Camera equipment

Abstract

To provide a camera device with which it is possible to firmly attach a light shielding member to a body frame at low cost.SOLUTION: A camera device 1 includes a body frame 20 in which a film accommodation space S where a photographic film can be accommodated is formed. An opening P communicating with at least a portion of the film accommodation space S is formed at the front of a base part 21 of the body frame 20. The camera device 1 comprises a light shielding member 40 for shutting the opening P of the base part 21, a circuit board 30 arranged so as to cover the light shielding member 40 in front of the body frame 20, and a screw 81 for fixing the circuit board 30 to the body frame 20. The base part 21 of the body frame 20 has a pawl part 25 protruding from a side face. The light shielding member 40 includes a hook part 41 capable of engaging with the pawl part 25 of the base part 21 and a contact protrusion 42 that comes into contact with a rear face 30A of the circuit board 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera device, and more particularly to a camera device using photographic film that can be automatically developed after photography. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, cameras (instant cameras) have been known that use photographic film that can be automatically developed after shooting and eject the developed photographic film to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The body frame of such cameras may have an opening formed therein due to manufacturing constraints. If light enters from the outside through such an opening, the photographic film will be exposed to light, so a light-blocking member that blocks the opening is attached to the body frame. Such a light-blocking member is generally attached to the body frame by a simple method (snap fit) in which a hook portion provided on the light-blocking member is engaged with a protrusion formed on the body frame.

[0003] In recent years, as cameras have become more multifunctional, there has been an increasing need to attach components to such light-shielding members to achieve additional functions. In order to attach additional components to the light-shielding member, the light-shielding member itself needs to be firmly fixed to the body frame, but the above-mentioned snap fit may not provide sufficient attachment strength for the light-shielding member to the body frame, and a structure that can increase the attachment strength of the light-shielding member at low cost is required. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-56009 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems of the conventional technology, and has an object to provide a camera device in which a light blocking member can be firmly attached to a main body frame at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera device in which a light-shielding member can be firmly attached to a main body frame at low cost. The camera device includes a main body frame having a film storage space formed therein capable of storing photographic film. An opening communicating with at least a part of the film storage space is formed on the front surface of the main body frame. The camera device includes a light-shielding member that closes the opening of the main body frame, a circuit board disposed in front of the main body frame so as to cover the light-shielding member, and a first fastener that fixes the circuit board to the main body frame. The main body frame has a claw portion that protrudes from a side surface. The light-shielding member has a hook portion that can be engaged with the claw portion of the main body frame, and an abutment protrusion that abuts against the rear surface of the circuit board. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lens barrel of the camera device shown in FIG. 1 is maximally extended in the +X direction. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing some of the components housed between the front cover and the rear cover of the camera device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a part of the camera device shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the components shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a camera device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. In Figs. 1 to 5, identical or corresponding components are denoted with the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. In addition, in Figs. 1 to 5, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish components from each other, and do not indicate a specific order or sequence.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera device 1 in one embodiment of the present invention. The camera device 1 in this embodiment is a camera (instant camera) that uses photographic film that is automatically developed after shooting, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to devices other than instant cameras. Note that in this embodiment, for convenience, the +X direction in Fig. 1 will be referred to as "front" or "forward" and the -X direction will be referred to as "rear" or "backward".

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the camera device 1 includes a front cover 2, a rear cover 3 attached to the rear of the front cover 2, and a top cover 4 sandwiched between the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3. A viewfinder window 5 is formed in the front cover 2, and a flash unit 6 is disposed adjacent to the viewfinder window 5. A release button 7 is disposed on the -Z side of the viewfinder window 5. Light receiving windows 9A and 9B are disposed near the +Y end of the front cover 2. An ejection slit 4A extending in the Y direction is formed in the top cover 4, and the photographic film developed after shooting is ejected from the ejection slit 4A.

[0011] The camera device 1 also includes a lens barrel 10 housed inside the cylindrical portion 2A of the front cover 2. The lens barrel 10 in this embodiment has a structure that is extendable in the +X direction. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lens barrel 10 in a state where it is maximally extended in the +X direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the lens barrel 10 includes a first cylindrical portion 11, a second cylindrical portion 12, and a third cylindrical portion 13. The first cylindrical portion 11 is movable in the X direction relative to the barrel portion 22 of the main body frame 20, and the second cylindrical portion 12 is movable in the X direction relative to the first cylindrical portion 11. The third cylindrical portion 13 is movable in the X direction relative to the second cylindrical portion 12.

[0012] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing some of the components housed between the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the camera device 1 has a main body frame 20 to which various parts are attached. This main body frame 20 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped base portion 21 and a cylindrical barrel portion 22 that extends forward from the base portion 21 and holds the lens barrel 10. A circuit board 30 is disposed in front of the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20.

[0013] Returning to FIG. 2, the rear end of the first cylinder portion 11 of the lens barrel 10 is formed with two engagement protrusions 14 that protrude radially outward. As shown in FIG. 3, in correspondence with each engagement protrusion 14, two guide grooves 24 extending along the optical axis direction (X direction) are formed in the barrel portion 22 of the main body frame 20. Each engagement protrusion 14 of the lens barrel 10 is accommodated inside the guide groove 24 of the barrel portion 22 and is adapted to engage with the guide groove 24. The width of the guide groove 24 in the Z direction is slightly larger than the width of the engagement protrusion 14 in the Z direction. Therefore, the engagement protrusion 14 moves in the X direction inside the guide groove 24 while being guided by the guide groove 24.

[0014] 3, an operation button 8 is provided near the barrel portion 22 of the main body frame 20 in a state where it is biased in the +X direction by a coil spring 8A. As shown in FIG 1, this operation button 8 protrudes in the +X direction from the front cover 2 near the cylindrical portion 2A of the front cover 2, and the user can press the operation button 8 in the -X direction.

[0015] A lens barrel extension mechanism Q is attached to the barrel portion 22, and this lens barrel extension mechanism Q includes a lever 8B that pushes out the engagement protrusion 14 in the +X direction in conjunction with the operation button 8, and a torsion coil spring (not shown) whose direction of urging the engagement protrusion 14 is reversed depending on the position of the engagement protrusion 14. This torsion coil spring is configured to urge the engagement protrusion 14 in the +X direction when the engagement protrusion 14 moves in the +X direction beyond a predetermined position, and conversely, to urge the engagement protrusion 14 in the -X direction when the engagement protrusion 14 moves in the -X direction beyond the predetermined position. Note that the lens barrel extension mechanism Q is not limited to a specific one, and may have any structure as long as it can extend the lens barrel 10 in the +X direction.

[0016] Therefore, when the user presses the operation button 8 in the -X direction, the engagement protrusion 14 of the lens barrel 10 is pushed in the +X direction by the lever 8B of the above-mentioned barrel extension mechanism Q, and the lens barrel 10 is extended in the +X direction (extension direction). When the lens barrel 10 projects in the +X direction from the barrel portion 22 in this way, the camera device 1 is powered on by a switch mechanism (not shown).

[0017] Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a part of the camera device 1, and the front cover 2 and the lens barrel 10 are omitted from Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, a film storage space S for storing photographic film (not shown) containing a developing solution is formed inside the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20. An openable and closable door member 90 is attached to the rear cover 3, and by opening and closing this door member 90, the film storage space S can be accessed to insert and remove the photographic film (not shown).

[0018] A pair of rollers 92A, 92B are installed above the film storage space S. A torsion coil spring 94 is disposed behind roller 92B, and is configured to urge roller 92B in the +X direction via a pressing member (not shown). A discharge slit 4A of the top cover 4 is located above the rollers 92A, 92B, and a felt member 96 is disposed at the bottom of the discharge slit 4A to prevent foreign matter from entering and to block light.

[0019] The photographic film exposed by shooting is sent out from the film storage space S to between a pair of rollers 92A, 92B by a sending mechanism (not shown). When the photographic film is pressed against these rollers 92A, 92B, the developer contained therein spreads within the photographic film, and the photographic film is developed. The developed photographic film passes between the felt members 96 and is discharged from the discharge slit 4A of the top cover 4 to the outside of the camera device 1.

[0020] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the components shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 5, an opening P is formed in the front of the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20 due to molding restrictions. If external light passes through this opening P and enters the film storage space S, the photographic film will be exposed, and the desired image will not be obtained. In order to prevent such exposure through the opening P, a light-shielding member 40 that blocks the opening P is attached to the base portion 21.

[0021] 3 and 5, the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20 has a claw portion 25 protruding from the side surface on the +Y direction side. The light blocking member 40 has a hook portion 41 that can be engaged with the claw portion 25 of the base portion 21. By engaging the hook portion 41 of the light blocking member 40 with the claw portion 25 of the base portion 21, the light blocking member 40 can be attached to the base portion 21 by a so-called snap fit.

[0022] 3 to 5, the circuit board 30 is disposed so as to cover the light blocking member 40. As shown in Fig. 5, the circuit board 30 is formed with a screw hole 31 through which a screw 81 serving as a first fastener is inserted. The screw 81 is inserted into the screw hole 31 of the circuit board 30 and screwed into a screw hole formed in the fixing portion 26 of the barrel portion 22 of the main body frame 20, whereby the circuit board 30 is fixed to the main body frame 20.

[0023] 4 and 5, the light blocking member 40 has abutment protrusions 42 that abut against the rear surface 30A of the circuit board 30. Since the abutment protrusions 42 of the light blocking member 40 abut against the rear surface 30A of the circuit board 30 in this manner, when the circuit board 30 is fixed to the main body frame 20 using the screws 81 as described above, the abutment protrusions 42 of the light blocking member 40 are pressed in the -X direction by the rear surface 30A of the circuit board 30, and as a result, the light blocking member 40 is pressed against and fixed to the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20.

[0024] That is, according to this embodiment, when the circuit board 30 is fixed to the main body frame 20 by screwing the screw 81 into the screw hole of the fixing portion 26 of the main body frame 20, the abutment protrusion 42 of the light shielding member 40 abuts against the rear surface 30A of the circuit board 30 and is pressed against the base portion 21 side, thereby fixing the light shielding member 40. In this manner, the light shielding member 40 can be fixed to the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20 not only through the engagement between the hook portion 41 of the light shielding member 40 and the claw portion 25 of the base portion 21 but also through the abutment between the abutment protrusion 42 of the light shielding member 40 and the rear surface 30A of the circuit board 30, so that the mounting strength of the light shielding member 40 to the main body frame 20 can be increased. Also, since the screw 81 for fixing the circuit board 30 to the main body frame 20 is used to press the light shielding member 40 against the main body frame 20, no additional fixing tool is required, and the manufacturing cost of the camera device 1 can be reduced.

[0025] 3, the camera device 1 in this embodiment has a sensor unit 50 as a first additional component, and this sensor unit 50 includes a sensor 51 for measuring the ambient brightness and the amount of light emitted by the flash unit 6. These sensors 51 are configured to detect light incident through light receiving windows 9A, 9B (see FIG. 1) provided in the front cover 2.

[0026] The sensor unit 50 is attached to the end of the light shielding member 40 on the +Y direction side. Specifically, the light shielding member 40 has fixing parts 43, 44 formed with screw holes into which screws 83, 84 as second fixing devices are screwed, and the sensor unit 50 has mounting parts 53, 54 into which the screws 83, 84 are inserted. After the circuit board 30 and the light shielding member 40 are fixed to the main body frame 20 by screwing the screw 81 into the screw hole of the fixing part 26 of the main body frame 20 as described above, the screws 83, 84 are inserted into the screw holes of the mounting parts 53, 54 of the sensor unit 50, respectively, and screwed into the screw holes of the fixing parts 43, 44 of the light shielding member 40. As a result, the sensor unit 50 is attached to the +Y direction side of the light shielding member 40 as shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the sensor unit 50 is positioned with the central axis of the sensor 51 tilted downward, but by attaching the sensor unit 50 to the side of the light-shielding member 40 as in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the front end of the lens barrel 10 from interfering with the measurement of the sensor 51.

[0027] In this embodiment, as described above, the attachment strength of the light shielding member 40 to the main body frame 20 can be increased by the abutment between the abutment protrusion 42 of the light shielding member 40 and the rear surface 30A of the circuit board 30, so that it is possible to prevent the light shielding member 40 from falling off from the main body frame 20 when attaching the sensor unit 50 to the light shielding member 40. In particular, this effect is enhanced by arranging the fixing portion 44 to which the screw 84 is attached in the vicinity of the abutment protrusion 42 as in this embodiment. In this way, it becomes possible to attach an additional part such as the sensor unit 50 to the light shielding member 40, which promotes the multi-functionalization of the camera device.

[0028] The camera device 1 in this embodiment includes a flash unit 6 as a second additional component, and this flash unit 6 is disposed in front of the circuit board 30. The flash unit 6 has an attachment portion 65 through which a screw 85 serving as a third fastener is inserted, and a screw hole 35 is formed in a portion of the circuit board 30 corresponding to this attachment portion 65. In addition, the light blocking member 40 has an attachment portion 45 through which this screw 85 is inserted. The screw 85 is inserted in order through the screw hole of the attachment portion 65 of the flash unit 6, the screw hole 35 of the circuit board 30, and the screw hole of the attachment portion 45 of the light blocking member 40, and screwed into a screw hole formed in the fixing portion 27 of the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20, whereby the flash unit 6 is fixed to the main body frame 20 together with the circuit board 30 and the light blocking member 40.

[0029] In this way, when the flash unit 6 is fixed to the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20 with the screws 85, the circuit board 30 and the light blocking member 40 are also fixed to the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20, which further increases the attachment strength of the light blocking member 40 to the base portion 21 of the main body frame 20. In addition, the flash unit 6 as an additional part further promotes the multi-functionality of the camera device 1.

[0030] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which screws were used as fasteners for fixing components, but such fasteners are not limited to screws, and any fastener can be used instead of screws.

[0031] The terms used in this specification, such as "front," "forward," "rear," "back," "upper," "upper," "lower," "below," and other positional terms, are used in relation to the illustrated embodiment and will vary depending on the relative position of the devices.

[0032] As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, a camera device is provided in which a light-shielding member can be firmly attached to a main body frame at low cost. The camera device includes a main body frame having a film storage space formed therein capable of storing photographic film. An opening communicating with at least a part of the film storage space is formed on the front surface of the main body frame. The camera device includes a light-shielding member that closes the opening of the main body frame, a circuit board that is disposed in front of the main body frame so as to cover the light-shielding member, and a first fastener that fixes the circuit board to the main body frame. The main body frame has a claw portion that protrudes from a side surface. The light-shielding member has a hook portion that can be engaged with the claw portion of the main body frame and an abutment protrusion that abuts against the rear surface of the circuit board.

[0033] According to this configuration, when the circuit board is fixed to the main body frame by the first fastener, the abutment protrusion of the light shielding member abuts against the rear surface of the circuit board and is pressed against the main body frame to fix the light shielding member. In this way, the light shielding member can be fixed to the main body frame not only by the engagement between the hook portion of the light shielding member and the claw portion of the main body frame, but also through the abutment between the abutment protrusion of the light shielding member and the rear surface of the circuit board, so that the attachment strength of the light shielding member to the main body frame can be increased. In addition, since the first fastener that fixes the circuit board to the main body frame is used to press the light shielding member against the main body frame, no additional fastener is required, and the manufacturing cost of the camera device can be reduced.

[0034] The camera device may further include a first additional part disposed on a side of the light-shielding member, and a second fixing device for fixing the first additional part to the light-shielding member. As described above, the mounting strength of the light-shielding member to the main body frame can be increased, and therefore the light-shielding part can be prevented from falling off the main body frame when the first additional part is attached to the light-shielding member. In this way, the first additional part can be attached to the light-shielding member, which promotes the multi-functionality of the camera device.

[0035] The camera device may further include a second additional part disposed in front of the circuit board, and a third fastener for fastening the second additional part, the circuit board, and the light-shielding member to the main body frame. In this case, when the second additional part is fastened to the main body frame by the third fastener, the circuit board and the light-shielding member are also fastened to the main body frame, so that the mounting strength of the light-shielding member to the main body frame can be further increased. In addition, the second additional part further promotes the multi-functionality of the camera device.

[0036] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be embodied in various different forms within the scope of the technical concept thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Camera equipment 2 Front cover 3 Rear cover 4 Top cover 5. Viewfinder window 6 Flash section (second additional part) 7 Release button 8 Operation buttons 10 Lens barrel 20 Main frame 21 Base 22 Barrel section 25 Claw 26,27 Fixed part 30 Circuit Board 30A rear 31,35 Screw hole 40 Light blocking material 41 Hook part 42 Contact projection 43,44 Fixed part 45 Mounting part 50 Sensor unit (first additional part) 53,54 Mounting part 65 Mounting part 81 Screw (first fixing) 83,84 Screws (secondary fasteners) 85 Screw (third fixing) P opening S Film storage space

Claims

1. a main body frame having a film storage space formed therein capable of storing a photographic film, the main body frame having an opening formed on a front surface thereof that communicates with at least a portion of the film storage space; a light blocking member that blocks the opening of the main body frame; a circuit board disposed in front of the main body frame so as to cover the light blocking member; a first fastener for fastening the circuit board to the main body frame; Equipped with The main body frame has a claw portion protruding from a side surface, The light blocking member is a hook portion engageable with the claw portion of the main body frame; a contact protrusion that contacts the rear surface of the circuit board; having Camera equipment.

2. A first additional component disposed on a side of the light blocking member; a second fastener for fastening the first additional component to the light blocking member; The camera apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

3. A second additional component disposed in front of the circuit board; a third fastener for fastening the second additional component, the circuit board, and the light blocking member to the main body frame; The camera device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

Images