JPH0755547Y2 - Camera with lens barrier - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a camera having a lens barrier for protecting a taking lens.

B. Conventional Technology A camera provided with a lens barrier that is movable between a closed position that covers the front surface of the taking lens and an open position that retracts from the front surface of the taking lens is known. Japanese Patent Application Sho 63
In the specification of −84360, the following camera with a lens barrier was proposed.

That is, this camera is provided with a blocking member for blocking the closing operation of the lens barrier, and when the lens barrier is closed when the lens barrel is in the extended position where the lens barrel projects from the front surface of the camera, the blocking member in the blocking position causes the lens barrier to move. This movement is blocked at a position where it does not interfere with the lens barrel, and this blocking member moves to the release position in conjunction with the lens barrel being driven to the retracted position retracted from the front of the camera to close the lens barrier. It is acceptable.

By the way, in an autofocus camera, a ratchet is provided on a rotary barrel that rotates in accordance with the advance / retreat of a lens barrel,
It is known that when the lens barrel reaches a predetermined focusing position during focusing, a pawl is engaged with the ratchet to stop the taking lens.

C. Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in a camera including such an autofocus mechanism and having the above-mentioned lens barrier, the movement of the lens barrier is prevented in conjunction with the movement of the lens barrel. Alternatively, the driving unit of the allowing member and the ratchet for stopping the lens barrel at the time of focusing are provided on different members, and they function independently, so that the camera becomes large in size. High cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a lens barrier in which the drive unit of the blocking member and the ratchet for focusing described above are provided in the same member, and the size and cost of the camera are reduced.

D. Means for Solving the Problem To explain with reference to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment, the present invention is capable of advancing and retracting between a retracted position protruding from the front surface of the camera body and a retracted position retracted from the front surface of the camera body. The lens barrel 33, and the lens barrel 33 is moved back and forth by a rotational movement to move the lens barrel 33 for focusing at the extended position, and the rotation barrel 33 provided with engaging grooves 32e, 32f for focusing. , This rotating tube 32
Driving means 50 for driving the lens barrel 33 and a rotating barrel when the lens barrel 33 reaches a predetermined focusing position during focusing.
A stop claw 25a that is engaged with the engagement groove 32e or 32f of 32 to stop the movement of the lens barrel 33, a closed position that covers the front surface of the lens barrel 33, and an opening that retracts from the front surface of the lens barrel 33. The present invention is applied to a camera with a lens barrier including a lens barrier 1 which is movable between positions in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens barrel 33.

The above-mentioned problem is that a lockable lock is provided between a blocking position for blocking the lens barrier 1 moving from the open position to the closed position in front of the forward / backward path of the lens barrel 33 and a release position for releasing the blocking. Stop means 21, 24, and a driving engagement member 21c for driving the locking means 21, 24, and an engaging portion for engaging the driving engagement member 21c and driving the locking means 21, 24 32d is provided at a predetermined position of the rotary barrel 32, and the locking means 21 and 24 are driven to the blocking position in conjunction with the rotational movement of the rotary barrel 32 that moves the lens barrel 33 from the retracted position to the extended position. It is solved by moving the locking mechanism 21, 24 to the release position in conjunction with the rotational movement of the rotary cylinder 32 that moves 33 from the extended position to the retracted position and retracts from the movement path of the lens barrier 1. It

E. Action When the lens barrel 33 is in the wide-angle position (extended position), the stop claw portion 25a faces the engagement groove 32e of the rotary barrel 32. Focusing is performed in this state, and the lens barrel
When 33 reaches the predetermined focusing position, the locking claw 25
a is engaged with the engaging portion 32e, whereby the lens barrel stops.

When the rotary barrel 32 is driven to move the lens barrel 33 from the retracted position to the extended position, the rotation of the rotary barrel 32 drives the locking means 21, 24 to the blocking position, and the open position of the lens barrier 1. To the closed position is impossible. further,
When the rotary barrel 32 is driven to move the lens barrel 33 from the extended position to the retracted position and retracted from the movement path of the lens barrier 1, the locking means is interlocked with the rotation of the rotary barrel 32.
21, 24 are driven to the release position, whereby the lens barrier 1 can be moved from the open position to the closed position.

