JPS6242486B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a photographing device can be mounted and held in a correct position.

In the conventional endoscope imaging device mounting part, the end of the image bundle is rigidly fixed in the endoscope operation part, and the eyepiece system facing the bundle end is also used for diopter adjustment, etc. It has a structure that is rigidly attached to the operating section except for movement in the optical axis direction. By the way, the photographing device is attached to the photographing device mounting portion by fitting the guide cylinder portion thereof, and a certain margin is provided between them for easy attachment and detachment of the photographing device. There is. This margin, that is, the fitting gap, inevitably increases over time due to deformation and wear caused by bumps that occur when the photographing device is attached and detached. Therefore, in conventional endoscopes in which the image bundle and eyepiece system are rigidly mounted on the operating section, the above-mentioned fitting gap directly affects the relationship between the image bundle, the eyepiece system, and the film position of the photographing device. There was a flaw that caused it to go awry. For this reason, when an external force is applied between the endoscope operating section and the imaging device, such as when an operator holds the endoscope operating section with his left hand and presses the shutter of the imaging device with his right hand, the above fitting gap allows the focus to be adjusted. This may cause problems such as the exposure being distorted or the exposed surface coming off the film surface.

The present invention was developed under the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to enable correct focus and exposure at the correct position on the film surface when a photographic device is attached to take a photograph. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can always maintain such a correct positional relationship over a long period of use.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a photographing device, which has a guide tube portion 2 and is adapted to store a film 3 therein in a manner that it can be freely taken in and taken out, and 1a denotes a shutter button. The inner circumferential surface of the guide tube portion 2 forms a cylindrical guide surface 2a, and a reference surface having a tapered surface 4 connected to the guide surface 2a is provided at the inner end of the tube portion 2. In other words, this reference plane is
It is formed from a tapered surface 4, a centering surface 5 of the cylindrical portion connected to the tapered surface 4, and a flat eyepiece receiving surface 6 connected inwardly at an angle exactly perpendicular to this surface 5. It should be noted that the tapered surface 4 and the reference surface are of course provided coaxially with the central axis of the guide cylinder section 2, and the film 3 is provided with the centering surface 5 as the reference in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis. In addition, in the optical axis direction, the eyepiece receiving surface 6 is used as a reference, and the lens is accurately positioned and stored so as to be parallel to this surface 6. Further, a plurality of claws 7 are provided on the eyepiece receiving surface 6 at a predetermined distance from the receiving surface 6, and one of the claws 7 is provided with a hole 7a.

The photographing device mounting portion of the endoscope to which the photographing device 1 is appropriately attached is constructed as follows. That is, 8 is an operating section main body through which the image bundle 9 passes, and this main body has a photographing device engaging tube 10 into which the guide tube section 2 is loosely fitted. Also,
Reference numeral 11 denotes an eyepiece that is movably fitted and supported in the photographing device engaging cylinder 10 as will be described later.
The amount of fitting variation allowed by the gap between the image capturing device engaging tube 10 and the guide tube portion 2 is configured to be larger than the amount of fitting variation allowed by the gap between the image capturing device engaging tube 10 and the guide tube portion 2.

The eyepiece section 11 includes main parts such as an eyepiece base 12, an eyepiece lens system 13, a photographing cam 14, a diopter adjustment cam, a diopter adjustment ring 16, and a bayonet 17. An end of the image bundle 9 is fixed to the eyepiece base 12 so as to be concentric with the center axis thereof, and an eyepiece lens system 13 is mounted opposite the end of the bundle 9. The eyepiece lens system 13 is disposed coaxially with the center axis of the eyepiece base 12, but is provided so as to be movable in the optical axis direction within the innermost cylindrical portion 12a of the eyepiece base 12. Further, the eyepiece system 13 has a plurality of pins 18 and 19 that are inserted through long holes provided along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 12a, and pins 18 and 19 are inserted between these pins and the tip of the cylindrical portion 12a. Shita spring 2
0, the image bundle 9 is always biased in the direction. Then, a photographing cam 14 and a diopter adjustment cam 15
The diopter adjustment ring 16 and the diopter adjustment ring 16 are both cylindrical and rotatably supported in this order on the eyepiece base 12. Moreover, the photographing cam 14 and the diopter adjustment cam 15 each have a cam hole, and the diopter adjustment cam 15 further has an engagement groove 15a, and the pin 19 is inserted into each cam hole. , a diopter adjustment ring 16 is provided in the engagement groove 15a.
An interlocking pin 21 protruding from is engaged. Therefore, the diopter adjustment ring 16 is
By operating and turning the protruding part from 0,
The diopter adjustment cam 15 is rotated in conjunction, and in this case, the pin 19 engages with the cam surface (the edge of the cam hole) of the cam 15, thereby causing the eyepiece system 13 to rotate. The diopter is adjusted by moving in the optical axis direction. In this case, pin 1
9 is moved in a direction away from the cam surface (the edge of the cam hole) of the photographing cam 14. Further, the bayonet 17 is attached to the end of the eyepiece 11 protruding from the engagement tube 10 with a screw or the like. The bayonet 17 has the above-mentioned guide cylinder part 2 connected to the photographing device engaging cylinder 10.
It has a reference surface that engages with a reference surface on the photographing device 1 side after the image bundle 9 starts to be fitted into the image bundle 9, and the end surface of the image bundle 9 and the eyepiece lens system 13 are connected to each other by engagement of these reference surfaces with the reference surface on the photographing device 1 side. It is adapted to be optically positioned relative to a surface. The reference surface of this eyepiece portion 11 is composed of a tapered surface 22, an outer circumferential surface 23 and a photographing device receiving surface 24 that are connected via the tapered surface 22,
The outer peripheral surface 23 engages with the centering surface 5, and the photographing device receiving surface 24 engages with the eyepiece receiving surface 6. Each of these surfaces 22 to 24 is provided concentrically with the central axis of the eyepiece section 11. The wall portion of the bayonet 17 having the photographing device receiving surface 24 is formed with notches 25, 25 through which the claws 7 can pass, and a plurality of leaf springs 26, 25 are formed on the back surface of the wall portion.
26 is installed. Further, the bayonet 17 is provided with an arcuate hole 27, into which a projection 14a integrally protruding from the photographing cam 14 is passed. This protrusion 14a is inserted into and engaged with the hole 7a of the claw 7 when the photographing device 1 is attached. Therefore, by rotating the photographing device 1 by a predetermined angle in the inserted and engaged state, as the photographing cam 14 rotates, the cam surface and the pin 19 engage with each other, so that the eyepiece system 13 is positioned as close to the photographing device as possible. The camera is moved to the 1 side to enter the shooting state. Note that at this time, the pin 19 is moved in a direction away from the cam surface of the diopter adjustment cam 15. In addition, the above-mentioned photographing device 1
As a result of the rotation, the photographing device 1 is attached to the endoscope via the spring force of the leaf spring 26.

With respect to the eyepiece 11 having such a structure, the output end face of the image bundle 9 is properly processed along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the eyepiece 11, and the film 3 of the photographing device 1 is The axial position is adjusted correctly with reference to the photographing device receiving surface 24 so that the image is correctly formed upward. Also,
The attachment of the eyepiece 11 to the operation unit main body 8 is achieved by using, for example, a plurality of inward retaining pins 28 provided on the base side of the photographing device engagement tube 10 and a recess 29 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the eyepiece base 12. The eyepiece portion 11 is attached so as to be movable around the retaining pin 28 by loosely engaging them. An O-ring 3 made of an elastic material is attached to the outer periphery of the diopter adjustment ring 16, and these O-rings 3 are loosely in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the photographing device engaging cylinder 10. In addition, 31, in Figure 2
Reference numerals 32 indicate alignment marks provided on the photographing device 1 and the eyepiece section 11, respectively.

Next, the attachment of the imaging device to the endoscope according to the above embodiment will be explained.

First, with the alignment marks 31 and 32 aligned and the claw 7 directly facing the notch 27, move the guide barrel 2 of the photographing device 1 to the operating section main body 8.
It is fitted into the photographing device engaging tube 10 of. When this fitting progresses to a certain extent, the tapered surfaces 4 and 22 fit into each other, and the eyepiece portion 11 and the guide cylinder portion 2 are aligned by the guiding action thereof. This alignment is performed naturally by rotating the eyepiece part 11 around the retaining pin 28 in a direction that reduces this resistance when resistance occurs in fitting the tapered surfaces 4 and 22 together. This makes the fitting operation much smoother and easier. In this alignment state, the centering surface 5 and the outer circumferential surface 23 of the eyepiece portion 11 are engaged so as to fit closely together. Then, the protrusion 14a of the photographing cam 14 is inserted into and engaged with the hole 7a of the claw 7, and after this engagement is performed, the eyepiece receiving surface 6 and the photographing device receiving surface 24 are engaged. Next, in this state, the photographing device 1 is rotated in a predetermined direction around the optical axis. Then, the eyepiece lens member 13 is attached to the photographing device 1 by the spring 2 via the photographing cam 14 and the pin 19.
At the same time, due to the engagement between the leaf spring 26 and the claw 7, the photographing device 1 is moved in the direction of the eyepiece 11 by the spring force of the leaf spring 26. It is energized to tightly engage the eyepiece receiving surface 6 and the photographing device receiving surface 24. In this way, the mounting of the photographing device 1 is completed, and as described above, the output end face of the image bundle 9 and the eyepiece lens system 13 are correctly positioned in advance with respect to the photographing device receiving surface 24, and When the photographing device 1 and the eyepiece 11 are attached as described above, the centering surface 5 and the outer circumferential surface 23 engage with each other, and the eyepiece receiving surface 6 and the photographing device receiving surface 24 engage with each other, so that the optical system is adjusted to the correct photographing state. Therefore, during photographing, the exposure can be carried out at the correct focus and at the correct position on the three sides of the film. Incidentally, it goes without saying that the photographing device 1 can be removed in the reverse order of the above-mentioned mounting operation.

When an external force is applied between the photographing device 1 and the operation unit main body 8 while the photographing device 1 is attached, the positional relationship between the guide tube portion 2 and the photographing device engaging tube 1 changes.
It fluctuates within the range allowed by the gap between it and 0. In other words,
The guide surface 2a of the guide tube portion 2 moves until it stops touching the outer peripheral surface of the engagement tube 10. However, the engagement cylinder 10
Since the gap between the eyepiece section 11 and the eyepiece section 11 is designed to allow a large amount of fitting variation, the eyepiece section 1
1 and the photographing device 1 do not change.

Moreover, in this case, since the eyepiece 11 is surrounded by the operation section main body 8 and the photographing device 1, the external force acts on the photographing device 1 and the operation section main body 8, and directly affects the eyepiece 11.
1 and the photographing device 1, so that the eyepiece 11 and the photographing device are always maintained in their normal relative positions.

Furthermore, as can be seen from the above description of the attachment of the photographing device 1, the engagement of the reference planes of the photographing device 1 and the eyepiece portion 11 with each other is achieved by fitting the guide cylinder portion 2 into the photographing device engaging portion 10 in advance. This is done after starting the. In other words, the reference surfaces are engaged with each other after the axes of the photographing device 1 and the operation unit main body 8 are approximately aligned,
This makes it possible to reduce wear and deformation of each reference surface, thereby preventing deterioration in positioning accuracy over time.
In addition, as mentioned above, when the reference surfaces engage with each other,
The self-aligning effect in which the eyepiece 11 is rotated in a direction that reduces fitting resistance can reduce wear and deformation of each reference surface, thereby preventing a decline in positioning accuracy over time.

Therefore, by combining these reasons with maintaining the normal relative position between the eyepiece 11 and the photographing device 1 described above, even during long-term use, the focus is always correct and the position on the film surface 3 is always correct. can be exposed to light.

Note that although the above embodiment is configured as described above,
In carrying out the present invention, the specific structure, shape, position, etc. of the operating unit main body, photographing device engaging barrel, eyepiece unit, eyepiece lens system, image bundle, reference plane, etc. and support structure of the eyepiece,
It goes without saying that the magnitude of the variation in the fit of the photographing device, the engagement tube, the eyepiece section, and the guide tube of the photographing device is not limited to the one embodiment described above, and can be implemented with various configurations. .

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since the photographing device is mounted with the axes of the operation section main body and the photographing device substantially aligned, the mounting becomes smooth and easy. Even if an external force acts between the photographing device and the operating unit body after the photographing device is attached, the positional relationship between the photographing device and the eyepiece, which is movably fitted and supported by the operating unit main body, will not change. When photographing, the focus is correct and the exposure can be made at the correct position on the film surface. Furthermore, combined with the fact that no external force acts between the eyepiece and the photographing device,
This reduces the wear and deformation of the reference surface between the imaging device and the eyepiece when the imaging device is attached and detached, and prevents a decline in positioning accuracy over time, allowing the correct positional relationship as described above to be maintained over a long period of time. It has excellent effects such as being able to

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the distal end of the eyepiece, FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the distal end of the imaging device, and FIG. The figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ``-'' in Figure 1 and viewed from a slightly oblique angle. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Photographing device, 2...Guide cylinder part, 3...Film, 4...Tapered surface (reference surface), 5...Centering surface (reference surface), 6...Eyepiece receiving surface (reference surface), 8...Operation part Main body, 9... Image bundle, 10... Photographing device engaging tube, 11... Eyepiece section, 13... Eyepiece lens system, 22...
Tapered surface (reference surface), 23...Outer peripheral surface (reference surface), 2
4... Photographing device receiving surface (reference surface), 28... Retaining pin, 29... Recessed portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operating section main body having a photographing device engaging cylinder into which the guide cylinder of the photographing device is loosely fitted when the photographing device is installed, and a main body that is movably fitted and supported within the photographing device engaging cylinder and concentric with its central axis. At the same time, the end of the image bundle that has passed through the operation unit main body is fixed, and the eyepiece unit with the eyepiece system attached facing the end of the bundle and the eyepiece unit that protrudes outside the imaging device engagement tube. After the guide tube starts to fit into the imaging device engagement tube, it engages with the reference surface on the imaging device side, and this engagement connects the image bundle end surface and the eyepiece system to the film of the imaging device. and a reference surface for optically positioning with respect to the surface, and the amount of fit variation between the photographing device engaging tube and the eyepiece section is determined by adjusting the amount of fit variation between the photographing device engaging tube and the guide tube section. An endoscope characterized by having a structure that is larger than the amount of variation.