JPH0417402B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to built-in flash pop-up devices, and more particularly to a locking mechanism for holding the flash in a storage position.

"Prior art and its problems" In recent years, so-called compact cameras have come to be equipped with built-in flashlights.
Built-in infrastructure integration is also desired for single-lens reflex cameras that aim to capture more diverse images. Therefore, the applicant of this case filed Japanese Patent Application No. 60-261238 and Patent Application No. 61
−14482 and others propose a single-lens reflex camera with an integrated built-in infrastructure.

The built-in infrastructure of these applications basically has a storage chamber for the flash in the pentaprism section, and the flash is installed in this storage chamber so that it can move forward and backward via a link mechanism, and is stored when the flash is not in use. It is moved and held in a storage position in the chamber and, when used, in a use position protruding from the storage chamber.

In this built-in flash, the flash is held in the storage position by a locking mechanism that engages a pin provided on the flash side or the link mechanism side with a hook provided on the camera body.
However, with this locking mechanism, when the light emitting part is pushed down to the storage position and the pushing force is released after the pin is engaged with the hook, there is always a clearance between the pin and the hook, so the light emitting part is pushed down, albeit slightly. It returns to the opposite direction to the pushing down force, that is, to the protruding position direction. As a result, a slight gap was created between the opening line of the storage chamber and the top plate of the flat.

Such a gap gives the user an unfavorable impression in terms of appearance and usability of the camera, which is a precision instrument.

``Object of the Invention'' Based on the awareness of this problem, the present invention is designed to tightly close the storage chamber with the top plate of the flash when the flash is placed in the storage position, and to create a space between the opening of the storage chamber and the storage chamber. It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism for a pop-up device that does not cause lifting from occurring.

"Summary of the Invention" In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a built-in infrastructure of a type in which a rotating lever rotates as the flash moves between a protruding position and a storage position. A locking lever having a tip locking surface that engages and disengages with the locking surface of the rotating lever that rotates to the flush storage position is pivotally mounted, and the tip engaging surface of this locking lever is connected to the locking surface of the rotating lever that rotates to the flush storage position. By rotating the flash in the direction of storage,
The lever has a wedge surface that exerts a wedge action, and the locking lever is movable in the axial direction of its rotating shaft in order to engage and disengage the locking surface at the end of the locking lever and the locking surface of the rotating lever. It is characterized by

"Embodiments of the Invention" Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of an embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a partially cut away and enlarged main part of the same embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing essential parts of a built-in infrastructure pop-up mechanism equipped with the same locking mechanism.

First, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example of a pop-up mechanism of a built-in flash of a single-lens reflex camera to which the locking mechanism of the present invention is applied will be described.
A pentahouse casing 12 is provided at the top of the single-lens reflex camera body 10, and a pentaprism 14 is housed in the pentahouse casing 12. A storage chamber 16 for storing a built-in infrastructure casing 20 is provided at the upper front of the pentahouse housing 12. The upper part of the storage chamber 16 is open for the entry and exit of the casing 20, and a recess 16a for storing the pentaprism 14 is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the storage chamber 16, as shown in FIG. Link storage chambers 16b are formed on both sides of the bottom surface 16a of the recess.

When the casing 20 is in the storage position stored in the storage chamber 16, the casing 20 covers the upper part of the storage chamber 16 and corresponds to the top plate 22 that forms the appearance together with the pentahouse housing 12 and the recess 16a of the storage chamber 16. A light-emitting chamber 25 surrounded by the top plate 22, the bottom plate 23, and the side plates 24 is provided with xenon. Tube (light emitter) 28
and a reflecting mirror 30 are housed. 26 is a condensing lens that closes off the front of the light emitting chamber 25.

On the outer surface of both side plates 24 of the casing 20, a first rotating lever 32 is connected via a shaft 34 located rearward from the center of the xenon tube 28, and a second rotating lever 38 is connected via a shaft 40 at the rear lower end. are each pivoted. The other end of the first rotating lever 32 is attached to a shaft 36 at the upper front side of the side wall of the storage chamber 16.
The other end of the second rotating lever 38 is a shaft 42 at the rear lower part of the second rotating lever 38.
The four-bar rotation chain formed by the first and second rotation levers 32 and 38 allows
A pop-up mechanism for the casing 20 is configured. These left and right first and second rotating levers 32,
38 are respectively stored in the left and right link storage chambers 16b of the storage chamber 16, and the left and right first rotation levers 32 are connected by a connecting arm 33. This connecting arm 33 is effective for reliably operating the left and right four-bar rotation chains at the same time. shaft 42
is located on the upper side of the pentaprism 14. The first pivot lever 32 has an L-shape in each link storage chamber 16b, and the shaft 36 is located at a bent portion thereof.

A torsion spring 5 is attached to the shaft 42 of the second rotation lever 38.
2 is fitted, one of the legs 52a engages with the protrusion 38a of the second rotation lever 38 to urge the second rotation lever 38 to rotate counterclockwise in the figure, and the casing 20 moves into the storage chamber. It is biased in the direction of protruding from 16.

The present invention provides a locking mechanism suitable for use in, for example, the pop-up mechanism formed as described above. As is clear from FIG. 2, the end of the shaft 42 is inserted through the side wall 18a of the storage chamber 16 and the support wall 18b inside thereof, and both walls 18a,
A locking lever 50 is loosely fitted onto the shaft 42 between the holes 18b, ie, movable in the axial direction of the shaft 42. The protrusion 50b at one end of the locking lever 50 has the other leg 52b of the torsion spring 52.
is locked, thereby constantly urging the locking lever 50 to rotate clockwise in the figure. The end of this clockwise rotation is regulated at a position where the protrusion 50b abuts the bottom inner wall of the storage chamber 16.

The torsion spring 52 also functions as a compression spring, and the locking lever 50 is attached to the side wall 18a of the storage chamber 16.
However, since the locking lever 50 and the shaft 42 are loosely fitted, the locking lever 50
can move or rotate against the axial biasing force of the torsion spring 52.

The locking surface at the tip of the locking lever 50 is formed with a wedge surface 50a that bulges out below a circular arc centered on the shaft 42 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 1). This wedge surface 50a can be configured, for example, from a circular arc surface having its center below the shaft 52. When the casing 20 is in the storage position in the storage chamber 16, the wedge surface 50a is connected to the locking surface 32 of the first rotating lever 32.
a and prevents the first rotating lever 32 from rotating in the counterclockwise direction. The relationship between the wedge surface 50a and the locking surface 32a is such that when the second rotation lever 38 is rotated downward, the deeper position (lower side) of the wedge surface 50a moves to the locking surface 32a due to the four-bar rotation chain.
It is in an engaging relationship with the edge 32b of. Therefore,
The counterclockwise rotation of the second rotation lever 38 due to the rotation bias of the torsion spring 52 is prevented, and the casing 20 is held in the storage position.

The locking lever 50 and the first rotating lever 32 are disengaged from each other by a push button 54 provided through the side wall 18a of the storage chamber 16. This push button 54
Although not shown, is linked to an operation section protruding from the pentahouse housing 12 to the outside. The tip of this push button 54 faces the locking lever 50, and when pushed in, moves the locking lever 50 inward against the biasing force of the torsion spring 52 in the compression direction, so that the wedge surface 50a and the locking surface The engagement with 32a is released.

At both ends of the bottom of the storage chamber 16, two sets of switch members 49 are provided, each consisting of an operating rod 44 having a protrusion 46 projecting into the storage chamber 16 at its tip and a contact 48. This switch member 49 serves as a switch for the flash light emitting circuit, and when the casing 20 is in the storage position, the protrusion 46 is pushed by the second rotating lever 38, and the operating rod 44 is separated from the contact 48 and opened. Ru. On the other hand, when the casing 20 is in the protruding position, the second rotating lever 38 separates from the protrusion 46, the operating rod 44 contacts and closes the contact 48, and the built-in infrastructure begins to prepare for light emission. The reason why two sets of switch members 49 are provided is to make the switching operation more reliable.

