JPH05161037A - Crane for image pickup - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain small scale crane image pickup by allowing a photographer itself to turn and rock a camera easily within a narrow range whose radius is 1-2m. CONSTITUTION:Two sub beams 3, 4 are arranged in parallel with a main beam 2 extended in the direction X while being offset in directions Y, Z. Then one end, the other end and a position nearly in the middle of the beams 2, 3, 4 are connected respectively to a camera bracket 6A, a weight bracket 6B and a support bracket 6C via universal joints 7, 8, 9. The support bracket 6C is fitted to a pan-head 25 of a tripod 23, a camera K is fitted to the camera bracket 6A and a weight W of a proper weight in matching with the camera K is fitted to the weight bracket 6B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a crane for photographing, which is suitable for use in moving vertically and horizontally within a fixed range of a radius of 1 to 2 meters centered on the photographer. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional photographing crane is of a type in which a camera is provided at the tip of a jib that turns and swings, or a photographer sits behind the camera provided at the tip of the jib and the photographer operates the camera. The format that can be used is general.

[0003]

By the way, when it is desired to move the camera within a narrow range of a radius of 1 to 2 meters centering on the photographer, the photographer himself moves to move the camera. is the current situation.

However, for example, when a photographer moves from a normal photographing state in which the photographer is standing upright while keeping a horizontal angle and moving the camera near the ground, the photographer is burdened. In addition, since the behavior of the photographer is easily transmitted directly to the camera, the captured image is blurred.

On the contrary, when photographing a subject at a high position while keeping the horizontal angle, the height is
Since the photographer's height and arm length are restricted, it is impossible to shoot from a height higher than that.

Further, for example, after photographing a certain subject A, the camera is horizontally moved (panned) around the photographer.
Alternatively, when the subject B is vertically moved (tilted) and another subject B is photographed, the photographer rotates the body, and in particular, the camera is brought close to the subjects A and B to obtain an enlarged photographed image. In this case, the distance between the photographer and the subjects A and B can be photographed only in a range slightly longer than the length of the cameraman's arm. That is, it is impossible to shoot at a height beyond the reach of the photographer or to shoot close-ups.

[0007] Therefore, even if there is a demand to perform such photographing, and the conventional crane device is used, the conventional crane device has a jib length of at least about 3 meters. In addition to the above, a drive mechanism for rotating and swinging the jib is required. Therefore, the device itself is large and cannot be applied.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. For example, the photographer himself or herself can easily turn or swing the camera within a radius of about 1 to 2 meters around the photographer. An object of the present invention is to provide a crane device for photographing, which allows a camera to be moved to a desired position for photographing.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and as claimed in claim 1, with respect to a main beam having a predetermined length, this main beam is X in the three-dimensional direction. Direction, the at least two sub-beams are arranged in parallel with the main beam in a state of being offset in the Y and Z directions. , Via a universal joint having two axes extending in the Z direction, respectively connected to a camera bracket, a weight bracket, and a support bracket, and the support bracket is attached to a support base such as a platform that is rotatable in three dimensions. A camera is attached to the camera bracket, and a weight having an appropriate weight is attached to the weight bracket.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, by adjusting the position of the connecting portion between the main beam and the sub beam and the support bracket and the weight of the weight with the camera attached to the camera bracket, It is characterized in that the center of gravity of the whole is located at the center of gravity of the support bracket.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, with the camera attached to the camera bracket, the center of gravity of the camera and the camera bracket as a whole is positioned at the center of the same, and the weight is attached to the weight bracket. The center of gravity of the weight and the weight bracket as a whole is located at the center of the weight bracket.

[0012]

According to the photographing crane device of the present invention, the main beam and each sub-beam are moved up and down or left and right around the Y-axis and Z-axis of the universal joint that holds the main beam and connects the main beam and the support bracket. When moved to, the camera mounted on the camera bracket moves up and down, that is, "track down / track up" or "turn" to the left or right. Further, when the support bracket is tilted forward or backward or left or right around the Y-axis and the Z-axis via the support base, the camera swings up or down or left or right through each sub-beam, that is, "tilt".・ Bread. With such a movement, a small-scale crane shooting can be easily performed by one photographer.

Further, with the camera mounted on the camera bracket, the position of the connecting portion between the main beam and the sub-beam and the support bracket and the weight of the weight are adjusted so that the center of gravity of the entire body becomes the center of gravity of the support bracket. When it is positioned, the camera movement operation can be performed with extremely slight force, and the burden on the photographer is reduced.

Further, with the camera attached to the camera bracket, the center of gravity of the camera and the entire camera bracket are positioned at the center of the whole, and the weight is attached to the weight bracket. Is located at the center of the whole, the center of gravity of the entire apparatus is always at a fixed position of the support bracket even when the camera K is “tilted” or “panned”.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the entire crane apparatus 1 of this embodiment. Reference numeral 2 is a long main beam having a predetermined length (for example, about 2 meters), and reference numerals 3 and 4 are sub-beams each having the same length as the main beam 2.

Each of the sub-beams 3 and 4 is offset from the main beam 2 in the horizontal direction in which the main beam 2 extends in the X direction in the three-dimensional direction and is offset by the same distance in the left-right direction (Y direction). They are arranged parallel to each other with the same distance offset in the direction (Z direction). That is, each of the beams 2, 3 and 4 is parallel to each other in a horizontal state where both ends are aligned, and as shown in FIG. 2, when viewed in cross section, an inverted isosceles triangle having the main beam 2 as an apex is formed. It is arranged to be.

Each of the beams 2, 3 and 4 is made of an aluminum hollow pipe, and the main beam 2 is set to be slightly thicker than the sub beams 3 and 4.

In FIG. 1, when the front side is the front end side and the rear side is the rear end side, the beams 2, 3 and 4 have their front end and rear end aligned, and their front end, rear end, and substantially central part. The link plates 5 are connected to each other.

The link plate 5, as shown in FIG.
A frame-shaped connecting plate 6 having a square shape and a large round hole 6a formed in the center thereof; a first universal joint 7 arranged in the round hole 6a of the connecting plate 6 and attached to the connecting plate 6; It is composed of second and third universal joints 8 and 9 attached to both sides of the upper end surface of the connecting plate 6.

The first universal joint 7 is a rectangular frame body 10.
On the long side 10a of the Y-axis 1 extending in the left-right direction (Y-direction)
1, a Z axis 12 extending in the vertical direction (Z direction) is provided on the short side portion 10b, and a clamp 13 is rotatably mounted inside the frame body 10 via each Y axis 11. The Z-axis 12 is attached to each central portion of the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the connecting plate 6, and is rotatably attached to the connecting plate 6 via the Z-axis 12 as a whole.

The second and third universal joints 8 and 9 have the same structure, and both ends 1 of a U-shaped holder 14 having a Z axis 15 extending in the vertical direction (Z direction) on the bottom 14a.
A clamp 17 is rotatably attached to the 4b via a Y-axis 16 extending in the left-right direction (Y-direction). The Z-axis 15 is attached to both sides of the upper end surface of the connecting plate 6,
The connecting plate 6 is rotatable as a whole via the Z axis 15.
Is attached to.

The clamps 13, 17, 17 in the universal joints 7, 8, 9 are connected to the connecting plate 6 in the Y-axis 1
1, 16 and Z-axes 12, 15 are connected to each other, so that they are rotatable in three-dimensional directions.

The main beam 2 and the sub-beams 3 and 4 are inserted and fixed in the clamps 13, 17 and 17, respectively.

A bellows-shaped tube 18 is provided at the substantially central portion of the main beam 2 and immediately behind the support bracket 6C.
a is attached, and further, a sleeve 18b is attached behind it. These tubes 18a and sleeves 18b
Are slidable in the axial direction with respect to the main beam 2, respectively, and the sleeve 18b can be fixed to the main beam 2.

The sub-beams 3 and 4 are directly fixed to the clamps 17 of the second and third universal joints, respectively.

In the present embodiment, of the three connecting plates 6, the front end side is the camera bracket, the rear end side is the weight bracket, and the center is the support bracket.
Connect these connecting plates 6 to the camera bracket 6 respectively.
The description proceeds as A, weight bracket 6B, and support bracket 6C.

As shown in FIG. 2, the camera bracket 6A is provided with stays 19 extending downward at both ends thereof, and a camera base 20 extending between the lower ends of the stays 19. The camera K is detachably attached to the center of the camera base 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the weight bracket 6B is provided with weight stays 21 extending radially on the upper, lower, left and right end surfaces thereof, and the weight W is attached to the tips of these weight stays 21 by means of bolts or the like. Is detachably attached.

As shown in FIG. 4, an inverted T-shaped attachment 22 is attached to the lower surface of the support bracket 6C, and a screw hole (not shown) for attaching to a tripod is attached to the center of the lower surface of the attachment 22. ) Has been formed.

An example of how to use the crane device 1 of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned structure and its operation will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the attachment 22 attached to the support bracket 6C is attached to the tripod 2.
Attach to 3. In the tripod 23, a platform (support platform) 25 that is rotatable in three dimensions is attached to an upper end connecting portion to which three expandable pods 24 are openably and closably coupled, and the platform 25 can be operated. A camera mounting screw (not shown) provided on the pan head 25, which is a generally well-known type that is performed by the pan stick 26.
Is screwed into the screw hole of the attachment 22 to fix the attachment 22 to the platform.

A camera (video camera or the like) K is attached to the camera base 20 attached to the camera bracket 6A with the lens facing forward. In addition, the weight W is attached to each weight stay 19 attached to the weight bracket 6B.
Put on.

At this time, by adjusting the connecting position of the main beam 2 and each of the sub-beams 3 and 4 to the support bracket 6C and the weight or the number of the weights W, the entire center of gravity is located on the support bracket 6C. Specifically, the intersection of the Y-axis 11 and the Z-axis 12 in the first universal joint 7 attached to the support bracket 6C, the intersection of the Y-axis 16 and the Z-axis 15 in the second and third universal joints 8 and 9. The entire center of gravity is located at an arbitrary point in a plane connecting the three points (referred to as the center of gravity plane of the link plate 5).

Further, with the camera K mounted on the camera base 20, the camera K, the camera bracket 6A, the stay 1
9. The mounting position of the camera K is adjusted so that the center of gravity of the entire camera stand 20 is in the same position as that of the support bracket 6C in the center of gravity plane of the link plate 5.

Further, with the weight W mounted on the weight stay 21 of the weight bracket 6B, the weight W, the weight bracket 6B, and the weight center of the weight stay 21 as a whole have the center of gravity of the support bracket 6C within the plane of the center of gravity of the link plate 5.
The mounting position of the weight W with respect to the weight stay 21 is adjusted so as to be the same position as the case.

Therefore, the center of gravity of the camera system with the camera K attached to the camera bracket 6A, and the center of gravity of the weight system with the weight W attached to the weight bracket 6B,
When the center of gravity set on the support bracket 6C is connected, a straight line parallel to the beams 2, 3, 4 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is advisable to attach a small monitor 28, which shows a photographed image of the camera K via a stay 27, to the attachment 22 of the camera bracket 6A.

The above is the set state of the crane apparatus 1, and as shown in FIG. 1, the beams 2, 3, 4 are in a horizontal state in which they extend in the X direction, and the connecting plate 6 of each link plate 5 has each shaft. The method of use will be described with the state orthogonal to 2, 3, 4 as a basic state. In the description, the left and right directions are the directions as seen by the photographer.

The photographer stands behind the monitor 28 and faces the camera K direction, that is, the front, and the main beam 2 on the rear side of the support bracket 6C or the rear portion of the weight W or the like.
Moving up or down, each beam 2, 3, 4
Each universal joint 7 attached to the support bracket 6C,
The Y-axis 11 and 16 of 8 and 9 are integrally swung downward or upward, and the camera K is moved downward or upward accordingly. That is, "track down / track up".

In the "track down", when the main beam 2 has a steep angle, the bellows-shaped tube 18a hits the support bracket 6C and absorbs a shock.

When the rear part of the device is moved to the right or left from the basic state, the beams 2, 3 and 4 move to the Z-axis 12 of the universal joints 7, 8 and 9 attached to the support bracket 6C. , 15 to the left or right, and the camera K “turns” to the left or right accordingly.

Further, when the pan head 25 of the tripod 23 is rotated forward or backward from the basic state, the support bracket 6C is attached via the attachment 22.
, But tilts forward or backward about the Y axis 11 of the first universal joint 7. Then, the sub-beams 3 and 4 slide forward or backward while approaching the main beam 2,
The camera bracket 6A and the weight bracket 6B are
Like the support bracket 6C, the Y-axis 11 of the first universal joint 7 is used as an axis to incline forward or backward. By tilting the camera bracket 6A forward or backward, the angle of the camera K is downward or upward, that is, "tilt".

From the basic state, the bread stick 2 of the tripod 23
When the platform 25 is rotated to the right or left by 6,
With the second and third universal joints 8 and 9 as they are, the support bracket 6C faces the right side or the left side about the Z axis 12 of the first universal joint 7 via the attachment 22.

When the support bracket 6C faces the right side, the left side sub-beam 3 slides forward, the right side sub-beam 4 slides backward, narrowing the gap between them, and the camera bracket 6A and the weight bracket 6B move respectively. The Z-axis 12 of the universal joint 7 of No. 1 faces the right side similarly to the support bracket 6C.

When the support bracket 6C is directed to the left side, the right sub-beam 4 slides forward and the left sub-beam 3 slides while narrowing the mutual distance by the action opposite to the right side, and the camera bracket 6A and the weight. The bracket 6B faces the left side similarly to the support bracket 6C.

In this way, the camera bracket 6A faces the right side or the left side, so that the angle of the camera K faces the right side or the left side, that is, "pan".

That is, the angle of the camera K changes in the same direction as the operating direction of the pan rod 26 in association with the movement of the pan rod 26 of the tripod 23. Therefore, the photographer
"Tilt" or "pan" of the camera K can be performed with a feeling of a general state in which the camera K is directly attached to the platform 25 of the tripod 23.

By performing the above-mentioned operations, from the basic state of the crane device 1, "track down / track up", "left / right turn" and "pan / out" of the camera K are performed.
A moving operation such as "tilt" can be performed, and a plurality of these operation types can be simultaneously combined and performed.

According to the crane device 1 of the present embodiment,
For example, when taking a picture in a room such as a general house, there are objects that are out of the reach of the photographer, such as an upper object near the ceiling to an object placed on the floor, or in front and on the side. In such a case, by performing “track down / track up” or “left / right turn” on each of the beams 2, 3 and 4, it is possible to perform shooting of the subject, particularly close-up shooting. In other words, a single photographer can take small-scale crane shots indoors. Since the moving operation of these cameras K is performed through the respective beams 2, 3 and 4 without directly holding the camera K, it is difficult to directly convey the behavior of the photographer to the camera K, and the camera K is moved. Even when shooting while moving, that is, moving shooting in a narrow range, it is easy to obtain a stable shot image without blurring.

In the case of close-up photography as described above, the length of each beam 2, 3 and 4 is involved, but in the case of indoors, each beam has a length that can cover the required photographing range. 2, 3 or 4 can be designed, or the length of each beam 2, 3 or 4 can be changed as telescopic type by incorporating two or more rods in multiple stages in a telescopic manner. If so, it is convenient that the photographing range can be arbitrarily changed with one device.

In addition, since the center of gravity of the entire crane apparatus 1 including the camera K is located on the support bracket 6C with the camera K mounted on the camera bracket 6A, the movement operation of the camera K can be performed with extremely slight force. This can be done and the burden on the photographer is small.

Then, as described above, the camera bracket 6
When the center of gravity of the camera system with the camera K attached to A, the center of gravity of the weight system with the weight W attached to the weight bracket 6B, and the center of gravity set on the support bracket 6C are connected, each beam 2 It becomes a straight line parallel to 3, 4 and camera K
Even if the "tilt" or "pan" is performed, the brackets 6A, 6B, and 6C move in the same manner, so that the center of gravity of each of these systems does not shift.
The center of gravity of the whole set at is always in a fixed position.

In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment, the attachment 22 of the support bracket 6C is directly attached to the tripod head 25 of the tripod 23, but if it is not desired to load the crane platform 1 on the tripod head 25, the attachment shown in FIG. A knot-type link mechanism 29 may be used.

