JP2012220605A - Camera accessory device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera accessory device such that a connection terminal (lead terminal) connected to a connection terminal (contact terminal) of an accessory shoe of a camera can slide on the contact terminal with suitable strength.SOLUTION: A camera accessory device includes a support member 15, a terminal holding member 16, a connection terminal (lead terminal) 17, a mount ring 18, and first and second cam mechanisms A, B. The support member 15 is a columnar member having a square through hole 15a formed therein, and the terminal holding member 16 is inserted so as to reciprocally slide in the through hole 15a and has a plurality of pin insertion holes formed in an axial direction. The contact terminal 17 penetrates through the pin insertion hole of the terminal holding member 16 and projects from an outer end surface and an inner end surface of the terminal holding member 16. A mount ring 18 has the support member 15 fitted outside, and rotates and reverses in a peripheral direction. The first cam mechanism A moves the terminal holding member 16 forward and backward through the rotation and reversal of the mount ring 18. The second cam mechanism B applies suitable outward energizing force to the contact terminal 17 through the rotation and reversal of the mount ring 18.

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera accessory device mounted on an accessory shoe of a camera, and more particularly to a camera accessory device having a connection terminal for electrical connection with an electronic circuit provided in the camera.

  Strobe devices and electronic viewfinders are provided as accessory devices for cameras. As shown in FIG. 7, the strobe device is a combination of a light emitting unit 1 that houses a light source (not shown) and a main unit 2 that stores an electronic circuit, a power source, and the like. A shoe 3 for mounting on an accessory shoe 100 (see FIG. 8) of the camera is provided.

  The shoe 3 includes a base 4 fixed to the bottom of the main body 2, a plurality of pin-like connection terminals (hereinafter also referred to as “lead terminals”) 5 connected to an electronic circuit in the main body 2. A shoe fitting 6 that is locked to the accessory shoe 100 of the camera and a mounting ring 7 that prevents the shoe fitting 6 from being detached from the accessory shoe 100 of the camera are provided.

  Then, the shoe 3 of such a strobe device is attached to the accessory shoe 100 of the camera, whereby a planar connection terminal (hereinafter also referred to as “contact terminal”) 101 provided on the accessory shoe 100 of the camera. (See FIG. 8) and the lead terminal 5 are connected, and the exposure control set on the camera side and the light emission control of the strobe device are linked.

  However, since the lead terminal 5 of the strobe device and the contact terminal 101 of the camera are made of metal, an oxide film may be formed. Then, the electrical resistance between the lead terminal 5 and the contact terminal 101 increases, and the strobe device may malfunction. Therefore, Patent Literature 1 discloses a camera accessory device (strobe device) that can remove the oxide film formed on the lead terminal 5 and the contact terminal 101.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the shoe 3 of this strobe device has a terminal holding member 8 formed with a plurality of holes through which the lead terminals 5 are inserted, and the terminal holding member 8 can reciprocate (in the horizontal direction in FIG. 8). And a deformed cylindrical support member 9 formed with a square through hole to be fitted to the terminal, and a terminal spring 10 for urging the lead terminal 5 toward the contact terminal 101 of the camera.

  The mounting ring 7 is formed with a groove cam portion 11 on the inner peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 9, the groove cam portion 11 is a hollow portion in which concave portions 11 a and 11 b are continuous on both sides of the intermediate convex portion 11 b, and one end portion of the urging pin 12 penetrating the support member 9 is provided. Abut. The other end of the urging pin 12 is fixed to the terminal holding member 8. Further, a spring 13 that presses the urging pin 12 against the groove cam portion 11 is interposed between the terminal holding member 8 and the support member 9.

  When the shoe 3 of such a strobe device is attached to the accessory shoe 100 of the camera, the lead terminal 5 and the contact terminal 101 come into contact as shown in FIG. When the lead terminal 5 of the strobe device is mounted, as shown in FIG. 9A, the urging pin 12 is positioned in one concave portion 11 a of the groove cam portion 11, and the spring 13 holds the terminal holding member 8. The biasing pin 12 is biased (downward in FIG. 9), and the lead terminal 5 is in the initial position.

  When the mounting ring 7 is slightly rotated (twisted) in the circumferential direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 9), the urging pin 12 is moved to the groove cam portion 11 as shown in FIG. 9B. When the spring 13 is compressed, the terminal holding member 8 and the lead terminal 5 are moved to the spring 13 side (upper side in FIG. 9).

