JP2004258639A - Optical element withdrawing mechanism for lens barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical element withdrawing mechanism for a lens barrel capable of accurately driving an optical element to be withdrawn to a position different from a photographic optical axis in a housed state. <P>SOLUTION: The optical element withdrawing mechanism for the barrel has a non-rotating member; a straight advance/retreat member moving in an optical axis direction relatively to the non-rotating member and guided to advance straight in the optical axis direction; an optical element holding member supporting a withdrawn optical element constituting a part of a photographic optical system and supported by the straight advance/retreat member so as to move to an axial position where the withdrawn optical element is located on the optical axis and an off-axis position where it is out of the optical axis; withdrawing control parts formed on both the optical element holding member and the non-rotating member and moving the optical element holding member from the axial position to the off-axis position by abutting each other when relative space between the straight advance/retreat member and the non-rotating member is equal to or under the specified one; and slide engaging parts provided on the non-rotating member and the straight advance/retreat member and engaged with each other slidably in the optical axis direction when at least the optical element holding member moves from the axial position to the off-axis position or it is held at the off-axis position so as to regulate the advance/retreat direction of the straight advance/retreat member to the non-rotating member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical element retracting mechanism of a lens barrel for retracting a part of a plurality of optical elements constituting an imaging optical system to a position different from an imaging optical axis position in a housed state.

  There is no end to the demand for downsizing of the camera, and there is a demand for a further shortening of the storage length of a storage type lens barrel that shortens the lens barrel during non-photographing. In order to achieve this, the present applicant retracts some optical elements of the photographing optical system to a position different from the photographing optical axis during storage, and retracts the retracted optical elements together with other optical elements backward in the optical axis direction. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-44306: not disclosed).

Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-44306

  A mechanism for driving the retractable optical element that performs such a complicated operation as described above requires particularly high operation accuracy. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical element retracting mechanism of a lens barrel that can drive an optical element retracted to a position different from an imaging optical axis in a stored state with high accuracy.

  The present invention provides a non-rotating member; a rectilinear moving member which is relatively movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the non-rotating member and is guided in a straight line in the optical axis direction; and a retractable optical element which constitutes a part of a photographing optical system. An optical element holding member supported by a rectilinear moving member so as to be movable to an on-axis position for positioning the retracting optical element on the optical axis and an off-axis position for removing the retracting optical element from the optical axis; the optical element holding member and a non-rotating member A retraction control unit formed on one of the other and the other, and abutting against each other to move the optical element holding member from the on-axis position to the off-axis position when a relative distance between the rectilinear moving member and the non-rotating member is equal to or less than a predetermined amount; Provided on the non-rotating member and the rectilinear moving member, when at least the optical element holding member moves from the on-axis position to the off-axis position or is held at the off-axis position, slidably engages with each other in the optical axis direction. Of the rectilinear member with respect to the non-rotating member It is characterized by having; sliding engagement portion for restricting the direction.

  The sliding engagement portion is preferably a guide key and a key groove provided on one and the other of the non-rotating member and the linearly moving member.

  The non-rotating member is located rearward of the rectilinear moving member in the optical axis direction. It is good to constitute so that it may contact the side evacuation control part.

  The non-rotating member can be a fixed member that does not move in the optical axis direction.

  The timing for engaging the sliding engagement portion can be set arbitrarily. For example, the engagement may be performed after the movement of the optical element holding member from the on-axis position to the off-axis position by the retraction control unit is completed. .

  The present invention is particularly suitable for a lens barrel in which an evacuation control unit is constituted by a pressing projection protruding in the optical axis direction from the non-rotating member toward the rectilinear moving member. For example, it is effective to form a sliding engagement portion on the pressing projection. It is preferable that the sliding engagement portion on the pressing protrusion is a guide key. The length of the guide key can be set arbitrarily. For example, the guide key may be formed only in a part of the outer surface of the pressing protrusion in the optical axis direction. Further, it is preferable that a projection entry hole for allowing the pressing projection to enter is formed on the side of the rectilinear advancing / retreating member, and that a key groove is formed on the inner wall surface of the projection entry hole as a sliding engagement portion.

  Preferably, the rectilinear member is an annular body, and the optical element holding member is supported inside the circular rectilinear member so as to be movable along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. For example, it is preferable that the optical element holding member is rotatably supported by a rotation center axis parallel to the optical axis provided inside the linearly moving member. When the optical element holding member is such a swinging member, it is desirable that the projection entry hole also serves as a storage space for the rotation center axis of the optical element holding member.

  The retraction control unit provided on the non-rotating member sets a cam surface inclined with respect to the optical axis as a contact surface with the optical element holding member regardless of whether the form is the above-described pressing projection. Is preferred.

  It is preferable that the optical element retracting mechanism of the present invention further includes an on-axis position holding means for holding the optical element holding member at an on-axis position in a photographing state. The on-axis position holding means may include an urging spring for urging the optical element holding member to the on-axis position, and a stopper for determining a moving end of the optical element holding member in the urging direction by the urging spring. preferable.

  The present invention is particularly effective when the rectilinear advancing and retracting ring is applied to a lens barrel that is guided linearly via at least one rectilinear guiding relay member that can linearly move in the optical axis direction independently of the rectilinear moving member. It is.

  The lens barrel of the present invention further has a rear optical element positioned between the retractable optical element and the non-rotating member in the shooting state, and in the retracted state, the retractable optical element moves the rear optical element and the optical axis direction position. Preferably, they overlap.

  The non-rotating member can be, for example, an image sensor holder that holds the image sensor. Further, the optical element to be retracted can be a lens group.

  According to the above-described optical element retracting mechanism of the lens barrel of the present invention, at least when the holding member of the retracting optical element is located at the off-axis position (in the retracted state), the receding direction of the rectilinear moving member with respect to the non-rotating member. Since the guide key and the key groove for restricting the position are provided, the retractable optical element can be driven with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments. In some drawings, the thickness of the external line is different or the line type is different for each member in order to facilitate identification of the member. In addition, in the cross-sectional views, there are actually different positions in the circumferential direction, but there are some portions that are shown on the same cross-section in the drawing.

[Overall description of lens barrel]
First, the overall structure of the zoom lens barrel 71 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the zoom lens barrel 71 is mounted on the digital camera 70, and the photographing optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group LG1, a shutter S and an aperture A, and a second lens. The optical system includes a group (retreat optical element) LG2, a third lens group (rear optical element) LG3, a low-pass filter (rear optical element) LG4, and a solid-state imaging device (rear optical element, hereinafter referred to as CCD) 60. The optical axis of the photographing optical system is Z1. The photographing optical axis Z1 is parallel to the rotation center axis (hereinafter, referred to as the barrel center axis Z0) of each of the annular members constituting the appearance of the zoom lens barrel 71, and is parallel to the barrel center axis Z0. Eccentric downward. Zooming is performed by moving the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 back and forth along a predetermined trajectory in the direction of the photographing optical axis Z1, and focusing is performed by moving the third lens group LG3 in the same direction. In the following description, the term “optical axis direction” means a direction parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 unless otherwise specified.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fixed ring 22 is fixed in the camera body 72, and the CCD holder (non-rotating member, fixed member, image sensor holder) 21 is fixed to the rear part of the fixed ring 22. The CCD 60 is supported on the CCD holder 21 via a CCD base plate 62, and a low-pass filter LG 4 is supported on the front of the CCD 60 via a filter holder 21 b and a packing 61. The filter holder 21b is integrally formed as a part of the CCD holder 21. An LCD 20 for displaying images and photographing information is provided at the rear of the CCD holder 21.

  An AF lens frame (third group lens frame) 51 that holds the third lens group LG3 is supported in the fixed ring 22 so as to be able to move straight in the optical axis direction. That is, the front end and the rear end of a pair of AF guide shafts 52 and 53 parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 are fixed to the fixed ring 22 and the CCD holder 21, respectively. Guide holes 51a and 51b formed in the AF lens frame 51 are slidably fitted respectively. In the present embodiment, the clearance between the AF guide shaft 53 and the guide hole 51b is larger than the clearance between the AF guide shaft 52 and the guide hole 51a. That is, the AF guide shaft 52 is a main (exactly accurate) guide shaft, and the AF guide shaft 53 is a sub (non-rotating) guide shaft. The AF nut 54 is screwed into a feed screw formed on the drive shaft of the AF motor 160. As shown in FIG. 1, the AF nut 54 has a rotation restricting protrusion 54a, the AF lens frame 51 has a guide groove 51m in the optical axis direction, and the rotation restricting protrusion 54a can slide with respect to the guide groove 51m. Is stuck in. The AF lens frame 51 further has a stopper projection 51n located behind the AF nut 54. The AF lens frame 51 is urged forward by an AF frame urging spring 55, and the forward movement end of the AF lens frame 51 is determined by the stopper projection 51 n abutting against the AF nut 54. When the AF nut 54 moves rearward in the optical axis direction, the AF lens frame 51 is pressed by the AF nut 54 and moves rearward. With the above structure, when the drive shaft of the AF motor 160 is rotated in the normal or reverse direction, the AF lens frame 51 is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction. It is also possible to directly press the AF lens frame 51 (without using the AF nut 54) and move the AF lens frame 51 backward against the AF frame urging spring 55.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a zoom motor 150 and a reduction gear box 74 are supported on the upper part of the fixed ring 22. The reduction gear box 74 has a reduction gear train therein and transmits the driving force of the zoom motor 150 to the zoom gear 28. The zoom gear 28 is pivotally attached to the fixed ring 22 by a zoom gear shaft 29 parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The zoom motor 150 and the AF motor 160 are controlled by a camera control circuit 140 (FIG. 19) via a lens drive control FPC (flexible printed circuit) board 75 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed ring 22.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the fixed ring 22, a female helicoid 22a, three rectilinear guide grooves 22b parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1, three oblique grooves 22c parallel to the female helicoid 22a, and each oblique groove 22c are formed. A circumferential sliding groove 22d communicating with the front end is formed in the circumferential direction. The rotary sliding groove 22d is formed near the front end of the fixed ring 22, and the female helicoid 22a is not formed in the front annular region 22z immediately after the rotary sliding groove 22d (see FIG. 8).

  The helicoid ring 18 has a male helicoid 18a screwed into the female helicoid 22a and a rotary sliding protrusion 18b engaged with the oblique groove 22c and the rotary sliding groove 22d on the outer peripheral surface (FIGS. 4 and 5). 9). A spur gear portion 18c having gear teeth parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 is formed on the male helicoid 18a, and the spur gear portion 18c is screwed with the zoom gear 28. Accordingly, when a rotational force is applied from the zoom gear 28 to the spur gear portion 18c, the helicoid ring 18 advances and retreats in the optical axis direction while rotating when the female helicoid 22a and the male helicoid 18a are in a screwing relationship with each other. When the male helicoid 18a moves, the male helicoid 18a is disengaged from the female helicoid 22a, and only the circumferential rotation about the lens barrel center axis Z0 is performed by the engagement relationship between the rotary sliding groove 22d and the rotary sliding protrusion 18b.

  The skew groove 22c is a relief groove formed to avoid interference between the rotary sliding protrusion 18b and the fixed ring 22 when the female helicoid 22a and the male helicoid 18a are screwed, and the skew groove 22c is a female helicoid 22a. Is deeper than the bottom. In the female helicoid 22a, the circumferential interval between a pair of helicoid mountains sandwiching each of the oblique grooves 22c is wider than the circumferential interval between the other helicoid mountains, and the male helicoid 18a is mounted on the helicoid mountain having the wide circumferential interval. For engagement, the three helicoid peaks 18a-W located behind the rotary sliding protrusion 18b are circumferentially wider than the other helicoid peaks.

  The fixed ring 22 is further formed with a stopper insertion / removal hole penetrating the outer peripheral surface and the rotary sliding groove 22d, and restricts the rotation of the helicoid ring 18 beyond the photographing region with respect to the stopper insertion / removal hole 22e. Disassembly stopper 26 is detachable.

  A rotation transmitting projection 15a (FIG. 11) projecting rearward from the rear end of the third outer cylinder 15 fits into a rotation transmitting recess 18d (FIGS. 4 and 10) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the helicoid ring 18. Have been. The rotation transmitting recesses 18d and the rotation transmitting projections 15a are provided at three positions at different positions in the circumferential direction, and the rotation transmitting projections 15a and the rotation transmitting recesses 18d corresponding to the circumferential positions correspond to the center axis of the lens barrel. Relative sliding in the direction along Z0 is connected so as to be possible, and relative rotation is not possible in the circumferential direction around the lens barrel center axis Z0. That is, the third outer cylinder 15 and the helicoid ring 18 rotate integrally. Further, the helicoid ring 18 is formed with a fitting recess 18e by cutting out a part of the rotation sliding protrusion 18b on the inner diameter side, and the fitting protrusion 15b fitted into the fitting recess 18e is rotated. When the sliding protrusion 18b engages with the rotating sliding groove 22d, it simultaneously engages with the rotating sliding groove 22d (see the upper half section of the lens barrel in FIG. 6).

