U.S. patent application number 09/360259 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-24 for camera having a sheath whcih is incorporated into the camera body without being distorted.
Invention is credited to NAKANO, TOSHIFUMI, SUZUKI, TATSUYA, TAKAHASHI, SHINYA.
Application Number | 20010001626 09/360259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 16752267 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001626 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKANO, TOSHIFUMI ; et
al. |
May 24, 2001 |
CAMERA HAVING A SHEATH WHCIH IS INCORPORATED INTO THE CAMERA BODY
WITHOUT BEING DISTORTED
Abstract
A camera comprising a camera sheath composed of a front cover
unit and a rear cover unit, a camera body supported in the camera
sheath, and positioning mechanism for positioning the camera body
with respect to the camera sheath without fixing them. The
positioning mechanism is composed of a pair of protrusions
protruding from the front cover unit and a pair of hole portions
formed in a reinforcing plate unit of the camera body and capable
of being fitted individually on the protrusions. A gap of about 1
mm or less is formed in the whole area between the camera body and
the camera sheath except fitting portions including the positioning
mechanism.
Inventors: |
NAKANO, TOSHIFUMI;
(SAGAMIHARA-SHI, JP) ; TAKAHASHI, SHINYA;
(HINO-SHI, JP) ; SUZUKI, TATSUYA; (TOKYO,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRISHAUF HOLTZ GOODMAN LANGER
AND CHICK PC
25TH FLOOR
767 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
100172023
|
Family ID: |
16752267 |
Appl. No.: |
09/360259 |
Filed: |
July 26, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/535 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/535 |
International
Class: |
G03B 017/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 1998 |
JP |
10-220517 |
Claims
1. A camera comprising: a camera sheath; a camera body supported in
the camera sheath; and positioning means composed of the camera
sheath and the camera body and used to position the camera body
with respect to the camera sheath, the positioning means being
designed to position the camera sheath and the camera body without
fixing the same to each other.
2. A camera comprising: a camera sheath; a camera body supported in
the camera sheath; and positioning means composed of the camera
sheath and the camera body and used to position the camera body
with respect to the camera sheath, the positioning means being
designed to position the camera sheath and the camera body without
bringing the same into contact with each other in regions other
than a region close to the positioning means and without fixing the
same to each other in said regions.
3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means is
composed of a pair of protrusions and a pair of hole portions
capable of being fitted individually on the protrusions.
4. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said positioning means is
composed of a pair of protrusions and a pair of hole portions
capable of being fitted individually on the protrusions.
5. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera sheath is
composed of a front cover unit and a rear cover unit.
6. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said camera sheath is
composed of a front cover unit and a rear cover unit.
7. A camera comprising: a camera sheath; a camera body assembly
supported in the camera sheath and including at least a camera
lens, a film cartridge compartment, and a film take-up compartment;
and positioning means located between the camera sheath and the
camera body assembly and used to determine the relative positions
of the camera sheath and the camera body assembly, the positioning
means being designed to position the camera sheath and the camera
body assembly without fixing the same to each other.
8. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said positioning means is
composed of a pair of protrusions and a pair of hole portions
capable of being fitted individually on the protrusions.
9. A camera according to claim 8, wherein one of said hole portions
is circular and the other slot-shaped.
10. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said positioning means
is designed to determine the relative positions of the camera
sheath and the camera body assembly in a plane perpendicular to the
optic axis of the camera lens.
11. A camera according to claim 10, further comprising urging means
located between the back surface of the camera body assembly and
the camera sheath and used to urge the camera body assembly
forward.
12. A camera according to claim 11, wherein said urging means is
composed of a rubber member.
13. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said camera body
assembly is provided with an FA unit.
14. A camera according to claim 7, wherein a space is formed in the
whole area between the camera body assembly and the camera sheath
except the region for the positioning means.
15. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said camera body
assembly is provided with a plate member fixedly fitted with the
camera lens, film cartridge compartment, and film take-up
compartment, the plate member having part of the positioning
means.
16. A camera according to claim 15, wherein said plate member is
provided with a pair of hole portions, and said camera sheath is
provided with a pair of protrusions capable of being fitted
individually in the hole portions.
17. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said camera sheath is
composed of a front cover unit and a rear cover unit.
18. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said front cover unit
is provided with the positioning means.
19. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said camera body
assembly is provided with an electric substrate.
20. A camera according to claim 19, wherein said electric substrate
extends from the camera body assembly, the extending portion of the
substrate having thereon a display device fixed to the camera
sheath.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a camera of which the body
can be incorporated in a camera sheath (front and rear covers)
without being distorted.
[0002] In a conventional camera, as is described in Jpn. Pat.
Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-20549, for example, a camera body,
which is composed integrally of a lens barrel, film feeding
mechanism, etc., is held between a front cover and a rear cover
after it is positioned with respect to the front cover. In this
case, the camera body is brought intimately into contact with the
front and rear covers as it is fixedly set between the covers.
[0003] The front and rear covers are not formed having
high-accuracy shapes and dimensions and are subject to some
malformation or dimensional errors. Thus, the covers are partially
distorted in some measure.
[0004] If the distorted front and rear covers are fastened to each
other, corrective force for distorted portions, distortional force
that is generated in other portions by the correction of the
distortion, etc. act directly on the camera body that is fixed
close to the front and rear covers, thereby causing the camera body
to be distorted. If the camera body is thus distorted, the optic
axis, the gap between the lens barrel and the film surface, etc.
are dislocated inevitably. In this case, electrical or mechanical
adjustment should be made after the camera is assembled, for
example, so that the camera production efficiency is lowered.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been contrived in consideration of
these circumferences, and its object is to provide a
high-productivity camera of which the body can be incorporated in a
camera sheath without being distorted.
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to
the present invention is designed so that a camera sheath and a
camera body are positioned without being fixed to each other.
[0007] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the
general description given above and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a
configuration of a camera according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view showing a
configuration of a spool compartment;
[0011] FIG. 2B is a sectional view showing a configuration of a
spool unit;
[0012] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a configuration of a
front cover unit;
[0013] FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a configuration of a
camera body;
[0014] FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing a configuration of a
rear cover unit;
[0015] FIG. 4A is a sectional view showing a state in which the
camera body is stored inside the front and rear cover units;
[0016] FIGS. 4B and 4C are views individually showing specific
configurations of positioning means;
[0017] FIG. 5A is a partial sectional view showing a state of an
elastic ring before the front cover unit is attached to the camera
body;
[0018] FIG. 5B is a partial sectional view showing a state of the
elastic ring after the front cover unit is attached to the camera
body;
[0019] FIG. 6A is a sectional view showing a state in which the
body of a camera according to a second embodiment of the invention
is stored inside the front and rear cover units; and
[0020] FIGS. 6B and 6C are views individually showing specific
configurations of positioning means according to the second
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A camera according to a first embodiment of the present
invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the camera is provided with
a camera sheath, which is composed of a front cover unit 10a and a
rear cover unit 10b, and is designed so that a camera body 100 can
be incorporated in the camera sheath (front and rear cover units
10a and 10b) without generating any stress that causes the body 100
to be distorted, with use of positioning means (mentioned
later).
[0023] A lens barrel pop-out opening 12 is formed substantially in
the center of the front face of the front cover unit 10a. The cover
unit 10a is provided with a barrier member 14 that is movable
between a closed position in which it closes the opening 12 and an
exposure position in which the opening 12 is exposed. Further, a
flashlight unit 15 is provided on the upper end portion of the
front cover unit 10a.
[0024] The camera body 100, which is composed integrally of the
following components, is stored in a storage space that is
surrounded by the front and rear cover units 10a and 10b. The body
100 is kept floating by means of the positioning means (mentioned
later).
[0025] In this camera body 100, a lens barrel unit 16 is located
opposite to the lens barrel pop-out opening 12 of the front cover
unit 10a. A lens barrel support substrate 16a at the proximal end
portion of the unit 16 is fixed to the front face of a rail plate
unit 20 by means of an elastic ring-shaped light shielding member
18.
[0026] The rail plate unit 20 is formed having an area restricting
window 20a that is opposed to the lens barrel unit 16. An area
restricting window frame or mask plate unit, which is located in
the window 20a, is fixed to the front face of the rail plate unit
20. The mask plate unit, which is a thin sheet, is not shown in
FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.
[0027] A film cartridge unit 22 and a spool unit 24 are fixed to
the opposite sides of the rail plate unit 20, individually. The
units 22 and 24 constitute a film cartridge compartment and a spool
compartment, respectively.
[0028] A pair of film rails 20b are formed on the rear face of the
rail plate unit 20. The rails 20b extend parallel to each other
from the film cartridge unit 22 to the spool unit 24, individually
overlying and underlying the area restricting window 20a.
[0029] A film cartridge gate opening is formed in the undersurface
of the film cartridge unit 22. Opposed to the film cartridge gate
opening, a film cartridge gate lid (not shown) is provided for
open-close motion on the undersurface of the rear cover unit
10b.
[0030] Although the camera according to the present embodiment is
supposed to be a so-called new film cartridge (IX240 cartridge), it
may alternatively be designed for use with an ordinary 35-mm
film.
[0031] FIG. 4A shows a state in which a new film cartridge 23 is
stored in the film cartridge compartment of the film cartridge unit
22.
[0032] The spool compartment of the spool unit 24 stores a hollow
spool shaft 24a for rotation, and is provided with a film backup
plate 24b that is rockable in the radial direction of the spool
shaft 24a. The backup plate 24b is urged toward the outer
peripheral surface of the spool shaft 24a by urging means (not
shown). The plate 24a is used in automatically winding a film on
the spool shaft 24a.
[0033] The spool compartment is composed of a pair of end walls 26
on either side in the film width direction, a portion 26a opposite
to the lens barrel unit 16 and connected to the end walls 26, and a
thin sheet 28 opposite to the portion 26a and capable of elastic
deformation. A specific configuration of the spool compartment will
be described later (see FIGS. 2A and 2B).
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, a reinforcing plate unit 30
is fixed between the film cartridge unit 22 and the spool unit 24
on the side nearer to the front cover unit 10a of the camera body
100. The plate unit 30 is formed having a lens barrel opening 30a
opposed to the lens barrel unit 16 and a viewfinder opening 30b.
The viewfinder opening 30b is located opposite to a range finder
window 102 (see FIG. 3A) in the front cover unit 10a. An autofocus
and viewfinder control unit (hereinafter referred to as AF unit) 32
is fixed to the viewfinder opening 30b.
[0035] Further, a pressure plate unit 34 is fixed between the film
cartridge unit 22 and the spool unit 24 on the side nearer to the
rear cover unit 10b of the camera body 100. The pressure plate unit
34 presses the film, forced out of the new film cartridge 23 in the
film cartridge unit 22 and fed into the spool compartment of the
spool unit 24, against the film rails 20b of the rail plate unit
20, thereby defining a film reference plane with respect to the
lens barrel unit 16.
[0036] Since the new film cartridge 23 is used according to the
present embodiment, the pressure plate unit 34 is provided with a
magnetic head 36 for recording magnetic data on the magnetic
recording track of the new film.
[0037] The film cartridge unit 22 and the spool unit 24 are coupled
to a motor drive unit 38. The motor drive unit 38 comprises a motor
38a that is inserted in a center hole of the spool shaft 24a of the
spool unit 24, turning force transmitting means including, for
example, a gear train for transmitting turning force from the motor
38a alternatively to a plurality of specific spots, and a
plunger-solenoid assembly 38b for changing the destination
(specific spot) of transmission of the turning force by the turning
force transmitting means.
[0038] The turning force transmitting means is coupled to the spool
shaft 24a of the spool unit 24, a rotating shaft 23a (see FIG. 4A)
of a film outlet gate door of the new film cartridge 23 in the film
cartridge unit 22, and a film cartridge shaft 23b. The transmitting
means alternatively opens or closes the film outlet gate door,
forces out the new film from the new film cartridge 23, causes the
cartridge 23 to take up the new film, or winds up new film form the
cartridge 23 onto the spool shaft 24a.
[0039] Further, the pressure plate unit 34 is provided with a
flexible substrate unit 40, which comprises an electric control
circuit for electrically controlling the aforementioned various
electrical parts. The substrate unit 40 is provided with a main
substrate 104, which is located on the surface of the pressure
plate unit 34 so as to face the rear cover unit 10b, and flexible
printed boards (see FIG. 3B) extending from the substrate 104.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 3B, in particular, the flexible printed
boards extend so as to cover the outer periphery of the camera body
100. For example, first and second flexible printed boards 106 and
108 are connected to the AF unit 32 and the motor drive unit 38,
respectively. For example, moreover, a third flexible printed board
110 is connected to a liquid crystal display unit 42, which can be
attached to a liquid crystal display window 44 of the rear cover
unit 10b. The display unit 42, which is fixed to a backup plate
112, can be attached to the display window 44 by screwing the plate
112 to the rear cover unit 10b.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B and 3C, the rear cover unit 10b
is formed having a viewfinder eyepiece window 46, which is
connected optically to a viewfinder objective window 116 of the
front cover unit 10a by means of the AF unit 32 that is formed
integrally with the camera body 100.
