Cover structure, and method for manufacturing the cover structure

Abstract

To provide a cover structure capable of firmly fixing a cover part, while suppressing complication of production steps.SOLUTION: A cover structure comprises: a support part 20 having an opening 21; and a cover part 40 fixed to the support part 20 by an adhesive 50. The support part 20 comprises: a first facing plane 27 which is formed on an edge 22 of the opening 21, and forms a first space 31 into which the adhesive 50 is introduced, between itself and a peripheral edge 40e; and a second facing plane 25 which forms a second space 32 into which the adhesive 50 is introduced between the peripheral edge 40b and itself. The second facing plane 25 has a positioning part 30 provided partially. The positioning part 30 contacts a peripheral plane 40b of the cover part 40, and therefore the cover part 40 is positioned to the support part 20. The first and second spaces 31, 32 are continuous mutually, on a portion where the positioning part 30 is not provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a cover structure and a method for manufacturing the cover structure.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional cover structure, for example, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. This cover structure is applied to a watch and includes a case and a cover glass fixed to the case with an adhesive. An annular receiving step is formed inside the upper part of the case, and a gap for introducing the adhesive is uniformly provided between one surface constituting the receiving step and the edge of the bottom surface of the cover glass, and between the other surface constituting the receiving step and the peripheral surface of the cover glass.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The cover structure according to the present invention comprises a support portion having an opening formed therein, and a cover portion formed in the shape of a plate and fixed to the support portion with adhesive so as to close the opening of the support portion. The support portion has a first opposing surface formed at the edge of the opening and extending along the peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cover portion, forming a first space between itself and the peripheral edge in which the adhesive is introduced, a contact portion formed at the edge of the opening and contacting a portion of the bottom surface of the cover portion that is inward from the peripheral edge, and a second opposing surface extending along the circumferential surface of the cover portion, forming a second space between itself and the circumferential surface in which the adhesive is introduced, wherein at least one of the circumferential surface and the second opposing surface of the cover portion is partially provided with a positioning portion for positioning the cover portion to the support portion in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the cover portion, and the first space and the second space are continuous with each other in the portion where the positioning portion is not provided, and the positioning portion is provided The adhesive in the section is distributed to the first space by the uncured adhesive that is discharged in the section where the positioning portion is not formed flowing in. It is possible to implement it. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cover structure that can firmly fix the cover portion while suppressing the complexity of the manufacturing process, and a method for manufacturing the cover structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a camera to which a cover structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This figure shows a cover structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is an exploded perspective view. [Figure 3] A view of the support structure from arrow III in Figure 2(b). [Figure 4] These are partial cross-sectional views of a support portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view cut along the cutting line AA in Figure 3, and (b) is a view cut along the cutting line BB in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 4(a) shows the state in which the cover is attached to the support part. [Figure 6] Figure 4(b) shows the support part with the cover attached. [Figure 7] A flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a cover structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A flowchart illustrating the adhesive application process. [Figure 9] A partial cross-sectional view of a cover structure, showing the manufacturing process of an embodiment of the present invention in the order of steps ((a), (b)). [Figure 10] An explanatory diagram illustrating the movement of the nozzle during the application of adhesive. [Figure 11] This diagram shows the relationship between the nozzle position and the amount of adhesive applied when applying adhesive. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, a cover structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for manufacturing the cover structure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Overview of camera 1 to which cover structure 10 is applied) As shown in Figure 1, the camera 1 to which the cover structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is a dermoscopy camera that captures images for examining the condition of the skin. The camera 1 has a controller 2 and a camera body 3 provided in front of the controller 2.

[0011] The controller 2 is equipped with a touch panel type LCD monitor (not shown) and operation buttons such as a shutter button 4 and a power button 5.

[0012] The camera body 3 includes an imaging lens system (not shown), an image sensor, and multiple LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as light sources. These multiple LEDs include LEDs that emit light when the camera 1 is used as a general camera to photograph a skin disease area (normal photography), and LEDs that emit light when performing dermoscopy photography. The camera body 3 also has a cover structure 10 located at the front.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1, 2(a), and 2(b), the cover structure 10 includes a support portion 20 formed in the shape of a frustoconical cylinder, and a cover portion 40 that is bonded to and supported by the support portion 20 so as to close the opening 21 formed at the top (front end) of the support portion 20. The support portion 20 is made of a material that does not transmit light so that transmitted light is not converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor, and is made of a resin such as a polyvinyl chloride derivative or an acrylic resin. A paint to prevent light transmission may also be applied to the surface of the support portion 20. The inner circumferential surface of the support portion 20 is textured or coated with an anti-reflective coating to suppress light reflection. A male screw 20a is formed at the bottom (rear end) of the support portion 20, as shown in Figure 2(a). This male screw 20a functions as a means for attaching and detaching the cover structure 10 to and from the camera body 3. The cover portion 40 includes a light-transmitting member, such as a glass cover, and is formed in the shape of a disc.

