Protector for camera, protector system for camera, and guide member

Abstract

To provide a protector for a camera that can store a camera and can execute autoclave sterilization processing.SOLUTION: A protector 1 for a camera can execute autoclave sterilization processing, and is provided with: a protector body 2 having an internal space 2x for storing a camera 30 and an opening 2a for opening the internal space; a rear lid 3 covering the opening; and a sealing member 9 provided on at least one of the protector body and the rear lid, and sealing the internal space of the protector body when the opening is covered by the rear lid. The protector body and the rear lid are formed of resin material having thermal resistance to at least 135°C, and the sealing member is formed of rubber material having thermal resistance to at least 135°C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a camera protector that can be sterilized in an autoclave (high-temperature, high-pressure steam sterilization), a camera protector system consisting of the camera protector and a guide member, and a guide member that is applied to the camera protector system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, imaging devices such as so-called digital cameras or digital video cameras (hereinafter collectively referred to as cameras) that are configured to receive an optical image of a subject (hereinafter referred to as the subject image) formed using an imaging optical system consisting of optical lenses, etc., and photoelectrically convert the subject image using a photoelectric conversion element such as an image sensor to generate, record, and display still image data or moving image data corresponding to the subject image have become generally practical and are widely used.

[0003] This type of camera generally has the great advantage that, after performing an imaging operation, an image based on the image data obtained by the imaging operation can be instantly displayed and checked on the spot using a display device.

[0004] Therefore, this type of camera is widely used as an image recording device in a variety of fields, such as in industrial fields such as construction sites and factories for manufacturing or processing industrial products, food-related products, or chemical products (e.g., pharmaceuticals), as well as in the medical field including medical care facilities (e.g., hospitals) and medical or chemical research facilities.

[0005] However, cameras are used in a variety of environments, and a standard camera configuration may not be able to withstand certain environments. For example, to use a camera in harsh environments such as underwater, in dusty environments such as construction sites, or in bad weather outdoors, a camera may need to be equipped with a specific dustproof and waterproof structure. However, it is well known that providing a dustproof and waterproof structure to a camera leads to various problems, such as a complex structure, increased weight, and increased manufacturing costs.

[0006] Therefore, camera protectors (also called housings) that have a dustproof and waterproof structure and allow the use of a normal camera in a stored state have been put into practical use.

[0007] By using this type of camera protector, a normal camera can be used in the same way as in normal use, even in special environments such as underwater or in dusty environments.

[0008] On the other hand, in medical facilities (hospitals, laboratories, etc.), as well as food-related or chemical product-related facilities (factories, laboratories, etc.), it is necessary to prevent as much as possible bacteria adhering to equipment used, such as cameras, from contaminating the objects being observed or handled.

[0009] Therefore, cameras and the like used in the medical field or in facilities related to food-related products or chemical products have conventionally been subjected to predetermined sterilization or disinfection treatment before or after use.

[0010] In such cases, the processes that are commonly performed on cameras and other items include sterilization using disinfectant solutions (medicinal alcohol, etc.) or ethylene oxide gas, as well as autoclave sterilization (high-temperature, high-pressure steam sterilization) using a high-temperature, high-pressure steam sterilization device.

[0011] Autoclave sterilization is a sterilization process that kills microorganisms and bacteria attached to instruments and containers by exposing and heating the equipment in saturated steam at a specified high temperature and pressure. Applying this autoclave sterilization process to cameras and other devices has the advantage of being able to sterilize more quickly, efficiently, and at lower cost than conventional sterilization processes.

[0012] Typical conditions for the autoclave sterilization process conventionally performed on cameras and other devices used in the medical field include, for example, 15 to 20 minutes in an environment of about 121 degrees Celsius (°C), or 5 to 10 minutes in an environment of about 134 degrees Celsius (°C).

[0013] Therefore, in order to subject cameras used in the medical field, etc. to autoclave sterilization, the camera must be equipped with a structure that can withstand a certain level of high-temperature, high-pressure steam. For this reason, various proposals for cameras that can be subjected to autoclave sterilization have been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-404.

[0014] The camera disclosed in the above-mentioned JP 2007-404 A and the like has a main housing constructed using metal members, and a transparent optical member bonded with an adhesive to an incident light window provided on an end face of the metal housing. Furthermore, a transparent material is overcoated over an area larger than the adhesive layer between the metal housing and the optical member to cover the adhesive layer. This configuration allows the camera disclosed in this publication to achieve heat resistance and pressure resistance in autoclave sterilization, making the camera suitable for autoclave sterilization. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-404 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] However, the camera disclosed in the above-mentioned JP 2007-404 A and the like has a metal housing, which makes the device heavy and expensive. At the same time, the camera disclosed in the publication is a dedicated device with a special structure specialized for medical use. This limits the range of use of the camera, resulting in a lack of versatility.

