Camera having a mirror box

• US 7,182,529 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/042,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20050163499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 396/354, 396/358, 396/535, 396/541
• US Class Current: 396/358
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/12 Reflex cameras with single objective and a movable reflector or a partly-transmitting mirror

Abstract

A camera includes a mirror box to which a photographing lens is mounted, an object image being formed on one of an image pick-up device and sensitive film via the photographing lens; a main frame, the mirror box being provided on the main frame; and a shock absorbing device. The one of the image pick-up device and the sensitive film is supported by the mirror box, and the mirror box is supported by the main frame via the shock absorbing device.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a mirror box to which a photographing lens is mounted, an object image being formed on one of an image pick-up device and sensitive film via said photographing lens;

a main frame, said mirror box being provided on said main frame; and

a shock absorbing device,

wherein said one of said image pick-up device and said sensitive film is supported by said mirror box, and

wherein said mirror box is supported by said main frame via said shock absorbing device.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said mirror box comprises a lens mount to which said photographing lens is mounted, at least one camera mechanism of said camera for performing a photographing operation, said camera mechanism being mounted to said mirror box to be integral therewith.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said main frame comprises:

a back plate lying in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of said photographing lens; and

a bottom plate which extends in said optical axis direction,

wherein said mirror box is supported by both said back plate at a plurality of points thereon and said bottom plate at a plurality of points thereon via said shock absorbing device.

4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said shock absorbing device comprises:

a resilient member positioned between said mirror box and said main frame; and

a connecting device which connects said resilient member to each of said mirror box and said main frame so that said resilient member remains positioned between said mirror box and said main frame.

5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein said resilient member comprises a hollow cylindrical bush, and

wherein said connecting device comprises a screw which passes through said hollow cylindrical bush and is screwed into said mirror box.

6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein an annular groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of said hollow cylindrical bush, said hollow cylindrical bush being fitted into a fixing hole formed on said main frame so that an inner edge of said fixing hole is engaged in said annular groove.

7. The camera according to claim 4, wherein said resilient member comprises a compression coil spring, and

wherein said connecting device comprises a screw which passes through said compression coil spring and is screwed into said mirror box.

8. The camera according to claim 4, wherein said resilient member comprises a solid column, and

wherein said connecting device comprises:

two end plates fixed to opposite ends of said solid column;

at least one first screw for fixing one of said two end plates to said mirror box; and

at least one second screw for fixing the other of said two end plates to said main frame.

9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said image pick-up device comprises one of a CCD image sensor and a CMOS image sensor.

10. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a quick-return mirror installed in the mirror box.

11. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said shock absorbing device comprises a plurality of shock absorbers via which said mirror box is supported by said main frame at different points.

12. The camera according to claim 2, wherein said camera mechanism comprises at least one of an AF mechanism, a shutter mechanism and a diaphragm drive mechanism.

13. A digital camera comprising:

a main frame;

a mirror box installed on said main frame, and having a lens mount to which an interchangeable lens is detachably attached; and

a plurality of shock absorbers positioned between said mirror box and said main frame so that said mirror box is supported by said main frame via said plurality of shock absorbers at different points.