Visual presenter

A visual presenter includes a camera support arm including a pivot support arm pivotally supported on a base and having an interior cavity and a slide support arm which is inserted into the interior cavity of the pivot support arm so as to be slidable and having a distal end on which the image pickup camera is mounted. When the pivot support arm is caused to pivot from a storage location where the camera support arm lies to a setup location where the camera support arm stands up, the slide support arm is pushed out of the pivot support arm by the sliding mechanism so that the image pickup camera is set up at a predetermined location. When the pivot support arm is caused to pivot from the setup location to the storage location, the slide support arm is brought into the pivot support arm by the sliding mechanism.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-155937, filed on Jun. 5, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a visual presenter in which a pickup image of document placed on a stage of a base thereof is displayed on a monitor, a screen or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional visual presenters comprise a base having a stage on which document to be presented is placed and an image pickup camera which has a predetermined location set over the stage. A support arm on which the image pickup camera is mounted is caused to pivot so as to be moved from a storage location where the support arm is inclined to a setup location where the support arm stands up. After the support arm has assumed the setup location, the location of the image pickup camera is adjusted so that the camera is set up at a predetermined location.

However, it is troublesome and inconvenient to adjust the location of the image pickup camera thereby to set up the camera after the camera support arm has been caused to stand up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a visual presenter in which the image pickup camera can be set up at a predetermined location in synchronization with movement of the camera support arm from the storage location to the setup location.

The present invention provides a visual presenter comprising an image pickup camera, a base having an upper surface on which a stage is formed, a camera support arm including a pivot support arm pivotally supported on the base and having an interior cavity and a slide support arm which is inserted into the interior cavity of the pivot support arm so as to be slidable and having a distal end on which the image pickup camera is mounted, a sliding mechanism incorporated in the pivot support arm so as to be operable in synchronization with pivoting of the sliding support arm. In this construction, when the pivot support arm is caused to pivot from a storage location where the camera support arm lies to a setup location where the camera support arm stands up, the slide support arm is extruded from the pivot support arm by the sliding mechanism so that the image pickup camera is set up at a predetermined location. When the pivot support arm is caused to pivot from the setup location to the storage location, the sliding support arm is brought into the pivot support arm by the sliding mechanism.

According to the above-described construction, the sliding mechanism is incorporated in the pivot support arm so as to be operated in synchronization with pivot of the pivot support arm. When the pivot support arm is caused to pivot by the sliding mechanism so as to be moved from the storage location to the setup location, the slide support arm is pushed out of the pivot support arm so that the image pickup camera is automatically set up at the predetermined location. Accordingly, the location of the image pickup camera need not be adjusted after the image pickup camera has stood up. Thus, since the troublesome setup of the image pickup camera is eliminated, the usability of the visual presenter can be improved. Furthermore, when the pivot support arm is caused to lie so as to assume the storage location, the slide support arm is automatically brought into the pivot support arm. Consequently, the storing work can be simplified.

In a preferred embodiment, the sliding mechanism includes a belt transmission part operable in synchronization with the pivoting of the slide support arm, a gear rotated by the belt transmission part, a rack brought into mesh engagement with the gear, and a slider coupled to the slide support arm. Thus, since the sliding mechanism is comprised of mechanical components, the sliding mechanism can easily be brought into the narrow pivot support arm and a reliable sliding operation can be ensured.

In another preferred embodiment, the visual presenter further comprises a larger-diameter gear and a smaller-diameter gear both provided in the pivot support arm, wherein the belt transmission part comprises a toothed belt extending between the larger-diameter and small-diameter gears. In this construction, the belt transmission part comprises a toothed belt extending between the larger-diameter and smaller-diameter gears. Consequently, reliability in the rotation transmission can be improved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG.1, a visual presenter of the embodiment is shown. The visual presenter1comprises a base2, an image pickup camera3, a camera support arm4, an illumination lamp5and a lamp support arm6. The base2has a rectangular shape and includes an upper surface formed with a stage11on which a document to be presented is placed. A pivot support12is mounted on a rear left corner of the base2to cause a camera support arm4to pivot to a storage location where the camera support arm4lies and a setup location where the camera support arm4stands up. The base2further includes an operation panel13located diagonally opposite to the pivot support12and projecting frontward. On an upper surface of the operation panel13are provided a zooming dial14incorporated with an auto-focus button various operation buttons and a liquid crystal panel16.