[0042] Further, the rear cover unit 10b is provided with a mode
changing button 47, which is located corresponding to various mode
changing switches (not shown) that are arranged on the flexible
substrate unit 40.
[0043] Moreover, the rear cover unit 10b has a battery compartment
gate lid 48, which allows a battery 50a to be loaded into and
unloaded from a battery compartment 50 (see FIG. 4A) in the front
cover unit 10a.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A, furthermore, the rear cover
unit 10b is provided with an electric circuit unit 118, which can
be mounted thereon so as to adjoin the battery compartment 50. The
unit 118 contains therein a charging circuit (not shown), which
includes a capacitor 52 for activating the flashlight unit 15 on
the front cover unit 10a, and the like.
[0045] The front cover unit 10a is furnished with a shutter button
54 that is located corresponding to a shutter switch (not shown) on
the flexible substrate unit 40.
[0046] A specific configuration of the spool compartment will now
be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0047] In FIG. 2A, dashed lines indicate the way the lens barrel
unit 16, film cartridge unit 22, and spool unit 24 are attached to
the rail plate unit 20. More specifically, the attachment is
achieved by individually engaging screws (not shown) in through
holes 60 of the rail plate unit 20 with through holes 62 that are
formed in the lens barrel support substrate 16a of the lens barrel
unit 16, film cartridge unit 22, and spool unit 24. In this
attachment operation, the lens barrel unit 16, film cartridge unit
22, and spool unit 24 can be positioned individually with respect
to the rail plate unit 20 by combining a positioning hole or
projection (not shown) in the unit 20 with positioning projections
or holes (not shown) in the units 16, 22 and 24.
[0048] FIG. 2A shows a mask plate unit 64 for use as the area
restricting window frame that is located in the area restricting
window 20a of the rail plate unit 20. The unit 64 is positioned
with respect to the window 20a in a manner such that positioning
pins 66 formed on the front face of the unit 20 are fitted
individually in positioning holes 64a in the unit 64. In this
state, the mask plate unit 64 is held between the rail plate unit
20 and the combination of the lens barrel support substrate 16a and
the lens barrel unit 16 with the ring-shaped light shielding member
18 between them.
[0049] In FIG. 2A, moreover, dashed lines indicate the way the lens
barrel unit 16, film cartridge unit 22, and spool unit 24 are
attached to the reinforcing plate unit 30. More specifically, the
attachment is achieved by individually engaging screws (not shown)
in through holes 68 of the plate unit 30 with through holes 70 that
are formed in the lens barrel unit 16, film cartridge unit 22, and
spool unit 24.
[0050] FIG. 2A shows a film cartridge gate aperture 38c, which is
interposed between the film cartridge gate opening in the
undersurface of the film cartridge unit 22 and the film cartridge
gate lid (not shown in FIG. 2A) on the undersurface of the rear
cover unit 10b. In this case, the aperture 38c constitutes part of
the film cartridge compartment.
[0051] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the way the spool shaft 24a is
rotatably held between the end walls 26 of the spool unit 24 and
the way the motor 38a of the motor drive unit 38 is fitted in the
center hole of the spool shaft 24a. The upper end wall 26 is formed
having a rotation center port 26b that can hold the upper end
portion of the spool shaft 24a for rotation. The lower end wall 26
is formed having an annular rotation center groove 26c that can
support the lower end portion of the shaft 24a for rotation.
Further, a center port 26d is formed in the center of the center
groove 26c in the lower end wall 26. The motor 38a of the motor
drive unit 38 can be introduced into the center hole of the spool
shaft 24a through the port 26d.
[0052] A gear 24b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the
lower end portion of the spool shaft 24a. The gear 24b engages a
power transmission gear (not shown) of the motor drive unit 38
through a notch (not shown) in the rotation center groove 26c of
the lower end wall 26. This engagement allows turning force from
the drive unit 38 to be transmitted to the spool shaft 24a.
[0053] The whole side wall of the spool compartment of the spool
unit 24 that faces the film introduced therein except the portion
26a adjacent to the lens barrel unit 16, between the end walls 26
of the unit 24, is formed of the thin sheet 28 that is elastically
deformable.
[0054] An annular notch 26e having a diameter larger than that of
the annular rotation center groove 26c is formed in each of the
whole respective opposite inner end faces of the end walls 26
except the portion 26a adjacent to the lens barrel unit 16.
