JPH09230549A - Film unit with lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To open a bottom cover after a light shielding cover is surely closed when a film cartridge is unloaded. SOLUTION: A turning member 27 engaged with the light shielding cover 18 is freely turnably assembled to the upper surface of a cartridge chamber 11 by a torsion spring 31 in a state where it is pressed to the closing position of the cover 18. A coupling member 32 for holding the turning member 27 at an opening position by the upper end part 32a thereof is held at the front surface of the chamber 11 with strong force by holding parts 34 and 35 so that it is freely slid in an up-and-down direction. When the film cartridge 8 is unloaded, the bottom cover 9 is move so as to be prized by insering a slender bar-like jig in an aperture 12 and hooking the top thereof to the projection 37 of the coupling member 32. Thus, the coupling member 32 is slid downward and the cover 18 is closed by the turning member 27. Besides, when the jig is moved, the cover 9 is opened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a lens-fitted film unit in which a film cartridge equipped with a light-shielding lid is loaded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art "Photo Industry", a magazine proposed in this technical field (December 1994, Photo Industry Publishing Co., Ltd., p. 11)
The APS (Advanced Photo System) compatible film cartridge, which was also introduced in the article, uses plastic for the cartridge body. In addition, instead of the conventional teletemp to shield the film entrance and exit, the opening position to open the film entrance and the film entrance is closed. A plastic light-blocking lid that is rotatable between a closed position that blocks light is used. When the film cartridge is loaded into the camera, the light-blocking lid is rotated to the open position by the drive mechanism inside the camera, and is rotated to the closed position when the film cartridge is taken out from the camera.

Since the above-mentioned film cartridge is small and lightweight, it is considered to be used for a lens-fitted film unit loaded with a photographic film and sold at the manufacturing stage. When a film cartridge is loaded in the lens-fitted film unit, it is necessary to be able to take out the film cartridge in a bright room so as not to impair the work efficiency of the development and print processing of the photographic film. Therefore, when taking out the film cartridge after photographing all the frames, the light shielding lid needs to be closed.

In order to improve the efficiency of taking out the film cartridge, many lens-equipped film units have been proposed in which the light-shielding lid is automatically closed in association with the taking-out operation of the film cartridge. Among such lens-fitted film units, there is one in which the light-shielding lid is closed in conjunction with the opening of the bottom lid that covers the bottom of the cartridge chamber in which the cartridge body is housed in a light-tight manner. This is a rotating member that engages with the end of the light shielding lid on the upper side of the cartridge chamber, a spring that urges this rotating member in the closing direction of the light shielding lid, and the rotating member to the open position of the light shielding lid. The holding member is a holding member, and one end of the connecting member and the bottom lid are locked by an engaging claw or the like. Then, when the connecting member is moved by opening the bottom lid, the holding of the rotating member at the open position is released.

[0005]

However, in the above-described lens-fitted photo film unit, the timing at which the light-blocking lid is closed by opening the bottom lid is delicate, so depending on how the bottom lid is opened, before the light-blocking lid is completely closed. There is a possibility that light will enter the cartridge chamber and expose the photo film.

Further, since the connecting member must be held in a predetermined position so that the rotating member can always hold the rotating member in the open position, it is possible to prevent an impact or vibration applied to the lens-fitted photo film unit. It must be held firmly so that the connecting members cannot be inadvertently moved. However, if the holding force for holding the connecting member is too strong, the bottom cover and the connecting member may be disengaged when the bottom cover is opened, and the bottom cover may be opened while the light-shielding cover is open. It was very difficult to set the holding force of the connecting member.

In order to prevent the above problems from occurring, various proposals have been made to open the bottom lid after separately performing the work of closing the light-shielding lid. However, in view of work efficiency, the bottom lid is opened. It is better to close the light shield lid as you work.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, and provides a lens-fitted film unit in which the light-blocking lid is surely closed before the bottom lid is opened when the bottom lid is opened. To aim.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, a film unit with a lens according to claim 1 is provided.
An opening into which a jig for opening the bottom lid is inserted is formed in the vicinity of the bottom lid, and the lower end of the connecting member is displaced by the jig between the time when the jig is inserted and the bottom lid is opened. The holding of the rotating member by the upper end is released. According to this, in conjunction with the opening operation of the bottom lid, the light shielding lid is surely closed and then the bottom lid is opened. Further, since the connecting member is directly displaced by the jig, the holding force of the connecting member can be increased.

In the lens-fitted film unit according to the second aspect of the present invention, the connecting member is slidably attached to the outer wall of the cartridge chamber along the vertical direction, and the projection formed at the lower end of the jig is inserted through the opening. It is adapted to be slid downward by being hooked and pry open to release the holding of the rotating member at the upper end.

Further, in the lens-fitted film unit according to a third aspect of the present invention, the connecting member is pivotally attached to the outer wall of the cartridge chamber so that the lower end portion is pressed by the jig inserted from the opening to pivot. Then, the holding of the rotating member at the upper end is released. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elastic member that abuts against the connecting member to prevent the swinging and elastically deforms by the swinging force of the connecting member when the lower end portion is pressed to allow the swinging.

Further, in the lens-fitted photo film unit according to the present invention, the connecting member is slidably attached to the outer wall of the cartridge chamber in the vertical direction, and is bent below the upper end portion so as not to interfere with the rotating member. The bending member is provided, and the lower end is pressed by a jig inserted from the opening and slides upward, and the bending member is moved to a position facing the rotating member, whereby the holding of the rotating member is released. It was done like this.

[0013]

2 is a bottom view of a lens-fitted photo film unit embodying the present invention, the unit main body 2 is a resin-molded main body base 3 as is well known.
It is composed of a front cover 4 and a rear cover 5 which are placed on the front and back surfaces thereof. Further, the main body base 3 is equipped with a shutter mechanism including shutter blades, a film winding mechanism, and the like, as well as a strobe unit and the like. The front cover 4 covers the shutter mechanism and the like assembled to the main body base 3, and the rear cover 5 covers the rear side of the main body base 3 in a light-tight manner.

The unit body 2 is covered with a paper-made protective cover 7 which also serves as a decoration. Perforations (not shown) are formed on the protective cover 7, and the protective cover 7 is torn along the perforations when the film cartridge 8 that has been photographed is taken out. The bottom lid 9 is exposed from the broken portion of the protective cover 7, and the film cartridge 8 is exposed by opening the bottom lid 9. The protective cover 7
Is not limited to paper and may be a vinyl sheet or the like as long as the bottom lid 9 can be exposed when the film cartridge 8 is taken out.

The bottom cover 9 closes the opening on the bottom surface of the cartridge chamber 11 provided in the main body base 3 in a light-tight manner, and is formed integrally with the rear cover 5 and can be opened and closed by a thin hinge portion 9a. . A light shielding wall 9b is provided around the bottom lid 9, and an opening 12 into which a jig for opening the bottom lid 9 is inserted is integrally formed. Since the opening 12 does not communicate with the inside of the cartridge chamber 11, it does not impair the light shielding inside the cartridge chamber 11. The bottom cover 9 is
Although a locking claw for locking this in a closed state is formed, it is omitted in the drawing to avoid complicating the drawing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the film cartridge 8 includes a cartridge main body 14, a spool 16 rotatably accommodated in the cartridge main body 14, and a photo film 15 wound around the cartridge main body 14, and a photo film 15 in and out. The main component is a light-shielding lid 18 for opening and closing the film entrance / exit 17. In addition to the above, the cartridge body 14 has a lock device for the light-shielding lid 18, and the photographic film 1 stored therein.
5, a display device of the usage state, a bar code plate 19 and the like are incorporated.

The cartridge body 14 is formed by fitting an upper case 14a and a lower case 14b made of a resin molded product. In the film cartridge 8, the spool 16 is rotated in the feeding direction of the photographic film 15 so that the leading end of the photographic film 15 is fed out of the cartridge main body 14 from the film entrance / exit 17.

The light-shielding lid 18 is rotatably incorporated inside the film entrance / exit 17 formed at the joint between the cases 14a and 14b, and the light-shielding lids 18 are attached to both ends of the film from the outside of the cartridge body 14. An engaging hole 21 (see FIG. 5) having a C-shaped cross section is formed for the purpose of movement.
The engagement holes 21 are exposed from the upper and lower end surfaces of the cartridge body 14, respectively. By inserting the drive shaft into the engagement holes 21 from the outside of the cartridge body 14 and rotating the same, as shown in FIG. The light-blocking lid 18 is rotated between an open position for opening the door and a closed position for closing the film entrance 17 in a light-tight manner as shown in FIG.

The bar code plate 19 has a bar code indicating the film sensitivity of the photographic film 15, the number of images that can be photographed, the type of film, etc. on the disk, and the spool 16
Is rotated together with. The bar code plate 19 is exposed to the outside at one end surface of the cartridge body 14, and data can be read by a bar code reader provided in a device in which the film cartridge 8 such as a camera is used. The display device is composed of a display plate that rotates integrally with the spool 16. The display device is stopped behind one of the display windows 23 when the spool 16 is stopped, and the stored photo film 15 is unused, in the middle of photographing, or already photographed. Externally display the usage status such as developed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lock device comprises a rod-shaped lock pole 25 formed integrally with the upper case 14a, and when the light-shielding lid 18 is rotated to the closed position, the light-shielding on the side of the bar code plate 19 is performed. The lid 18 enters the engaging hole 21 and is locked in the closed position. When the light blocking lid 18 is rotated to the open position, the drive shaft of the development processor or the like elastically deforms the lock pole 25 outward and pushes it out of the engaging hole 21. Rotate to the open position.

As shown in FIG. 1, a rotating member 27 for rotating the lid member 18 from the open position to the closed position is attached to the upper surface 11a of the cartridge chamber 11.
The rotating member 27 is rotatably inserted into the hole 28.
A winding knob for rotating the spool 16 in the film winding direction is rotatably attached to the upper surface 11a, and the winding knob is inserted into the hole 29.

As a mechanism for rotating the lid member 18, in addition to the rotating member 27, a torsion spring 31 and a connecting member 32 for holding the rotating member 27 at the open position of the light shielding lid 18 are assembled. The rotating member 27 includes a shaft portion 27a that is axially supported in the hole 28, an engaging shaft 27b that is inserted into the engaging hole 21 of the light shielding lid 18, and a lever portion 27c that abuts the connecting member 32.
The pin 27d into which the torsion spring 31 is inserted and the spring hooking portion 27e to which one end of the torsion spring 31 is hooked are integrally formed. The torsion spring 31
The other end thereof is hooked on a pin 11b provided upright on the upper surface 11a of the cartridge chamber 11, and the rotating member 27 is urged toward the closed position of the light shielding lid 18 which is the counterclockwise direction in the figure.

The connecting member 32 is made of a rod-shaped thin plate and is held slidably in the vertical direction by two holding portions 34 and 35 integrally formed on the front surface of the cartridge chamber 11. The holding portions 34 and 35 are each a pair of claw members 34.
a and 35a, and a space for housing the connecting member 32 is provided between them.

Claw members 34a, 35a of the holding portions 34, 35
Since the interval is set to be slightly narrower than the width of the connecting member 32, the connecting member 32 cannot slide easily. This is to prevent the coupling member 32 from being inadvertently slid due to vibrations or impacts given to the lens-fitted film unit. Conventionally, since the bottom lid and the connecting member have been engaged with each other, there is a fear that the engaging force may be disengaged if the holding force of the connecting member is strong. However, in the present invention, since the connecting member 32 is operated by the jig, Connection member 3
The holding power of 2 can be strengthened.

