JPH08304967A - Method for inspecting initial position of counter of film unit with lens and film unit with lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily and surely inspect the initial position of a counter display board without being influenced by the change of a character pattern, etc. CONSTITUTION: An aperture for inspecting 14 is formed at the upper part of a front cover 22 separately from a counter display window 19. Meanwhile, a mark 52 is put at a specified position on the surface of the counter display board 35 detected through the aperture 14 when the rotational angle position of the counter display board 35 is set at a normal initial position. When a driving gear is meshed with the film winding knob 18 of a unit main body 10 which has been assembled so as to rotate the knob 18 by one or two perforations, shutter-charge is executed in a mechanical unit and the knob 18 is locked. Thereafter, a CCD camera picks up the image of the display board 35 through the aperture 14. A microcomputer collates the picked up image with a standard pattern previously stored in a RAM and discriminates whether the display board 35 is set at the initial position or not according to whether they coincide with each other or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted photo film unit and a lens-fitted photo film unit. More specifically, it is determined whether or not a counter display plate of the lens-fitted photo film unit is set to a normal initial position. The present invention relates to a counter initial position inspecting method for detecting whether or not, and a film unit with a lens having a configuration adapted to this method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Film units with a lens such as "Sharp Run Hi" (trade name) are generally used widely because anyone can easily take pictures without troublesome operations such as film loading and film rewinding. ing. Such a film unit with a lens is provided in a form in which a photographic film with a cartridge is built-in and a surface of a unit main body having a shutter and other main photographing mechanism is covered with an outer case such as a makeup paper box. There is. The unit body is
A body part that integrally forms a cartridge chamber and a film roll chamber for storing a film cartridge and a photo film roll on both sides of the exposure frame, a mechanical unit that is detachably attached to the front surface of the body part, and a front part that covers these parts. It is composed of a cover and a rear cover that covers the back surface of the main body and stores the film with a cartridge in a light-tight manner.

In the mechanical unit, in addition to the shutter mechanism,
A film winding stopping mechanism, a counter mechanism and the like are provided. As is well known, the shutter mechanism charges the shutter by setting the shutter to the charge position by a sprocket that rotates following the photographic film transferred by the film winding operation. Further, the film winding stopping mechanism locks the film feeding when the sprocket makes one revolution. Further, the counter mechanism advances the counter display plate by one tooth in association with the rotation of the sprocket, and displays the current remaining number of images to be photographed in the counter display window.

In the lens-fitted photo film unit immediately after completion, almost all photo films are in a state of being pulled out from the cartridge, and the user who purchases the film first takes up about one film and then takes the first frame. Is supposed to start. That is, for example, in the case of taking 27 sheets, the lens-fitted film unit is shipped with the dot mark "." Provided in front of the number "27" set in the initial state where the dot mark "." For this reason, after the lens-fitted film unit is completed, confirmation work is performed as to whether or not the counter display plate is set to the initial position. This confirmation work is performed by a pattern recognition method in which the counter display plate is imaged by a CCD camera through the counter display window and the captured image is compared with a standard pattern. At the time of this imaging, in order to obtain a clear photographed image, the counter display plate is illuminated by a spot light source using a fiberscope or the like.

[0005]

By the way, a recent improved film unit with a lens is one in which a lens for enlarging a numeral is fitted in the counter display window in order to make it easy to confirm the remaining number of shots. Is increasing. Therefore, when the counter display plate is imaged by the method as described above, the illumination light for illuminating the counter display plate is reflected by the lens surface, so flare occurs and the captured image on the counter display plate becomes unclear. The problem occurred. Also,
The improvement speed of the lens-fitted film unit has been remarkably increased in recent years, and the design and layout of the character pattern including the numbers and dot marks provided on the surface of the counter display plate are frequently changed. When such a character pattern is changed, there arises a problem that the standard pattern used for pattern recognition as described above must be changed each time.

The present invention provides a method for inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted photo film unit, which can easily and surely inspect the initial position of a counter display plate without being affected by a change in a character pattern. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a method of inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit of the present invention is to provide an inspection opening in the upper portion of the front cover in addition to the counter display window. By detecting a mark provided on the surface of the counter display plate through this opening, it is possible to determine whether or not the rotational angle position of the counter display plate is set to the regular initial position.