Next, the pop-up operation of the built-in infrastructure constructed as described above and the locking operation in the storage position will be explained.

When using the built-in infrastructure, press the operation part of the push button 54 in the stored state shown in FIG. 32a. Then, the second rotating lever 38 rotates counterclockwise due to the rotation biasing force of the torsion spring 52, and the casing 20 linked to the second and first rotating levers 38, 32 rises and advances. The projecting position shown in FIG. 4 is reached. The built-in infrastructure is now ready for use.

When storing the built-in infrastructure, press the top plate 22 of the casing 20 with your finger. Then, the casing 20 sinks into the storage chamber 16 while rotating the first rotation lever 32 and the second rotation lever 38 clockwise. Shortly before the casing 20 reaches the storage position, the edge 32b of the first rotating lever 32 comes into contact with the upper end surface 50c of the locking lever 50 and begins to push down the locking lever 50. 32b engages the wedge surface 50a. A dashed line A in FIG. 1 indicates the locus of movement of the edge 32b. The frictional contact between the wedge surface 50a and the edge 32b of the locking surface 32a prevents the first rotation lever 32 from rotating in the counterclockwise direction. And then casing 2
0, the first rotation bar 32 further rotates clockwise, and the edge 32b of the locking surface 32a moves the frictional contact position with the wedge surface 50a of the locking lever 50 further away from the shaft 42. and the first pivot lever 32 is held at that position. In other words, according to the present invention, when the top plate 22 is pushed down and the first rotation lever 32 is rotated clockwise, the first rotation lever 32 is moved to the rotated position by the wedge action of the wedge surface 50a. When the plate 22 is held and the locking force is released, the top plate 22
does not increase even slightly. As a result, a pop-up type built-in infrastructure with excellent appearance can be provided.

The shaft 42 of the locking lever 50 may be moved in the axial direction not only by linear movement but also by tilting or bending.

The pop-up mechanism shown in the above embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In short, the present invention is similarly applicable to any type of pop-up mechanism that holds the flasher in the storage position by a lever that rotates as the flasher pops up and a locking lever that engages with the lever.

"Effects of the Invention" As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a pop-up device that rotates a flash installed in a storage chamber provided in a pentagonal prism between a storage position and an extended position. A wedge action surface is provided on the locking lever, and the flash can be held by the wedge action from the vicinity of the storage position to the storage position, so the flash can be moved to the storage position without play due to the clearance of the locking part. can be retained. Therefore, the appearance of the camera is not damaged.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the main part of the same embodiment, and FIG. , FIG. 4 shows a single-lens reflex camera equipped with a pop-up mechanism of a built-in flash to which the locking mechanism of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the stored state and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the back shape of the storage chamber. 10...Camera body, 12...Pentahouse housing, 16...Storage chamber, 20...Casing, 32
...First rotation lever, 32a...Latching surface, 32b
...Edge, 38...Second rotation lever, 50...
Locking lever, 50a...wedge surface, 54...push button.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a built-in flash pop-up device in which a flash is provided in a storage chamber provided near the upper part of the pentaprism of the camera body and moves between a storage position and an extended position by the rotational operation of a rotating lever, A locking lever having a tip locking surface that engages and disengages with a locking surface of the rotating lever that rotates to the flush storage position is pivotally mounted in the chamber, and the locking lever has a tip locking surface that engages and disengages from the locking surface of the rotary lever that rotates to the flush storage position. , by the rotational movement of the rotational lever in the direction of flush storage,
It has a wedge surface that exerts a wedge action, and the locking lever can be moved in the axial direction of its rotating shaft in order to engage and disengage the locking surface at its end and the locking surface of the rotating lever. A locking mechanism for a built-in infrastructure pop-up device characterized by: