Patent Publication Number: US-2023161233-A1

Title: Tension adjustment mechanism and surveillance camera

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tension adjustment mechanism and a surveillance camera, and more particularly, to a tension adjustment mechanism of conveniently adjusting the tension of the belt via locking torque and a related surveillance camera. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The surveillance camera uses the special mechanism to adjust the position and angle changes of the lens, such as a tilting angle, a rotating angle and a shifting position. In an example of the rotation adjustment mechanism, the conventional surveillance camera disposes the lens on the turntable, and then sets the belt around the turntable and the motor, and uses the motor to pull the belt for rotating the turntable and adjusting the rotation direction of the lens. However, the tension of the belt may be declined due to factors such as changes in ambient temperature, poor assembly or long-term usage; in the condition, the motor cannot accurately adjust the rotation angle of the lens by pulling the belt and the turntable. The conventional surveillance camera may readjust the installation position or angle of the belt to change the tension, but this operation solution is cumbersome. Thus, how to design a belt tension adjustment mechanism with convenient and quick functions is an important issue in the related mechanical design industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tension adjustment mechanism of conveniently adjusting the tension of the belt via locking torque and a related surveillance camera for solving above drawbacks. 
     According to the claimed invention, a tension adjustment mechanism includes a base, a positioning component, a first actuating component and a first fixing component. The base has a first slot and first hole. The positioning component is slidably disposed on the base. The first actuating component has a first fixed end and a first free end opposite to each other. The first fixed end is fixedly disposed on the positioning component. The first free end has an inclined guiding structure and is movably inserted into the first slot. The first fixing component abuts against the inclined guiding structure and is movably locked with the first hole. 
     According to the claimed invention, a surveillance camera includes an image receiver and a tension adjustment mechanism. The image receiver is adapted to receive an image in one capturing direction. The tension adjustment mechanism is used to change the capturing direction of the image receiver. The tension adjustment mechanism includes a base, a positioning component, a first actuating component and a first fixing component. The base has a first slot and first hole. The positioning component is slidably disposed on the base. The first actuating component has a first fixed end and a first free end opposite to each other. The first fixed end is fixedly disposed on the positioning component. The first free end has an inclined guiding structure and is movably inserted into the first slot. The first fixing component abuts against the inclined guiding structure and is movably locked with the first hole. 
     The tension adjustment mechanism of the present invention can lock the positioning component on the motor slidably installed on the base. The free end of the positioning component can be slightly moved into or out of the slot on the base via pressure of the fixing component. The movement of the free end can result in the resilient deformation of the positioning component, and the motor can be moved relative to the base accordingly. The tension of the belt can be decreased when the motor is moved close to the image receiver on the base, and can further be increased when the motor is distant from the image receiver on the base. Therefore, an inserting depth of the fixing component inside the locking hole from top to down can be easily and rapidly adjusted to control the tension of the belt, so that the tension adjustment mechanism and the surveillance camera of the present invention have advantages of simple structure, low cost, and accurate and rapid operation. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram of a part of a surveillance camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded diagram of a tension adjustment mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram of a first actuating component and a second actuating component according another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram of a first actuating component and a second actuating component according another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  1    is a diagram of a part of a surveillance camera  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The surveillance camera  10  can include an image receiver  12  and a tension adjustment mechanism  14 . The surveillance camera  10  can utilize a multi-directional control mechanism (which is not marked in the figure) to pan, tilt and rotate the image receiver  12 , so that the image receiver  12  can capture or receive a surveillance image in a specific capturing direction. For example, the surveillance camera  10  may utilize a first structural component  16  to move a second structural component  18  so as to change the capturing direction of the image receiver  12 . The first structural component  16  can be a motor and the second structural component  18  can be a belt. The tension adjustment mechanism  14  can adjust a tension of the second structural component  18  (such as the belt), and therefore the capturing direction of the image receiver  12  can be accurately controlled via the first structural component  16 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    is an exploded diagram of the tension adjustment mechanism  14  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The tension adjustment mechanism  14  can include a base  20 , a positioning component  22 , a first actuating component  24 , a second actuating component  26 , a first fixing component  28  and a second fixing component  29 . The image receiver  12  can be disposed on the base  20 . The base  20  can have a first slot  30 , a second slot  32 , a first hole  34  and a second hole  36 . Position of the slots and the holes can correspond to design of the actuating components and the fixing components. The positioning component  22  can have a plurality of chutes  38 ; the tension adjustment mechanism  14  can utilize a screw or a bolt (which is not marked in the figure) to pierce through the chute  38  and lock with a post  40  of the base  20 . A structural length of the chute  38  can be greater than a radial dimension of the screw or the bolt, and the positioning component  22  can be disposed on the base  20  in a slidable manner. 
     The first actuating component  24  can have a first fixed end  42  and a first free end  44  opposite to each other. The first fixed end  42  can be fixedly disposed on a locking hole  46  of the positioning component  22  via the screw or the bolt (which is not marked in the figure). The first free end  44  can have an inclined guiding structure movably inserting into the first slot  30 . The inclined guiding structure can have an upper section S 1  and a lower section S 2 , and a structural width of the upper section S 1  can be smaller than a structural width of the lower section S 2 . The first fixing component  28  can be the screw, the bolt or any elements with similar functions. The first fixing component  28  can abut against the inclined guiding structure of the first free end  44 , and can be locked with the first hole  34  in a relatively movable manner. The first fixing component  28  can be locked into the first hole  34  vertically; when the first fixing component  28  is slid from the upper section S 1  to the lower section S 2  of the inclined guiding structure, the first free end  44  can be pushed and partly separated from the first slot  30 . 