[0014] When performing dermoscopic imaging of a skin disease, it is important to suppress the diffuse reflection of light from the skin surface. To suppress this diffuse reflection of light, a gel is applied to the skin disease, and the cover portion 40 is pressed against it. This blocks the air layer between the skin disease and the cover portion 40, thereby suppressing the diffuse reflection of light from the skin surface. In this way, the cover portion 40 pressed against the skin disease allows light from the aforementioned LED (not shown) located inside the camera body 3 to pass through, illuminating the skin disease. The cover portion 40 also directs the light reflected from the skin disease into the camera 1 and guides it to the aforementioned image sensor (not shown) located inside the camera body 3. This enables dermoscopic imaging.

[0015] Also, when normally photographing the skin disease area, with the cover part 40 separated from the skin disease area, light is emitted from a plurality of light emission holes 3a formed around the cover structure 10 shown in FIG. 1 and irradiates the skin disease area. The cover part 40 allows the light reflected by the skin disease area to enter the camera 1 and guides it to the above-described imaging element (not shown) provided inside the camera body 3. Thereby, normal photographing can be performed.

[0016] (Configuration of the cover structure 10) Next, the configuration of the cover structure 10 provided on the camera body 3 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (b), the cover structure 10 has, as described above, a disc-shaped cover part 40 and a support part 20 in which a circular opening 21 is formed. The cover part 40 is placed on the edge 22 of the opening 21 with the bottom surface 40a facing the opening 21 as shown in FIG. 2(b), and is fixed to the support part 20 via an adhesive 50 as shown in FIG. 2(a). In this way, the cover part 40 is supported by the support part 20. Note that the edge part 22 of the opening 21 is a region formed in a ring shape along the outer edge of the opening 21, and specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and (b), it is the region from the opening 21 to the first inclined surface 24.

[0017] Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when looking at the opening 21 from the front, the direction toward the center O of the opening 21 (center O side) is defined as the inner direction (inner side) of the support part 20 and the cover part 40, and the opposite direction (opposite side) is defined as the outer direction (outer side) of the support part 20 and the cover part 40, and these directions will be appropriately used in the following description. Also, these inner and outer directions are parallel to the main surface (bottom surface 40a) of the cover part 40 (hereinafter referred to as the "in-plane direction of the cover part 40") and are also perpendicular to the direction in which the opening 21 penetrates (hereinafter referred to as the "penetration direction"). Furthermore, the penetration direction of the opening 21 is also perpendicular to the main surface of the cover part 40.

[0018] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5, the edge portion 22 has multiple surfaces, namely a first inclined surface 24, a second opposing surface 25, a second inclined surface 26, a first opposing surface 27, a rising surface 28, and a contact surface 29, for fixing the cover portion 40 to the support portion 20 via adhesive 50. The first inclined surface 24 is an inclined surface formed inward from the outer surface 20b of the support portion 20, as shown in Figure 4(a). The second opposing surface 25 is adjacent to the first inclined surface 24 and extends slightly toward the camera body 3 side in the direction of penetration through the opening 21 from the first inclined surface 24. As shown in Figure 5, the second opposing surface 25 faces the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 provided on the support portion 20. The second inclined surface 26 is adjacent to the second opposing surface 25 and is an inclined surface formed inward, as shown in Figure 4(a). The first opposing surface 27 is adjacent to the second inclined surface 26 and extends slightly inward from the second inclined surface 26. As shown in Figure 5, the first opposing surface 27 faces the peripheral edge 40e of the bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40.

[0019] As shown in Figure 4(a), the rising surface 28 is a surface perpendicular to the first opposing surface 27, extending from the first opposing surface 27 in the direction of penetration through the opening 21 and on the opposite side from the camera body 3, blocking the flowing adhesive 50 before curing and preventing it from flowing out into the opening 21. The contact surface 29 is adjacent to the rising surface 28 and extends slightly inward from the rising surface 28. As shown in Figure 5, the contact surface 29 contacts the bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40 on which it is placed. A ring-shaped contact portion 23 is formed on the innermost part of the edge portion 22. The contact portion 23 has the rising surface 28 and the contact surface 29, and also forms the opening 21 on its inner circumferential surface. As described above, the first inclined surface 24, the second opposing surface 25, the second inclined surface 26, the first opposing surface 27, the rising surface 28, and the contact surface 29 are arranged in this order from the outside to the inside.

[0020] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, four positioning portions 30 protruding inward are arranged at equal angular intervals on the edge portion 22. That is, the positioning portions 30 are partially formed in the circumferential direction of the edge portion 22. As shown in Figure 4(b), the positioning portions 30 are formed between the second opposing surface 25 and the first opposing surface 27. As shown in Figure 6, the positioning portions 30 have a positioning surface 30a that faces a part of the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40. As shown in Figure 3, the positioning surface 30a of each of the four positioning portions 30 is an arc-shaped surface with a cross-section that coincides with a virtual circle 70 centered on the center O of the opening 21. The diameter of this virtual circle 70 is about the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the cover portion 40. Therefore, when the cover portion 40 is placed on the contact portion 23 during the assembly of the cover structure 10, its movement in the in-plane direction is restricted by contact with the positioning surface 30a formed on each of the four positioning portions 30.

[0021] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the adhesive 50 is interposed between the edge portion 22 and the cover portion 40 to bond the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40. As shown in Figure 5, in the portion of the edge portion 22 where the positioning portion 30 (Figure 6) is not formed, the adhesive 50 is introduced into the first space 31, the second space 32, the third space 33, and the fourth space 34.

[0022] The first space 31 is formed by the bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40, the first opposing surface 27, and the rising surface 28. The bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40, the first opposing surface 27, and the rising surface 28 are bonded together by the adhesive 50 introduced into the first space 31. The first space 31 has a width W1 that is large enough for the fluid adhesive 50 before curing to reach every corner.

[0023] The second space 32 is formed by the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 and the second opposing surface 25. The adhesive 50 introduced into the second space 32 adheres the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 and the second opposing surface 25 to each other. The adhesive 50 introduced into the second space 32 also functions as a sealing material to prevent moisture, dust, etc. from entering the inside of the camera 1 shown in Figure 1. The second space 32 has a width W2 that is large enough not to obstruct the flow of the adhesive 50 before it hardens.

[0024] The third space 33 is formed by the cut surface 40d of the cover portion 40 and the second inclined surface 26. The cut surface 40d is a ring-shaped inclined surface formed by chamfering the edge of the bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40. The adhesive 50 introduced into the third space 33 adheres the cut surface 40d of the cover portion 40 and the second inclined surface 26 to each other. The third space 33 has a width W3 that is large enough not to obstruct the flow of the adhesive before it hardens. The third space 33 is formed between the first space 31 and the second space 32. The widths W1 of the first space 31, W2 of the second space 32, and W3 of the third space 33 are set to be approximately the same size. As a result, the third space 33, together with the first space 31 and the second space 32, forms a continuous space through which the adhesive 50 before it hardens flows.

[0025] The fourth space 34 is formed by the cut surface 40c of the cover portion 40 and the first inclined surface 24. The cut surface 40c is a ring-shaped inclined surface formed by chamfering the edge of the top surface opposite to the bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40. The fourth space 34 forms the entrance to a continuous space into which the adhesive 50 is introduced. The adhesive 50 introduced into the fourth space 34 adheres the cut surface 40c of the cover portion 40 and the first inclined surface 24 to each other. In addition, the adhesive 50 introduced into the fourth space 34, like the adhesive 50 introduced into the second space 32, functions as a sealing material to prevent moisture, dust, etc. from entering the inside of the camera 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0026] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 6, in the portion of the edge 22 where the positioning portion 30 is formed, the positioning portion 30 is formed so as to close off a part of the second space 32 and a part of the third space 33. The first space 31 and the second space 32 are separated by this positioning portion 30 and are hardly continuous. The adhesive 50 is introduced into the first space 31, a part of the second space 32, a part of the third space, and the fourth space 34 in the portion where the positioning portion 30 is formed. In this way, the first space 31, the second space 32, and the fourth space 34 are formed between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40, regardless of whether or not the positioning portion 30 is formed on the edge 22. That is, the first space 31, the second space 32, and the fourth space 34 are formed around the entire circumference of the cover portion 40.