  Between the third outer cylinder 15 and the helicoid ring 18, there are provided three separation-direction biasing springs 25 for biasing each other in the separation direction in the optical axis direction. The separation-direction urging spring 25 is formed of a compression coil spring, and its rear end is housed in a spring insertion recess 18 f that opens to the front end of the helicoid ring 18, and its front end contacts the spring-attached recess 15 c of the third outer cylinder 15. In contact. Pressing the fitting projection 15b toward the front wall surface of the rotary sliding groove 22d and pressing the rotary sliding protrusion 18b toward the rear wall surface of the rotary sliding groove 22d by the separating direction urging spring 25. Thus, the backlash of the third outer cylinder 15 and the helicoid ring 18 with respect to the fixed ring 22 in the optical axis direction is eliminated.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the third outer cylinder 15, a claw-shaped relative rotation guide projection 15d protruding in the inner diameter direction, a circumferential groove 15e centered on the lens barrel center axis Z0, and a photographing optical axis Z1 are provided. Three parallel roller fitting grooves 15f are formed (FIGS. 4 and 11). A plurality of relative rotation guide protrusions 15d are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction. The roller fitting groove 15f is formed at a circumferential position corresponding to the rotation transmitting protrusion 15a, and a rear end portion thereof is opened rearward through the rotation transmitting protrusion 15a. A circumferential groove 18g centering on the lens barrel center axis Z0 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the helicoid ring 18 (FIGS. 4 and 10). A straight guide ring (straight guide relay member) 14 is supported inside the combined body of the third outer cylinder 15 and the helicoid ring 18. Three rectilinear guide protrusions 14a protruding in the radial direction are sequentially provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rectilinear guide ring 14 from the rear in the optical axis direction, and a plurality of claw-shaped relative rotation guides provided at different positions in the circumferential direction. Protrusions 14b and 14c and a circumferential groove 14d centered on the lens barrel center axis Z0 are formed (FIGS. 4 and 12). The linear guide ring 14 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction with respect to the fixed ring 22 by engaging the linear guide protrusion 14a with the linear guide groove 22b. Further, the third outer cylinder 15 engages the circumferential groove 15e with the relative rotation guide protrusion 14c and engages the relative rotation guide protrusion 15d with the circumferential groove 14d, so that the third outer cylinder 15 is It is rotatably connected. The circumferential groove 15e and the relative rotation guide protrusion 14c, and the circumferential groove 14d and the relative rotation guide protrusion 15d are each loosely fitted so as to be relatively movable in the optical axis direction. Further, the helicoid ring 18 is also relatively rotatably coupled to the rectilinear guide ring 14 by engaging the circumferential groove 18g with the relative rotation guide protrusion 14b. The circumferential groove 18g and the relative rotation guide protrusion 14b are loosely fitted so as to be able to relatively move relatively in the optical axis direction.

  The linear guide ring 14 is formed with three roller guide through grooves 14e penetrating the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 12, each of the roller guide through grooves 14e includes parallel front and rear circumferential grooves 14e-1 and 14e-2 formed in the circumferential direction, and both circumferential grooves 14e-1 and 14e-2. And a lead groove 14e-3 for connecting the A cam ring roller 32 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 11 is fitted into each roller guide through groove 14e. The cam ring rollers 32 are fixed to the cam ring 11 via roller fixing screws 32a, and three cam ring rollers are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction. The cam ring roller 32 further penetrates the roller guide through groove 14e and is fitted in the roller fitting groove 15f on the inner peripheral surface of the third outer cylinder 15. Near the front end of each roller fitting groove 15f, three roller pressing pieces 17a provided on the roller urging spring 17 are fitted (FIG. 11). The roller pressing piece 17a comes into contact with the cam ring roller 32 and presses backward when the cam ring roller 32 engages with the circumferential groove portion 14e-1, and the cam ring roller 32 and the roller guide through groove 14e (in the circumferential direction). Backlash between the groove 14e-1) is removed.

  From the structure described above, the manner in which the fixed ring 22 extends from the cam ring 11 is understood. That is, when the zoom gear 28 is rotationally driven by the zoom motor 150 in the lens barrel extending direction, the helicoid ring 18 is extended forward while rotating due to the relationship between the female helicoid 22a and the male helicoid 18a. The helicoid ring 18 and the third outer cylinder 15 are relatively rotatable and rotatable with respect to the rectilinear guide ring 14 due to the engagement relationship between the circumferential grooves 14d, 15e and 18g and the relative rotation guide projections 15d, 14c and 14b, respectively. The third outer cylinder 15 is also extended forward while rotating in the same direction when the helicoid ring 18 is rotationally extended since the coupling is performed so as to move together in the axial direction (the direction along the lens barrel center axis Z0). Then, the straight guide ring 14 moves straight forward together with the helicoid ring 18 and the third outer cylinder 15. The rotational force of the third outer cylinder 15 is transmitted to the cam ring 11 via the roller fitting groove 15f and the cam ring roller 32. Since the cam ring roller 32 is also fitted into the roller guide through groove 14e, the cam ring 11 is extended forward with respect to the straight guide ring 14 while rotating according to the shape of the lead groove 14e-3. As described above, since the rectilinear guide ring 14 itself is also rectilinearly moving forward together with the third outer cylinder 15 and the helicoid ring 18, as a result, the cam ring 11 is provided with the rotation extension according to the lead groove 14e-3 and the rectilinear guide. The moving amount in the optical axis direction is given by adding the amount of forward movement of the ring 14 to the front.

  The above-described feeding operation is performed while the male helicoid 18a and the female helicoid 22a are screwed together, and at this time, the rotary sliding projection 18b moves in the oblique groove 22c. When the helicoid ring 18 and the third outer cylinder 15 are extended by a predetermined amount, the screw engagement between the male helicoid 18a and the female helicoid 22a is released, and the rotary sliding projection 18b and the fitting projection 15b are eventually rotated from the oblique groove 22c. It enters the moving groove 22d. Then, since the rotation repetition output by the helicoid does not work, the helicoid ring 18 and the third outer cylinder 15 are moved in the optical axis direction by the engagement relationship between the rotation sliding protrusion 18b and the fitting protrusion 15b and the rotation sliding groove 22d. Only rotation is performed at a fixed position. At substantially the same time when the rotary sliding protrusion 18b enters the rotary sliding groove 22d from the oblique groove 22c, the cam ring roller 32 enters the circumferential groove 14e-1 of the through guide groove 14e. Then, no forward moving force is applied to the cam ring 11, and the cam ring 11 only rotates at a fixed position according to the rotation of the third outer cylinder 15.

  When the zoom gear 28 is driven to rotate in the lens barrel housing direction, the reverse operation is performed. When the helicoid ring 18 is rotated until the cam ring roller 32 enters the circumferential groove 14e-2 of the roller guide through groove 14e, each of the above-mentioned lens barrel members is retracted to the position shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the structure before the cam ring 11 will be described. On the inner peripheral surface of the rectilinear guide ring 14, three first rectilinear guide grooves 14f and six second rectilinear guide grooves 14g parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 are formed at different positions in the circumferential direction. . The first rectilinear guide grooves 14f include a pair of grooves located on both sides of three of the six second rectilinear guide grooves 14g, and the second group rectilinear guide rings (for the three first rectilinear guide grooves 14f). Three crotch-like protrusions 10a (FIGS. 3 and 15) provided on the rectilinear guide relay member 10 are slidably engaged. On the other hand, the six rectilinear guide projections 13a (FIGS. 2 and 17) protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the second outer cylinder 13 are slidably engaged with the second rectilinear guide grooves 14g. I have. Therefore, both the second outer cylinder 13 and the second group straight guide ring 10 are guided straight through the straight guide ring 14 in the optical axis direction.

  The second-group straight guide ring 10 is a member for guiding the second-group lens moving frame (straight-moving / retreating member) 8 that supports the second lens group LG2 straightly. This is a member for guiding the first outer cylinder 12 to be supported in a straight line.

  First, the support structure of the second lens group LG2 will be described. The second group straight guide ring 10 has three straight guide keys 10c protruding forward from a ring portion 10b connecting the three crotch-shaped protrusions 10a (FIGS. 3 and 15). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer edge of the ring portion 10b can rotate relative to the circumferential groove 11e formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the cam ring 11, but cannot move relative to the optical axis. The straight guide key 10c is extended inside the cam ring 11. Each of the rectilinear guide keys 10 c has a pair of guide surfaces parallel to the photographing optical axis Z <b> 1, and the guide surfaces are formed by the rectilinear guide grooves of the second lens group moving frame 8 supported inside the cam ring 11. The second group lens moving frame 8 is guided linearly in the axial direction by engaging with the lens 8a. The rectilinear guide groove 8 a is formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the second group lens moving frame 8.

  The second group straight guide ring 10 is provided with three straight guide keys 10c at different positions in the circumferential direction, and one of the straight guide keys 10c-W is provided with an exposure control FPC (described later). In order to also serve as a support member for the flexible printed circuit (PCB) board 77, the width is circumferentially wider than the remaining two straight guide keys 10c. The wide straight guide key 10c-W is formed with an FPC through hole 10d which is partially cut away in the vicinity of the connection portion with the ring portion 10b and penetrates in the radial direction, and as shown in FIG. The board 77 extends from the rear of the ring portion 10b to the outer peripheral surface side of the linear guide key 10c-W through the FPC through hole 10d, and is bent rearward at the tip of the linear guide key 10c-W. Correspondingly, one of the three rectilinear guide grooves 8a is a wide rectilinear guide groove 8a-W to which the wide rectilinear guide key 10c-W can be engaged. A central portion of the straight guide groove 8a-W is a through portion through which the exposure control FPC board 77 can pass. A bottom portion for supporting the straight guide key 10c-W is provided on both sides of the through portion. Is formed. On the other hand, the remaining two rectilinear guide grooves 8 a are both bottomed grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the second group lens moving frame 8. The second group lens moving frame 8 and the second group straight guide ring 10 can be combined only in a specific rotation phase in which the straight guide keys 10c-W can engage with the straight guide grooves 8a-W.

  A second group guide cam groove 11 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cam ring 11. As shown in FIG. 14, the second group guide cam groove 11a includes a front cam groove 11a-1 and a rear cam groove 11a-2 whose positions are different in the optical axis direction and the circumferential direction. Each of the front cam groove 11a-1 and the rear cam groove 11a-2 is a cam groove formed by tracing the same base locus α, but does not cover the entire area of the base locus α. The front cam groove 11a-1 and the rear cam groove 11a-2 differ from each other in a part of the area occupied on the basic locus α. The basic trajectory is a conceptual cam groove shape including all the lens barrel use areas (use areas) including the zoom area and the storage area, and the lens barrel assembly / disassembly area. That is, the lens barrel use area is an area in which the movement of the second lens group moving frame 8 can be controlled by the cam groove shape, and is used to distinguish it from the assembly and disassembly area. Further, the zoom area is an area for controlling movement between the wide end and the tele end particularly in the lens barrel use area, and is used to distinguish it from the storage area. When a pair of the front cam groove 11a-1 and the rear cam groove 11a-2 are formed as one group, the cam ring 11 is formed with three groups of second group guide cam grooves 11a at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  The second group cam follower 8b provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second group lens moving frame 8 is engaged with the second group guide cam groove 11a. Similarly to the second group guide cam groove 11a, the second group cam followers 8b are also circumferentially equally spaced as a group of a pair of front cam followers 8b-1 and rear cam followers 8b-2 whose positions are different in the optical axis direction and the circumferential direction. The front cam followers 8b-1 engage with the front cam grooves 11a-1, and the rear cam followers 8b-2 engage with the rear cam grooves 11a-2 in the optical axis direction. A circumferential interval is defined.

  Since the second group lens moving frame 8 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction via the second group linear guide ring 10, when the cam ring 11 rotates, the second group lens moving frame 8 is driven in accordance with the second group guide cam groove 11a. It moves along a predetermined trajectory in the axial direction.

  Inside the second group lens moving frame 8, a second group lens frame (optical element holding member, swinging member) 6 for holding the second lens group LG2 is supported. The second group lens frame 6 is supported by a pair of second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 via a second group rotation shaft (rotation center axis) 33, and the second group frame support plates 36 and 37. Are fixed to the second group lens moving frame 8 by support plate fixing screws 66. The second group rotation axis 33 is parallel to the imaging optical axis Z1 and is eccentric with respect to the imaging optical axis Z1, and the second group lens frame 6 has the second lens group LG2 And a storing position for displacing the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 from the photographing optical axis Z1 to the retreating optical axis Z2 eccentric from the photographing optical axis Z1. It can rotate to the retracted position (off-axis position, FIG. 7). The second group lens moving frame 8 is provided with a rotation restricting pin (on-axis position holding means, stopper) 35 for restricting the second group lens frame 6 from rotating at the photographing position. The second lens frame return spring (on-axis position holding means, urging spring) 39 is urged to rotate in the direction of contact with the rotation restricting pin 35. The axial pressing spring 38 performs backlash removal of the second lens group frame 6 in the optical axis direction.

  The second group lens frame 6 moves integrally with the second group lens moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction. The CCD holder 21 is provided with a cam projection (retreat control unit, pressing projection) 21a (FIG. 4) projecting forward at a position where it can be engaged with the second group lens frame 6, and as shown in FIG. When the lens moving frame 8 moves in the storing direction and approaches the CCD holder 21, the cam surface formed at the tip of the cam projection 21a engages with the second group lens frame 6 to rotate to the above-mentioned retracting position for storage. Move. The two-group retreat structure will be described later.

  Subsequently, a support structure of the first lens group LG1 will be described. On the inner peripheral surface of the second outer cylinder 13 guided straight in the optical axis direction via the straight guide ring 14, three rectilinear guide grooves 13b are formed in the optical axis direction at positions different in the circumferential direction. The three engagement projections 12a formed on the outer peripheral surface near the rear end of the first outer cylinder 12 are slidably fitted into the respective linear guide grooves 13b (FIGS. 2, 17, and 18). reference). That is, the first outer cylinder 12 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction via the straight guide ring 14 and the second outer cylinder 13. The second outer cylinder 13 has an inner peripheral flange 13c on the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the rear end thereof, and the inner peripheral flange 13c slides in a circumferential groove 11c provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 11. By engaging as much as possible, the second outer cylinder 13 is coupled to the cam ring 11 so as to be rotatable relative to the cam ring 11 and not to move relative to the optical axis. On the other hand, the first outer cylinder 12 has three first group rollers (cam followers) 31 protruding in the inner diameter direction, and each first group roller 31 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 11 as one group. It is slidably fitted in the guide cam groove 11b.

  The first lens barrel 1 is supported in the first outer cylinder 12 via a first lens adjusting ring 2. The first lens group LG1 is fixed to the first group lens frame 1, and a male adjustment screw 1a formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof is screwed with a female adjustment screw 2a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first group adjustment ring 2. . By adjusting the screw position of the adjusting screw, the position of the first lens group frame 1 with respect to the first lens group adjusting ring 2 can be adjusted in the optical axis direction.

  The first group adjusting ring 2 has a pair of (only one is shown in FIG. 2) guide protrusions 2 b protruding in the outer diameter direction, and the pair of guide protrusions 2 b are formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the first outer cylinder 12. Are slidably engaged with the pair of first group adjusting ring guide grooves 12b formed in the first group. The first group adjustment ring guide groove 12b is formed in parallel with the photographing optical axis Z1, and the first group adjustment ring 2 and the first group lens frame 1 are formed by the engagement relationship between the first group adjustment ring guide groove 12b and the guide projection 2b. The combined body can be moved back and forth in the optical axis direction with respect to the first outer cylinder 12. The first group retaining ring 3 is further fixed to the first outer cylinder 12 with a retaining ring fixing screw 64 so as to close the front of the guide protrusion 2b. A first-group urging spring 24 composed of a compression coil spring is provided between the spring receiving portion 3a of the first-group retaining ring 3 and the guide protrusion 2b. It is biased rearward in the axial direction. The first group adjusting ring 2 is formed by engaging an engaging claw 2c protruding from an outer peripheral surface near a front end portion thereof with a front surface (a surface visible in FIG. 2) of the first group retaining ring 3. The maximum movement position in the optical axis direction rearward relative to the one outer cylinder 12 is regulated (see the upper half section in FIG. 6). On the other hand, by compressing the first-group urging spring 24, the first-group adjusting ring 2 can move a little forward in the optical axis direction.

  A shutter unit 76 having a shutter S and an aperture A is supported between the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2. The shutter unit 76 is supported inside the second-group lens moving frame 8, and the shutter S and the aperture A have a fixed air gap between the second lens group LG2. Two actuators 131 and 132 (FIG. 19) for driving the shutter S and the aperture A are respectively arranged at front and rear positions with the shutter unit 76 interposed therebetween. An exposure control FPC board 77 for connecting to the control circuit 140 extends.

  In addition to the shutter S, a lens barrier mechanism is provided at the front end of the first outer cylinder 12 for closing the photographing aperture when not photographing to protect the photographing optical system (first lens group LG1). The lens barrier mechanism includes a pair of barrier blades 104 and 105 rotatable about a rotation axis provided at a position eccentric to the lens barrel center axis Z0, and biases the barrier blades 104 and 105 in a closing direction. A pair of barrier urging springs 106, a barrier drive ring 103 that is rotatable about a lens barrel center axis Z0 and engages and opens the barrier blades 104, 105 by rotation in a predetermined direction, and the barrier drive ring. A barrier drive ring biasing spring 107 for biasing the rotary shaft 103 in the barrier opening direction is provided, and a barrier pressing plate 102 located between the barrier blades 104 and 105 and the barrier drive ring 103. The urging force of the barrier driving ring urging spring 107 is set stronger than the urging force of the barrier urging spring 106, and when the zoom lens barrel 71 is extended to the zoom region (FIG. 6), the barrier driving ring urging spring 107 is turned on. The biasing spring 107 holds the barrier drive ring 103 at the barrier opening angular position, and the barrier blades 104 and 105 are opened against the barrier biasing spring 106. Then, while the zoom lens barrel 71 is moving from the zoom region to the storage position (FIG. 7), the barrier drive ring pressing surface 11d (FIGS. 3 and 13) of the cam ring 11 causes the barrier drive ring 103 to be opposed to the barrier opening direction. The barrier drive ring 103 is disengaged from the barrier blades 104 and 105 by being forcedly rotated in the direction, and the barrier blades 104 and 105 are closed by the urging force of the barrier urging spring 106. The front of the lens barrier mechanism is covered by a barrier cover 101 (decorative plate).

  The entire extension and storage operation of the zoom lens barrel 71 having the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 19. FIG. FIG. 19 conceptually shows the relationship between the main members of the zoom lens barrel 71, where "S" in parentheses after the reference numeral of each member is a fixed member, and "L" is an optical axis direction. A member that performs only linear movement, “R” means a member that performs only rotation, and “RL” means a member that moves in the optical axis direction while rotating. A member in which two symbols are written in parentheses means that the operation mode is switched at the time of feeding and storage.

  The steps up to the stage in which the cam ring 11 is extended from the storage position to the home position rotation state have already been described, and thus will be briefly described. 7, the zoom lens barrel 71 is completely stored in the camera body 72, and the front surface of the camera 70 has a flat shape in which the zoom lens barrel 71 does not protrude from the camera body 72. I have. When the zoom gear 28 is rotationally driven in the extension direction by the zoom motor 150 from the lens barrel stored state, the combined body of the helicoid ring 18 and the third outer cylinder 15 is rotated and extended in accordance with the helicoid (the male helicoid 18a and the female helicoid 22a). The straight guide ring 14 moves straight forward together with the third outer cylinder 15 and the helicoid ring 18. At this time, the cam ring 11 to which the rotational force is applied by the third outer cylinder 15 has a lead structure (a cam ring roller) provided between the linear guide ring 14 and the linear movement forward. 32, the combined movement with the extended portion by the lead groove portion 14e-3) is performed. When the helicoid ring 18 and the cam ring 11 are extended to a predetermined position in front, the functions of the respective rotating and extending structures (helicoid, lead) are released, and only the circumferential rotation about the lens barrel center axis Z0 is performed. become.

  When the cam ring 11 rotates, the second-group lens moving frame 8 guided straight through the second-group straight guide ring 10 is rotated in the optical axis direction by the relationship between the second-group cam follower 8b and the second-group guide cam groove 11a. Is moved along a predetermined locus. 7, the second group lens frame 6 in the second group lens moving frame 8 is eccentric upward from the photographing optical axis Z1 by the action of the cam projection 21a protruding from the CCD holder 21 (the AF lens frame). The second lens group LG2 is retracted from the photographing optical axis Z1 and is at the retracted optical axis Z2 (upper position 51). Then, the second group lens frame 6 separates from the cam projection 21a while the second group lens moving frame 8 is being extended from the storage position to the zoom area, and is biased by the second group lens frame return spring 39 to move the second lens group LG2. The optical axis is rotated to a photographing position (FIG. 6) where the optical axis coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1. Thereafter, the second group lens frame 6 is held at the photographing position until the zoom lens barrel 71 is moved to the storage position again.

  When the cam ring 11 rotates, outside the cam ring 11, the first outer cylinder 12, which is guided straight through the second outer cylinder 13, has a relationship between the first group roller 31 and the first group guide cam groove 11 b. Is moved along a predetermined locus in the optical axis direction.

  That is, the extension positions of the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 with respect to the image pickup surface (CCD light receiving surface) are determined by the amount of forward movement of the cam ring 11 with respect to the fixed ring 22 and the first The latter is determined as the sum of the cam extension of the outer cylinder 12 and the latter is the sum of the forward movement of the cam ring 11 with respect to the fixed ring 22 and the cam extension of the second lens unit moving frame 8 with respect to the cam ring 11. Decided. Zooming is performed by moving the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 on the photographing optical axis Z1 while changing the air gap between them. When the lens barrel is extended from the storage position of FIG. 7, the wide end is first extended as shown in the lower half section of FIG. 6, and when the zoom motor 150 is further driven in the lens barrel extending direction, the upper half section of FIG. As shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the zoom lens barrel 71 of the present embodiment has a large distance between the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 at the wide end, and a large distance between the first lens group LG1 and the second lens at the telephoto end. The group LG2 moves in the approaching direction of each other, and the interval decreases. Such a change in the air gap between the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 is given by the locus of the second group guide cam groove 11a and the first group guide cam groove 11b. In the zoom region (zooming use region) between the tele end and the wide end, the cam ring 11, the third outer cylinder 15, and the helicoid ring 18 perform only the above-described fixed position rotation, and do not advance or retreat in the optical axis direction.

  In the zoom region, by driving the AF motor 160 according to the subject distance, the third lens group LG3 (AF lens frame 51) moves along the photographing optical axis Z1 to perform focusing.

  When the zoom motor 150 is driven in the lens barrel storage direction, the zoom lens barrel 71 performs a storage operation reverse to that at the time of the above-described extension, and is stored in the camera body 72 completely (FIG. 7). Moved to During the movement to the storage position, the second group lens frame 6 is rotated to the storage retracting position by the cam projection 21a, and retracts together with the second group lens movement frame 8. When the zoom lens barrel 71 is moved to the storage position, the second lens group LG2 is stored at the same position in the optical axis direction as the third lens group LG3 and the low-pass filter LG4 (overlaps in the radial direction of the barrel). . The retracted structure of the second lens group LG2 during storage makes it possible to shorten the storage length of the zoom lens barrel 71 and reduce the thickness of the camera body 72 in the left-right direction in FIG.

  The digital camera 70 includes a zoom finder linked to the zoom lens barrel 71. The zoom finder obtains power from the helicoid ring 18 by meshing the finder gear 30 with the spur gear portion 18c. When the helicoid ring 18 performs the above-described fixed position rotation in the zoom region, the finder gear receives the rotational force and receives the power. 30 rotates. The finder optical system has an objective window 81a, a first movable variable power lens 81b, a second movable variable power lens 81c, a prism 81d, an eyepiece 81e, and an eyepiece window 81f, and has first and second movable variable power. Zooming is performed by moving the lenses 81b and 81c along a predetermined locus along the optical axis Z3 of the finder objective system. The optical axis Z3 of the finder objective system is parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The holding frames 83 and 84 of the movable variable power lenses 81b and 81c are guided by guide shafts 85 and 86 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 so as to overlap and appear as one) so as to be movable in the direction of the optical axis Z3, and The moving force is given by a cam gear 90 (FIG. 5) rotatable about a rotation center axis parallel to the optical axis Z3. A reduction gear train is provided between the cam gear 90 and the finder gear 30. When the finder gear 30 rotates, the cam gear 90 is rotated, and as a result, the movable zoom lenses 81b and 81c move forward and backward. The above components of the zoom finder are sub-assembled as a finder unit 80 shown in FIG.

