JP2881313B2 - Camera with self-timer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a self-timer that releases a shutter by pushing a release member, and particularly to an improved self-timer device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a mechanical self-timer mechanism including a gear train using a governor has been used for a camera that performs release by a mechanical drive system. Some cameras that perform electronic release incorporate a self-timer circuit in the electronic circuit.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the mechanical self-timer mechanism described above has a complicated structure and a large number of parts, resulting in high cost and a limited delay time. The electronic self-timer, on the other hand, requires that the release mechanism itself of the camera has an electronic circuit, so that the camera itself becomes expensive.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a film-integrated camera in which an unexposed film is previously built in a camera body when the camera body is assembled as a disposable camera has been marketed. When the photographing of the entire film is completed, the film-integrated camera sends the film with the film contained therein to a developing station, and takes out the patrone with the film wound from the camera body to perform the developing process on the film. . The camera has fulfilled its mission in this state and is discarded. Therefore, since a film-integrated camera is required to be extremely inexpensive, it is difficult to incorporate a self-timer in terms of cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a self-timer that can be manufactured at a low cost with a simple structure.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera with a self-timer according to the present invention moves in contact with a shutter release operating member and a shutter release operating member for pressing a shutter release operating member for releasing a shutter. And a shape memory element provided between the release member and the camera body, and configured to move the release member in the release direction of the shutter when energized. Further, a strobe can be built in the camera, and a power supply for energizing the shape memory element can be shared with a power supply of the strobe.

(Operation)

According to the invention, after cocking of the shutter, the shape memory element is deformed by changing the temperature, whereby the shape memory element moves the release member in the shutter release direction, and the shutter is released. Also,
If the camera has a built-in strobe, a self-timer can be incorporated at low cost by sharing the power source for the shape memory element and the strobe.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings in which the present invention is applied to a so-called one-time-use film-integrated camera.

First, in FIGS. 1 to 4, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a film-integrated camera incorporating a self-timer, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof, and FIG. Is an external perspective view.

In the film-integrated camera 1, an unexposed film pulled out from a patrone is loaded into a camera body 10 composed of a molded member having a slight elasticity formed of a synthetic resin material.

The film-integrated camera 1 has a structure in which the exposed film is wound into a patrone every time one frame is shot, and all the films are accommodated in the patrone when a predetermined number of shots have been taken. ing.

The exposed film is sent from the user to a processing company while being stored in the camera body 10, and the company takes out the patrone from the camera in the light room, and thereafter, a system that can perform the same processing work as normal DPE work Has become. The film-integrated camera 1 is shipped in a sealed state in a moisture-proof packaging member when it is marketed.

On the front surface of the camera body 10, a slightly protruding photographic lens unit 11 and a frame type finder 12 are provided.On the top surface of the camera body 10, a self-timer activation switch 13 is provided.
, A shutter release plate 14 (a shutter release operating member of the present invention), and a film counter window 15, and a film winding knob 16 is provided on the back surface so that a part thereof projects from the outer shape. ing. Also camera body 10
Inside, a non-exposed film storage section 17, an exposed film storage section 18, and a battery chamber 19 for storing a dry battery serving as a power supply for operating a self-timer are provided.

A shutter mechanism 20 incorporated in the film-integrated camera 1 sets a shutter blade 21 disposed on the back of the taking lens unit 11, a release member 22 for operating the shutter blade 21, and sets the release member 22 to a cocking position. And a regulating member 23 for regulating the film winding amount.

When a normal photographing is performed by the camera 1, first, the knob 16 is rotated to wind up the film by one frame, and the shutter mechanism 20 is cocked. This cocking is performed by rotating the sprocket 24 on the camera rear side which meshes with the perforation of the film F by winding the film F by the knob 16. With the rotation of the sprocket 24, the regulating member 23 provided coaxially and integrally rotates, and its cam surface 23a
The cam operating portion 22a of FIG. 2 is pushed to rotate the release member 22, and the cocking shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is completed. At this time, the rotation of the regulating member 23 causes the film counter 25 to rotate by one frame.

When the shutter release plate 14 is pressed in this state,
The release member 22 moves downward against the elastic force of the coil spring 26 interposed between the release member 22 and the camera body 10. When the operating claw 22b of the release member 22 comes off the stopper 27 fixed to the camera body 10, the release member 22 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Exposure is performed by pushing the claw portion 21a of the shutter blade 21 to rotate the shutter blade 21 clockwise in FIG. The shutter blade 21 rotates about an axis 28, and a return spring
Return by 29. After shooting, the knob 16 is rotated in the same manner as described above to wind up one frame of film,
Cocking of the shutter mechanism 20 and feeding of the film counter 25 can be performed.

The self-timer mechanism 30 provided in association with the shutter mechanism 20 for performing the release operation by pushing the release member 22 downward as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. A shape memory element made of a wire-shaped shape memory alloy M whose both ends are fixed to the front and rear portions thereof and the central portion of which is wound over the release member 22, and a conductive wire connected to both ends of the shape memory alloy M The control unit 31 is configured to supply electricity to the shape memory alloy M via the bases 31a and 31b, and includes a switch piece 31c operated by operating the self-timer operation switch 13 and contact portions 31d and 31e.

The switch piece 31c is provided such that the front end portion 31f is located on the rear side of the camera, and an intermediate portion thereof is in contact with the contact portion 31e.When the release member 22 rotates to the cocking position during the cocking, The switch operation projection 22c protruding from the release member 22 pushes the tip 31f to displace the switch piece 31c toward the front of the camera.

In addition, the shape memory alloy M used here generates heat by energization from the control unit 31, returns to the parent phase due to a rise in temperature due to the heat generation, and due to a shape difference between the normal temperature shape and the high temperature shape at that time, Various alloys and various shapes can be used as long as the release member 22 can be moved in the operation direction. As a general shape memory alloy,
Ti-Ni alloy can be mentioned.

FIG. 8 shows a part of a circuit of the control unit 31 for energizing the shape memory alloy M. This circuit is configured to energize the shape memory alloy M from the power source E via the switch S and the timer circuit 32. It is configured. Timer circuit 32 includes a time constant circuit consisting of a capacitor C and a resistor R, when the voltage across the capacitor C in the time constant circuit the transistor Q ₁ and the transistor Q ₁ is turned on when it reaches a predetermined value is turned on It is constituted by transistors Q ₂ to which energizing turned to a shape memory alloy M.

The power supply E and the timer circuit 32 are connected by a switch S. When the switch S is at a position indicated by a solid line in FIG.
Both ends of the capacitor C of the time constant circuit are short-circuited, and the charging voltage of the capacitor C is zero. When the switch S is in the position shown by the broken line in the figure, the power supply E and the timer circuit 32 are connected, and the timer circuit 32 operates to supply electricity to the shape memory alloy M.

That is, when the switch S is turned on (the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 8), the power supply from the power supply E to the timer circuit 32 is started. Then, a charging current flows into the capacitor C via the resistor R, and the voltage between both ends of the capacitor C rises exponentially. When the voltage across the capacitor C reaches the turn-on voltage of the transistor Q ₁ transistor Q ₁ is turned on, the transistor Q ₂ from supplying a base current to the transistor Q ₂ starts energization to turn to the shape memory alloy M. As a result, the shape memory alloy M self-heats due to the specific resistance and rises in temperature, and is deformed from the shape at normal temperature to the shape at high temperature. As a result of the deformation of the shape memory alloy M, the release member 22 is pressed downward to perform shutter release, and the film is exposed.

The switch S can be turned on and off by operating the self-timer operation switch 13.
The self-timer actuating switch 13 is provided such that the operation piece 13c protrudes to the upper part of the camera main body 10 via a resilient curved portion 13b whose base end portion 13a is fixed to the camera main body 10, and is operated. The base of the piece 13c is provided with a projection 13d that contacts the front side of the switch piece 31c.
When setting the self-timer, refer to FIG.
In the cocking completion state shown in the figure, the self-timer activation switch 13 is pressed downward. As a result, the contact between the switch piece 31c pressed forward by the switch operation projection 22c of the release member 22 and the projection 13d below the operation piece 13c is released, and the switch piece 31c contacts the contact portion 31d. The switch S is turned on. Accordingly, as described above, the shape memory alloy M is deformed, the release member 22 is operated, and the self-timer photographing is performed.

