JP2005141112A - Imaging unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging unit in which careless movement of a lens cover from a closed position to an opened position is prevented by a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The tip part 20A of a click shaft 20 projects from an opening 22A only by an amount D of contact margin. At this time, the click shaft 20 is engaged with a rib 35 and a stopper 40. In this state, even when force is exerted to the lens cover 16 such that the lens cover 16 is moved from the closed position P1 to the opened position P2, the tip part 20A of the click shaft 20 is brought into contact with the face 40A of the stopper 40 and thus the movement of the lens cover is restricted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus including a lens cover that covers an imaging lens.

  Usually, an imaging apparatus such as a camera or a video camera is provided with a lens cover for protecting the imaging lens. The lens cover is engaged with the housing of the imaging device at a closed position covering the front surface of the photographing lens, and can be easily moved to an open position where the front surface of the imaging lens is opened by releasing the engagement. (See Patent Document 1).

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the engagement between the lens cover and the housing in the closed position is easily released, and the lens cover moves from the closed position during conveyance of the imaging device, and the imaging lens is moved. There was a risk of exposure.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-333687

  In view of the above-described facts, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing inadvertent movement of a lens cover from a closed position to an open position with a simple configuration.

In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is provided between a housing and a closed position that is attached to the housing and covers the front surface of the imaging lens and an open position that opens the front surface of the imaging lens. A movable lens cover, and is engaged with the other when the lens cover is in the closed position, and the closed position of the lens cover. A click member that slides with the other as it moves between the open positions;
A lock member that prevents movement of the lens cover from the closed position to the open position by being in contact with the click member, and a contact between the click member and the lock member is released to open from the closed position. And an unlocking member that enables the lens cover to move to a position.

  The imaging device of the present invention includes a housing and a lens cover attached to the housing. The lens cover is movable between a closed position that covers the front surface of the photographing lens and an open position that opens the front surface of the imaging lens. A click member is provided on either the housing or the lens cover. The click member is engaged with the other of the housing or the lens cover where the click member is not provided when the lens cover is in the closed position, and is moved between the closed position and the open position of the lens cover. As a result, it is slid with the other.

  In the conventional technology, since the click member needs to be smoothly engaged and disengaged, the engagement is easily released by applying a force to the lens cover, and the lens cover is moved from the closed position. Resulting in.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a lock member is provided, and the click member and the lock member are brought into contact with each other to prevent the lens cover from moving from the closed position to the open position. Then, the lock release member releases the contact and enables the lens cover to move from the closed position to the open position. As a result, the lens cover can be moved from the closed position to the open position.

  According to the imaging apparatus, the lock member can prevent inadvertent movement of the lens cover from the closed position to the open position. Further, the movement of the lens cover is prevented by contacting the click member and the lock member, that is, the movement of the lens cover is prevented by using the click member, so that a separate lock mechanism is provided. In comparison, a simple configuration can be obtained.

  In the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, as described in claim 2, the click member has a direction in which the click member protrudes from either the casing provided with the click member or the lens cover. An urging member for urging the lens cover is attached, and the lock member is in contact with the click member in a protruding state to prevent the lens cover from moving from the closed position to the open position, and the lock member The release member releases the contact between the urging member and the lock member by moving the urging member against the urging force toward the inside of the housing or the lens cover provided with the click member. It can also be characterized by.

  In the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration, the click member is urged and protrudes from either the housing provided with the click member or the lens cover. The lock member is brought into contact with the click member in the protruded state, thereby preventing the lens cover from moving from the closed position to the open position. Further, the lock release member moves the urging member constituting the click member toward the inside of the housing or the lens cover provided with the click member against the urging force. By this movement, the contact between the urging member and the lock member is released, and the lens cover can be moved from the closed position to the open position.

  Since the imaging apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent inadvertent movement of the lens cover from the closed position to the open position with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the camera 10 includes a housing 12. A lens cover 16 that can cover the front surface of the imaging lens 14 is attached to the front surface of the housing 12. The lens cover 16 has a rectangular plate shape, and a closed position P1 (see FIG. 1A) covering the imaging lens 14 and an open position P2 (opening the front surface of the imaging lens 14) along a guide (not shown). 1 (see FIG. 1B).

