JP2001264861A - Accessory attaching/detaching device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the accessory attaching/detaching device of a camera that excellent operation feeling is obtained and the possibility of breaking a locking mechanism is eliminated. SOLUTION: Relating to this attaching/detaching device that an accessory separate from the camera is attached to/from an accessory shoe provided at the camera, it possesses a locking hole formed at the accessory shoe, a locking pin engaged and disengaged to/from the locking hole and provided on the side of the accessory, an operation member to move the locking pin to an engaging position and a disengaging position with the locking hole and a click mechanism to perform the click-stop of the operation member at a locking position corresponding to the engaging position of the locking pin and an unlocking position corresponding to the disengaging position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an attachment / detachment device for attaching / detaching accessories such as a strobe to / from a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A detachable device for attaching an accessory, such as a strobe, separate from a camera to an accessory shoe of the camera, and having a lock mechanism for fixing the accessory when attached to the accessory shoe. There is something. For example, the lock mechanism is provided with a lock pin that can be moved to a position protruding from the leg member and a position retracting into the leg member on a leg member on the accessory side that is inserted into and detached from the accessory shoe on the camera side. The lock pin is moved to a position where the lock pin is engaged with a lock hole on the camera side and a position where the lock pin is disengaged by forward and reverse rotation of an operation member rotatable with respect to the leg member. You. When the lock pin engages with the lock hole, the sliding of the accessory in the direction of removing from the accessory shoe is restricted. That is, it is locked.

By the way, in the lock mechanism of the conventional accessory attachment / detachment device, the lock pin is in a locked state in which the lock pin is engaged with the lock hole, or in an unlocked state in which the lock pin and the lock hole are released from engagement. The determination of whether or not the camera has been made has been made by the user of the camera with reference to the rotational resistance of the operation member and the like. Therefore, when removing the accessory from the accessory shoe, the lock pin is moved to the non-engagement position even though the lock pin is not completely moved to the non-engagement position with the lock hole. There was a risk that the lock mechanism would be damaged when trying to remove the accessory. In addition, at the time of the lock operation, even though the lock pin is already engaged with the lock hole, the operating member is excessively rotated in the lock direction, causing the lock pin and the lock hole to bite, or There is also a risk that the lock pin and the lock hole may be damaged. Therefore,
There has been a demand for an accessory attachment / detachment device that can prevent such forced operation and has good operability.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a camera accessory attachment / detachment device which has excellent operability and does not cause damage to a lock mechanism.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an attaching / detaching apparatus for attaching / detaching an accessory separate from a camera to / from an accessory shoe provided on the camera, wherein a lock hole formed in the accessory shoe is provided;
A lock pin provided on the accessory side which can be disengaged from the lock hole; an operation member for moving the lock pin between an engagement position and a non-engagement position with the lock hole; and this operation member is a lock pin. And a click mechanism for performing a click stop at each of a lock position corresponding to the engagement position and an unlock position corresponding to the non-engagement position. According to this configuration, an appropriate operation amount of the operation member at the time of the lock operation or the unlock operation is easily known, so that the operation amount of the operation member is insufficient or the operation member is operated more than necessary. Can be avoided. Therefore, the operability is good, and it is possible to prevent the lock mechanism from being damaged by an excessive operation.

In the accessory attachment / detachment device according to the present invention, the lock pin is urged to the engagement position with the lock hole, and the operation member is rotated about a rotation center parallel to the advancing and retreating direction of the lock pin. In response to a change in the contact position with the lock pin in the circumferential direction, the lock pin is pressed to the unlock position at the unlock position and the disengagement position with the lock hole, and the click mechanism operates on the contact surface of the operation member with the lock pin. In addition, it is desirable that the operating member is configured to have a pair of click projections that engage with the lock pin at the locked position and the unlocked position.

