JPH0764152A - Lens barrier with cleaning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a lens barrier with a cleaning mechanism having such simple structure that the surface of an image pickup lens is always cleaned by opening/closing the lens barrier and a lens cleaner is easily exchanged. CONSTITUTION:This lens barrier 1 for a camera is manually operated or motor- driven to rotate or slide to open/close the front surface of the image pickup lens 3; and the lens barrier 1 with a cleaning mechanism is provided with the attachable/detachable lens cleaner 2 constituted of a columnar cleaner member 2 and a wire or a shaft member made of nylon, etc., and pressed and energized to a camera lens 3 by a spring 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens barrier having a cleaning function for camera lenses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, compact silver-salt cameras and electronic still cameras have been made smaller and lighter, and accordingly, a lens cap for protecting the camera lens from water and dust in the outside air has a shutter or barrier for protecting the lens integrated with the camera body. Is often used. Furthermore, if a function of cleaning the taking lens is added to the lens barrier, it is not necessary to carry a lens cleaner or the like, and the camera becomes easier and more compact. For this reason, conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which the taking lens is extended while rotating to come into contact with the lens barrier, and the lens surface is cleaned by rotating the taking lens.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional technique, the structure is complicated because it is necessary to extend the taking lens while rotating it. Further, since the lens rotates about the optical axis, cleaning of the center of the lens, which is optically important, is insufficient. Further, since the lens cleaner attached to the lens barrier cannot be removed or replaced, if the lens cleaner becomes dirty, the lens may be contaminated.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art, and to provide a silver halide camera or electronic camera that rotates or slides manually or electrically to open and close the front surface of the imaging lens. A lens barrier with a cleaning mechanism, comprising a columnar cleaner member and a shaft member such as a wire or nylon and having a detachable lens cleaner that is biased by a spring to a camera lens.

[0005]

According to the structure of the present invention, the lens barrier with the cleaning mechanism arranged on the front surface of the image pickup lens is opened or closed manually or electrically so that the lens cleaner attached to the lens barrier comes into contact with the image pickup lens surface. As it moves, the surface of the imaging lens is cleaned.
Further, in a camera in which the lens rotates, the lens surface is cleaned in multiple directions.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are schematic views of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an overall perspective schematic view of a camera of an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and 1 is a lens barrier of a silver halide camera or an electronic camera that opens or closes the front surface of the imaging lens by rotating or sliding manually or electrically, and the side wall is integrally formed with the leaf spring 4. . Denoted at 2 is a detachable lens cleaner that is pressed and urged against the camera lens by a spring, and is composed of a cylindrical cleaner member and a shaft member such as a wire or nylon, and is attached to the side wall of the lens barrier 1 at both ends thereof. There is.
3 is an imaging lens, 4 is a leaf spring, 5 is a hook, 6 is an axial guide groove, 7 is a coil spring, and 8 is an elastic rubber.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be described. 1A and 1B are enlarged schematic perspective views of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a lens barrier 1 in an open state, and FIG. 1B shows a lens barrier 1 in a closed state. Opens and closes along the guide member. that time,
The lens cleaner 2 slides in contact with the surface of the imaging lens 3, and the tension increases at both ends of the lens cleaner toward the center along the curved surface of the imaging lens 3, but the leaf spring 4 absorbs the increased tension. The cleaner member always moves while contacting the curved surface of the imaging lens 3 with substantially the same pressure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the basic construction of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the lens cleaner 2 is arranged substantially flush with the bottom surface of the image pickup lens 3, and the lens cleaner 2 is opened and closed by opening and closing the lens barrier 1. Moves while closely contacting the surface of the imaging lens 3 as indicated by the chain line in the figure. The tension of the shaft member of the lens cleaner 2 that increases or decreases depending on the curved surface shape of the lens is absorbed by the elasticity of the leaf spring 4 that urges both ends of the shaft member.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a connecting portion between the lens barrier 1 and the lens cleaner 2. A disk-shaped hook 5 as shown in the drawing is provided at both ends of the shaft member of the lens cleaner 2, and is hooked in a shaft guide groove 6 of a leaf spring 4 provided in the lens barrier 1. At this time, the shaft member of the lens cleaner 2 is constantly pressed by the leaf spring 4 so as not to loosen. Since the lens cleaner 2 is fixed by the hook 5 and the leaf spring 4, it can be attached and detached.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the lens cleaner 2 in the lens barrier according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 (a) uses the coil spring 7 of the lens cleaner 1 to urge the lens barrier. In FIG. 3B, the elastic rubber 8 of the lens cleaner 1 is used to urge the lens barrier.

[0011]

As described above, according to the structure and method of the present invention, the cylindrical lens cleaner urged by the lens barrier moves closely to the surface of the image pickup lens, so that the lens has a simple structure. By opening and closing the barrier, the surface of the imaging lens is always cleaned, and it is not necessary to carry another lens cleaner. Further, the image pickup surface of a silver halide camera or an electronic camera is usually a horizontally long rectangle, and the light taken in from the circular lens is not used at all, but only the rectangular portion at the center. With the structure of the present invention, the central portion of this lens is sufficiently cleaned. Furthermore, since the lens cleaner is removable, the lens cleaner can be replaced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a state in which a lens barrier is open and (b) is a state in which the lens barrier is closed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a cleaner attaching / detaching part in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the lens cleaner of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective schematic view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Lens Barrier 2 Lens Cleaner 3 Imaging Lens 4 Leaf Spring 5 Hook 6 Axis Guide Groove 7 Coil Spring 8 Elastic Rubber

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A lens barrier for a silver salt camera or an electronic camera, which opens or closes the front surface of an imaging lens by rotating or sliding manually or electrically, and comprising a columnar cleaner member and a shaft member such as a wire or nylon, and a camera by a spring. A lens barrier with a cleaning mechanism, which is equipped with a detachable lens cleaner that is pressed and urged by the lens.