[Description of lens barrel storage structure]
Subsequently, the details of the storage structure of the zoom lens barrel 71 including the retracting structure of the second lens group LG2 will be described. Note that the up-down (vertical) direction and the left-right (horizontal) direction in the following description correspond to the up-down direction and the left-right direction viewed from the front or back of the camera as shown in FIGS. The front-back direction is a direction parallel to the optical axis.

  The second lens group LG2 is supported by the second group lens moving frame 8 by the members shown in FIG. The second lens frame 6 includes a lens barrel 6a that supports the second lens group LG2, a swing arm 6c that extends in the radial direction of the lens barrel 6a, a swing center barrel 6b provided at the tip of the swing arm 6c, and It has a stopper arm 6e extending from the lens barrel 6a in a radial direction different from the swing arm 6c. The swing center cylinder 6b is formed with a swing shaft hole 6d penetrating in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the second lens group LG2. A front spring support portion 6f and a rear spring support portion 6g each having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface are formed in the swing center cylinder 6b at front and rear positions in the optical axis direction across the connection portion with the swing arm 6c. Spring prevention protrusions 6h and 6i are provided on the outer peripheral surface near the front end of the front spring support 6f and near the rear end of the rear spring support 6g. An evacuation arm 6j extends from the oscillation center cylinder 6b in a direction different from that of the oscillation arm 6c, and a spring hook hole 6k is formed in the evacuation arm 6j. Further, a spring hook hole 6p is formed in the swing arm 6c. The spring hook holes 6k and the spring hook holes 6p are shown in FIGS.

  A rear protruding portion 6m protrudes from the swing arm 6c toward the rear of the optical axis, and a front end of the rear protruding portion 6m has a planar AF frame contact surface orthogonal to the optical axis of the second lens group LG2. 6n are formed. As shown in FIGS. 45 and 46, a light-blocking ring 9 for blocking harmful light is fixed to the rear end of the lens barrel 6a, but the AF frame contact surface 6n is larger than the light-blocking ring 9. It is located behind the optical axis. That is, the AF frame contact surface 6n is located behind the last part of the second lens group LG2 in the optical axis direction.

  The second lens frame support plate 36 is an elongated plate member that is long in the up-down direction and narrow in the left-right direction. , A cam projection insertion opening 36c, a screw insertion hole 36d, a horizontally long hole 36e, and a second vertically long hole 36f. Each of these holes is a through hole that penetrates the front and back of the second lens group frame support plate 36. On the outer peripheral portion of the second lens group frame support plate 36, a concave spring hook portion 36g is formed.

  The second group lens frame support plate 37 is an elongated plate-like member having substantially the same shape as the second group lens frame support plate 36, and has a first elongated hole 37 a and a rotating shaft fitting in order from the top in the longitudinal direction. A hole 37b, a cam projection insertion / removal opening 37c, a screw screw hole 37d, a horizontally long hole 37e, and a second vertically long hole 37f are formed. Unlike the screw insertion hole 36d on the second lens frame support plate 36 side, the screw screw hole 37d is a screw hole having a thread formed on the inner periphery. Each of these holes is a through hole penetrating the front and back of the second lens group frame support plate 37. A guide key entry groove 37g is formed in the cam projection insertion / removal opening 37c by cutting out a part of the inner edge thereof.

  The support plate fixing screw 66 has a screw shaft 66a and a rotation operation groove 66b formed at one end of the screw shaft 66a. A driver (adjustment tool) can be engaged with the rotation operation groove 66b. A screw insertion hole 36d formed in the front second lens frame support plate 36 has an opening diameter that allows the screw shaft portion 66a of the support plate fixing screw 66 to be inserted. The screw shaft portion 66a can pass through the screw insertion hole 36d and be screwed into a screw screw hole 37d provided in the second lens group frame support plate 37.

  The first eccentric shaft member 34X has a pair of front eccentric pins 34X-b and rear eccentric pins 34X-c at the front and rear ends across the large-diameter shaft portion 34X-a. The front eccentric pin 34X-b and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c are formed coaxially eccentric with respect to the center axis of the large diameter shaft portion 34X-a. A rotation operation groove 34X-d for engaging a driver (adjustment tool) is formed at an end of the front eccentric pin 34X-b. The second eccentric shaft member 34Y has the same structure as the first eccentric shaft member 34X. That is, a pair of front eccentric pins 34Y-b and rear eccentric pins 34Y-c are provided at front and rear ends of the large-diameter shaft portion 34Y-a, and the front eccentric pins 34Y-b and the rear eccentric pins 34Y-c are The large diameter shaft portion 34Y-a is formed coaxially eccentric with respect to the center axis. A rotation operation groove 34Y-d for engaging a driver (adjustment tool) is formed at an end of the front eccentric pin 34Y-b.

  Inside the rear spring support portion 6g of the second lens frame 6, a spring housing hole 6z (FIGS. 31 and 43) communicating with the swing shaft hole 6d and having an inner diameter larger than the swing shaft hole 6d is formed. The axial pressing spring 38 is housed in the spring housing hole 6z. The axial pressing spring 38 is formed of a compression coil spring. The second-group lens frame return spring 39 and the rotation transmission spring 40 are torsion springs, respectively. The second-group lens frame return spring 39 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the front spring support portion 6f of the second-group lens frame 6 to transmit rotation. The spring 40 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the rear spring support 6g. The second lens frame return spring 39 has a front spring end 39a and a rear spring end 39b extending in the front-rear direction. The rotation transmission spring 40 has a fixed spring end 40a protruding in the radial direction. And a movable spring end 40b.

  The second group rotation shaft 33 is rotatable relative to the swing shaft hole 6d of the second group lens frame 6 and has a diameter that fits without looseness in the radial direction. This corresponds to the inner diameter of the rotation shaft fitting hole 36b of the support plate 36 and the rotation shaft fitting hole 37b of the second lens frame support plate 37. The axis of the second group rotation shaft 33 inserted into the swing shaft hole 6d is parallel to the optical axis of the second lens group LG2. The second-group rotating shaft 33 also has a flange 33a near the end on the rear side in the optical axis direction. You can abut.

  The inside of the second-group lens moving frame 8, which has a unitary shape in FIGS. 24 and 25, is a through space 8n penetrating in the optical axis direction, and an intermediate flange portion located substantially at the center of the through space 8n in the optical axis direction. A second group lens moving opening 8t having a vertically long shape in a vertical direction is formed in 8s. The shutter unit 76 is fixed to the front side of the intermediate flange 8s. Further, a lens barrel entry recess 8q corresponding to the outer edge shape of the lens barrel 6a and a stopper arm entry recess 8r corresponding to the outer edge shape of the stopper arm 6e are formed on the inner peripheral surface behind the intermediate flange portion 8s. (See FIG. 29).

  As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the right side of the second group lens moving opening 8t when viewed from the front of the second group lens moving frame 8 is set so as not to overlap with the second group lens moving opening 8t. A plane front support plate mounting surface 8c orthogonal to the axis Z0 (the photographing optical axis Z1 or the optical axis of the second lens group LG2) is formed. The front support plate mounting surface 8c is a region hatched in FIGS. 24 and 25, and is located forward of the intermediate flange portion 8s and the shutter unit 76 attached to the front surface of the intermediate flange portion 8s. The front support plate mounting surface 8c is a surface exposed in front of the second group lens moving frame 8. The second group lens moving frame 8 has three partial cylinders protruding forward from the front support plate mounting surface 8c. A front cam follower 8b-1 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of each partial cylindrical portion 8d. On the other hand, a flat rear support plate mounting surface 8e parallel to the front support plate mounting surface 8c is formed behind the front support plate mounting surface 8c across the two intermediate flange portions 8s. The surface 8e is flush with the rear end surface of the second group lens moving frame 8.

  An eccentric shaft support hole 8f, a swing center cylinder housing hole (projection entry hole) 8g, a screw insertion hole 8h, and an eccentric shaft support hole 8i are formed in the second group lens moving frame 8 in this order from the top. Each of the holes penetrates the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e in the optical axis direction. A key groove (sliding engagement portion) 8p parallel to the optical axis is further formed on the inner wall surface of the swing center cylinder housing hole 8g, and the key groove 8p is also formed on the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate. It penetrates the mounting surface 8e. The upper eccentric shaft support hole 8f is formed to have an inner diameter size that rotatably supports the large-diameter shaft portion 34X-a of the first eccentric shaft member 34X, and the lower eccentric shaft support hole 8i is formed of the second eccentric shaft support hole 8i. The large-diameter shaft portion 34Y-a of the shaft member 34Y is formed to have an inner diameter size that rotatably supports the shaft member 34Y (see FIG. 31). On the other hand, the inside diameter of the screw insertion hole 8h is formed large so that a considerable gap is formed between the screw insertion hole 8h and the screw shaft portion 66a of the support plate fixing screw 66 (see FIG. 31). A front boss 8j and a rear boss 8k, which are concentric with each other and have the same diameter, project from the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e. The second group lens moving frame 8 is further provided with a rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m penetrating the intermediate flange portion 8s in the front-rear direction below the second group lens moving opening 8t.

  The rotation restricting pin 35 has an eccentric pin (stopper) 35b eccentric to the large diameter shaft 35a at one end of the large diameter shaft 35a inserted into the rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m. The other end has a rotation operation groove 35c for engaging a driver (adjustment tool). The large-diameter shaft portion 35a of the rotation restricting pin 35 does not inadvertently rotate with respect to the rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m in a normal use state, but can rotate when a certain amount of force is applied. Press-fit.

  FIGS. 26 to 29 show a state in which the above elements are combined. Assembly is performed as follows. First, the second group lens frame return spring 39 and the rotation transmission spring 40 are mounted on the second group lens frame 6. The second group lens frame return spring 39 has a coil-shaped portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the front spring support portion 6f of the swing center tube 6b, and a rear spring end portion 39b near the boundary between the swing center tube 6b and the swing arm 6c. (FIG. 22). The front spring end 39a of the second group lens frame return spring 39 is not engaged with the second group lens frame 6. The rotation transmitting spring 40 has a coil-shaped portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rear spring supporting portion 6g of the swing center cylinder 6b, one fixed spring end 40a is inserted into the spring hook hole 6p of the swing arm 6c, and the other is inserted. The movable spring end 40b is inserted into the spring hook hole 6k of the retracting arm 6j. The fixed spring end 40a is fixed to the spring hook hole 6p, and the movable spring end 40b is allowed to move by θ1 shown in FIG. 37 in the direction of coming into contact with and separating from the fixed spring end 40a in the spring hook hole 6k. . In a state where no external force is applied, the rotation transmitting spring 40 is supported by the second lens group frame 6 in a state where it is slightly bent in a direction in which the fixed spring ends 40a and 40b approach each other. The portion 40b comes into contact with one wall surface in the spring hook hole 6k (FIG. 37). The second lens frame return spring 39 and the rotation transmission spring 40 are prevented from coming off in the optical axis direction by the front and rear spring retaining projections 6h and 6i.

  Separately from the attachment of the second group lens frame return spring 39 and the rotation transmission spring 40, the second group rotating shaft 33 is swung after inserting the axial pressing spring 38 into the spring receiving hole 6z in the rear spring supporting portion 6g. It is inserted into the shaft hole 6d. The flange 33a of the second group rotation shaft 33 enters the rear spring support portion 6g and comes into contact with the axial pressing spring 38. The axial length of the second group rotating shaft 33 is longer than the axial length of the swing center tube 6b, and both end portions of the second group rotating shaft 33 project forward and backward from the swing center tube 6b.

  The first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y are connected to the eccentric shaft support hole 8f and the eccentric shaft support hole 8i of the second group lens moving frame 8, respectively, in parallel with the attachment of the above members to the swing center cylinder 6b. Insert in. In the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y, a part of the front end side of the large-diameter shaft portion 34X-a and the large-diameter shaft portion 34Y-a has a larger diameter than other regions. Correspondingly, the eccentric shaft support hole 8f and the eccentric shaft support hole 8i have a correspondingly larger inner diameter size in a part of the area in front of the optical axis direction (see FIG. 31). Therefore, when the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y are inserted into the eccentric shaft support hole 8f and the eccentric shaft support hole 8i, respectively, from the front in the optical axis direction, the eccentric shaft support holes 8f and 8i. The insertion is restricted when the large-diameter shaft portions 34X-a and 34Y-a come into contact with the step portion having the inner diameter size (the position in FIG. 31). In this state, the front eccentric pin 34X-b and the front eccentric pin 34Y-b protrude from the front support plate mounting surface 8c, and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c and the rear eccentric pin 34Y-c protrude from the rear support plate mounting surface 8e. .

  Subsequently, the front end of the second group rotating shaft 33 protruding from the swing center cylinder 6b is inserted into the rotating shaft fitting hole 36b, and the rear end is inserted into the rotating shaft fitting hole 37b while supporting the front. The second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 are attached to the second group lens moving frame 8 so that the plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e are sandwiched from front and rear. At this time, three front eccentric pins 34X-b projecting from the front support plate mounting surface 8c with respect to the first vertically long hole 36a, the horizontally long hole 36e, and the second vertically long hole 36f of the front second group lens frame support plate 36, The front eccentric pin 34Y-b and the front boss 8j are respectively engaged. Also, three rear eccentric pins 34X-c protruding from the rear support plate mounting surface 8e with respect to the first vertically long hole 37a, the horizontally long hole 37e, and the second vertically long hole 37f of the rear second group lens frame support plate 37, The eccentric pin 34Y-c and the rear boss 8k are respectively engaged. Each eccentric pin or boss fits in the corresponding long hole so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction and immovable in the width direction.

  Finally, the screw shaft portion 66a of the support plate fixing screw 66 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 36d and the screw insertion hole 8h, and then screwed into the screw screw hole 37d. When the support plate fixing screws 66 are tightened in this state, the second group lens frame support plate 36 is pressed against the front support plate mounting surface 8c, and the second group lens frame support plate 37 is pressed against the rear support plate mounting surface 8e. The second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 are fixed to the second group lens moving frame 8 in a state where the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e are separated by the distance in the optical axis direction. You. That is, the front and rear second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 are fastened to the second group lens moving frame 8 together. As a result, the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y are prevented from coming off in the optical axis direction by the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37. The second group rotation shaft 33 is restricted from moving backward by bringing the flange 33a into contact with the second group lens frame support plate 37, and moves the swing center cylinder 6b forward through the compressed axial spring 38. In order to press, the front end of the swing center cylinder 6 b is pressed against the second lens group frame support plate 36. Thereby, the position of the second lens group frame 6 in the optical axis direction with respect to the second lens group moving frame 8 is kept constant. When the second lens frame support plate 37 is fixed to the second lens frame 8, the guide key entry groove 37g and the key groove 8p communicate with each other in the optical axis direction (see FIG. 30).

  After the second lens frame support plate 36 is fixed, the front spring end 39a of the second lens frame return spring 39 is engaged with the spring hook 36g. The rear spring end 39b is already engaged with the swing arm 6c, and the second group lens frame return spring 39 is bent by engaging the front spring end 39a with the spring hook 36g. On the other hand, when viewed from the front in the optical axis direction (FIG. 32), a rotational urging force acts in the counterclockwise direction about the second group rotation shaft 33.

  Separately from the attachment of the second group lens frame 6, the rotation restricting pin 35 is inserted into the rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m of the second group lens moving frame 8. The rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m has an inner surface shape that restricts further insertion when the rotation restricting pin 35 is inserted to the position shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. As shown in FIG. 27, the eccentric pin 35b projects rearward from the rotation restriction pin insertion hole 8m.

  When the second group lens frame 6 is attached to the second group lens moving frame 8 as described above, the second group lens frame 6 can rotate (swing) about the second group rotation shaft 33. The swing center cylinder receiving hole 8g of the second group lens moving frame 8 is formed sufficiently wide so as not to interfere with the swing center cylinder 6b and the swing arm 6c even when the second group lens frame 6 swings. . Since the second group rotation axis 33 is an axis parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 and the optical axis of the second lens group LG2, the second lens group LG2 moves its optical axis with the rotation of the second group lens frame 6. The parallel movement is performed while maintaining the state parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. One pivot end (swinging end) of the second group lens frame 6 is determined by the tip of the stopper arm 6e abutting on the eccentric pin 35b. The second lens frame return spring 39 biases the second lens frame 6 in a direction in which the stopper arm 6e comes into contact with the eccentric pin 35b.

  A shutter unit 76 is further attached to the second group lens moving frame 8. 26 to 29 are sub-assembled. As can be seen from FIGS. 26 and 28, the shutter unit 76 is fixed to the front side of the intermediate flange portion 8s. The front support plate mounting surface 8c is located forward of the shutter S and the diaphragm A in the shutter unit 76 in the fixed state in the optical axis direction. The lens barrel 6a of the second group lens frame 6 has a part of the front end side located in the second group lens moving opening 8t, and immediately after the shutter unit 76 regardless of the angular position of the second group lens frame 6. It is located at.

  As described above, the rectilinear guide grooves 8a-W of the second group lens moving frame 8 are formed wider in the circumferential direction than the remaining two rectilinear guide grooves 8a, and the second group is formed with respect to the wide rectilinear guide grooves 8a-W. A wide straight guide key 10c-W provided on the straight guide ring 10 is engaged. The straight guide key 10c-W is formed with an FPC through hole 10d (FIG. 15) penetrating in the radial direction by partially cutting out the vicinity of the connection portion with the ring portion 10b. The exposure control FPC board 77 extending from the shutter unit 76 has the same phase in the circumferential direction as the straight guide grooves 8a-W and the straight guide keys 10c-W, and the straight guide grooves 8a-W and the FPC through holes 10d. Through the lens group moving frame 8.

  More specifically, the exposure control FPC board 77 is arranged as shown in FIG. 42 in a state where the second group lens moving frame 8 and the second group straight guide ring 10 are combined. In the exposure control FPC board 77, first, a first linear portion 77a extends rearward in the optical axis direction from the shutter unit 76, and then a U-shaped portion (loop-shaped portion) is formed near the rear end of the second lens group moving frame 8. Portion) 77b is formed and bent forward, and the second linear portion 77c is directed forward along the inner peripheral surface of the linear guide key 10c-W, and is folded outward at the tip of the linear guide key 10c-W. The third linear portion 77d extends rearward again along the outer peripheral surface of the straight guide key 10c-W. The tip of the third linear portion 77d extends to the rear of the second lens group moving frame 8 through the FPC through hole 10d, and then extends outside the fixed ring 22 through the FPC through hole 22q (FIG. 4). It is connected to the control circuit 140 outside the lens barrel via the substrate. In the exposure control FPC board 77, a part of the third linear portion 77d is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rectilinear guide key 10c-W using a double-sided tape or the like, and the second group lens moving frame 8 and the second group rectilinear guide ring The size of the U-shaped portion 77c can be changed according to the relative movement of the ten.

  The second group lens moving frame 8 sub-assembled as described above is moved in the optical axis direction via the cam ring 11, and behind the second group lens moving frame 8, the movement of the cam ring 11 An AF lens frame 51 is supported so as to be independently movable in the optical axis direction, and a CCD holder 21 is fixed behind the AF lens frame 51.

  The AF lens frame 51 is made of a light-shielding material, and as shown in FIGS. 38 to 41 and FIGS. 44 to 47, a pair of arms 51d and 51e having guide holes 51a and 51b, and the arms 51d and 51e. And a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion 51c that projects forward. The front protruding cylindrical portion 51c has a tip surface (bottom surface) 51c1 that is substantially square and perpendicular to the imaging optical axis Z1, and four side surfaces 51c3 extending from each side of the tip surface 51c1 to the CCD 60 side in parallel with the imaging optical axis Z1. It has a box shape (square tube shape) having 51c4, 51c5 and 51c6, and the rear end opposite to the front end surface 51c1 is open to the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD 60 side. A circular opening 51c2 whose center coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1 is provided on the tip end surface 51c1 of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c, and the third lens group LG3 is supported inside the opening 51c2. The arm portions 51d and 51e are provided with a photographing optical axis from the lower right portion and the upper left portion of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c when viewed from the front, that is, near the intersection of the side surfaces 51c3 and 51c6 and near the intersection of the side surfaces 51c4 and 51c5. It extends in the radial direction (radial direction) around Z1 (see FIG. 47). As can be seen from FIGS. 45 and 46, the arms 51d and 51e are provided at the rearmost portions of the side surfaces 51c3 and 51c6 and the side surfaces 51c4 and 51c5 in the optical axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each of the arms 51d and 51e of the AF lens frame 51 has a distal end protruding outside the annular portion 22f of the fixed ring 22, and the protruding distal end has a guide parallel to the optical axis. Holes 51a and 51b are formed. Correspondingly, an AF guide shaft 52 that engages with the guide hole 51a and guides the AF lens frame 51 in the main direction, and an AF guide shaft 53 that engages with the guide hole 51b and guides the AF lens frame 51 in the auxiliary direction. Are located outside the annular portion 22f of the fixed ring 22, respectively. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of shaft support protrusions 22t1 and 22t2 that protrude from the annular portion 22f in the outer diameter direction on the fixed ring 22 are provided, and the front end of the AF guide shaft 52 is provided on the shaft support protrusion 22t1. A shaft support hole 22v1 for supporting the portion is formed, and a shaft support hole 22v2 for supporting the front end of the AF guide shaft 53 is formed on the shaft support protrusion 22t2. The CCD holder 21 is formed with a pair of shaft support holes 21v1 and 21v2 facing the shaft support holes 22v1 and 22v2 in the optical axis direction. The shaft support hole 21v1 supports the rear end of the AF guide shaft 52, The shaft support hole 21v2 supports the rear end of the AF guide shaft 53. Notches 22g and 22h in the optical axis direction along AF guide shafts 52 and 53 are provided in the annular portion 22f to avoid interference with the arm portions 51d and 51e when the AF lens frame 51 moves in the optical axis direction. FIG. 8) is formed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 39 and 47, the guide hole 51a and the guide hole 51b are formed at positions facing each other with respect to the photographing optical axis Z1, and the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 are correspondingly moved. They are provided in a positional relationship facing each other with respect to Z1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the AF lens frame 51 is a part of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c (the surface on the rear side in the optical axis direction) with respect to the front surface (movement regulating surface) of the filter holder 21b constituting the CCD holder 21. When the AF lens frame 51 moves to the rearward movement end, the front end of the cam projection 21a protruding forward from the CCD holder 21 in the optical axis direction becomes an AF lens. It protrudes forward from the frame 51 (see FIGS. 38, 40 and 41). A cam projection insertion / removal opening 37c of the second lens group frame support plate 37 and a cam projection insertion / removal opening 36c of the second lens frame support plate 36 are located on the extension of the cam projection 21a in the optical axis direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a retreat cam surface (retreat control unit) 21c that is inclined with respect to the optical axis is formed at the tip of the cam protrusion 21a, and is formed on one side surface that is continuous with the retreat cam surface 21c. Has a retreat position holding surface (retreat holding surface) 21d parallel to the optical axis. As can be seen from FIG. 35 to FIG. 37 as viewed from the front, the cam projection 21a is formed so as to be broad in the radial direction about the photographing optical axis Z1, and the retracting cam surface 21c is formed to have the width of the cam projection 21a. As the direction proceeds from the inner diameter side of the lens barrel (a side closer to the imaging optical axis Z1) to the outer diameter side of the lens barrel (a side farther from the imaging optical axis Z1), it is formed as an inclined surface that gradually increases the amount of projection forward in the optical axis direction. Have been. In FIG. 35 to FIG. 37, hatching is added to make it easy to distinguish the retraction cam surface 21c. The cam projection 21a is formed as a part of a cylinder centered on the second group rotation shaft 33 so as to avoid interference with the swing center cylinder 6b of the second group lens frame 6, and the lower surface side is convex and the upper surface side is convex. It has a concave curved cross-sectional shape. The retreat cam surface 21c is a lead surface formed on the end surface of the partially cylindrical cam projection 21a. On the lower surface (convex surface) side of the cam projection 21a, a rail-shaped guide key (sliding engagement portion) 21e parallel to the optical axis is projected. The guide key 21e is formed only in a certain range from the base of the cam projection 21a, and is not formed near the tip of the cam projection 21a. The guide key 21e has a sectional shape capable of engaging with the guide key entry groove 37g.