Alternatively, the lock pin is urged to a position where the lock pin engages with the lock hole, and the operating member is detachable from the accessory shoe and supports the lock pin movably in the axial direction. An annular body rotatably supported on the outer peripheral surface of the member, presses the lock pin to a position not engaged with the lock hole in the unlock position in accordance with the rotation, and the click mechanism operates the annular mechanism. One side and the other of the opposing peripheral surfaces of the operating member and the cylindrical leg member are engaged with each other at a locked position and an unlocked position of the operating member, and are urged in a direction to engage with the click hole. It is desirable to have a configuration in which a click ball is formed. In this configuration,
The columnar leg member has a bottomed guide groove for guiding the operation member on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the operation member projects from the inner peripheral surface toward the inner diameter direction, and protrudes a guide projection fitted into the guide groove, The above-mentioned pair of click holes are formed in the bottom surface of the guide groove, and the above-mentioned click ball is held in the guide protrusion so as to be movable in the radial direction at a position protruding from the guide protrusion and a position accommodated in the guide protrusion. Is preferred.

It is preferable that the operating member be moved in parallel with the advancing and retreating direction of the lock pin with the above-mentioned rotation, and the movement pushes the lock pin to the non-engagement position at the unlock position.

According to the present invention, there is also provided an attaching / detaching apparatus for attaching / detaching an accessory separate from the camera to / from an accessory shoe provided on the camera, a lock hole formed in the accessory shoe; A lock pin provided on the product side; an operation member for moving the lock pin between an engagement position and a non-engagement position with the lock hole; and an unlocking member corresponding to the lock pin non-engagement position. A click mechanism for performing a click stop at a position. In this accessory attachment / detachment device, it is preferable that the click mechanism further stops the operation member at the lock position corresponding to the engagement position of the lock pin.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an accessory attachment / detachment device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the accessory shoe 11 on the camera body 10 side will be described with reference to FIGS. An opening is formed in the camera body 10, and an accessory shoe base 12 is fixed so as to close the opening. A contact 14 connected to an electric circuit in the camera body 10 is embedded in the accessory shoe stand 12, and the contact 14 is exposed on the outer surface of the camera body. A lock hole 16 having a bottom is formed on the outer surface side of the accessory shoe table 12. A pair of retaining arms 18 having a U-shaped cross section facing each other are fixed to both sides of the accessory shoe stand 12.

FIG. 5 shows the attachment leg (cylindrical leg member) 20 on the accessory side as a single unit. The mounting leg 20 has an insertion / removal portion 22 inserted / removed with respect to the retaining arm 18 of the accessory shoe 11 at a lower portion, and an upper end portion of a support cylindrical portion 24 located above the insertion / removal portion 22 has an accessory main body 26. Are fixed (FIGS. 1 and 3). The accessory main body 26 is an external strobe formed separately from the camera body 10 or the like.
A pair of bottomed guide grooves 28 for moving and guiding a lock operation lever (operation member) 44 to be described later to a lock position and an unlock position are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support cylindrical portion 24. The insertion / removal portion 22 of the mounting leg 20 is inserted / removed with respect to the accessory shoe 11 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 1 and 3, and the accessory shoe 11 is further inserted into the accessory shoe 11 at a predetermined insertion position. A locking portion (not shown) for restricting insertion is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a through hole 30a for inserting the lock pin 30 and a through hole 32a for inserting the contact pin 32 are formed in the mounting leg 20 in the axial direction. Have been. The contact pin 32 is attached to the mounting leg 2
0 so that one end protrudes from the lower end face of the through hole 32a.
When the attachment foot 20 is attached to the accessory shoe 11, the contact pin 32 contacts the contact 14 on the camera body 10 side. The other end of the contact pin 32 is exposed on the upper end surface side of the mounting leg 20 and is connected to an electric circuit in the accessory main body 26.
Note that the maximum amount of protrusion of the contact pin 32 from the lower end surface of the mounting leg 20 is regulated by engaging the retaining large diameter portion 32b provided on the contact pin 32 with a step in the through hole 32a.

On the other hand, the lock pin 30 is vertically movably inserted into a rising arm 38 of a holding member 36 fixed to the upper end surface of the mounting leg 20 with a screw 36a. Due to the compression spring 42 disposed between the large-diameter portion 40 provided on the lock pin 30 and the lock pin 30, the distal end of the lock pin 30 protrudes from the lower end surface of the mounting leg 20, that is, the lock hole 16 in the accessory shoe 11. To the engagement position. The maximum protrusion of the lock pin 30 from the lower end surface of the mounting leg 20 is regulated by the large diameter portion 40 engaging with the upper end surface of the mounting leg 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of guide grooves 28 provided on the outer periphery of the support cylindrical portion 24 of the mounting leg 20 are respectively provided.
One end is an opening communicating with the upper end surface of the support cylindrical portion 24, and is inclined so as to gradually approach the insertion / removal portion 22 as it proceeds toward the terminal end. 6 is formed as an annular body whose inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the support cylindrical portion 24, and has a pair of guide grooves 28 fitted on the inner peripheral surface thereof. Guide projections 46 are provided. The pair of guide projections 46 are provided at positions facing each other in the radial direction. Further, on the outer peripheral portion of the lock operation lever 44, a grip portion 48 for gripping when the lock operation lever 44 is rotated is formed.

Therefore, when the lock operation lever 44 is rotated, each guide projection 46 is guided by the corresponding guide groove 28, and the lock operation lever 44 is moved up and down in the axial direction with respect to the mounting leg 20. FIG. 3 shows a lock position in which the lock operation lever 44 has been moved to the lowest position. At this time, the guide projection 46 is located at the deepest position in the guide groove 28. From this state, the lock operation lever 4
When the knob 4 is rotated leftward in FIG. 3 (clockwise direction in FIG. 4), the guide protrusion 46 is guided to near the opening at the upper end of the guide groove 28, and the lock operation lever 44 is raised to the unlock position shown in FIG. Is done. Conversely, when the lock operation lever 44 at the unlock position is rotated from the unlock position to the right in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise in FIG. 2), the lock operation lever 44 moves to the lock position.

The lock pin 30 extends the interlocking arm 50 from the large diameter portion 40 described above. From the large diameter part 40 to the mounting leg 2
The interlocking arm 50 extending in the radial direction of 0 is further bent downward, and the tip end thereof is engaged with the upper surface of the lock operation lever 44. According to the axial movement of the lock operation lever 44, The lock pin 30 is moved back and forth between an engagement position with the lock hole 16 and a non-engagement position. That is, when the lock operation lever 44 is at the lock position of FIG.
Is not pressed upward, and the distal end of the lock pin 30 projects from the lower end surface of the mounting leg 20 and engages with the lock hole 16 by the urging force of the compression spring 42. This lock hole 16
The engagement of the accessory pin 11 with the lock pin 30
It becomes impossible to remove the mounting leg 20 from the camera body 10, and the accessory body 26 is fixed to the camera body 10. On the other hand, when the lock operation lever 44 is turned to the unlock position in FIG. 1, the lock operation lever 44 is raised, and the interlocking arm 50 engaged with the upper surface thereof is pushed upward. As a result, the lock pin 30 is moved upward against the compression spring 42, and its tip end is retracted from the position of engagement with the lock hole 16 and stored in the mounting leg 20. That is, the lock pin 30 is moved to a position where it does not engage with the lock hole 16. In this state, the attachment leg 20 can be inserted into and removed from the accessory shoe 11.

