JP2001242597A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stopper for the fall-off prevention of a slide case which is not released by a user and does not affect an appearance design in a camera provided with a slide cover. SOLUTION: A plate-like stopper 28 is attached on the upper surface of the cartridge chamber 24 of a camera main body 3. The stopper 28 is freely movable between a licking position at which it is projected from an aperture 35 to the outside of the camera main body 2 and a housing position at which it is housed inside the camera main body 3. The stopper 17 is engaged with a regulating member 28 provided on the inner face of the slide case 4 when being at the locking position, so that the slide case 4 is prevented from falling off from the camera main body 3. The movement of the stopper 28 and the fixing of it at each position are performed by a fixed screw 31 screwed with the stopper 28 from the inside of the cartridge chamber 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera having a slide cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional cameras and film units with lenses are provided with a slide cover on the front of a camera body. The slide cover covers and protects photographing functional components such as a photographing lens when not in use, and exposes them when photographing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-104712 describes a camera provided with a slide case that covers most of the camera body when not in use, as well as the front of the camera body.

The slide case has a storage position for covering most of the camera body, a photography position for exposing various photographing functions such as a photographing lens and a finder, and a cartridge replacement position for loading or unloading a cartridge. It is slidably attached to the camera body. In the storage position, the camera is miniaturized to improve portability, and at the time of shooting, the slide case is used as a grip to make it easier to hold the camera.

The slide case is positioned at each position and stopped by a click mechanism provided in the camera body. Also, if the slide case is accidentally detached from the camera body, the cartridge chamber may open and the photo film may be exposed, or the camera body may fall and be damaged. It does not come off.

[0005]

In a conventional camera with a slide case, the lock mechanism can be released from outside the camera body, and the user can freely remove the slide case. However, misuse, such as removing the slide case by mistake with the photo film loaded, or attaching the slide case to the camera body with dust or sand adhered to the inside of the slide case or the surface of the camera body, etc. The camera was frequently damaged. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a lock mechanism that prevents the slide case from being removed except for maintenance by a manufacturer or the like.

Further, a lock mechanism which does not hinder the mounting of the slide case on the camera body and which operates after the slide case is mounted on the camera body must be provided. However, adverse effects on the external design, such as making holes in the slide case and camera body, must be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera provided with a slide case stopper which cannot be released by a user and does not affect the external design.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention is provided such that a stopper is movable between a locking position where the stopper projects from the camera body and a storage position where the stopper is stored in the camera body. The moving means for moving the stopper between the locking position and the storage position and the fixing means for fixing the stopper at each position are provided at positions not exposed on the appearance of the camera body.

Further, the fixing means is exposed in a cartridge chamber in which the film cartridge is loaded. Furthermore, when attaching the slide cover to the camera body, store the stopper inside the camera body and temporarily fix it.After attaching the slide cover to the camera body, release the temporary fixation and project the stopper from the camera body. It is intended to be fixed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, which is an external perspective view of a camera 2 embodying the present invention, the camera 2 incorporates various photographing functional parts and is loaded with a film cartridge. A box-shaped slide case 4 which is a slide cover attached to the camera body 3 so as to be covered from the side. Slide case 4
Is made of a lightweight, high-strength material such as plastic or aluminum or titanium.

The slide case 4 covers a non-photographing position for covering and protecting most of the camera body, and as shown in FIG. 1, a photographing position for exposing a photographing function part of the camera body and enabling photographing. As shown in FIG. 7, the slide unit is slidable between a photographing position and a cartridge replacement position which is pulled out from the camera body 3. The slide case is locked at each position by a locking mechanism provided on the camera body.
Also, the movement from the shooting position to the cartridge replacement position
This is only possible when the locking mechanism is released.

On the front and upper surfaces of the camera body 3, a lens barrel 6, a strobe light emitting section 7, an object-side finder window 8, a distance-measuring light-emitting window 9a and a distance-measuring light-receiving window 9b, and a photometric element are incorporated in the back. Photometry light receiving window 10 and unlocking operation member 1
1 and the like are provided. The light-receiving window 9b for distance measurement has a transparent protective plate attached to an opening provided on the front surface of the slide cover 4, and is provided on the front surface of the camera body 3 when the slide cover 4 is slid to the photographing position. Facing the light receiving sensor for distance measurement.

The lens barrel 6 incorporates a telephoto optical system including a photographic lens 12, and is retracted in the camera body 3 when the power of the camera 2 is turned off, and is extended simultaneously with turning on. The strobe light emitting unit 7 is rotatable between an exposure position where it pops up from the camera body 3 and a storage position where it is housed in the camera body 3, and at the same time when the camera body 3 is pulled out from the slide case 4. , Move to the exposed position by the bias of the spring. The lock release operation member 11 is
When the slide case 4 is moved from the photographing position to the cartridge replacement position, the slide case 4 is used to release the above-described locking mechanism.

At a position covered by the slide case 4 on the upper surface of the camera body 3, a distance measuring device and a photometric device in the camera body 3 perform distance measurement and photometry when the camera is half-pressed, and a shutter unit when fully pressed. Is provided with a push button type shutter switch for performing shirt release.
When the slide case 4 moves to the photographing position, a shutter button 13 provided on the upper surface of the slide case 4 faces the shutter switch. Thereby, the shutter switch can be operated from outside the slide case 4 via the shutter button 13.

A cartridge chamber 24 in which a film cartridge 23 is loaded from the axial direction is provided on the bottom of the camera body 3.
Is provided. The cartridge chamber lid 24 is opened and closed by a cartridge chamber lid 25 that is plate-shaped and has one side pivotally mounted near the center of the bottom surface of the camera body 3.
On the opposite side of the cartridge chamber 24 across the lens barrel 6,
There is provided a film chamber in which the photographic film drawn from the film cartridge 23 is wound up.

At the bottom of the camera body 3, the cartridge chamber 24
A battery chamber 21 for storing a battery used as a power supply of the camera body 3 is provided on a side of the camera body 3. The battery compartment 21 is opened and closed by a battery cover 22.

The bottom of the slide case 4 has a large notch 4
a is formed. The notch 4a allows the cartridge chamber cover 25 to be completely exposed when the slide case 4 is slid to the cartridge replacement position,
To be able to open. When the slide case 4 is at a position other than the cartridge replacement position, the cartridge chamber cover 25 is pressed by the bottom surface of the slide cover 4 to prevent the cartridge chamber cover 25 from being inadvertently opened. The notch 4a does not block the battery cover 22 even when the slide cover 4 is in the non-photographing position, so that the battery of the camera 2 can be replaced in the non-photographing state.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are cross-sectional views of a main part near the cartridge chamber 24 of the camera 2. On the upper surface of the cartridge chamber 24, a stopper 28 formed of a thin metal plate or the like so as to be substantially L-shaped is attached. A long hole 28 a and a screw hole 28 b formed along the front-back direction of the camera 2 are formed in the long side portion of the stopper 28. On the upper surface of the cartridge chamber 24, a pin 29 inserted into the elongated hole 28 a of the stopper 28 and an elongated hole 30 facing the screw hole 28 b are formed, and the elongated hole 30 penetrates into the cartridge chamber 24. I have. In this elongated hole 30,
A fixing screw 31 serving as a moving unit and a fixing unit of the stopper 28 is inserted from the inside of the cartridge chamber 24, and is screwed into a screw hole 28 b of the stopper 28.

The stopper 28 is movable along the front-rear direction of the camera 2 by long holes 28a, 30 and a pin 29 serving as a guide and a fixing screw 31. Specifically, the locking projection 33 formed to protrude from the long side of the stopper 28 is attached to the exterior cover 34 of the camera body 3.
FIG. 5 shows a locking position for projecting from an opening 35 formed in
As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 6, there are two positions; The movement of the stopper 28 between these two positions is shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), a tool such as a driver is fitted to the screw head 37 of the fixing screw 31 exposed in the cartridge chamber 24, and the driver is moved along the elongated hole 30. The stopper 28 is fixed at each position by tightening the fixing screw 31 after the movement.

At a position facing the stopper 28 of the camera body 3 on the inner surface of the slide case 4, a plate-shaped regulating member 3 is provided.
9 is attached. When the stopper 28 is in the locking position and protrudes from the camera body 3, the side surface of the restricting member 39 contacts the locking protrusion 33 of the stopper 28. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the slide case 4 from being accidentally removed from the camera body 3.

In the assembly line of the camera 2, after the stopper 28 is mounted on the upper surface of the cartridge chamber 24, it is moved to the storage position shown in FIGS. Then, in this state, the slide case 4 is put on the side of the camera body 3, but since the stopper 28 does not protrude from the camera body 3,
The slide case 4 can be attached to the camera body 3 without causing any snagging or resistance.

The slide case 4 attached to the camera body 3 is stopped at the cartridge replacement position. In this state, the cartridge chamber lid 25 can be opened to expose the inside of the cartridge chamber 24. As shown in FIG. 7, the screw head 3 of the fixing screw 31 is provided in the cartridge chamber 24.
Since 7 is exposed, a driver is inserted into the cartridge chamber 24 and fitted to the screw head 37 to release the temporary fixing. When the driver is moved toward the rear side of the camera 2 while being fitted to the screw head 37, the stopper 28 moves toward the locking position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 on the upper surface of the cartridge chamber 24.

