JP2002258379A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera in which a lens barrier is easily assembled to a camera main body and easily detached from the camera main body when necessary without the possibility that it falls from the camera main body in a normal use state. SOLUTION: This camera is equipped with a barrier guide mechanism 18 including guide rails 18a and 18b provided to the front edge part of the camera main body 10, the lens barrier 20 which has engagement pieces 21a and 21b slidably engaging the guide rails 18a and 18b and is mounted slidably between a 1st position P1 where the front of a photographic lens 11 is protected and a 2nd position P2 where the front of the photographic lens 11 is opened, and a low-level wall part LW which enables the lens barrier 20 to be attached to and detached from the barrier guide mechanism 18; and the low-level wall part LW is characterized mainly by that the height H of the rail wall in a specific areas SE on the guide rails 18a and 18b is limited to a level where the engagement pieces 21a and 21b move over it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera provided with a lens barrier for protecting a photographic lens by covering the front surface of the photographic lens when the camera is not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional camera with a barrier of this type, for example, a structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 1-255839, 2-50143, 6-102570 and the like is disclosed. There is something.

As described in the above publication, the lens barrier is movably mounted on the front of the camera body, and covers at least the front of the taking lens to protect the lens when the camera is not in use. When photographing, the front surface of the photographing lens is opened to enable photographing. Since the lens barrier is integrated with the camera body, there is no need for the user to remove the lens from the taking lens and hold it separately each time a photograph is taken, unlike a so-called lens cap, and there is no risk of misplacement or loss. Widely used.

The lens barrier is generally guided by groove-shaped guide rails formed along both upper and lower edges of the front surface of the camera body, and is mounted so that the front surface of the camera body can slide horizontally. When the lens barrier is mounted as described above, a pair of engagement pieces formed at the upper and lower ends of the lens barrier are fitted into the guide rail by elastically deforming the lens barrier. The engagement amount (lap amount) between the engagement piece of the lens barrier and the guide rail so that the lens barrier assembled in this manner does not easily fall off the guide rail.
Is set large enough.

[0005]

As described above, in general, the lens barrier of this type of camera does not easily fall off the guide rail due to an impact or the like during use. The engagement amount (lap amount) is set to be sufficiently large. Therefore, at the time of assembly, a considerably large force must be applied to elastically deform the barrier, resulting in poor workability. Note that once assembled, it cannot be easily removed. For this reason, when it is necessary to remove the lens barrier for repair in the service department after assembling the camera, the removal work has been quite difficult.

On the other hand, the lens barrier mounting mechanism is required to be as simple as possible in order to reduce the cost and size of the camera. For this reason, it is necessary to avoid complicating the structure of the above-described mechanism for facilitating attachment and detachment of the lens barrier.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a camera having the following advantages.

(A) The lens barrier can be easily assembled to the camera body, and there is no possibility that the lens barrier falls off from the camera body in a normal use state.

(B) The lens barrier can be easily removed from the camera body if necessary.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the camera of the present invention has the following characteristic configuration. Note that characteristic configurations other than the following will be clarified in the embodiment.

The camera of the present invention comprises a camera body having a camera element such as a photographic lens, and a pair of guide rails provided in parallel along one side edge and the other side edge of the front surface of the camera body. A barrier guide mechanism including a pair of engagement pieces slidably engaged with the guide rails of the barrier guide mechanism at both ends, and covering at least the front surface of the photographing lens to protect the lens. A lens barrier slidably mounted between one position and a second position in which the front surface of the photographing lens is opened to enable photographing, and the lens barrier is detachable from the barrier guide mechanism. A low-level wall provided on at least one of the guide rails, wherein the low-level wall increases the height of the rail wall in a specific area on the guide rail. It is characterized in that the engagement piece is limited to a level that can be overcome.

In the camera described above, the operation of attaching and detaching the lens barrier to and from the camera body can be performed relatively easily in a specific area on the guide rail. For this reason, assembling work, disassembling work, and the like of the lens barrier can be performed more accurately and efficiently than before.

[0013]

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(A) is a top view, (b) is a front view of a barrier closed state,
(C) is a front view in a barrier open state, and (d) is a right end view showing a right end face when viewed from the front of the camera.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a lens barrier mounting mechanism in the camera.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera body with the lens barrier removed from a diagonally lower front of the camera, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the inner surface side of the lens barrier 20 with the camera body removed.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the construction of a lens barrier mounting mechanism in the camera. FIG. 3A shows the relationship between the front cover 10a of the camera body 10 and the lens barrier 20, and FIG. )) Is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the circled location Z cut at the high-level wall HW of the guide rail.
FIG. 3C is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion Z surrounded by the circle in FIG. 3A at the low-level wall portion LW of the guide rail. Hereinafter, the configuration of the camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a camera body 10 has a retractable photographing lens 11, a finder front window 12,
It has a self-timer window 13, a strobe light emission window 14, and the like. The camera body 10 has a release button 15 on its upper surface, a finder eyepiece window 16 on its rear surface, and a connector 17 on one end surface.

As shown in FIG. 2, a barrier guide including a pair of guide rails 18a and 18b arranged in parallel to slide the lens barrier 20 is provided on both upper and lower edges of the front surface of the camera body 10. A mechanism 18 is formed. The barrier guide mechanism 18 will be described later in detail.

When the camera is not used, the lens barrier 20 is used to hold the photographing lens 11, the front viewfinder window 12, the self-timer window 13, and the flash emission window 14 of the camera body 10.
And the like to protect them by covering them, and are formed as follows.

The lens barrier 20 includes the lens barrier 2
0 is mounted on the camera body 10 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction in the figure, and a shielding unit 2 for covering a predetermined area including a front area of the photographing lens 11.
It consists of two.

The mounting portion 21 has engagement pieces 21a and 21b formed by bending the upper and lower ends of the mounting portion 21 into a J-shape as shown in FIG. These engaging pieces 21a and 21b are formed along the guide rails 18a and 18b formed along the front edges of the upper and lower surfaces of the camera body 10.
Is slidably engaged with.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the shielding portion 22 includes an inner barrier member (barrier base) 23 formed integrally with the mounting portion 21 and a surface of the inner barrier member 23 from the outside. The outer barrier member (decorative plate) 24 is overlapped so as to cover and integrally joined. That is, the shielding portion 22 of the present embodiment is configured by two barrier members 2
This is a double-structured shielding part in which 3, 24 are superimposed.

Thus, for example, by making the color of the outer barrier member 24 different from that of the inner barrier member 23 in advance, it is possible to make the surface of the lens barrier multicolor (dichromatic) difficult in terms of cost and the like in painting. (Two-coloring) can be easily realized. In addition, variations in the design of the lens barrier surface can be easily developed, and the lens barrier surface can be made as desired by the user.

The lens barrier 20 formed as described above
Is mounted on the front surface of the camera body 10 so as to be movable along a horizontal axis AX between a first position P1 and a second position P2. When the camera is at the first position P1, at least the photographing lens 11 is mounted. When the lens 11 is in the second position P2, the front surface of the photographing lens 11 and the like is opened to enable photographing.

As shown in FIG. 2, at least one of the pair of guide rails 18a and 18b (18b in this embodiment) of the barrier guide mechanism 18 has a lens barrier 20 detachable from the barrier guide mechanism 18. Is provided with a low-level wall portion LW.

The low-level wall portion LW has a height H of the rail wall in a specific area SE on the guide rail 18b.
Is limited to a level H1 at which the engaging piece 21b of the lens barrier 20 can get over as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C.

The specific area SE on the guide rail 18b where the low-level wall portion LW is formed is the same as the lens barrier 2
When 0 is located at the first position P1, it is set to a range X1 including a region where the engagement piece 21b of the lens barrier 20 exists.

The length of the low-level wall portion LW, that is, the range X1 is substantially equal to the width X3 of the engaging piece 21b in order to prevent the lens barrier 20 from accidentally dropping over the low-level wall portion LW. Equivalent minimum length (width X
It is desirable to be limited to a range slightly wider than 3). Specifically, the length is set so as to include the entire engagement piece 21b at a position where it is no longer restricted by the deformation restricting portion 31 described later.

The low-level wall LW has a step S with the high-level wall HW connected to the low-level wall LW in an area OR on the guide rail 18b where the step S is always covered by the lens barrier 20 as described later. It is desirable to be disposed so as to be located.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the lens barrier 20 is opposed to the front surface of the camera body 10 with a predetermined gap G, and is elastic in the camera optical axis direction by an amount corresponding to the gap G. It is provided so as to be deformable.

Returning to FIG. At predetermined positions on the front surface of the camera body 10, a plurality of deformation restricting portions 31 to 34 are provided. That is, a deformation restricting portion 31 composed of a semi-circular projection is formed at the front end portion (right end portion in FIG. 2) of the barrier closing position in the peripheral portion of the photographing lens 11. Deformation restricting part 32 composed of a semicircular projection similar to deformation restricting part 31
Are formed, and rectangular projections 33 and 34 are formed at positions adjacent to the deformation restricting portion 32.

