JP3294973B2 - Camera barrier movement restriction mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a barrier movement restricting mechanism for restricting the movement of a barrier plate for protecting a photographic lens of a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a barrier plate for protecting a photographic lens from dirt and impact has been provided to improve portability and morphological beauty when the photographic lens is retracted when not in use (when not photographing). A so-called capsule type camera has been commercialized. In this type of camera, when the barrier plate covering the unused photographic lens is opened, the drive switch is turned on, the photographic lens is extended, and the camera is ready for photography. In this state, if the barrier plate is slightly moved to the shielding position covering the taking lens,
The drive switch is turned off and the taking lens is retracted to the storage position. Then, when the taking lens is completely retracted, the barrier plate can be completely closed.

[0003] Therefore, in such a capsule type camera, even if the barrier plate is closed at a stretch from the state of use, the barrier plate abuts on the photographing lens while the photographing lens is not completely retracted into the storage position.
For this reason, a mechanism is required to lock the barrier plate, which has been slightly moved toward the shielding position to drive the lens driving motor, until the taking lens is completely retracted. Such a barrier movement limiting mechanism is usually
It is driven using the driving force at the time of extension and retraction of the taking lens.

The barrier movement restricting mechanism includes a lock claw for moving the barrier plate to an open position and moving the barrier plate to a position where the barrier plate can be locked at the open position in conjunction with extension of the photographing lens. There is. When the photographing lens is retracted, the lock claw receives a driving force when the photographing lens advances and retreats through an interlocking mechanism such as a gear train, and is moved to a lock release position in a direction opposite to the lock position. In such a barrier movement restriction mechanism, for example, when the photographing lens is driven from the photographing position to the storage position, if the barrier plate is pressed strongly to close the barrier plate, the barrier plate engages with the lock claw. This is pressed at the lock position. In this state, when the photographing lens being driven reaches the storage position, an interlocking mechanism such as a gear train forcibly applies a force to the fixed lock claw. For this reason, a large load is applied to the interlocking mechanism and the drive system of the photographing lens, and there is a possibility that malfunction or breakage may occur.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an interlocking mechanism such as a gear train and a driving system for a photographing lens even when an external force is applied by a user's erroneous operation in a state where a barrier plate is opened, based on the above-mentioned problems in a barrier movement restricting mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier movement restricting mechanism capable of reliably preventing a problem in which a large load is applied to the device, resulting in malfunction or breakage.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a photographic lens which can move back and forth between a photographing position and a storage position; and moves to a shielding position covering the photographic lens located at the storage position and an open position to open. A lock lever that moves to a lock position engageable with a lock portion of the barrier plate when the barrier plate is opened; and a drive lever that moves when the photographing lens moves to the storage position. An intermediate member driven by receiving a driving force of the unlocking member; provided between the lock lever and the intermediate member, when the movement resistance applied to the lock lever is equal to or less than a predetermined value, The lock lever is rotated in the unlocking direction integrally with the intermediate member, and when the movement resistance exceeds a certain value, the intermediate member is idlely moved with respect to the lock lever. It is characterized in that a clutch mechanism for.

The present invention further comprises a photographing lens which can be moved back and forth between a photographing position and a storage position; and a barrier plate which can be moved between a shielding position covering the photographing lens located at the storage position and an open position for opening. In the camera, a lock lever pivotally attached to the camera body so as to be detachable from the lock portion of the barrier plate; spring means for urging the lock lever to rotate in the locking direction; and when the photographing lens moves to the storage position. A rotating unlocking member; an intermediate lever pivotally mounted coaxially with the lock lever and receiving the rotating force of the unlocking member; a rotating lever provided between the locking lever and the intermediate lever and acting on the locking lever. When the dynamic resistance is equal to or less than a certain value, the lock lever is rotated integrally with the intermediate lever in the unlocking direction. It is characterized in that a clutch mechanism for idling the lever against the locking lever.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a so-called capsule type camera to which the present invention is applied, with a barrier plate opened. When the camera 10 opens the barrier plate 20 covering the photographing lens 14 in the non-use state,
A drive switch (not shown) is turned on, and based on this, the photographing lens 14 is extended to be in a photographable state. In this state, when the barrier plate 20 is slightly moved in the direction covering the photographing lens 14, the drive switch is turned off, and based on this, the photographing lens 14 is retracted to the storage position.

