JPS628031Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] This invention is a compact camera,
In particular, it relates to a flash unit that is ideal for folding cameras.

Cameras that are generally designed to be compact, such as self-processing cameras, are generally large in size, so foldable cameras, whose lens barrels can be folded when carried, have come into practical use.

By the way, when performing flash photography, especially so-called strobe photography, with a conventional camera of this type, a separate strobe device is attached to the camera, while when not performing strobe photography, the strobe device is removed from the camera. It was inconvenient because it had to be carried separately. For this reason, the ordinary 35
Some mm cameras have a strobe built into the side of the camera, but there are limits to the amount of light emitted and light distribution characteristics.
This was difficult to adapt to large-screen self-processing cameras.

This idea was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.In a folding camera that has a lens board storage chamber on the top of the camera body, when the flash is not in use, the light-emitting window faces downward and is placed on the side of the camera body. The flash unit is inserted into the top of the grip unit of the camera so that it can be carried integrally with the camera.When taking flash pictures, the light emitting window is placed so that the flash unit is located above the lens board storage chamber where good light distribution characteristics can be obtained. To provide a flash unit for a folding camera which can be inserted into the upper part of the grip unit with the camera facing upward.

An embodiment of this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the folding self-processing camera includes a square box-shaped camera body 2 with an exposure frame opening 1 in the front.
A film pack loading opening (not shown) is provided at the bottom 3 of the camera body 3 so that a film pack containing a film unit capable of processing diffusion transfer photography can be vertically inserted (loaded) into the camera body 2. There is.

A pressurizing unit 5 having a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, which includes a pair of pressurizing rollers 4 and a film unit outlet (not shown) at the bottom, has hinge portions 6 provided on both sides of its longitudinal edges. 6 to camera body 2
It is hinged on both sides of the front surface of the bottom 3 side by a hinge shaft 7, and serves as an opening/closing lid for the film pack loading opening.

A roughly rectangular grip unit 8 integrated into the right side of the camera body 2 in the figure has a viewfinder 9 at the top, and houses a driving device for the pressure roller 3, a flash unit feeding mechanism, etc. inside. are doing.

On the other hand, a front cover 10 hinged coaxially with the hinge shaft 7 of the pressure unit 5 is attached to the front of the camera body 2, and a photographing lens 11, an exposure meter 12, etc. are mounted on the tip of the front cover 10. A lens board 1 that supports the camera and has a built-in shutter mechanism (not shown)
3 is integrally fixed, while the lens board 13
The rear surface of the camera body 2 and the exposure frame opening 1 of the camera body 2 are optically connected by a folding lens barrel 14 that can be folded into a fan shape around the hinge shaft 7.

When the front cover 10 is opened, in order to orient the lens board 13 to the photographing position (the state shown in FIG. 1),
The camera body 2 and the front cover 10 are connected by a link lever 15, and when the front cover 10 is closed, the lens board 13 is a concave lens formed between the left rising edge 16 at the top of the camera body 2 and the grip unit 8. In order to position the camera in the storage position (the state shown in FIG. 3) in the board storage chamber 17, a lock pawl 18 is provided on the camera body 2, and a lock groove 19 that engages with the lock pawl 18 is provided on the side surface of the lens board 13. It is set up. Note that 35 is a shutter button provided on the front shoulder of 16 on the left side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the flash unit 20, which is detachable from the camera body 2, has a battery cover 22 and a battery cover 22 disposed within a case body 21 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The case body 21 has a built-in flash battery, a flash control circuit, etc. that can be replaced freely, and a large light-emitting window 23 and a light-receiving window 24 with a built-in flash tube are provided on the front surface of one longitudinal side of the case body 21. .

On the other side surface of the case body 21, integrally protruding from both longitudinal edges of the case body 21,
An insertion portion 27 is formed by providing wide rising portions 25 and 26 whose tips are inwardly directed hook portions 25a and 26a, respectively.