Engaging grooves 32e, 32f with which the above-mentioned locking claw portion 25a is engaged,
The rotary cylinder 32 together with the engaging portion 32d for driving the locking means 21, 24
Since they are provided in the engaging groove 32e, 32f and the engaging portion 32d.
The number of parts is reduced, and the camera can be made compact and the cost can be reduced, as compared with the case where each of them is provided on a separate member and independently functions.

It should be noted that, in the above D and E for explaining the configuration of the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments are used to make the present invention easy to understand, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

F. Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(I) Configuration of the embodiment FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views of the camera, and FIG.
Shows the lens barrier in the open position, and (b) shows the lens barrier in the closed position.

The lens barrier 1 provided on the front of the camera has an outer cover 2
4 (b) in the open position shown in FIG. 4 (a) in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the taking lens 11, which is mounted by snap fitting in grooves (not shown) formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the lens.
It is slidable with respect to the closed position shown in. When the lens barrier 1 is slid, a click feeling is obtained by a mechanism (not shown) when the lens barrier 1 reaches the open position or the closed position. When the lens barrier 1 is in the closed position, the taking lens 11 and the finder window 3 are moved to the lens. Covered by barrier 1. Reference numeral 4 is a focal length switching button for setting the taking lens 11 at the wide-angle position or the telephoto position, and 5 is a release button.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the inside of the camera when the lens barrier 1 is in the open position, and FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the camera.
The lens barrier 1 is not shown in FIG.

A helicoid 31a is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of a fixed lens barrel 31 (Fig. 2) fixed inside the camera.
The driving lens barrel 32 shown in FIG. 3 meshes with a helicoid 32a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the driving lens barrel 32. Further, the driving lens barrel 32 is engraved with a helicoid 32b on the inner peripheral surface, and with this helicoid 32b,
The helicoid 33a engraved on the lens barrel 33 meshes with it. The lens barrel 33 holds the taking lens 11 and the shutter unit 12.

Here, the lens barrel 33 is movable from the retracted position to the wide-angle position to the telephoto position. At the retracted position (the retracted position), the lens barrel 33 retracts from the front surface of the camera, and the wide-angle position and the telephoto position (the retracted position). ) Projects from the front of the camera.

Further, a gear 32c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive lens barrel 32, and the rotational force of the motor 50 shown in FIG. 1 rotates the gear 32c via a gear train (not shown) to drive the drive lens barrel 32.
Rotates. As the drive lens barrel 32 rotates, the helicoids 32b and 33a mesh with each other to move the lens barrel 33 forward and backward along the optical axis. Furthermore, a cutout gear 32d is formed in a predetermined area on the outer peripheral surface of the drive lens barrel 32.

In FIG. 1, a gear portion 21a and an arm portion 2 are provided inside the camera.
An intervening gear 21 composed of 1b is attached so as to be rotatable around an axis X1. The gear 21a is formed with a gear 21c that can mesh with the notch gear 32d, and the surface of the arm 21b is formed with a recess 21d from one end face toward the center. The intervening gear 21 is constantly urged in the counterclockwise direction by a spring 23.

The drive lens barrel 32 rotates in the direction A of FIG.
And the gear 21c mesh with each other, the intervening gear 21 rotates in the clockwise direction around X1 against the biasing force of the spring 23.
Further, when the drive barrel 32 rotates in the B direction and the notch gear 32d and the gear 21c are disengaged from each other, the intervening gear 21 is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the spring 23, and the gear portion 21a. Comes into contact with the pin 41 implanted inside the camera and stops.