After the photographing is completed, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 6, the release member 22 is rotated to release the pressing of the switch piece 31c by the switch actuating projection 22c, and the switch piece 31c is moved by the elasticity of itself to the rear side of the camera. And the switch S is turned off by contacting the contact portion 31e.

When using the self-timer, the film is wound up and the shutter release
The only difference is that the switch S is closed by operating the switch 13 for activating the self-timer instead of the operation 14. The self-timer actuating switch 13 is not limited to the lever type shown in the figure, but can also be formed by a push button type or the like. It is desirable that the circuit be reset so that the circuit is cut off when the photographing using the self-timer device is completed. After the self-timer is activated, the shape memory alloy M returns to the shape at normal temperature by natural cooling.

Therefore, even after the self-timer shooting, by rotating the knob 16 in the same manner as after the normal shooting, the film is wound up by one frame, the shutter mechanism 20 is cocked, and the film counter 25 is fed. Can be.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which one end of a shape memory alloy M is fixed to a main body fixing portion such as a rib 10a formed on the camera main body 10, and the other end is projected to a release member 22. The projections 22d are fixed to the projections 22d, and are formed so that the release is performed by utilizing the contraction deformation of the shape memory alloy M in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

The shape memory element is not limited to the above shape memory alloy, and a shape memory resin may be used to deform the resin by an appropriate heating means or the like, and the shutter may be released by this deformation. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the above-described film-integrated camera but also to general cameras as long as the shutter is released by pressing a release member. Further, it is also possible to provide a shape memory element between the upper surface of the release member and the camera body or the like, and to arrange the shape memory element so that the expansion deformation of the shape memory element acts in a direction to push the release member. In addition, the present invention makes it possible to incorporate a self-timer in a camera with a built-in strobe at low cost by combining a power supply for energizing the shape memory element with a power supply for the strobe in combination with a camera with a built-in strobe. Become.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, since the camera with the self-timer of the present invention operates the release member by the shape memory element,
It is possible to make a simple configuration with a small number of parts,
It can be manufactured at very low cost.

Therefore, it is possible to incorporate a self-timer even in an inexpensive camera, especially a disposable film-integrated camera, in which it was conventionally difficult to incorporate a self-timer in terms of cost. Further, in the present invention, a self-timer can be incorporated in a camera with a built-in flash at low cost by combining a power supply for energizing a shape memory element with a power supply for a strobe in combination with a camera with a built-in flash. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a film-integrated camera incorporating a self-timer, FIG. 2 is also a plan view, FIG. 3 is a rear view, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 is VII-VII of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a control unit, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional front view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Film integrated camera, 10 ... Camera body, 11 ...
... Shooting lens unit, 12 ... Finder, 13 ... Self-timer activation switch, 14 ... Shutter release plate, 15 ...
Film counter window, 16 knob, 17 unexposed film storage section, 18 exposed film storage section, 19 battery room,
20 shutter mechanism, 21 shutter blades, 22 release member, 23 regulating member, 24 sprocket, 26
... Coil spring, 27 ... Stopper, 28 ... Shaft, 29 ...
… Return spring, 30 …… Self-timer mechanism, 31…
... Control unit, 32 ... Timer circuit, M ... Shape memory alloy, E
…… Power supply, S …… Switch, C …… Capacitor, R ……
Resistance, Q ₁ , Q ₂ … Transistor

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A shutter release operating member, a release member that is moved in contact with the shutter release operation member by a pressing operation of the shutter release operation member for releasing the shutter, the release member and the camera body. A shape memory element provided between the shutter and the shutter to move the release member in the release direction of the shutter when energized. 2. A camera with a self-timer according to claim 1, wherein the camera has a built-in strobe and a power supply for energizing the shape memory element is shared with a power supply of the strobe. .