In the attachment / detachment device according to the present embodiment, a pair of click projections 52 are formed on the upper surface of the lock operation lever 44 on the locus of contact with the lock pin 30 (interlocking arm 50) in the circumferential direction.
54 is provided, so that it is possible to easily recognize whether the lock pin 30 is in the engagement position with the lock hole 16 or in the non-engagement position. The lock operation lever 44 is rotated in the range indicated by A in FIGS. 2 and 4 between the lock position and the unlock position. The click protrusion 52 and the click protrusion 54 are provided at intervals slightly shorter than the rotation range A in the circumferential direction.
When the rotary member 4 is rotated toward both the lock position and the unlock position, the interlocking arm 50 gets over the click protrusion 52 or the click protrusion 54 just before the rotation end. At this time, a click feeling is obtained on the lock operation lever 44, so that the lock operation lever 44 has been rotated to the rotation end corresponding to the lock position or the unlock position, that is, the lock pin 30 has been engaged with the lock hole 16. The person operating the lock operation lever 44 can recognize that the lock operation lever 44 has been moved to the engagement position or the disengagement position. Specifically, the lock operation lever 4 is moved from the lock position to the unlock position.
When the pivot 4 rotates, the interlocking arm 50 gets over the click protrusion 52 immediately before the unlock position, and the lock operation lever 44 is click-stopped at the unlock position. Conversely, when the lock operation lever 44 rotates from the unlock position toward the lock position, the interlocking arm 50 climbs over the click protrusion 54 immediately before the lock position, and the lock operation lever 44 is click-stopped at the lock position. You. In any case, the lock pin 30 has been reliably moved to the engagement position with the lock hole 16 and the non-engagement position when a click feeling is obtained on the lock operation lever 44.

As described above, the lock pin 30 is
When the lock operation lever 44 is moved to the engaged position and the disengaged position with the lock operation lever 44, the lock operation lever 44 is click-stopped at the corresponding lock position and unlock position to obtain a click feeling. The operator can know an appropriate operation amount of the lock operation lever 44. Therefore, even though the lock pin 30 has not been completely moved to a position where the lock pin 30 is not engaged with the lock hole 16, it is attempted to remove the mounting leg 20 from the accessory shoe 11, or the lock pin 30 is already engaged with the lock hole 16. Even though the lock operation lever 44 is engaged, there is no possibility of performing an excessive operation such as rotating the lock operation lever 44 in the lock direction, and damage to the lock mechanism and biting of the lock pin and the lock hole can be prevented.

Further, since an appropriate operation amount of the lock operation lever 44 can be known from a click feeling, the lock operation lever 44 does not need to be rotated more than necessary, and the operator can operate the operation while judging the operation amount. The operability is better than that of the above configuration, and attachment / detachment of the accessory can be executed quickly. Also,
The lock operation lever 44 that has been click-stopped at the lock position and the unlock position does not accidentally rotate from each position, and is excellent in operability.

FIGS. 7 to 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, members similar to those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Mounting leg 20
The guide groove 58 of the pair of bottomed guide grooves 28, 58 formed on the outer peripheral surface has a pair of clicks at positions corresponding to the lock position and the unlock position of the lock operation lever 44 on the bottom surface. Holes 60 and 62 are formed.
The positions of the click holes 60 and 62 are different from each other not only in the circumferential direction of the mounting leg 20 but also in the axial direction.

The click hole 6 of the pair of guide projections 46 and 64 projecting in the inner diameter direction of the lock operation lever 44 is provided.
A ball receiving hole 66 is formed radially in one of the guide protrusions 64 that fits into the guide groove 58 having the reference numerals 0 and 62, and a click ball movably moves in the radial direction in the ball receiving hole 66. 68 are stored. The click ball 68 is urged by a compression spring 70 so as to protrude in the inner diameter direction, that is, the direction in which the click balls 60 and 62 are engaged.

When the lock operation lever 44 is at the pivot position between the lock position (FIGS. 9 and 10) and the unlock position (FIGS. 7 and 8), the click ball 68 is fitted with the guide projection 64. The protrusion in the inner diameter direction is restricted by contacting the bottom surface of the
Is housed inside. When the lock operation lever 44 is rotated to the unlock position, the guide protrusion 6
4 reaches the position corresponding to the click hole 60, and the compression spring 7
The click ball 68 urged in the inner diameter direction by 0 engages with the click hole 60, and the lock operation lever 44 is click-stopped. Similarly, when the lock operation lever 44 is rotated to the lock position, the guide protrusion 64 reaches a position corresponding to the click hole 62 in the guide groove 58, and the click ball 68 urged in the inner diameter direction by the compression spring 70. Engages with the click hole 62 and is click-stopped. When the lock operation lever 44 is rotated from the lock position and the unlock position, if a slightly stronger force is applied at the beginning of the rotation, the click hole 60 or the click hole 62 is disengaged from the click ball 68 to perform the lock operation. The lever 44 can be turned.

According to the configuration of the second embodiment,
At the lock position and the unlock position corresponding to the engagement position and the disengagement position of the lock pin 30 with the lock hole 16, the lock operation lever 44 is click-stopped and a click feeling is obtained. An appropriate operation amount of the lever 44 can be known. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the lock mechanism from being detached, to prevent the lock operation lever 44 from rotating in the lock direction from the locked state, and to prevent the lock mechanism from being damaged and prevent the lock pin from engaging with the lock hole. be able to.

In this embodiment, the click ball 68 is provided in the guide projection 64 and the pair of click holes 60 and 62 are formed in the bottom surface of the guide groove 28. However, other than such a guide portion, they oppose each other. Lock operation lever 44
A click ball and a click hole may be provided on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the mounting leg 20, respectively. In this case, a click hole may be provided on the lock operation lever 44 side, and a click ball may be provided on the mounting leg 20 side. It is also possible to provide a click ball in each of the pair of guide protrusions 46 and 64, and to provide a click hole corresponding to the lock position and the unlock position of the lock operation lever 44 in both of the pair of guide grooves 28 and 58. is there.

As is clear from the above description of the embodiment, according to the camera accessory attaching / detaching apparatus of the present invention, the lock mechanism can be prevented from being damaged and the operability can be improved with a simple structure. it can. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and may be changed and improved without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the lock operation lever 44 is moved in the vertical direction simultaneously with the rotation in the circumferential direction to press the interlocking arm 50 of the lock pin 30. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only rotation is possible without vertical movement, and on the upper surface thereof, an inclined cam surface is provided which gradually increases the height in the rotation axis direction as it proceeds in the circumferential direction. In this configuration, when the lock operation lever 44 rotates, the lock pin 30 is pressed and moved according to a change in the height of the inclined cam surface that is in contact with the interlocking arm 50. In order to obtain a click feeling of the lock operation lever 44 in this configuration, the first embodiment is applied to
Click projections may be provided at circumferential positions corresponding to the above-described lock position and unlock position. Alternatively, applying the second embodiment, the mounting leg 20 or the lock operation lever 44 may be used.
In any one of the above, a pair of click holes corresponding to the lock position and the unlock position may be formed by changing the position only in the circumferential direction without changing the position in the axial direction.

In the embodiment, the lock operation lever 44 is click-stopped at any of the engagement position and the disengagement position of the lock hole 16 of the lock pin 30. However, the lock operation is performed only at one of the positions. The operation lever 44 may be click-stopped. For example, in practice, damage to the lock mechanism often occurs when an accessory is detached from the camera body despite the engagement state of the lock pin 30 and the lock hole 16.
The click mechanism may be configured to stop the click only at the unlock position of the lock operation lever 44 corresponding to the disengagement position of the lock pin 30 and the lock hole 16.

The accessory (accessory body 26) which is attached to and detached from the camera is not limited to a strobe.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a camera accessory attachment / detachment device which is excellent in operation feeling and does not have a possibility of damaging the lock mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a camera accessory attachment / detachment device in an unlocked state according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the attaching / detaching device of FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the accessory attachment / detachment device of FIG. 1 in a locked state.

FIG. 4 is a view of the attaching / detaching device of FIG. 3 as viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a single shape of a mounting leg in the attaching / detaching device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a single shape of a lock operation lever in the attachment / detachment device of FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the camera accessory attachment / detachment device in an unlocked state.