At the lower end 32b of the connecting member 32, a protrusion 37 is provided so as to protrude toward the cartridge 11 side. The lower end 32b is provided with an opening 12 for opening formed in the bottom lid 9.
The jig housed inside and inserted through the opening 12 is hooked. The opening 12 is formed on the lower portion of the protrusion 37 by the protruding piece 3
8 is formed and a part is blocked. This protruding piece 38
The jig is hooked when the bottom cover 9 is opened.

6 and 7 and 8, the film cartridge 8 is loaded in the cartridge chamber 11, the rotating member 27, the torsion spring 31, and the connecting member 32 are assembled, and the bottom lid 9 is closed. The internal state of the film unit with a lens of the product is shown. The rotation member 27 is engaged with the engagement shaft 27b in the engagement hole 21 of the light shielding lid 18, and in this state, is biased by the torsion spring 31 in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, which is the closed position of the light shielding lid 18. . However, since the lever portion 27c is in contact with the upper end portion 32a of the connecting member 32, it is held at the open position of the light shielding lid 18.

In the above-described state, the photograph film 15 is photographed by pressing the shutter button and rotating the winding knob. When all the photo films 15 have been photographed and the film cartridge 8 is taken out at a developing place or the like, as shown in FIG. 9, a jig such as a minus driver 39 is opened from the opening 12 of the bottom cover 9 as shown in FIG. Insert a thin stick. And the tip 39a of the minus driver 39
Is hooked on the projection 37 of the connecting member 32, and in this state, the driver 39 is tilted in the direction of prying open the bottom lid 9. As a result, the protrusion 37 of the connecting member 32 is pulled downward, and the inside of the holding portions 34, 35 slides downward.

Although a large force is required to slide the connecting member 32, the tip 39a of the flat-blade screwdriver 39 is used.
Since the force applied to is generated by the principle of leverage with the bottom lid 9 as a fulcrum, the connecting member 32 can actually be easily slid.

When the connecting member 32 is slid downward,
The upper end portion 32 a is moved to the lower side of the rotating member 27. As a result, the rotation member 27 is released from the holding at the open position, and is rotated by the torsion spring 31 in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing as shown in FIG. As a result, the light-shielding lid 18 is also rotated to the closed position, and the film entrance / exit 17 of the film cartridge 8 is closed.

When the tip 39a of the flat-blade screwdriver 39 is further pushed down while being hooked on the projection 37 of the connecting member 32, the protruding piece 38 of the bottom cover 9 is pressed through the projection 37,
As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom cover 9 is pry open to open the cartridge chamber 11. At this time, the connecting member 32 is pulled out from the holding portions 34 and 35 while bending along the opening trajectory of the bottom lid 9.

After that, the film cartridge 8 can be removed from the cartridge chamber 11 in the axial direction.
In this way, the operation of opening the bottom cover 9 can be performed by the connecting member 3
By including the slide operation of 2, since the light-shielding lid 18 is reliably closed and the bottom lid 9 is opened, the photographic film 15 is not exposed to light. Further, the closing operation of the light-shielding lid 18 and the opening of the bottom lid 9 can be continuously performed by one operation, and the efficiency of the operation of taking out the film cartridge 8 can be improved. Moreover, since the rotating member 27 is the only part in which the connecting member 32 is involved, the dimensional control during manufacturing is facilitated and the cost can be reduced. The connecting member 32 includes
It is advisable to provide something like an index so that the mounting position can be recognized when the holder is mounted on the holding portions 34 and 35.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those described in the above embodiment are not described and the same reference numerals are used.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in this embodiment, the connecting member 41 is used to hold the rotating member 27 in the open position.
Is used. The connecting member 41 is axially attached to a pin 43 that is erected on the outer wall surface of the cartridge chamber 11 along the width direction of the lens-fitted film unit by using the axial attachment portion 42 including the hole 42a. It is swingable in the front-back direction of 2. The lever portion 27c of the rotating member 27 is brought into contact with the upper end portion 41a of the connecting member 41 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 31. Also, the lower end portion 41b
Is formed on the back side of the unit body 2 with respect to the shaft mounting portion 42, and is housed in the opening 12 of the bottom lid 9.