[0027] (Method for manufacturing the cover structure 10) Next, the manufacturing method of the cover structure 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 7, first, the support portion 20 described above is manufactured (step S10, first step). For example, the support portion 20 is integrally molded by injection molding. This allows the support portion 20 to be prepared.

[0028] Next, the cover portion 40 is manufactured (step S20, second process). The cover portion 40 is manufactured by cutting a disc from a glass plate and forming cut surfaces 40c (Figure 5) and 40d (Figure 5) on the corners of the cut disc. This prepares the cover portion 40.

[0029] If the support part 20 and cover part 40 are not manufactured in-house but obtained from elsewhere, step 10 becomes the process of preparing the support part 20, and step 20 becomes the process of preparing the cover part 40.

[0030] Next, the support portion 20 is placed on a horizontal workbench with its outer surface 20b facing upwards, and in this state, the cover portion 40 is set on the support portion 20 (step S30, third step). That is, as shown in Figure 9(a), the cover portion 40 is placed on the contact surface 29 of the contact portion 23. As a result, the opening 21 is covered by the cover portion 40. At this time, a part of the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 (the lower half in the figure) faces the positioning surface 30a formed on the positioning portion 30. As described above, the positioning portion 30 is formed at four equal angular intervals around the cover portion 40. As a result, even if the cover portion 40 placed on the contact surface 29 moves in a direction parallel to the main surface (for example, the bottom surface 40a), the circumferential surface 40b can be brought into contact with any of the positioning surfaces 30a. This restricts the movement of the cover portion 40, allowing the cover portion 40 to be positioned on the support portion 20 before it is fixed to the support portion 20 with the adhesive 50.

[0031] Next, adhesive 50 is applied from above between the support part 20 and the cover part 40 (step S40, fourth step). The position of the nozzle 61 when applying the adhesive 50 is above the fourth space 34, as shown in Figure 9(b). When applying the adhesive 50, first the nozzle 61 is positioned in its initial position as shown in Figure 8 (step S41). The initial position of the nozzle 61 is the position where the nozzle 61 begins to dispense the adhesive 50. The initial position of the nozzle 61 is the nozzle position 61a shown in Figure 10.

[0032] Next, as shown in Figure 8, ultraviolet-curable adhesive 50 is dispensed from the nozzle 61 at a discharge rate V1 per unit time (step S42). As a result, as shown in Figure 9(b), the adhesive 50 dispensed from the nozzle 61 of the coating device 60 is introduced into various spaces, such as the fourth space 34 formed between the support part 20 and the cover part 40.

[0033] As shown in Figure 10, the nozzle 61 moves at a constant speed clockwise around the center O of the opening 21 along the outer edge of the cover portion 40, dispensing the adhesive 50. In Figure 10, the nozzle positions 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, 61f, 61g, 61h, and 61i are shown as the movement trajectory of the nozzle 61 with dashed lines. That is, the nozzle 61 starts dispensing the adhesive 50 from nozzle position 61a, and proceeds through nozzle positions 61b and 61c while dispensing the adhesive 50, eventually completing a full circle around the outer edge of the cover portion 40 and returning to nozzle position 61a.

[0034] As the nozzle 61 moves, the coating device 60 determines whether the nozzle 61 is facing the positioning unit 30, as shown in Figure 8 (step S43). The arrangement angles of the four positioning units 30 with respect to the center O of the opening (Figure 3) are known. Therefore, the coating device 60 can determine whether the nozzle 61 is facing the positioning unit 30 based on a parameter (for example, the rotation speed of the motor) that corresponds to the change in the angle of the nozzle 61 with respect to the center O of the opening 21.

[0035] In step S43, if the coating device 60 determines that the nozzle 61 is facing the positioning unit 30 (step S43: Yes), it dispenses adhesive 50 from the nozzle 61 at a discharge rate V2 per unit time (step S44). On the other hand, in step S43, if the coating device 60 determines that the nozzle 61 is not facing the positioning unit 30 (step S43: No), it dispenses adhesive 50 from the nozzle 61 at a discharge rate V1 per unit time (step S45). Here, the discharge rate V2 per unit time is less than the discharge rate V1 per unit time.

