Camera Swing Head Indexing and Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera swing heads lack efficient and user-friendly mechanisms for quickly rotating and locking the camera into desired positions, often resulting in cumbersome operation and potential movement play.
Innovation Solution
A camera swing head design featuring a hub with radially spaced indexing holes, a rotatable swing plate, and an indexing and locking assembly with a lever and plunger mechanism that allows for precise positioning and secure locking, enabling quick rotation and locking of the swing plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional swing head design is used, then the structure is simple, but the operation is cumbersome and positioning is imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing and locking assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: indexing holes in the hub, a plunger for engagement, a lever for actuation, and a release pin for control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, making the overall operation simpler and more intuitive despite the increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger spring automatically urges the plunger into engagement with the indexing holes, providing self-locking functionality without requiring additional manual intervention. The lever mechanism also self-positions to engage or disengage the locking function, reducing operational complexity
2Measurement precision
If a traditional swing head design is used, then the device is compact, but positioning precision is poor and movement play exists
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing holes are pre-positioned at specific angular intervals around the hub, and the plunger is pre-configured to engage with these holes. This preliminary arrangement of components ensures that when the lever is actuated, the swing plate is immediately and precisely positioned at the desired angle with no movement play
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical friction-based locking mechanism is replaced with a positive engagement system where the plunger physically locks into the indexing holes. This substitution eliminates slippage and movement play, providing precise positioning while maintaining a relatively compact device structure
3Productivity
If a quick-release mechanism is added to improve operation speed, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed to dynamically transition between two states: engaged (locking the swing plate in position) and disengaged (releasing the swing plate for movement). The release pin provides a simple dynamic control mechanism that switches between locked and unlocked states, enabling quick repositioning without complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The release pin extracts the locking function from the main body of the swing head, providing a dedicated control element that can be easily actuated. This separation of the locking control function improves operational speed and productivity while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through functional decomposition
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and precise positioning of the camera with minimal play, allowing for smooth and quiet movement, enhancing flexibility and usability in film and video production.
Implementation Method 1
a plunger spring urging the plunger into one of the holes
Implementation Method 2
A plunger is pivotally attached to a front end of the lever, with a plunger spring urging the plunger into one of the holes. Pivoting movement of the lever may move the plunger linearly on a radial axis intersecting a center of the hub.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera swing head includes a hub having a hole ring including a plurality of radially spaced apart holes. A swing plate is rotatably attached to the hub. An indexing and locking assembly allows the swing to be quickly and easily rotated to a desired position and then locked into place. The indexing and locking assembly may include a lever pivotally attached to the swing plate, and a plunger pivotally attached to a front end of the lever. Pivoting movement of the lever may move the plunger linearly on a radial axis intersecting a center of the hub. A release pin is movable from, a first position, wherein the release pin causes the plunger to be held out from engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes, to a second position, wherein the plunger is movable into engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes.