JP3768113B2 - Camera with lens barrier and strobe - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a lens barrier that can accommodate a flip-up type strobe in a camera body regardless of whether the lens barrier is open or closed, and a camera equipped with the strobe.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
Most conventional digital cameras equipped with a flip-up type strobe are manually operated.
This is because, in a digital camera that is desired to be smaller and lighter than a film camera, incorporating a known electric flip-up mechanism by operating a switch increases weight and size rather than convenience. Disadvantages were great and could not be implemented.
[0003]
There has also been proposed a film type camera in which when the lens barrier is opened, the strobe is exposed and the strobe automatically jumps by spring bias (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-212152) (International Classification G03B 15/0).
However, a camera equipped with the above-described automatic jump-up strobe cannot close the lens barrier while the strobe is raised up.
[0004]
In cameras equipped with a lens barrier, opening and closing of the lens barrier is often configured to operate a power ON / OFF switch. In the above case, in order to turn off the power while waiting for a photo opportunity, it is troublesome to close the lens barrier after the strobe is housed in the camera body. For this reason, while the strobe is flipped up, that is, the camera is waiting for a photo opportunity with the power turned on, battery consumption is accelerated.
The present invention clarifies a camera that can accommodate a flip-up type strobe in the body regardless of whether the lens barrier is open or closed, and thus solves the above problem.
[0005]
The present invention relates to a camera having a flip-up strobe (2) biased in a flip-up direction and a slide-type lens barrier (9), and the strobe (2) is in a closed state of the lens barrier (9). The lens barrier (9) is exposed at a position adjacent to the closed end, and the strobe case (4) of the strobe (2) is urged by a spring (8) so as to protrude and retract, and is in a closed state. takes pieces to prevent bounce strobe case (4) caught by the barrier (9) has a (6), housing a recoil I rose strobe case (4) to the flash housing part of the camera body (1) (13) When the lens barrier ( 9 ) is closed, the hanging piece ( 6 ) hits the edge (91) of the lens barrier ( 9 ) in the closed state and is depressed against the spring (8), and the lens barrier (9) It is possible to return to the original position on the inside and catch it on the lens barrier (9) from the inside. At the tip of the piece (6), when the strobe (2) is housed in the strobe housing portion (13) of the camera, it comes into contact with the edge (91) of the lens barrier (9) and the hanging piece (6) is spring-loaded. An inclined surface (6a) for applying a thrust force that moves backward against (8) is formed.
[0006]
[Action and effect]
In the state where the lens barrier (9) is closed, when the strobe case (4) that has bounced up is accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion (13) of the camera body (1), the hanging piece (6) of the strobe case (4) The closed lens barrier (9) hits the edge (91) of the lens barrier and retracts against the spring (8) to allow the strobe case (4) to be accommodated in the strobe housing (13).
As described above, the strobe case (4) of the flip-up strobe (2) can be accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion (13) of the camera body (1) even when the lens barrier (9) is closed.
[0007]
Even if the lens barrier (9) is closed after the strobe case (4) is accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion (13), the hanging piece (6) is caught from the inside of the lens barrier (9), and the strobe case (4) Of course, the storage state is maintained.
[0008]
If the camera is turned on and off by opening and closing the lens barrier (9), the lens barrier (9) is closed and the power is turned on even when the strobe case (4) is flipped up to wait for a photo opportunity. It can be turned off and battery consumption can be suppressed.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 and 3 are a front view and a side view of a state in which the lens barrier (9) is closed and the flip-up strobe (2) is housed in the strobe housing (13) of the camera body (1).
2 and 4 are a front view and a side view of a state in which the lens barrier (9) is opened and the flip-up strobe (2) is flipped up from the strobe housing portion (13) of the camera body (1). The camera of the embodiment is a digital camera, but the present invention can also be implemented in a film camera.
[0010]
The camera body (1) has a front and rear split structure, with a lens part (11) on the right side of the front part, a finder (12) above the lens part (11), and a flashlight on the upper right corner of the front part. An accommodating portion (13) is provided, and the flip-up strobe (2) is accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion (13).
A lens barrier (9) is attached to the front of the camera body (1) so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. The lens barrier (9) is slid to the right as shown in FIG. (11) and the viewfinder (12) are covered, and as shown in FIG. 2, the lens section (11) and the viewfinder (12) are exposed when the cover is slid to the left and fully opened.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 5, the camera body (1) is provided with soft locking means (92) for softly locking the lens barrier (9) in its fully closed position and fully open position.
The soft locking means (92) is formed by projecting a part of the ball (93) from the inside of the camera body (1) into the small hole (10) opened in the camera body (1) by a leaf spring (94). The ball (93) is selectively engaged with the shallow holes (95) and (96) opened on the inner surface of the lens barrier (9).
[0012]
The camera body (1) is provided with a power switch (97) on the transition path of the lens barrier (9). When the lens barrier (9) is opened, the switch (97) turns on the camera and the lens is turned on. When the barrier (9) is closed, the power is turned off.
The switch (97) has a known structure that is turned on and off by operating means such as a protrusion, a cam groove (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the lens barrier (9). Description of is omitted.
[0013]
The flip-up strobe (2) is exposed on the camera body (1) regardless of its own flip-up state, face-down state, and opening / closing of the lens barrier (9).
The flip-up strobe (2) is mounted on a mounting base (30) with a support shaft (31) so that the strobe case (4) including a tubular lamp (5) and a hanging piece (6) described later can be rotated. After the flash unit (3) is constructed, the mounting base (30) is fitted and fixed to the flash housing part (13) of the camera body (1).
When the strobe case (4) is raised, the strobe case (4) protrudes upward from the upper surface of the camera body (1) and is attached to the front opening (41) of the strobe case (4). When the strobe case (4) is turned down, the wall surface of the case is aligned with the upper surface, front surface, and side surface of the camera body (1).
The main reason why the strobe case (4) is flipped up is to prevent the so-called red-eye phenomenon in the photograph by emitting light as far as possible from the lens part (11).
[0014]
The description of the strobe case (4) below is in the state where the strobe case (4) is flipped up.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the strobe case (4) is divided into a lower lamp storage chamber (42) and an upper hanging piece storage chamber (43) by a partition wall (44).
The lamp accommodating chamber (42) accommodates a tubular lamp (5) and a reflector (51) behind the lamp (5).
In order to harmonize the contours of the camera body (1) and the strobe case (4), the xenon lamp (40a) on the outer end wall (40a) on both sides of the strobe case (4) A rounded bulge portion (49) into which the end portion of 5) enters is formed.
[0015]
In the hanging piece storage chamber (43), the hanging piece (6) which is hooked from the inside to the lens barrier (9) to prevent the strobe case (4) from jumping up and the hanging piece (6) are slidably supported. The supporting member (7) and the coil spring (8) for energizing the hanging piece (6) in the protruding direction are accommodated.
The hanging piece (6) has a plate shape, and protrudes outward from an intrusion hole (45) formed in an inner end wall (40b) of the strobe case (4).
[0016]
The support member (7) is composed of a head (71) and a leg (73) projecting integrally from the head (71). The head (71) is directed to the hanging piece (6) side, and the leg ( 73) is placed on the inner wall of the strobe case (4) on the inner surface of the outer end wall (40a), and is placed sideways in the hanging piece receiving chamber (43) with respect to the holding attachment base (30) and the hanging piece receiving chamber (43). There is no room to move too much in the vertical direction.
[0017]
A notch (74) is formed in the leg portion (73) of the support member (7), and the notch (74) in the embodiment is a hole and projects inward from the rear wall (46) of the strobe case (4). The convex shaft (47) is fitted in the notch (74), and the support member (7) cannot move in the left-right direction.
A guide hole (72) is formed in the head portion (71) of the support member (7), and a shaft portion (61) protruding from the hook piece (6) is slidably fitted into the guide hole (72). Yes.
A coil spring (8) is fitted to the shaft portion (61) of the hook piece (6) to urge the hook piece (6) in the protruding direction.
[0018]
A translucent plate (48) made of resin is attached to the front opening (41) of the strobe case (4) by welding, and the hanging piece (6) is attached to the hanging piece receiving chamber (43) by the translucent plate (48). Is prevented from falling forward.
[0019]
When the strobe case (4) is rotated in the down direction against the torsion spring (33), the hanging piece (6) protruding from the strobe case (4) becomes the edge of the closed lens barrier (9). The hook piece (6) slides into the hook piece receiving chamber (43) against the coil spring (8) when it hits the edge (91). The slope (6a) is formed so that the force of
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, a concave portion (14) that allows the tip of the hook piece (6) to enter is formed in a portion of the camera body (1) that contacts the strobe housing portion (13).
[0021]
However, in order to house the strobe case (4) that has been bounced up in the strobe housing part (13), the strobe case (4) is tilted forward.
At this time, if the lens barrier (9) is open, there is nothing to obstruct the transition of the tip of the hanging piece (6) protruding from the strobe case (4), and the tip of the hanging piece (6) is the camera body. Fits into the recess (14) of (1). If you close the lens barrier (9) while holding the strobe case (4) with your fingers, the edge (91) of the lens barrier (9) covers the tip of the hanging piece (6), and the strobe case (4) jumps up. The strobe case (4) is held in the stowed state in the strobe containing portion (13).
[0022]
When the strobe case (4) is tilted, if the lens barrier (9) is closed, the tip inclined surface (6a) of the hanging piece (6) protruding from the strobe case (4) is the edge of the lens barrier (9). The hook piece (6) slides toward the hook piece receiving chamber (43) against the coil spring (8) by the thrust generated by pressing the inclined surface (6a) and the lens barrier edge (91). And can pass through the lens barrier edge (91).
[0023]
When the strobe case (4) is housed in the housing position of the strobe housing portion (13), the hanging piece (6) passes through the thickness of the lens barrier (9) and reaches the recess (14) of the camera body (1), and the coil spring. It returns to its original position by the urging force of (8) and is caught inside the lens barrier (9). The jumping up of the strobe case (4) is prevented.
As described above, the flip-up type strobe case (4) can be accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion (13) of the camera body (1) regardless of whether the lens barrier (9) is open or closed.
[0024]
As in the embodiment, if the lens barrier (9) is open, the camera power is turned on, and if the lens barrier (9) is closed, the camera is turned off. Even when the strobe case (4) is lifted up to wait for a photo opportunity. The lens barrier (9) can be closed to turn off the power, and the battery consumption can be suppressed.
[0025]
In addition, as in the embodiment, the flip-up strobe (2) is attached to a strobe case (4) having a lamp (5) and a hanging piece (6) and to support the strobe case (4) in a rotatable manner. If the strobe unit (3) is composed of the base (30) and the mounting base (30) of the strobe unit (3) is fitted and fixed to the strobe housing (13) of the camera body (1) Since the strobe unit (3) is assembled in advance and can be assembled into the camera body (1), the workability is good and the assembling efficiency is improved.
In addition, if trouble occurs in any part of the strobe unit (3), the strobe unit (3) can be replaced and the workability is good.
[0026]
Digital cameras are particularly required to be small and light, and the configuration in which a hanging piece (6) is slidably held in a small strobe case (4) is a difficult technique in terms of assembly. However, as in the embodiment, the supporting member (7) for slidably supporting the hanging piece (6) is accommodated in the hanging piece accommodating chamber (43) with a sufficient margin in the vertical direction, and the supporting member (7 The convex shaft (47) protruding from the rear wall (46) of the strobe case (4) is fitted into the notch (74) opened in) to seal the left and right movement, and is attached to the front opening of the strobe case (4). If the translucent plate (48) prevents the support member (7) from dropping off, the assembly is excellent and the number of parts can be minimized, thereby contributing to cost reduction.
[0027]
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a lens barrier and a flip-up strobe closed.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the camera in a state in which a lens barrier and a flip-up strobe are opened.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the camera in a state where the flip-up strobe is closed.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the camera with the flip-up strobe closed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which a lens barrier and a strobe unit are removed from a camera body.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a strobe unit.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the strobe unit.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
(1) Camera body
(2) Bounce-up strobe
(3) Strobe unit
(30) Mounting base
(4) Strobe case
(6) Hanging piece
(7) Support member
(8) Coil spring
(9) Lens barrier

Claims (4)

In a camera provided with a flip-up strobe (2) biased in the flip-up direction and a slide-type lens barrier (9), the strobe (2) is in the closed state of the lens barrier (9). The lens barrier (9) is located in an exposed position adjacent to the closed end of (9), and protrudes in a strobe case (4) of the strobe (2) so that it can be projected and retracted by a spring (8). a take pieces to prevent bounce strobe case (4) and (6) caught on the lens when accommodating the recoil I rose strobe case (4) to the flash housing part of the camera body (1) (13) and closed state of the barrier (9) takes piece (6) is closed recess against the spring (8) against the edge of the state of the lens barrier (9) (91), based on the position inside the lens barrier (9) It is possible to return to the lens barrier (9) from the inside, and the tip of the hook piece (6) At the end, when the strobe (2) is housed in the strobe housing portion (13) of the camera, it comes into contact with the edge (91) of the lens barrier (9) and the hanging piece (6) resists the spring (8). A camera having a lens barrier and a strobe that form an inclined surface (6a) for applying a thrust force to move backward. The strobe case (4) has a front opening (41), a lamp housing chamber (42) in the lower stage, and a hanging piece housing chamber (43) in the upper stage. The hanging piece housing chamber (43) has a hanging piece (6). A support member (7) that slidably supports the shaft portion (61) projecting to the shaft portion, and a coil spring (8) that is fitted to the shaft portion (61) and biases the hanging piece (6) in the protruding direction, The support member (7) is fitted into a convex shaft (47) protruding forward from the rear wall (46) of the hanging piece receiving chamber (43), and the supporting member (7) moves in the sliding direction of the hanging piece (6). has a notch (74) to prevent that, according to claim 1 which Tsu by the transparent plate (48) attached to the strobe case opening (41) is prevented from falling off the support member (7) Camera with lens barrier and strobe.   The strobe case (4) is pivotally supported by the mounting base (30) to form the strobe unit (3), and the strobe case (4) is urged in the spring-up direction by the torsion spring (33) on the mounting base (30). The camera comprising the lens barrier and the strobe according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base (30) is fitted and fixed to the strobe lamp housing (13) of the camera body (1).   The camera power switch (97) is controlled by sliding the lens barrier (9). When the lens barrier (9) is opened, the camera is turned on. When the lens barrier (9) is closed, the camera is turned off. A camera comprising the lens barrier and the strobe according to claim 1.

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