JPH0996853A - Lens cover mechanism for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the exposed or shielded state of a lens by assisting the opening/closing operations of a lens cover, without using a coil spring. SOLUTION: In this lens cover mechanism which is provided with the lens cover 2 retractably arranged in front of the lens 9 of a camera and links a knob 4 to the cover 2 with a lever 3, to drive the cover 2 by the sliding operation for switching of the knob 4, the cover 2 is turned in front of the lens 9, in such a manner that a base end part is pivotally supported 20 by a chassis 1, the top end of the base end part of the cover 2 and the knob 4 are engaged with both end parts of the lever 3 whose center is pivotally supported 31 by the chassis 1 respectively and the lever 3 is provided with an eccentric cam surface 30 with respect to the pivotally supporting point 31 and a leaf spring 5 for always pressing the cam surface 30 on the chassis 1. Further, the leaf spring 5 presses one of the cam surfaces 30 on both sides of an upper dead point on the cam surface, over this upper dead point and the cover 2 keeps a state where the lens 9 is exposed or shielded in front.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens cover mechanism for shielding and protecting a lens of a camera such as an optical camera, a digital camera and a PC camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a camera is not used, the lens (9) is covered by a lens cover (2) in order to prevent light from entering the camera lens (9) and adhesion of dust. . The lens cover (2) opens or shields the lens (9) portion of the camera by rotating or linearly moving the cover (2) provided inside or outside the camera. A coil spring (50) is conventionally used in order to perform the opening / closing operation swiftly and appropriately and to keep the state even when an external force is applied to the camera, and the cover (2) is urged by the biasing force of the spring (50). Cover to assist opening and closing
The open or shielded state of the lens (9) by (2) is maintained.

5 and 6 show a conventional mechanism for linearly moving the lens cover (2) to open or close the lens (9) and the exposure opening (60), which is a reciprocating motion. A knob (4) that swings around a pivot (31)
One end of (3) is connected by a pin (33), the other end of the lever (3) is connected by a pin (32) to the lens cover (2), and the reciprocating movement of the knob (4) is performed by the lens cover ( It is converted to the reciprocating linear motion of 2). Pin (32) at the end of lever (3) and lens cover (2)
A coil spring (50) is stretched between the projecting piece (23) arranged in the upper part. When the lens (9) of FIG. 6 (a) is opened, the coil spring (50) applies a moment of a clockwise force to the lever (3) and holds the state. Next in FIG.
To keep the lens (9) in (b) blocked, turn the knob
When (4) is moved, the tensile force of the coil spring (50) becomes stronger,
It reaches its maximum at a position where the lever (3) and the coil spring (50) are parallel to each other, and when this top dead center is exceeded, the coil spring (50) applies a counterclockwise force moment to the lever (3), and the knob (4) 6) is accelerated, and in the shielded state, the shielded state is maintained as shown in FIG. 6B. The movement from the shielded state to the exposed state is also the same as described above.

[0004]

However, when a coil spring is used, a structure for hooking the spring is required, which complicates the structure and the assembling process. In addition, when the coil springs are transported, stored, or assembled for the assembly work, the coil springs are easily entangled with each other, and it takes time and time to unwind the coil springs, and the work efficiency is reduced. An object of the present invention is to clarify a mechanism capable of assisting the opening / closing operation of the lens cover and maintaining the state thereof without using a coil spring.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems,
The present invention is configured as follows. The lens cover is pivotally supported at the base end on the chassis to rotate in front of the lens, and the tip end of the base end of the lens cover and the knob are respectively engaged to both ends of a lever whose center is pivotally supported on the chassis. Stop.
The lever includes an eccentric cam surface with respect to the pivot, and a leaf spring on the chassis that constantly presses the cam surface. The leaf spring pushes one of the cam surfaces on both sides of the top dead center beyond the top dead center of the eccentric cam surface, and the lens cover holds the front of the lens in an open or shielded state.

[0006]

When the lens cover shields the lens, the leaf spring urges one side of the cam of the lever to hold the cover at the cover position. Next, when the knob is driven and moved, the leaf spring moves beyond the top dead center of the cam and urges the other side of the cam to apply a force in the direction in which the cover exposes the lens, and Accelerate the rotation to open the lens. At this time, the leaf spring keeps pushing the same side on the cam, so that the cover holds the open position. When blocking the lens, when the knob is driven and moved in the opposite direction, the leaf spring urges one side beyond the top dead center of the cam and the cover shields the lens. The lens is shielded and held by being accelerated in the direction to.

[0007]

[Effect] Since the coil spring is removed and the above-mentioned action is realized by using the leaf spring and the cam, the structure is simplified. Further, during the assembling work, it is not entangled like a coil spring, so that the assembling workability is good and the working efficiency can be improved.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the right and left directions are from the outside of the camera toward the front of the camera. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a ring (6) having an opening (60) for exposing the camera is arranged on the back surface of the chassis (1) and fixed by screws or the like.
On the ring (6), a pin (61) serving as a rotation shaft of a lens cover (2) described below is provided projecting obliquely below the opening (60), and a rotation shaft of a lever (3) described below. The pin (62) is formed so as to project below the pin (61).

Next, the lens cover (2), the lever (3), the knob (4) and the leaf spring which constitute the lens cover mechanism of the present invention.
(5) is deployed. The lens cover (2) has the pin (61)
Hole (20) that fits into the hole and the opening (6) of the ring (6)
(0) is opened and closed, and a groove (2) opened on the opposite side of the cover (21) with respect to the hole (20) and engaged with the lever (3).
2) and are formed. The lens cover (2) is rotatably supported by the pin (61) of the ring (6). The knob (4) is provided with a groove (40) for engaging the lever (3) in the upper part and a knob (42) protruding in the central part. The knob (42) fits in a groove (10) slidably provided in the chassis (1) at a position diagonally below the ring (6) so that the knob (42) can slide. lever
(3) is a hole (31) that fits into the pin (62) of the ring (6)
And a pin (32) which engages with the groove (22) of the lens cover (2),
The knob (32) is provided on the opposite side of the pin (32) with respect to the hole (31).
A pin (33) engaging with (4) and an eccentric cam surface (30) for the hole (31) are formed. Lever (3) is a ring
It is pivotally supported by a pin (62) of (6). The leaf spring (5) in which the tip of the metal plate is formed in a V shape constantly pressurizes the cam surface (30), and exceeds the top dead center of the cam surface (30), and the cam surfaces on both sides of the top dead center. Chassis (1) so that either one of them is pressed
Deployed on.

A holder (8) formed so as to cover the lens cover mechanism is provided to prevent the lens cover mechanism from moving other than desired rotation and sliding.
It is fixed to the chassis (1). In order to interlock the opening / closing operation by the lens cover mechanism and the on / off operation of the power switch (7), the protruding piece (4
1), the power switch (7) is provided below the ring (6) and on the left side of the knob (4) in the chassis (1), and the switch lever (70) is provided below the power switch (7). To be done. The switch lever (70) is on when it is on the right side,
Off on the left side, biased to the right. By the sliding switching operation of the knob (4), the protruding piece (41)
Moves the switch lever (70) to turn the power on and off.

At this time, the lens cover mechanism and the like described above are
When viewed from the front of the camera, the structure is as shown in FIG. When the lens cover (2) opens the lens (9), the leaf spring (5) moves to the cam (3) of the lever (3) as shown in FIG. 3 (a).
Since the counterclockwise force is applied to the lever (3) by urging the lower side of (0), the lens cover (2) is
A clockwise force is applied to the knob (4) via the pin (32) of (3).
Receives a rightward force through the pin (33) of the lever (3). Therefore, the lens cover (2) and the knob (4) hold the open position. Further, the knob (4) is located on the right side, and the protruding piece (41) of the knob (4) is the switch lever (70).
The power switch (7) is in the ON state without pressing. At this time, when the knob (42) of the knob (4) is driven and moved to the left, the lever (3) rotates clockwise, so that the lens cover (2) rotates counterclockwise, that is, the lens (9). ) Rotate in the direction to shield. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the leaf spring 5 reaches a position beyond the top dead center of the cam 30 of the lever 3. During this time, the leaf spring (5) continues to urge the lower piece of the cam (30), so that the knob (42) causes the leaf spring (5) to move.
Must be driven against the bias of. Further moving the knob (42) to the left will cause the leaf spring (5) to
The upper side of the cam (30) is urged beyond the top dead center of the (30), accelerating the rotation of the cover (2), and as shown in FIG.
As described above, the lens (9) is shielded. At this time, the knob (4)
Is moved to the left, the protruding piece (41) of the knob (4) pushes the switch lever (70), and the power switch (7) is turned off. Leaf spring (5) when blocking the lens (9)
Remains biased on the upper side of the cam (30), the cover (2) receives a counterclockwise force and the knob (4) receives a leftward force. Therefore, the cover (2) and the knob (4) hold the shielding position. Knob to open lens (9)
Drive knob (42) of (4) to move it to the right,
The leaf spring (5) urges the lower side beyond the top dead center of the cam (30), the cover (2) is accelerated clockwise, and the lens (9).
Open and hold. At this time, when the knob (4) moves to the right, the switch lever (70) moves to the right due to its own biasing force, and the power switch (7) is turned on.

As described above, the opening / closing operation of the lens cover (2) can be realized by using the leaf spring (5) and the eccentric cam (30). Since the leaf spring (5) is attached by screws, dowels, etc. like other components, the structure is simple and the assembling workability is good. Further, unlike the coil spring (50), the springs are not entangled with each other, so that the work efficiency can be improved accordingly. Also, in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lens cover (2),
Since the power switch (7) can be switched, there is no waste. The components other than the leaf spring (5) and the power switch (7) are preferably made of plastic from the viewpoint of light weight and moldability. Further, although the lens cover (2) and the lever (3) are pivotally supported by the ring (6) fixed to the chassis (1) in this embodiment, they may be pivotally supported by the chassis (1) itself. The pivot position can be freely selected as long as it is a position fixed to the chassis (1) and the chassis (1) and a position where the operation of the present invention can be performed.

The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope. or,
The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion related to the lens cover mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an operation in the embodiment,
(A) shows the lens open state, (b) shows the state of exceeding the top dead center, and (c) shows the lens blocking state.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in which only the holder is removed in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a camera including a conventional lens cover mechanism.

6A and 6B are schematic diagrams showing the operation of a conventional lens cover mechanism, in which FIG. 6A shows a lens open state and FIG. 6B shows a lens blocking state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Chassis (2) Lens cover (3) Lever (4) Knob (5) Leaf spring (9) Lens (30) Eccentric cam

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lens cover in front of a lens (9) of a camera
(2) is installed so that it can appear and disappear, and a lever is attached to the lens cover (2)
In the lens cover mechanism in which the knob (4) is connected via (3) and the lens cover (2) is driven by the sliding switching operation of the knob (4), the lens cover (2) has 1) pivotal (20)
Then, while rotating in front of the lens, the lens cover
The tip of the base end of (2) and the knob (4) are respectively locked to both ends of a lever (3) pivotally supported (31) on the chassis (1), and the lever (3) is a pivotal fulcrum. An eccentric cam surface (30) is provided for the (31), and a leaf spring (5) for constantly pressing the cam surface (30) is provided on the chassis (1). A lens of a camera in which the lens cover (2) holds the front of the lens (9) in an open or closed state by pressing one of the cam surfaces (30) on both sides of the top dead center beyond the top dead center (30). Cover mechanism. 2. A power switch (7) is provided on the chassis (1) corresponding to the sliding end of the knob (4) in the opening direction of the lens (9),
2. The lens cover mechanism for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the main power of the camera is turned on and off at the same time that the lens cover (2) opens or shields the front of the lens (9) by sliding the knob (4).