  Further, when the mounting ring 7 is twisted in the circumferential direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 9), the urging pin 12 is positioned in the other concave portion 11c of the groove cam portion 11, as shown in FIG. The terminal holding member 8 is pushed by the spring 13 and returns to the urging pin 12, and the lead terminal 5 stops at the specified position, whereby the electrical connection between the strobe device and the camera is completed.

  As described above, the shoe 3 of the strobe device is configured such that the lead terminal 5 of the strobe device slides on both the terminals 5 and 101 of the camera by slightly twisting the mounting ring 7 in one direction, and on the surface of the connection terminal. The attached oxide film and dirt can be removed.

JP 2011-2681 A

  When the strobe device described in Patent Document 1 is attached to the accessory shoe 100 of the camera, the tip of the lead terminal 5 is pressed against the connection terminal of the camera by the terminal spring 10. Therefore, in order to remove the strongly adhered oxide film or the like, it is necessary to increase the spring force of the terminal spring 10 and strongly press the lead terminal 5 against the contact terminal 101 of the camera.

  However, when the spring force of the terminal spring 10 is increased, the lead terminal 5 not only removes the oxide film of the contact terminal 101 of the strobe device, but also the surface other than the contact terminal 101 of the accessory shoe 100 of the camera. As a result, the appearance of the accessory shoe 100 is damaged.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the connection terminal (lead terminal) connected to the connection terminal (contact terminal) of the accessory shoe of the camera can slide with appropriate strength on the connection terminal (contact terminal) of the accessory shoe of the camera. It is an object to provide an accessory device for a camera that can be used.

  The camera accessory device according to claim 1 is a cylindrical support member in which a square through hole is formed in an axial direction, and is inserted in a reciprocating manner in the through hole of the support member. A terminal holding member having a plurality of pin insertion holes, and a connection penetrating through the pin insertion holes of the terminal holding member and having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion projecting from the outer end surface and the inner end surface of the terminal holding member, respectively. A terminal, a mounting ring on which a support member is fitted so as to be capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation in the circumferential direction, and a first moving forward and backward in the through hole of the support member by forward rotation and reverse rotation of the mounting ring. And a second cam mechanism that applies an appropriate outward biasing force to the connection terminal by the forward / backward movement of the terminal holding member. It is characterized by that.

  According to this accessory device for a camera, when it is only fixed to the accessory shoe of the camera until it is fixed, and until it is detached from the accessory shoe of the camera (when connecting to the connection terminal of the accessory shoe of the camera) ), When the mounting ring is rotated forward / reversely, the terminal holding member is moved forward / backward by the first cam mechanism, and an appropriate outward biasing force is applied to the connection terminal by the second cam mechanism. The connection terminal can be slid on the connection terminal of the accessory shoe of the camera with an appropriate outward biasing force.

  In other words, the terminal device does not move forward or backward by not rotating the mounting ring forward or backward except when connecting to the connection terminal of the accessory shoe of the camera. The connection terminal can slide on the surface other than the connection terminal of the accessory shoe of the camera with a weak outward urging force so that the surface is not damaged.

  The camera accessory device according to claim 2 is the camera accessory device according to claim 1, wherein the second cam mechanism is inserted into a through hole of the support member, A communication hole penetrating the end side is formed, a slider whose outer surface faces the inner surface of the terminal holding member, and whose inner surface is an inclined surface, and is provided around the inclined surface of the slider at a fixed position. An attachment, a hook-like portion provided on the connection terminal of the portion exposed between the terminal holding member and the slider, and a spring for applying a biasing force in a direction to widen the gap between the hook-like portion and the slider And a member.

  According to this camera accessory device, the second cam mechanism includes the slider, the attachment, the hook-shaped portion of the connection terminal, and the spring member, so that the attachment is inclined by rotating the mounting ring forward. The surface is pressed and the slider moves slightly while moving forward, the spring member is compressed, and the outward biasing force applied to the connection terminal protruding from the terminal holding member is strengthened.

  When the mounting ring is reversed, the attachment does not press the inclined surface of the slider, the slider moves backward, rises slightly, and the spring member is not compressed, so that the connection terminal protrudes from the terminal holding member. The outward energizing force of is reduced.

  The camera accessory device according to claim 3 is the camera accessory device according to claim 2, wherein the attachment projects from a base portion that closes a base end side of the support member. It is characterized by.

  According to this accessory device, since the attachment projects from the base portion that closes the proximal end side of the support member, the attachment can be brought into sliding contact with the inclined surface of the slider at a fixed position. .

  According to the present invention, there is provided a camera accessory device provided with first and second cam mechanisms for moving the connection terminal in the protruding / retracting direction by forward / reverse rotation of the mounting ring. It is possible to prevent the periphery of the connection terminal of the accessory shoe of the camera to which the accessory device is attached from being damaged.

The schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of one Embodiment of the accessory apparatus for cameras which concerns on this invention The principal part of one Embodiment of the camera accessory apparatus which concerns on this invention is shown, (a) is a rear view, (b) is the II sectional view taken on the line of (a), (c) is II- of (a). II sectional view It is a principal part of one Embodiment of the accessory apparatus for cameras which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The 1st step is shown, (a) is a rear view, (b) is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of (a). It is a principal part of one Embodiment of the accessory apparatus for cameras which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The 2nd step is shown, (a) is a rear view, (b) is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of (a). It is a principal part of one Embodiment of the accessory apparatus for cameras which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The 3rd step is shown, (a) is a rear view, (b) is the VV sectional view taken on the line of (a). It is a principal part of one Embodiment of the accessory apparatus for cameras which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The 4th step is shown, (a) is a rear view, (b) is VI-VI sectional view taken on the line of (a). Schematic perspective view showing an example of camera accessory device FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 7 showing a main part of a conventional camera accessory device, where (a) is a cross-sectional front view in an initial state, (b) is a cross-sectional front view in an intermediate state, and (c). Is a cross-sectional front view at the specified position

  An embodiment of an accessory device for a camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The camera accessory device (hereinafter referred to as “strobe device”) includes a base part 14, a support member 15, a terminal holding member 16, a connection terminal (hereinafter referred to as “lead terminal”) 17, a mounting ring 18, a first ring. One cam mechanism A and second cam mechanism B are provided in the shoe 19.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the base portion 14 projects the frame-like portion 14b in the inner and outer (up and down in the drawing) direction from the outer peripheral edge of the base 14a, and flanges from the inner (upper in the drawing) frame-like portion 14b. 14c is provided outward. The flange 14c is fixed to the main body 2 (see FIG. 7) of the strobe device.

  The support member 15 is fixed to the outside of the base portion 14, has a rectangular through hole 15 a in the axial direction, and has a cutout portion 15 b in the radial direction from the outer surface of the through hole 15 a. Yes.

  The terminal holding member 16 (shown by a thick line in FIGS. 2 to 6) has a gap in the through hole 15a formed in the support member 15 (vertically in FIGS. 2A and 2B). Pin insertion holes that are inserted so as to be reciprocable and through which the lead terminals 17 pass are formed (in five places in the drawing). Further, the terminal holding member 16 is provided with a recessed portion 16a that is recessed on the inner side (right side in FIG. 2B) and a protruding portion 16b that fits into the cutout portion 15b of the support member 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the mounting ring 18 is an annular member that externally fits the support member 15 and twists the support member 15 so as to be able to rotate forward and reverse about 60 °. A groove cam portion 20 is formed on the peripheral surface. The groove cam portion 20 is formed by continuously forming concave portions 20a and 20c on both sides of an intermediate convex portion 20b, and the protruding portion 16b of the terminal holding member 16 contacts.

  The groove cam portion 20 and the protruding portion 16b of the terminal holding member 16 constitute the first cam mechanism A. That is, in the first cam mechanism A, when the mounting ring 18 is twisted and the protruding portion 16b of the terminal holding member 16 is positioned in the concave portions 20a and 20c of the groove cam portion 20, the terminal holding member 16 is moved outward (see FIG. 3 to 6, the terminal holding member 16 is positioned on the center side when the protruding portion 16 b of the terminal holding member 16 is positioned on the convex portion 20 b of the groove cam portion 20.

  Then, a slider 21 (shown by a thick dotted line in FIGS. 2A and 3 to 6) interlocked with the reciprocating movement of the terminal holding member 16 is fitted in the recessed portion 16 a of the terminal holding member 16 with a space therebetween. It is put in the state. The slider 21 also moves up and down slightly in the recessed portion 16a of the terminal holding member 16 (moves slightly in the left-right direction in FIGS. 2A and 3A to 6A).

