Overload projection apparatus for small-sized tripod head

• US 5,399,949 A
• Filed: 06/29/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hidaka, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US08/082,945
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 318/434, 318/594, 318/466-470, 318/458, 318/461, 318/15, 318/630, 318/628, 361/23, 361/31, 361/33, 49/26, 49/118, 49/141, 166/291, 166/292
• US Class Current: 318/434
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4062 Monitoring servoloop, e.g. overload of servomotor, loss of feedback or reference
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34215 Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42205 With potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42325 Stalling of drive motor, overload
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45184 Filming, photography, camera

Abstract

An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head which is capable of protecting the driving portion when overload is applied thereto without the need for a mechanical apparatus such as a slip mechanism and the like. Motors drive two driving shafts which are orthogonal to each other. Position sensors detect the rotating positions of the two driving shafts. When displacement of the driving shafts is not detected by the position sensors although a driving command signal is output by a microcomputer, it is judged that overload is applied to the motors and the motors are forcibly stopped. When the motors are forcibly stopped, the gears are reversed by a predetermined amount. When the gears are reversed, the backlash of the gear is corrected. Driving members are stored in the main chassis and a controller is stored in a storage portion which is formed by a sub-chassis outside of the main chassis.

Claims

1. An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head comprising:

a small-sized tripod head having a motor for driving two driving shafts which are orthogonal to each other, and a position detector for detecting the rotating positions of the driving shafts;

a microcomputer provided in the tripod head so as to judge whether or not overload is applied to said motor on the basis of an output of said position detector and a driving command signal and forcibly stop said motor when overload is applied thereto; and

wherein a box body of said tripod head is composed of a tubular main chassis which forms a first storage portion as a closed space and a sub-chassis attached to the projected pieces of said main chassis so as to form a second storage portion as a closed space between said sub-chassis and said main chassis, and said two driving shafts and motor are stored in said first storage portion of the main chassis and said position detector and said microcomputer are stored in said second storage portion of said sub-chassis.

2. An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head according to claim 1, wherein when said motor is forcibly stopped, said gears are reversed by a predetermined amount.

3. An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head according to claim 1, wherein when the rotating directions of said driving shafts are reversed, the backlash of said gears are corrected before said motor is driven.

4. An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head according to claim 1, wherein said position detector detects the amount of rotation displacement of the driving members attached to the end portions of said two driving shafts which are projected from said main chassis toward said sub-chassis.

5. An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head comprising:

a motor for driving two driving shafts which are orthogonal to each other;

a position detector for detecting the rotating positions of said driving shafts; and

a microcomputer for judging whether or not overload is applied to said motor and forcibly stopping said motor when displacement of said driving shafts is not detected by said position detector although a driving command signal is issued, reversing gears by a predetermined amount by setting a predetermined value at a reverse counter wherein the gears which are nipped by the overload are released to protect the gears when a forcible stop is executed, and driving said driving shafts an extra amount by the amount of backlash of said gears by setting a predetermined value at a backlash correcting time counter when the gear is reversed.