Thus, when the lens barrier 20 is at the first position P1 (barrier closed position), the inner surface of the barrier tip comes into contact with the deformation restricting portion 31, and the inner surface near the rear end of the barrier has the deformation restricting portions 32 and 32. It comes into contact with 33, 34. Therefore, the lens barrier 20 is prevented from being elastically deformed in the camera optical axis direction.

When the lens barrier 20 is at the second position P2 (barrier open position), only the inner surface near the barrier tip comes into contact with the deformation restricting portions 32, 33, and 34. For this reason, the lens barrier 20 partially prevents elastic deformation in the camera optical axis direction to some extent.

The deformation restricting portions 32 to 34 other than the deformation restricting portion 31 provided at the front end of the barrier closing position are liable to generate sliding flaws due to the opening and closing operation of the lens barrier 20 on the surface of the restricting portion. It is provided only in a predetermined area on the front surface of the camera body which is always covered and cannot be viewed from the outside. Note that the deformation restricting portions 32 to 34 are
It is arranged so that elastic deformation is restricted in the entire movement range of zero.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 41 denotes a barrier position detecting lever provided on the front surface of the camera body; 42, a click mechanism for giving a click feeling to the opening / closing operation of the lens barrier;
Reference numeral 3 denotes a tripod screw hole, and reference numeral 44 denotes a cam groove for detecting a barrier position.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing the basic operation of the lens barrier mounting mechanism in the camera according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. Operation explanatory view when removing the lens barrier,
(C) is a figure which shows the effect | action of the deformation | transformation restriction by a deformation | transformation restriction part.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a low-level wall portion LW is provided in a specific area SE of the guide rail 18b.
0 is pressed against the front cover 10a of the camera body 10, the vicinity of the engagement piece 21b of the lens barrier 20 is bent as shown by the arrow, and the engagement piece 21b is
Get over W relatively easily. Therefore, the lens barrier 2
0 can be relatively easily assembled to the barrier guide mechanism 18.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a gap G is provided between the lens barrier 20 and the front cover 10a of the camera body 10.
Is provided, and since the lens barrier 20 is elastically deformable, if the center part of the lens barrier 20 is strongly pushed as shown by an arrow M to bend the entire lens barrier,
Both ends of the lens barrier 20 warp as shown by the arrow N. For this reason, the engagement piece 21b located on the low level wall portion LW
Can be removed from the guide rail 18b, and the entire lens barrier can be removed from the camera body 10.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the deformation restricting portions 31 to 34 are formed at appropriate positions in the gap G, so that the elastic deformation of the lens barrier 20 is hindered depending on the moving position of the lens barrier 20. For this reason, even if the operation as shown in (b) is performed at the position, the lens barrier 20 does not elastically deform,
It cannot be removed. In other words, the deformation restricting sections 31 to 31
The presence of 34 enhances prevention of the lens barrier 20 from falling off.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the camera according to this embodiment. The lens barrier 20 slides on the front surface of the camera body, the guide rails 18a and 18b having the low-level wall LW, and the deformation restricting section. It is a front view which shows the relative positional relationship with 31-34. In FIG. 5, X1 is a formation range of the low-level wall portion LW provided in the specific region SE,
2 is the formation range of the high-level wall portion HW, X3 is the engagement piece 21b
Are shown. OR is the lens barrier 20
Indicates the area of the guide rail 18b which is always covered by the arrow.

At the closed position A shown in FIG. 5A, the engagement of the lens barrier 20 is facilitated because the engagement piece 21b exists in the formation range X1 of the low-level wall LW. The portion of the lens barrier 20 that is easily detached is covered by the effect of suppressing the elastic deformation of the entire lens barrier by the deformation restricting portions 31 to 34.

At the closed position B (position moved to the open side by a minute distance d) shown in FIG.
Since b exists in the formation range X1 of the low-level wall portion LW, the lens barrier 20 can be easily assembled. Then, although the secondary deformation restricting portions 32 to 34 are in contact with each other, the main deformation restricting portion 31 is disengaged. Therefore, the entire lens barrier is easily elastically deformed, and the lens barrier 20 can be easily removed as compared with FIG.

