JPH10104706A - Opening/closing cover mechanism and lens cover for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the wearing on a ball rolling contact surface by pressing a ball on the ball rolling contact surface with very small force, in the process of reciprocating a lens cover between a closing position and an opening position. SOLUTION: The ball 81 comes into rolling contact with the ball rolling contact surface 84, in accordance with the sliding of the lens cover 2. When this lens cover 2 reaches just the front of the closing or opening position, the ball 81 rides on projected pieces 85a and 85b against elastic energization. When the lens cover 2 is further moved to reach the closing or opening position, the ball 81 is fitted into a recessed part 86 by the elastic energization, to softly restrain the lens cover 2. At this time, the ball rolling contact surface 84 is formed to be lower than the height of the projected pieces 85a and 85b, that is, the height position of a conventional ball rolling contact surface, so that elastic energizing force which is exerted on the ball 81, in the rolling contact process with the ball rolling contact surface 84 is made smaller than that when the ball 81 is in rolling contact with the conventional ball rolling contact surface. Therefore, force exerted on the rolling contact surface 84 by the rolling contact of the ball 81 is made smaller than that in a conventional manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening / closing cover mechanism in which an opening / closing cover is slidably engaged with a front surface of a panel, and more specifically, a lens cover for opening and closing the front surface of a taking lens. The present invention relates to a lens cover mechanism in various cameras.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a compact camera, for example, a lens cover for opening and closing the front surface of a photographing lens is slidably mounted on a casing on which the photographing lens is mounted. It is defined by a soft locking mechanism provided at the opposing part of the lid and the casing. The soft locking mechanism, for example, forms a ball rolling surface on the inner surface of the lens lid and forms a pair of recesses at both ends of the ball rolling surface, while forming a cylindrical hole on the surface of the casing. A steel ball and a spring are accommodated in the cylindrical hole. In the soft locking mechanism, the closed position of the lens cover is defined by fitting a ball urged by a spring into one concave portion of the lens cover, and then the ball is moved by sliding of the lens cover. By fitting into the other recess via the ball rolling surface,
The opening position of the lens lid is defined.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned soft locking mechanism, the spring always maintains a compressed state in order to obtain a required soft locking force with the ball fitted in the concave portion. In the process of rolling the ball on the ball rolling surface, the spring is further compressed, the urging force against the ball increases, and the ball is pressed strongly against the ball rolling surface. It will roll on the rolling surface. Here, while the ball is made of steel, the ball rolling surface is formed of a material having relatively low strength such as ABS resin. Therefore, there is a problem that the ball rolling surface is worn by repeating opening and closing of the lens cover, which eventually hinders opening and closing of the lens cover.

An object of the present invention is to prevent wear of a ball rolling surface in an opening / closing lid mechanism such as a lens lid mechanism of a camera.

[0005]

In the opening / closing lid mechanism according to the present invention, a ball elastically biased toward the opening / closing lid is restrained from freely rotating and moving along the panel surface on the front surface of the panel. A ball rolling surface is formed on the inner surface of the opening / closing lid, on which the ball rolls as the opening / closing lid slides, and the opening / closing lid is closed at both ends of the ball rolling surface. Immediately before reaching the position or the open position, a pair of protrusions over which the ball should ride is formed, and the ball is fitted to the outside of the pair of protrusions when the opening / closing lid reaches the close position or the open position. A pair of recesses to be inserted are formed. In the lens cover mechanism of the camera in which the opening and closing cover mechanism of the present invention is implemented, a ball (81) elastically biased toward the lens cover (2) is provided on the front surface of the casing (1) facing the lens cover (2). Are installed so as to be freely rotatable and restricted from moving in the direction along the casing surface. Meanwhile, the lens lid (2)
A ball rolling surface (84) on which the ball (81) rolls with the sliding of the lens cover (2) is formed on the inner surface of the lens, and both ends of the ball rolling surface (84) In a position immediately before the lens cover (2) reaches the closed position or the open position, a pair of projections to be passed by the ball (81) is formed, and outside the pair of projections, the lens cover (2) is formed. When the ball reaches the closed position or the opened position, a pair of recesses (8
6) (86) is formed.

[0006] In the above lens cover mechanism, the lens cover
With the sliding of (2), the ball (81) rolls on the ball rolling surface (84), and when the lens cover (2) reaches just before the closed position or the opened position, the ball (81) is When the lens lid (2) moves to the closed position or the open position against the elastic piece against the elastic bias, and the lens cover (2) moves to the closed position or the open position, the ball (81) is depressed by the elastic bias.
(86), and softly locks the lens cover (2). Here, the ball rolling surface (84) is formed to be lower than the height of the protruding piece, that is, the height position of the conventional ball rolling surface, so that the ball (81) is the ball rolling surface of the present invention. (84) The elastic biasing force received in the process of rolling on the ball is smaller than the conventional elastic biasing force when rolling on the ball rolling surface. Therefore, the force applied to the ball rolling surface (84) by the rolling of the ball (81) is smaller than in the prior art, thereby preventing wear of the ball rolling surface (84).

[0007] In a specific configuration, the pair of protruding pieces are formed of a material having better wear resistance than the material forming the ball rolling surface (84). According to the specific configuration, when the ball (81) gets over the projecting piece, the projecting piece
Damage and wear due to the force received from 1) can be prevented.

In a specific configuration, the lens cover (2)
The closing position and the opening position are defined by a stopper mechanism formed at a portion facing the casing (1). When the lens cover (2) reaches the closing position or the opening position, the ball (81) is pushed out. It comes into contact with only one corner of the piece and fits into the concave portion (86) while maintaining a non-contact state with other members of the lens lid (2). According to the specific configuration, the lens cover (2)
When the ball is moved to the closed or open position, the ball (8
1) does not collide with other members of the lens lid (2), and the ball (81)
Is received only by the protruding piece. Therefore, other members of the lens cover (2) do not receive a force from the ball (81), and damage and abrasion due to opening and closing of the lens cover (2) are avoided.

[0009]

According to the opening and closing cover mechanism and the lens cover mechanism of the camera according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent wear of the ball rolling surface due to opening and closing of the opening and closing cover (lens cover). ) Can be maintained smoothly for a long time.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital still camera will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The overall structure of the digital still camera is an AB having a front case half (11) and a rear case half (12) joined as shown in FIG.
A casing (1) made of S resin is provided with a lens (10) for photographing on the front, a viewfinder (15) on the back, a shutter button (13) on the top, and a display panel ( 14) is located. Also, in the casing (1),
A lens cover (2) for opening and closing the front surface of the lens (10) is operably mounted. That is, the lens cover (2)
The upper and lower ends are bent toward the casing (1), and the casing (1) is provided with a pair of rails (5) and (51) extending horizontally up and down across the lens (10). Formed,
The upper end and the lower end of the lens cover (2) are slidably engaged with the rails (5) and (51). In addition, casing (1)
Is formed from a curved surface that bulges forward, and the rails (5) and (51) are curved accordingly.
(2) reciprocates along an arc along the rails (5) and (51).

[0011] Inside the casing (1), a power supply 4 is provided.
A battery box (4) for accommodating three AA batteries is formed, and a battery cover (3) for opening and closing the battery box (4) is provided on the bottom surface of the casing (1) as shown in FIG. Installed. The battery lid (3) has two pivots (31) (31) at its base end projecting in opposite directions to each other.
(31) By engaging the casing (1) with the casing (1), the battery lid (3) is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable. You. A knob (30) for unlocking the battery cover (3) protrudes from the battery cover (3) in the recess (32).
Also, on the inner surface of the battery cover (3), first and second electrode plates (6) (61) for connecting different-polarity terminals of two batteries respectively.
Are fixed with screws.

The lens cover (2) is specifically shown in FIGS.
Are slidably mounted on the front surface of the casing (1) by guide mechanisms (7) and (7) shown in FIG. Is done. As shown in FIG. 4, a power switch (90) for supplying power to an electric circuit of the camera body is mounted on the inner surface of the casing (1).
A switch mechanism (86) for switching the power switch (90) from off to on in conjunction with the movement of the lens cover (2) from the closed position to the open position is connected to the switch mechanism (86). Next, the guide mechanism
(7) The specific structures of the soft locking mechanism (8) and the switch mechanism (96) will be described.

[0013] guide mechanism (7) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the casing (1) in the upper and lower ends of the front, above the rail (5) (51) are formed, these rails (5) Guide grooves (52) and (52) extending along the longitudinal direction of the rail are formed in the back of (51). As described above, the rails (5) and (51) are curved, and the guide grooves (52) and (52) are curved accordingly. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a lens cover is provided above and below the lens (10) on the front surface of the casing (1).
A pair of ridges (70) (70) extending in the sliding direction of (2) are formed.

On the other hand, a pair of bases (71) (71) made of polyacetal (POM) resin are adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the lens cover (2) at upper and lower ends thereof. )
Two engagement pins (72) (7) protruding toward the mating base (71)
2) is molded integrally. On the inner surface of the lens cover (2), a pair of sliding sheets made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene resin are provided at positions facing the ridges (70) and (70) of the casing (1).
(73) and (73) are adhered and fixed. The inner surface of the lens cover (2) has a flat surface in the vicinity of the pair of sliding sheets (73) and (73), and accordingly, the surface of the sliding sheet (73) also forms a flat surface. . In addition, a pair of ribs (20) (20) protrude from both ends of the inner surface of the lens cover (2).

As shown in FIG. 3, the lens cover (2) is a casing (1).
In this state, two engaging pins (72) to (72) arranged respectively on the upper and lower sides of the lens cover (2) fit into the guide grooves (52) and (52) of the casing (1). In addition, the peripheral surface of each engaging pin (72) is a vertical guide surface (52a) of the guide groove (52) (52) on the lens lid (2) side.
And the sliding sheet (73) (73) of the lens lid (2).
And the ridges (70) and (70) of the casing (1) are in sliding contact with each other.
(See FIG. 5). As a result, the lens cover (2) is slidably supported by the casing (1) without being in contact with the surface of the casing (1). Since the engaging pin (72) and the sliding sheet (73) are made of a material having a small friction coefficient as described above, the lens cover (2) can be moved with a small force.

As described above, the rails (5) and (5) of the casing (1) are
1) and the ridge (70) have a curved shape bulging forward of the casing (1).
The supporting state of (2) is as shown in FIG.
(72) The casing (1) is sandwiched between the front and rear by the (72) and the sliding sheet (73). The sliding direction of the lens cover (2) is determined by contact points P0, P1, P2 shown in the drawing. 3
Since it is based on point support, rails (5) (51) and ridges (7
Even if there is some error in the curved shape of (0), the lens lid
(2) slides smoothly without rattling between the closed position and the open position.

Soft locking mechanism (8) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, on the inner surface of the casing (1),
Lens mounting hole (1
On the side of 6), a cylindrical piece (80) is projected vertically, and a pair of fixing bosses (17) (17) and a positioning boss (95) are projected. The cylindrical piece (80) is provided with a through hole (80a) extending to the surface of the casing (1). The through hole (80a) has a steel ball (81) and a lens cover (81). (2) A coil spring (82) for urging toward the side is housed. Then, a retaining member (9) that covers the opening edge of the cylindrical piece (80) and prevents the coil spring (82) in the compressed state from coming off is engaged with the positioning boss (95) to perform positioning. At the same time, it is screwed and fixed to the pair of fixing bosses (17) (17). The retaining member (9) is provided with a shaft piece (94) projecting into the central space of the coil spring (82) (see FIG. 6), whereby the coil spring in the cylindrical piece (80) is provided. (82) and the buckling deformation are prevented.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner surface of the lens cover (2) is opposed to the through hole (80a) of the casing (1), and the ball (81) is moved as the lens cover (2) slides. ) Is formed in a belt-like shape along the sliding direction of the lens cover (2), and the ball rolling surface (84) is located above and below the ball rolling surface (84). A pair of guide strips (83) (83) for preventing dropping of (81) is protruded. Furthermore, lens cover (2)
A frame (85) made of polycarbonate resin is fixed to the inner surface of the frame so as to surround the pair of guide strips (83) and (83). A predetermined distance is provided between a pair of left and right vertical frame pieces (85a) (85b) constituting the frame body (85) and ribs (20) (20) protruding from both ends of the lens cover (2). A pair of left and right recesses (86) (86) into which the ball (81) is to be fitted in the closed state and the open state of the lens cover (2) are formed at intervals.

The vertical frame pieces (85a) and (85b) are formed higher than the height of the ball rolling surface (84) as shown in FIG. 6, and the balls (81) urged by the coil spring (82). Moves over the step between the ball rolling surface (84) and the vertical frame pieces (85a) (85b) against the bias of the coil spring (82), and
4) By fitting into the recess (86) from the lens lid,
(2) is softly locked at the closed position or the open position. Here, the closed position and the open position of the lens cover (2) are
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stopper (50) projecting from the front surface of the casing (1) is defined by contacting the ribs (20) (20) projecting from both ends of the lens cover (2).

With the lens cover (2) completely closed,
The ball (81) fits into the concave portion (86) on the left side as shown by a solid line in FIG.
While being in contact with the corner of 5a), the lens lid (2) is kept out of contact with the rib (20). When the lens cover (2) is completely opened, the ball (81) fits into the concave portion (86) on the right side as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure. Is kept in contact with the ribs (20) of the lens lid (2) while being in contact with the corners of the vertical frame piece (85b).
Therefore, the ribs (2) having lower strength than the vertical frame pieces (85a) (85b)
0) is not damaged by the collision of the ball (81) with the opening and closing of the lens cover (2). In addition, vertical frame pieces (85a) (85b)
Is directly impacted by the ball (81), but is made of hard polycarbonate resin, so that there is no fear of abrasion or damage.

When the ball (81) is rolling on the ball rolling surface (84) of the lens cover (2) as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 6, the coil spring (82) has a natural length. It will extend to a length close to. Therefore, in the process of reciprocating the lens cover (2) between the closed position and the open position, the ball (81) is pressed against the ball rolling surface (84) with only a small force,
There is no fear that the ball rolling surface (84) will be worn. Also, lens lid
The force required to move (2) is minimal.

In assembling the soft locking mechanism (8), first, the lens cover (2) is engaged with the front surface of the casing (1), and then the cylindrical piece (80) is inserted from the inner side of the casing (1). ) Through hole
The coil spring (82) is prevented from coming off by inserting the ball (81) and the coil spring (82) into (80a) and further fixing the retaining member (9) with screws. Therefore,
The assembling work is easy, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Switch mechanism (96) As shown in FIG. 4, the above-mentioned power switch (90) is attached to the retaining member (9) fixed to the inner surface of the casing (1). A switch piece (90a) for on / off operation protrudes toward the inner surface of the casing (1). The casing (1) is provided with a vertically extending slot (18) at a portion facing the retaining member (9), and a guide pin (19) is protruded below the slot. Between the inner surface of the casing (1) and the retaining member (9),
Turn the switch piece (90a) of the power switch (90) directly on /
A slide piece (91) for turning off is provided. The slide piece (91) is provided with a slide pin (93) that fits loosely into the long hole (18) of the casing (1), and the casing (1)
An elongated hole (92) in which the guide pin (19) is loosely fitted is formed vertically long. Thus, the slide piece (91) is supported by the casing (1) so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The slide pin (93) of the slide piece (91) penetrates the long hole (18) of the casing (1), and the tip end thereof is a lens cover.
(2) It protrudes to the side.