[0036] Furthermore, adhesive 50 dispensed in a section where the positioning section 30 is not formed (for example, the section between nozzle position 61a and nozzle position 61b, as shown in Figure 10) is introduced into the first space 31, second space 32, third space 33, and fourth space 34, which form a continuous space, as shown in Figure 5. On the other hand, in a section where the positioning section 30 is formed (for example, the section between nozzle position 61d and nozzle position 61e, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 10), the positioning section 30 divides the first space 31 and the second space 32, as shown in Figure 6. Therefore, adhesive 50 dispensed at this location is mainly introduced into the second space 32 and fourth space 34, which are above the positioning section 30, and the volume of space into which the adhesive 50 is introduced is smaller compared to the section where the positioning section 30 is not formed. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11, the amount of adhesive 50 discharged V2 in the nozzle positions 61b~61c, 61d~61e, 61f~61g, and 61h~61i where the positioning section 30 is formed is set to be less than the amount of adhesive 50 discharged V1 in the nozzle positions 61a~61b, 61c~61d, 61e~61f, 61g~61h, and 61i~61a where the positioning section 30 is not formed.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the adhesive 50 can be introduced into the first space 31 in the section where the positioning section 30 is formed by the uncured adhesive 50 discharged in the section where the positioning section 30 is not formed flowing in.

[0038] Next, as shown in Figure 8, the coating device 60 determines whether or not the adhesive 50 has been applied to the entire area between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40 (step S46). Specifically, the coating device 60 determines whether or not the angle change of the nozzle 61 with respect to the center O, which has moved clockwise around the center O of the opening 21 since the start of adhesive application 50, has reached 360 degrees, and determines whether or not the adhesive 50 has been applied to the entire area. In step S46, if the coating device 60 determines that the adhesive 50 has been applied to the entire area (step S46: Yes), it terminates the adhesive application operation. On the other hand, if the coating device 60 determines that the adhesive 50 has not been applied to the entire area (step S46: No), it returns to step S43.

[0039] Once the application of the adhesive 50 is complete, as shown in Figure 7, ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the adhesive 50 applied between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40 (S50, fifth step). This causes the adhesive 50 to harden, and the cover portion 40 can be fixed to the support portion 20. The cover structure 10 can then be manufactured.

[0040] (effect) According to the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a continuous space is formed between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40 by the first space 31, the second space 32, the third space 33, and the fourth space 34, through which the adhesive 50 before curing flows. Therefore, the adhesive 50 discharged from the nozzle 61 can reach every corner of the continuous space. This allows the cover portion 40 to be firmly fixed to the support portion 20.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, a contact portion 23 is provided at the edge portion 22, located inward from the first space 31, which contacts the bottom surface 40a of the cover portion 40. Therefore, a first space 31 with a width W1 large enough to allow the uncured adhesive 50 to reach every corner can be formed between the peripheral edge portion 40e of the cover portion 40 and the first opposing surface 27 of the support portion 20. This allows for strong adhesion between the peripheral edge portion 40e of the cover portion 40 and the first opposing surface 27 of the support portion 20.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, four positioning parts 30 are arranged at equal angular intervals on the edge 22, which contact the circumferential surface 40b of the cover part 40 set on the edge 22. By providing these positioning parts 30, movement of the cover part 40 in all directions in the in-plane direction can be restricted during the assembly of the cover structure 10. This allows the cover part 40 to be positioned on the support part 20, and the manufacturing work of the cover structure 10 can be easily carried out.

[0043] Furthermore, the positioning portion 30 that separates the first space 31 and the second space 32 shown in Figure 6 is partially formed in the circumferential direction of the edge portion 22. As a result, a continuous space is formed in many parts of the edge portion 22 by the first space 31, the second space 32, the third space 33, and the fourth space 34. This allows the cover portion 40 to be firmly fixed to the support portion 20.

[0044] Furthermore, by shortening the length of the positioning portion 30 along the outer edge of the cover portion 40, the adhesive 50 discharged in the section where the positioning portion 30 is not formed can be allowed to flow into the first space 31 separated by the positioning portion 30. This allows the first space 31 to be formed around the entire circumference of the cover portion 40, and the cover portion 40 can be firmly fixed by the support portion 20.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(b), the entrance to the fourth space 34 formed between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40 is formed by the first inclined surface 24 formed on the support portion 20 and the cut surface 40c formed on the cover portion 40, resulting in a shape that widens on both the inward and outward sides. This suppresses problems such as the adhesive 50 discharged from the nozzle 61 coming out of the fourth space 34, and allows for efficient bonding of the cover portion 40.

[0046] Furthermore, the second space 32 and the first space 31, which is perpendicular to the second space 32, are connected by an inclined third space 33. This makes it easier to introduce the adhesive 50 discharged from the nozzle 61 from the second space 32 into the first space 31, and allows the adhesive 50 to reach every corner of the deepest part of the first space 31.