The connecting member 41 is provided in the cartridge chamber 11
Rocking is prevented by an elastic member 45 formed on the outer wall surface of the. When the connecting member 41 swings with a strong force, the elastic member 45 is pressed by the connecting member 41 and elastically deforms to allow the connecting member 41 to swing.

To take out the film cartridge 8 from the lens-fitted film unit provided with such a connecting member 41, as shown in FIG. 14, insert a minus driver 39 into the opening 12 and press the lower end portion 41b of the connecting member 41. To do. As a result, the connecting member 41 swings around the shaft attachment portion 42 with a strong force that deforms the elastic member 45, the contact between the upper end portion 41a and the lever portion 27c is released, and the rotating member 27 causes the light shielding lid 18 to move. Is rotated toward the closed position. After that, the bottom cover 9 can be opened by using the minus driver 39 using the protruding piece 38 in the opening 12, and the film cartridge 8 can be taken out.

In the present embodiment, as a part of the work for opening the bottom lid 9, the light shielding lid 18 can be closed simply by inserting the jig (minus driver 39) into the opening 12, and then the operation is continued. The bottom lid 9 can be opened. Further, since the lower end portion 41b of the connecting member 41 is formed so as to be displaced with respect to the shaft attaching portion 42, the swinging direction of the connecting member 41 can be made constant. Moreover, since the elastic member 45 prevents the connecting member 41 from swinging, the connecting member 41 does not inadvertently swing. In addition,
Although the elastic member is formed on the outer wall surface of the cartridge chamber, it may be formed integrally with the front cover or the connecting member itself. Furthermore, the swinging direction of the connecting member is not limited.

15 and 16 show still another embodiment of the present invention. The connecting member 48 used in the present embodiment is slidably held by the holding portions 49 and 50 with a strong holding force, and the lever 27c of the rotating member 27 is brought into contact with the upper end portion 48a. A bent portion 51 that does not interfere with the lever portion 27c when facing the lever portion 27c is formed below the upper end portion 48a. Further, the lower end portion 48b of the connecting member 48 is housed in the opening 12, and a protrusion is formed so that it can be easily pressed by the jig.

To take out the film cartridge 8 from the lens-fitted film unit provided with such a connecting member 48, as shown in FIG. 17, insert a slotted screwdriver 39 into the opening 12 and press the lower end 48b of the connecting member 48. To do. As a result, the connecting member 48 has the holding portions 49, 5
The inside of 0 is slid upward, and the bent portion 51 reaches the position facing the lever portion 27c. Lever part 27c
Since the bent portion 51 does not interfere with the bent portion 51, the rotating member 27 is rotated to the closed position of the light shielding lid 18. After that, the bottom cover 9 can be opened by using the minus driver 39 using the protruding piece 38 in the opening 12, and the film cartridge 8 can be taken out.

Also in this embodiment, as a part of the work for opening the bottom lid 9, a jig (minus driver 3
By simply inserting 9) into the opening 12, the light shielding lid 18 can be closed, and thereafter the bottom lid 9 can be continuously opened. Although the bent portion releases the contact of the turning member with the lever portion, a cutout or the like may be used instead depending on the shape of the connecting member.

In each of the above embodiments, the connecting member is provided on the front side of the cartridge chamber, but it may be on the side or the back side. In addition to the torsion spring, a coil spring or a leaf spring may be used. Further, when the bottom lid is opened by the jig, the light-shielding lid of the film cartridge is rotated to the closed position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to a lens-fitted film unit in which a take-out lid provided on the side surface of the cartridge chamber or on the back side of the cartridge chamber is opened to take out the film cartridge.

[0041]

As described above, in the lens-fitted film unit of the present invention, when the bottom lid is opened by the jig, the lower end of the connecting member is first displaced by the jig to rotate the rotating member. After releasing the holding of, I decided to open the bottom lid,
Since the light shield lid is securely closed and the bottom lid is opened,
The problem that the photographic film is exposed to light does not occur.

Further, since the connecting member is directly operated by the jig, the connecting member can be reliably operated with a strong force, and the holding force of the connecting member can be further strengthened. It is possible to prevent malfunctions of the connecting member without the careless movement of the connecting member due to vibration or shock applied to the film unit.

Further, the component directly related to the connecting member is only the rotating member. Since the upper end portion of the connecting member and the rotating member may be brought into contact with each other and the lower end portion may be arranged in the vicinity of the opening, the connecting member may be used. Does not require strict size control and can reduce costs.

Further, since the connecting member is displaced only by performing an operation of prying open the bottom lid or an operation of pushing it in using a jig, no difficult work is required. Furthermore, since the operation of the connecting member is a simple operation such as sliding or swinging, the reliability is low and there is little failure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration near a cartridge chamber of a lens-fitted film unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the lens-fitted film unit as seen from the lower surface side.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the film cartridge with the light-shielding lid in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the film cartridge with the light-shielding lid in a closed position.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a lock device for a light-shielding lid.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing an assembled state of each component near the cartridge chamber.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state of the upper surface of the cartridge chamber when the light shielding lid is opened.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when the light shielding lid is opened.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when the light shielding lid is closed.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state of the upper surface of the cartridge chamber when the light shielding lid is closed.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when the bottom cover is opened.

FIG. 12 is an external perspective view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the cartridge chamber of another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when another embodiment of the present invention is used to open the light shielding lid.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when the light-shielding lid is closed according to another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an external perspective view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a cartridge chamber according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when the light-shielding lid is opened according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the cartridge chamber when the light shielding lid is closed according to still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 unit main body 8 film cartridge 9 bottom lid 11 cartridge chamber 12 opening 14 cartridge main body 15 photo film 17 film entrance / exit 18 light-shielding lid 27 turning member 27c lever portion 31 torsion spring 32, 41, 48 connecting member 34, 35, 49, 50 Holding part 37 Projection 38 Projecting piece 39 Minus driver 45 Elastic member 51 Bending part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A film cartridge having a light-blocking lid rotatable between a closed position for closing the film entrance and an open position for opening the film entrance is housed in a cartridge chamber whose bottom is covered with a bottom cover. A rotating member that engages with the end of the light shielding lid at the upper part of the chamber, a spring that urges the rotating member toward the closed position of the light shielding lid, and a vertically arranged member near the cartridge chamber. In a lens-fitted film unit having a connecting member for holding the rotating member in the open position against the bias of the spring at the upper end, a jig for opening the bottom lid is inserted near the bottom lid. Is formed, and the lower end of the connecting member is displaced by the jig between the insertion of the jig into the opening and the opening of the bottom lid, and the holding of the rotating member by the upper end is released. Characterized by Lens-fitted photo film unit that. 2. The connecting member is slidably attached to the outer wall of the cartridge chamber along the up-down direction, and a protrusion formed at the lower end is hooked by a jig inserted from the opening to perform a prying operation. The lens-fitted film unit according to claim 1, wherein the film slides downward to release the holding of the rotating member at the upper end. 3. The connecting member is swingably attached to the outer wall of the cartridge chamber, and swings when the lower end portion is pressed by a jig inserted through the opening, so that the connecting member The lens-fitted film unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding of the rotating member is released. 4. Abutment against the connecting member to prevent swinging,
4. The lens-fitted film unit according to claim 3, further comprising an elastic member that elastically deforms by the swinging force of the connecting member when the lower end portion is pressed to allow swinging. 5. The connecting member is slidably attached to the outer wall of the cartridge chamber in the vertical direction, and a bent portion is provided below the upper end portion so as not to interfere with the rotating member. A jig inserted from the opening presses the lower end of the jig to slide it upward, and the bent portion is moved to a position facing the rotating member, whereby the holding of the rotating member is released. Item 1. A film unit with a lens according to item 1.