In the link 29, two square plates 30 are arranged so as to be parallel to each other, and these plates 30 are arranged in plural (four in this case) rods 31 and in the X and Z directions in the three-dimensional direction. A pair of links 33, 33, which are connected via a universal joint 32 having two extending axes (see FIG. 6), are formed by connecting one plate 30 to each other with a slight gap therebetween. There is.

Then, one of the plates 30 on both end sides is fixed to the side end surface of the support bracket 6C of the crane device 1, and the other plate 30 is fixed to the platform 2
A horizontal stay 34 mounted on the tripod 23 with the 5 removed
It is fixed to the platform 25 attached to one end of the. in this case,
As shown in FIG. 7, a sleeve 18 b mounted on the main beam 2 of the crane device 1 is attached to the other end of the stay 34 via a holder 35 so as to be vertically swingable.

The stay 34 is rotatably attached to the tripod 23, and by rotating the stay 34,
The camera K can be “turned” and the camera K can be “tracked down / tracked up” by swinging the main beam 2 up and down. When the pan rod 26 attached to the platform 25 is operated vertically or horizontally, the movement is transmitted to the support bracket 6C via the link mechanism 29, and the "pan / tilt" of the camera K can be performed.

By using the link mechanism 29 as described above, since the load of the crane device 1 is received by the tripod 23 instead of the platform 25, the pivoting operation of the platform 25 is lightened, and the "pan The "tilt" operation can be performed more smoothly.

[0058]

According to the crane device for photographing of the present invention,
With respect to the main beam having a predetermined length, the main beam extends in the X direction in the three-dimensional direction, and at least two sub-beams are arranged in parallel with the main beam with being offset in the Y and Z directions. One end portion, the other end portion, and the substantially central portion of each beam are connected to a camera bracket, a weight bracket, and a support bracket, respectively, through a universal joint having two axes extending in the Y and Z directions. The bracket is attached to a support base such as a platform that is rotatable in three dimensions, the camera is attached to the camera bracket, and a weight having an appropriate weight is attached to the weight bracket. Small-scale crane photography within the range can be easily performed by one photographer.

Also, by adjusting the position of the connecting portion between the main beam and the sub beam and the support bracket and the weight of the weight while the camera is attached to the camera bracket, the center of gravity of the whole is set to the center of gravity of the support bracket. When it is positioned, the camera movement operation can be performed with extremely slight force, and the burden on the photographer is reduced.

Further, with the camera attached to the camera bracket, the center of gravity of the camera and the entire camera bracket are positioned at the center of the whole, and the weight is attached to the weight bracket. Is located at the center of the whole, the center of gravity of the entire apparatus is always at a fixed position of the support bracket even when the camera K is “tilted” or “panned”.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a camera bracket.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a weight bracket.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a support bracket.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a link mechanism used in the modified example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of a crane device on a tripod of the modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Crane device 2 Main beam 3, 4 Sub beam 6A Camera bracket 6B Weight bracket 6C Support bracket 7 1st universal joint 8 2nd universal joint 9 3rd universal joint 25 Pan head (supporting platform) K camera W weight

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main beam having a predetermined length,
With the main beam extending in the X direction in the three-dimensional direction, at least two sub beams are arranged in parallel with the main beam with the Y and Z directions being offset. The end portion and the substantially central portion are provided with a universal joint having two axes extending in the Y and Z directions,
Each of them is connected to a camera bracket, a weight bracket, and a support bracket, and the support bracket is attached to a support base such as a platform that can rotate in three dimensions, the camera is attached to the camera bracket, and the weight bracket is appropriately attached. A crane device for photography, which is equipped with a weight of weight. 2. The center of gravity of the whole body is adjusted by adjusting the position of the connecting portion between the main beam and the sub beam and the supporting bracket and the weight of the weight in a state where the camera is attached to the camera bracket. The imaging crane device according to claim 1, wherein the crane device is located at the center of gravity of the support bracket. 3. With the camera attached to the camera bracket, the center of gravity of the camera and the entire center of gravity of the camera bracket are located at the center of the entire body, and the weight is attached to the weight bracket.
3. The crane apparatus for photographing according to claim 1, wherein the weight and the center of gravity of the weight bracket are located at the center of the weight bracket.