[0047] Furthermore, various configurations for fixing the cover portion 40, specifically the contact portion 23, the first inclined surface 24, the second opposing surface 25, etc., are formed on the integrally molded support portion 20. This simplifies the construction of the cover portion 40 fixed to the support portion 20. As a result, the amount of processing required for the cover portion 40, which is formed from glass, is reduced, simplifying the work process and lowering costs.

[0048] Furthermore, in the process of applying the adhesive 50, as shown in Figure 11, the amount of adhesive 50 discharged per unit time is changed between sections where the positioning section 30 is not formed and sections where it is formed. That is, in sections where the positioning section 30 is formed, the volume of the space into which the adhesive 50 is introduced is small, so the amount of adhesive 50 discharged is reduced. This prevents the discharged adhesive 50 from overflowing from the space in sections where the positioning section 30 is formed. This makes it possible to perform the bonding work of the cover section 40 efficiently.

[0049] (modified version) This invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. In the above embodiment, the positioning portion 30 formed on the support portion 20 was used as a positioning means for the cover portion 40, but the means for positioning the cover portion 40 is not limited to this form and is arbitrary. For example, a protrusion that projects outward may be provided on the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40, and the cover portion 40 may be positioned by bringing the tip of this protrusion into contact with the second opposing surface 25 of the support portion 20. In other words, the positioning portion 30 may be formed on the cover portion 40 instead of the support portion 20. Alternatively, the positioning portion 30 may be provided on the support portion 20, and a protrusion (positioning portion) may be provided on the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 at a different position from the positioning portion 30 provided on the support portion 20, and the cover portion 40 may be positioned by both positioning portions. Alternatively, a protrusion (positioning portion) may be provided on the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 at the same position as the positioning portion 30 provided on the support portion 20, and the cover portion 40 may be positioned by bringing the two opposing positioning portions into contact with each other.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, four positioning parts 30 were arranged on the edge 22 at equal angle intervals. However, the number and spacing of the positioning parts are arbitrary, as long as the cover part 40 can be positioned and the adhesive 50 can be introduced into the first space 31 separated by the positioning parts 30.

[0051] Furthermore, although it was explained that the positioning surface 30a is a surface with an arc-shaped cross-section that coincides with a virtual circle 70 with center O, its shape is arbitrary as long as it allows for the positioning of the cover portion 40. For example, the positioning surface 30a may be planar and make line contact with the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 to restrict the in-plane movement of the cover portion 40.

[0052] Furthermore, the cover portion 40 is not limited to a circular shape and may be of other shapes. For example, the cover portion 40 may be elliptical, triangular, or square. In this way, even if the cover portion 40 is of a different shape such as an ellipse, the same effect as described above can be obtained by partially forming a positioning portion on the edge of the support portion 20.

[0053] Furthermore, while a first space 31, a second space 32, a third space 33, and a fourth space 34, each having a different shape and orientation, are formed between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40, the spaces to be formed are not limited to this form. For example, the inclined surfaces forming the third space 33 (cut surface 40d and second inclined surface 26) and the inclined surfaces forming the fourth space 34 (cut surface 40c and first inclined surface 24) may be formed to face the same direction as the surface forming the second space 32 (circumferential surface 40b and second opposing surface 25). In this case, the continuous space formed between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40 consists of a second space formed in the penetrating direction (a direction parallel to the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40) and a first space formed in the in-plane direction of the cover portion 40. The partially provided positioning portion 30 is provided so as to divide the first space and the second space and to occupy a part of the second space.

[0054] In Claim 1, the "first space" corresponds to the first space 31, and the "second space" corresponds to the second space 32. If the continuous space formed between the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40 is formed by a space formed in a direction parallel to the circumferential surface 40b of the cover portion 40 (through direction) and a space formed in the in-plane direction of the cover portion 40, then the "first space" in Claim 1 includes the first space 31 and a part of the third space 33, and the "second space" includes the second space 32, a part of the third space 33, and the fourth space 34. In this case, the positioning portion 30 is provided to occupy a part of the "second space" and separates the "first space" and the "second space".

[0055] Furthermore, although it was explained that the contact portion 23 formed on the innermost part of the edge portion 22 is formed in a ring shape, its shape is arbitrary as long as the cover portion 40 can be placed on it. For example, the contact portion 23 may be formed partially in the circumferential direction of the edge portion 22.

