Minolta Company, Ltd.

Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Akira Funahashi

Junichi Tanii

Michihiro Iwata

Yoshinobu Kudo

Hiromu Mukai

Kohtaro Hayashi

Hirokazu Yagura

Makoto Ando

Ken Tanino

Shigeru Wada

Fumiaki Ishito

Hidekazu Nakajima

Takahiro Ikeda

A camera capable of switching two kinds of photographing modes, the normal photographing mode and the trimming-photographing mode capable of telephotographing in pseudo, and switching the photographing mode in an arbitrary position. A viewfinder cam for changing the focal length of a viewfinder optical system to confirm the range of an image plane to be printed through the viewfinder includes two cam faces corresponding to the photographing modes. When the cam face to be used is selected according to the photographing mode, a pin for changing the focal length of the viewfinder optical system interlocking with the zooming operation of the photographing lens is moved along the selected cam face, whereby the focal length of the viewfinder optical system is changed so that the angle of view of the viewfinder coincides with the angle of view of a photograph to be printed.

Camera

In a viewfinder having objective lens elements G,to G,and performing zooming by driving the objective lens elements G,and G,in the direction of the optical axis x, a finder cam,is provided that interlocks with an axially movable barrel,through a pin,and drives the objective lens elements G,and G,through cam followers,and,and lens frames,and,, respectively.

Viewfinder and camera having a viewfinder

The present invention comprises a camera that is capable of both feeding a long strip of film that is housed in a cartridge in a wound-up fashion and rewinding said film, wherein a battery is placed above or below the film conveyance path between the cartridge bay and the spool bay such that its axis is essentially parallel to the optical axis.

A camera has a transmitting mechanism, for transmitting a driving force necessary for camera operation, that is provided behind a path for feeding a film. The camera has a cartridge chamber wherein a film cartridge is loaded, and the film cartridge is loaded in the cartridge chamber in a direction parallel to the orientation of its shaft. The transmitting mechanism may be provided behind an exposure aperture through which light flux from an object is projected onto a film.

A zoom lens barrel has a stationary barrel, a rotatable cam barrel, a straight-movable barrel, a first lens component, and a second lens component. The stationary barrel is fixed to a camera body. The rotatable cam barrel is screw-engaged with the stationary barrel and moves along the optical axis while rotating about the optical axis. The straight-movable barrel is guided straight along the optical axis by the stationary barrel and is fitted to the rotatable cam barrel so as to be movable together therewith along the optical axis and rotatable independently thereof about the optical axis. The first lens component is fixed to the straight-movable barrel. The second lens component is guided straight along the optical axis by the straight-movable barrel and is cam-coupled to the rotatable cam barrel so as to be cam-driven along the optical axis by the rotatable cam barrel.

Zoom lens barrel

A detecting mechanism for detecting a position of a zoom lens used in a camera, in which the same signal is output at each of a plurality of locations through which the lens passes, and in which it is possible to execute a resetting operation of the lens with a lesser mechanical load being exerted upon the lens at both ends of a region within which the lens is driven to move. The mechanism includes a position detection switch that outputs signals of 'ON' and 'OFF' alternately along a direction in which the lens is driven to move. The switch outputs the signal of 'ON' when the lens is on one end of the region, and outputs the signal of 'OFF' when the lens is on the other end thereof. When the switch is 'ON' at time of the resetting operation, the lens is driven towards the other end thereof, and when the switch is 'OFF' at time thereof, the lens is driven towards the one end. This mechanism prevents the lens from striking or hitting on each end of the region.

Device for detecting zoom lens positions and apparatus employing the

A lens barrel has a focusing operation and a zooming operation which are carried out with only one driving source which is installed outside the lens barrel so as to realize a most suitable resolution for each of the operations. A rotary cylinder which supports a zooming frame which is axially movably therein, is connected to a linear-moving cylinder with a bayonet, which is axially movably supported inside a fixed cylinder. A focus rotation transmission key of a driving cylinder drives a lens frame which engages the zooming frame by a connecting helicoid. A zooming rotation transmission key of the driving cylinder engages an edge surface, forming a rotation transmission groove, of the rotary cylinder, with a play range. Upon rotation of the driving cylinder, only the lens frame is rotated to operate a focusing operation within the play range; however, the rotary cylinder is rotated to operate a zooming operation when the key contacts the edge surface of the rotary cylinder.

Optical mechanism which allows play between transmission members for

A lens barrel is provided with a first barrel and a second barrel. The first barrel has a flange formed around its outer surface, and the flange has a plurality of clearances formed around its outer edge. The second barrel has a plurality of projections formed around its inner surface so as to protrude radially inward. The first and second barrels are coupled together by inserting all of the projections into the clearances and then rotating one of the first and second lens barrels relative to the other so that the projections engage with the flange. The first and second barrels are coupled together in such a way as to rotate independently of each other about an optical axis and move together with each other along the optical axis. In addition, in this lens barrel, each of the clearances is so shaped as not to receive any projection other than the correspondingly shaped one.

A viewfinding system for use with an optical system that creates a first object image includes an objective block which is sealed as a unit. The objective block includes a focusing screen for forming the first object image and relay optics for transmitting the first object image. A zoom block includes a zoom optical system for providing a modification of the magnification of the first object image to provide a second object image. An eyepiece block receives the second object image and includes a reflecting member and an eyepiece through which the second object image is observed. The eyepiece block is sealed and the second object image is realized within the sealed eyepiece block.

Zoom viewfinder system for single reflex camera

A simple and compact opening and shutting apparatus for a film cartridge which has a cylindrical body. The apparatus includes an opening section projecting over the body. The opening section has a film opening and a film cover which opens and shuts the film opening. The apparatus also includes a chamber which holds the cartridge and has a loading opening for loading the cartridge into the chamber. A cartridge cover opens and shuts the loading opening, and there is provided a lock for the film cover. A driver couples the cartridge cover, and a connector connects the lock with the driver so that the film cover is opened when the cartridge cover is shut. The connector is arranged in a concave area which is formed by the surface of the cylindrical body of the cartridge and the opening section projecting over the body.

Film cartridge light blocking door opening/closing mechanism

A device, having a planetary gear and a single motor, in use for switching and transmitting a driving force of the motor to any one of station gears and for driving each station gear in both rotational directions. The operation of locking levers for preventing a planetary gear from revolving around a sun gear is controlled by a cam. The cam is actuated by a driving force of the motor. A spring frictionally connecting the cam and an output shaft of a speed reduction system is interposed therebetween, and a magnet is disposed so as to restrict the movement of the cam when the motor rotates. A sun gear is connected with the output shaft of the speed reduction system with a 'play' or gap in order that the rotation of the sun gear is reversed behind time corresponding to the play when the rotation of the motor is reversed, thus making it possible to start actuating the cam earlier than the sun gear for making sure that the locking levers are shifted.

Actuating mechanism

A camera having a barrier which is rotatable around a shaft substantially parallel to an optical axis of a lens and between a closing position in which a lens barrel, an electronic flash and optical elements are covered by the barrier and an opening position in which the barrier uncovers those elements.

Camera with a barrier

A simple and compact opening and closing apparatus for a film cartridge which has a cylindrical body. The apparatus includes an opening section projecting over the body. The opening section has a film opening and a film cover which opens and closes the film opening. The apparatus also includes a chamber which holds the cartridge and has a loading opening for loading the cartridge into the chamber. A cartridge cover opens and closes the loading opening, and there is provided a lock for the film cover. A driver couples the cartridge cover, and a connector connects the lock with the driver so that the film cover is opened when the cartridge cover is closed. The connector is arranged in a concave area which is formed by the surface of the cylindrical body of the cartridge and the opening section projecting over the body.

A camera wherein a finder cam follower and a flash cam follower are elastically pulled in a wide direction and are in contact with a cam surface of a cam. The cam rotates clockwise or counterclockwise following a zoom movement of a photographic lens. With the rotation of the cam, the finder cam follower moves, thereby moving a finder lens, and the flash cam follower moves, thereby moving a xenon flash lamp and a reflector.

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Sakai, Japan

Akira Funahashi