  An inclined surface 21 a that gradually becomes deeper toward the center side is formed on one inner surface of the slider 21. The slider 21 is formed with a communication hole that penetrates the lead terminal 17 continuously from the pin insertion hole of the terminal holding member 16.

  An attachment 14 d that contacts the inclined surface 21 a of the slider 21 is formed on the base portion 14. Therefore, the attachment 16 d is also inclined at the same angle as the inclined surface 21 a of the slider 21.

  The lead terminal 17 exposed in the space between the recessed portion 16a of the terminal holding member 16 and the slider 21 is provided with a flange portion 14a having an enlarged diameter. A spring member (compression spring) 22 that fits the lead terminal 17 is sandwiched between the flange-shaped portion 17 a and the outer surface of the slider 21. One end of the compression spring 22 is in contact with the outer surface of the slider 21, so that an appropriate outward biasing force (spring force) is applied to the lead terminal 17 from the flange-shaped portion 17 a of the lead terminal 17.

  The slider 21, the attachment 14 d, the flange portion 17 a of the lead terminal 17, and the compression spring 22 constitute a second cam mechanism B. When the terminal holding member 16 is positioned outside, the second cam mechanism B presses the slider 21 toward the base portion 14 by the compression spring 22, and when the terminal holding member 16 is positioned on the center side. The attachment 14d pushes down the slider 21. The pushed-down slider 21 compresses the compression spring 22 and the outward biasing force applied to the lead terminal 17 from the hook-shaped portion 17a is strengthened.

  A lock ring 23 adjacent to the mounting ring 18 is fitted on the outer surface of the support member 15. When the mounting ring 18 is rotated, the lock ring 23 reciprocates in the axial direction, and the lock pin 24 protrudes / retreats from the support member 15 following the lock ring 23.

  The shoe 19 of the strobe device is configured as described above. Next, an operation when the shoe 19 is attached to an accessory shoe (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 6) of the camera will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 16 b of the terminal holding member 16 is not in the lever unlocked state in which the shoe 19 of the strobe device is only locked to the accessory shoe of the camera, that is, the mounting ring 18 is not twisted. The groove cam portion 20 is located in one concave portion 20a.

  At this time, by the second cam mechanism B, the terminal holding member 16 is positioned outward, and the attachment 14d applies an upward force (rightward in FIG. 3B) to the inclined surface 21a of the slider 21.

Then, since the attachment 14d is in a position raised toward the base portion 14, the leading end portion of the lead terminal 17 is in contact with the connection terminal (contact terminal) of the camera, but the outward biasing force is weak. (For example, the attachment 14d is close to the base 14 side from the contact position by 0.6 mm, and a contact pressure of 224 g is applied to the lead terminal 17).
When the mounting ring 18 is twisted about 30 ° counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion 16 b of the terminal holding member 16 is positioned on the convex portion 20 b of the groove cam portion 20, and the first and second Cam mechanisms A and B act. That is, the terminal holding member 16 is slightly moved in the central direction (downward in the drawing) when the protruding portion 16b is pushed by the intermediate portion between the one concave portion 20a and the convex portion 20b of the groove cam portion 20 to hold the terminal. The slider 21 fitted in the recessed portion 16a of the member 16 also slightly moves in the center direction.

Then, the inclined surface 21a of the slider 21 slides on the attachment 14d, so that the terminal holding member 16 slightly moves (lowers) outward (leftward in FIG. 4B). At this time, the attachment 14d slightly compresses the compression spring 22, so that the compression spring 22 applies a spring force to the flange portion 17a of the lead terminal 17, and the urging force applied to the lead terminal 17 is strengthened (the attachment 14d is (Located at the origin of the contact position, 276 g of contact pressure is applied to the lead terminal 17)
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the mounting ring 18 is further twisted about 30 ° counterclockwise (about 60 ° from the lever unlocked state), the first and second cam mechanisms A and B are the same as described above. Act on. That is, when the protruding portion 16b of the terminal holding member 16 is pushed by the convex portion 20b of the groove cam portion 20, the terminal holding member 16 further finely moves in the center direction. Then, the slider 21 also finely moves in the center direction while the inclined surface 21a hits the attachment 14d.

Therefore, the slider 21 is further pushed down by the attachment 14d, and the urging force applied to the lead terminal 17 is increased by further compressing the compression spring 22 further. Therefore, when the mounting ring 18 is twisted to about 30 ° or more, the lead terminal 17 slides on the contact terminal of the camera with an appropriate outward biasing force. (For example, the attachment 14d protrudes 0.6 mm from the contact position (separates from the base portion 14), and a contact pressure of 327 g is applied to the lead terminal 17.)
Further, when the mounting ring 18 is twisted by 30 ° or more from the lever unlocked state, the locking ring 23 is pushed down and the lock pin 24 protrudes. Accordingly, the strobe device will not be detached from the camera thereafter.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the wearing ring is further twisted, the lever lock position is reached, and the installation of the strobe device is completed. The first and second cam mechanisms A and B also operate at this lever lock position. That is, since the protruding portion 16b of the terminal holding member 16 is located in the other concave portion 20c of the groove cam portion 20, the terminal holding member 16 returns to a position outside (upper side in the drawing). Therefore, when the attachment 14d applies an outward force (rightward in FIG. 6B) to the inclined surface 21a of the slider 21, the attachment 14d is also returned to the outward position.

Then, the spring force of the compression spring 22 is reduced, and the urging force that causes the lead terminal 17 to protrude outward is weakened. (At this time, for example, the attachment 14d returns to the origin of the contact position, and a contact pressure of 276 g is applied to the lead terminal 17.)
In this way, the lead terminal 17 finely moves on the contact terminal while an appropriate biasing force is applied, so that the oxide film and dirt attached to the lead terminal 17 and the contact terminal can be removed. Therefore, the electronic circuit of the strobe device and the electronic circuit of the camera are connected. In addition, until the strobe device is attached to the accessory shoe of the camera, a strong biasing force is not applied to the lead terminal 17, so that the lead terminal 17 does not damage the accessory shoe of the camera.

  Note that the present invention can be variously modified without being limited to the above embodiment. For example, a compression spring (not shown) may be interposed between the slider 21 and the surface of the terminal holding member 16 that is the recessed portion 16a where the protruding portion 16b is not provided. This compression spring reciprocates the slider 21 so as to assist the operation of the second link mechanism. Further, the protruding portion 16 b of the terminal holding member 16 may have a separate pin protruding from the main body portion of the terminal holding member 16.

  Further, the camera accessory device of the present invention can be similarly configured with an electronic viewfinder in addition to the strobe device.

  The camera accessory device according to the present invention further ensures electrical connection with the camera, and is applied to a device that performs electrical connection with the camera through a connection terminal and a device that operates according to a control signal from the camera. be able to.

14 Base 14d Attachment 15 Support member 15a Through hole 16 Terminal holding member 17 Connection terminal (lead terminal)
18 Mounting ring 19 Shoe 20 Groove cam portion 20a Recessed portion 20b Protruded portion 20c Recessed portion 21 Slider 21a Inclined surface 22 Compression spring A Cam mechanism B Cam mechanism

Claims (3)

A columnar support member in which a square through hole is formed in the axial direction; a terminal holding member that is inserted so as to be reciprocable in the through hole of the support member; and a plurality of pin insertion holes are formed in the axial direction; A connection terminal that penetrates the pin insertion hole of the terminal holding member and has a distal end portion and a base end portion project from the outer end surface and the inner end surface of the terminal holding member, respectively, and is supported so as to be able to rotate forward and reverse in the circumferential direction. An accessory device for a camera, comprising: a mounting ring having a member fitted thereon; and a first cam mechanism for moving the terminal holding member forward and backward in a through hole of the support member by forward and reverse rotation of the mounting ring. And a second cam mechanism for applying an appropriate outward biasing force to the connection terminal by the forward / backward movement of the terminal holding member. The second cam mechanism is inserted into a through hole of the support member, forms a communication hole through which a proximal end side of the connection terminal passes, an outer surface faces an inner surface of the terminal holding member, and A slider having an inclined inner surface, an attachment circumferentially provided at a fixed position with the inclined surface of the slider, and a hook-like shape provided on a connection terminal exposed between the terminal holding member and the slider The camera accessory device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring member that applies a biasing force in a direction in which a gap between the flange portion and the slider is widened. The camera accessory device according to claim 2, wherein the attachment projects from a base portion that closes a base end side of the support member.