[0056] Furthermore, the method for reducing the amount of adhesive 50 applied in the section where the positioning section 30 is formed is not limited to reducing the amount of adhesive 50 discharged per unit time. For example, the amount of adhesive 50 applied may be reduced by increasing the speed of the nozzle 61 as it moves through the section where the positioning section 30 is formed, without changing the discharge amount.

[0057] Furthermore, in the section where the positioning section 30 is formed, as shown in Figure 11, the discharge amount V2 of adhesive 50 per unit time from the nozzle 61 is reduced, but the discharge of adhesive 50 from the nozzle 61 may be stopped by setting the discharge amount V2 = 0. Even in this case, the adhesive 50 discharged in the section where the positioning section 30 is not formed can be introduced into the second space 32 and the fourth space 34 above the positioning section 30 shown in Figure 6 by allowing the adhesive 50 to flow in.

[0058] Furthermore, when applying the adhesive 50, the nozzle 61 that dispenses the adhesive 50 was moved in a circular motion. However, the method of applying the adhesive 50 is not limited to this form. For example, the adhesive 50 may be applied around the cover portion 40 by rotating the support portion 20 on which the cover portion 40 is set, without moving the nozzle 61 that dispenses the adhesive 50.

[0059] Furthermore, in step S30 shown in Figure 7, the cover portion 40 was set on the support portion 20 on a horizontal workbench, but the work in step 30 may also be performed on a workbench that is tilted at an angle. The first space 31, which is the inclined, elevated portion between the cover portion 40 and the support portion 20, is inclined upward. Therefore, the adhesive 50 dispensed on the elevated portion can be guided to the deepest part of the first space 31 by gravity. Note that the nozzle 61 that dispenses the adhesive 50 is not moved, and the adhesive 50 is applied by rotating the support portion 20 side on which the cover portion 40 is set. This makes it easy to introduce the adhesive 50 into the first space 31 and allows the adhesive 50 to be applied around the entire circumference of the cover portion 40.

[0060] Furthermore, while an ultraviolet-curing adhesive 50 was used to bond the support portion 20 and the cover portion 40, various other adhesives can also be used, such as epoxy resin adhesives or silicone resin adhesives.

[0061] Furthermore, although the cover portion 40 was described as being made of glass, it may also be formed from other transparent materials. For example, the cover portion 40 may be made of synthetic resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate. Also, the cover portion 40 does not have to be transparent; it may be formed from a translucent material that allows light to pass through but does not allow the other side to be seen through the cover portion 40.

[0062] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described the case where the cover structure 10 is applied to the camera 1, it can also be applied to other objects that have a cover portion. For example, it can be applied to watches, clocks such as wristwatches and wall clocks, flashlights, projectors, video cameras, indoor lighting equipment, and the like.

[0063] This invention allows for various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention. In other words, the scope of the invention is indicated not by the embodiments, but by the claims. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the equivalent meaning of the invention are considered to be within the scope of this invention. The invention described in the original claims of this application is listed below.

[0064] (Note) (Note 1) A support part with an opening formed therein, It comprises a cover portion formed in a plate shape and fixed to the support portion with adhesive so as to close the opening of the support portion, The aforementioned support portion is A first opposing surface formed at the edge of the opening, extending along the peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cover portion, and forming a first space between itself and the peripheral edge into which the adhesive is introduced, A contact portion formed on the edge of the opening and in contact with the portion of the bottom surface of the cover portion that is inward from the peripheral edge, It has a second opposing surface that extends along the circumferential surface of the cover portion and forms a second space between itself and the circumferential surface in which the adhesive is introduced, At least one of the circumferential surface and the second opposing surface of the cover portion is partially provided with a positioning portion for positioning the cover portion on the support portion in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the cover portion. The first space and the second space are continuous with each other in the area where the positioning portion is not provided. Cover structure.

[0065] (Note 2) The first space extends along the entire peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cover portion, The second space extends along the entire circumferential surface of the cover portion. The cover structure described in Appendix 1.

[0066] (Note 3) The cover portion includes a transparent disc-shaped glass cover. The positioning portion is partially provided on the second opposing surface, The space between the circumferential surface of the cover portion and the second opposing surface is sealed with the adhesive. The cover structure described in Appendix 1 or 2.

[0067] (Note 4) A first step is to prepare a support portion having an opening and a contact portion formed on the edge of the opening, The second step is to prepare a cover part formed in a plate shape, A third step involves placing the cover portion on the support portion so as to close the opening, The fourth step involves discharging adhesive along the outer edge of the cover portion into the gap between the cover portion and the support portion, In at least one of the first and second steps, a positioning portion is partially provided on at least one of the circumferential surface of the cover portion and the opposing surface of the support portion facing the circumferential surface, for positioning the cover portion on the support portion in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the cover portion. In the third step, the cover portion is placed on the support portion by bringing the portion inside the peripheral edge of the bottom surface into contact with the contact portion and positioning the portion facing at least one of the peripheral surface and the opposing surface. A method for manufacturing a cover structure.

[0068] (Note 5) In the fourth step, the amount of adhesive discharged into the section where the positioning portion is formed is less than the amount of adhesive discharged into the section where the positioning portion is not formed. A method for manufacturing the cover structure described in Appendix 4. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1...Camera, 2...Controller, 3...Camera body, 3a...Light emission hole, 4...Shutter button, 5...Power button, 10...Cover structure, 20...Support part, 20a...Male screw, 20b...Outer surface, 21...Opening, 22...Edge, 23...Contact part, 24...First inclined surface, 25...Second opposing surface, 26...Second inclined surface, 27...First opposing surface, 28...Rising part 29... Contact surface, 30... Positioning part, 30a... Positioning surface, 31... First space, 32... Second space, 33... Third space, 34... Fourth space, 40... Cover part, 40a... Bottom surface, 40b... Peripheral surface, 40c, 40d... Cut surface, 40e... Peripheral edge, 50... Adhesive, 60... Application device, 61... Nozzle, 61a~61i... Nozzle position, 70... Virtual circle

Claims

1. A support part with an opening formed therein, It comprises a cover portion formed in a plate shape and fixed to the support portion with adhesive so as to close the opening of the support portion, The aforementioned support portion is A first opposing surface formed at the edge of the opening, extending along the peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cover portion, and forming a first space between itself and the peripheral edge into which the adhesive is introduced, A contact portion formed on the edge of the opening and in contact with the portion of the bottom surface of the cover portion that is inward from the peripheral edge, It has a second opposing surface that extends along the circumferential surface of the cover portion and forms a second space between itself and the circumferential surface in which the adhesive is introduced, At least one of the circumferential surface and the second opposing surface of the cover portion is partially provided with a positioning portion for positioning the cover portion on the support portion in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the cover portion. The first space and the second space are continuous with each other in the area where the positioning portion is not provided. The adhesive can be introduced into the first space in the section where the positioning section is provided by the flow of the uncured adhesive that has been discharged in the section where the positioning section is not formed. Cover structure.

2. In a portion where the positioning portion is not provided, there is an inclined surface between the first space and the second space that has an inclination angle between the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface, The cover structure according to claim 1.

3. The first space extends along the entire peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cover portion, The second space extends along the entire circumferential surface of the cover portion. The cover structure according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The cover portion includes a transparent disc-shaped glass cover. The positioning portion is partially provided on the second opposing surface, The space between the circumferential surface of the cover portion and the second opposing surface is sealed with the adhesive. The cover structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A first step is to prepare a support portion having an opening and a contact portion formed on the edge of the opening, The second step is to prepare a cover part formed in a plate shape, A third step is to place the cover portion on the support portion so as to close the opening, The fourth step involves discharging adhesive along the outer edge of the cover portion into the gap between the cover portion and the support portion, The aforementioned support portion is A first opposing surface formed at the edge of the opening, extending along the peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cover portion, and forming a first space between itself and the peripheral edge into which the adhesive is introduced, It has a second opposing surface that extends along the circumferential surface of the cover portion and forms a second space between itself and the circumferential surface into which the adhesive is introduced, In at least one of the first and second steps, a positioning portion is partially provided on at least one of the circumferential surface and the second opposing surface of the cover portion for positioning the cover portion on the support portion in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the cover portion. In the third step, the cover portion is placed on the support portion, with the inner side of the bottom surface in contact with the contact portion and the positioning portion facing at least one of the circumferential surface and the second opposing surface. In the fourth step, the adhesive can be introduced into the first space in the section where the positioning section is provided by the uncured adhesive discharged in the section where the positioning section is not formed flowing in. A method for manufacturing a cover structure.

6. In the fourth step, the amount of adhesive discharged into the section where the positioning portion is formed is less than the amount of adhesive discharged into the section where the positioning portion is not formed. A method for manufacturing the cover structure according to claim 5.

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