JPH10282546A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera constituted so that excellent operability can be secured without impairing operability, even if a lens cover becomes an opened state, in a photographing state of the camera and the lens cover is hardly damaged. SOLUTION: The camera is provided with a photographic lens barrel 3 having a photographic lens barrel 5 movable between a collapsed position for nonphotographing and an extended position for photographing and the lens cover 1 which is turned around a supporting shaft 6 provided in parallel with a plane nearly perpendicular to the optical axis of a photographic lens, to be moved to at least a closed position for covering the front surface of the photographic lens barrel. 3 and an opened position for exposing the front surface of the photographic lens barrel 3. The lens cover 1 is deformed to be along the external wall of the lens barrel 5, when the lens cover 1 is turned to the opened position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera having a lens cover for opening and closing a front surface of a photographing lens so as to open and close.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of cameras for taking photographs have been proposed which have a lens cover, also called a lens barrier, for protecting the front surface of a photographic lens by opening and closing the front surface of a photographic lens barrel. It is also commonly used in practice.

For example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 61-31308, a photographing lens barrel is provided so as to be housed and extended in a camera body, and the front surface of the photographing lens barrel is closed flat when the photographing lens barrel is stored. A camera having a double-door lens cover is described.

A camera having a retractable photographic lens barrel described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 3-47536 is formed by dividing a circular member near the front of the photographic lens barrel into two substantially at the center and forming a lens. The cover is biased by a spring in a closing direction and is rotatably arranged in a vertical direction. When the lens cover moves from the retracted position to the photographing position of the photographing lens barrel, the lens cover is pressed by the photographing lens barrel against the urging force of the spring, and is vertically divided into two parts to expose the front surface of the photographing lens, Further, when the photographing lens barrel is moved from the photographing position to the retracted position, the front surface of the photographing lens is closed by the biasing force of the spring.

Further, in the camera described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 57-116933, the front surface of the photographic lens barrel is closed flat when the photographic lens barrel provided so as to be retractable and extendable with respect to the camera body is stored. It has a lens cover to be formed. When the taking lens barrel moves from the retracted position to the taking position, the lens cover rotates around the lower end of the camera body as an axis and retracts from the front of the taking lens.

[0006]

However, the means disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-31308, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-47536, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 57-116933, etc. In this state, the lens cover is projected from the camera body, so operability is impaired when taking a picture while holding the camera body, or when carrying or using the camera. There is a problem that the lens cover is easily damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object the operability of the camera even when the camera is in a shooting state and the lens cover is open. Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can ensure good operability without impairing the camera.

Further, the present invention provides a camera in which the lens cover does not protrude greatly from the camera body when the lens cover is opened, and the lens cover is hardly damaged during use of the camera. With the goal.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a camera according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a photographic lens mirror having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photographing. A cylinder, a pivot position about a support shaft provided in parallel with a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens, and a closed position covering at least the front surface of the taking lens barrel; A lens cover that moves to an open position exposing the front surface, wherein the lens cover is deformed along the outer wall of the photographic lens barrel when rotated to the open position.

Therefore, in the camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, the taking lens barrel of the taking lens barrel moves to the retracted position during non-shooting and the extended position during shooting, and the lens cover is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens. It rotates around a support shaft provided in parallel with the main surface, and moves to a closed position covering at least the front surface of the photographic lens barrel and an open position exposing the front surface of the photographic lens barrel. When the lens cover is rotated to the open position, the lens cover is deformed along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel.

A camera according to a second aspect of the present invention has a photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photographing, and substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographic lens. A support shaft provided in parallel with the main surface, a lens cover that rotates about the support shaft and moves to a closed position covering at least the front surface of the photographing lens and an open position exposing the front surface of the photographing lens. The lens cover deforms along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel when rotated to the open position.

Therefore, in the camera according to the second aspect of the invention, the taking lens barrel of the taking lens barrel moves to the retracted position during non-photographing and the extended position during photographing, and the lens cover is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens. It rotates around a support shaft provided in parallel with the main surface and moves to a closed position covering at least the front surface of the photographing lens and an open position exposing the front surface of the photographing lens.
Then, when the lens cover rotates to the open position, the lens cover is deformed along the outer wall of the photographing lens barrel.

A camera according to a third aspect of the present invention has a photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photographing, and a portion near the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel. A support shaft provided to extend in a tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface, a closed position which is supported by the support shaft, rotates around the support shaft, and covers at least a front surface of the photographing lens barrel, A lens cover that moves to an open position that exposes the front surface of the photographic lens barrel, and the lens cover deforms along the outer wall of the photographic lens barrel when rotated to the open position. It is characterized by doing.

Therefore, in the camera according to the third aspect of the present invention, the taking lens barrel of the taking lens barrel moves to the retracted position during non-photographing and the extended position during photographing, and the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the taking lens barrel is A lens cover pivotally supported on a support shaft provided so as to extend in a tangential direction of the surface rotates about the support shaft, and a closed position covering at least a front surface of the photographing lens barrel and a closed position of the photographing lens barrel. Move to an open position that exposes the front. Then, when the lens cover rotates to the open position, the lens cover is deformed along the outer wall of the photographing lens barrel.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views showing the configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state of the camera when not photographing, and FIG. 2 shows a state of the camera when photographing. Each is shown. FIG. 3 is a front view of the camera in the state of FIG.

The camera of this embodiment has a camera body 4
The photographing lens barrel 3 is disposed substantially at the center of the front surface of the camera.
In the taking lens barrel 3, a taking lens barrel 5 holding a taking lens 7 is disposed so as to be able to protrude and retract.

The photographing lens barrel 3 is a so-called zoom lens barrel, and a photographing lens barrel 5 in the photographing lens barrel 3 is housed in the photographing lens barrel 3 when the camera is not in a photographing state. The retracted position (see FIG. 1) and the extended position (see FIG. 2) projecting forward of the photographing lens barrel 3 when the camera is in a photographing state can be moved.

Further, the photographic lens barrel 5 moves in the optical axis direction of the photographic lens 7 with a zooming operation (zooming), a focusing operation (focusing), and the like. A cover mount 2 is mounted below the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel 3, and the lens cover 1 is rotatably supported on the cover mount 2.

The lens cover 1 is provided at a cover rotating portion 1d for covering a substantially central portion of the front surface of the photographing lens barrel 3 when the camera is not photographing, and is rotatably provided at both ends of the cover rotating portion 1d. When the camera is not photographing, the cover rotating unit 1
and a flap portion 1a having a substantially semicircular shape and covering a peripheral portion of the front surface of the lens barrel 3 other than the portion covered by d.

The lens cover 1 is provided with a photographing lens 7.
Support shaft 6 provided in parallel with a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of
The lens cover 1 is moved to a closed position (see FIG. 1) covering the front surface of the photographing lens barrel 3 when the camera is not photographing, and the camera is in a photographing state. At some point, the lens is retracted from the front of the photographing lens barrel 3 to open the photographing lens 7 (see FIG. 2).
To move to each.

When the lens cover 1 is moved to the open position or the closed position, the lens cover 1 is moved between the cover rotating portion 1d and the cover mount 2 so that the respective positions are maintained. Is provided.

When the camera is in a photographing state and the lens cover 1 is retracted from the front surface of the photographing lens barrel 3 and pivots to the open position, the flap 1a is moved to the photographing lens barrel as shown in FIG. 3 so as to be displaced along the outer wall.

Various operation members such as a main power switch 4a and a shutter release button 4b are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 4.

Here, a click stop mechanism provided between the cover mount 2 and the lens cover 1 will be described.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views showing the vicinity of the taking lens barrel of the camera according to the embodiment, and show the click stop mechanism.

As described above, the cover mount 2 is mounted on the photographing lens barrel 3, and the lens cover 1 is supported by the cover mount 2 so as to be rotatable about the support shaft 6.

Inside the cover mount 2, a compression spring 9 as an elastic member and a click projection 8 urged by the compression spring 9 are slidable in the optical axis direction of the taking lens 7. The projection of the click projection 8 is disposed so as to project toward the front surface of the cover mounting base 2 in a normal state by the urging force of the compression spring 9.

The cover rotating portion 1d of the lens cover 1
The lower end of the base is opposed to the front part of the cover mounting base 2 and is rotatably provided by the support shaft 6.
Click grooves 1b and 1c are provided on the lower surface and the inner surface of the base. Of these, the click groove 1b engages with the above-mentioned click projection 8, and serves to stably hold the state where the lens cover 1 is in the closed position (see FIGS. 1 and 4).
The click groove 1c is engaged with the click projection 8, and the lens cover 1 is in the open position (FIGS. 2 and 5).
(See Reference).

As described above, the click stop mechanism between the cover mount 2 and the lens cover 1 is formed.

FIG. 6 shows the cover rotating portion 1d and the flap portion 1 of the lens cover 1 of the camera according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part, which is an exploded and enlarged view of a mounting portion of FIG.

As described above, the lens cover 1 is formed by the cover rotating portion 1d and the flap portion 1a, and the flap portion 1a is rotatably supported on both side edges of the cover rotating portion 1d. Have been.

That is, at least two holding portions 1 are provided on both sides of the cover rotating portion 1d where the flap portion 1a is disposed.
f is provided. The holding portion 1f has a flap portion 1
There is provided a through-hole through which the shaft member 10 for rotatably holding the shaft member 10 passes.

The semicircular flap 1a has at least two flaps on its inner surface facing the side edge of the cover pivot 1d at positions corresponding to the two holding portions 1f on the cover pivot 1d. A held portion 1e formed of a protruding piece is provided integrally, and the held portion 1e is provided with a through hole through which the shaft member 10 passes, similarly to the holding portion 1f on the cover rotating portion 1d side. ing.

Then, in a state where the holding portion 1f of the cover rotating portion 1d is overlapped with the held portion 1e of the flap portion 1a, the shaft member 10 passes through each through hole of the holding portion 1e and the held portion 1f. The flap portion 1a is combined with the cover rotating portion 1d.

A coil spring 11 is wound around the shaft member 10. One end of the coil spring 11 is locked to the held portion 1f, and the other end is locked to the flap portion 1a. As a result, the coil spring 11 moves the flap portion 1a to the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.
Are always urged in the rotation direction indicated by.

The operation of the above-configured camera will be described. First, the camera is in the non-photographing state shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, that is, when the photographing lens barrel 5 in the photographing lens barrel 3 is in the retracted position, When the lens cover 1 is in the closed position, the camera is turned on by sliding the main power switch 4a of the camera in the direction of arrow X1. Then, the camera shifts to the shooting state shown in FIGS.

That is, in conjunction with the sliding operation of the main power switch 4a, the taking lens barrel 5 moves from the retracted position during non-photographing to the extended position during photographing. At this time, the lens cover 1 is pressed toward the front of the camera by the front surface of the taking lens barrel 5. Accordingly, the cover rotating portion 1d of the lens cover 1 rotates about the support shaft 6 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Then, the click projection 8 is pressed against the urging force of the compression spring 9 in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
The engagement with b is released. When the cover rotating portion 1d further rotates, the protrusion of the click projection 8 engages with the click groove 1c, and holds the lens cover 1 at this position, that is, the open position of the lens cover 1. As a result, the camera enters the photographing state shown in FIGS.

In this state, the lens cover 1
The flap 1a is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6 by the urging force of the coil spring 11 as described above, and is displaced along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel 5 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when shifting from the photographing state of the camera (the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 5) to the non-photographing state (the state shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4), the main power switch 4a of the camera is set to the arrow shown in FIG. The camera is turned off by sliding operation in the X2 direction. Then, the taking lens barrel 5 is moved from the extended position at the time of photographing to the retracted position at the time of non-imaging. In this state, the distal end of the lens cover 1 is pressed by a finger or the like, and the lens cover 1 is rotated from the open position to the closed position.

When the lens cover 1 rotates, the click projection 8 is pressed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5 against the urging force of the compression spring 9, and the engagement with the click groove 1c is released. When the cover rotating portion 1d further rotates, the click projection 8 engages with the click groove 1b to hold the lens cover 1 in the closed position.

At this time, the flap portion 1a of the lens cover 1
Is moved to a position flush with the cover rotating portion 1d against the urging force of the coil spring 11 by being pressed against the front surface of the taking lens barrel 5, and as shown in FIG. It is held in a closed position that contacts the front surface and covers the front surface of the taking lens barrel 3. As a result, the camera enters the non-shooting state shown in FIGS.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, when the lens cover 1 is in the open position, the flap portion 1a of the lens cover 1 is displaced along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel 5, and the lens cover 1 is moved. Since the camera is deformed, the operability of the camera is not impaired even when the camera is in a shooting state. Further, the lens cover 1 can be configured to be more difficult to be damaged.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing a modification of the lens cover in the camera of the above-described embodiment.
Is a schematic perspective view showing only the lens cover, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lens cover. In addition,
In this modification, only the lens cover is changed.

The lens cover 1A in this modification is
Similarly to the lens cover 1 of the above-described embodiment, the lens cover 1 is attached to the cover mounting base 2 in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the photographing lens barrel 3 so as to be rotatable about the support shaft 14 as a rotation center.

The lens cover 1A includes a cover base portion 12 having a function corresponding to the cover rotating portion 1d,
It is constituted by a cover rubber 13 made of an elastic body having a function corresponding to the flap portion 1a.

The cover rubber 13 is formed in a curved shape along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel as shown in FIG. The cover rubber 13 is provided with a recess 13a at a substantially central portion thereof.
2 are fitted and adhered and are integrally attached.

The lens cover 1A thus configured
Is rotatably mounted on the cover mounting base 2 by a support shaft 14.

When the lens cover 1A is turned to the closed position in a state where the taking lens barrel of the camera to which the lens cover 1A is attached is moved to the retracted position for non-photographing, the cover rubber 13 becomes elastic. The lens is pressed against the front surface of the photographic lens barrel against the force and is deformed into the same plane shape as the cover base 12, and abuts on the front surface of the photographic lens barrel 5. Then, it is held by the click stop mechanism at a closed position covering the front surface of the taking lens barrel.

When the photographing lens barrel is moved from the retracted position during non-photographing to the extended position during photographing to bring the camera into a photographing state, the lens cover 1A is moved forward by the front surface of the photographing lens barrel. Is pressed toward
The cover base 12 of the lens cover 1A rotates about the support shaft 14 in the opening direction.

The lens cover 1A is held at the open position by the click stop mechanism as described above.
In this state, the cover rubber 12 of the lens cover 1A is
Returns to its original shape due to its own elastic force, that is, the shape along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel.

As described above, according to the above-described modification, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

In this modification, the lens cover 1A
Since the elastic body is used as a part of the member forming the lens cover, it is possible to make the lens cover harder to break, and to simplify the configuration of the lens cover 1A, thereby contributing to a reduction in manufacturing cost. .

[Supplementary Note] According to the above-described embodiment, an invention having the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) A photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photographing, and provided in parallel with a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographic lens. A lens cover that pivots about the support shaft and moves to a closed position that covers at least the front surface of the photographing lens barrel and an open position that exposes the front surface of the photographing lens barrel. A camera that deforms along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel when the lens cover rotates to the open position.

(2) A photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photographing, and provided in parallel with a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographic lens. Pivoted about the support shaft and the support shaft,
A lens cover that moves to a closed position that covers at least the front surface of the photographic lens, and a lens cover that moves to an open position that exposes the front surface of the photographic lens. The camera transforms along the outer wall of the camera.

(3) A photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photography, and a tangent to the outer peripheral surface near the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel. A supporting shaft provided so as to extend in the direction; a closed position that is pivotally supported by the supporting shaft and rotates about the supporting shaft to cover at least a front surface of the photographing lens barrel; and a front surface of the photographing lens barrel. And a lens cover that moves to an open position where the lens cover is exposed, wherein the lens cover deforms along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel when rotated to the open position.

(4) A photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photography, and an optical axis of the photographic lens near the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel. A support shaft provided so as to extend substantially perpendicular to the support shaft, the support shaft is pivotally supported by the support shaft, and rotated about the support shaft, at least a closed position covering the front surface of the taking lens barrel; A lens cover that moves to an open position exposing the front surface of the taking lens barrel, wherein the lens cover deforms along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel when rotated to the open position. Camera.

(5) In the camera described in Supplementary notes 1, 2, 3, and 4, the lens cover is divided such that adjacent portions are bent along the extending direction of the support shaft. When it is turned to the open position, it deforms along the outer wall of the photographic lens barrel.

(6) In the camera described in Supplementary notes 1, 2, 3, and 4, the lens cover is made of an elastic member.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, good operability can be achieved without impairing the operability of the camera even when the camera is in the photographing state and the lens cover is opened. A secure camera can be provided.

Further, the present invention provides a camera in which the lens cover does not protrude significantly from the camera body when the lens cover is opened, and the lens cover is hardly damaged during use of the camera. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention when shooting is not performed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state of the camera of FIG. 1 at the time of shooting.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the camera in the state shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of a click stop mechanism of a lens cover in the camera of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a lens cover is at a closed position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of a click stop mechanism of a lens cover in the camera of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a lens cover is at an open position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part of the lens cover of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a modification of the lens cover in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which only the lens cover is taken out and shown.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lens cover of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lens cover 1a ... Flap part (lens cover) 1b, 1c ... Click groove (click stop mechanism) 1d ... Cover rotation part (lens cover) 2 ... Cover mounting base 3 ... Photographing lens barrel 4 camera body 5 photographing lens barrel 6, 14 support shaft 8 click protruding piece (click stop mechanism) 9 compression spring (click stop mechanism) 12 cover base section (lens cover) 13 Cover rubber (lens cover)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuya Suzuki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens barrel having a photographing lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-shooting and an extended position during photographing, and provided parallel to a plane substantially perpendicular to the photographing lens optical axis. A lens cover that pivots around a support shaft and moves to a closed position that covers at least the front surface of the photographic lens barrel, and an open position that exposes the front surface of the photographic lens barrel, The camera, wherein the lens cover is deformed along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel when rotated to the open position. 2. A photographing lens barrel having a photographing lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-shooting and a retracted position during photographing, and provided parallel to a plane substantially perpendicular to the photographing lens optical axis. A support shaft, and a lens cover that rotates about the support shaft and moves to a closed position that covers at least the front surface of the photographing lens and an open position that exposes the front surface of the photographing lens. Is a camera which is deformed along the outer wall of the taking lens barrel when rotated to the open position. 3. A photographic lens barrel having a photographic lens barrel movable between a retracted position during non-photographing and an extended position during photography, and a tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface near the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel. And a closed position that is pivotally supported on the support shaft and that rotates around the support shaft to cover at least the front surface of the photographing lens barrel and the front surface of the photographing lens barrel. And a lens cover that moves to an exposed open position, wherein the lens cover is deformed along the outer wall of the photographic lens barrel when rotated to the open position. .