JP3909927B2

JP3909927B2 - Barrier click stop mechanism

Info

Publication number: JP3909927B2
Application number: JP24125097A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 一之西嶋; 克美本村; 雅司高村
Original assignee: Fujifilm Corp
Current assignee: Fujifilm Corp
Priority date: 1997-09-05
Filing date: 1997-09-05
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-05
Also published as: JPH1184468A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、バリアのクリックストップと沈胴式のレンズ鏡胴の移動制御とを兼用したバリアのクリックストップ機構に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
カメラの電源スイッチがオンされることにより撮影可能位置に繰り出され、電源スイッチがオフされることにより沈胴位置に収納される沈胴式の撮影レンズを備え、不使用時に沈胴位置にある撮影レンズの前面を覆って撮影レンズを保護するバリアが設けられたカメラが市販されている。バリアは、撮影レンズの前面を覆う閉位置とレンズ鏡胴の繰り出しを許容する開位置との間でカメラ本体の前面に撮影光軸に直交してスライド自在に設けられ、開位置，閉位置のそれぞれでクリックストップされるものが多い。
【０００３】
このようなクリックストップ機構には、特にバリアの不用意な閉じ操作によって撮影レンズのレンズ鏡胴周面に損傷を与えることを防止した特許第２５０３５７９号公報記載の特許発明が知られている。この特許発明では、バリアの開位置から閉位置への移動を阻止する阻止位置と、バリアの開位置から閉位置への移動を許容する開放位置との間でモータの駆動力により回動されるストッパー部材を設け、レンズ鏡胴が沈胴位置から撮影可能位置に移動するのに連動してストッパー部材を阻止位置に回動させ、またレンズ鏡胴が撮影可能位置から沈胴位置に移動してバリアの移動経路から退避するのに連動してストッパー部材を開放位置に回動させるようにしている。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、上記公報記載の実施例は、レンズ鏡胴を撮影可能位置と沈胴位置との間で移動させる機構と、バリアの開位置から閉位置への移動を阻止するストッパー部材の駆動機構とが別々に構成されているため、カメラの部品点数が多く、機構が複雑になって、カメラの小型化やローコスト化が困難になるという欠点がある。
【０００５】
本発明は、以上の事情に鑑みてなされたもので、簡易な構成でありながらレンズ鏡胴の移動制御とバリアのクリックストップとを兼用し、カメラの小型化やローコスト化に寄与できるバリアのクリックストップ機構を提供することを目的とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するため、本発明のバリアのクリックストップ機構は、カメラの電源スイッチがオンされることにより撮影可能位置に繰り出され、電源スイッチがオフされることにより沈胴位置に収納される沈胴式のレンズ鏡胴を有するカメラに設けられ、レンズ鏡胴の前面を覆う閉位置とレンズ鏡胴の繰り出しを許容する開位置との間で移動自在に設けられたバリアを少なくとも開位置でクリックストップするクリックストップ機構において、前記バリアに隠されるカメラ本体の前面に設けられ、隣り合う端部が互いに所定の隙間をもって配置された弾性を有する一対の導通部材と、前記端部の相互間に嵌まり込むことによりバリアを開位置にクリックストップすると同時に導通部材を短絡して電源スイッチをオンするとともにバリアの開位置から閉位置への初期移動に応動してバリアのクリックストップ及び導通部材の短絡を解除して電源スイッチをオフする導電性部材とからなるものである。
【０００７】
また、前記導電性部材は、バリアの開閉動作により転がり移動される形状をしているとともに、前記一対の導通部材の隣り合う端部は、導電性部材が嵌まり込むように凹形状をしているものである。また、前記導電性部材は球形状をしているとともに、前記一対の導通部材の隣り合う端部は、前記導電性部材の球形状に対応した凹の半球状をしているものである。また、前記バリアの裏面には、バリアの開閉動作により導通部材が短絡する短絡位置と導通部材の短絡が解除される解除位置との間で導電性部材を移動させるガイド溝が形成してあるものである。また、前記導通部材の端部とは別の端部をブラシ状に形成し、前記導通部材をカメラ本体の前面に取り付けた際に、前記ブラシ状の端部が電源スイッチに接続したフレキシブル基板の一端部に接触されるようにしたものである。
【０００８】
また、カメラの電源スイッチがオンされることにより撮影可能位置に繰り出され、電源スイッチがオフされることにより沈胴位置に収納される沈胴式のレンズ鏡胴を有するカメラに設けられ、レンズ鏡胴の前面を覆う閉位置とレンズ鏡胴の繰り出しを許容する開位置との間で移動自在に設けられたバリアを少なくとも開位置でクリックストップするクリックストップ機構において、前記バリアに隠されるカメラ本体の前面に長手方向がバリアの開閉方向と直交する方向に配置され、少なくとも一部が互いに所定の隙間でほぼ平行に離間された棒状の弾性を有する一対の導通部材と、前記バリアの開位置で前記一対の導通部材とバリアの裏面との間に嵌まることによりレンズバリアを開位置にクリックストップするとともに導通部材を短絡して電源スイッチをオンするオン位置とバリアの開位置から閉位置への初期移動に応動して前記一対の導通部材の少なくとも一方から外れることにより導通部材の短絡を解除して電源スイッチをオフするオフ位置との間で移動される導電性の球状部材とからなるものである。
【０００９】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１〜図３において、カメラ１のカメラ本体２を覆う前カバー３の前面には、バリア４が上下端に設けられたレール部４ａ，４ｂを介して沈胴式のズームレンズ５の撮影光軸に直交する方向にスライド自在に取り付けられている。バリア４は、ズームレンズ５を露呈する開位置（図１及び図３の実線で示す位置）と、ズームレンズ５を覆う閉位置（図３の二点鎖線で示す位置）との間でスライド移動される。前カバー３の前面とバリア４との間には、ズームレンズ５の鏡胴５ａの移動制御を行う電源スイッチを兼ねた本発明のクリックストップ機構６が組み込まれている。なお、符号７は後カバーであり、符号８はファインダである。
【００１０】
クリックストップ機構６は、バリア４に隠れる前カバー３の前面に長手方向がバリア４の移動方向と直交する方向となるようにビス止めされた一対の導通部材１０，１１と、バリア４が開位置にあるときに導通部材１０，１１のわずかな隙間をもって互いに相対する先端部１０ａ，１１ａに嵌まり込んで導通部材１０，１１を短絡させる導電性部材としての球１３と、バリア４の裏面に一体に形成され、球１３の移動を規制する突条部１５ａと突起部１５ｂ付きのガイド溝１５とから構成される。
【００１１】
一対の導通部材１０，１１は、それぞれ細長い短冊状をした弾性を有する金属接片で、図４に示すように、先端部１０ａ，１１ａは一体的にほぼ半球状をした凹部に形成されており、この凹部に球１３が嵌まり込むようになっている。また、導通部材１０，１１の先端部１０ａ，１１ａ側が弾性変形しやすく、かつ球１３が導通部材１０，１１の幅方向の中心に位置しやすくなるように、導通部材１０，１１の先端部１０ａ，１１ａから長手方向に沿って所定の長さだけ溝１０ｂ，１１ｂが形成してある。
【００１２】
先端部１０ａ，１１ａと反対側の後端部１０ｃ，１１ｃはブラシ状に形成され、導通部材１０，１１を前カバー３の前面にビス止めした際に、前カバー３の表面に配置されたフレキシブル基板１７，１８に接触して電気的に接続される。このフレキシブル基板１７，１８は、カメラ本体２の内部に組み込まれた制御回路の電源スイッチに接続されている。この電源スイッチは、導通部材１０，１１の短絡時にカメラ本体２の電源をオンにして鏡胴５ａを撮影可能位置に繰り出すとともに、導通部材１０，１１の短絡解除時に鏡胴５ａを沈胴位置に収納した後、カメラ本体２の電源をオフにする。
【００１３】
また、端部１０ａ，１１ａ側と対面する前カバー３には、端部１０ａ，１１ａの弾性変形を許容する細長い窪み部３ａが形成されている。そして、窪み部３ａの隣には、仕切り壁３ｂを挟んで、バリア４が閉位置にあるときに球１３が嵌まり込む短い窪み部３ｃが形成されている。なお、仕切り壁３ｂの上部の断面形状は、球１３が乗り越えやすいように円弧状になっている（図３）。
【００１４】
ガイド溝１５の突条部１５ａは、バリア４のスライド方向に沿って細長いトラック形状をしており、バリア４を閉位置から開位置に移動させる際には、カメラ本体２の中央寄りの角部２０が球１３を押して窪み部３ｃから窪み部３ａに移動させる。そして、ガイド溝１５の突起部１５ｂは、バリア４を開位置から閉位置に移動させる際に球１３を押して窪み部３ａから窪み部３ｃに移動させる。
【００１５】
ズームレンズ５の鏡胴５ａの近傍には、バリア４の不用意な閉じ操作を阻止するストッパー部材２２が設けられている。このストッパー部材２２は、図５に示すように、鏡胴５ａの沈胴方向に進退自在に設けられ、バネ２３によって前カバー３の孔３ｄから先端部２２ａが突出される方向に付勢されている。また、ストッパー部材２２の回転防止のため、側部に形成された溝２２ｂにカメラ本体２に固定されたピン２４が係合している。そして、ストッパー部材２２の後端部に設けられた鉤状部２２ｃが、鏡胴５ａの後端部に係合しており、鏡胴５ａの沈胴位置と撮影可能位置との往動に応じてストッパー部材２２が撮影光軸方向に進退される。
【００１６】
このように構成されたカメラでは、バリア４が閉位置にあるときには、球１３は窪み部３ｃに嵌まっており、電源はオフ状態になっている。また、ストッパー部材２２は鏡胴５ａの後端部に押し下げられて後カバー７側に移動している。また、バリア４のレール部４ａ，４ｂに形成された一対の凹部２５が、前カバー３のレール部２７，２８に形成された突起部２７ａ，２８ａに係合してバリア４が閉位置にクリックストップされている。
【００１７】
カメラを使用するには、閉位置にあるバリア４を開位置に移動させる。バリア４を移動させてゆくと、バリア４が開位置に達する直前に、突起部１５ｂが球１３に当接し、バリア４を移動させている指にやや抵抗を感じる。この抵抗感に抗してバリア４の移動を継続すると、突起部１５ｂによって球１３がカメラ本体２の端側に押される。これにより、球１３は仕切り壁３ｂを乗り越えて窪み部３ａ側に移動し、ほぼ半球状の凹部を構成する先端部１０ａ，１１ａとガイド溝１５との間に嵌まり込み、導通部材１０，１１が短絡してカメラ本体２の電源がオンになる。
【００１８】
さらに、バリア４の開操作を継続すると、突起部１５ｂは球１３を乗り越えた後、突条部１５ａの角部２０が球１３に当接し、それ以上の移動が阻止される。この結果、球１３の上部は突条部１５ａの角部２０と突起部１５ｂとの間に挟まれ、下部は先端部１０ａ，１１ａに嵌まり込み、かつ導通部材１０，１１の弾性によってガイド溝１５側に付勢された状態となって、バリア４は開位置にクリックストップされる（図３参照）。
【００１９】
電源オンによって鏡胴５ａが沈胴位置から撮影可能位置に繰り出されるとともに、鏡胴５ａの後端部によるストッパー部材２２の規制が解除され、バネ２３の付勢によってストッパー部材２２の先端部２２ａがバリア４のスライド移動の軌道上に突出される。この先端部２２ａによって不用意なバリア４の閉操作が阻止され、バリア４の縁が鏡胴５ａの周面に当接して鏡胴５ａが損傷する事故が防止される。
【００２０】
撮影が終了したらバリア４を開位置から閉位置に移動させる。この開始時には、ガイド溝１５の突起部１５ｂが球１３を鏡胴５ａ側に押して窪み部３ｃに移動させる。球１３による導通部材１０，１１の短絡が解除されるから、鏡胴５ａが撮影可能位置から沈胴位置に移動された後、カメラ本体２の電源がオフされる。このように、バリア４の閉操作開始と同時に鏡胴５ａの沈胴動作が開始されるから、通常の閉操作ではバリア４の縁がストッパー部材２２にあたることもなくスムーズなバリア４の閉操作を行うことができる。
【００２１】
鏡胴５ａの沈胴動作に伴って鏡胴５ａの後端部に押されてストッパー部材２２の先端部２２ａが後カバー７側に移動してバリア４のスライド移動の軌道上から退避されるから、バリア４の閉操作が継続できる。バリア４の閉操作を継続すると、突起部１５ｂが球１３を乗り越えた後、突条部１５ａの他方の角部２１が球１３に当接して、それ以上の閉操作が阻止されるとともに、一対の凹部２５が突起部２７ａ，２８ａに係合してバリア４が閉位置にクリックストップされる。
【００２２】
次に、クリックストップ機構の第２実施形態を図６及び図７を参照しながら説明する。なお、以下の実施形態を示す各図面において最初の第１実施形態と同じ部材には同じ符号を付す。また、ストッパー部材の構成，作用は同じであるから説明を省略してある。クリックストップ機構４０は、球１３をバリア４１のスライド移動方向と直交する方向に移動させるようにしたもので、ガイド溝４１ａの一部が斜めに形成してある。
【００２３】
弾性を有する導通部材４４，４５は、Ｌ字型をしており、先端部４４ａ，４５ａはわずかに隙間をとって互いに相対し、一体的に半球状の凹部に形成されている。導通部材４４，４５の後端部４４ｂ，４５ｂには、カメラ本体２の制御回路の電源スイッチに連結されたリード線４６がハンダ付けされている。バリア４１の閉方向への移動に際して、図７に二点鎖線で示すように、球１３は一方の導通部材４４に沿って導通部材４４を弾性変形させながら移動されるから、先端部４４ａ，４５ａの下方に設けられた前カバー４８の窪み部４８ａは、導通部材４４側に長く形成されている。
【００２４】
バリア４１を閉位置から開位置に移動させると、導通部材４４の根元近くに位置していた球１３がガイド溝４１ａの斜めなった部分で、導通部材４５側に移動されるようになる。バリア４１が開位置に達すると、球１３は先端部４４ａ，４５ａの半球状の凹部に嵌まり込んで、バリア４１が開位置にクリックストップされるとともに、導通部材４４，４５が短絡してカメラ本体２の電源がオンになる。
【００２５】
バリア４１を開位置から閉位置に移動させると、球１３は導通部材４４の上に沿って移動した後、根元近くに停止される。この位置では、球１３と導通部材４４との間でクリックストップ機構は構成されないが、バリア４１の一対の凹部２５が、前カバー４８の突起部２７ａ，２８ａに係合してバリア４は閉位置にクリックストップされる。
【００２６】
第３実施形態を示す図８及び図９において、クリックストップ機構５０は、基本的には第２実施形態と同様にバリア５１のスライド移動方向と直交する方向に球１３を移動させるものであるが、導通部材５２，５３のうち一方の導通部材５３を長くして導通部材５３の後端部を屈曲させ、球１３が嵌まり込む凹部５３ａを形成することにより閉位置でもクリックストップ機構を構成したものである。また、ガイド溝５１ａは、斜め部分が２段階に形成されている。また、前カバー５５の窪み部５５ａは、導通部材５３の全長をカバーするサイズに形成されている。したがって、導通部材５３の取り付けは、導通部材５３の中間部に形成された突起部５３ｂを前カバー５５にビス止めすることにより行われている。
【００２７】
第４実施形態を示す図１０，図１１及び図１２において、クリックストップ機構６０を構成する一対の導通部材６１，６２は、平行して配置された丸棒状の金属接片としてある。導通部材６１，６２は疑問符状に屈曲されており、その直線状の先端部６１ａ，６２ａは、例えば球１３の直径より狭く半径より広い隙間をもって離間されている。また、導通部材６１，６２の後端部６１ｂ，６２ｂは、カメラ本体２と前カバー６３との間に挟持され、カメラ本体２の制御回路の電源スイッチに接続されたリード線６４，６５にハンダ付けされている。導通部材６１，６２の中間部は板ばね６６によってバリア６７側に付勢されている。
【００２８】
バリア６７の裏面には、バリア４の開閉方向に平行に細長いガイド溝６７ａが形成されている。このガイド溝６７ａの角部６８，６９とその内側に設けられた突起部７０とにより球１３の移動を規制する。球１３は、前カバー６３に形成された溝部６３ａ内で移動自在に設けられ、先端部６１ａ，６２ａの両方に接触してこれらを短絡させる位置と一方の先端部６２ａのみに接触して先端部６１ａ，６２ａの短絡を解除する位置との間で移動される。
【００２９】
バリア６７が開位置にあるときには、球１３の下部が先端部６１ａ，６２ａの両方に接触し、板ばね６６に付勢された先端部６１ａ，６２ａによって球１３がガイド溝６７ａ側に押しつけられ、球１３の上部がガイド溝６７ａの角部６８と突起部７０との間に嵌まった状態になって、バリア６７が開位置にクリックストップされている。また、この状態では、先端部６１ａ，６２ａが球１３によって短絡しているから、カメラ本体２の電源がオンになっている。
【００３０】
この状態からバリア６７を閉位置に移動開始すると、球１３は突起部７０によって鏡胴５ａ側へ押される。これにより、先端部６２ａが弾性変形して球１３の鏡胴５ａ側への移動を許容する。これと同時に球１３が先端部６１ａから離れるから、先端部６１ａ，６２ａの短絡が解除され、鏡胴５ａが沈胴されてからカメラ本体２の電源がオフになる。さらにバリア６７の移動を継続すると、溝６３ａの縁と先端部６２ａに接触して停止している球１３を突起部７０が乗り越える。バリア６７を閉位置まで移動すると、角部６９が球１３に当接してそれ以上の移動が阻止される。