[0055] The thin sheet 28, which is formed of a metal or
light-shielding synthetic resin, includes a curved portion 28a,
having a diameter smaller than that of the annular notch 26e in the
inner end face of each end wall 26, and a flat portion 28b that
extends along the portion 26a adjacent to the lens barrel unit
16.
[0056] The thin sheet 28 can be set between the end walls 26 in a
manner such that its upper and lower end edges are elastically
forced into their corresponding annular notches 26e, thereby
elastically holding the notch 26e, and that the flat portion 28b is
located extending along the portion 26a adjacent to the lens barrel
unit 16.
[0057] Since the thin sheet 28 can be elastically set between the
end walls 26 in this manner, its attachment to the end walls 26 is
easy.
[0058] Since the end walls 26 are coupled to each other only by
means of the portion 26a adjacent to the lens barrel unit 16,
moreover, those portions of the walls 26 that are remote from the
unit 16 can be elastically deformed to approach or recede from each
other. Since the thin sheet 28 is elastic itself, furthermore, its
attachment to the end walls 26 can be facilitated without improving
the dimensional accuracy of the end walls 26 or the sheet 28.
[0059] According to the present embodiment, the whole side wall
between the end walls 26 of the spool unit 24 except the portion
26a adjacent to the lens barrel unit 16 is formed of the thin sheet
28, so that the external dimensions of the other portions of the
spool unit 24 than the portion 26a can be reduced. In consequence,
the external dimensions of the front and rear cover units 10a and
10b can be reduced.
[0060] According to the present embodiment, moreover, the thin
sheet 28 has the flat portion 28b, so that the thickness of the
portion 26a of the spool unit 24 can be reduced. Accordingly, the
reduction of the weight of the spool unit 24 can be further
promoted, and the unit 24 can be brought closer to the lens barrel
unit 16. Thus, the external dimensions of the camera can be further
reduced.
[0061] In the case where the thin sheet 28 is formed of an elastic
metal or elastic light-shielding synthetic resin having electrical
conductivity, static electricity that is generated when the film
touches the sheet 28 can be discharged from the sheet 28 through a
grounded circuit of the flexible substrate unit 40 if the sheet 28
is connected to the grounded circuit, for example. In consequence,
the static electricity can be prevented from accumulating in the
thin sheet 28 to cause it to attract dust, which may possibly mar
the film.
[0062] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the single camera
body 100 (see FIG. 1) can be constructed by integrally combining a
plurality of previously independently formed units, including the
front and rear cover units 10a and 10b, flashlight unit 15, lens
barrel unit 16, rail plate unit 20, film cartridge unit 22, spool
unit 24, reinforcing plate unit 30, AF unit 32, pressure plate unit
34, motor drive unit 38, flexible substrate unit 40, and mask plate
unit.
[0063] Even in forming a camera of a type different from the camera
according to the present embodiment, therefore, the integral camera
body 100 can be used as a common component, so that low-priced
cameras of different types can be quickly put on the market by only
preparing the other units (e.g., front and rear cover units 10a and
10b) than the common component.
[0064] Further, the camera according to the present embodiment is
designed so that the camera body 100 can be incorporated in the
camera sheath (front and rear cover units 10a and 10b) without
causing the body 100 to be distorted, with use of the positioning
means.
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A and 5B, the
positioning means according to the present embodiment is composed
of a pair of protrusions 120a and 120b protruding from the front
cover unit 10a and a pair of hole portions 122a and 122b formed in
the reinforcing plate unit 30 of the camera body 100 and capable of
being fitted on the protrusions 120a and 120b, respectively.
[0066] The protrusions 120a and 120b are in the form of cylinders
having the same outside diameter, while the hole portions 122a and
122b have different inside diameters. For example, the hole portion
122a in which the protrusion 120a is fitted is in the form of a
circular hole having an inside diameter substantially equal to the
outside diameter of the protrusion 120a, while the hole portion
122b in which the protrusion 120b is fitted is in the form of a
slot having a minor-axis diameter substantially equal to the
outside diameter of the protrusion 120b and a major-axis diameter
longer than the outside diameter of the projection 120b.
[0067] In assembling the camera by utilizing the positioning means
described above, the rear cover unit 10b is screwed to the front
cover unit 10a after the protrusions 120a and 120b of the cover
unit 10b are fitted individually into the hole portions 122a and
122b of the camera body 100. In screwing the cover units to each
other, a pair of screws 201 and 202 are driven into the front cover
unit 10a and fastened to the rear cover unit 10b through the
battery compartment 50, and another pair of screws 203 and 204 are
driven through the rear cover unit 10b and fastened to the front
cover unit 10a.
[0068] In this state, a gap of about 1 mm or less is formed in the
whole area between the camera body 100 and each of the front and
rear cover units 10a and 10b except fitting portions including the
positioning means. Thus, the camera body 100 can be positioned
floating inside the front and rear cover units 10a and 10b.
[0069] Since the one hole portion 122b, out of the paired hole
portions 122a and 122b, is a slot, moreover, it can absorb
distortion, if any, of the front and rear cover units 10a and
10b.
[0070] In case the front and rear cover units 10a and 10b that are
screwed to each other are partially distorted in some measure due
to some malformation or dimensional errors, therefore, the
slot-shaped hole portion 122b can absorb corrective force for
distorted portions, distortional force that is generated in other
portions by the correction of the distortion, etc. Since the camera
body 100 is positioned floating with narrow gaps inside the front
and rear cover units 10a and 10b, at the same time, the corrective
force, distortional force in the other portions, etc. can never act
directly on the camera body 100. Accordingly, the optic axis, the
gap between the lens barrel and the film surface, etc. can be
thoroughly prevented from being dislocated during the assembly of
the camera. Moreover, neither electrical nor mechanical adjustment
is required after the assembly. In consequence, the camera
production efficiency can be improved.
[0071] Even if the camera body 100 is stored floating inside the
front and rear cover units 10a and 10b, it can be kept in an
integral state (e.g., a state such that the optic axis, the gap
between the lens barrel unit 16 and the film surface, etc. are not
dislocated). Although the camera body 100 is floating, therefore,
it constitutes no hindrance to photographing.
[0072] As mentioned before, the camera body 100 has the flexible
printed boards arranged on its outer peripheral surface. If the
camera body 100 is positioned in the floating state by means of the
positioning means during the assembly of the camera, therefore, the
rear cover unit 10b presses the flexible printed boards (e.g.,
flexible printed board 110 connected to the liquid crystal display
unit 42 that is fixed to the rear cover unit 10b) as it is
fastened. When this is done, the camera body 100 is pressed against
the front cover unit 10a by means of the force of pressure that
acts on the printed boards. Actually, therefore, the camera body
100 can be held in a stable state between the front cover unit 10a
and the printed boards.
[0073] In order to stabilize the position of the camera body 100
further, it is advisable, for example, to locate an elastic ring
124 (see FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A and 5B) of an elastic
material (e.g., rubber, resin, etc.) between the body 100 and the
lens barrel pop-out opening 12 of the front cover unit 10a.
According to the present embodiment, moreover, the elastic ring 124
is attached to the reinforcing plate unit 30 so as to cover the
peripheral edge of the lens barrel opening 30a.
[0074] If the rear cover unit 10b is screwed to the front cover
unit 10a after the camera body 100 is positioned with respect to
the front cover unit 10a by means of the positioning means with the
elastic ring 124 set in this manner, the ring 124 is elastically
deformed between the body 100 (reinforcing plate unit 30) and the
front cover unit 10a, as shown in FIG. 5B, for example. This
elastic deformation of the elastic ring 124 stabilizes the position
of the camera body 100 inside the front and rear cover units 10a
and 10b.
[0075] When assembling the camera is completed, moreover, the
elastic ring 124 is located covering the respective peripheral
edges of the lens barrel pop-out opening 12 and the lens barrel
opening 30a, so that outdoor daylight can be prevented from getting
into the camera body 100 through these openings.
[0076] A camera according to a second embodiment of the invention
will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C.
[0077] As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the camera according to the
present embodiment is designed so that the camera body 100 is urged
forward (or toward the front cover unit 10a) by means of a rubber
member 130 for use as urging means when it is incorporated in the
camera sheath (front and rear cover units 10a and 10b). A
description of other components is omitted, since they are
constructed in the same manner as their respective counterparts
according to the first embodiment.
[0078] According to this arrangement, the camera body 100 can be
restrained from moving uselessly in the camera sheath, and the
relative positions the camera body and various camera operating
means in the camera sheath can be prevented from being dislocated
substantially. A description of other effects is omitted, since
they have already been described in connection with the first
embodiment.
[0079] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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