At the open position C shown in FIG. 5C, the height H of the rail wall acts first because the engaging piece 21b exists in the formation range X2 of the high-level wall HW. In addition, it is difficult to assemble the lens barrier 20, and it is also difficult to remove the lens barrier 20. In addition, since the vicinity of the distal end portion of the lens barrier 20 comes into contact with the deformation restricting portions 32 to 34, there is a little action of restricting elastic deformation.

(Features of the Embodiment) [1] The camera shown in the embodiment has a camera body 10 having a camera element such as a photographic lens 11 and one side edge of the front surface of the camera body 10 and other components. A barrier guide mechanism 18 including a pair of guide rails 18a and 18b provided in parallel along the side edge, and a pair of engagement members slidably engaged with the guide rails 18a and 18b of the barrier guide mechanism 18, respectively. Piece 21a. Between a first position P1 that has 21b at both ends and covers at least the front surface of the photographing lens 11 to protect the lens 11, and a second position P2 that opens the front surface of the photographing lens 11 to enable photographing. And a guide rail 18a, 18 for allowing the lens barrier 20 to be attached to and detached from the barrier guide mechanism 18.
b, a low-level wall LW provided on at least one of the b (in the embodiment, a lower edge, which is difficult to see from the outside), the low-level wall LW is provided with the guide rails 18a, 18b.
b, the height H of the rail wall in the specific area SE on the engagement piece 21a. 21b is characterized in that it is limited to a level that can be overcome.

In the above camera, the guide rail 18
Since the low-level wall portion LW is provided in the specific region SE on a and 18b, the operation of attaching and detaching the lens barrier 20 to and from the camera body 10 can be relatively easily performed. Therefore, assembling work, disassembling work, and the like of the lens barrier 20 can be performed more accurately and more efficiently than in the related art.

[2] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera described in the above [1], wherein the low-level wall LW
Is formed in the specific area SE on the guide rails 18a and 18b where the lens barrier 20 is in the first position P.
1, the engaging pieces 21a, 21 of the barrier 20
It is characterized in that b is set to a range including a region where it exists.

In the above-mentioned camera, since the attaching / detaching operation can be performed in such a manner as to cover the front surface of the photographing lens 11, it is preferable from the viewpoint of protecting the lens at the time of attaching / detaching the barrier. In addition, since the operation of attaching and detaching the lesbian barrier 20 can be performed at a substantially central portion of the camera body 10, the work is easy.

[3] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera described in [1] or [2], wherein the length X1 of the low-level wall LW is equal to the length of the engagement pieces 21a and 21b. Is set to a length substantially corresponding to the width X3 of the above.

In the camera described above, the specific area SE in which the barrier attachment / detachment operation can be performed is limited to a sufficiently narrow range as compared with the entire movement range of the engagement pieces 21a and 21b of the lens barrier 20, so that the lens barrier 20 is provided. There is almost no risk of accidental removal.

[4] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera described in the above [1] or [2] or [3],
The guide rails 18 a, 1 in which the low-level wall LW has a step S with the high-level wall HW connected to the low-level wall LW, is always covered by the lens barrier 20.
8b.

In the above camera, the lens barrier 20
Is slid along the guide rail 20,
The step S between the low-level wall LW and the high-level wall HW is invisible from the outside, so that the appearance is good.

[5] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera according to the above [1], wherein the lens barrier 20
Is characterized by being provided so as to face the front surface of the camera body 10 with a predetermined gap G and to be elastically deformable in the optical axis direction of the camera.

In the above camera, the lens barrier 20
When the lens barrier 20 is attached to and detached from the barrier guide mechanism 18, particularly when the lens barrier 20 is detached, the entire lens barrier is elastically deformed, so that the engagement pieces 21a and 21b are engaged.
Over the low level wall LW relatively smoothly.

[6] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera described in the above [1] or [2] or [5],
When the lens barrier 20 is at least in the first position P1, the front surface of the camera body 10 (a tip of a barrier closing position or the like) so as to prevent the lens barrier 20 from being elastically deformed in the camera optical axis direction. Is provided with a deformation restricting portion 31 and the like.

In the above camera, the lens barrier 20
Is in the first position P1, the lens barrier 20
Is prevented by the deformation restricting portion 31. Therefore, the lens barrier 20 at the first position P1
The fall prevention is enhanced, and it does not come off even if strong external force is applied. Therefore, the photographing lens 11 can be stably protected.

[7] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera according to the above [6], wherein the deformation restricting portion 31 is provided.
Is provided to restrict elastic deformation of the lens barrier 20 within a predetermined range of movement from the first position P1, and the specific area SE is located at a position where the restriction from the deformation restricting portion 31 is released. It is characterized in that it is set so that the entire engagement piece 21b of the lens barrier 20 at the (closed position B) belongs.