【００３１】
以上説明した第１〜第３実施形態では、球が嵌まり込みやすいように、導通部材の先端部を一体的に半球状の凹部にしたが、所定の幅で屈曲させてＶ字型の凹部となるようにもよい。また、第４実施形態では、導通部材の先端部に球が接触されるようにしたが、導通部材の中間部にしてもよい。この場合には、導通部材をより弾性変形が容易な材料で形成するのが好ましい。また、導電性部材として球を用いたが、本発明はこれに限定されず、例えば円柱状や円筒状でもよい。また、沈胴式の撮影レンズとしてズームレンズを用いたが、単焦点レンズでもよい。
【００３２】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明のクリックストップ機構によれば、一対の導通部材をカメラ本体の前面に配置し、バリアの開閉動作に応動する導電性部材により、バリアの開位置で導通部材の短絡とバリアのクリックストップとを同時に行い、またバリアの開位置から閉位置への初期移動で導通部材の短絡とバリアのクリックストップとを解除するようにしたので、簡易な構成でありながらレンズ鏡胴の移動制御とバリアのクリックストップとを兼用でき、カメラの小型化やローコスト化に寄与できる。
【００３３】
また、導電性部材はバリアの開閉動作により転がり移動される形状にし、一対の導通部材の隣り合う端部は導電性部材が嵌まり込むように凹形状としたので、確実なクリックストップ機構を構成できる。また、導電性部材は球形状，一対の導通部材の隣り合う端部は凹の半球状にすると、簡易な構成で確実なクリックストップ機構を構成できる。また、バリアの裏面に導電性部材を移動させるガイド溝を形成したので、簡易な構成でバリアの開閉動作により導電性部材を移動させることができる。また、導通部材の端部とは別の端部をブラシ状に形成し、導通部材をカメラ本体の前面に取り付けた際に、ブラシ状の端部が電源スイッチに接続したフレキシブル基板の一端部に接触されるようにしたので、カメラ本体への取り付けが容易にできる。
【００３４】
また、一対の導通部材を少なくとも一部が互いに所定の隙間でほぼ平行に離間した棒状の弾性を有するものとし、バリアの開閉動作に応動する導電性の球状部材により、バリアの開位置で導通部材の短絡とバリアのクリックストップとを同時に行うとともに、バリアの開位置から閉位置への初期移動で導通部材の短絡とバリアのクリックストップとを解除するようにしたので、簡易な構成でありながらレンズ鏡胴の移動制御とバリアのクリックストップとを兼用でき、カメラの小型化やローコスト化に寄与できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１実施形態のクリックストップ機構を示すバリアの一部を破断した平面図である。
【図２】図１のII−II断面図である。
【図３】図１のIII −III 断面図である。
【図４】導通部材の先端部の形状を示す説明図である。
【図５】図１のＶ−Ｖ断面図である。
【図６】第２実施形態のクリックストップ機構を示すバリアの一部を破断した平面図である。
【図７】図６のVII −VII 断面図である。
【図８】第３実施形態のクリックストップ機構を示すバリアの一部を破断した平面図である。
【図９】図８のIX−IX断面図である。
【図１０】第４実施形態のクリックストップ機構を示すバリアの一部を破断した平面図である。
【図１１】図１０のXI−XI断面図である。
【図１２】図１０のXII −XII 断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１カメラ
２カメラ本体
３，４８，５５，６３前カバー
３ａ，３ｃ，４８ａ，５５ａ窪み部
３ｂ仕切り壁
４，４１，５１，６７バリア
５ズームレンズ
５ａ鏡胴
６，４０，５０，６０クリックストップ機構
１０，１１，４４，４５，５２，５３，６１，６２導通部材
１３球
１５，４１ａ，５１ａ，６７ａガイド溝
１５ａ突条部
１５ｂ，７０突起部
２０，２１，６８，６９角部
２２ストッパー部材
６３ａ溝
６６板ばね[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a barrier click-stop mechanism that serves both as a barrier click-stop and movement control of a retractable lens barrel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the camera's power switch is turned on, the camera is retracted to the position where it can be taken. When the power switch is turned off, the retractable photography lens is housed in the retracted position. There is a commercially available camera provided with a barrier that covers the lens and protects the photographing lens. The barrier is slidably provided on the front surface of the camera body between the closed position that covers the front surface of the photographing lens and the open position that allows the lens barrel to be extended, perpendicular to the photographing optical axis. Many are click-stopped at each.
[0003]
For such a click stop mechanism, a patent invention described in Japanese Patent No. 2503579 that prevents damage to the lens barrel peripheral surface of the taking lens by an inadvertent closing operation of the barrier is known. In this patented invention, it is rotated by the driving force of the motor between a blocking position that prevents movement of the barrier from the open position to the closed position and an open position that allows movement of the barrier from the open position to the closed position. A stopper member is provided, and the lens barrel is moved from the retractable position to the retracted position in conjunction with the lens barrel moving from the retracted position to the photographable position. The stopper member is rotated to the open position in conjunction with retreating from the movement path.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the embodiment described in the above publication, the mechanism for moving the lens barrel between the photographing position and the retracted position and the driving mechanism for the stopper member that prevents the barrier from moving from the open position to the closed position are separated. Therefore, there are disadvantages that the number of parts of the camera is large, the mechanism is complicated, and it is difficult to reduce the size and cost of the camera.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a simple structure, but also serves as a lens barrel movement control and a barrier click stop, which can contribute to downsizing and low cost of the camera. An object is to provide a stop mechanism.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the click stop mechanism of the barrier according to the present invention is retracted to a retractable position when the power switch of the camera is turned on, and is retracted to the retracted position when the power switch is turned off. A barrier provided in a camera having a lens barrel and movably between a closed position that covers the front surface of the lens barrel and an open position that allows the lens barrel to be extended is click-stopped at least in the open position. In the click stop mechanism, a pair of elastic conductive members provided on the front surface of the camera body hidden by the barrier and having adjacent end portions arranged with a predetermined gap are fitted between the end portions. As a result, the barrier is click-stopped to the open position, and at the same time, the conducting member is short-circuited to turn on the power switch and open the barrier. It is made of a conductive member to turn off the power switch in response to initial movement of the placed et the closed position to release the shorting of the barrier click stop and conductive members.
[0007]
Further, the conductive member has a shape that is rolled and moved by an opening / closing operation of the barrier, and adjacent ends of the pair of conductive members have a concave shape so that the conductive member is fitted therein. It is what. The conductive member has a spherical shape, and adjacent ends of the pair of conductive members have a concave hemispherical shape corresponding to the spherical shape of the conductive member. The back surface of the barrier is formed with a guide groove for moving the conductive member between a short-circuit position where the conductive member is short-circuited by the opening / closing operation of the barrier and a release position where the short-circuit of the conductive member is released. It is. Further, an end portion different from the end portion of the conductive member is formed in a brush shape, and when the conductive member is attached to the front surface of the camera body, the brush-shaped end portion of the flexible board connected to the power switch It is made to contact one end part.
[0008]
Further, the camera is provided in a camera having a retractable lens barrel that is retracted to a photographing position when the power switch of the camera is turned on and is stored in the retracted position when the power switch is turned off. In a click stop mechanism that clicks and stops a barrier provided at least in an open position so as to be movable between a closed position that covers the front surface and an open position that allows extension of the lens barrel, the front surface of the camera body that is hidden by the barrier A pair of conductive members having a rod-like elasticity, the longitudinal direction of which is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the opening / closing direction of the barrier and at least a part of which is separated from each other by a predetermined gap; The lens barrier is click-stopped to the open position by being fitted between the conductive member and the back surface of the barrier, and the conductive member is short-circuited. An on position where the power source switch is turned on and an off position where the power supply switch is turned off by releasing the short circuit of the conducting member by detaching from at least one of the pair of conducting members in response to the initial movement of the barrier from the open position to the closed position. And a conductive spherical member moved between the two.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 3, on the front surface of the front cover 3 that covers the camera body 2 of the camera 1, the photographing optical axis of the retractable zoom lens 5 is provided on the front surface of the front cover 3 via rail portions 4a and 4b provided on the upper and lower ends. It is slidably attached in a direction orthogonal to the direction. The barrier 4 slides between an open position that exposes the zoom lens 5 (a position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 1 and 3) and a closed position that covers the zoom lens 5 (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). Is done. Between the front surface of the front cover 3 and the barrier 4, a click stop mechanism 6 of the present invention that also serves as a power switch for controlling the movement of the lens barrel 5a of the zoom lens 5 is incorporated. Reference numeral 7 denotes a rear cover, and reference numeral 8 denotes a finder.
[0010]
The click stop mechanism 6 includes a pair of conductive members 10 and 11 screwed so that the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the moving direction of the barrier 4 on the front surface of the front cover 3 hidden by the barrier 4, and the barrier 4 is in an open position. The ball 13 as a conductive member that fits into the tip portions 10 a and 11 a facing each other with a slight gap between the conductive members 10 and 11 and short-circuits the conductive members 10 and 11, and the back surface of the barrier 4. , And is configured by a guide groove 15 with a protrusion 15a and a protrusion 15b.
[0011]
The pair of conducting members 10 and 11 are elastic strips each having an elongated strip shape, and as shown in FIG. 4, the tip portions 10a and 11a are integrally formed in a substantially hemispherical recess. The sphere 13 is fitted in the recess. Further, the distal end portions 10a of the conducting members 10 and 11 are arranged such that the distal end portions 10a and 11a side of the conducting members 10 and 11 are easily elastically deformed and the ball 13 is easily located at the center in the width direction of the conducting members 10 and 11. , 11a, grooves 10b, 11b are formed in a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction.
[0012]
The rear end portions 10c and 11c opposite to the front end portions 10a and 11a are formed in a brush shape, and the flexible members disposed on the surface of the front cover 3 when the conducting members 10 and 11 are screwed to the front surface of the front cover 3. The substrates 17 and 18 are contacted and electrically connected. The flexible boards 17 and 18 are connected to a power switch of a control circuit incorporated in the camera body 2. This power switch turns on the power supply of the camera body 2 when the conducting members 10 and 11 are short-circuited, and feeds the lens barrel 5a to a photographing position, and stores the lens barrel 5a in the retracted position when the conducting members 10 and 11 are released from the short-circuit. After that, the camera body 2 is turned off.
[0013]
The front cover 3 facing the end portions 10a and 11a is formed with an elongated recess 3a that allows elastic deformation of the end portions 10a and 11a. Next to the recess 3a, a short recess 3c into which the ball 13 is fitted when the barrier 4 is in the closed position is formed across the partition wall 3b. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the upper part of the partition wall 3b is circular arc shape so that the ball | bowl 13 can get over easily (FIG. 3).
[0014]
The protruding portion 15a of the guide groove 15 has an elongated track shape along the sliding direction of the barrier 4. When the barrier 4 is moved from the closed position to the open position, a corner portion near the center of the camera body 2 is formed. 20 pushes the sphere 13 to move it from the recess 3c to the recess 3a. And the protrusion part 15b of the guide groove 15 pushes the ball | bowl 13 and moves it from the hollow part 3a to the hollow part 3c, when moving the barrier 4 from an open position to a closed position.
[0015]
In the vicinity of the lens barrel 5 a of the zoom lens 5, a stopper member 22 that prevents an inadvertent closing operation of the barrier 4 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the stopper member 22 is provided so as to be able to advance and retract in the retracted direction of the lens barrel 5a, and is urged by a spring 23 in a direction in which the distal end portion 22a protrudes from the hole 3d of the front cover 3. . Further, in order to prevent the stopper member 22 from rotating, a pin 24 fixed to the camera body 2 is engaged with a groove 22b formed in the side portion. And the hook-shaped part 22c provided in the rear-end part of the stopper member 22 is engaging with the rear-end part of the lens barrel 5a, and according to the forward movement of the retracted position of the lens barrel 5a and the imaging | photography possible position. The stopper member 22 is advanced and retracted in the photographing optical axis direction.
[0016]
In the camera configured as described above, when the barrier 4 is in the closed position, the ball 13 is fitted in the recess 3c, and the power supply is turned off. Further, the stopper member 22 is pushed down by the rear end portion of the lens barrel 5a and moved to the rear cover 7 side. In addition, the pair of recesses 25 formed in the rail portions 4a and 4b of the barrier 4 engage with the projections 27a and 28a formed in the rail portions 27 and 28 of the front cover 3, and the barrier 4 is clicked to the closed position. It has been stopped.
[0017]
To use the camera, the barrier 4 in the closed position is moved to the open position. When the barrier 4 is moved, the protrusion 15b comes into contact with the sphere 13 just before the barrier 4 reaches the open position, and the finger moving the barrier 4 feels a little resistance. When the movement of the barrier 4 is continued against this sense of resistance, the ball 13 is pushed toward the end of the camera body 2 by the projection 15b. As a result, the sphere 13 moves over the partition wall 3b and moves toward the recessed portion 3a, and is fitted between the front end portions 10a and 11a constituting the substantially hemispherical concave portion and the guide groove 15, and the conducting members 10 and 11 are inserted. Is short-circuited and the power of the camera body 2 is turned on.
[0018]
Furthermore, if the opening operation of the barrier 4 is continued, after the protrusion 15b gets over the ball 13, the corner 20 of the protrusion 15a abuts on the ball 13, and further movement is prevented. As a result, the upper portion of the sphere 13 is sandwiched between the corner portion 20 of the protrusion 15a and the protrusion 15b, the lower portion is fitted into the tip portions 10a and 11a, and the elasticity of the conductive members 10 and 11 guides the guide groove. As a result, the barrier 4 is clicked to the open position (see FIG. 3).
[0019]
When the power is turned on, the lens barrel 5a is extended from the retracted position to the imageable position, the restriction of the stopper member 22 by the rear end portion of the lens barrel 5a is released, and the front end portion 22a of the stopper member 22 is blocked by the urging of the spring 23. 4 is projected on the orbit of the slide movement. The tip portion 22a prevents an inadvertent closing operation of the barrier 4, and an accident in which the edge of the barrier 4 abuts on the peripheral surface of the lens barrel 5a to damage the lens barrel 5a is prevented.
[0020]
When shooting is completed, the barrier 4 is moved from the open position to the closed position. At the start, the protrusion 15b of the guide groove 15 pushes the ball 13 toward the lens barrel 5a and moves it to the recess 3c. Since the short circuit of the conducting members 10 and 11 by the sphere 13 is released, the power source of the camera body 2 is turned off after the lens barrel 5a is moved from the photographing enabled position to the retracted position. As described above, since the retracting operation of the lens barrel 5a is started simultaneously with the start of the closing operation of the barrier 4, the barrier 4 is smoothly closed without hitting the stopper member 22 in the normal closing operation. be able to.