The stopper 28 moved to the locking position causes the locking projection 33 to protrude out of the camera body 3 from the opening 35,
It contacts the side surface of the regulating member 39. After that, fixing screw 3
By firmly tightening 1 and fixing the stopper 28, the slide case 4 is prevented from coming off the camera body 3.

In the camera 2, even if the slide case 4 is further pulled from the cartridge replacement position, the slide case 4 does not come off from the camera body 3, so that damage to the camera body 3 due to an erroneous operation can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the slide case 4 from being lost and dust from adhering to the slide case 4. Further, since the screw head 37 of the fixing screw 31 is arranged in the cartridge chamber 24 that is rarely seen in ordinary use, the user does not notice the slide head 4 and the slide case 4 is removed except during maintenance by the manufacturer. Never.

In the above embodiment, the stopper is disposed on the upper surface of the cartridge chamber, and the stopper is moved and fixed from the cartridge chamber. However, the stopper is provided in another part such as the battery chamber, and the stopper is provided. May be operated. Further, although the regulating member is attached to the inner surface of the slide case, a groove, a protrusion, or the like formed integrally with the slide case can be used instead of the regulating member. Further, the stopper of the present invention can be used not only for retaining the slide case having a box shape but also for retaining the slide cover that covers only the front surface of the camera body.

Although the camera using the IX240 type film cartridge has been described as an example, the present invention
The present invention can also be used for a camera using a photo film of another format such as 135 type, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, a video camera, and the like.
For example, when the present invention is applied to a camera using a 135-type photographic film, a stopper is installed at the upper or lower part of the cartridge chamber, and when the back cover of the camera is opened, a screw for moving and fixing the stopper is provided. You should be able to access to. When the present invention is applied to a digital still camera or a digital video camera, the stopper may be operated from the battery compartment, the video cassette loading compartment, or the memory card loading compartment.

[0027]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, the stopper can be switched between the working state and the non-working state without affecting the appearance design. In addition, since the fixing means and the moving means for fixing and moving the stopper are provided in a portion which is not exposed in appearance of the camera body, it is possible to prevent the slide cover from being removed by the user and to prevent the camera from being damaged. it can.

Further, since the stopper can be moved to the locking position after the slide cover is assembled to the main body after the stopper is in the storage position, the slide cover can be easily assembled and the slide cover can be easily prevented from coming off. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a camera embodying the present invention at the time of shooting.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state when a cartridge of the camera is replaced.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of the upper surface of the cartridge chamber when a stopper is operated.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part near the cartridge chamber when a stopper operates.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of the upper surface of the cartridge chamber when a stopper is not actuated.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part near the cartridge chamber when a stopper does not act.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the camera showing the inside of the cartridge chamber.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Camera 3 Camera body 4 Slide case 24 Cartridge chamber 28 Stopper 31 Fixing screw 33 Locking projection 39 Restriction member

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court II (Reference) G03B 17/02 GAP G03B 17/02 GAP 17/04 GAP 17/04 GAP 17/56 GAP 17/56 GAPH F Term (Reference) 2H083 CC02 CC22 CC32 CC53 2H100 AA61 AA71 2H101 BB01 BB02 BB03 2H105 DD06

Claims (3)

[Claims] A camera body in which a photographing mechanism is incorporated;
A slide cover that is mounted on the camera body and slides between a non-shooting position that covers and protects various shooting function parts, a shooting cover that exposes the various shooting function parts and allows shooting operation, and a slide of the camera body. A stopper that is provided at a position facing the cover and that is engaged with the inner wall surface of the slide cover protruding from the camera body and slid to the non-shooting position to prevent the slide cover from dropping off from the camera body. A locking position where the stopper projects from the camera body;
Moving means for moving the stopper between the locking position and the storing position, and fixing means for fixing at each position are provided on the external appearance of the camera body. A camera provided at a position not exposed to the camera. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a cartridge chamber in which a film cartridge is loaded in the camera body, wherein the fixing means is exposed in the cartridge chamber. 3. When the slide cover is attached to the camera body, the stopper is moved to a storage position using a moving means and temporarily fixed by a fixing means, and after the slide cover is attached to the camera body, the fixing means is temporarily fixed. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is released, the stopper is moved to the locking position by the moving means, and the stopper is permanently fixed by the fixing means.