  As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a housing portion 22 is configured at a position covered by the lens cover 16 of the housing 12. The click shaft 20 is stored in the storage portion 22. The click shaft 20 includes a front end portion 20A, a restriction portion 20B, and a rear end portion 20C. The rear end portion 20C is disposed on the back side of the storage portion 22, and a coil spring 24 is wound around the rear end portion 20C. Further, a hole 26 is formed on the back side of the storage portion 22, and the rear end portion 20 </ b> C can enter and leave the inside and outside of the recess 22 from the hole 26. The distal end portion 20A is disposed on the front side of the storage portion 22, and the distal end portion is tapered. An opening 22 </ b> A is configured on the front side of the storage unit 22. The tip portion 20A can project from the opening 22A to the outside of the storage portion 22. The restricting portion 20B has a disc shape and is disposed between the front end portion 20A and the rear end portion 20C. The diameter of the restricting portion 20B is larger than the opening 22A of the recessed portion 22, and can be brought into contact with the wall of the storage portion 22 on the opening 22A side. The click shaft 20 is urged toward the outside of the housing 12 by a coil spring 24. When the click shaft 20 is engaged between a rib 35 (described later) and the stopper 40 at the closed position P1, and when the click shaft 20 is engaged with an engaging portion (not shown) of the lens cover 16 at the open position P2. The user can get a click feeling.

  An unlock button 30 is provided at a position of the lens cover 16 that faces the click shaft 20 (when the lens cover 16 is disposed at the closed position P1). The lock release button 30 is attached to a button attachment portion 32 formed on the lens cover 16. The lock release button 30 includes a pressing portion 30A, a regulating portion 30B, and a contact portion 30C. The button attachment portion 32 includes a housing side wall 32A and front and side walls 32B. An unlock button 30 is housed inside the button attachment portion 32. The pressing part 30A of the lock release button 30 is disposed on the side far from the casing 12 of the button mounting part 32, the abutting part 30C is disposed on the side close to the casing 12 of the button mounting part 32, and the regulating part 30B is , Between the pressing portion 30A and the contact portion 30C. A hole 34 is formed in the housing side wall 32A. The contact portion 30 </ b> C has a cylindrical shape, and can enter and leave the inside and outside of the button attachment portion 32 through the hole 34. A coil spring 38 is wound around the contact portion 30C. An opening 36 is formed in the front / side wall 32B. The pressing portion 30 </ b> A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and can enter and leave the inside and outside of the button attachment portion 32 from the opening 36. The restricting portion 30B has a rectangular plate shape, and the size of the plate surface is larger than the opening 36, and can be brought into contact with the inner wall in which the opening 36 of the front / side wall 32B is formed. The lock release button 30 is urged by a coil spring 38 in a direction in which the pressing portion 30 </ b> A protrudes from the opening 36.

  The housing 12 and the housing side wall 32A are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and the distal end portion 20A of the click shaft 20 (hereinafter, this distance is referred to as “abutting allowance D”) is normal (force is applied from the outside). When not in the state), the contact portion D protrudes from the opening 22A. The contact portion 30C of the unlock button 30 is normally disposed at a position where the tip surface forms the same surface as the outer surface of the housing side wall 32A, and the pressing portion 30A of the unlock button 30 has a part thereof. It protrudes outward from the opening 36. The contact portion 30C of the lock release button 30 and the tip portion 20A of the click shaft 20 are in contact with each other when the lens cover 16 is disposed at the closed position P1.

  A stopper 40 is provided on the housing side wall 32 </ b> A on the imaging lens 14 side of the hole 34, and a rib 35 is provided on the opposite side to the stopper 40 across the hole 34. The stopper 40 is attached to the housing side wall 32A, and the surface 40A on the hole 34 side is in contact with the click shaft 20 as shown in FIG. 2A, so that the lens cover 16 is closed from the closed position P1 to the open position P2. Movement in a direction (this direction is hereinafter referred to as “Y direction”) can be restricted. On the surface of the stopper 40 on the imaging lens 14 side, as shown in FIG. 2C, the lens cover 16 moves from the open position P2 side to the closed position P1 direction (this direction is hereinafter referred to as “X direction”). Thus, the inclined surface 40 </ b> B is provided with an inclination capable of moving the click shaft 20 toward the inside of the housing 12. The click shaft 20 can be engaged between the rib 35 and the stopper 40.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the lens cover 16 is disposed at the closed position P <b> 1, the front surface of the imaging lens 14 is covered with the lens cover 16. Further, the tip 20A of the click shaft 20 protrudes from the opening 22A by the contact allowance D. At this time, the click shaft 20 is engaged between the rib 35 and the stopper 40. In this state, even if a force is applied to the lens cover 16 to move the lens cover 16 from the closed position P1 to the open position P2, the tip 20A of the click shaft 20 is brought into contact with the surface 40A of the stopper 40. Movement is restricted.

