Abstract: An imaging device comprises a first lens unit and a second lens unit. A first fixed barrel of the first lens unit movably holds a first lens frame, which holds a first lens group, in an optical-axis direction. A second fixed barrel of the second lens unit movably holds a second lens frame, which holds a second lens group, in the optical-axis direction. The first and second fixed barrels are secured in series in the optical-axis direction. The first and second lens units are adapted to be easily assembled in series in the optical-axis direction. Misalignment of the plural lens groups is prevented, and the first and second lens groups are accurately and individually moved in the optical-axis direction.

Abstract: An actuator which drives a lens frame in an optical axis direction is constructed by piezoelectric elements, driving members, and a pressing spring. The piezoelectric elements are placed at opposite sides with a driven plate therebetween, and the driving members are fixed to the respective piezoelectric elements. The driving members are pressed against the driven plate from both sides by the pressing spring.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes: a stator having a cylindrical shape, for generating a magnetic field within the cylindrical shape; a rotor located within the cylindrical shape of the stator and being rotation-driven for the stator by a magnetic field created by the stator; a lens holder located further inside the rotor, for holding a plurality of lenses with a small lens thereof being located at an arrangement end of the plurality of lenses; a converting mechanism for converting the direction of force by rotation driving of the rotor into direction along the optical axes of the lenses and transmitting the force in the direction thus converted to the lens holder; and a rotation stopper mechanism formed beside the small lens, for preventing the rotation of the lens holder through physical contact.

Abstract: A rotational driving apparatus which comprises a motor, a worm pressingly fitted to an output shaft of the motor, and a worm wheel meshing with the worm, to output rotation of the motor from the worm wheel via the worm, the apparatus comprising: a support member placed with forming a gap with respect to a tip end of the worm, the support member comprising a through hole positioned on a same axis as the worm; a pressing member that is inserted into the through hole, and protrudes from a tip end of the through hole to butt against a tip end face of the worm; a plug member fitted into the through hole to close the through hole, in which its fitting degree into the through hole is adjustable; and an urging member interposed between the pressing member and the plug member to urge the pressing member toward the worm.

Abstract: In the data superimposing device, an aperture is provided in the narrowest position of the space formed between the arc-shaped outer wall surface of a take-up spool chamber and the outer wall surface of a photographic light path shielding cylinder, and an image-forming lens is installed immediately behind the aperture. It is thereby made possible to effectively suppress flare and clearly superimpose data on a film because the space, though it is limited in size, is expected before behind the aperture.

Abstract: In the data superimposing device, an aperture is provided in the narrowest position of the space formed between the arc-shaped outer wall surface of a take-up spool chamber and the outer wall surface of a photographic light path shielding cylinder, and an image-forming lens is installed immediately behind the aperture. It is thereby made possible to effectively suppress flare and clearly superimpose data on a film because the space, though it is limited in size, is expanded before and behind the aperture.

Abstract: A safety-lock mechanism for a camera includes a lock member that is rotatable between first and second lock positions for locking a lid open-close mechanism in a latching position where a lid of a cartridge chamber of the camera is latched closed; and an unlock position for allowing the lid open-close mechanism to unlatch the lid of the cartridge chamber. The lock member cooperates with a film transport mechanism such that the lock member moves from the unlock position to the first lock position as the film transport mechanism starts winding the photo filmstrip, and moves from the first lock position to the second lock position as the film transport mechanism starts rewinding the photo filmstrip. The lock member is urged by a spring to move to the unlock position.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of achieving a simplification of an assembly process thereof. The camera comprises a camera body, a gear system for driving a movable barrel of a zoom lens, and a flash tube for illuminating a subject. A flash holding plate holding the flash tube is mounted on the camera body. The flash holding plate is configured so as to hold not only the flash tube, but also each gear of the gear system by sandwiching the gear between the flash holding plate and the front face of the camera body. Thereby, the assembly process can become simpler, and the number of components can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of contributing reductions in the number of components and manufacturing costs. A holding member is mounted on a top portion of a camera body. A block portion for holding a device for range-finding, a finder and so on, a semicylindrical portion for holding a battery, and a plate portion for holding a gear train of the camera body are integrally combined to form the holding member. Therefore, the number of components of the camera can be reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with a fixed cylinder, a movable cylinder supported in the fixed cylinder, and a helicoid mechanism for moving the movable cylinder along the optical axis direction through engagement of an internal helicoid of the fixed cylinder and an external helicoid of the movable cylinder. The helicoid mechanism is provided with an unengaged region, in which the internal helicoid and the external helicoid are in an unengaged state, within a rotation region between a collapsed state of the movable cylinder and a wide end of the movable cylinder. An opening or closing operation of a lens barrier is performed by the rotation of the movable cylinder in the unengaged region of the helicoid mechanism.

Abstract: In a camera provided with an instrument supporting frame, with which a light projecting device or a light receiving device of an automatic focusing apparatus are combined at a predetermined position, a retaining piece, which is capable of elastically pushing and holding the light projecting device or the light receiving device at the predetermined position, is formed through integral molding together with the instrument supporting frame. The device is held by the retaining piece at the predetermined position and is adhered in this state to the instrument supporting frame by use of an adhesive agent.

Abstract: A view frame changing apparatus of the present invention is constructed in which cam grooves formed at view frame pieces are arched by the predetermined curvature; thus the cam pins can smoothly slide over the entire area of the sliding area of the cam grooves without being caught in the cam grooves. Moreover, the cam grooves are formed in areas of acute angles in between the two diagonal lines of the image frame; therefore, the frame changing apparatus can be compact in size.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with a fixed cylinder, a movable cylinder supported in the fixed cylinder, and a helicoid mechanism for moving the movable cylinder along the optical axis direction through engagement of an internal helicoid of the fixed cylinder and an external helicoid of the movable cylinder. The helicoid mechanism is provided with an unengaged region, in which the internal helicoid and the external helicoid are in an unengaged state, within a rotation region between a collapsed state of the movable cylinder and a wide end of the movable cylinder. An opening or closing operation of a lens barrier is performed by the rotation of the movable cylinder in the unengaged region of the helicoid mechanism.

Abstract: In a camera provided with an instrument supporting frame, with which a light projecting device or a light receiving device of an automatic focusing apparatus are combined at a predetermined position, a retaining piece, which is capable of elastically pushing and holding the light projecting device or the light receiving device at the predetermined position, is formed through integral molding together with the instrument supporting frame. The device is held by the retaining piece at the predetermined position and is adhered in this state to the instrument supporting frame by use of an adhesive agent.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of achieving a simplification of an assembly process thereof. The camera comprises a camera body, a gear system for driving a movable barrel of a zoom lens, and a flash tube for illuminating a subject. A flash holding plate holding the flash tube is mounted on the camera body. The flash holding plate is configured so as to hold not only the flash tube, but also each gear of the gear system by sandwiching the gear between the flash holding plate and the front face of the camera body. Thereby, the assembly process can become simpler, and the number of components can be reduced.

Abstract: A safety-lock mechanism for a camera comprises a lock member that is rotatable between first and second lock positions for locking a lid open-close mechanism in a latching position where a lid of a cartridge chamber of the camera is latched closed, and an unlock position for allowing the lid open-close mechanism to unlatch the lid of the cartridge chamber. The lock member cooperates with a film transport mechanism such that the lock member moves from the unlock position to the first lock position as the film transport mechanism starts winding the photo filmstrip, and moves from the first lock position to the second lock position as the film transport mechanism starts rewinding the photo filmstrip. The lock member is urged by a spring to move to the unlock position.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of contributing reductions in the number of components and manufacturing costs. A holding member is mounted on a top portion of a camera body. A block portion for holding a device for range-finding, a finder and so on, a semicylindrical portion for holding a battery, and a plate portion for holding a gear train of the camera body are integrally combined to form the holding member. Therefore, the number of components of the camera can be reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: In an APS camera, one of a light projecting part and an light receiving part of an autofocus device is arranged above a film cartridge chamber. The one of the light projecting part and the light receiving part has a recession at a bottom of a casing thereof. The camera is provided with a light-shielding door drive mechanism to open and close a light-shielding door of a film cartridge housed in the film cartridge chamber. At least a part of the light-shielding door drive mechanism is arranged between the film cartridge chamber and the recession of the one of the light projecting part and the light receiving part.

Abstract: A hook of a cartridge-chamber lid is engaged with one end of an engagement lever to be kept in a closed position. The other end of the engagement lever is engaged with an intermediate lever attached to an upper face of a cartridge chamber. When a photo film is wound up, a winding-up lock mechanism comprising an urging gear, a lever member and a winding-up lock member prevents the intermediate lever from rotating, namely prevents the engagement lever from swinging to lock the cartridge-chamber lid. When the photo film is rewound, a rewinding lock mechanism comprising an urging gear, a lever member, a rewinding lock member and a torsion spring prevents the intermediate lever from rotating, namely prevents the engagement lever from swinging to lock the cartridge-chamber lid.

Abstract: In a magnetic recording unit of an APS camera, a pad and a compression spring for pressing the pad toward a magnetic head to thereby press a magnetic recording layer formed on a photographic film against the magnetic head are arranged outside a fixed cylinder containing a zoom lens barrel of the camera. This reduces the length of the fixed cylinder to the minimum length required for containing the zoom lens barrel. Therefore, the camera with the magnetic recording unit can be compact.