JP2014032859A - Apparatus having external connecting connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus having a mechanism capable of easily releasing locking at a projecting position.SOLUTION: An apparatus includes: an apparatus body 1; an external connecting connector 2a moving between a storage position stored in the apparatus body 1 and a projecting position projected out to the outside of the apparatus body; a locking member 4 for locking the external connecting connector at the projecting position and releasing the locking; a connector supporting member 2 for supporting the external connecting connector, and having a driven portion 2b for moving the external connecting connector; and a manually driving member operated by an operator of the apparatus to move the external connecting connector, having a projection portion 3b for moving the locking member and a driving portion 3f for driving the driven portion, releasing the locking by the projection portion in an early stage of moving when moving from the projecting position to the storage position, and moving the connector supporting member to the storage position by the driving portion after the releasing.

Description

    The present invention relates to a device having an external connection connector.

    Conventionally, there is a device having a connector for connecting to an external device in order to electrically communicate data. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-16161 discloses a connector that goes in and out of the camera body. The connector is connected to a camera as another device.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-16161

  However, when the connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-16161 is extended from the camera body and the connector is connected to an external device, an insertion force is always required. A fixing mechanism, a locking mechanism, and the like for holding the connector in the extended state against the insertion force are required, but there is no disclosure regarding this mechanism. Further, when the connector is retracted from the extended state, it is necessary to release the fixing mechanism, the locking mechanism, etc., and it is desirable that the operation be as easy as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and it is an object of the present invention to easily lock the connector in the extended state when the connector is moved from the extended state to the retracted state in a device having a connector connected to an external device. An apparatus having a mechanism that can be released is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, in a device having an external connection connector, the external connection connector is moved between a storage position where the external connection connector is stored inside the device body and a protruding position where the connector is protruded outside the device body. An apparatus main body, a locking member that locks and releases the external connection connector at the protruding position, supports the external connection connector, and connects the external connection connector to the storage position and the protrusion A connector support member having a driven part for moving to a position;
It is operated by an operator of the device and moved to a storage position where the external connection connector is stored inside the device main body and a protruding position where the external connection connector protrudes outside the device main body. A convex portion that moves the member; and a drive portion that drives the driven portion to displace the connector support member between the storage position and the protruding position. In the movement, the locking is released by the convex portion in the first movement amount of the initial movement, and the connector support member is driven by the driving portion in the second movement amount following the release of the first movement. And a manual drive member that moves the camera to the storage position.

  According to the present invention, when the connector is retracted, the connector can be released into the apparatus by releasing the locked state of the connector with only one operation without requiring any conscious and intentional operation. A device having a connector can be provided.

FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of a device having an external connection connector according to the present invention, in which the external connection connector (connector) is extended, that is, the external connection connector is in a protruding position. It is a figure when there is. FIG. 1B is an external perspective view of a device having a connector using the present invention, in a state in which the external connection connector is retracted, that is, when the external connection connector is in the storage position. is there, FIG. 2A is a drawing-in state of the connector, that is, the device is cut horizontally on the plane including the line segment AA in FIG. 1B when the external connection connector is in the storage position, and an arrow in the figure. It is the cross-sectional view seen in the XX direction. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view when the operation knob 3a is slightly moved from the state of FIG. FIG.2 (c) is a cross-sectional view when the operation knob 3a is slightly moved from the state of FIG.2 (d). FIG. 2 (d) is a drawing of the connector, that is, when the external connection connector is in the protruding position, and the device is cut laterally along the plane including the line segment BB in FIG. 1 (a). It is the cross-sectional view seen in the arrow YY direction.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  The apparatus having the connector for external connection according to the embodiment of the present invention may be any apparatus that can communicate various data such as a digital camera and a voice recorder. Only the part related to 2a will be described.

  In each drawing used for the following description, each component may be shown with a different scale in order to make each component large enough to be recognized on the drawing. Therefore, according to the present invention, the number of constituent elements, the shape of the constituent elements, the ratio of the constituent element sizes, and the relative positional relationship of the constituent elements described in these drawings are limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is not a thing.

  The configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows a device having an external connection connector (hereinafter referred to as a connector) according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a state in which a connector 2a that can be connected to an external device such as a USB is extended from the device main body 1. FIG. 2 (d) shows a cross-sectional view of the device 1 cut laterally along a plane including the line segment BB in FIG. 1 (a).

  FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a state in which a connector 2a that can be connected to an external device such as a USB is retracted from the device main body 1, and is an external perspective view of the device having the connector 2a using the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) shows a cross-sectional view of the device cut laterally along a plane including the line segment AA in FIG. 1 (b).

  1 and 2 show a device main body 1. The device main body 1 includes a case 1a, and a connector 2a, which is an external connection connector for data communication with an external device, is provided on the inside thereof. The connector support 2 that supports the connector 2a and moves integrally, the lock member 4 (locking member), and the operation member 3 that moves in the same direction as the connector support 2 for driving the connector support 2 to move. And are stored.

  The case 1a is provided with a rectangular connector opening 1b so that the connector 2a is extended from the device main body 1 on the outer peripheral side surface and can be retracted, and the connector 2a penetrates when the connector 2a is extended. The case 1a is an elongated rectangular opening parallel to the moving direction of the connector 2a so that the operation knob 3a integral with the operation member 3 is exposed to the outside on one outer peripheral side surface different from the outer peripheral side surface. A knob opening 1c is provided. Furthermore, a shaft 1d into which a swing shaft 4a of a lock member 4 described later is fitted is provided in the case 1a.

  The operation member 3 is a substantially plate-like member that is long in the moving direction of the connector 2a. In addition to the operation knob 3a, the operation member 3 has a driving portion 3f as a driving force transmitting portion for driving the connector support member in the moving direction. The part 3f has a first drive protrusion as a pair of protrusions and a second drive protrusion at a position spaced from the first drive protrusion in the moving direction. In other words, it can be said that a recess is formed between the first drive protrusion and the second drive protrusion. Further, the operating member 3 has an engaging convex portion that engages and slides with the locking member 4 for swinging the locking member 4, and the protruding portion includes the first inclined surface, the convex vertex surface 3d, and the first convex surface. 2 inclined surfaces. The operation member 3 is guided in the moving direction by a known guide mechanism (not shown). For example, it is composed of a pair of pins arranged in the moving direction provided in the case 1a and a pair of long holes arranged in the operating member 3 and arranged in the moving direction, which are in sliding contact with each other.

  The connector support 2 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the moving direction of the connector 2a. A connector 2a is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction, which is one end at both ends in the moving direction. In addition to the connector 2a, the connector support 2 has a driven convex portion (driven portion) that receives the driving of the driving portion 3f. The driven portion has a convex shape, and is loosely fitted between the first driving protrusion and the second driving protrusion. Further, when the connector 2a is in the extended state, the connector support 2 is formed with a concave engaged portion 2c that engages with a locking portion 4b of the lock member 4 described later in order to maintain this extended state. Yes. In the same manner as the operation member 3, it is guided in the moving direction by a known guide mechanism (not shown).

  Further, the operation member 3 and the connector support 2 may be positioned so as to be determined by a known click means using a spring or the like at each position of the connector 2a in the extended state and the retracted state. Alternatively, the position may be determined by clicking means only in one of them. This description is omitted in this description.

  The lock member 4 has a rocking hole 4a for rocking rotation. The rocking hole 4a is fitted to the shaft 1d and can be rocked and rotated (displaced) around the shaft 1d. The lock member 4 has a first end and a second end across the swing hole 4a, and the first end engages and slides on the engagement convex portion of the operation member 3. It has a contact protrusion, and has an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion 2c of the connector support 2 at the second end.

  An urging member (spring member) (not shown) is suspended from the lock member 4 so that a rotational force is always applied clockwise in FIG. In addition, this urging member is abolished, and instead of this, a lock member is formed of a material of polyacetal material, a spring part integrated with the lock member is provided, and this is used as an urging part to urge the lock member clockwise. May be given.

  The operation will be described from the above configuration.

  First, the process from the retracted state in which the connector 2a is in the retracted position (accommodated position) accommodated in the case 1a to the extended state (protruded position) extended out of the case 1a will be described with reference to FIG. explain.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the connector 2a has been retracted, that is, when the external connection connector is in the storage position. In this state, the operation knob 3a is disposed at one end in the knob opening 1c (the leftmost end in the figure), and the driven protrusion is disposed between the first driving protrusion 3g and the second driving protrusion 3h. The driving convex portion is in contact with the second driving convex portion 3h. Further, the contact portion 4c of the lock member 4 is disengaged from the first inclined surface 3c, the convex portion apex surface 3d, and the second inclined surface 3e of the locking drive convex portion 3b (locking drive portion) of the operation member 3. Accordingly, since the lock member 4 is urged to rotate clockwise, the locking portion 4b of the lock member 4 is engaged with the engaged end surface 2d, which is the one end in the moving direction of the connector support 2, and the connector 2a is The movement to the outside of the device body 1 is prevented. That is, the external connector is locked in a state where it is in the storage position.

  From this state, the operation knob 3a of the operation member 3 is moved in the right direction indicated by the arrow S1 in FIG. Then, while the second drive convex portion 3h is separated from the driven convex portion, the contact portion 4c of the lock member 4 is pressed by the first inclined surface 3c of the locking drive convex portion 3b of the operation member 3, and the lock member 4 is moved. Rotate counterclockwise. And the contact part 4c of the lock member 4 will be in the state contact | abutted to the convex part vertex surface 3d of the latching drive convex part 3b. Then, the locking portion 4 b of the lock member 4 is disengaged from the end portion of the connector support 2, and the connector 2 a is allowed to move outside the device body 1. In other words, it can be said that the lock is released so that the external connection connector can move to the protruding position. That is, FIG. 2B shows the state where the operation member 3 is moved by the amount of movement which is AS1 shown in FIG. 2A.

  When the operation knob 3a is further moved in the right direction continuously from the state shown in FIG. 2B, the first drive convex portion 3g of the operation member 3 comes into contact with the driven convex portion of the connector support 2, The connector support 2 is moved rightward, and the connector 2a passes through the connector opening 1b and is exposed to the outside. During this movement, the contact portion 4c of the lock member 4 reaches the second inclined surface 3e from the convex top surface 3d of the locking drive convex portion 3b, and the lock member 4 rotates and swings (displaces) clockwise. . When the contact portion 4c of the lock member 4 is disengaged from the contact with the second inclined surface 3e, the locking member 4 stops rotating and the locking member 4b of the lock member 4 stops at the same time. The movement of the connector support 2 is stopped and the extension of the connector 2a, that is, the projection of the connector 2a is completed. This state is shown in FIG. That is, the progress of the connector 2a from the retracted state to the extended state is shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (b) and FIGS. 2 (b) to 2 (d).

  Next, description will be given of operating the connector 2a from the extended state to the extended state.

  In order to perform retraction from FIG. 2D in which the connector 2a is extended, the operation dial 3a is moved to the left as indicated by an arrow RS1 in the drawing. Naturally, the operation member 3 moves to the left. Before this movement, the second drive convex portion 3h of the operation member 3 and the driven convex portion of the connector support 2 are separated from each other, and therefore the connector support 2 is not moved and driven at the beginning of the movement of the operation member 3. The second inclined surface 3e of the locking drive convex portion 3b of the operation member 3 is in contact with the lock member 4 until the second drive convex portion 3h of the operation member 3 comes into contact with the driven convex portion of the connector support 2. The abutting portion 4c is pressed to cause the lock member 4 to swing and rotate (displace) counterclockwise against the urging member, thereby abutting the abutting portion 4c of the locking member 4 on the convex vertex surface 3d. At this time, the engaging portion 4b of the lock member 4 is detached from the engaged portion 2c of the connector support 2 and the engagement is released. That is, from the state where the external connection connector is locked at the protruding position, the lock is released so that the external connection connector can move. As a result, the connector support 2 can move in the left direction, and the second drive protrusion 3 h of the operation member 3 and the driven protrusion of the connector support 2 abut. This state is shown in FIG. The movement amount of the operation member 3 so far is AS2 which is the first movement amount shown in FIG. When the operation member 3 moves leftward in the connector retracting direction continuously from FIG. 2C, the state shown in FIG. The two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 2 (c) indicates the position at the position of the connector support 2 in FIG. 2 (a), and the amount of movement of the connector support 2 from FIG. 2 (c) to FIG. 2 (a) is , AS3 shown in FIG.

  That is, the process from the extended state to the extended state is shown in FIGS. 2 (d) to 2 (c) and FIGS. 2 (c) to 2 (a).

  As described above, the device having the connector 2a of the present invention does not require an extra operation by merely moving and driving the operation member 3 for fixing and locking at the position where the connector 2a is extended. The connector 2a can be fixed and locked in the extended state. Therefore, even if an unnecessary external force is applied to the connector 2a from the outside, the connector 2a is not unintentionally brought into the device body 1 of the connector 2a, and also when the connector 2a is connected to another device. In addition, the connector 2a can be securely connected without being unintentionally pulled in.

  In addition to this, since the lock member 4 holds one end of the connector support 2 even when the connector 2a is retracted, the device or apparatus including the present invention drops the device or apparatus. Even so, even if an impact is applied to the device or apparatus, the connector itself does not pop out inadvertently.

  The pair of convex portions 3g and 3h, which are the shape of the drive portion 3f of the operation member 3, may be provided on the connector support, and the convex portion 2b of the connector support may be provided on the operation member 3.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can of course be implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if several constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the above-described embodiment, if the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effect of the invention can be obtained, this constituent requirement is deleted. The configured structure can be extracted as an invention.

  The present invention can be widely applied to any device or apparatus having a connector 2a for transferring data between devices and the like. For example, it can be used for a digital camera, an IC recorder, a personal computer, peripheral devices thereof, and the like.

1. Equipment body (connector device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a ... Case 1b ... Connector opening 1c ... Knob opening 1d ... Shaft 2 ... Connector support body 2a ... Connector (external connector)
2b: Driven convex part (driven part)
2c ... engaged portion (recess)
2d ... End face 3 ... Operation member 3a ... Operation knob 3b ... Locking drive convex part 3c ... First inclined surface 3d ... Convex part apex surface 3e ... First 2 inclined surface 3f... Drive unit (drive force transmission unit)
3g ... 1st drive convex part 3h ... 2nd drive convex part 4 ... Locking member (lock member)
4a ... Oscillating hole 4b ... Locking portion 4c ... Abutting portion

Claims (3)

In a device having an external connector,
A device main body in which the external connection connector is moved to a storage position stored inside the device main body and a protruding position protruded outside the device main body;
A locking member for locking and unlocking the external connection connector at the protruding position;
A connector support member having a driven portion for supporting the external connection connector and moving the external connection connector to the storage position and the protruding position;
It is operated by an operator of the device and moved to a storage position where the external connection connector is stored inside the device main body and a protruding position where the external connection connector protrudes outside the device main body. A convex portion for displacing the member; and a driving portion for driving the driven portion to move the connector support member between the storage position and the protrusion position, and the protrusion position to the storage position. In the movement, the locking is released by the convex portion in the first movement amount of the initial movement, and the connector support member is driven by the driving portion in the second movement amount following the release of the first movement. A manual drive member that moves the storage position to the storage position;
A device having a connector for external connection. In claim 1 above,
The driving portion forms a concave shape, the driven portion forms a protruding shape, and the protruding shape relatively moves in the concave shape. In claim 1 above,
The driving portion forms a protruding shape, the driven portion forms a concave shape, and the protruding shape moves in the concave shape.

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