[8] The camera described in the embodiment is the camera according to the above [6], wherein the lens barrier 20
Is further provided with other deformation restricting portions 32, 33, and 34 for preventing the lens barrier 20 from being elastically deformed in the camera optical axis direction when the lens is at the second position P2.

[0057]

According to the present invention, a camera having the following functions and effects can be provided.

(A) In a specific area of the guide rail, there is provided a low-level wall portion through which the engagement piece can go over.
The lens barrier can be easily assembled to the camera body, and there is no possibility that the lens barrier will fall off from the camera body in a normal use state.

(B) Since the lens barrier is attached to the camera body so as to be elastically deformable, it can be easily removed from the camera body by elastically deforming the lens barrier in a specific area as needed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view in a barrier closed state, and (c) is a front view in a barrier open state. (D) is an end view on the right side when viewed from the front of the camera.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a configuration of a lens barrier mounting mechanism in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the camera body with the lens barrier removed, as viewed obliquely from the front of the camera; (B) is a perspective view showing an inner surface side of the lens barrier in a detached state.

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a lens barrier mounting mechanism in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A illustrates a relationship between a front cover of the camera body and a lens barrier;
(B) is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion surrounded by a circle of (a) at a portion of a high-level wall portion of a guide rail, and (c) is a portion surrounded by a circle of (a). FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along a level wall portion.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing a basic operation of a lens barrier mounting mechanism in a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is an operation explanatory diagram when a lens barrier is assembled, and FIG. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating an operation at the time, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an operation of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which a lens barrier that slides on the front surface of the camera body, a guide rail having a low-level wall portion, and a deformation restricting portion; The front view which shows a positional relationship.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera main body 11 ... Retractable photography lens 12 ... Viewfinder front window 13 ... Self-timer window 14 ... Strobe light emission window 18 ... Barrier guide mechanism 18a, 18b ... Guide rail 20 ... Lens barrier 21 ... Mounting parts 21a, 21b ... Engagement Piece 22 ... Shielding part 23 ... Inner barrier member 24 ... Outer barrier member 31-34 ... Deformation regulating part

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Kaoru Kaneko Inventor F-term (reference) 2H083 CC12 CC13 CC14 CC22 CC23 CC32 CC36 2H100 AA11 AA33 AA61 BB01 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo BB05 BB06 EE06 2H101 BB03 BB04 BB05

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A barrier guide mechanism including a camera body having a camera element such as a photographing lens, and a pair of guide rails provided in parallel along one side edge and the other side edge of the front surface of the camera body. A pair of engagement pieces slidably engaged with each guide rail of the barrier guide mechanism at both ends, a first position for covering at least a front surface of the taking lens and protecting the lens; A lens barrier mounted so as to be slidable between a second position in which a front surface of the photographing lens is opened to enable photographing; and a guide for detachably attaching the lens barrier to the barrier guide mechanism. And a low-level wall provided on at least one of the rails, wherein the low-level wall has a height of the rail wall in a specific area on the guide rail, and the engagement piece rides on the rail. A camera characterized by being limited to a level that can be exceeded. 2. A specific area on the guide rail where the low-level wall is formed is set to a range including an area where an engagement piece of the lens barrier exists when the lens barrier is located at the first position. The camera according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the length of the low-level wall portion is set to a length substantially corresponding to a width of the engagement piece. 4. The low-level wall is provided such that a stepped portion from a high-level wall connected to the low-level wall is located in an area on the guide rail that is always covered by the lens barrier. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is provided. 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrier faces the front surface of the camera body with a predetermined gap, and is provided so as to be elastically deformable in a camera optical axis direction. . 6. The lens barrier according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrier is at least the first lens barrier.
6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein a deformation restricting portion is provided on a front surface of the camera body so as to prevent the lens barrier from elastically deforming in a camera optical axis direction when in the position. Camera. 7. The deformation restricting section is provided so as to restrict elastic deformation of the lens barrier within a predetermined range of movement from the first position. The specific area is restricted by the deformation restricting section. 7. The camera according to claim 6, wherein the camera is set so that the entire engagement piece of the lens barrier at a position where is released. 8. The camera according to claim 6, further comprising another deformation restricting portion that prevents the lens barrier from being elastically deformed in the camera optical axis direction when the lens barrier is at the second position. The camera according to.