Camera

• US 5,313,244 A
• Filed: 07/31/1992
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Arai, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/922,506
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 354/400-409, 354/195.12, 354/270, 354/271.1, 354/274, 354/234.1
• US Class Current: 396/132
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/10 a servo-motor providing energy to move the setting member

Abstract

In a camera according to the present invention, a focusing device for driving a focusing lens and a shutter device are driven with a single drive source by utilizing a transmitting mechanism which transmits the driving force of the drive source to a selected one of the focusing member and the shutter member.

Claims

1. A camera using film, said camera comprising a focusing device and a shutter device, which further comprises:

first driving means for driving said focusing device;

second driving means for driving said shutter device;

a single drive source for supplying driving force;

transmitting means for transmitting said driving force from said single drive source selectively to one of said first and second driving means;

wherein said focusing device comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical lens barrel carrying a focusing lens, said lens barrel having at least one cam surface formed on an axial-end surface; and

wherein said first driving means comprises a fixed sleeve receiving said lens barrel and having at least one protrusion at an axial end surface of said sleeve adapted to contact said cam surface of said lens barrel for moving said lens barrel in the direction of the optical axis of said focusing lens upon rotation of said lens barrel.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprises a rotatably mounted disk member having an opening for receiving said lens barrel, said opening being provided with at least one enlarged diameter portion extending in the direction of the rotation of said disk member;

and wherein said lens barrel is provided with at least one protrusion on the circumferential surface of said lens barrel, said protrusion received in said enlarged diameter portion of said opening such that said disk member and said lens barrel can be relatively rotated until said protrusion reaches an end of said enlarged diameter portion.

3. The camera according to claim 2,

wherein said single drive source comprises a rotary shaft carrying a pair of gears;

wherein said transmitting means further comprises another disk member having an opening for receiving said fixed sleeve, said another disk member being rotatably mounted and provided with an enlarged diameter portion extending in the direction of the rotation of said another disk member, the angle of extension of the enlarged diameter portion of said another disk member being substantially the same as that of said enlarged diameter portion of said opening of said disk member, the circumferential surface of said disk member being toothed to mesh with one of said pair of gears, the circumferential surface of said enlarged diameter portion of said another disk member being toothed to mesh with the other one of said pair of gears; and

wherein said disk member rotates with respect to said lens barrel when said another disk member is rotated by said single drive source, while said lens barrel rotates together with said disk member when said another disk member is disengaged from said other one of said pair of gears.

4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein said second driving means comprises an actuating member mounted on said another disk member, said shutter member being driven by said actuating member upon rotation of said another disk member.

5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said cam surface of the lens barrel comprises three cam follower portions while said sleeve is provided with three protrusions to contact said cam follower portions.

6. The camera according to claim 3, wherein said another disk member is biased so that said toothed circumferential surface of the enlarged diameter portion normally contacts said other one of said pair of gears.

7. A camera having a focusing device and a shutter device comprising:

single rotatable drive means for driving said focusing device and said shutter device;

a focusing control member adapted to be rotated by said single drive means, via a first drive path extending from said drive means, for actuating said focusing device, said focusing control member being relatively rotated with respect to said focusing device within a predetermined range when said focusing device is dis-actuated;

a shutter control member adapted to be rotated by said single drive means, via a second drive path extending from said drive means, to actuate said shutter device, said first drive path being separate from said second drive path; and

a clutch mechanism provided between said single drive means and said shutter control member for preventing said shutter control member from being rotated if said drive means rotates in a predetermined rotational direction when said shutter device is closed.

8. The camera having a focusing device and a shutter device according to claim 7, said focusing control member comprising a first rotatable ring driven by said drive means, said shutter control member comprising a second rotatable ring driven by said drive means and separate from said first ring.

9. The camera having a focusing device and a shutter device according to claim 8, each of said first rotatable ring and said second rotatable ring comprising a peripheral geared portion.

10. The camera having a focusing device and a shutter device according to claim 7, said clutch mechanism comprising means for selectively drivingly connecting and disconnecting said drive means and said shutter control member.

11. The camera having a focusing device and a shutter device according to claim 7, wherein opposing walls of a recess provided in said focusing control member define said predetermined range.

12. The camera having a focusing device and a shutter device according to claim 7, said single rotatable drive means comprising a drive motor having first and second output shafts, said first output shaft drivingly coupled to said focusing control member, said second output drivingly coupled to said shutter control member.

13. The camera having a focusing device and a shutter device according to claim 7, said single rotatable drive means comprising a motor and means for establishing said separate drive paths from said motor for said focusing control member and for said shutter control member.