A lock member 24 including a head portion 24a and a leg portion 24b is provided inside the camera, and the lock member 24 is rotatable about an axis X2 and is always rotated counterclockwise by a spring 28. Being energized. The head 24a is provided with a protrusion 24c that protrudes toward the front of the camera, and the back surface of the leg 24b is provided with a pin 24d that is engaged with the recess 21d of the intervening gear 21. When the intervening gear 21 is in the position (blocking position) shown in FIG. 1, the pin 24d contacts the one end face 21e of the recess 21d, and the head 24a contacts the pin 42 implanted inside the camera. The lock member 24 is prevented from rotating counterclockwise and clockwise. That is, the projection 24e at the tip of the head 24a is immovable.

Here, a stopper 1a extending in the lateral direction of the camera is provided on the back surface of the lens barrier 1, and the protrusion 24c of the lock member 24 is located on the movement locus of the stopper 1a as the lens barrier 1 moves. There is. Therefore, if the lens barrier 1 is moved to the closed position in the state shown in FIG. 1, the stopper 1a comes into contact with the immovable protrusion 24c and the lens barrier 1 is prevented from moving in the closing direction. It Thereafter, the lens barrier 1 when the protrusion 24c and the stopper 1a come into contact with each other
The position of is called a semi-open position.

When the intervening gear 21 rotates clockwise, the engagement between the end surface 21e of the recess 21d and the pin 24d of the lock member 24 is released, the lock member 24 becomes rotatable clockwise, and the protrusion 24c is movable. Becomes Therefore, in this state, when the lens barrier 1 is operated in the closing direction from the semi-open position, the slope 1b at the tip of the stopper 1a presses the protrusion 24c, whereby the lock member 24 rotates clockwise, which causes the protrusion 1c. The portion 24c retreats from the movement path of the stopper 1a, and the lens barrier 1 can be moved in the closing direction.

In addition, the drive barrel 32 has a ratchet for focusing.
32e and 32f are provided respectively, and a pawl 25a provided at one end of the stop member 25 can be meshed with these ratchets 32e and 32f. The stop member 25 is attached to the inside of the camera so as to be rotatable about an axis X3, and is biased by a spring 29 in a counterclockwise direction, that is, in a direction in which the claw 25a and the ratchets 32e and 32f mesh with each other. An armature 26 is also fixed to the stop member 25, and the armature 26 faces an electromagnet device 27 fixed in the camera. The electromagnet device 27 is normally excited, and therefore the armature 26 is attracted thereto, so that the claw 25a and the ratchet 32e are separated from each other. When the electromagnet device 27 is demagnetized, the armature 26 is released from the electromagnet device 27, the stop member 25 is rotated counterclockwise by the biasing force of the spring 29, and the pawl 25a meshes with the ratchet 32e or 32f.

Here, FIG. 1 shows the case where the lens barrel 33 is in the wide-angle position, and at this time, the claw 25a faces the ratchet 32e.
Further, when the lens barrel 33 is driven to the telephoto position, the driving barrel 32
The ratchet 32f is located at a position where it can mesh with the claw 25a.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the drive lens barrel 32 is a rotating barrel,
The motor 50 serves as drive means, the ratchets 32e and 32f serve as engagement grooves, the intervening gear 31 and the lock member 24 serve as locking means, and the gears.
Reference numeral 21c constitutes a drive engagement member, and the notch gear 32d constitutes an engagement portion.

(II) Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When moving the lens barrier 1 from the open position to the closed position: Now, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens barrier 1 is located in the open position and the lens barrel 33 is located in the wide-angle position. Also,
The notch gear 32d of the drive barrel 32 and the gear 21c of the intervening gear 21 are disengaged from each other, and the interposing gear 21 is in the blocking position.

When the lens barrier 1 is slid toward the closed position from this state, the stopper 1a comes into contact with the immovable protrusion 24c at the semi-open position to prevent the sliding. At this time, the side surface 1c of the lens barrier 1 is separated from the lens barrel 33, and the lens barrier 1 does not come into contact with the lens barrel 33.

On the other hand, by sliding the lens barrier 1 to the semi-open position, for example, a switch (not shown) is turned off, and accordingly, the CPU in the camera causes the motor 50 to rotate the driving lens barrel 32 in the direction A of FIG. . Along with this, helicoids 32b, 33
The lens barrel 33 starts to retract toward the retracted position due to the engagement of a.

When the lens barrel 33 is retracted to a certain extent, for example, from the opening / closing locus of the lens barrier 1, the notch gear 32d of the drive lens barrel 32 starts to mesh with the gear 21c of the intervening gear 21, which causes the intervening gear 21 to spring 23. It rotates clockwise against the urging force of. When the intervening gear 21 rotates to the release position, the pin 24d of the lock member 24 and the end surface 21 of the recess 21d of the notch gear 21
The engagement with e is released, and the lock member 24 can be rotated in the clockwise direction. Therefore, when the lens barrier 1 is operated from the semi-open position to the closed position, the protrusion 24c will move the stopper 1a.
The lock member 24 is pushed by the inclined surface 1b at the tip and rotates clockwise against the urging force of the spring 28, and the protrusion 24c retreats from the movement path of the stopper 1a of the lens barrier 1. This allows the lens barrier 1 to be slid to the closed position.

When the lens barrier 1 is slid from the closed position to the open position: Next, the operation of sliding the lens barrier 1 from the closed position to the open position will be described.

When the lens barrier 1 is in the closed position, the protrusion 24c is locked to the lower surface of the stopper 1a, and the lens barrier 1 can be moved all the way to the open position. When the lens barrier 1 is slid to the open position, the protrusion 24
The engagement between c and the stopper 1a is released, and the lock member 24
It is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of and contacts the pin 42 and stops. Further, in the semi-open position, the above switch is turned on, whereby the drive lens barrel 32 rotates in the B direction (FIG. 1), and the lens barrel 33 moves toward the wide angle position.

As the drive barrel 32 rotates in the B direction, the intervening gear 21 rotates counterclockwise due to the engagement between the notch gear 32d and the gear 21c, and the notch gear 32d disengages from the gear 21c. Also,
It is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the spring 23, and the head 21a comes into contact with the pin 41 and stops, as shown in FIG. As a result, the end surface 21e of the recess 21d engages with the pin 24d of the lock member 24, and the clockwise rotation of the lock member 24 is blocked. Therefore, even if the lens barrier 1 is closed in this state, the stopper 1a abuts the immovable protrusion 24c in the semi-open position as described above, and the movement to the closed position is blocked. The motor 50 stops when the lens barrel 33 reaches the wide-angle position.

According to the above, if the lens barrier 31 is in the open position and the lens barrel 33 is in the extended position (wide-angle position or distant position) when the lens barrier 1 is closed, the movement is blocked in the semi-open position. To be done. Also, when the lens barrier 1 reaches the semi-open position, the lens barrel 33 is automatically retracted to the retracted position, and in conjunction with this, the intervening gear 21 retracts to the release position, and the lens barrier 1 is closed. It is possible to slide up to. In the semi-open position, the lens barrier 1 and the lens barrel 33 do not interfere with each other, so that the lens barrel 33 is not damaged or the movement of the lens barrel 33 is not hindered.

Focusing Operation: Next, the operation during focusing will be described.

Now, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens barrel 33 is at the wide-angle position, and the ratchet 32e is located at a position where it can mesh with the claw 25a of the stop member 25. Further, the electromagnet device 27 is excited, the armature 26 is attracted to the electromagnet device 27, and the ratchet 32e and the claw 25a are disengaged from each other.

When the release button 5 (FIG. 4) is pressed in this state, the motor 50 is driven to focus the taking lens 11 on a predetermined subject prior to taking a picture, and this rotation causes the gear 32c of the driving lens barrel 32 to rotate.
Is transmitted to the drive lens barrel 32 to rotate in a predetermined direction. As a result, the lens barrel 33 moves along the optical axis, and when it reaches the home focus position (focusing position), the electromagnet device 27 is demagnetized and the stop member 25 is rotated counterclockwise by the biasing force of the spring 29. Move. As a result, the claw portion 25a meshes with the ratchet 32e of the drive lens barrel 32, and as a result, the lens barrel 33 stops at the focusing position. After that, shooting is performed.

