JPH11212152A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera miniaturized in the sliding direction of a slide cover. SOLUTION: A strobe light emitting part 8 is used to switch the on/off of the power source of a camera main body. When the slide cover is slid to a photographing position where a lens barrel is exposed, the part 8 is energized by a torsion spring 46 and turned to an exposing position where its light emitting surface 8a faces to a subject. In such a case, an energizing lever 45 attached to the end of a turning shaft 32 turning together with the part 8 presses the movable switch armature 48b of a power source switch 48 and brings it into contact with a fixed switch armature 48a so as to turn on the power source of the camera main body. Since a gap for actuating a power source switch between the slide cover and the lens barrel is not required, the camera is miniaturized in the sliding direction of the slide cover.

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 miniaturization of a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some compact cameras have a slidable slide cover attached to the front of the camera body. The slide cover is slidable between a non-photographing position covering a light receiving window and a light projecting window of a photographing lens and various sensors, and a photographing position exposing the photographing lens and the like. Protects the taking lens from scratches and dirt.

Further, in the camera having the above-mentioned slide cover, the applicant of the present invention has applied for a camera in which the power switch of the camera body is operated by using the movement of the slide cover to switch on / off (see FIG. 1). Japanese Patent Application No. 8-260791). According to this, the power switch is turned off when the slide cover is in the non-shooting position, the power of the camera body is turned off, and the power switch is turned on when the slide cover is slid from the non-shooting position to the shooting position. You. Further, in this camera, when the power is turned on by sliding the slide cover, the lens barrel is extended.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned camera, a gap for operating the power switch is required between the lens barrel and the end surface of the slide cover on the lens barrel side. Therefore, in the camera using the slide cover, the camera cannot be reduced in size by the gap.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera which is reduced in size while turning on / off the power of the camera body by a sliding operation of a slide cover. I do.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a camera according to the present invention uses a movement of a strobe light emitting portion to an exposure position to turn on a power supply of the camera body. is there. Further, when the power is turned on by moving the strobe light emitting section, the retracted photographing lens is extended. Furthermore, at the sliding edge of the slide cover between the flash unit and the lens barrel, at least the edge near the slide cover at the shooting position is aligned in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the slide cover. It is.

[0007]

2 and 3 are perspective views showing the appearance of a camera 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention when it is used and when it is not used. The camera 2 includes a substantially rectangular camera body 3 in which various photographing mechanisms are incorporated, and a camera body 3
And a box-shaped slide cover 4 attached so as to cover the outside from the side. A shutter button 5 is mounted on the upper surface of the slide cover 4. When the camera 2 is not photographed, the slide cover 4 covers most of the camera body 3 when not photographing, so that the camera 2 is compact, and the portability is improved by eliminating irregularities on the exterior surface. At the time of photographing, the slide cover 4 is pulled out so as to expose a part of the camera body 3. According to this, it is possible to easily hold the camera 2 by using the slide cover 4 as a grip, and it is possible to prevent a photographing error such as a finger catch.

The camera body 3 holds a photographing lens 6 and collapses into the camera body 3 when the power of the camera body 3 is turned off.
The light emitting surface 8a is rotatable between an exposure position where the light emitting surface 8a is parallel to the front surface of the camera body 3 and a storage position where the light emitting surface 8a is stored in a storage space 18 formed in the camera body 3 as shown in FIG. A strobe light emitting portion 8, a battery chamber 9 provided behind the strobe light emitting portion 8, a battery cover 10 rotatable between an open position for opening the battery chamber 9 and a closed position for closing the battery compartment 9, and a finder 11; , A light receiving window 12 for photometry, a light projecting window 13 for distance measuring constituting an active distance measuring device, a light receiving window 14 for distance measuring, a cartridge chamber 16 in which a IX240 type film cartridge 15 is loaded,
A bottom cover 17 that opens and closes 6 is provided. When the camera 2 is in the shooting state, the strobe light emitting unit 8 automatically rotates to the exposed position by the bias of the spring, and in conjunction with this, the power of the camera body 3 is turned on.

The slide cover 4 is made of, for example, plastic or a lightweight metal such as aluminum or titanium. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide cover 4 does not cover the lens barrel 7, the flash unit 8, and the like of the camera body 3, and does not cover the lens barrel 7, the flash unit 8, and the like. It is slidable between the shooting position. When the slide cover 4 is in the photographing position or the non-photographing position, the battery cover 10 and the bottom cover 17 are partially or entirely covered by the slide cover 4 so that they cannot be opened. Therefore, when the battery 23 is loaded and unloaded in the battery chamber 9 and when the film cartridge 15 is loaded and unloaded in the cartridge chamber 16, the slide cover 4 is removed from the camera body 3, as shown in FIG.

The lens barrel 7 and the strobe light emitting unit 8 are connected to the edge 7 in the sliding direction of the slide cover 4.
a and 8b are aligned. Therefore, when the slide cover 4 is slid from the non-photographing position to the photographing position, the lens barrel 7 and the strobe light 8 are simultaneously emitted from the slide cover 4.
From the outside. Thereby, the strobe light emitting section 8
When the camera body 3 is turned on to the exposure position and the power of the camera body 3 is turned on, the slide cover 4 is surely retracted from the front surface of the lens barrel 7. There is no interference with the cover 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, two lock claws 19 and 20 projecting upward are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 3.
, A locking claw 21 rotatable along the upper surface of the camera body 3, and a shutter switch 22.
A locking plate 50 provided with a plurality of locking claws and elastic portions is mounted on the upper surface of the inner wall of the slide cover 4 facing the upper surface of the camera body 3 using an adhesive, welding, soldering, or the like. Have been. Two lock claws 19, 2
Reference numeral 0 indicates that the slide cover 4 is engaged with the locked groove 50a formed in the locking plate 50 when the slide cover 4 is at the photographing position, and the slide cover 4 is moved between the non-photographing position and the direction in which the slide cover 4 is removed from the camera body 3. Prohibit slides.

When the slide cover 4 is in the non-photographing position, the locking claw 21 is engaged with the first locked claw 50b provided on the locking plate 50, and the slide cover 4 is inadvertently set in the photographing position. Hold it without sliding. In addition, the locking claw 21
Indicates that when the slide cover 4 is about to be removed from the camera body 3 during shooting, the slide cover 4 is removed by engaging with the second locked claw 50c provided on the locking plate 50. Block.

As described above, the lock of the slide cover 4 at the photographing position using the lock claws 19 and 20 is such that the slide cover 4 hits the stroboscopic light emitting portion 8 at the exposed position and is damaged, or is damaged. This is to prevent the slide cover 4 from being easily removed and the bottom cover 16 from being opened. Therefore, the lock claw 19 enters the camera body 3 when the strobe light emitting unit 8 is turned to the storage position, and allows the slide cover 4 to slide to the non-shooting position. Further, the lock claw 20 enters the camera body 3 only while the lock release knob 24 incorporated in the corner of the battery cover 10 is operated to the left release position in the drawing, and the slide cover 4 moves in the removal direction. Allow slides.

As the shutter switch 22, a small push button type micro switch is used. The shutter button 5 is attached to the upper surface of an elastic piece 50 d formed resiliently on the locking plate 50, and is exposed to the outside through a hole 4 a formed on the upper surface of the slide case 4. When the slide case 4 is slid to the shooting position, the shutter button 5 is arranged above the shutter switch 22. When the shutter button 5 is pressed in this state, the shutter switch 2 is pressed by a projection formed on the lower surface of the shutter button 5.
Press 2.

On the back of the camera body 3, there are provided an oblong liquid crystal panel 26 on which the number of shots and the mode of the camera are displayed, and a push button switch 27 for switching the mode of the camera 2. . Further, an opening lever 30 for opening a light-shielding lid 29 for opening and closing the film entrance and exit of the film cartridge 15 is projected from a slit 28 formed on the right shoulder portion on the rear surface of the camera body 3.
When the slide cover 4 is attached to the camera body 3, the release lever 30 is pressed by the edge of the slide cover 4 and moves in the slit 28 toward the left in the figure. Release lever 3 arranged in camera body 3
The end of the light-shielding lid 29 is connected to an engagement shaft that engages with the end of the light-shielding lid 29 of the film cartridge 15 in the cartridge chamber 16. Rotate in the opening direction. in this way,
By opening the light-shielding lid 29 of the film cartridge 15 by using the slide cover 4 attached to the camera body 3, the opening mechanism of the light-shielding lid 29 can be simplified,
The size and cost of the camera 2 can be reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the strobe light emitting section 8 and the battery cover 10 are pivotally mounted on the camera body 3 using a single rotating shaft 32 so as to be freely rotatable. . The strobe light emitting unit 8 is formed of a transparent plastic in a substantially box shape, and has a light emitting surface 8a provided with a diffusion pattern for diffusing strobe light, and a well-known discharge tube 34 accommodated in the light emitting case 33. And a reflector 35. An opening 36 for incorporating a discharge tube 34 and a reflector 35 is provided below the light emitting case 33.
A light-shielding member 37 made of a material having a light-shielding property is attached to the opening 36 so that strobe light does not leak outside from below the strobe light-emitting unit 8. Further, holes 38a and 38b into which the rotating shaft 32 is inserted are formed on both side surfaces of the light emitting case 33. One hole 38
a has a D-shape, and a cross section formed at one end of the rotating shaft 32 engages with a D-shaped engaging portion 32a.

The battery lid 10 is formed of plastic or metal so as to have an L-shaped cross section so that the opening area of the battery chamber 9 becomes large when the battery lid 10 is opened. A pair of bearing pieces 40 are provided on the edge of the upper surface 10a of the battery lid 10, and a hole 40a through which the rotating shaft 32 is inserted is formed in these bearing pieces 40.
The battery cover 10 may not be provided with a locking mechanism or the like for locking in the closed position. This is because the battery cover 10 cannot be opened when the slide cover 4 is in the shooting position or the non-shooting position, and turns to the exposed position when the slide cover 4 is removed from the camera body 3. This is because it is pressed by the strobe light emitting unit 8 and held at the closed position. As described above, since there is no problem even if the locking mechanism at the closed position is not provided in the battery cover 10, the camera 2 can be reduced in size and cost. In consideration of the situation where the camera 2 is held upside down with the slide cover 4 detached from the camera body 3, the battery cover 1
A locking mechanism for holding 0 in the closed position may be provided.

A lock release lever 4 for pulling the lock claw 20 into the camera body 3 at a position on the inner surface of the battery cover 10 which does not interfere with the battery 23 in the battery chamber 9.
2 are incorporated. This lock release lever 42
It is connected to a lock release knob 24 slidably attached to the front side corner of the battery lid 10, moves in conjunction with the movement of the lock release knob 24 to the release position, and moves the lock claw 20 to the camera body 3. Let it be withdrawn. in this way,
By incorporating the lock release lever 42 and the lock release knob 24 in a small space formed in the battery lid 10, the size and cost of the camera 2 can be reduced.

A rotating shaft 32 for supporting the strobe light emitting portion 8 and the battery cover 10 is inserted into a bearing hole 44a of a support wall 44 provided in the storage space 18 of the camera body 3 so as to be rotatably supported. Is done. The rotating shaft 32 is connected to the battery cover 10.
The engaging portion 32a having a D-shaped cross section is rotatably inserted into the hole 40a of the strobe light emitting portion 8 and engages with the hole 38a.
Therefore, the rotation shaft 32 and the strobe light emitting unit 8 rotate together. An L-shaped urging lever 45 is attached to one end of the rotating shaft 32. This urging lever 4
5, the arm 45a of the urging lever 45 and the inner wall surface of the exterior plate of the camera body 2 come into contact with each other,
5, a torsion spring 46 for urging the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Thereby, the rotating shaft 32 and the strobe light emitting unit 8
That is, when the slide cover 4 is slid from the non-photographing position to the photographing position, the stroboscopic light emitting portion 8 is twisted. The spring is automatically rotated to the exposure position by the bias of the spring 46.

A power switch 48 for turning on / off the power of the camera body 3 is built in the vicinity of the urging lever 45 attached to the rotating shaft 32. As the power switch 48, for example, a fixed switch contact piece 48
a and a movable switch contact piece 48b that makes the switch conductive by contacting the fixed switch contact piece 48a.

The power switch 48 includes the movable switch piece 4
8b is arranged so as to face the arm 45a of the urging lever 45, and when the strobe light emitting unit 8 is rotated to the exposure position, the movable switch contact piece 48b is pressed by the arm 45a of the urging lever 45. Then, the movable switch contact piece 48b contacts the fixed switch contact piece 48a to conduct electricity,
The power of the camera body 3 is turned on. Similarly, when the strobe light emitting unit 8 is rotated to the storage position, the movable switch contact piece 48b of the power switch 48 is separated from the fixed switch contact piece 48a, and the power of the camera body 3 is turned off. As described above, when the power of the camera body 3 is turned on by rotating the strobe light emitting unit 8 to the exposure position, the edge 4a of the slide cover 4 when slid to the shooting position and the lens barrel 7 Since the distance between the camera 2 and the edge 7a can be reduced, the size of the camera 2 can be reduced in the width direction.

Further, since the flash light emitting portion 8 and the battery cover 10 share a rotating shaft 32, the edge of the upper surface 10a of the battery cover 10 is extended to the extent that it does not interfere with the flash light emitting portion 8. As shown in FIG. 7, when the battery cover 10 is opened, the strobe light emitting unit 8 is pushed by the upper surface 10 a of the battery cover 10, rotates to the storage position, and is stored in the storage space 18. Therefore, when the battery cover 10 is opened and the battery 23 is taken out of the battery chamber 9, the power of the camera body 3 is surely turned off. Thereby, the lens barrel 7
The camera 2 does not stop in the state in which the camera is extended, and the slide cover 4 can be attached to the camera body 3 to protect the photographing lens 6 even when the battery 23 is not loaded in the battery chamber 9.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the camera 2 is not in use, as shown in FIG. 3, the slide cover 4 is slid to a non-photographing position in which the front surface of the lens barrel 7, the strobe light emitting unit 8, the liquid crystal display 26 and the like is covered.

As shown in FIG. 8, the strobe light emitting section 8
The camera is pivoted about the pivot shaft 32 to a storage position that is accommodated in the storage space 18 of the camera body 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the urging lever 45 attached to one end of the rotating shaft 32 does not press the movable switch contact piece 48b of the power switch 48, so that the power of the camera body 3 is turned off. The battery cover 10 is also rotated about the rotation shaft 32 to a closed position for closing the battery chamber 9 in which the battery 23 is stored. As described above, by sharing the axis that makes the strobe light emitting unit 8 rotatable and the axis that makes the battery cover 10 rotatable with the rotation axis 32, the number of parts is reduced, and the camera 2 is downsized. And low cost.

In the non-use state, since most of the surface of the camera body 3 is covered with the slide cover 4, dust and the like are prevented from entering between the camera body 3 and the slide cover 4, and the photographing lens 6 is moved. Protected. Also, camera 2
Is more compact, and there are no irregularities, so that portability is improved.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the slide cover 4 is slid from the non-photographing position to the photographing position, lock claws 19 and 20 provided on the upper surface of the camera body 3 are provided with locking plates provided on the slide cover 4. The slide cover 4 is locked at the photographing position by engaging with the locked groove 50a of 50. At the same time when the slide cover 4 slides to the photographing position, the lens barrel 7 and the strobe light emitting section 8 are exposed to the outside.

When the strobe light emitting section 8 is exposed to the outside,
The torsion spring 46 incorporated in the camera body 3 presses the arm 45a of the biasing lever 45, and the rotating shaft 32 is moved in FIG.
Turn counterclockwise inside. As a result, the strobe light emitting unit 8 that is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 32 is rotated to an exposure position where the light emitting surface 8a is exposed to the front of the camera 2 as shown in FIG. Also, the rotating shaft 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes an arm portion 45a of the urging lever 45 which presses the movable switch contact piece 48b of the power switch 48. As a result, the movable switch contact 48b becomes the fixed switch contact 48a.
, And the power is turned on.
As described above, when the power of the camera body 3 is turned on by the rotation of the strobe light emitting unit 8 to the exposure position, the edge 4a of the slide cover 4 when slid to the shooting position,
Since the distance between the lens barrel 7 and the edge 7a can be reduced, the camera 2 can be downsized in the width direction.

When the power of the camera main body 3 is turned on, the lens barrel 7 is extended from the camera main body 3, and each mechanism in the camera main body 3 operates to complete the preparation for photographing.
Since the edges 7a and 8b are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide cover 4, the strobe light emitting portion 8 is reliably rotated when the power of the camera body 3 is turned on by rotating to the exposure position. The cover 4 is retracted from the front of the lens barrel 7. Therefore, there is no interference between the lens barrel 7 and the slide cover 4 that are extended when the power is turned on.

When the slide cover 4 is slid to the photographing position, the shutter button 5 provided on the upper surface of the slide cover 4 is arranged above the shutter switch 22 of the camera body 3. Thus, when the shutter button 5 is pressed, the projection formed on the back surface of the shutter button 5 presses the shutter switch 22. As a result, the shutter unit incorporated in the camera body 3 performs a release operation, and the exposed photo film is wound up. When the brightness of the subject is low, the strobe light is emitted from the strobe light emitting unit 8 toward the subject.

As described above, while the camera 2 is being used, loading and unloading of the film cartridge 15 and
When replacing the battery 23, as shown in FIG.
Remove the slide cover 4 from the camera body 3. To remove the slide cover 4 from the camera body 3, the lock release knob 24 incorporated in the battery cover 10 disposed behind the strobe light emitting section 8 is slid to the left in the figure. Thereby, the lock release lever 42 incorporated inside the battery cover 10 moves, and the lock claw 20 protruding from the upper surface of the camera body 3 is drawn into the camera body 3 to release the lock of the slide cover 4. Therefore, the slide cover 4 can be removed.

When the slide cover 4 is detached from the camera body 3, the bottom cover 17 covered by the slide cover 4 is exposed. As a result, the bottom cover 17 can be opened, so that the loading of the film cartridge 15
Removal can be easily performed. Similarly, the battery cover 10 partially covered by the slide cover 4 can also be opened at the shooting position.

As shown in FIG. 7, the battery cover 10 is
When the battery chamber 9 is opened by rotating about the battery cover 2, the battery cover 1 is opened.
The strobe light emitting portion 8 is rotated to the storage position by being pushed by the edge of the upper surface 10a of the camera. As a result, the power of the camera body 3 is turned off, and the lens barrel 7 is collapsed inside the camera body 3. Thereafter, the battery can be removed from the battery compartment 9 or replaced with a new battery.

As described above, when the battery 23 is taken out of the camera body 3, the power of the camera body 3 is surely turned off.
Since the lens barrel 4 is collapsed, the battery 2 is attached to the camera body 3.
The slide cover 4 can be attached to the camera body 3 without loading the camera 3. According to this, the battery 23 is removed in a state where the power of the camera body 3 is turned on and the lens barrel 4 is extended, thereby causing a problem that the slide cover 4 cannot be attached to the camera body 3 or the like. Therefore, the photographing lens 6 can be always protected by using the slide cover 4.

In the above embodiment, a camera using a box-shaped slide cover that covers most of the camera body 3 when not in use has been described as an example. However, a plate-shaped slide cover that covers only the front surface of the camera body is used. It can also be applied to cameras that do. Further, the present invention can also be used for a camera using an inverted L-shaped slide cover that covers only the front and top surfaces of the camera body and an inverted U-shaped slide cover that covers only the front, top and back surfaces of the camera body.

Further, the movement of the slide cover between the photographing position and the non-photographing position is not limited to the slide, and other moving methods may be used. Further, the above-described camera has been described by taking a camera using a IX240 type film cartridge as an example, but the camera can also be used for a camera using a 135 type, brownie type, instant film, or the like.

[0036]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, when the slide cover is slid to the photographing position, the gap between the edge of the slide cover and the lens barrel can be reduced. Therefore, the size of the camera in the width direction can be reduced. Further, when the power of the camera body is turned on, the lens barrel is securely exposed from the slide cover, so that the lens barrel that is extended and the slide cover do not interfere with each other.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration around a strobe light emitting unit of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera when a slide cover is at a shooting position.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the camera when a slide cover is at a non-shooting position.

FIG. 4 is a front external perspective view of the camera body.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the camera from the rear side.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the camera when the strobe light emitting unit is at an exposure position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the camera when the battery cover is at an open position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of the camera when the slide cover is at a non-shooting position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Camera 3 Camera body 4 Slide cover 6 Shooting lens 7 Lens barrel 8 Strobe light emitting section 9 Battery compartment 10 Battery cover 15 Film cartridge 32 Rotating axis 48 Power switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A slide cover slidable at least between a non-photographing position covering a photographing lens and a photographing position exposing a photographing lens, a storage position housed in a camera body, and a camera outside the camera body. A camera having a strobe light-emitting unit that is movable between an exposed position to be exposed and is moved from the storage position to the exposed position when the slide cover is moved from the non-shooting position to the imaging position. A camera characterized in that the power of the camera body is turned on using the movement of the strobe light emitting unit to the exposure position. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein when the power of the camera body is turned on, the photographing lens that has been collapsed is extended. 3. An end of the slide cover between the strobe light-emitting portion and the lens barrel in a slide direction, at least an end close to the slide cover at a shooting position is a direction orthogonal to the slide direction of the slide cover. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the cameras are aligned.