[0008]

When the counter display plate is correctly set at the initial position, the mark provided on the counter display plate is exposed in the inspection opening. Further, when the counter display plate is displaced from the initial position, the mark on the counter display plate is not exposed at the opening. Therefore, by detecting the presence or absence of this mark, it is possible to clearly determine whether or not the counter display plate is correctly set at the initial position. Also, since the inspection opening is provided separately from the counter display window, even if the lens is fitted in the counter display window or the character pattern on the counter display plate is changed, the inspection conditions etc. are changed. Stable inspection is always performed without

A method of inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit according to a second aspect is the method of inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit according to the first aspect, wherein the mark has a different shape depending on the type of photographic film. Is. Therefore, not only the initial position of the counter display plate can be known by detecting the mark, but it is also determined whether or not the counter display plate suitable for the type of the photo film actually loaded is incorporated.

In the lens-fitted film unit according to the third aspect of the present invention, the inspection opening provided in the upper portion of the front cover separately from the counter display window and the rotation angle position of the counter display plate are set to the normal initial position. And a mark provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the counter display plate that is detected through the opening. Therefore, the initial position inspection of the counter display plate can be surely performed with a simple structure and without being influenced by the change of the character pattern, etc., and the assembling efficiency of the lens-fitted film unit is improved.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 2, a lens-fitted film unit 9 comprises a unit body 10 and an outer case 11 that covers the unit body 10. A photographing lens 15, a finder window 16 and a release button 17 are provided outside the unit body 10. , A film winding knob 18, a counter display window 19, etc. are provided, and these operations can be performed through the holes formed in the outer case 11. A magnifying lens 13 made of transparent plastic is fitted in the counter display window 19.

As shown in FIG. 3, the unit main body 10 has a main body 21 on the back side of which a photo film 20 with a cartridge is loaded, a front cover 22 covering the front and upper portions of the main body 21, and a main body. 21 and a rear cover 23 for accommodating the photo film 20 with a cartridge in a light-tight manner. At the top of the front cover 22, the release button 1
7. In addition to the counter display window 19, a capsule-shaped opening 14 for inspecting a counter initial position, which will be described in detail later, is provided. The opening 14 is hidden under the outer case 11 when the unit body 10 is covered with the outer case 11.

The main body portion 21 is composed of a main body base portion 24 and a mechanical unit 25. An exposure chamber 26 is formed in the center of the main body base 24, and a film chamber 27 and a cartridge chamber 28 are integrally formed so as to sandwich the exposure chamber 26. A film winding knob 18 is arranged above the cartridge chamber 28. The film winding knob 18 is provided with a fork protruding into the cartridge chamber 28, and this fork is engaged with the spool 20d of the cartridge 20c. By performing a winding operation of rotating the film winding knob 18 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, the exposed photographic film 20a is stored in the cartridge 20c.

A tooth row 18a is formed on the outer periphery of the film winding knob 18. A check claw 30 made of a leaf spring is engaged with the tooth row 18a. The check claw 30 is for preventing the film winding knob 18 from rotating in a direction opposite to the winding direction.

The mechanical unit 25, as shown in FIG.
Driven by mechanical base 32 Sprocket 33, shutter 3
4, a counter display plate 35, a shutter charge mechanism, a counter mechanism, a film winding mechanism and the like are incorporated.

An exposure opening 37 is formed in the center of the front surface of the mechanical base 32. A stopper 38 having a stepped surface is provided on the right side of the exposure opening 37. The stopper 38 abuts on a shutter blade 34 which is rotated counterclockwise by a spring 39, and the stopper 38 is brought into contact with the shutter blade 34. Stop at the position where it is shielded. The shutter blade 34 is made of light-shielding plastic and has a claw portion 34a that is kicked by a kicking arm 45a described later.
Is covered with a shutter cover 40.

On the upper part of the mechanical base 32, shafts 42 and 43 are provided.
And a bearing 44 is formed. The shaft 42 has a counter display plate 35 and a shutter drive lever 45 formed with a kicking arm 45a and a cam arm 45b, and the shaft 43 has a locking lever 47 which is biased clockwise by a spring 46. Be fitted.

A driven shaft 48 is inserted through the bearing 44. The driven shaft 48 has a sprocket engaging portion 48a,
A shutter set cam 48b, a shutter charge lock cam 48c, and one tooth portion 48d are provided.
The driven sprocket 33 is attached to the sprocket engaging portion 48a.
Are engaged. The driven sprocket 33 is provided with eight teeth corresponding to the number of perforations 20b for one frame of the photographic film.
Rotates following a.

When the film winding operation for one frame is performed, the driven sprocket 33 rotates once following the photographic film 20a being transferred. By this rotation, the driven shaft 4
8 rotates counterclockwise and the shutter set cam 48b
Presses the cam arm 45b engaged therewith to charge the shutter drive lever 45 to the charging position, and after one rotation of the driven sprocket 33, the cam 48c
The locking claw 47a of the locking lever 47 engaged with this
To prevent film transfer. At this time, in the shutter drive lever 45, the protruding piece 45 c of the shutter drive lever 45 is engaged with the holding claw 47 b of the locking lever 47 and is held by the locking lever 47. Further, the one tooth portion 48d rotates the counter display plate 35 by one scale. Further, the winding stopping claw 47c of the shutter drive lever 47 meshes with the tooth row 18a of the film winding knob 18 to stop the film winding.

By pressing the shutter button 17, the pressing piece 47d of the locking lever 47 is pressed. As a result, the engagement between the protruding piece 45c and the holding claw 47b is released,
The biasing force of the spring 46 causes the locking lever 47 to rotate in the clockwise direction, and the shutter drive lever 45 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction to kick the claw portion 34a by the kicking arm 45a. The shutter blade 34 oscillates once around the shaft 34a to perform exposure.

After the shutter release is completed, the engagement between the cam 48c and the lock claw 47a is released, and the winding stop claw 3 is released.
Since the mesh between 2b and the tooth row 18a is released, the film winding operation of the film winding knob 18 is allowed. Since the driven shaft 48 rotates together with the driven sprocket 33 by the next winding operation, the shutter drive lever 45 is moved to the charge position by the rotation of the shutter set cam 48b.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the upper surface of the counter display plate 35, there is provided a number display scale 50 corresponding to the rotation pitch of the counter display plate 35, the number of which is equal to or more than the specified number of films. In this embodiment, the photo film 20 with a patrone, which has a prescribed number of shots of 24, is used as 27 shots.
The scale 50 is "・" which indicates the initial position before "27".
From 51 to “E” indicating the film end with a number string in between, the number of photo films that can be taken at that time,
That is, since the remaining number display scale is displayed, by observing this scale through the counter display window 19 formed in the front cover 22, the number of frames of the photographic film that can be taken can be confirmed.

A circular mark 52 for initial position detection is provided inside the scale 50 so as not to be exposed from the counter display window 19. This mark 52
Like the scale 50, it is formed in a relief shape by die molding, and white paint is applied to the upper surface thereof to improve visibility.

The counter display plate 35 is used for the unit main body 10
When assembling the, "・" 51 in the center of the counter display window 19
Will be installed at the position indicated by. Then, at this time, the mark 52 is exposed at the opening 14 of the front cover 22 (A). In the center of the counter display window 19, "・" 51
The position where is displayed is the photo film 20 from this state.
Is a position where the shutter is charged when one or two perforations are wound up.

The mark 52 is, for example, a circle having a diameter of about 0.5 mm, and the width of the opening 14 in the rotation direction of the counter display plate 35 is slightly larger than the mark 52, for example, about 0.6 mm. As a result, as shown in (B), when the rotation degree position of the counter display plate 35 is slightly deviated from the regular position, the mark 52 is displayed on the front cover 2.
The difference from the standard pattern when the counter display plate 35 is set at the normal initial position (a captured image in which the entire contour of the mark 52 is exposed in the opening 14) is hidden by the shadow of 2. It is designed so that it can be clearly identified.

A method for inspecting the initial position of the counter of the lens-fitted film unit 9 having the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. The inspection device used for the counter initial position inspection is arranged in the final step of the assembly line of the unit body 10. The structure of the device is the front cover 22.
Of the CCD camera 60 provided above the opening 14 of the unit 14 for detecting the mark 52 displayed on the opening 14 and inspecting the initial position of the counter display plate 35, and the mark 52 is illuminated from diagonally above the unit body 10 through the opening 14. A spot light source 61 that emits light, a drive gear 63 made of plastic that meshes with the tooth row 18a of the film winding knob 18 and rotates the tooth row 18a in the film winding direction, a motor 64 for the drive gear 63, The driver 65 for controlling the motor 64 and the driver 65 are controlled, the captured image obtained from the CCD camera 60 is collated with a standard pattern stored in the RAM 66 in advance, and the mark 52 is formed in the opening 14 by a pattern recognition method. It is composed of a microcomputer 67 which determines whether or not it is displayed.

As described above, when the unit body 10 is assembled, the counter display plate 35 is installed at the position where "." 51 is displayed in the center of the counter display window 19. When the assembled unit main body 10 is conveyed and stopped at the inspection position, the tooth row 18a of the film winding knob 18 is moved.
The drive gear 63 is meshed with. Microcomputer 6
7 sends a control signal for rotating the drive gear 63 to the driver 65 to drive the motor 64. Thus, when the drive gear 63 rotates the film winding knob 18 by one or two perforations, the mechanical unit 25 is shutter-charged, and then the film winding knob 18 is locked.