The camera 10 has the photographic lens 14, the strobe 9 and the finder window 17 on the front wall 12a of the camera body 12, and has the shutter button 8 on the upper surface. Further, guide grooves 12b are provided above and below the front wall 12a so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the lens optical axis of the photographing lens 14 (the left-right direction of the body 12). This guide groove 12
b, the barrier plate 20 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the lens optical axis of the photographing lens 14, that is, a shielding position covering the photographing lens 14 retracted into the storage position, and an opening position opening the photographing lens 14. It is movably fitted in. The barrier plate 20 is compared by a click stop mechanism (not shown) between the open position and the closed position so that a predetermined force is required when moving the barrier plate 20 from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position to the open position. Locked with light force. The barrier plate 20 has a rib (lock portion) 20a on the rear surface thereof extending in the left-right direction of the camera body 12 at the center in the up-down direction.

The camera body 12 is provided with a large-diameter zoom interlocking gear 22a whose rotation axis coincides with the lens optical axis so as to surround the taking lens 14. The camera body 12 is also provided with a drive motor 16a and a zoom gear train 16 for transmitting the torque of the drive motor 16a to the zoom interlocking gear 22a. The rotation of the drive motor 16a is transmitted to the zoom interlocking gear 22a via the zoom gear train 16 so that the photographing lens 14 is driven forward and backward (zooming) in the optical axis direction.

The camera body 12 includes a barrier plate 20
Has a barrier movement restriction mechanism 18 that locks or releases the barrier plate 20 located at the open position in conjunction with zooming of the photographing lens 14. The barrier movement restricting mechanism 18 also has a unit plate 41 fixed to the camera body 12 adjacent to the taking lens 14.

The unit plate 41 is fixed to the inside of the front wall 12a of the camera body 12. The unit plate 41 includes an idle gear 22b meshing with the zoom interlocking gear 22a, and an idle gear 22b.
A gear 24 with a cam having a larger diameter than the gear 22b meshing with the gear 22b is rotatably pivoted. A cam 26 having an engaging projection 26a is coaxially fixed to the cam gear 24. The lock lever 30 and the intermediate lever 28 are further coaxially mounted on the unit plate 41 via a shaft 32.

The lock lever 30 has a lock claw 30a at a free end of the lever main body, and a spring hook 30 having an angle different from that of the lever main body by 90.degree.
c. The lock claw 30a is bent toward the front of the camera so as to protrude toward the barrier plate 20 from a protrusion hole 12c formed in the front wall 12a. When the lock lever 30 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, the lock claw 30a is in a lock release position where the lock claw 30a is not engaged with the lock position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). (Shown by a solid line in the figure).

The intermediate lever 28, which is formed shorter than the lock lever 30, has a free end portion which is a pressed portion 28 which is pressed by an engagement projection 26a which rotates counterclockwise in FIG.
a. This intermediate lever 28 also has spring hooks 28c and 28d located on the rotation base in a clockwise direction in the drawing with respect to the spring hook 30c of the lock lever 30. The intermediate lever 28 further extends between the lever body having the pressed portion 28a and the spring hooking portion 28c in the radial direction of the rotation base, and folds toward the near side of the paper that can be engaged with the lower portion 30b of the lock lever 30. It has a curved engagement projection 28b. At a position adjacent to the shaft 36 of the unit plate 41, the spring hook portion 28d of the intermediate lever 28 which rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3 is brought into contact with the lock claw 30a for moving integrally with the lever 28. The positioning projection 42 for positioning the in the lock position is formed to protrude.