[0017] Generally, it would be most convenient if a standard camera that is widely used could be used as it is for taking record photographs in a variety of environments in a variety of fields. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable to use a conventional standard camera by storing it in a conventional camera protector.

[0018] However, conventional camera protectors are not designed to be exposed to harsh environments such as those requiring autoclave sterilization, and therefore cannot be sterilized in an autoclave because they are not resistant to autoclave sterilization.

[0019] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a camera protector that can house a camera and can be sterilized in an autoclave.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera protector system comprising a camera protector that can be sterilized in an autoclave, and a guide member that guides the camera into the camera protector when storing the camera in the autoclave-sterilized camera protector while preventing bacteria and the like from adhering to the outer surface of the camera protector.

[0021] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a guide member for guiding a camera when it is stored in a camera protector that has been autoclave sterilized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0022] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the camera protector of the present invention is a camera protector that can be sterilized in an autoclave and comprises a protector body having an internal space for storing a camera and an opening that exposes this internal space, a rear cover that covers the opening, and a sealing member that is provided on at least one of the protector body or the rear cover and that seals the internal space of the protector body when the opening is covered by the rear cover, wherein the protector body and the rear cover are formed from a resin material that is heat resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C), and the sealing member is formed from a rubber material that is heat resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C).

[0023] A camera protector system according to one aspect of the present invention is a camera protector that can be sterilized by autoclave, and includes a protector body having an opening for accommodating a camera and an internal space capable of accommodating the camera, a rear cover that covers the opening, and a sealing member that is provided on at least one of the protector body and the rear cover and seals the internal space of the protector body when the opening is covered by the rear cover; an insertion opening through which the camera can be inserted; The protector body, rear cover, and guide member are formed from a resin material that is heat resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C), and the sealing member is formed from a rubber material that is heat resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C), and the guide member guides the camera into the internal space of the protector body through the insertion opening of the guide member when the guide member is fixedly attached to the protector body.

[0024] A guide member used in a camera protector system according to one aspect of the present invention is a guide member that is applied to a camera protector system, and has a main body formed in the shape of a thin plate, an insertion opening formed in approximately the central region of the main body and shaped to allow a camera to be inserted, and an engaging and fixing portion that engages with the protector main body of the camera protector, and the insertion opening is formed to have an area smaller than the opening in the protector main body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera protector that can house a camera and can be sterilized in an autoclave.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera protector system comprising a camera protector that can be sterilized in an autoclave, and a guide member that guides the camera into the camera protector when storing the camera in the autoclave-sterilized camera protector while preventing bacteria and the like from adhering to the outer surface of the camera protector.

[0027] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a guide member for guiding a camera when it is stored in a camera protector that has been sterilized in an autoclave. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a camera protector according to an embodiment of the present invention, mainly showing the front side thereof; [Figure 2] A plan view showing the rear side of the camera protector of Figure 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the camera protector of FIG. 1 in an open state. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view along line [4]-[4] in Figure 3 [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view along line [5]-[5] in Figure 3 [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view along line [6]-[6] in Figure 3 [Figure 7]FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a guide member included in a camera protector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a camera protector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [9]-[9] in FIG. 8, showing the engagement relationship between the camera protector and the guide member according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] An enlarged view of the area indicated by

[10] in Figure 9 (a view showing the state immediately before the guide member is attached to the protector body). [Figure 11] 9 is a plan view showing the camera protector system in the state shown in FIG. 8 with the camera housed in the internal space of the protector body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. The drawings used in the following description are schematic, and the dimensional relationships and scales of the components may be different for each component in order to show each component at a size that allows it to be recognized on the drawing. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments in terms of the number of components shown in the drawings, the shapes of the components, the size ratios of the components, the relative positional relationships of the components, and so on.

[0030] First, the schematic configuration of a camera protector according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. Fig. 1 is an external perspective view mainly showing the front side of a camera protector according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the rear side of the camera protector of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the camera protector of Fig. 1 in an open state. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [4]-[4] in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [5]-[5] in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [6]-[6] in Fig. 3.

[0031] In the following description, the front of the camera protector refers to the surface that faces the subject when the camera protector is in use, and is the surface indicated by arrow F in Figure 1. The back of the camera protector refers to the surface that faces the user when the camera protector is in use, and is the surface indicated by arrow R in Figure 1. Furthermore, in the following description, when referring to left or right, it refers to the left or right in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the camera protector (when viewed from the direction of arrow F).

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a camera protector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is made up of a protector main body 2 (not shown in FIG. 2) and a back cover 3.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the protector body 2 is formed with an internal space 2x for storing a camera (not shown in Figure 3; see reference numeral 30 in Figure 11 described later) and an opening 2a that opens this internal space 2x.

[0034] The opening 2a is formed facing the rear side so as to open the rear side of the protector main body 2. The opening 2a is formed by a wall 2w that covers the outer surface of the protector main body 2. In other words, the wall 2w is formed around the entire outer periphery of the opening 2a so as to surround the opening 2a.

[0035] A shelf 2b is formed around the entire inner periphery of the wall 2w (see FIG. 9, etc., described later). The shelf 2b is a flat surface that extends from the inner wall surface of the wall 2w toward the inside of the opening 2a in a direction substantially perpendicular to the wall 2w. The wall 2w and the shelf 2b are portions that engage with an outer wall 3w of the back cover 3, described later.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the protector body 2 is formed with an imaging opening 2c for allowing the imaging light beam to pass through. This imaging opening 2c is formed in a substantially central region on the front surface of the protector body 2. The imaging opening 2c is covered with a glass panel 5. This glass panel 5 is made of, for example, colorless and transparent lanthanum glass or synthetic quartz glass. Base materials made of lanthanum glass or synthetic quartz glass are resistant to high-temperature and high-pressure steam and can be sterilized with high-temperature and high-pressure steam. The reason for covering the imaging opening 2c with the glass panel 5, which is colorless and transparent, is to prevent adverse effects such as color cast on the captured image due to, for example, the colored resin material (described in detail below) forming the protector body 2. The mounting structure of the glass panel 5 to the protector body 2 will be described later (see FIG. 5).

[0037] The rear cover 3 is a component that covers the opening 2a, and is therefore disposed on the protector body 2 by a hinge 8 so as to be able to be opened and closed freely, as shown in FIG.

[0038] 1 and 2 is a state in which the rear cover 3 is closed relative to the protector body 2. The state shown in FIG. 3 is a state in which the rear cover 3 is open relative to the protector body 2.

[0039] Although details will be described later, the rear cover 3 is in the open state when a camera (see reference numeral 30 in FIG. 11) is stored in the internal space 2x of the protector body 2. When the camera protector 1 is used with a camera (see reference numeral 30 in FIG. 11) stored therein, the rear cover 3 is in the closed state.

[0040] For this purpose, the protector body 2 is provided with an open / close lock knob 7. This open / close lock knob 7 is an operating member that has a locking mechanism that keeps the rear cover 3 closed relative to the protector body 2, and an unlocking mechanism that opens the rear cover 3 from a closed state. The locking and unlocking mechanisms of this open / close lock knob 7 are assumed to be mechanisms that are used in conventional camera protectors, and a detailed description of their configurations will be omitted.

[0041] 1 to 3, etc., the present embodiment shows a configuration example in which the opening / closing lock knob 7 is disposed on the right side surface of the protector body 2, and the hinge 8 is disposed on the left side surface of the protector body 2. However, the arrangement of the opening / closing lock knob 7 and the hinge 8 is not limited to the configuration example of the present embodiment.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 3, the rear cover 3 is equipped with a sealing member 9 (see the cross-hatched portion in Fig. 3). This sealing member 9 is a component that seals the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2 when the opening 2a of the protector main body 2 is covered by the rear cover 3 (closed state). For this reason, the sealing member 9 is provided on the surface of the rear cover 3 that faces the back surface of the protector main body 2 when the rear cover 3 is closed.

[0043] Here, the sealing member 9 is disposed near the outer peripheral edge of the rear lid 3. More specifically, an outer wall 3w is formed around the entire periphery near the outer peripheral edge of the rear lid 3. This outer wall 3w is formed to protrude from the opposing surface of the rear lid 3 that faces the opening 2a toward the opening 2a when the rear lid 3 is in a closed state covering the opening 2a of the protector body 2. The sealing member 9 is disposed so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 3w.

[0044] Meanwhile, as described above, a wall 2w is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the opening 2a of the protector main body 2. Here, when the rear cover 3 is in the closed state, the wall 2w is formed in a position disposed outside the outer wall 3w. With this configuration, when the rear cover 3 is in the closed state, a predetermined gap is formed between the wall 2w and the outer wall 3w. And, as described above, a sealing member 9 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the outer wall 3w.

[0045] Therefore, when the rear cover 3 is closed, the wall 2w and the outer wall 3w are positioned opposite each other with a predetermined gap between them. A sealing member 9 is sandwiched between the wall 2w and the outer wall 3w. In this case, the sealing member 9 is pressed toward the wall 2w by the outer wall 3w and is in a compressed state. In other words, when the rear cover 3 is closed, the sealing member 9 is sandwiched between the wall 2w and the outer wall 3w in a compressed state. With this configuration, the sealing member 9 seals the internal space 2x when the rear cover 3 is closed.

[0046] In this embodiment, an example configuration is shown in which the sealing member 9 in the camera protector 1 is provided on the back cover 3. However, the location of the sealing member 9 is not limited to the example configuration of this embodiment described above. For example, the sealing member 9 in the camera protector 1 may be provided on the protector main body 2. In other words, it is sufficient that the sealing member 9 is provided on at least one of the protector main body 2 and the back cover 3.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the back cover 3 is formed with a display opening 3a that allows the display on a rear display panel (not shown; see reference numeral 30a in FIG. 11, which will be described later) of the camera housed in the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2 to be viewed. This display opening 3a is formed in an approximately central region of the back cover 3. A glass panel 10 is fitted into the display opening 3a. This glass panel 10 is made of, for example, colorless and transparent glass. The reason for covering the display opening 3a with the glass panel 10, which is colorless and transparent glass, is the same as the reason for covering the imaging opening 2c with the glass panel 5. The mounting structure of the glass panel 10 on the back cover 3 will be described later (see FIG. 6).

[0048] A plurality of operation members 4 for operating the camera stored in the internal space 2x are provided on the outer surfaces of the protector main body 2 and the rear cover 3. These operation members 4 are a structural unit that acts on operation members on the camera side.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the multiple operating members 4 are configured to include interlocking mechanisms 4a and operating units (not shown; see reference numeral 4b in Figure 4 described later) that are each configured to correspond to each of the camera's multiple operating members (not shown; see reference numeral 30b in Figure 11 described later).

[0050] The operating members 4 may be of various types, such as push button type operating members or rotary dial type operating members. The operating members 4 are made of, for example, metal and resin materials. The internal structure of the operating members 4 will be described later (see FIG. 4).

[0051] Furthermore, the protector body 2 is provided with gripping portions (6a, 6b) as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These gripping portions are parts that are gripped by the fingers of the user when the user holds the camera protector 1.

[0052] The camera protector 1 of this embodiment is provided with a front grip portion 6a (see FIG. 1) and a rear grip portion 6b (see FIG. 2). Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the front grip portion 6a is provided in a region toward the left of the front surface of the protector body 2. The front grip portion 6a is provided in a region gripped by the fingers of the user other than the thumb. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the rear grip portion 6b is provided in a region toward the left of the rear surface of the protector body 2 (a region toward the right when viewed from the rear). The rear grip portion 6b is provided in a region gripped by the user's thumb. These grip portions 6a and 6b may be made of a rubber material (e.g., silicone rubber or fluorocarbon polymers) that is heat-resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius. These grip portions 6a and 6b may be integrally formed from the same material as the protector body 2.

[0053] The camera protector 1 of this embodiment configured as described above is designed to be sterilized in an autoclave. To this end, the protector body 2 and rear cover 3 are made of a resin material that is heat-resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C) and also has hydrolysis resistance.

[0054] Specifically, the resin material that forms the protector body 2 and the rear cover 3 is, for example, polyphenyl sulfone (PSSU) resin or polyether ether ketone (PEEK) resin.

[0055] The sealing member 9 is made of a rubber material that has a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C). Examples of the rubber material that forms the sealing member 9 include silicone rubber and fluorocarbon polymers.

[0056] Next, the internal structure of the operation member 4 will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a push-button type operation member provided on the back side of the rear cover 3.

[0057] 4 is made up of an interlocking mechanism 4a and an operating part 4b. The interlocking mechanism 4a is made up of a rod member 4x, a biasing member 4y, a pressing member 4z, a sealing member 4v, etc.

[0058] The rod member 4x is a rod-shaped member that penetrates the back plate 3z, a constituent member of the back cover 3, and protrudes toward the area that becomes the internal space 2x when the back cover 3 is closed. In this case, the rod member 4x is arranged so as to be able to move back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the back plate 3z of the back cover 3 (the direction along the arrow P in FIG. 3). The rod member 4x is formed integrally with the operation unit 4b, for example, by insert molding or the like.

[0059] A seal member 4v is disposed between the outer periphery of the rod member 4x and the back plate portion 3z. This seal member 4v seals the gap between the rod member 4x and the back plate portion 3z while allowing the rod member 4x to move back and forth in the direction of arrow P.

[0060] A pressing member 4z is fixed to one end (inner area side) of the rod member 4x. The pressing member 4z acts on the operating member of the camera housed in the internal space 2x. An operating part 4b is fixed to the other end (outer side) of the rod member 4x.

[0061] The operation unit 4b is a member that receives the force of the user's fingers, etc. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 3, the operation unit 4b is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow P1 upon receiving a pressing force from the user's fingers, etc. in the direction of arrow P1.

[0062] A biasing member 4y, such as a coil spring, is wound around the rod member 4x. One end of the biasing member 4y abuts against a part of the back plate 3z. The other end of the biasing member 4y abuts against a part of the operation portion 4b.

[0063] The operating member 4 configured in this manner acts as follows. First, the operating portion 4b receives a pressing force in the direction of arrow P1 from the user's finger or the like. This causes the operating portion 4b, rod member 4x, and pressing member 4z to move in the same direction (the direction of arrow P1). As a result, the pressing member 4z acts on the operating member of the camera. In the configuration example of FIG. 3, the pressing member 4z presses the operating member of the camera.

[0064] In this case, when the operating portion 4b receives a pressing force in the direction of arrow P1 and moves in the same direction (arrow P1 direction) together with the rod member 4x and the pressing member 4z, the biasing member 4y receives the pressing force and contracts.

[0065] On the other hand, when the pressing force on the operating part 4b in the direction of arrow P1 is released, the biasing member 4y expands due to its own biasing force and returns to its original shape, causing the operating part 4b, the rod member 4x, and the pressing member 4z to move in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow P1 (the direction of arrow P2) along the direction of arrow P and return to their original positions.

[0066] In the operating member 4, the operating portion 4b and the pressing member 4z are formed, for example, from a resin material having a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C). The sealing member 4v is formed from a rubber material having a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C). The rod member 4x and the biasing member 4y are formed, for example, from a metal material. The rod member 4x and the biasing member 4y may also be formed, for example, from a resin material having a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C).

[0067] Next, the mounting structure of the glass panel 5 to the protector body 2 will be described below with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the mounting structure of the colorless and transparent glass panel 5 that covers the imaging opening 2c.

[0068] The glass panel 5 is sandwiched between a first member 2y and a second member 2z, which are components of the protector body 2. The first member 2y and the second member 2z are fastened together with a screw 12 (see FIG. 3 as well as FIG. 5). In this case, the first member 2y has a female thread corresponding to the screw 12. Here, the screw 12 and the female thread corresponding to the screw 12 are made of a metal member.

[0069] Here, the gap between the glass panel 5 and the constituent members (2y, 2z) of the protector main body 2 is sealed by second sealing members 11a and 11b formed using a rubber member. The second sealing member 11a is disposed on the first member 2y in the peripheral region of the imaging opening 2c. At this time, the second sealing member 11a abuts against the outer periphery of the glass panel 5. As a result, the second sealing member 11a is pressed between the outer periphery of the glass panel 5 and the first member 2y.

[0070] The second sealing member 11b is disposed on the second member 2z in the peripheral region of the imaging opening 2c. At this time, the second sealing member 11b abuts against a rear flat portion near the outer periphery of the glass panel 5. As a result, the second sealing member 11b is pressed between the rear flat portion near the outer periphery of the glass panel 5 and the second member 2z.

[0071] In this way, a so-called floating structure is formed between the glass panel 5 and the components of the protector body 2, providing a watertight and airtight seal without using adhesives or the like. The reason for not using adhesives or the like to join the glass panel 5 and the components of the protector body 2 is as follows: The resin components (described in detail below) that make up the protector body 2, the glass panel 5, and the adhesive material all have different thermal expansion coefficients. Therefore, if an adhesive material is used to join the device, autoclave sterilization may damage the bonded portions during the autoclave sterilization due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the components. Taking this into consideration, the camera protector 1 of this embodiment is configured not to use adhesives or the like to join the glass panel 5 and the components of the protector body 2. This configuration reliably maintains airtightness between the glass panel 5 and the components of the protector body 2 while preventing damage to the bonded portions.

[0072] Next, the mounting structure of the glass panel 10 to the back cover 3 will be described below with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the mounting structure of the glass panel 10 to the back cover 3.

[0073] The glass panel 10 is arranged in a manner that it is sandwiched between the rear plate portion 3z of the rear cover 3. In this case, the gap between the glass panel 10 and the rear plate portion 3z of the rear cover 3 is sealed by a third sealing member 13 formed using a rubber member.

[0074] The third sealing member 13 is disposed between the outer peripheral edge of the glass panel 10 and the back plate portion 3z in the peripheral region of the display opening 3a, so that the third sealing member 13 is pressed between the outer peripheral edge of the glass panel 10 and the component members.

[0075] In this way, a so-called floating structure is formed between the glass panel 10 and the rear plate portion 3z of the rear cover 3, which is sealed watertight and airtight without using adhesive or the like.

[0076] In the camera protector 1 of this embodiment, tapping screws are not used as a means for fixing or joining the various components together. If exposed to the high heat environment of autoclave sterilization, cracks may occur in the tapped parts. The non-use of tapping screws is a structural measure to allow autoclave sterilization.

[0077] A camera protector system according to one embodiment of the present invention, including the camera protector 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing a guide member included in the camera protector system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the camera protector system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 8 shows a state in which the guide member 20 is attached to the protector body 2 of the camera protector 1 with the back cover 3 in an open state. FIGS. 9 and 10 are views showing the engagement relationship between the camera protector and the guide member. Of these, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [9]-[9] in FIG. 8. Note that FIG. 9 shows a state in which the guide member 20 is attached to the protector body 2. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the area indicated by

[10] in FIG. 9. Note that FIG. 10 shows the state immediately before the guide member 20 is attached to the protector body 2. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which the camera is housed in the internal space of the protector body in the camera protector system in the state shown in FIG. 8.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 8 and other figures, the camera protector system 100 of this embodiment is made up of the camera protector 1 of this embodiment described above and a guide member 20.

[0079] The guide member 20 is a member used when storing a camera (not shown; see reference numeral 30 in FIG. 11) in the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2. The camera 30 is a camera of a predetermined form that corresponds to the camera protector 1.

[0080] The guide member 20 guides the camera 30 when it is housed in the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2. The guide member 20 is mainly made up of a main body 21, as shown in FIG.

[0081] The main body 21 has a larger area than the rear surface of the protector main body 2 and is formed in a thin plate shape overall. An insertion opening 22 having a shape that allows the insertion of the camera 30 is formed in the approximate center region of the main body 21. The insertion opening 22 penetrates the main body 21. This insertion opening 22 is formed so that the camera 30 can be inserted when storing the camera 30 of a predetermined shape that corresponds to the camera protector 1 from the outside of the protector main body 2 into the internal space 2x.

[0082] Although details will be described later, when the camera 30 is stored in the camera protector 1 of this embodiment, the camera 30 is stored into the internal space 2x through the opening 2a on the rear side of the protector body 2. In this case, the camera 30 is stored with its front surface facing the opening 2a of the protector body 2. At this time, the guide member 20 is attached to the opening 2a of the protector body 2 and guides the storage of the camera 30.

[0083] For this reason, the insertion opening 22 is formed to have a shape and size (area) that allow the insertion of the camera 30 in a predetermined position. Specifically, for example, the insertion opening 22 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and other figures is set to have an area that is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the front projection area of ​​the camera 30 (see FIG. 11 and other figures). Here, the front surface of the camera 30 is a plane on which an imaging lens is disposed. Furthermore, the insertion opening 22 is formed to have an area smaller than that of the opening 2a of the protector body 2.

[0084] In this embodiment, an example configuration is shown in which the insertion opening 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape to match the shape of the front projection surface of the camera 30. The shape of the insertion opening 22 is not limited to the example configuration of this embodiment, and it goes without saying that it may be configured in a different shape as long as the shape allows the camera 30 to be inserted in a predetermined posture.

[0085] Furthermore, the main body 21 of the guide member 20 has an engaging and fixing portion 23. This engaging and fixing portion 23 is a component that stably maintains the state in which the guide member 20 is attached to the protector main body 2 of the camera protector 1.

[0086] For this reason, the engaging and fixing portion 23 is a wall-like portion formed on one surface of the main body 21 near the periphery of the insertion opening 22. That is, the engaging and fixing portion 23 is a wall-like portion formed so as to protrude outward from one surface of the main body 21 in one direction perpendicular to the plane of the main body 21. When the guide member 20 is attached to the opening 2a of the protector main body 2, the engaging and fixing portion 23 engages with a wall 2w provided along the outer periphery of the opening 2a of the protector main body 2. With this configuration, the guide member 20 can be stably maintained in an attached state when attached to the protector main body 2.

[0087] 7 and other figures, the engaging and fixing portions 23 illustrated in this embodiment are arranged near the four corners of the insertion opening 22. However, the arrangement of the engaging and fixing portions 23 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0088] For example, the engaging and fixing portion 23 may be configured to form a wall-like portion around the entire periphery of the insertion opening 22 near the periphery of the insertion opening 22. Also, for example, the engaging and fixing portion 23 may be configured to form a wall-like portion at each of the intermediate positions of each side (four sides in the illustrated example) of the rectangular shape of the insertion opening 22 near the periphery of the insertion opening 22. Furthermore, for example, the engaging and fixing portion 23 may be configured to engage with the external shape or outer edge of the protector main body 2 to position the protector main body 2 and the guide member 20.

[0089] With this configuration, the guide member 20 is stably attached to the protector body 2. Then, with the guide member 20 attached to the protector body 2 in this manner, the camera 30 is stored in the internal space 2x of the protector body 2.

[0090] In this case, camera 30 is first inserted through insertion opening 22 of guide member 20, and then stored from opening 2a of protector main body 2 toward internal space 2x. At this time, guide member 20 guides camera 30 to be stored in internal space 2x.

[0091] In this case, guide member 20 can prevent camera 30 or the fingers of the user holding camera 30 from accidentally coming into contact with the outer surface of sterilized camera protector 1. At the same time, camera 30 can be smoothly guided into internal space 2x of protector main body 2 and stored therein.