     The positioning component  22  can be assembled with the first structural component  16  via a locking hole  48  and a locking component  50 . As mentioned above, the inclined guiding structure of the first free end  44  can be pressed due to a movement of the first fixing component  28  relative to the first hole  34 , so that the first free end  44  of the first actuating component  24  can be partly moved into or out of the first slot  30  for resilient deformation. The resiliently deformed first actuating component  24  can move the positioning component  22  relative to the base  20 , so as to increase or decrease an interval between the first structural component  16  and the image receiver  12 , and further to pull or release the second structural component  18  assembled with the first structural component  16  for tension change. 
     In addition, the first actuating component  24  can further include a first actuation section  52 , a second actuation section  54 , a bridging section  56  and a strengthening section  58 . The first actuation section  52  can be connected to the first free end  44 . The second actuation section  54  can be connected to the first fixed end  42 . The bridging section  56  can be bent and connected between the first actuation section  52  and the second actuation section  54 . A vertically structural direction of the first actuation section  52  can be preferably intersected with a sliding direction D of the positioning component  22  relative to the base  20 ; for example, the foresaid vertically structural direction may be perpendicular to the sliding direction D, which depends on an actual demand. A vertically structural direction of the second actuation section  54  can be preferably parallel to the sliding direction D. Bending design between the first actuation section  52 , the second actuation section  54  and the bridging section  56  can improve a resilient recovering property of the first actuating component  24 . The strengthening section  58  can be disposed on an upper lateral side of the bridging section  56 , and used to increase a structural strength of the bridging section  56  for avoiding unexpected deformation. 
     Structural features of the second actuating component  26  can be the same as or similar to structural features of the first actuating component  24 , which means the second actuating component  26  can have a second fixed end  60  and a second free end  62  opposite to each other. The second fixed end  60  can be fixedly disposed on the positioning component  22 . The second free end  62  can be movably inserted into the second slot  32  of the base  20 . The inclined guiding structure of the second free end  62  can be inserted into the second slot  32 , and the second fixing component  29  can abut against the inclined guiding structure and be locked with the second hole  36  in a relatively movable manner. The inclined guiding structure of the second free end  62  can be pressed due to a movement of the second fixing component  29  relative to the second hole  36 , and the second free end  62  of the second actuating component  26  can be partly moved into or out of the second slot  32  for resilient deformation. The resiliently deformed second actuating component  26  can move the positioning component  22  relative to the base  20 , so as to increase or decreased the interval between the first structural component  16  and the image receiver  12 , and further to adjust the tension change of the second structural component  18 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2   , the first actuating component  24  can be integrated with the second actuating component  26  monolithically, which may be redesigned in accordance with the actual demand. Please refer to  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  3    is a diagram of a first actuating component  24 A and a second actuating component  26 A according another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, elements having the numerals as ones of the foresaid embodiment have the same structures and functions, and a detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. The first actuating component  24 A and the second actuating component  26 A may be two separated elements respectively disposed on a left side and a right side of the positioning component  22 . In the embodiment, the first actuating component  24 A can be slid relative to the first slot  30 , and the second actuating component  26 A can be slid relative to the second slot  32 ; however, the embodiment may be redesigned so that the first actuating component  24 A can be slid relative to the first slot  30 , but the second slot  32  can be removed to fixedly dispose the second actuating component  26 A on the base  20 . Besides, the present invention may optionally remove the second hole  36  and the second fixing component  29 , so that the second actuating component  26 A can be still slid relative to the second slot  32  but the first fixing component  28  can be only used for changing the tension of the second structural component  18 . Moreover, the present invention may dispose one of the first actuating component  24 A and the second actuating component  26 A on the positioning component  22 , and the tension adjustment mechanism  14  can be still worked via one actuating component and one fixing component. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   .  FIG.  4    is a diagram of a first actuating component  24 B and a second actuating component  26 B according another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, elements having the numerals as ones of the foresaid embodiment have the same structures and functions, and the detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. Features of the first actuating component  24 B can be similar to features of the second actuating component  26 B. In an example of the first actuating component  24 B, the first actuation section  64  of the first actuating component  24 B can be disposed between the first fixed end  42  and the first free end  44 . The first actuating component  24 B does not have a bending section mentioned in the foresaid embodiment, and therefore has a minimized size so that the tension adjustment mechanism  14  can provide sufficient inner space. The vertically structural direction of the first actuation section  64  can be substantially parallel to the sliding direction D, as shown in  FIG.  2   . The first actuation section  64  can be deformed when the first free end  44  is pressed, and the positioning component  22  can be guided and moved to adjust the tension change of the second structural component  18 . 
     In conclusion, the tension adjustment mechanism of the present invention can lock the positioning component on the motor slidably installed on the base. The free end of the positioning component can be slightly moved into or out of the slot on the base via pressure of the fixing component. The movement of the free end can result in the resilient deformation of the positioning component, and the motor can be moved relative to the base accordingly. The tension of the belt can be decreased when the motor is moved close to the image receiver on the base, and can further be increased when the motor is distant from the image receiver on the base. Therefore, an inserting depth of the fixing component inside the locking hole from top to down can be easily and rapidly adjusted to control the tension of the belt, so that the tension adjustment mechanism and the surveillance camera of the present invention have advantages of simple structure, low cost, and accurate and rapid operation. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.