The torsion spring 38 having the coil portion fitted on the shaft 32 has both ends at spring engaging portions 28c and 3c, respectively.
By locking the spring hooks at 0c, the spring hooks 28c and 30c are urged to rotate in directions approaching each other. As a result, the intermediate lever 28 and the lock lever 30 are rotationally urged in a direction to separate the pressed portion 28a and the lock claw 30a from each other. However, since the engagement protrusion 28b abuts on the lower side portion 30b, the intermediate lever 28 and the lock lever 30 are locked. Is limited so that the maximum opening angle does not exceed the angle shown in FIG. As described above, the lock lever 30 and the intermediate lever 28 are connected to each other via the torsion spring 38 and the engagement protrusion 28b.
When the rotation resistance (movement resistance) applied to 0 is equal to or less than a certain value, the lock lever 30 is turned integrally with the intermediate lever 28 in the unlocking direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 3), and the rotation resistance becomes a certain value. When it exceeds, a clutch mechanism is configured to rotate the intermediate lever 28 relative to the lock lever 30 (idle). Instead of the engagement protrusion 28b for restricting the relative rotation of the lock lever 30 and the intermediate lever 28 beyond a predetermined angle, an engagement protrusion engageable with the upper portion of the intermediate lever 28 is replaced with an upper portion of the lock lever 30. Can also be provided.

The shaft 36 and the shaft 44 adjacent to the spring hook portion 28d are implanted in the unit plate 41. The torsion spring 34 in which the coil portion is fitted to the shaft 36 has a spring hook 28 d at each end and a shaft 4.
4, the lock lever 30 is rotationally biased (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) toward the lock position via the intermediate lever 28. The torsion spring 34 has a smaller spring force (rotational urging force) than the torsion spring 38.
Therefore, if the intermediate lever 28 and the lock lever 30 are in a free state, the two levers 28, 30
Are rotated counterclockwise together (see FIG. 4) to position the lock claw 30a on the movement locus of the rib 20a on the back surface of the barrier plate 20. At this time, a gap is formed between the lock claw 30a and the rib 20a so that the barrier plate 20 can be slightly moved toward the shielding position in order to turn off the drive switch. If the intermediate lever 28 is pressed in the free state of the lock lever 30, both levers 28 and 30 rotate clockwise (see FIG. 5).
The lock claw 30a is retracted from the movement locus of the rib 20a.

The barrier movement restricting mechanism of the present camera having the above configuration operates as follows. That is, in the non-use state in which the taking lens 14 is located at the storage position and the barrier plate 20 is located at the shielding position, the gear 24 with the cam is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 26a
Presses the pressed portion 28a and pushes the lock claw 30a to the rib 20.
It is retracted (positioned at the lock release position) from the movement trajectory a. In this state, when the barrier plate 20 is moved toward the open position, a drive switch (not shown) is turned on, the drive motor 16a is driven to rotate, and the photographing lens 14 is extended to the photographing position.

At this time, the zoom interlocking gear 22a which rotates clockwise in FIG. 3 rotates the gear 24 with the cam clockwise through the idle gear 22b, so that the engaging projection 26a of the cam 26 is in the middle. Pressed portion 28 of lever 28
Release a. Therefore, the lock lever 30 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3 together with the intermediate lever 28 until the spring hook portion 28d of the intermediate lever 28 abuts the positioning protrusion 42, and the lock claw 30a is moved to the open position. Rib 2
0a. In this locked state, the shooting preparation is completed.

After the photographing, the barrier plate 20
Is slightly moved toward the shielding position, the drive motor 16a is driven to rotate based on the turning off of a drive switch (not shown), and the photographing lens 14 is retracted to the storage position. At this time, since the zoom interlocking gear 22a rotates counterclockwise (see FIG. 3), the cam-equipped gear 24 is gradually rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 via the idle gear 22b. Therefore, the engaging projection 26a of the cam 26 is
In order to press down the pressed portion 28a of FIG.
Rotates clockwise in FIG. 4 together with the intermediate lever 28 against the torsion spring 34, and retracts the lock claw 30a from the movement locus of the rib 20a moved to the open position (see FIG. 5).

Further, for example, when the photographing lens 14 is driven from the photographing position to the storage position, if the barrier plate 20 is pressed strongly to close it, the ribs 20a of the barrier plate 20 will be It comes into contact and is pressed in the locked position. At this time,
When the photographing lens 14 being driven reaches the retracted position, the engagement protrusion 26a of the cam 26 moves the intermediate lever 28 in a state where the movement resistance p applied to the lock lever 30 exceeds a certain value.
Is pressed. However, since the lock lever 30 and the intermediate lever 28 are connected in a predetermined relationship via the torsion spring 38 and the engagement protrusion 28b as described above, the rotation resistance of the engagement protrusion 26a of the cam 26 causes the torsion resistance. Overcoming the rotational urging force of the spring 38, the intermediate lever 28 is rotated relative to the lock lever 30 (idle) (see FIG. 6). Therefore, it is necessary to surely prevent a problem that a large load is applied to an interlocking mechanism such as a gear train and a driving system of a photographic lens as in a barrier movement restriction mechanism of a conventional camera, resulting in malfunction or breakage. Can be.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large load is imposed on the interlocking mechanism such as the gear train and the driving system of the photographing lens even when an external force is applied due to a user's erroneous operation in the open state of the barrier plate. It is possible to provide a barrier movement restricting mechanism capable of reliably preventing a malfunction that is hung and causes a malfunction or breakage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a camera to which a barrier movement restriction mechanism of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the barrier movement restriction mechanism, taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the barrier movement restriction mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a locked state of a barrier plate of the barrier movement restriction mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing an unlocked state of a barrier plate of the barrier movement restriction mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a state where the lock claw held at the lock position is to be moved to the unlock position in the barrier movement restriction mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera 12 Camera body 14 Photographing lens 20 Barrier plate 20a Rib (locking part) 24 Gear with cam 26 Cam (unlocking member) 26a Engagement projection 28 Intermediate lever (intermediate member) 28a Pressed part 28b Engagement projection 28c 28d 30c Spring hook 30 Lock lever 30a Lock claw 34 Torsion spring (second torsion spring, spring means) 38 Torsion spring (first torsion spring)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera comprising: a photographing lens capable of moving forward and backward between a photographing position and a storage position; and a barrier plate movable between a shielding position covering the photographing lens located at the storage position and an open position for opening. A lock lever that moves to a lock position where the barrier plate can be engaged when the barrier plate is opened; a lock release member that is driven when the photographing lens moves to the storage position; An intermediate member driven by the driving force of the lock lever; provided between the lock lever and the intermediate member; when the movement resistance applied to the lock lever is a predetermined value or less, the lock lever is locked integrally with the intermediate member. A clutch mechanism for pivoting in the release direction and idlely moving the intermediate member relative to the lock lever when the movement resistance exceeds a certain value. Barrier movement limiting mechanism of the camera characterized by and. 2. The intermediate member according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member is an intermediate lever pivotally mounted coaxially with the lock lever, and the intermediate lever and the lock lever are provided with an engagement protrusion provided on one of the two and the two. A barrier movement restricting mechanism for a camera which is always integrally rotated while maintaining a state of being relatively rotated by a predetermined angle by a first torsion spring provided therebetween. 3. The lock lever according to claim 1, wherein
The second torsion spring is rotationally biased toward the lock position together with the intermediate lever by the torsion spring, and the second torsion spring has a smaller rotational biasing force than the first torsion spring. Restriction mechanism. 4. A camera comprising: a photographing lens capable of moving forward and backward between a photographing position and a storage position; and a barrier plate movable between a shielding position covering the photographing lens located at the storage position and an open position for opening. A lock lever pivotally attached to the camera body so as to be disengageable from the lock portion of the barrier plate; spring means for urging the lock lever to rotate in the locking direction; and rotating when the photographing lens moves to the storage position. An intermediate lever pivotally mounted coaxially with the lock lever and receiving the rotational force of the lock release member; a rotation resistance provided between the lock lever and the intermediate lever, and applied to the lock lever Is smaller than a certain value, the lock lever is rotated integrally with the intermediate lever in the unlocking direction, and when the rotation resistance exceeds a certain value, the intermediate lever is rotated. Camera barrier movement limiting mechanism comprising the; a clutch mechanism for idle with respect Kkureba.