At the top of the grip unit 8, there is a light emitting window 23.
In order to insert the insertion part 27 of the flash unit 20 from above with the flash unit 20 facing downward, the hook part 25 is
a, 26a are provided, and the insertion portion 2 of the flash unit 20 is
A recess 30 that fits into the convex shoulder 29 is provided on the inner surface of the flash unit 7 in order to insert the insertion portion 27 of the flash unit 20 from above with the light emitting window 23 facing upward.

The rising portions 25 and 26 of the insertion portion 27 are provided with transparent windows 31a and 31b that correspond to the viewfinder 9 when inserted into the upper part of the grip unit 8, and the light emitting window 23 is inserted upward. At times, a switch 32 for turning on the power of the flash unit 20 is provided in the recess 30, an escape groove 33 for the lock claw 18 is provided on the outer surface of the case body 21, and the light emitting window 23 is inserted with the light emitting window 23 facing downward. At times, a holding part 3 that holds the camera body 2 from both sides
4 and 34 are provided on the inner surface of the case body 21.

In the folding self-processing camera configured as described above, when folding it as shown in FIG.
If the camera main body 2 is held between the holding parts 34, 34, the grip becomes a shape that extends from the camera main body 2, and the appearance does not look strange and does not cause any trouble in carrying.

In this state, by opening the front lid 10 and setting the lens board 13 at the photographing position shown in FIG. 1, normal photographing without flash can be performed while using the flash unit 20 as a grip.

Next, when performing flash photography, the insertion part 27 of the flash unit 20 is pulled upward from the grip unit 8, and as shown in FIG. When the light emitting window 23 is positioned upward and the insertion part 27 is inserted into the upper part of the grip unit 8, the switch 32 is turned on and the flash is set.

In this case, the light emitting window 2 of the flash unit 20
3 is located almost directly above and at a distance from the photographing lens 11, so that the light distribution characteristics with respect to the photographic screen are uniform and no red-eye phenomenon occurs.

Incidentally, the synchronized connection between the flash unit 20 and the lens board 13 may be achieved by appropriately employing a well-known wiring cord or hot shoe.

Furthermore, the photographer can arbitrarily select attachment/detachment of the flash unit 20 to/from the camera body 2;
Whether the flash unit 20 is removed as shown in the figure or attached as shown in FIG. 3, there is no strange feeling and the design is effective.

As is clear from the above explanation, this invention provides an insertion part in the flash unit, and when the flash is not in use, the insertion part is inserted into the grip unit with the light-emitting window facing downward, while when the flash is used, the light-emitting window is closed. Since the insertion part is inserted upward into the grip unit, the flash unit can be integrated into the camera body when not in use, resulting in stable holding and good portability. In addition, during flash photography, the flash unit can be positioned above the lens board storage chamber, which is a dead space.
Light distribution characteristics for the photographic lens can be made uniform. Furthermore, since the flash unit can be attached to and removed from the camera body using the insertion portion, the flash can be easily and quickly reset.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the folding self-processing camera in the shooting state, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the flash unit when not in use, Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 1 in the folded state, and Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 1 above in the folded state. It is the same figure as the above figure of FIG. 2 of a state of use. 2...Camera body, 8...Grip unit,
10...Front lid, 13...Lens board, 14...
Folding lens barrel, 20...Flash unit, 21
... Case body, 23 ... Light emitting window, 27 ... Insertion part, 31a, 31b ... Transparent window.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A lens board is supported via a folding lens barrel on the front part of a camera body, which has a grip unit with a viewfinder on the top attached to one side,
In a folding camera in which the lens board can be stored in the lens board storage chamber provided at the top of the camera body when the camera is folded, the flash unit has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped case with built-in flash batteries and control circuits. A light-emitting window is provided at the lower front of the case, and an insertion part is provided at the upper side of the case, which can be inserted into the upper part of the grip unit from either downward or upward direction, and the insertion part The insert part of the flash unit is formed in the upper part of the grip unit, and when the flash unit is not needed, it is inserted downward and held, and the flash unit is held in place by inserting the flash unit downwards. A flash unit for a folding camera, characterized in that when the flash unit is in use, it is inserted upward so that the flash unit is positioned within the lens board storage chamber.