[0092] The guide member 20 also has a structure that allows it to be sterilized in an autoclave. For this reason, the guide member 20 is made of a resin material that is heat resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C). That is, like the resin materials that form the protector body 2 and the back cover 3, the guide member 20 is also made of, for example, polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) resin or polyether ether ketone (PEEK) resin. Furthermore, it is preferable that the resin material that forms the guide member 20 also has hydrolysis resistance.

[0093] The operation of the camera protector system 100 of this embodiment configured as described above when the camera 30 corresponding to the camera protector 1 is stored in the internal space 2x will be outlined below.

[0094] First, the camera protector 1 to be tested is sterilized in advance in an autoclave in the state where it is unfolded as shown in Fig. 3. Similarly, the guide member 20 is also sterilized in advance in an autoclave.

[0095] The autoclave-sterilized camera protector 1 is held by hand with the back cover 3 open relative to the protector body 2, or placed on a clean table, etc. This operation is preferably performed by an operator wearing, for example, sterilized gloves.

[0096] The autoclave-sterilized guide member 20 is attached to the opening 2a of the protector body 2 in the open state. This state is shown in Figures 8 and 9. That is, the guide member 20 is positioned so that the surface of the main body 21 on which the engaging and fixing portion 23 is provided faces the opening 2a of the protector body 2, and the guide member 20 covers the opening 2a. Then, the guide member 20 is placed on the back surface of the protector body 2 in the direction of arrow Y shown in Figure 10.

[0097] At this time, the engaging and fixing portion 23 is engaged along the wall 2w of the opening 2a (see FIG. 9). As a result, the guide member 20 is stably attached to the opening 2a of the protector main body 2 (see FIG. 8). This series of operations is also preferably performed by an operator wearing, for example, sterilized gloves.

[0098] The camera 30 is stored in the protector main body 2 with the guide member 20 attached in a predetermined position. To do this, first, the camera 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 22 of the guide member 20. In this case, the camera 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 22 while maintaining a predetermined attitude. Here, the predetermined attitude of the camera 30 is, for example, an attitude in which the front surface of the camera 30 faces the rear surface of the protector main body 2 (i.e., the rear surface of the guide member 20).

[0099] In this case, the camera 30 itself cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, as described above. Therefore, the camera must be inserted by another operator. Before performing this insertion operation, it is preferable to subject the outer surface of the camera 30 to a simple sterilization process, such as alcohol disinfection.

[0100] Then, the camera 30 is dropped into the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2 through the insertion opening 22. As a result, the camera 30 is stored in the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2 as shown in FIG. 11 (see FIG. 11).

[0101] Thereafter, the guide member 20 is removed, and the rear cover 3 is closed relative to the protector body 2. As a result, the camera 30 is stored in a sealed state inside the camera protector 1 while the sterilized state of the outer surface of the camera protector 1 is maintained.

[0102] In this way, desired image recording work is performed using the camera 30 stored inside the camera protector 1. After using the camera 30, the camera 30 is removed from the camera protector 1 by reversing the above-described storage procedure.

[0103] When removing the camera 30 from the camera protector 1, it is preferable to add the following procedure, for example. That is, after use for image recording, the outer surface of the camera protector 1 with the camera 30 stored inside is washed with water or disinfected with alcohol. After that, the back cover 3 is opened using the usual procedure. Next, the guide member 20 is attached to a predetermined position on the back of the protector main body 2. Then, the camera 30 is removed from the internal space 2x of the protector main body 2.

[0104] Then, in preparation for the next use, the camera protector 1 and guide member 20 are subjected to a predetermined autoclave sterilization process. After that, the camera protector 1 and guide member 20 are stored in a predetermined clean storage cabinet, etc. It is also preferable that the removed camera 30 is stored with its outer surface, etc., subjected to a simple sterilization process, such as alcohol disinfection.

[0105] As described above, according to the embodiment, a general-purpose camera 30 can be stored in a sealed state inside the autoclave-sterilizable camera protector 1. Therefore, even in special environments where a clean environment must be maintained, such as in the medical field or facilities related to food-related or chemical products, a general-purpose camera 30 that is not compatible with autoclave sterilization can be used to perform desired image recording operations in the same way as conventional dedicated devices.

[0106] At this time, the camera 30 is used in a sealed state within the internal space 2x of the camera protector 1, so the camera 30 will not be contaminated by microorganisms, bacteria, etc. At the same time, even if bacteria, etc. are attached to the outer surface of the camera 30, the camera 30 is sealed within the internal space 2x of the camera protector 1 during use, so the bacteria, etc. will not leak out from the internal space 2x to the outside during use. Therefore, it is possible to avoid contamination of the usage environment by bacteria, etc. attached to the camera 30.

[0107] When the camera 30 is stored in the camera protector 1 and used, the outer surface of the camera protector 1 may become contaminated with microorganisms, bacteria, etc. However, after use for image recording, the camera 30 can be removed from the camera protector 1 and then autoclave sterilized. Therefore, the camera protector 1 of this embodiment can be used repeatedly while always remaining clean.

[0108] The camera protector 1 of this embodiment can be sterilized in an autoclave and is made of a lightweight, inexpensive resin material, making it a lighter and more inexpensive image recording device than conventional image recording devices made of metal components, etc. This makes it easier to handle as an image recording device and improves the efficiency of image recording operations. Furthermore, using the camera protector 1 of this embodiment reduces the burden on the user. At the same time, it contributes to reducing the manufacturing cost of the camera protector 1. Furthermore, by combining the camera protector system 100 with a standard camera 30, it is possible to reduce the cost of an image recording system that can be used in special environments, etc.

[0109] On the other hand, in the camera protector system 100 of this embodiment, a guide member 20 is used when storing the camera 30 in the camera protector 1. This guide member 20 has an extremely simple configuration and can be easily attached to the camera protector 1. Therefore, in the camera protector system 100 of this embodiment, the extremely simple configuration makes it easy to prevent the camera 30 from coming into contact with the outer surface of the camera protector 1 while storing the camera 30 in the camera protector 1. Therefore, even if bacteria or the like are attached to the outer surface of the camera 30, the camera 30 can be stored inside the camera protector 1 while reliably maintaining the clean state of the outer surface of the sterilized camera protector 1.

[0110] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining the disclosed multiple constituent elements. For example, if the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effects of the invention can be obtained even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in one embodiment, the configuration from which these constituent elements are deleted can be extracted as the invention. Furthermore, constituent elements from different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The present invention is not limited by specific embodiments other than as limited by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 1. Camera protector 2...Protector body 2a…Aperture 2b…Shelf 2c...imaging aperture 2w…Wall 2x…interior space 3...Rear lid 3a…Display aperture 3w...exterior wall 3z…Back plate part 4...Operating member 4a...Interlocking mechanism 4b...Operation unit 4v...Sealing material 4x...Rod material 4y... Urging member 4z...Pressing member 5...Glass panel 6a…Front grip part 6b…Back grip part 7...Open / close lock knob 8...hinge 9...Sealing material 10...Glass panel 11a, 11b...Second sealing member 12...Bis 13...Third sealing member 20...Guide member 21...Main body 22...insertion opening 23…Engagement fixing part 30...Camera 30a...Camera rear display panel 30b...Camera operating member 100...Camera protector system

Claims

1. A camera protector that can be sterilized by autoclave, a protector body having an internal space for storing a camera and an opening for opening the internal space; a rear cover that covers the opening; a sealing member provided on at least one of the protector body and the rear cover, the sealing member sealing the internal space of the protector body when the opening is covered by the rear cover; Equipped with The protector body and the rear cover are formed of a resin member having a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C), The sealing member is made of a rubber material that is heat resistant to at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C). A camera protector characterized by the above.

2. 2. The camera protector according to claim 1, wherein the resin member is made of a polyphenylsulfone resin or a polyether ether ketone resin.

3. 2. The camera protector according to claim 1, wherein the rubber member is made of silicon rubber or fluororubber.

4. 2. A camera protector according to claim 1, wherein the resin member has hydrolysis resistance.

5. At least one of the protector body and the rear cover has at least one operating member for operating the camera housed in the internal space, 2. The camera protector according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is formed using a metal member and the resin member.

6. the protector body has an imaging opening through which an imaging light beam passes, the imaging opening is covered with a colorless and transparent glass panel made of lanthanum glass or synthetic quartz glass; 2. The camera protector according to claim 1, wherein the space between the colorless and transparent glass panel and the protector body is sealed by a second sealing member disposed around the periphery of the imaging opening and formed using the rubber member.

7. a camera protector that can be sterilized by autoclave, the camera protector comprising: a protector body having an opening for accommodating a camera and an internal space capable of accommodating the camera; a rear cover that covers the opening; and a sealing member that is provided on at least one of the protector body and the rear cover and seals the internal space of the protector body when the opening is covered by the rear cover; a guide member having an insertion opening into which the camera can be inserted and an engagement fixing portion that engages with the protector body; It consists of the protector body, the rear cover, and the guide member are formed of a resin member having a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C); The sealing member is formed of a rubber member having a heat resistance of at least 135 degrees Celsius (°C), a guide member for guiding the camera into the internal space of the protector body through the insertion opening of the guide member when the guide member is fixedly attached to the protector body;

8. A guide member applied to a camera protector system, a main body having a thin plate shape; an insertion opening formed in a substantially central region of the body and having a shape into which a camera can be inserted; an engaging and fixing portion that engages with the protector body of the camera protector; and A guide member for use in a protector system for a camera, wherein the insertion opening is formed to have an area smaller than that of the opening of the protector body.

9. The engaging and fixing portion is formed to protrude in one direction perpendicular to the plane of the main body.

9. The guide member according to claim 8.

Images