8 is a view of the attaching / detaching device of FIG. 7 as viewed from above.

9 is a cross-sectional view of the accessory attachment / detachment device of FIG. 7 in a locked state.

10 is a view of the attaching / detaching device of FIG. 9 as viewed from above.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a single shape of a mounting leg in the attachment / detachment device shown in FIGS. 7 to 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a single shape of a lock operation lever in the attachment / detachment device of FIGS. 7 to 10 when viewed from the side and above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 camera body 11 accessory shoe 12 accessory shoe stand 14 contact 16 lock hole 18 retaining arm 20 mounting leg (columnar leg member) 26 accessory body 28 58 guide groove 30 lock pin 32 contact pin 40 large diameter portion 42 compression spring 44 locking operation Lever (operation member) 46 64 Guide protrusion 50 Interlocking arm 52 54 Click protrusion 60 62 Click hole 66 Ball storage hole 68 Click ball 70 Compression spring

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An attachment / detachment device for attaching / detaching an accessory separate from a camera to / from an accessory shoe provided in a camera, comprising: a lock hole formed in the accessory shoe; A lock pin provided; an operating member for moving the lock pin between an engagement position and a non-engagement position with the lock hole; and disengaging the operation member from a lock position corresponding to the lock pin engagement position. A click mechanism for performing a click stop at each of an unlock position corresponding to the position; and a camera accessory attachment / detachment device. 2. The accessory attachment / detachment device according to claim 1, wherein the lock pin is urged to a position where the lock pin engages with the lock hole, and the operation member has a rotation center parallel to the advancing and retreating direction of the lock pin. The lock pin is rotated to press the lock pin to a non-engagement position with the lock hole at the unlocked position in accordance with a change in the contact position with the lock pin in the circumferential direction, and the click mechanism locks the operation member. An accessory attachment / detachment device for a camera, comprising a pair of click projections on a contact surface with a pin, which engage with the lock pin at a lock position and an unlock position of the operation member. 3. The accessory attachment / detachment device according to claim 1, wherein the lock pin is urged to an engagement position with the lock hole, and the operation member is detachable from an accessory shoe, and the lock pin is connected to an axis line. An annular body rotatably supported on the outer peripheral surface of the columnar leg member on the accessory side which is movably supported in the direction, and in the unlocked position according to the rotation, the non-engagement position with the lock hole. The click mechanism presses the lock pin to one side and the other of the opposing peripheral surfaces of the annular operation member and the columnar leg member to engage with each other at a lock position and an unlock position of the operation member. And a click ball urged in a direction to be engaged with the click hole. 4. The accessory attachment / detachment device according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical leg member has a bottomed guide groove for guiding said operation member on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and said operation member has an inner peripheral surface thereof. A pair of click holes are formed on the bottom surface of the guide groove, and a position protruding from the guide protrusion and a position inside the guide protrusion are formed in the guide groove. An accessory attachment / detachment device for a camera in which the click ball is held so as to be movable in a radial direction to a position where the click ball is stored in the camera. 5. The accessory attachment / detachment device according to claim 2, wherein the operation member is moved in parallel with the direction of movement of the lock pin with the rotation, and the movement causes the unlocking. Camera attachment / detachment device that pushes the lock pin to the disengaged position at the position. 6. An attachment / detachment device for attaching / detaching an accessory separate from a camera to / from an accessory shoe provided in a camera, comprising: a lock hole formed in the accessory shoe; A lock pin provided; an operation member for moving the lock pin between an engagement position and a non-engagement position with the lock hole; and clicking the operation member to an unlock position corresponding to the non-engagement position of the lock pin. A click mechanism for stopping; a camera accessory attachment / detachment device; 7. The accessory attachment / detachment device according to claim 6, wherein said click mechanism further click-stops said operation member at a lock position corresponding to an engagement position of a lock pin.