US3810216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Driving mechanism for the movable reflector in a single lens reflex camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-12-12
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A driving mechanism for the movable reflector in a single lens reflex camera, wherein, when the movable reflector is rotated from a viewing position to a photographing position, in relation to the optical axis, the rotating torque increases proportionally to the increase of the angle of rotation, and when the movable reflector reaches the photographing position, the shutter release is positively effected. In using this mechanism, the movable reflector can be manually operated, and the image condition at the set value of the aperture can be observed in advance. The driving mechanism includes at least one closed loop-type motion system comprising two levers connected at one of their ends by a connecting link and at the other of their ends by a spring.
Inventors
- 👤 H Ueda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B19/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A single lens reflex camera including a reflecting mirror and a driving mechanism therefor, comprising: means mounting said reflecting mirror for movement between a viewing position and a photographic position; a loop-type motion system including a first lever having a first arm and a second arm and pivotably supported on a first axis, a second lever having a third arm and a fourth arm and pivotably supported on a second axis, a member connecting said second and fourth arms, and a driving tension spring connected between said first and third arms; and actuating means for interconnecting one of the levers of said loop-type motion system with said reflecting mirror to move said mirror to said photographic position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A single lens reflex camera including a reflecting mirror and a driving mechanism therefor, comprising: means mounting said reflecting mirror for movement between a viewing position and a photographic position; a loop-type motion system including a first lever having a first arm and a second arm and pivotably supported on a first axis, a second lever having a third arm and a fourth arm and pivotably supported on a second axis, a member connecting said second and fourth arms, and a driving tension spring connected between said first and third arms; and actuating means for interconnecting one of the levers of said loop-type motion system with said reflecting mirror to move said mirror to said photographic position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said third arm from said second axis is shorter in comparison with the length of said first arm from said first axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
a second lever rotatably supported on a second axis and having a third and a fourth arm, the length of said third arm from said second axis being shorter compared to the length of said first arm from said first axis;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
a second lever rotatably supported on a second axis and having a third and a fourth arm, the length of said third arm from said second axis being shorter compared to the length of said first arm from said first axis;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
a fourth lever rotatably supported on a fourth axis and having a seventh and an eighth arm, the length of said seventh arm from said fourth axis being shorter in comparison with the length of said fifth arm from said third axis,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
a fourth lever rotatably supported on a fourth axis and having a seventh and an eighth arm, the length of said seventh arm from said fourth axis being shorter in comparison with the length of said fifth arm from said third axis,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
a first connecting member engaging said second and fourth arms, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
a first connecting member engaging said second and fourth arms, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
a second connecting member engaging said sixth arm and said eighth arm, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
a second connecting member engaging said sixth arm and said eighth arm, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and third arm diverge at an obtuse angle, and in divergent directions with respect to a perpendicular to a line connecting said first and second axes, when said reflecting mirror is positioned in a retracted viewing position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
a second driving tension spring attached between an end of said fifth arm and an end of said seventh arm; d. members of both loop-type motion systems causing the rotating torques of said first and second loop-type motion systems to be directed in the same direction to combine the outputs of both loop-type motion systems; and e. actuating means for interconnecting one of the levers of said first loop-type motion system with the reflector member to move said reflector member to its photographing position, said reflector member being in its viewing position, when said first and second arms diverge at an obtuse angle and in divergent directions with respect to a perpendicular to a line connecting said first axis and said second axis and said fifth arm and said seventh arm diverge at an obtuse angle and in divergent directions with respect to a perpendicular to a line between said third axis and said fourth axis as well.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
a second driving tension spring attached between an end of said fifth arm and an end of said seventh arm; d. members of both loop-type motion systems causing the rotating torques of said first and second loop-type motion systems to be directed in the same direction to combine the outputs of both loop-type motion systems; and e. actuating means for interconnecting one of the levers of said first loop-type motion system with the reflector member to move said reflector member to its photographing position, said reflector member being in its viewing position, when said first and second arms diverge at an obtuse angle and in divergent directions with respect to a perpendicular to a line connecting said first axis and said second axis and said fifth arm and said seventh arm diverge at an obtuse angle and in divergent directions with respect to a perpendicular to a line between said third axis and said fourth axis as well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first arm forms an obtuse angle with a line connecting said first and second axes when said reflecting mirror is positioned in a viewing position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
a first driving tension spring attached between an end of said first arm and an end of said third arm; c. a second loop-type motion system including
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
a first driving tension spring attached between an end of said first arm and an end of said third arm; c. a second loop-type motion system including
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a locking lever engageable with said first arm, when said reflecting mirror is in the viewing position, and disengageable from said first arm in association with a releasing operation; and a shutter release member actuated by said loop-type motion system, when said actuating means has urged said reflecting mirror to the photographic position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a projection on said connecting member; and an aperture control member engaging said projection and urged to follow the motion of said projection to a preset value of aperture, said aperture control member being urged by said projection into a position for opening the aperture, when said actuating means moves said reflecting mirror to tHe viewing position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 6 further comprising: a pivot coupling an end of said fourth arm with said connecting member; a pin carried by an end of the second arm; a slot formed at an end of the connecting member and receiving said pin slidably; and a manual aperture operation plate projecting outwardly from the camera casing and engageable with said connecting member to move the same parallel said slot against the force of said driving spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
137 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a return lever rotatably supported on the camera casing and engageable with said first lever upon rotation of the first lever within a range from a position where the reflecting mirror is in the viewing position to a position where said reflecting mirror in the photographic position; a return spring biasing said return lever, whereby the torque applied to said first lever by said return lever is directed in an opposite direction to the torque applied thereto by the driving spring and the magnitude of said first mentioned torque is normally larger than that of last mentioned torque; and a locking lever for arresting said return lever when the reflecting mirror is in the photographing position, and releasing said return lever upon completion of exposure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A single lens reflex camera comprising: a. a reflector member supported rotatably for movement between a viewing position and a photographing position and biased by a spring to take the viewing position; b. a first loop-type motion system including
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A single lens reflex camera comprising: a. a reflector member supported rotatably for movement between a viewing position and a photographing position and biased by a spring to take the viewing position; b. a first loop-type motion system including
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
100 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 9, said actuating means being provided on said second lever, wherein said first loop-type motion system includes a locking lever for arresting said first lever when the actuating means provided on said second lever contacts the reflector member in the viewing position; said first connecting member being rotatably connected to the second arm of said first lever and having a slot, a pin fOrmed on the fourth arm of said second lever and slidably fitted within said slot; said second lever being manually rotatable against the force of the driving spring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
101 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first loop-type motion system includes a locking lever for arresting said first lever when the reflector member is in the viewing position; said connecting member of said second loop-type motion system being rotatably connected to the sixth arm of said third lever and having a slot, a pin formed on the eighth arm of said fourth lever and slidably fitted within said slot; an aperture control member engaging with said fourth arm; and including means for manually rotating said fourth arm against the force of said second driving spring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 9, including a shutter release member actuated by said first loop-type motion system when the actuating means moves the reflector to the photographing position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a return lever engageable with the third lever of said second loop-type motion system; a return spring biasing said return lever to rotate said return lever against the sum of outputs of said first and second loop-type motion systems; and a locking member for arresting said return lever and releasing the same upon the completion of an exposure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |