JP2002040517A - Barrier device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a barrier device whose handleability is excellent because the operation of a barrier (a lens barrier) is easy and which can be made compact. SOLUTION: This barrier device is attached so as to be freely attachable/ detachable to/from the front end part of a lens frame 2 which is incorporated inside a lens barrel armor part 1a and is moved back and forth, and consists mainly of a base ring 5 and four barriers 6, 7, 8 and 9. Each barrier is supported so as to be turnable from a lens closing position to a lens opening position at the outer periphery of the base ring 5, and is provided with a cam part abutting on the top end 1b of the armor part 1a in the vicinity of a supporting part. When the lens frame 2 is extended from a housing position to a photographing preparation position, contact with the armor part 1a is released, so that each barrier is turned at the opening position by the pressing force of a spring 11. Also, when the lens frame 2 is withdrawn to the housing position, it is pressed by the top end 1b of the armor part 1a, so that each barrier is turned to the closing position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a barrier device having a barrier (lens barrier) movable between a closed position covering a front surface of a photographing lens and an open position retracted from the front surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional camera-incorporated barrier (lens barrier) for protecting a photographing lens is generally slidably disposed on the front of a lens barrel. Since the camera incorporating the barrier requires a space for sliding the barrier, the size of the camera exterior body is increased by the space, which hinders the compactness of the camera. On the other hand, when performing photographing with a lens hood, it is necessary to carry a separate lens hood.

In order to solve these problems simultaneously, US Pat. No. 4,415,242 discloses a barrier (lens cover) composed of a plurality of rotatable blades on the front surface of a lens barrel. It has been incorporated.

The blades constituting the barrier are arranged along the outer periphery of a barrier operation ring at the tip of the lens frame while being rotatably supported by the lens frame via a rotation pin. At one point, it covers the entire frame. By rotating the barrier operation ring, each of the blades is rotated to open the front surface of the lens barrel. In this open state, the barrier also functions as a lens hood (sunshade). By rotating the operation ring in the closing direction, each barrier is rotated to a position for blocking the front surface of the lens barrel.

[0005]

However, in the apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,415,242, when the barrier is opened and closed, the barrier operation ring must be rotated, and the barrier operation is performed. Since the ring and the lens barrel are not interlocked, it is necessary to operate a separate operation member to retract the lens barrel and set up the lens barrel at the shooting preparation position. Further, since the finder is not linked to the finder, the front surface of the lens frame may be covered with a lens barrier even when the finder can be observed. Further, a large number of blades are rotatably arranged along the outer periphery of the operation ring, and are structurally complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a barrier device which can be easily operated, is easy to use, and can be made compact.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier device which is attached to a lens barrel and covers a photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front of the photographing lens. A movable member, and an exterior member capable of moving the lens barrel and contacting the barrier. When the lens barrel moves and the barrier contacts the exterior member, the barrier is moved. Move to a position that covers the taking lens.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier device which is attached to a lens barrel and is rotatable between a position for covering a photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens. A position at which the barrier covers the taking lens when the barrel moves and the barrier comes into contact with the barrier. To rotate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier device which is attached to a lens barrel and is rotatable between a position covering a photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens. A spring member for urging the barrier to the retracted position, and an exterior member capable of moving the lens barrel and abutting on the barrier, wherein the lens barrel moves and the barrier and the exterior member Abuts against the urging force of the spring member, the barrier rotates to a position covering the taking lens.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the barrier device according to the third aspect, wherein the barrier has a rotation axis for performing the rotation operation, and one of the rotation axes interposes the rotation axis. One side has a barrier portion for covering the front surface of the photographing lens, and the other side has a cam portion for contacting the exterior member and rotating the barrier.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the barrier device according to the third aspect, the barrier includes a plurality of blades.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera incorporating the barrier device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a barrier closed state, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera in a barrier open state. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a barrier closed state of the front end of the lens barrel of the camera.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a barrier open state of a lens barrel tip of the camera.

In the camera of the present embodiment, a lens barrel exterior part 1a, which is an exterior member protruding forward of the camera body 1, is provided.
Is provided, and a retractable lens barrel is incorporated in the exterior part 1a. The lens barrel has a lens frame 2 which holds the photographing lens 3 and is driven forward and backward from a storage position P2A (see FIG. 3) to a photographing ready position P2B (see FIG. 4) by a drive mechanism (not shown). The barrier device 10 is detachable from the lens frame 2.

The barrier device 10 is rotatably supported by a base ring 5 detachably attached to the lens frame 2 via a bayonet 4 provided at the tip of the lens frame 2 and a front surface of the base ring 5. And four barriers (lens barriers) 6, 7, 8, and 9 having lens shielding blades.

Each of the barriers 6, 7, 8, and 9 is rotatably supported from an open position to a closed position via support pins 12 which are four rotation shafts, and further fitted into the support pins 12. Each of the torsion springs 11 is urged in the direction of an open position to retract from the front surface of the taking lens 3. The four support pins 12 are supported at positions above, below, left, and right of the outer peripheral portion of the front surface of the base ring 5 along a circumferential direction orthogonal to the optical axis O direction.

[0016] Further, on the opposite side of the support pin 12 with respect to the lens shielding blades of the barriers 6, 7, 8, and 9,
Protruding cam portions 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b are provided at the ends near the support portions of the support pins 12, respectively. When the lens barrel 2 is stored, the cam portions abut against the inclined front end surface 1b of the lens barrel exterior portion 1a, the barrier is kept closed (see FIG. 3), and when the lens barrel 2 is extended to the shooting preparation position. The contact state is released, and the barrier is kept open (see FIG. 4).

Further, thin overlapping portions 6a, 7a are provided on the front end and side surfaces of the lens shielding portions of the respective barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 so as to overlap each other at the boundary between the closed positions. , 8a, 9a.

In order to mount the barrier device 10 on the camera of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the base ring 5 with the barrier can be mounted on the lens frame 2 via the bayonet 4 to be in the mounted state. .

When the power switch (not shown) is off in the camera with the barrier device mounted, the lens barrel 2 of the lens barrel is in the storage position P2A, and the barriers 6, 7, and
Numerals 8 and 9 are at closed positions that cover the taking lens 3 as shown in FIGS.

Then, when the lens frame 2 is extended from the storage position P2A to the photographing preparation position P2B with the turning on of the power switch, the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 are moved to the respective cam portions 6b, 7b, 8b and 9b are separated from the tip inclined surface 1b, and driven by the biasing force of the torsion spring 11, rotate to the open position. In the rotating state, the cam portion comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base ring 5.

It should be noted that the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 are driven following the barrier 6 as a driving order when the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 are driven to rotate in the opening direction.
Are driven by the cam portion so as to reach the open position at the same time. Incidentally, the barriers 8, 9 may reach the open position with a time lag, not necessarily simultaneously.

In the above open state, the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 are:
The camera is retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens 3, and the camera is set in a photographable state and the viewfinder is also set in an observable state. In addition, the barriers 6, 7, and
8 and 9 are above, below, and left of the photographing lens 3, respectively.
Each position on the right side is substantially parallel to the optical axis O or slightly inclined outward, and also functions as a lens hood of the lens barrel.

Next, when the power switch is turned off, the lens barrel 2 is retracted toward the storage position. In the process, the cam portions 6b, 7b, 8b, 9 of the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 are processed.
b is pressed by the front end inclined surface 1b of the lens barrel exterior part 1a, and each barrier rotates to the closed position. When the barriers are driven, the order in which the barriers are turned to the closed position is restricted by the shape of the cams 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b or the shape of the inclined surface at the tip. That is, of the barriers, the driving of the barriers 8 and 9 is started first, then the driving of the barrier 7 and finally the driving of the barrier 6 are started. In this way, by restricting the rotation order of the barriers to the closed position, the overlapping portions 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a of the barriers are formed.
Can be driven to the closed position without causing interference.

According to the camera equipped with the barrier device 10 of the above-described embodiment, when the lens barrel is driven from the stored state to the photographing ready state in conjunction with the power switch of the camera, the barriers 6 and 7 are simultaneously formed. , 8, and 9 are also driven to rotate from the closed position to the open position, so that the camera is easy to use without requiring a separate barrier operation.

The barriers 6, 7, 8, and 9 do not slide with respect to the lens barrel or the camera body 1, but are moved forward and backward together with the lens frame 2 and simultaneously from the closed position to the open position. It is only driven to rotate. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an occupied space for moving the barrier on the camera body, and the camera can be made compact. Further, the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 are provided with support pins 12
It is mounted rotatably via the, so that the structure is simple and the cost is advantageous.

Further, when the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 also function as lens hoods when in the open position, there is no need to carry a separate lens hood. Also,
When the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 having the lens hood function are unnecessary, it is convenient because the barriers 6, 7, 8, 9 can be removed from the lens barrel together with the base ring 5.

Next, a modified example of the mounting structure of the barrier device in the camera to which the above-described barrier device of the first embodiment can be mounted will be described. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the barrier of the lens barrel tip of the camera having the barrier device to which the above-described modification is applied is closed.

The mounting structure of the barrier device 20 to which this modification is applied has a structure in which the mounting and dismounting of the barrier can be performed with a single touch, and the mounting and dismounting is screwed to the filter mounting screw 21 a of the lens frame 21 for holding the taking lens 3. Barriers 6 and 7 and barriers 8 and 9 (FIG. 2)
Base ring 24, which is rotatably mounted
And a mounting spring 25 that is fitted and mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the mounting portion of the base ring 24.

The mounting spring 25 has a shape in which the center of the coil bulges outward, and the bulge has an outer diameter that can be pressed into the inner periphery of the detachable ring 22. The configuration of the barrier device 20 other than the mounting structure is the same as the barrier device 10.

In the camera to which the present modified example having the above-described configuration is applied, to mount the barrier device 20, first, the base ring 24 with the barrier is attached to the lens frame 2 on which the detachable knob 22 is screwed. Is inserted into the attaching / detaching knob 22, the fitting is performed in a press-fit state via the coil bulging portion of the mounting spring 25, and the barrier device 20 can be easily mounted on the lens frame 21.

The operation of opening and closing the barrier of the barrier device 20 is the same as that of the barrier device 10 of the camera according to the first embodiment.

In the camera to which the mounting structure of this modification is applied, the mounting and dismounting of the barrier device 20 can be performed very easily.
Easy to use. If a female screw for attaching a filter is separately provided on the inner peripheral portion of the base ring 24, it is possible to attach the filter to the lens frame 2 in the same manner as in a conventional camera.

Next, a camera to which the barrier device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the barrier device according to the second embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a barrier closed state of a lens barrel distal end of the camera equipped with the barrier device, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a barrier open state of the lens barrel distal end of the camera. . However, FIG. 6 shows only one set of the barriers and the supporting portions of the four sets of the barriers and the supporting portions thereof with respect to the base ring.

The camera itself according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the camera according to the first embodiment, except that a lens barrel outer portion 31a, which is an outer member, is provided on the camera body. The lens barrel that can move forward and backward is incorporated in the inside of the part 31a. The lens barrel holds the photographing lens 33, and a photographing preparation position P3 at which photographing is possible from a storage position P32A (see FIG. 7) by a driving mechanism (not shown).
2B (see FIG. 8) has a lens frame 32 driven forward and backward, and the barrier device 30 can be mounted on the lens frame 32.

The barrier device 30 is rotatably supported on a detachable base ring 35 via a bayonet 34 provided at the distal end of the lens frame 32 and on a flat surface on the front surface of the base ring 35. A rotating ring 36, two tension springs 42 for urging the rotating ring 36 in a counterclockwise direction, and a left and a right, which are rotatably supported on the front surface of the base ring 35 and have lens shielding portions. It has barriers (lens barriers) 38 and 39 and upper and lower barriers (lens barriers) not shown.

The rotating ring 36 includes two spring support portions 36a on which one end of the tension spring 42 is suspended,
A cam pin 37 is provided. The other end of the tension spring 42 is connected to a spring support pin 35 of the base ring 35.
a, and urges the rotating ring 36 in a counterclockwise direction.

The upper and lower barriers 38 and 39 and the left and right barriers (not shown) are provided with support pins 4 serving as four rotating shafts.
Each is rotatably supported from an open position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens to a closed position covering the front surface via the lens 1.

The four support pins 41 are fitted into four sets of pin holes 35b provided on the outer peripheral portion of the front surface of the base ring 35 and facing in the circumferential direction orthogonal to the optical axis O direction.
It is rotatable and supported in a state where movement in the axial direction is restricted.

Further, on the outer periphery of the support portions of the upper and lower barriers 38 and 39 and the support pins 41 of the left and right barriers, cam grooves (cam grooves) having a cylindrical groove cam shape which is fitted to the cam pins 37 of the rotating ring 36. 38c, 39c, etc.).
The rotating ring 36 is urged counterclockwise by a tension spring 42, and each of the barriers is urged toward the open position via the cam groove.

The protruding cam portions 3 are provided at the ends of the upper and lower barriers 38 and 39 and the left and right barriers opposite to the lens shielding blades and in the vicinity of the support pins 41.
8b, 39b and the like are provided, and when their cam portions are at the storage position P32A of the lens frame 32, the lens barrel exterior portion 31a
When the lens barrel 32 is extended to the photographing preparation position P32B, the contact state is released, and the barrier is disengaged from the rotating ring 36. It moves to the open position by the driving force (see FIG. 8).

The distal ends of the upper and lower barriers 38 and 39 and the left and right barriers are located at the closed positions similarly to the barriers 6, 7, 8, and 9 in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2). , Thin overlapping portions 38a, 39a and the like are provided so as to overlap each other at the boundary portions.

In order to mount the barrier device 30 on the camera of the present embodiment having the above configuration, a base ring 35 with a barrier is attached to the lens frame 32 and a bayonet 34 is attached to the lens frame 32 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Attached via and put in a mounted state. Similarly, in the camera with the barrier device mounted, when the power switch (not shown) is turned off and turned to the storage position P32A of the lens frame 32 or the photographing preparation position P32B, the upper and lower barriers 38 are moved. , 39 and the left and right barriers (not shown) also move to the closed position covering the taking lens 33 or the open position retracted from the front as shown in FIGS.

That is, when the power switch is turned on, the lens frame 32 is turned on.
Is pulled out to the photographing preparation position P32B, each cam portion of each barrier moves away from the distal end portion 31b, and the rotating ring 36 rotates counterclockwise by the urging force of the tension spring 42. With the rotation, the respective barriers rotate to the open position in a predetermined order via the cam grooves (the cam grooves 38c, 39c, etc.). The driving order is as follows: the upper barrier 38, the lower barrier 39, and the left and right barriers are driven following the barrier 39, and driven by the shape of the cam groove so that the four barriers simultaneously reach the open position. The order is regulated.

Next, when the power switch is turned off and the lens barrel 32 is retracted toward the storage position P32A, in the process, each of the barriers is pressed by the tip 31b of the lens barrel 32, Rotates in the direction of the closed position. When the barrier turns,
The rotating ring 36 is driven clockwise through the cam groove (the cam groove 38c and the like).

The order of driving the barrier in the closing direction is regulated by the shape of the cam groove of the barrier (such as the cam groove 38c) so that the barrier moves to the closing position in the reverse order to the above-described opening driving. That is, the lower barrier 39 follows the left and right barriers, and then reaches the open position in the order of the lower barrier 39 and the upper barrier 38. By restricting the order of driving the barriers to the closed position in this manner, interference at the overlapping portion of the barriers is reliably prevented.

According to the camera equipped with the above-described barrier device 30 of the present embodiment, similarly to the camera of the first embodiment, each of the barriers is linked to the housing of the lens barrel of the camera and the driving for shooting preparation. The camera is easy to use because it is pivotally driven to the closed and open positions. Each barrier does not slide and the camera can be made compact. In particular, since the driving order of each barrier is reliably regulated by the shape of the cam groove, even if the user touches the barrier during the closing operation, interference of the overlapping portions of the barriers does not occur.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the forward and backward driving of the lens frame storage position for opening and closing the barrier and the photographing preparation position is performed in conjunction with the turning on and off of the power switch. It may be linked with turning on and off of the lens frame drive switch, or may be linked with lens frame drive by manual operation.

According to the above-described embodiment, (1) a movable lens barrel, a barrier movable to a position covering the photographing lens in front of the lens barrel, and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens, and the mirror An outer member that can move and contact the barrier with the barrier, and when the lens barrel moves and abuts the barrier, moves the barrier to a position that covers the photographing lens; Camera with barrier.

(2) A movable lens barrel, a barrier rotatable between a position covering the photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens, and An exterior member capable of contacting the barrier, and
A camera with a barrier, wherein when the barrel moves and the barrier comes into contact with the exterior member, the barrier is rotated to a position covering the photographing lens.

(3) A movable lens barrel, a barrier rotatable between a position covering the photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens, and the barrier moved to the retracted position. A biasing spring member, and an exterior member capable of moving the lens barrel and contacting the barrier, wherein the barrier moves when the lens barrel moves and the barrier contacts the exterior member. A camera with a barrier, wherein the camera is rotated to a position covering the photographing lens.

(4) The barrier has a rotation axis for performing the rotation operation, and has a barrier section for covering the front surface of the photographing lens on one side with the rotation axis interposed therebetween, and the other side. The camera with a barrier according to (3), further comprising a cam portion on the side for rotating the barrier by contacting the exterior member.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the barrier is opened and closed by abutting or releasing the exterior member when the lens barrel is moved forward and backward, so that the structure is simplified, the usability is improved, and the lens is improved. It is possible to provide a barrier device that occupies little space for moving the barrier and can be made compact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera incorporating a barrier device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a barrier closed state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a barrier open state of the camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a barrier at a tip of a lens barrel of the camera according to the first embodiment is closed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a barrier is opened at a tip of a lens barrel of the camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end portion of a lens barrel showing a barrier closed state to which a modification of the mounting structure of the barrier device in the camera according to the first embodiment is applied.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a barrier device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a barrier closed state of a lens barrel tip of a camera equipped with the barrier device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where a barrier is opened at a tip of a lens barrel of a camera equipped with the barrier device of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 31a ... Barrel exterior part 1a (exterior member) 2, 21, 32 ... Lens frame (barrel) 3 ... Photographing lens 6, 7, 8, 9, 38, 39 ... Barrier 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 38b, 39b Cam part 11 Torsion spring (spring member) 12, 41 Support pin (rotary shaft) 42 Tension spring (spring member)

Claims (5)

[Claims] A barrier attached to the lens barrel and movable to a position covering the photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens; and a barrier moving by moving the lens barrel. A barrier that moves to a position covering the photographing lens when the lens barrel moves and the barrier and the exterior member come into contact with each other. apparatus. 2. A barrier attached to the lens barrel and rotatable between a position covering the photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens, and the barrier moving as the lens barrel moves. A barrier that rotates the barrier to a position covering the photographing lens when the lens barrel moves and the barrier comes into contact with the exterior member. apparatus. 3. A barrier attached to the lens barrel and rotatable between a position covering the photographing lens in front of the lens barrel and a position retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens; and attaching the barrier to the retracted position. A biasing spring member, and an exterior member capable of moving the lens barrel and abutting on the barrier, wherein when the lens barrel moves and the barrier and the exterior member abut, the spring member A barrier device, wherein the barrier is rotated to a position covering the photographing lens against a biasing force. 4. The barrier has a rotation axis for performing the rotation operation, and has a barrier portion on one side of the rotation axis for covering the front surface of the photographing lens, and the other side. 4. The barrier device according to claim 3, further comprising a cam portion for rotating the barrier by contacting the exterior member. 5. The barrier device according to claim 3, wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of blades.