When the lens barrel 33 is driven to the telephoto position,
The ratchet 32f of 32 is located at a position where it can mesh with the claw portion 25a of the stop member 25. When the release button 5 is pressed in this state, focusing is performed in the same manner as described above, and when the lens barrel 33 reaches the focusing position, the claw 25a is engaged with the ratchet 32f so that the lens barrel 33 is in that position. Stop.

As described above, the notch gear 32d for driving the intervening gear 21 that moves between the blocking position that blocks the movement of the lens barrier 1 and the release position that allows the lens barrier 1 and the lens barrel 33 to stop at the focusing position. Ratchet 32e, 32f
Since the and are provided on the same member, that is, on the drive lens barrel 32 for driving the lens barrel 33, the space inside the camera can be saved and the camera can be made compact as compared with the case where they are individually provided on dedicated members. At the same time, the cost can be reduced.

In the above description, when the lens barrier 1 is moved to the open position or the semi-open position, the lens barrel 33 is automatically retracted, and when the lens barrier 1 is moved to the open position, the lens barrel 33 is automatically moved to the wide-angle position. Although an example in which the lens barrel 1 is extended is shown, the movement of the lens barrier 1 and the movement of the lens barrel may be independent, and the lens barrel 33 may be extended and retracted by another operation member.

Further, the so-called bifocal camera in which the lens barrel 33 is driven between the retracted position and the telephoto position and which is capable of focusing and photographing at the wide-angle position and the telephoto position has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it can be retracted to the retracted position, it may be a single focus camera capable of shooting only at a wide angle position or a camera equipped with a zoom lens.

G. Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, the engaging groove for engaging the engaging claw portion to stop the lens barrel at the focusing position and the engaging means for driving the locking means for preventing the movement of the lens barrier. Since both the stopper and the stopper are provided on the rotary barrel for driving the lens barrel, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the case where these are provided on separate members, respectively, and therefore the camera can be made compact and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of a camera with a lens barrier according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the camera, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the driving lens barrel, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing the outer appearance of the camera. (A) shows the case where the lens barrier is in the open position, and (b) shows the case where the lens barrier is in the closed position. 1: Lens barrier 11: Photographic lens, 21: Intervening gear 21c: Gear, 24: Lock member 25: Stop member, 25a: Claw 32: Drive barrel, 32d: Notched gear 32e, 32f: Ratchet 33: Lens barrel , 50: Motor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hitoshi Aoki 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Nikon Oi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tokuyasu Otani 1-3-6 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stocks Company Nikon Oi Works

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A lens barrel that can be moved back and forth between a feeding position that projects from the front surface of the camera body and a feeding position that retracts from the front surface of the camera body; A rotating barrel provided with an engaging groove for focusing while moving the lens barrel for focusing, a driving means for driving the rotating barrel, and a predetermined focusing position of the lens barrel at the time of focusing. A locking claw portion that is engaged with the engagement groove of the rotary barrel to stop the movement of the lens barrel when reaching the position, a closed position that covers the front surface of the lens barrel, and the front surface of the lens barrel. A lens barrier-equipped camera having a lens barrier movable between the open positions retracted from the optical axis of the lens barrel at right angles to the optical axis of the lens barrel. Locking means movable between a blocking position for blocking the lens barrier moving from the stationary position to the closed position in front of the advance / retreat path of the lens barrel and a releasing position for releasing the blocking, and the locking means. A driving engagement member for driving the locking means, and an engagement portion for meshing with the driving engagement member for driving the locking means is provided at a predetermined position of the rotary cylinder, and the lens barrel is retracted. The locking means is driven to the blocking position in synchronism with the rotational movement of the rotary cylinder for moving the lens barrel from the position to the extended position, and the lens barrel is moved from the extended position to the retracted position to move the lens barrier. A camera with a lens barrier, characterized in that the locking means is driven to the release position in conjunction with the rotational movement of the rotary cylinder retracted from the movement path.