[0021]
As the lens barrel 5a is retracted, it is pushed by the rear end portion of the lens barrel 5a, and the front end portion 22a of the stopper member 22 moves toward the rear cover 7 and is retracted from the slide movement path of the barrier 4. The closing operation of the barrier 4 can be continued. If the closing operation of the barrier 4 is continued, after the projection 15b gets over the ball 13, the other corner 21 of the protrusion 15a abuts the ball 13, and further closing operation is prevented. The recess 25 is engaged with the protrusions 27a and 28a, and the barrier 4 is click-stopped to the closed position.
[0022]
Next, a second embodiment of the click stop mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, in each drawing which shows the following embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member as the first 1st embodiment. Further, since the configuration and operation of the stopper member are the same, description thereof is omitted. The click stop mechanism 40 is configured to move the ball 13 in a direction orthogonal to the sliding movement direction of the barrier 41, and a part of the guide groove 41a is formed obliquely.
[0023]
The conductive members 44 and 45 having elasticity are L-shaped, and the front end portions 44a and 45a are opposed to each other with a slight gap and are integrally formed in a hemispherical concave portion. Lead wires 46 connected to the power switch of the control circuit of the camera body 2 are soldered to the rear end portions 44b and 45b of the conducting members 44 and 45, respectively. When the barrier 41 is moved in the closing direction, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the ball 13 is moved along the one conducting member 44 while elastically deforming the conducting member 44, so that the tip portions 44a and 45a are moved. The recess 48a of the front cover 48 provided below is formed long on the conductive member 44 side.
[0024]
When the barrier 41 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the ball 13 located near the root of the conducting member 44 is moved to the conducting member 45 side at an inclined portion of the guide groove 41a. When the barrier 41 reaches the open position, the sphere 13 is fitted into the hemispherical recesses of the tip portions 44a and 45a, the barrier 41 is click-stopped to the open position, and the conducting members 44 and 45 are short-circuited. The power supply of the main body 2 is turned on.
[0025]
When the barrier 41 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the ball 13 moves along the conductive member 44 and then stops near the base. In this position, the click stop mechanism is not configured between the ball 13 and the conducting member 44, but the pair of recesses 25 of the barrier 41 engage with the protrusions 27a and 28a of the front cover 48, and the barrier 4 is in the closed position. Click to stop.
[0026]
8 and 9 showing the third embodiment, the click stop mechanism 50 basically moves the sphere 13 in a direction orthogonal to the sliding movement direction of the barrier 51 as in the second embodiment. The click stop mechanism is configured even in the closed position by elongating one of the conducting members 52 and 53 and bending the rear end of the conducting member 53 to form a recess 53a into which the ball 13 is fitted. Is. In addition, the guide groove 51a has an oblique portion formed in two stages. Further, the recessed portion 55 a of the front cover 55 is formed in a size that covers the entire length of the conducting member 53. Therefore, the conducting member 53 is attached by screwing the protrusion 53 b formed at the intermediate portion of the conducting member 53 to the front cover 55.
[0027]
In FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 showing the fourth embodiment, the pair of conducting members 61 and 62 constituting the click stop mechanism 60 are round bar-shaped metal contact pieces arranged in parallel. The conducting members 61 and 62 are bent in a question mark shape, and the linear tip portions 61a and 62a are spaced apart from each other with a gap narrower than the diameter of the sphere 13 and wider than the radius, for example. Further, the rear end portions 61b and 62b of the conductive members 61 and 62 are sandwiched between the camera body 2 and the front cover 63 and soldered to lead wires 64 and 65 connected to the power switch of the control circuit of the camera body 2. It is attached. Intermediate portions of the conducting members 61 and 62 are urged toward the barrier 67 by a leaf spring 66.
[0028]
An elongated guide groove 67 a is formed on the back surface of the barrier 67 in parallel to the opening and closing direction of the barrier 4. The movement of the sphere 13 is restricted by the corners 68 and 69 of the guide groove 67a and the protrusions 70 provided inside thereof. The ball 13 is provided so as to be movable in a groove 63a formed in the front cover 63. The tip 13 comes into contact with both the tip portions 61a and 62a and short-circuits them, and contacts only one tip portion 62a. It moves between the positions where the short circuit of 61a, 62a is released.
[0029]
When the barrier 67 is in the open position, the lower portion of the sphere 13 contacts both the tip portions 61a and 62a, and the sphere 13 is pressed toward the guide groove 67a by the tip portions 61a and 62a biased by the leaf spring 66, The upper portion of the sphere 13 is fitted between the corner portion 68 of the guide groove 67a and the projection 70, and the barrier 67 is click-stopped to the open position. Further, in this state, since the tip portions 61a and 62a are short-circuited by the sphere 13, the power source of the camera body 2 is turned on.
[0030]
When the movement of the barrier 67 to the closed position is started from this state, the ball 13 is pushed toward the lens barrel 5a by the projection 70. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 62a elastically deforms and the movement to the lens barrel 5a side of the ball | bowl 13 is accept | permitted. At the same time, since the sphere 13 is separated from the tip portion 61a, the short-circuit between the tip portions 61a and 62a is released, and the power of the camera body 2 is turned off after the lens barrel 5a is retracted. If the movement of the barrier 67 is further continued, the protrusion 70 gets over the ball 13 that is stopped in contact with the edge of the groove 63a and the tip 62a. When the barrier 67 is moved to the closed position, the corner portion 69 comes into contact with the ball 13 and further movement is prevented.
[0031]
In the first to third embodiments described above, the leading end portion of the conducting member is integrally formed as a hemispherical recess so that the sphere can be easily fitted. However, the V-shaped recess is bent by a predetermined width. It is also good to become. Moreover, in 4th Embodiment, although the ball | bowl was made to contact the front-end | tip part of a conduction member, you may make it the intermediate part of a conduction member. In this case, it is preferable to form the conducting member with a material that can be more easily elastically deformed. Further, although a sphere is used as the conductive member, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape. Further, although the zoom lens is used as the retractable photographing lens, a single focus lens may be used.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the click stop mechanism of the present invention, the pair of conductive members are arranged on the front surface of the camera body, and the conductive member responds to the opening / closing operation of the barrier, so In addition, the initial movement from the open position to the closed position of the barrier releases the short circuit of the conducting member and the click stop of the barrier, so that the lens barrel can be moved in a simple configuration. It can be used for both control and barrier click stop, contributing to the downsizing and low cost of the camera.
[0033]
In addition, the conductive member has a shape that rolls and moves when the barrier opens and closes, and the adjacent ends of the pair of conductive members have a concave shape so that the conductive member fits in. it can. Further, if the conductive member is spherical and the adjacent ends of the pair of conductive members are concave hemispheres, a reliable click stop mechanism can be configured with a simple configuration. Further, since the guide groove for moving the conductive member is formed on the back surface of the barrier, the conductive member can be moved by opening and closing the barrier with a simple configuration. In addition, when the conductive member is attached to the front surface of the camera body, the brush-shaped end is connected to the one end of the flexible board connected to the power switch. Because it is in contact, it can be easily attached to the camera body.
[0034]
Further, the pair of conducting members have rod-like elasticity at least partially separated from each other by a predetermined gap, and the conducting members at the opening position of the barrier by a conductive spherical member that responds to the opening / closing operation of the barrier. The short circuit of the barrier and the click stop of the barrier are performed at the same time, and the short circuit of the conducting member and the click stop of the barrier are released by the initial movement from the open position of the barrier to the closed position. The movement control of the lens barrel and the click stop of the barrier can be used together, contributing to downsizing and low cost of the camera.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view in which a part of a barrier showing a click stop mechanism of a first embodiment of the present invention is broken.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a shape of a tip portion of a conducting member.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a plan view in which a part of the barrier showing the click stop mechanism of the second embodiment is broken.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a plan view in which a part of the barrier showing the click stop mechanism of the third embodiment is broken.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a plan view in which a part of the barrier showing the click stop mechanism of the fourth embodiment is broken.
11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG.
12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Camera 2 Camera body 3, 48, 55, 63 Front cover 3a, 3c, 48a, 55a Recess 3b Partition wall 4, 41, 51, 67 Barrier 5 Zoom lens 5a Lens barrel 6, 40, 50, 60 Click stop mechanism 10, 11, 44, 45, 52, 53, 61, 62 Conducting member 13 Balls 15, 41a, 51a, 67a Guide groove 15a Projection portion 15b, 70 Projection portion 20, 21, 68, 69 Corner portion 22 Stopper member 63a Groove 66 leaf spring

Claims

When the power switch of the camera is turned on, the camera is extended to a shooting position, and when the power switch is turned off, the camera is provided with a retractable lens barrel that is stored in the retracted position. In a click stop mechanism that clicks and stops at least an open position of a barrier that is movably provided between a closed position that covers and an open position that allows the lens barrel to be extended,
A pair of elastic conducting members provided on the front surface of the camera body hidden by the barrier and having adjacent end portions arranged with a predetermined gap from each other and the end portions are fitted to each other to open the barrier. At the same time as clicking stop at the position, the conducting member is short-circuited to turn on the power switch, and in response to the initial movement from the open position of the barrier to the closed position, the barrier click stop and the conducting member are short-circuited and the power switch is turned off. A click stop mechanism for a barrier comprising a conductive member.

The conductive member has a shape that is rolled and moved by an opening / closing operation of the barrier, and adjacent ends of the pair of conductive members have a concave shape so that the conductive member is fitted therein. The barrier click stop mechanism according to claim 1.

The conductive member has a spherical shape, and adjacent ends of the pair of conductive members have a concave hemispherical shape corresponding to the spherical shape of the conductive member. The click stop mechanism of the barrier according to 2.

The back surface of the barrier is formed with a guide groove for moving the conductive member between a short-circuit position where the conductive member is short-circuited by an opening / closing operation of the barrier and a release position where the short-circuit of the conductive member is released. The click stop mechanism for a barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

One end portion of the flexible substrate in which an end portion different from the end portion of the conducting member is formed in a brush shape, and the brush-like end portion is connected to a power switch when the conducting member is attached to the front surface of the camera body. 5. The barrier click stop mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the barrier click stop mechanism is in contact with the barrier.

When the power switch of the camera is turned on, the camera is extended to a shooting position, and when the power switch is turned off, the camera is provided with a retractable lens barrel that is stored in the retracted position. In a click stop mechanism that clicks and stops at least an open position of a barrier that is movably provided between a closed position that covers and an open position that allows the lens barrel to be extended,
A pair of conductive members having a rod-like elasticity, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the barrier on the front surface of the camera body hidden by the barrier, and at least partially spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap; The lens barrier is click-stopped to the open position by being fitted between the pair of conductive members at the barrier open position and the back surface of the barrier, and the power switch is turned on by short-circuiting the conductive member and the barrier switch In response to the initial movement from the open position to the closed position, the conductive member is moved between the off position where the short circuit of the conducting member is released and the power switch is turned off by detaching from at least one of the pair of conducting members. A click stop mechanism for a barrier comprising a spherical member.