Referring now toFIG. 3, the pivot support12includes a support arm retaining bracket18fixed to the base2, a central pivot part20fitted into the bracket and a pivot end24protruding from the bracket. A disc spring26and a washer27are fitted with the pivot end24. A stuffing nut28is brought into threading engagement with a male screw25provided on an outer circumference of the pivot end24so that the central pivot part20is fastened to the bracket18. The central pivot part20has the other end in which a support arm pivot23incorporated with a one-way clutch22is fitted. Furthermore, a central pivot19is fitted in the center of the pivot part20. The central pivot19has an end held on the bracket18by a pivot holder17. In the aforesaid pivot support12, the nut28is tightened such that the disc spring26is flexed, whereupon a washer27and a flange21of the central pivot part20are fastened to the bracket18. As a result, a predetermined brake force acts between the washer27and the bracket18and between the flange21of the central pivot part20and the bracket18. In this state, the central pivot part20is pivotable relative to the bracket18.

The camera support arm4comprises a pivot support arm31and a slide support arm33as shown inFIG. 4. The pivot support arm31comprises support arm covers32aand32band is fastened to the support arm pivot23. The slide support arm33comprises support arm covers34aand34band is slidably inserted through a distal opening31ainto the pivot support arm31. Furthermore, a sliding mechanism35sliding the slide support arm33is incorporated in the pivot support arm31. The sliding mechanism35comprises a belt transmission36, a gear rack part46and a slider49.

The belt transmission36comprises a larger-diameter gear37, smaller-diameter gear38and a toothed belt39extending between these gears37and38as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The larger-diameter gear37is rotatably fitted into a gear shaft support arm40which is inserted through the central pivot19further extending through the pivot support arm31. The gear shaft support arm40has a flange41formed integrally thereon. The smaller-diameter38is rotatably mounted on a gear shaft42mounted on the support arm cover32a. Through the gear shaft support arm40are inserted a washer43, a disc washer44and a retainer plate45. The retainer plate45is fastened to the flange41of gear shaft support arm40such that the disc washer44is flexed, whereby a predetermined brake force is exerted on the larger-diameter gear37. As a result, the larger-diameter gear37and the gear shaft support arm40are adapted to be rotated relative to each other. The gear rack part46includes a gear47coaxially mounted on the smaller-diameter gear38which is rotatably inserted into the gear shaft42. The gear rack part46further includes a rack48mounted on the slider49which will be described later.

A rail holder50is fixed to the support arm cover32a. A guide rail51which guides the slider49is mounted on the rail holder50. The slider49is guided by the guide rail51thereby to be slid along the pivot support arm31. The slider49is coupled via a slider holder53to a coupling part52formed on a proximal end of the support arm cover34aof the slide support arm33. The rack48of the gear rack part46is mounted on the coupling part52so as to be in mesh engagement with the gear47. A right-angle bent part54is formed integrally on a distal end of the slide support arm33. The right-angle bent part54has a distal end provided with a horizontal pivot part (not shown) on which a camera support55to which the image pickup camera3is mounted is further mounted. When the image pickup camera3assumes a setup location where it stands up, the camera support55faces an upper part of the stage11provided on the upper surface of the base2, automatically setting up the image pickup camera3at a predetermined location.

Referring now toFIG. 6, the lamp support arm6is pivotally mounted on a shaft56further mounted on a side of the pivot support arm31. The lamp support arm6comprises support arm covers57aand57b. The shaft56is mounted on a shaft support plate58fixed to the support arm cover57a. Through the shaft56are inserted a spacer59, a shaft cover60, a spacer61and a wave washer62sequentially in this order. The shaft56has an end fastened to a retainer plate63fixed to an inner wall of the support arm cover32bof the pivot support arm31. As a result, the wave washer62is pressed such that a predetermined brake force is effective against pivot of the pivot support arm31and the lamp support arm6relative to each other. Thus, the lamp support arm6can be retained at any angle. This is referred to as “free stop function.”

Referring toFIG. 7, the lamp support arm6is abutted against a protrusion64provided on the side of the support arm cover32bthereby to be pushed, so that the lamp support arm6is caused to pivot in synchronization with the pivot support arm31, standing up. The lamp support arm6has a distal end formed integrally with a right-angle bent part65. An illumination lamp chamber66is defined in the right-angle bent part65. When the pivot support arm31assumes the setup location where the camera support arm4stands up, the lamp chamber66is adapted to face an upper part of the stage11provided on the upper surface of the base2, assuming a location slightly lower than the rear side of the image pickup camera3set up or the side toward which the camera support arm4is caused to pivot thereby to stand up. Accordingly, the lamp chamber66has an illuminating window67which is inclined so that a front67ais located higher than a rear67bin order that a central part of the stage11may be illuminated (seeFIG. 8).

A locking mechanism68for locking the pivot support arm31is provided in the base2so as be adjacent to the central pivot part20of the pivot support arm31as shown inFIG. 9. The locking mechanism68retains the pivot support arm31at a storage location when the arm has been caused to pivot thereby to lie. The locking mechanism68comprises an operation dial69, an actuating member70, an engaging member71and a lock pin72. The operation dial69is mounted on a vertical shaft74provided on the bracket73so as to be caused to pivot a predetermined angle. The operation dial69appears on the upper surface of the base2. The operation dial69has an engagement notch75formed in the underside thereof. The actuating member70includes an engaging piece76engaging the notch75so that the actuating member70is reciprocated by the pivoting of the operation dial69. The actuating member70is guided by a guide (not shown) provided on the bracket73. The actuating member70is formed with an engagement notch77which is engaged with a synchronizing piece78fixed to the lock pin72.

The lock pin72is supported between shaft support pieces79aand79bprovided on the bracket79so as to be moved in parallel with the direction in which the actuating member70is moved. When the operation dial69is caused to pivot, the distal end of the lock pin72protruding from the side of base2is inserted into a lock hole80of the pivot support arm31in synchronization with the moving actuating member70, thereby bring locked in position. The distal end of the lock pin72is adapted to correspond to the lock hole80when the pivot support arm31assumes the storage location.

The above-described pivot support12, the pivot holder17, the central pivot19, the central pivot part20, the one-way clutch22, the support arm pivot23are each hollow. Each of the retainer plates45and63have respective central through holes so that wiring harness can be inserted through the holes for the purpose of ensuring electrical connection.

A control unit (not shown) is provided in the base to execute a predetermined control manner based on operation of various operation buttons15and the like on the operation panel13. Electrical connection can be ensured by wiring harness between the control unit and a control circuit unit (not shown) of the image pickup camera3. The wiring harness is inserted through the hollow pivot support12, central pivot19, one-way clutch22and the like sequentially and arranged in the pivot support arm31, the slide support arm35and the lamp support arm6. Furthermore, various connecting sockets and the like are provided on the rear and sides of the base2for connection to a power supply and external equipment.

The operation of the visual presenter1will now be described. When the visual presenter1is in the storage state, both camera and lamp support arms4and6lie over the left side of the base2, as shown inFIG. 2. The right-angle bent part54and camera support55of the camera support arm4lie over the front of the base2. The image pickup camera3mounted on the camera support55is located in a space defined by the front of the base2and a side of the operation panel13. The right-angle bent part65in which the lamp chamber66is located over a front part of the upper surface of the base2.

The visual presenter1will be transferred from the above-described storage state to the setup state as follows. Firstly, when locked at the storage location by the locking mechanism68, the camera support arm4is unlocked. In this case, the operation dial69is caused to pivot so that the actuating member70is moved. The distal end of the lock pin72is withdrawn from the lock hole80into the base2by a synchronizing member (not shown) operable in synchronization with the actuating member70. Subsequently, the pivot support arm31of the camera support arm4is caused to pivot thereby to stand up. The pivot support arm31is formed with the protrusion64on the side of the support arm cover32b. The lamp support arm6abuts against and pushes the protrusion64, thereby being caused to pivot.

The support arm pivot23of the pivot support arm31is fitted in the one-way clutch22further fitted in the central pivot part20of the pivot support12. The one-way clutch22is set so as to be free against rotation which stands up the pivot support arm31. Accordingly, the camera support arm4can be caused to stand up by a relatively smaller force. On the other hand, the one-way clutch22fulfills the clutching function against rotation which causes the pivot support arm31to lie. Accordingly, when the pivot support arm31is caused to lie, the central pivot part20is rotated relative to the bracket18against the brake force by the clutching function of the one-way clutch22. The camera support arm4can be retained at any angle by the free stop function due to frictional resistance at this time.

Upon the pivoting of the pivot support arm21, the sliding mechanism35is actuated to slide the slide support arm33. The larger-diameter gear37of the belt transmission36of the sliding mechanism35is rotatably fitted in the gear shaft support40which is inserted through the central pivot19further extending through the pivot support arm31. When the pivot support arm21is caused to pivot in the standing direction, the larger-diameter gear37and the gear shaft support40are caused to pivot in the direction opposed to the pivoting direction of the pivot support arm21. The rotation is transmitted by the toothed belt39to the smaller-diameter gear38, which is rotated in the same direction as the larger-diameter gear37. The rack48of the gear rack46is moved by rotation of the gear47. Since the rack48is mounted on the slider holder53of the slide support arm33to which the slider49is coupled, the slide support arm33is pushed out of the distal opening31aof the pivot support arm21, whereupon the image pickup camera3is automatically set up at a predetermined location (seeFIG. 4).

When the pivot support arm21is to be caused to lie, the larger-diameter gear37and the gear shaft support40are caused to pivot in the direction opposed to the pivoting direction of the pivot support arm21, whereby the slide support arm33is automatically drawn into the pivot support arm21(seeFIG. 5). When the visual presenter is subjected to an unexpected external force that slides the slide support arm33, the larger-diameter gear37and the gear shaft support40are rotated relative to each other so that the toothed belt39is prevented from being overloaded, whereby the toothed belt39is prevented from breakage.

Furthermore, when the camera support arm4stands up, the lamp support arm6stands up synchronously. When the pivot support arm21assumes the setup location, the lamp chamber66is located in the rear of the image pickup camera3so as to be slightly lower than the image pickup camera3. Since the illuminating window67of the lamp chamber66is inclined so that the front67athereof is located higher than the rear67bthereof, the central part of the stage11can be illuminated as shown inFIG. 8. Additionally, when a presentation is conducted using the visual presenter1, the operation panel13faces a presenter's side, the illuminating window67is out of sight of audience. Consequently, the audience can be prevented from dazzle.

The lamp support arm6operable in synchronization with the pivot support arm21comprises the shaft56which is inserted through the spacer59, the shaft cover60, the spacer61and the wave washer62. Since the wave washer62is pressed, the predetermined brake force is applied to the lamp support arm6when the pivot support arm31is caused to pivot relative to the lamp support arm6. Thus the lamp support arm6has the free stop function. Consequently, the lamp support arm6can be located at any location in the rear of the camera support arm4.

When the pivot support arm assumes the storage location where the camera and lamp support arms4and6lie, the operation dial69is turned so that the lock pin72is engaged into the lock hole80formed in the pivot support arm31to be locked. As a result, the image pickup cameras can be prevented from inadvertent pivoting during transportation of the visual presenters.

As obvious from the foregoing description, the sliding mechanism35is incorporated in the pivot support arm31so as to be operated in synchronization with pivot of the pivot support arm31. When the pivot support arm31is caused to pivot by the sliding mechanism35so as to be moved from the storage location to the setup location, the slide support arm33is pushed out of the pivot support arm31so that the image pickup camera3is automatically set up at the predetermined location. Accordingly, the location of the image pickup camera3need not be adjusted after the camera support arm4has stood up. Thus, since the troublesome setup of the image pickup camera3is eliminated, the usability of the visual presenter1can be improved. Furthermore, when the pivot support arm31is caused to lie so as to assume the storage location, the slide support arm33is automatically brought into the pivot support arm31. Consequently, the storing work can be simplified.

Furthermore, the sliding mechanism35is comprised of mechanical components including the belt transmission part36operable in synchronization with the pivoting of the slide support arm33, the gear47rotated by the belt transmission part36, the rack48brought into mesh engagement with the gear47, and a slider49coupled to the slide support arm33. Consequently, the sliding mechanism35can easily be brought into the narrow pivot support arm31and a reliable sliding operation can be ensured. Additionally, the belt transmission part36includes the larger-diameter gear37and the smaller-diameter gear38both provided in the pivot support arm31, and the toothed belt39extending between the larger-diameter37and small-diameter gears38. Consequently, reliability in the rotation transmission can be improved.

The foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not construed in a limiting sense. Various changes and modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such changes and modifications are seen to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.