JPH10178572A - Rotary cover opening/closing device of camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which has high reliability and excellent operability, saves space and is realizable by making the rotational center of an arm of a twisting coil spring which is provided on a rotary cover slide on the rotary cover. SOLUTION: A rotary 6 is always pressed against a receiving plane 17c of a 2nd holding member 17 by the spring pressing force of a twisting coil spring 19, and prevented from rotating at a closed position when it is below an optional rotary force. When the cover 6 is rotated by operating a grip 6c of the cover 6 with a rotary force that is stronger than the spring pressing force, a shaft pin 18 equipped with a step which is pierced through and locked in a guide hole 17a that is provided on the member 17 is regulated by the hole 17a and slides in a long circular hole of a supporting piece that is provided on the cover 6 in the direction of a rotational center. The spring 19 is further wound up and the spring pressing force is increased, but the pin 18 with a step slides toward the rotational center, which can relax the increase of the spring pressing force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening and closing device for a rotatable cover of a video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the miniaturization of video cameras has been remarkable, and the projected area of each outer surface of the video camera body has generally been reduced. Therefore, there are places where buttons and the like for operating the video camera can be arranged. Restricted. However, on the other hand, the number of operation buttons tends to increase due to the multifunctionality of cameras and the differentiation of designs.

From the viewpoint of operability, simply arranging a large number of operation buttons may cause confusion in selection and use, giving an impression that operation is difficult, and significantly impair operability of the video camera. It will be. For this reason,
There is a demand for arranging a large number of operation buttons in a limited place so as to be easy to use.

For this purpose, a rotatable cover is provided, and operation buttons that are frequently used when shooting with a video camera are arranged on the upper surface of the cover. The operation buttons are covered with a rotatable cover, which is disposed on the lower body, and the operation buttons are operated by rotating the cover during reproduction.

[0005] In addition, the operation buttons that are used infrequently for setting special functions and the like are covered with a rotatable cover.
There are known methods for reducing the number of operation buttons exposed on the surface, preventing confusion and malfunction during use, and improving operability.

[0006]

However, in order to improve the operability, this kind of conventional rotary cover is required to rotate at an arbitrary rotational power or less when the rotary cover is closed and fully open. Must be prevented. For this purpose, a convex portion is provided on the rotating cover, and a concave portion for engaging with the convex portion of the rotating cover is provided on the main body in a positional relationship such that the rotating cover is engaged at a closed position and at a fully opened position. Although a click mechanism or the like is provided, this configuration has a problem in durability of rotation of the rotating cover.

Further, there is a problem that powder is generated by abrasion on a sliding portion between the convex portion and the concave portion, which not only has poor appearance but also causes a failure if the powder enters the inside of the main body. In addition, since the rotating cover can be stopped in the middle of the rotation, there is a problem in operability.

Further, one arm of the torsion coil spring is rotatably engaged with an arbitrary position on the rotation cover, and the other arm of the torsion coil spring is rotatably engaged with the fixed portion of the main body. Until the rotating cover is opened to an arbitrary rotating angle, the torsion coil spring constantly presses the spring in a direction to close the rotating cover, and is further pressed by the torsion coil spring. When the is rotated, the spring cover is constantly subjected to the spring bias in the direction in which the rotating cover is fully opened. There is a problem that the place where the can be arranged is restricted, which results in an inconsistent result.

In addition, there is also a problem in that it is difficult to provide a rotary cover having an excellent operation feeling due to a set of the torsion coil spring and restrictions on space in terms of operation feeling.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the center of rotation of the arm of the torsion coil spring provided on the rotating cover slides on the rotating cover. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video camera provided with an opening / closing device capable of realizing a highly reliable rotating cover excellent in operability in a small space.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an opening / closing mechanism for changing the rotational power of the rotating cover of a video camera having a rotatable cover by a torsion coil spring. The object is achieved by configuring a rotating cover opening / closing device such that the center of force of the coil spring applied to the rotating cover slides in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating cover.

[0012]

According to the structure of the present invention as described above, by restricting the movement trajectory of the screw coil spring, it becomes possible to install the torsion coil spring in a space-saving manner, and the torsion associated with the rotation of the rotating cover is reduced. It is possible to provide a video camera provided with a rotating cover opening / closing device capable of adjusting a change in the spring biasing force of the coil spring and improving the opening / closing operation feeling of the rotating cover.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a video camera provided with a rotating cover device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an electronic viewfinder (EVE), 2 is an imaging lens, 3
Is a recording microphone, and inside the video camera body 4,
A VTR device not shown is accommodated. The video camera body 4 is provided with a mode dial 5, a rotating cover 6, and a liquid crystal panel 7. Furthermore, each operation button 8 provided on the video camera body 4 is covered with a rotating cover 6.

The mode dial 5 is used to turn on / off the power, switch between a recording mode and a reproduction mode, and the like, and information such as a tape counter corresponding to the mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7. When switching the display of the liquid crystal panel 7 such as resetting the counter, the rotating cover 6 is rotated to expose the operation pattern 8 covered by the rotating cover 6, and the operation button 8 is operated. An electric signal is input to an electric signal processing circuit (not shown) inside the video camera body 4, and the display on the liquid crystal panel 7 is switched.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the rotary cover opening / closing device of this embodiment will be described with reference to an exploded perspective view of FIG. Reference numeral 9 denotes a liquid crystal window for protecting the liquid crystal and improving the aesthetic appearance, and is a circular transparent member. Reference numeral 10 denotes a liquid crystal ring having a square hole 10a at the center, through which the display of the liquid crystal panel 7 can be confirmed.
The liquid crystal ring 9 is provided with the liquid crystal window 9 described above.
The liquid crystal ring 10 is further fixed and attached to the liquid crystal holder 11 with the liquid crystal panel 7 interposed therebetween by screws (not shown). At this time, the flexible 7a attached to the liquid crystal panel 7 passes through a slit hole 11a provided in the liquid crystal holder 11, and is wired to a printed circuit board 12, which will be described later.

The mode dial 5 has a shaft hole 5a at the center, into which the liquid crystal holder 11 is inserted.
It is screwed to a second holding member 17 described later. Also,
A disk-shaped rotating plate 13 having a hole substantially the same as the shaft hole 5a is attached to the lower surface of the mode dial 5 by a screw (not shown). A slider 14 is provided on the back surface of the rotating plate 13.
Is attached, and the slider 14 rotates with the rotation operation of the mode dial 5. In addition, mode dial 5
The gear has a gear-shaped projection formed on the inner wall surface of the outer peripheral portion, and the projection and the projection 15a of the click spring 15 are configured to be engaged with each other. The click spring 15 is engaged with a circular groove 16 a provided on the first holding member 16. That is, a click mechanism that generates a click feeling at each mode position of the mode dial 5 is provided.

A mode flex 14 is attached to the lower surface of the first holding member 16 by screws (not shown). On the mode flexible 14, a conductive pattern 14a serving as a rotation detecting means of the mode dial 5 is formed.
And the slider 14 attached to the rotating plate 13
The mode flex 14 is rotated with the rotation of the mode dial 5.
Slide while electrically contacting the electrokinetic pattern 14a.

Further, the first holding member 16 includes the rotating cover 6.
The first holding member 16 is attached to the second holding member 17 so that the shaft portion fits into the shaft hole 6a of the rotating cover 6. The rotary cover 6 is attached by screws (not shown). Second
An operation button 8 is attached to the lower surface of the holding member 17. Further, a printed circuit board 12 is attached to the second holding member 17 on a lower surface of the operation button 8 by a screw (not shown). The printed circuit board 12 includes a switch 12
The switch 12a is pressed by the pressing operation of the operation button 8, and an electric signal is input to an electric signal processing circuit (not shown).

An elliptical hole is formed in the support piece 6b provided on the rotating cover 6, and a stepped shaft pin 18 is mounted through the elliptical hole. . In addition, the stepped shaft pin 18 sequentially connects the shaft hole 19a formed at the tip of one arm of the torsion coil spring 19, the guide hole 17a provided in the second holding member 17, and the polyslider 20. The distal end portion is penetrated and locked by the stopper 21.

As a result, one arm of the torsion coil spring 19 rotates about the stepped shaft pin 18 and
The support piece 6b slides in a long hole.

The other end of the torsion coil spring 19 is bent vertically to form the support hole 1 formed in the second holding member 17.
7b. Thus, the other arm of the torsion coil spring 19 rotates around the support hole 17b.

The operation of the rotating cover device configured as described above will be described. 3 and 4 are plan views of the rotating cover opening and closing device, respectively, showing the device in a closed state and an opened state. The rotation cover 6 is constantly pressed by the spring urging force of the torsion coil spring 19, and is pressed against the receiving surface 17c of the second holding member 17, so that the rotation of the rotation cover 6 is stopped at an arbitrary rotation power or less in the closed position.

When the rotating cover 6 is rotated by operating the handle 6c of the rotating cover 6 with a rotating force exceeding the biasing force of the spring, the rotating cover 6 is penetrated through the guide hole 17a provided in the second holding member 17 to engage. The stopped stepped shaft pin 18 is inserted into the guide hole 17a.
The support piece 6b provided on the rotating cover 6 is slid in the direction of the center of rotation.

The torsion coil spring 19 is further wound, and the spring biasing force increases. However, the stepped shaft pin 18 slides in the direction of the rotation center, so that the increase in the spring biasing force can be reduced. This makes it possible to open and close the rotating cover with a smooth operation feeling. Then, the spring biasing force becomes maximum at an arbitrary rotation angle (in the embodiment, 40 degrees indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3).

Further, when the rotating cover 6 is rotated, the shaft pin 18 slides while being regulated by the guide hole 17a by the unwinding biasing force of the torsion coil spring 19.
The rotation cover 6 rotates in the opening direction. The rotation cover 6 rotates until the engagement piece 6d provided on the rotation cover 6 and the engagement piece 17b provided on the second holding member 17 are engaged, but the spring biasing force is In order to further rotate the rotating cover 6, the rotating cover 6 is prevented from rotating with an arbitrary rotating power or less in the open position.

In this series of operations, the movement trajectory of the torsion coil spring 19 is for moving between the outer circumferential circle and the inner circumferential circle of the rotating cover 6, and an extremely space-saving opening / closing device. Has become. Further, by adjusting the shape of the guide hole 17a, the opening / closing operation feeling of the rotating cover 6 can be freely set.

[0028]

As described above, the opening / closing device for a rotating cover according to the present invention is an opening / closing device in which the turning power of the rotating cover is changed by the torsion coil spring. Since the tip of the arm is slid in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating cover while being regulated by the guide hole provided in the holding member of the rotating cover, a space-saving opening and closing device becomes possible, The video camera can be reduced in size, and the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in arranging the operation buttons can be obtained. Also, there is an effect that the opening / closing operation feeling of the rotating cover can be freely set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a video camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating cover opening / closing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a closed state of the rotating cover opening / closing device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rotating cover opening and closing device of the embodiment in an open state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 electronic viewfinder 2 imaging lens 3 recording microphone 4 video camera body 5 mode dial 5a shaft hole 6 rotating cover 6a shaft hole 6b support piece 6c handle 6d engagement piece 6b support piece 7 liquid crystal panel 7a flexible 8 operation button 9 liquid crystal window DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Liquid crystal ring 10a Square hole 11 Liquid crystal holder 11a Slit hole 12 Printed circuit board 12a Switch 13 Rotating plate 14 Slider 14a Conductive pattern 15 Click spring 15a Projection 16 First holding member 16a Groove 17 Second holding member 17a Guide hole 17b Support hole 17c Receiving surface 17d Engagement piece 18 Shaft pin 19 Torsion coil spring 19a Shaft hole 20 Polyslider 21 Stopper

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An opening / closing mechanism for changing the rotational power of a cover of a video camera having a rotatable cover by a torsion coil spring, wherein the center of the point of force of the torsion coil spring applied to the rotatable cover is rotated by the torsion coil spring. A rotating cover opening / closing device for a video camera, which slides in conjunction with rotation of a moving cover. 2. The video according to claim 1, wherein the center of the force of the torsion coil spring applied to the rotating cover slides while being regulated by a guide hole provided in a holding member of the rotating cover. Rotating cover opening and closing device for camera.