  When the lens cover 16 is moved from the closed position P1 to the open position P2, the pressing portion 30A is pressed. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2B, the click shaft 20 is pushed by the lock release button 30 and moves inward of the housing 12. In this state, when the lens cover 16 is moved in the Y direction, the lens cover 16 is moved in the same direction and can get over the stopper 40. As shown in FIG. 2C, after overcoming the stopper 40, the lens cover 16 can be moved in the Y direction even if the pressing to the pressing portion 30A is released. When the lens cover 16 is moved, the distal end portion 20A of the click shaft 20 and the inner surface of the lens cover 16 are slid. When the lens cover 16 reaches the open position P2, the distal end portion 20A of the click shaft 20 is engaged with an engagement portion (not shown) formed on the back surface of the lens cover 16, and is locked at this position.

  When the lens cover 16 is moved from the open position P2 to the closed position P1, the lens cover 16 is moved in the X direction. When the lens cover 16 is moved to a position where the click shaft 20 and the inclined surface 40B of the stopper 40 are in contact with each other, the click shaft 20 is pushed by the inclined surface of the stopper 40 and moved inward of the housing 12. When the click shaft 20 gets over the stopper 40, as shown in FIG. 2A, the lens cover 16 is disposed at the closed position P1, and the click shaft 20 is engaged between the rib 35 and the stopper 40. Is done.

  According to the present embodiment, when the lens cover 16 is disposed at the closed position P1, the movement of the lens cover 16 in the direction of the open position P2 is restricted by the contact between the click shaft 20 and the stopper 40. The lens cover 16 can be prevented from being carelessly moved from the closed position P1 to the open position P2.

  In addition, since the click shaft 20 is used for preventing the movement, the number of parts can be reduced and a simple configuration can be achieved as compared with the case where the lens cover 16 is locked using another member. .

  Further, since the tip end portion 20A of the click shaft 20 is tapered, the contact area when sliding with the inner surface of the lens cover 16 can be reduced, and the lens cover 16 can be moved smoothly. be able to.

  In this embodiment, the lock release button 30 is configured to move the click shaft 20 to the inside of the housing 12 by a user's press, but as shown in FIG. It is good also as a structure moved to 12 inside. That is, a lock release lever 60 is provided instead of the lock release button 30. The lock release lever 60 is rotatable about a pin 62, and an inclination capable of pressing the click shaft 20 is provided on the housing 12 side. The lock release lever 30 is normally urged and disposed on the imaging lens 14 side as shown in FIG. When the unlocking lever 60 is moved in the direction away from the imaging lens 14 (E direction), the click shaft 20 is pushed by the unlocking lever 60 and moves to the inside of the housing 12 to move the lens cover 16. Can be moved in the Y direction.

(A) of the camera of this embodiment is a front view in a state where the lens cover is disposed at the closed position, and (B) is a front view in a state where the lens cover is disposed at the open position. It is sectional drawing explaining operation | movement of the lock release button and click shaft of the camera of this embodiment. It is a front view which shows the modification of the camera of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Patent Document 10 Camera (Imaging Device)
12 Housing 14 Imaging lens 16 Lens cover 20 Click shaft (click member)
24 Coil spring (biasing member)
30 Unlock button (unlock member)
40 Stopper (Lock member)
60 Unlocking lever (unlocking member)

Claims (2)

A housing,
A lens cover that is attached to the housing and is movable between a closed position that covers the front surface of the imaging lens and an open position that opens the front surface of the imaging lens;
It is provided on either the housing or the lens cover, and is engaged with the other when the lens cover is in the closed position, and the lens cover is moved between the closed position and the open position. A click member that slides with the other,
A lock member that prevents movement of the lens cover from the closed position to the open position by being in contact with the click member;
An unlocking member that releases the contact between the click member and the locking member and enables the lens cover to move from the closed position to the open position;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The click member is attached with a biasing member that biases the click member in a direction in which the click member protrudes from either the casing or the lens cover provided with the click member.
The lock member is prevented from moving from the closed position to the open position of the lens cover by being in contact with the click member in a protruding state,
The unlocking member contacts the urging member and the lock member by moving the urging member inward of the casing or the lens cover provided with the click member against the urging force. Canceling,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1.

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