhere to the outer peripheral portion of the lens frame, the O-ring 11 and the seal members 12, 31 prevent water droplets from entering the camera. (B) When water droplets adhere to the front surface of the lens, the adhesive between the first lens holding frame 41 and the first lens unit L1 prevents the water droplets from entering the camera. (C) When water droplets adhere to the butt joint between the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3, the waterproof rubber 6 prevents the water droplets from entering the camera. (D) When water droplets adhere between the rear cover 3 and the back cover 4, the light-shielding rubber 5 prevents the water droplets from entering the camera. (E) When a water droplet adheres to the ventilation hole 4a, the sheet-like member 7 prevents the water droplet from entering the camera due to its water repellency. As described above, the camera having the lens barrel according to the present invention has no problem even when used in a state where some water drops are formed such as during rainfall.

In the above-described embodiment, the ventilation hole 4a is formed in the back cover 4, and the sheet-like member 7 is adhered to the inner surface of the ventilation hole 4a. Needless to say, it may be perforated at one of the wall surfaces at a position not covered by the holding of the camera so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the camera.

On the other hand, a base member is attached to the tip of the cam barrel 30 as the first lens frame, and the seal member 31 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the first lens frame 40 as the second lens frame.
Has a substantially U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. Here, assuming that the outer diameter of the first lens frame 40 is φD1, in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
The distal end portion 40a of the first lens frame 40 forms an inclined step, and is formed such that the outer diameter φD2 satisfies φD2> φD1. That is, the first lens frame 40
Has a stepped portion through the inclined surface 40b from the middle thereof, and its outer diameter is formed as large as φD2.

When formed in this manner, the pressing amount of the seal member 31 interposed between the two lens frames increases in a specific focal length or in a stored state such as a collapsed state. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, while the first lens frame 40 moves from the wide position to the tele position, the sealing member 3
Since the outer diameter φD1 of the first lens frame 40 with which 1 is pressed is not changed, the pressing force of the seal member 31 is not changed, and the zooming operation is performed smoothly. However, when the lens barrel moves in the collapsed state, as shown in FIG. 6, the sealing member 31 comes into pressure contact with the distal end portion 40a having a large outer diameter φD2 via the inclined surface 40b. Become.

As described above, since the lens barrel can make the lens unit more waterproof when collapsed than in a normal use state, for example, when carrying the camera without putting it in a case during rainfall, etc. Is further improved in waterproofness. Further, since the camera is generally stored in a more housed state than in a shooting state, it is possible to ensure waterproofness conforming to the aspect.

In the above embodiment, the seal member 31 presses the outer peripheral surface of the first lens frame 40. However, this is because the seal member 31 is fixed to the first lens frame 40 and the first lens frame 40 is used. Needless to say, the cam cylinder 30 may be configured to be pressed against the inner peripheral surface thereof. Further, the configuration in which the pressing amount is increased in this manner may be formed not only in the retracted state but also in the telescopic state. In this way, it is possible to further improve the waterproofness of a frequently used telephoto state at the time of shooting, and even if the zoom load increases at the telephoto end, no further zooming is performed in the telephoto direction.
There is no particular problem.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a waterproof drop lens barrel that can be improved in waterproofness with a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a waterproof drop lens barrel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a camera having the waterproof drop lens barrel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera having the waterproof drop lens barrel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an essential part perspective view showing a state where a grip of the camera having the waterproof drop lens barrel shown in FIG. 1 is held;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where a first lens frame and a cam barrel are sealed by a seal member.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sealing member is pressed against a distal end portion of a first lens frame.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the seal member is pressed against the middle of the first lens frame.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a combined state of a front cover and a rear cover.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a ventilation hole and a sheet-like member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 First lens frame (cam cylinder) 40 Second lens frame (first lens frame) 31 Seal member 40a Tip (step) (amount of pressing) Increasing means) 40b ... inclined surface (pressing amount increasing means)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuya Suzuki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Akitake 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lens barrel having a first lens frame and a second lens frame which are relatively moved by a zooming operation or the like, wherein one of the lens frames is pressed against the other lens frame in a radial direction. The sealing member made of an elastic body is fixed, and the two frames are pressed and fitted via the sealing member to perform waterproofing between the two lens frames, and at the same time, at a specific focal length or a stored state, the amount of the pressing. A waterproof drop lens barrel, characterized in that means for increasing the number of lenses are provided. 2. A lens barrel having a first lens frame and a second lens frame which are relatively moved by a zooming operation or the like, wherein one of the lens frames is pressed against the other lens frame in a radial direction. The two frames are pressed and fitted via the sealing member, waterproofing is performed between the two lens frames, and the lens frame is moved at a specific focal length or in a stored state. Wherein the other lens barrel is provided with a pressing amount increasing means for increasing the pressing amount. 3. A waterproof drop lens barrel according to claim 2, wherein said pressing amount increasing means is a stepped portion of said lens frame.