The drive gear 63 is provided with a torque detector 68, and the measured value is a microcomputer 67.
Has been entered in. Since the measurement value from the torque detector 68 becomes abnormally large due to the locking of the film winding knob 18, the microcomputer 67 detects this and stops the rotation of the drive gear 63. Further, while the film winding knob 18 is rotated by one or two perforations, it is determined whether or not the rotational torque of the film winding knob 18 is abnormal. When an abnormality is found in the rotation torque, the operator removes it from the line and investigates the cause of the abnormality.

When the film winding knob 18 for one or two perforations is rotated, the counter display plate 3 is rotated.
Since 5 does not rotate, the counter display plate 35 remains in the state immediately after being assembled. After the rotation of the drive gear 63 is stopped, the microcomputer 67 displays the CCD camera 6
The captured image obtained by capturing the positional relationship between the opening 14 and the mark 52 obtained from 0 is compared with the standard pattern read from the RAM 66. And the microcomputer 67
If they match, it is determined that the shutter charge is normally performed, and the counter display board 35 is set to the initial position. A warning is displayed with a lamp. If unsuccessful, the operator immediately removes it from the line,
After removing the photo film 20 with the patrone in a dark room, the defective portion is checked and repair work is performed. The unit main body 10 that passed the inspection is subjected to the shutter release inspection, and is shipped with the outer case 11 attached.

In the embodiment described above, the mark has a circular shape, but the shape may be changed depending on the number of photographic films that can be taken in the unit body.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the circular mark 52 has a capsule-shaped mark 7 in which the mark 52 is elongated along the longitudinal direction of the 27 shots (A) and the opening 14 as described above.
1 is a 15-photograph (B), and the mark 71, which is longer and narrower than the mark 71, is divided into 39-photographs (C), so that the initial position inspection of the counter display board and the photo film stored in the unit main body are performed at the same time. It is also possible to inspect whether or not the type and the type of the counter display plate match.

The shape, size, color and the like of the opening 14 and the mark 52 may be arbitrary as long as they can be clearly imaged by the CCD camera. Further, the CCD camera images the mark through the opening and detects the display state of the mark by the pattern recognition method. For example, a through hole is provided at the same position as the mark on the counter display plate, and the reflected light is generated by the through hole. The reflection type photoelectric sensor may detect that it does not return.

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the inspection mark provided on the surface of the counter display plate is detected through an opening different from the counter display window formed on the front cover. Even if the character pattern is changed or the lens is fitted in the counter display window, the initial position of the counter display plate can always be stably and easily inspected without changing the inspection conditions. . Also,
By changing the shape of the mark according to the type of photo film, not only the initial position inspection of the counter display plate but also whether or not the counter display plate suitable for the type of photo film actually loaded is installed is determined. be able to. Further, since the initial position inspection of the counter display plate can be surely performed with a simple structure and without being influenced by the change of the character pattern, the assembling efficiency of the lens-fitted film unit can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a state (A) in which a counter display plate according to the present invention is set at a regular initial position and a state (B) in which it is displaced.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a lens-fitted film unit.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a unit main body.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a mechanical unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit is being inspected.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the shape of a mark is changed depending on the number of shootable images of different photographic films.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 film unit with lens 10 unit body 13 magnifying lens 14 opening 18 film winding knob 19 counter display window 22 front cover 25 mechanical unit 35 counter display plate 50 scales 52, 71, 72 mark 60 CCD camera 61 spot light source 67 microcomputer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A front cover having a photographing mechanism and covering a front portion and an upper portion of a main body in which a photographic film is loaded in advance, and a counter display plate for displaying the remaining number of films through a counter display window formed in the front cover. In a method of inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit including: a counter opening, an opening for inspection is provided in the upper portion of the front cover separately from the counter display window, and a mark provided on the surface of the counter display plate is detected through this opening A method for inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit, comprising determining whether or not the rotational angle position of the counter display plate is set to a regular initial position. 2. The method for inspecting a counter initial position of a lens-fitted film unit according to claim 1, wherein the mark has a different shape depending on the type of the photographic film. 3. A counter display plate having a photographing mechanism and covering a front portion and an upper portion of a main body in which a photographic film is loaded in advance, and a counter display plate for displaying the number of remaining films through a counter display window formed in the front cover. In the lens-fitted photo film unit including, when an opening for inspection provided on the upper portion of the front cover separately from the counter display window and the rotation angle position of the counter display plate are set to the normal initial position. A film unit with a lens, comprising a mark provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the counter display plate detected through the opening.