On the other hand, a cam groove (21) is provided on the inner surface of the lens lid (2).
The tip of a slide pin (93) projecting from the casing (1) is slidably engaged with the cam groove (21). Therefore, when the lens cover (2) is moved right and left, the slide pin (93) is driven by the cam groove (21), and the slide piece (91) moves up and down. The slide piece (9
The switch piece (90a) of the power switch (90) is interposed in the movement path of (1). Here, the cam groove (21) has a cam curve designed to move the slide piece (91) from the lower moving end to the upper movement by moving from the closed position to the open position of the lens cover (2). . Therefore, the lens lid
The power switch (90) is off with (2) closed, but when the lens cover (2) is opened, the power switch (90) turns off in conjunction with the movement of the lens cover (2). Is turned on, and as a result, power is supplied to the electric circuit of the camera body.

The power switch (90) is also provided in a conventional digital still camera, and the power switch (9)
In order to attach the power switch (9) to the inner surface of the casing (1), some attachment member was necessary. In the present embodiment, the power switch (9) is attached to the retaining member (9) constituting the soft locking mechanism (8).
By attaching (0), the number of parts is reduced.

The description of the above embodiments is for the purpose of describing the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof.
Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described digital still camera, but can be applied to various cameras having a lens cover and other opening / closing lid mechanisms.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital still camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 3A shows the structure of a guide mechanism and a soft locking mechanism.
It is sectional drawing which follows -A.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a guide mechanism, a soft locking mechanism, and a switch mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view illustrating the function of a guide mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the operation of the soft locking mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Casing (2) Lens cover (5) Rail (51) Rail (52) Guide groove (7) Guide mechanism (70) Ridge (72) Engagement pin (73) Sliding seat (8) Soft locking mechanism (80) Cylindrical piece (80a) Through hole (81) Ball (82) Coil spring (84) Ball rolling surface (85a) Vertical frame piece (85b) Vertical frame piece (86) Recess (9) Retaining member (96 ) Switch mechanism (90) Power switch (91) Slide piece (21) Cam groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] In an opening / closing mechanism in which an opening / closing lid is slidably engaged with a front surface of a panel, a ball elastically urged toward the opening / closing lid side is freely rotatable along the panel surface on the front surface of the panel. The ball rolling surface on which the ball rolls with the sliding of the opening / closing lid is formed on the inner surface of the opening / closing lid, and both ends of the ball rolling surface are formed on the inner surface of the opening / closing lid. At a position immediately before the opening / closing lid reaches the closing position or the opening position, a pair of protruding pieces that the ball should get over is formed,
An opening / closing lid mechanism, characterized in that a pair of recesses into which a ball is to be fitted when the opening / closing lid reaches a closed position or an open position is formed outside the pair of projecting pieces. 2. A lens cover (2) is slidably engaged with a front surface of a casing (1), and the front surface of a photographing lens (10) is opened and closed by sliding operation of the lens cover (2). In a possible camera lens lid mechanism, the front of the casing (1)
A ball (81) elastically urged toward the lens cover (2) is installed so as to be freely rotatable and restrained from moving in the direction along the casing surface. The lens cover (2) is provided on the inner surface of the lens cover (2). A ball rolling surface (84) on which the ball (81) should roll with the sliding of the ball (81) is formed, and at both ends of the ball rolling surface (84),
Immediately before the lens cover (2) reaches the closed position or the open position, a pair of projections over which the ball (81) is to climb is formed, and outside the pair of projections, the lens lid (2) is closed. A lens cover mechanism for a camera, wherein a pair of concave portions (86), (86) into which the ball (81) is to be fitted when reaching the position or the open position is formed. 3. The lens cover mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the pair of projecting pieces are formed of a material having better wear resistance than the material forming the ball rolling surface (84). 4. The lens cover (2) has a closed position and an open position defined by a stopper mechanism formed at a portion facing the casing (1), and the lens cover (2) has reached the closed position or the open position. At this point, the ball (81) comes into contact with only the corner of the protruding piece and fits into the concave portion (86) while keeping the other members of the lens cover (2) out of contact. Item 4. The lens cover mechanism according to Item 3.