  The second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3 supported by the above structure operate in the following manner. As described above, the position of the second group lens moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction with respect to the CCD holder 21 is determined by the trajectories of the second group guide cam grooves 11a (the front cam groove 11a-1 and the rear cam groove 11a-2) of the cam ring 11. The movement is determined by combining the movement with the forward and backward movement of the cam ring 11 itself. In short, the second-group lens moving frame 8 is furthest away from the CCD holder 21 near the wide end shown in the upper half of FIG. 6, and comes closest when the lens barrel is housed in FIG. By utilizing the retreating operation of the second group lens moving frame 8 from the wide end to the storage position, the second group lens frame 6 is retracted in the outer diameter direction within the second group lens moving frame 8.

  In the zoom region from the wide end to the telephoto end, the position of the second group lens frame 6 is kept constant by bringing the stopper arm 6e into contact with the rotation restricting pin 35 by the urging force of the second group lens frame return spring 39. At this time, the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 29, at the shooting position of the second group lens frame 6, a part of the retreating arm 6j and the movable spring end 40b of the rotation transmitting spring 40 face the cam projection insertion / removal opening 37c.

  When the main switch of the camera is turned off from the shooting state, the control circuit 140 drives the AF motor 160, the AF lens frame 51 is retracted and approaches the CCD holder 21, and the rear moving end shown in FIG. 38, FIG. 40 and FIG. Is stored in. The forwardly projecting cylindrical portion 51c of the AF lens frame 51 supports the third lens group LG3 on the side of the front end face 51c1, and the rear of the third lens group LG3 has an open space surrounded by side surfaces 51c3, 51c4, 51c5, and 51c6. Therefore, when the AF lens frame 51 moves to the rearward movement end in FIG. 7, the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD 60 supported on the front surface of the CCD holder 21 enter the inside of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c and move to the third position. The distance from the lens group LG3 is reduced. When the AF lens frame 51 reaches the rearward movement end, the tip of the cam projection 21a projects forward from the AF lens frame 51.

  Subsequently, the control circuit 140 drives the zoom motor 150 in the storage direction, and the above-described lens barrel storage operation is performed. When the zoom motor 150 is driven in the storage direction beyond the wide end, the cam ring 11 rotates rearward in the optical axis direction while rotating due to the relationship between the roller guide through groove 14e and the cam ring roller 32. As can be seen from the relationship between the second group guide cam groove 11a and the second group cam follower 8b shown in FIG. 14, the second group lens moving frame 8 is closer to the cam ring 11 in the retracted state than in the wide end in the optical axis direction. However, since the amount of backward movement of the cam ring 11 with respect to the fixed ring 22 is larger than the amount of forward movement of the second group lens moving frame 8 within the cam ring 11, the second group lens The frame 8 approaches the CCD holder 21 as a result.

  When the second group lens moving frame 8 continues to retreat together with the second group lens frame 6, the tip of the cam projection 21a eventually enters the cam projection insertion / removal opening 37c (FIG. 23). As described above, in the photographing state, a part of the retreating arm 6j and the movable spring end 40b of the rotation transmission spring 40 face the cam projection insertion / removal opening 37c. At this time, the retreating arm 6j and the movable spring end FIG. 35 shows a positional relationship between the portion 40b and the cam projection 21a as viewed from the front. The movable spring end 40b projects more toward the cam projection 21a than the retreating arm 6j (excluding the projection for forming the spring hooking hole 6k) in the radial direction about the photographing optical axis Z1. On the other hand, the evacuation cam surface 21c is a slope that protrudes forward as the distance from the imaging optical axis Z1 increases. In other words, the evacuation cam surface 21c is a slope that increases the amount of projection toward the front side of the drawing as it goes to the right in FIG. 35, and the region of the evacuation cam surface 21c that protrudes forward is the movable spring end. It is located behind 40b. Therefore, when the second group lens frame 6 is retracted toward the CCD holder 21 together with the second group lens moving frame 8 while maintaining the positional relationship of FIG. 35, the retreat cam surface 21c abuts on the movable spring end 40b instead of the retreating arm 6j. Touch FIG. 40 shows the position of the second lens group frame 6 immediately before the movable spring end 40b comes into contact with the retreat cam surface 21c.

  When the second lens group frame 6 is retracted in a state where the movable spring end 40b is in contact with the retracting cam surface 21c, a component force is generated to press the movable spring end 40b clockwise in FIG. 35 according to the shape of the retracting cam surface 21c. The clockwise rotating force is transmitted to the second lens group frame 6 via the fixed spring end 40a on the other end side of the rotation transmission spring 40. The spring force (hardness) of the rotation transmission spring 40 is not deflected beyond the state shown in FIG. 35 by the rotational resistance acting on the second lens frame 6 itself in a normal lens barrel storage operation, and the second lens frame is not bent. 6 is set to transmit torque. That is, the elastic restoring force of the rotation transmission spring 40 is set to be stronger than the urging force of the second group lens frame return spring 39 for holding the second group lens frame 6 at the photographing position.

  The second group lens frame 6 which has received the rotational pressing force by the retreat cam surface 21c moves from the photographing position (on-axis position) shown in FIG. (The off-axis position), and rotates around the second group rotation shaft 33 as a center against the urging force of the second group lens frame return spring 39. Accordingly, the movable spring end 40b moves on the retreat cam surface 21c from the position in FIG. 35 to the position in FIG. When the second group lens frame 6 rotates to the retracted position in FIG. 30, the movable spring end 40b gets over the retracted cam surface 21c and engages with the retracted position holding surface 21d as shown in FIG. Even when the frame 8 performs the retreating operation, the second group lens frame 6 is not given a rotational force in the retreating direction. In the second group lens frame 6 held at the retracted position, the outer edge of the lens barrel 6a enters the lens barrel entry recess 8q, and the outer edge of the stopper arm 6e enters the stopper arm entry recess 8r.

  Even after the second group lens frame 6 reaches the retracted position, the second group lens moving frame 8 continues to move backward until it reaches the storage position shown in FIG. The second group lens frame 6 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 41 together with the second group lens moving frame 8 while being kept at the retracted position with the movable spring end 40b engaged with the retracted position holding surface 21d. At this time, the tip of the cam projection 21a penetrates through the swing center cylinder housing hole 8g and protrudes forward from the cam projection insertion / removal opening 36c.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 41, in the housed state, the lens barrel 6a has moved to a space outside (upper side) of the forwardly projecting tubular part 51c of the AF lens frame 51, and the forwardly projecting tubular part 51c is When the image is taken, the second lens group LG2 enters the space in the second-lens moving frame 8 where the second lens group LG2 was located, and the third lens group LG3 is located immediately after the shutter unit 76. As can be seen from a comparison between FIGS. 6 and 7, the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD 60 are housed (entered) in the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c due to the movement of the AF lens frame 51 to the rearward movement end. The relative distance in the optical axis direction with respect to the lens group LG3 is smaller than in the shooting state. That is, the second lens group LG2 is in a state where the position in the optical axis direction is overlapped (arranged in the radial direction) with the rear optical elements such as the third lens group LG3, the low-pass filter LG4, and the CCD 60. In conventional lens barrels that move only optical elements such as lens groups that compose the imaging optical system in the direction of the optical axis, the housing length of the lens barrel must be shortened beyond the total thickness of multiple optical elements. However, according to the structure of the present embodiment, the storage space for the second lens group LG2 in the optical axis direction can be substantially omitted, and the storage length of the lens barrel can be shortened. I have.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the AF lens frame 51 and the supporting structure thereof are especially devised in order to obtain the above-described storage state excellent in space efficiency. First, as described above, the AF guide shaft 52 that guides the main body of the AF lens frame 51 and the AF guide shaft 53 that guides the auxiliary lens frame are located outside the annular portion 22f of the fixed ring 22 and the shooting optical axis Z1. They are arranged at opposing positions. Accordingly, when the lens barrel is housed, the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 do not hinder the housing of the first lens group LG1, the second lens group LG2, the third lens group LG3, and the low-pass filter LG4. Can be collapsed deeper. In other words, movements located inside the fixed ring 22, such as the second group lens frame 6, the second group lens moving frame 8, or the cam ring 11 and the helicoid ring 18 which are rotating rings for moving these in the optical axis direction. Since the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 can be freely disposed without being restricted by the members, the guide length of the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 with respect to the AF guide frame 51 is sufficiently long, and the AF guide frame 51 is accurately positioned. It is now possible to guide. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the LCD 20 is disposed behind the zoom lens barrel 71 (on the extension of the photographing optical axis Z1), and the rear ends of the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 are centered on the barrel center axis Z0. Is located outside the LCD 20 in the radial direction. With this configuration, the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 can be formed long behind without interfering with the LCD 20 which is a large member. This is also an effect obtained by positioning the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 outside the annular portion 22f of the fixed ring 22.

  Further, the shape of the AF lens frame 51 is such that the arms 51d and 51e extend in the outer diameter direction from the rearmost portion of the forwardly projecting cylindrical portion 51c located on the photographing optical axis Z1, so that the forwardly projecting cylindrical shape is formed. An annular space surrounded by the outer surface of the portion 51c, the arm portions 51d and 51e, and the inner peripheral surface of the fixed ring 22 (position where the AF guide shafts 52 and 53 are disposed) is obtained. This annular space is used as a storage space for the second lens group LG2 retracted outside the photographing optical axis, and the cam ring 11 outside the second lens group LG2 (the second group lens moving frame 8), the first through It is also used as a space for accommodating the rear ends of the annular members such as the third outer cylinders 12, 13 and 15, and the helicoid ring 18. Therefore, the space efficiency is good, and the zoom lens barrel 71 can be retracted deeper (see FIG. 7). Unlike the present embodiment, assuming that the arms 51d and 51e are provided not at the rear end of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c but at the front end or the intermediate portion, each of the arms including the second lens group LG2 is provided. The element cannot be retracted deeply to the position of FIG.

  Further, in the AF lens frame 51, a third lens group LG3 is supported at the distal end of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c, and in the lens barrel housed state shown in FIG. Is stored, it is possible to obtain a storage state that is more excellent in space efficiency.

  In addition to the above, in the storing operation from the wide end, not only the second lens group moving frame 8 but also the first outer cylinder 12 supporting the first lens group LG1 is retracted together with the cam ring 11, and the storing operation shown in FIG. In the state, the relative distance in the optical axis direction between the first lens group LG1 and the third lens group LG3 across the shutter unit 76 is also small. That is, in the zoom lens barrel 71 of the present embodiment, the length in the optical axis direction when the first lens group LG1 at the forefront of the photographing optical system is stored from the rearmost CCD 60 is smaller than that of the conventional lens barrel. It is extremely shortened. The first group lens frame 1 is provided with an abutment portion 1b (FIGS. 6 and 7) that projects rearward from the rearmost portion of the first lens group LG1 and can abut on the shutter unit 76. This prevents the group LG1 from directly contacting the shutter unit 76.

  When the main switch of the camera is turned on in the housed state, the zoom motor 150 is driven in the extending direction by the control circuit 140, and the above-described components operate in the opposite manner. That is, the cam ring 11 is extended forward while rotating with respect to the rectilinear guide ring 14, and the second lens group moving frame 8 and the first outer cylinder 12 move forward with the cam ring 11. In the initial stage of the forward movement of the second group lens moving frame 8, since the movable spring end 40b of the rotation transmission spring 40 is engaged with the retracted position holding surface 21d, the second group lens frame 6 is kept at the retracted position. When the second lens group moving frame 8 moves forward to some extent, the movable spring end 40b reaches the tip of the cam projection 21a, separates from the retreat position holding surface 21d, and engages with the retreat cam surface 21c (FIG. 37). At this stage, the lens barrel 6a of the second group lens frame 6 has already moved forward from the forwardly projecting tubular portion 51c of the AF lens frame 51, and even if the second group lens frame 6 starts rotating in the shooting position direction. It does not interfere with the AF lens frame 51. Then, with the further forward movement of the second group lens moving frame 8, the movable spring end 40b moves on the retreat cam surface 21c, and the second group lens frame 6 is moved to the retreat position by the urging force of the second group lens frame return spring 39. From the camera to the shooting position.

  When the second group lens frame 6 rotates to the angle shown in FIG. 35 (shooting-like position) while sliding the movable spring end portion 40b on the retreat cam surface 21c, and the second group lens moving frame 8 moves forward, the movable spring The end 40b moves away from the retraction cam surface 21c. As a result, the regulation by the cam projection 21a is completely released, and the second group lens frame 6 engages the stopper arm 6e with the eccentric pin 35b of the rotation regulating pin 35 by the urging force of the second group lens frame return spring 39. It is held at the shooting position. That is, the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1 like other lens groups. The rotation of the second lens group frame 6 to the photographing position is completed before reaching the wide end.

  When the shooting state is changed from the housed state, the AF lens frame 51 is moved forward from the rearward moving end abutting on the filter holder 21b, but as shown in FIG. 6, the AF lens frame 51 is moved forward. Even in this state, the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c covers the front of the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD 60. The front surface 51c1 of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c and the side surfaces 51c3 to 53c6 allow the low-pass filter to pass from portions other than the third lens group LG3 to low-pass. Excess light incident on the filter LG4 and the CCD 60 can be reduced. That is, the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c of the AF lens frame 51 not only supports the third lens group LG3, but also functions as a storage unit for storing the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD 60 in the storage state, and in the shooting state. In addition, it functions as a light-shielding portion for preventing extra light from entering the CCD 60.

  The movable lens group is required to have high accuracy in its supporting structure so as not to impair the photographing performance. In particular, in the present lens barrel, not only the movement in the optical axis direction but also the retreat with respect to the second lens group LG2 Required for the second group lens frame 6 and the second group rotating shaft 33 involved in the retreating operation of the second lens group LG2, is several steps higher than the ordinary movable member. Will be expensive. For example, the second group lens moving frame 8 has a built-in shutter unit 76 (exposure control member such as the shutter S and the aperture A), but temporarily rotates a rotation center axis corresponding to the second group rotation shaft 33 in front of the shutter unit 76. Alternatively, if it is provided behind, the axial length of the rotation center axis is limited. Alternatively, the rotation center axis becomes a cantilevered support structure. However, since a minimum clearance for allowing relative rotation is required between the rotation center axis such as the second group rotation shaft 33 and the shaft hole such as the oscillating shaft hole 6d, the rotation center is required. If the shaft length is short or the support structure is cantilevered, there is a possibility that the clearance may cause a fall between the two due to the clearance. It is necessary to eliminate even the tilting that does not cause a problem in the conventional lens support structure with the optical accuracy required for the zoom lens barrel 71 of the present embodiment.

  In the present lens group retracting structure, as can be seen from FIG. 31, the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e located apart from each other with the shutter unit 76 interposed therebetween are connected to the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 2 Since the second lens frame support plate 37 is sandwiched between the second lens frame support plate 36 and the second lens frame support plate 37, the second lens group rotation shaft 33 extends between the second lens frame support plate 37 and the second lens group frame support plate 37. The support structure is a two-sided structure that does not easily fall down. In addition, the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 related to the support of the second group rotation shaft 33 and the swing center cylinder housing hole 8g are formed at positions that do not overlap with the shutter unit 76. The shaft length of the shaft 33 can be increased independently (without interference) of the shutter unit 76. Actually, the axial length of the second group rotation shaft 33 of the substantial embodiment is so long as to be equal to the length of the second group lens moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction. Correspondingly, the axial length of the swing center cylinder 6b sandwiched between the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 is also increased. That is, a sufficiently long engagement length is secured between the swing shaft hole 6d and the second group rotation shaft 33. With the above structure, the second group lens frame 6 is less likely to fall with respect to the second group rotation shaft 33, and the second group lens frame 6 can be driven with high accuracy.

  The positions of the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 are determined by a front boss 8j and a rear boss 8k projecting from the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e, respectively. The front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e are crimped by a common support plate fixing screw 66. Therefore, the position accuracy of the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 with respect to the second group lens movement frame 8, that is, the position accuracy of the second group rotation shaft 33 with respect to the second group lens movement frame 8 can be increased. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the rear support plate mounting surface 8e is flush with the rear end surface of the second group lens moving frame 8, whereas the front support plate mounting surface 8c is located at the front of the second group lens moving frame 8. Further, a partial cylindrical portion 8d protrudes further forward, and the front support plate mounting surface 8c does not serve as the front end surface of the second group lens moving frame 8 in a strict sense. However, in the case of an annular body having a simple end surface shape having no protruding portion such as the partial cylindrical portion 8d, a structure may be employed in which the front and rear end surfaces are directly sandwiched between a pair of shaft support plates.

  In the above-described lens group retracting structure, if the second group lens frame 6 is gradually retracted and rotated using the entire storage movement distance of the second group lens moving frame 8 from the wide end to the storage position, Then, the second group lens frame 6 interferes with the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c of the AF lens frame 51, so that the retracting rotation of the second group lens frame 6 is completed within a short distance of the storage movement distance, and then the lens It is necessary to leave a moving distance for moving the cylinder 6a rearward in the optical axis direction and retracting the cylinder 6a to the space above the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c. In order to secure a sufficient evacuation rotation angle with a short moving distance, the evacuation cam surface 21c is provided with a so-called lead having a large intersection angle with respect to the advancing / retreating direction of the second lens moving frame 8 (that is, a direction parallel to the optical axis). It must be an inclined surface. When the movable spring end portion 40b is pressed by such a retracting cam surface 21c, compared with the case where the movable spring end portion 40b is pressed by a cam surface having a small crossing angle (leading) with respect to the advancing and retreating direction of the second group lens moving frame 8, as shown in FIG. A large reaction force acts on the cam protrusion 21a and the second lens group moving frame 8.

  The cam projection 21a is a fixing member similar to the fixing ring 22. On the other hand, although the second group lens moving frame 8 is guided straight ahead, as shown in FIG. 19, the second group lens moving frame 8 is not directly received straight guide from the fixed ring 22, but the straight guide ring 14 and the second group straight guide. This is a straight running guide with an intermediate member such as the ring 10 interposed, and each straight running guide mechanism has a fitting clearance. Therefore, when a large reaction force acts on the cam projection 21a or the second lens group moving frame 8, the positional relationship between the second lens group moving frame 8 and the CCD holder 21 is deviated due to the fitting clearance, and the second group lens frame 6 Must be taken into account that may affect the evacuation operation. For example, when the second group lens frame 6 is rotated to the retracted position, if the second group lens frame 6 moves further in the retracting direction than the designed position (FIG. 30), it will interfere with the inner wall surface of the second group lens moving frame 8. Conversely, if it stops short of the designed retreat position, interference with the AF lens frame 51 or the like may occur.

  In the present lens group retracting structure, when the second group lens frame 6 is rotated to the retracted position, the guide key 21e provided on the cam projection 21a is engaged with the key groove 8p, so that the cam projection 21a and the second lens group are engaged. The displacement of the moving frame 8 can be prevented, and the second group lens frame 6 can be held at an accurate retreat position (see FIG. 24). More specifically, the movable spring end 40b is engaged with the retreat position holding surface 21d, the retracted state of the second group lens frame 6 is maintained, and the second group lens moving frame 8 has room for retreat. In the middle of the operation, the guide key 21e enters the swing center cylinder housing hole 8g through the guide key entry groove 37g formed in the second lens group frame support plate 37, and engages with the key groove 8p. Since the guide key 21e and the key groove 8p are a groove and a protrusion parallel to the optical axis, respectively, when the guide key 21e and the key groove 8p are engaged with each other, the second group lens moving frame 8 and the cam projection 21a move in the optical axis direction. Are relatively movable, and the relative movement of the key groove 8p in the groove width direction is restricted. The groove width direction of the key groove 8p substantially coincides with the rotation direction of the second lens group frame 6. Therefore, even if a reaction acts on the second group lens moving frame 8 when the second group lens frame 6 is pressed by the retreat cam surface 21c, the engagement between the guide key 21e and the key groove 8p causes the second group lens moving frame 8 and the cam projection to move. Since 21a is maintained in an appropriate positional relationship, there is no possibility that the retracted position of the second lens group frame 6 is shifted.

  In the present embodiment, the timing at which the guide key 21e and the key groove 8p are engaged is after the retreat operation of the second group lens frame 6 by the retreat cam surface 21c is completed. The setting may be made during the operation or before the evacuation operation. The point is that the positional relationship between the second group lens moving frame 8 and the cam projection 21a should be accurate when the second group lens frame 6 is finally held at the retracted position. The timing at which the guide key 21e and the key groove 8p are engaged can be arbitrarily set, for example, by changing the formation area (length) of the guide key 21e in the optical axis direction.

  In the present embodiment, the guide key 21e on the cam protrusion 21a side is a convex portion, and the key groove 8p on the second group lens moving frame 8 side is a concave portion. However, the relationship between the concave and convex portions may be reversed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the guide key 21e is formed on the cam protrusion 21a having the retreat cam surface 21c, but a portion corresponding to the guide key 21e may be formed on the CCD holder 21 other than the cam protrusion 21a. It is possible. However, from the viewpoint of simplification of the structure, it is better to form the guide key 21e on the cam projection 21a together with the retreat cam surface 21c. In addition, when the guide key 21e is formed on the cam projection 21a itself, which is an engagement portion with the second group lens moving frame 8 (strictly, the second group lens frame 6), a more accurate position with respect to the second group lens moving frame 8 It is also effective from the viewpoint of delivery.

  Further, in addition to the above-mentioned reaction force acting on the second lens group moving frame 8 and the cam projection 21a when the second lens group frame 6 retracts, the positional accuracy of the components constituting the lens group retracting mechanism is also improved. Affects operating accuracy. As described above, it is not preferable that the retreat rotation amount given to the second group lens frame 6 is excessive or insufficient. However, in the present embodiment, in particular, in the present embodiment, when the lens barrel 6a and the stopper arm 6e are retracted, the second group lens Due to the space saving achieved by being very close to the inner wall surface of the moving frame 8 (see FIG. 30), a force that causes the second group lens frame 6 to exceed the proper retreat position shown in FIG. Is added to the evacuation mechanism, and it is required to avoid this.

  In order to solve this problem, in the present lens group retracting structure, when the retracting rotation of the second lens group frame 6, the position where the retracting cam surface 21c of the cam projection 21a and the retracting position holding surface 21d come into contact with each other is transmitted not by the retracting arm 6j but by rotation transmission. A movable spring end 40b of the spring 40 is provided so that a slight movement error of the second lens group frame 6 can be absorbed by bending the rotation transmission spring 40. As described above, the rotation transmitting spring 40 transmits the rotational force to the second lens group frame 6 without bending to the shape shown in FIGS. Since there is room for the portion 40b to be flexed by θ1 at the maximum, even if there is a positional error such that the cam projection 21a is slightly shifted to the left from the position in FIG. 37, the movable spring end 40b is fixed to the fixed spring end. This position error can be absorbed by flexing in the direction approaching 40a. That is, the second lens group frame 6 (the lens barrel 6a and the stopper arm 6e) abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the second lens group moving frame 8 (the lens barrel entry recess 8q and the stopper arm entry recess 8r), and further the cam projection 21a. Even when the pressing force is applied, it is possible to prevent the retreating mechanism of the second lens group frame 6 from being subjected to excessive stress due to the bending of the rotation transmission spring 40.

  In the present lens group retracting structure, as shown in FIG. 30, the swing arm 6c of the second lens group frame 6 held at the retracted position is connected to the linear guide grooves 8a-W through which the exposure control FPC board 77 is inserted. The inside of the swing arm 6c is adjacent to the inside, and the surface on the outer diameter side of the swing arm 6c closes a part of the bottom of the straight guide groove 8a-W. In other words, a straight guide groove 8a-W is formed on the outer diameter side of the intermediate position of the line connecting the second group rotation shaft 33 and the retreat optical axis Z2, and the exposure control FPC board 77 is passed through. As a result, when the second lens group frame 6 is at the retracted position, the swing arm 6c supports the exposure control FPC board 77 from the lens barrel inner diameter side (FIG. 30). The relationship between the exposure control FPC board 77 and the second group lens frame 6 in the supported state is shown by a solid line in FIG. Note that what is indicated by a two-dot chain line in the drawing is the second lens group frame 6 when it is at the photographing position. As can be seen from FIG. 43, the swing arm 6c pushes the U-shaped portion 77b and the first linear portion 77a of the exposure control FPC board 77 from the inner diameter side of the lens barrel to the outer diameter side, and the exposure control FPC board 77 Prevents slack in the lens barrel inner diameter direction.

  Specifically, the swing arm 6c is provided with a linear support surface 6q and an inclined support surface 6r located behind the linear support surface 6q, and a rear protruding portion 6m projects immediately after the inclined support surface 6r. ing. At the retracted position of the second lens group frame 6, the linear support surface 6q pushes up the first linear portion 77a in the radial direction, and the inclined support surface 6r and the rear projecting portion 6m push up the U-shaped portion 77b in the radial direction. The inclined support surface 6r is inclined so as to follow the shape of the U-shaped portion 77b.

  In general, a flexible printed circuit board (flexible printed circuit board, hereinafter referred to as FPC) for connecting an advancing / retreating member in the optical axis direction and a fixed member in a lens barrel needs a length corresponding to a maximum extension state of the advancing / retreating member. For this reason, the length of the FPC tends to be excessive when the extension amount of the advance / retreat member is minimum, that is, when the lens barrel is stored. In particular, in the present embodiment, the length in the optical axis direction when the zoom lens barrel 71 is stored is greatly shortened by retracting the second lens group LG2 on the retracting optical axis Z2, and this tendency is strong. If the slack portion of the FPC interferes with or is pinched by other lens barrel components, it may cause a failure or damage. Therefore, a structure for preventing slack is required. There were many complicated things. On the other hand, in 71 of the present embodiment, focusing on the retracted state of the second group lens frame 6 in which the lens barrel storage state in which the exposure control FPC board 77 is likely to be loosened is the second group lens in the retracted position. Since the exposure control FPC board 77 is pushed up in the outer diameter direction using the frame 6, it is possible to reliably prevent the exposure control FPC board 77 from loosening with a simple structure.

  In the retreat structure of the second group lens frame 6 of the present embodiment, the second group lens frame 6 rotates and moves backward when operating to the retreat position, and its movement locus advances obliquely rearward from the imaging optical axis Z1. It becomes. On the other hand, the AF lens frame 51 is located behind the second lens group frame 6 in the shooting state. As shown in FIG. 39 to FIG. 41, a retreat-direction inclined surface 51h is formed from the front end surface 51c1 to the upper side surface 51c5 of the front protruding cylindrical portion 51c of the AF lens frame 51. The evacuation direction slope 51h is inclined so as to gradually move backward in the optical axis direction as it advances in the radial direction (outer radial direction) around the photographing optical axis Z1. The surface is cut out along the movement locus of the lens barrel 6a. Further, the evacuation direction slope 51h is a curved concave surface corresponding to the outer shape of the lens barrel 6a.

  As described above, during the lens barrel storage operation, before the retreat operation of the second group lens frame 6 occurs, the AF lens frame 51 reaches the rearward movement end (storage position) where it touches the front surface of the filter holder 21b of the CCD holder 21. It is moved (FIGS. 40 and 41). When the retracting operation of the second lens group frame 6 is performed in this state, the rear end of the lens barrel 6a moves obliquely rearward and approaches the evacuation direction slope 51h, so that the evacuation direction slope 51h is grazed. Moved to the position. In other words, the retracting operation of the second lens group frame 6 can be performed at a position close to the AF lens frame 51 by an amount corresponding to the formation of the inclined surface 51h in the retracting direction to avoid interference with the lens barrel 6a.

  Here, assuming that there is no inclined surface such as the inclined surface 51h in the evacuation direction, in order to avoid interference with the AF lens frame 51, the rotation of the second group lens frame 6 to the evacuation position is performed earlier than in the present embodiment. Must be completed. To this end, it is necessary to increase the amount of backward movement of the second-group lens moving frame 8 and the amount of protrusion of the cam projection 21a, but these are against the downsizing of the lens barrel. If the amount of backward movement of the second group lens moving frame 8 is constant, the inclination angle of the retraction cam surface 21c with respect to the optical axis must be increased. However, if the inclination of the cam surface is too large, the reaction force at the time of pressing is large. (Resistance) increases, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of smooth operation. On the other hand, in the evacuation structure of the present embodiment, the evacuation direction slope 51h is formed so that the evacuation operation of the second group lens frame 6 can be executed even if the evacuation unit moves backward to a position as close to the AF lens frame 51 as possible. Even with a relatively small amount of backward movement of the second group lens moving frame 8, the retraction cam surface 21c can be formed in a reasonable shape, and both miniaturization and smooth operation can be achieved. Further, the CD holder 21 is formed with a retreat direction slope 21f that is continuous with the retreat direction slope 51h of the AF lens frame 51, and the retreat direction slope 21f functions in the same manner as the retreat direction slope 51h. In the present embodiment, the AF lens frame 51 is a movable member in the optical axis direction. However, the above-described effect of the retreating slope 51h is a lens mirror of a type in which the member corresponding to the AF lens frame 51 does not move in the optical axis direction. It is also effective for cylinders.

  As described above, in the retracting structure of the second lens group frame 6 of the present embodiment, when the shooting state is changed from the photographing state to the retracted state, the retreat of the AF lens frame 51 from the focusing movable area (use position) is restricted by the filter holder 21b. In the state (FIGS. 40 and 41) already moved to the rearward moving end (retracted storage position), the second group lens frame 6 performs the retreating rotation and retreating operation (even if it shifts to the retreating state). It is designed not to interfere with the AF lens frame 51. When the main switch is turned off, the control circuit 140 controls the AF motor 160 to drive the AF lens frame 51 to the rearward movement end. However, if the AF lens frame 51 is not moved to the rearward movement end for some reason even if the main switch is turned off, the AF lens frame 51 is moved rearward in the optical axis direction together with the second group lens movement frame 8 toward the retreat position. There is a possibility that the AF lens frame 51 may overlap the movement locus of the second lens group frame 6 during rotation (FIGS. 46 and 44).

  As a fail-safe structure, a rear protruding portion 6m that protrudes rearward in the optical axis direction from the second lens group LG2 is formed in the second lens group frame 6, and a rear protruding cylindrical portion 51c of the AF lens frame 51 is formed. On the distal end surface 51c1, a rib-shaped front protruding portion 51f protruding forward from the third lens group LG3 is formed at a position opposed to the rear protruding portion 6m. See FIG. 47). As shown in FIG. 47, the front protruding portion 51f has a rear protruding portion 6m (AF frame contact) when the second lens group frame 6 rotates from the photographing position to the retracted position in a plane direction orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1. It is formed in a region corresponding to the movement locus of the surface 6n). Thus, until the second lens group frame 6 moves the second lens group LG2 onto the retreat optical axis Z2, the AF frame contact surface 6n, which is the rear end surface of the rear protruding portion 6m, and the front surface of the front protruding portion 51f. Are always facing each other. When the second lens group frame 6 and the AF lens frame 51 are moved closer in the optical axis direction, the AF frame contact surface 6n and the inclined contact surface 51g come into contact with each other first.

  Therefore, even if the second lens group frame 6 retreats and retracts in a state where the AF lens frame 51 does not move to the rearward movement end and stops at an incomplete retreat position, the front protruding portion 51f of the AF lens frame 51 does not move. Since the AF frame contact surface 6n of the rear protruding portion 6m always comes into contact with the inclined contact surface 51g first, there is no possibility that the second lens group LG2 comes into contact with the AF lens frame 51 and is damaged. In other words, as shown in FIG. 47, the movement trajectory of the AF frame contact surface 6n does not overlap with the third lens group LG3 at any angular position of the second lens group frame 6, so that 2 There is no possibility that other portions of the group lens frame 6 may be damaged by contacting the third lens group LG3. With the above structure, the contact point between the second group lens frame 6 and the AF lens frame 51 is always limited to the rear projecting portion 6m (AF frame contact surface 6n) and the front projecting portion 51f (inclination contact surface 51g). The optical performance of the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3 is not adversely affected. In addition, the second lens group frame 6 during the retreating operation and the retreat rotation presses the inclined contact surface 51g via the AF frame contact surface 6n, so that the stopped AF lens frame 51 can be pushed downward. It is. As described above, even when the AF nut 54 is stopped, the AF lens frame 51 can move rearward in the optical axis direction while sliding the rotation restricting protrusion 54a and the guide groove 51m. When the second group lens frame 6 presses the AF lens frame 51 backward in the optical axis direction, the AF frame urging spring 55 is compressed.

In the present embodiment, the AF frame contact surface 6n and the front protruding portion 51f are contact (possible) locations, but the contact (possible) location of the second group lens frame 6 and the AF lens frame 51 is different from this. You can also For example, one contact surface may be formed not in the tip of the protrusion but in the recess. The point is that the second lens group LG2 and the AF lens frame 51 may be provided with a portion where the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group L3 come into contact with each other at a timing such that they do not hit other members.

  When the second lens group LG2 moves from the shooting state (use state) to the housed state (retreat state) while receiving pressure from the retreat cam surface 21c, it moves (rotates) in a direction away from the shooting optical axis Z1 to emit light. Move backward in the axial direction. That is, the movement trajectory of the second lens group LG2 includes an inclined section that is inclined away from the photographing optical axis Z1 when the photographing optical axis Z1 is viewed from the side. Similarly, in this inclined section, the rear protruding portion 6m of the second lens group frame 6 is also retracted while moving (rotating) upward in FIGS. The inclined contact surface 51g of the front projection 51f is formed as an inclined surface in a direction corresponding to the movement locus of the rear projection 6m. That is, while the AF frame contact surface 6n of the rear protruding portion 6m is a plane orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1, the inclined protruding portion 51f of the front protruding portion 51f is, as shown in FIGS. It is inclined by θ2 with respect to a plane orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1. On the other hand, if the front surface of the front protruding portion 51f is a surface parallel to the AF frame abutting surface 6n, the sliding resistance increases when both surfaces come into contact during the retreat rotation of the second lens group frame 6. That is, the retreat rotation of the second group lens frame 6 may be hindered. On the other hand, by forming the front surface of the front protruding portion 51f as an inclined surface such as the inclined contact surface 51g, even when the second group lens frame 6 comes into contact with the AF frame contact surface 6n during the retreat rotation. In addition, the sliding resistance can be reduced to ensure the retreat. In the present embodiment, θ2 is set to 3 degrees as a desirable inclination angle.

  When the rear projection 6m and the front projection 51f are not in contact with each other, but the AF lens frame 51 is not completely retracted, the slope 51h in the evacuation direction is moved to the rear end of the lens barrel 6a (strictly speaking, a light-shielding ring). 9), and may function as a fail-safe surface similar to the inclined contact surface 51g.

  The lens retracting mechanism also moves the optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 in a plane direction orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1 when the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 does not coincide with the photographing optical axis Z1. It is possible to adjust. Two types of optical axis position adjustment mechanisms are provided, one of which is a position adjustment mechanism of the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 with respect to the second group lens moving frame 8, and this adjustment is performed by the first eccentric shaft member. This is performed by rotating the 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y. The other is a mechanism for adjusting the contact position of the eccentric pin 35b with the stopper arm 6e. This adjustment is performed by rotating the rotation restricting pin 35.

  First, a mechanism for adjusting the position of the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 with respect to the second group lens moving frame 8 will be described. The support structure for the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y has been described above, but when repeated, as shown in FIGS. 28, 32 and 33, the front eccentric pin 34X-b of the first eccentric shaft member 34X. Is slidable with respect to the first vertically elongated hole 36a in the longitudinal (long axis) direction of the first vertically elongated hole 36a, and is relatively immovable in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The pin 34Y-b is slidable with respect to the horizontally long hole 36e in the longitudinal (long axis) direction of the horizontally long hole 36e, and is engaged so as to be relatively immovable in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction of the first vertically long hole 36a and the longitudinal direction of the horizontally long hole 36e are orthogonal to each other. Hereinafter, the former parallel to the vertical direction of the camera will be referred to as the Y direction, and the latter parallel to the horizontal direction of the camera will be referred to as the X direction. .

  The long axis of the first vertically elongated hole 37a formed in the rear second group lens frame support plate 37 is parallel to the long axis of the first vertically elongated hole 36a of the second group lens frame support plate 36. That is, the first vertically long hole 37a is a long hole that is long in the Y direction. The front and rear first vertically long holes 36a and 37a are formed at positions facing the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37. The long axis of the horizontally long hole 37 e of the second group lens frame support plate 37 is parallel to the long axis of the horizontally long hole 36 e of the second group lens frame support plate 36. That is, the horizontally long hole 37e is a long hole elongated in the X direction. The front and rear oblong holes 36e and 37e are formed at positions facing the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37. As shown in FIG. 29, the rear eccentric pin 34X-c is slidable in the Y direction and relatively immovable in the X direction with respect to the first elongated hole 37a, like the front eccentric pin 34X-b. The front eccentric pin 34Y-b is engaged with the horizontally long hole 37e so as to be slidable in the X direction and relatively immovable in the Y direction.

  Like the above-described first vertically long holes 36a, 37a and horizontally long holes 36e, 37e, the second vertically long holes 36f, 37f have their long axes parallel to each other, and are located at positions where the second group lens frame support plates 36, 37 face each other. Is formed. The second vertically long holes 36f, 37f are long holes in the Y direction parallel to the first vertically long holes 36a, 37a. The front boss 8j and the rear boss 8k projecting from the second group lens moving frame 8 engage with the second vertically long holes 36f and 37f, respectively, so as to be slidable in the Y direction and immovable in the X direction. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 31, the large-diameter shaft portion 34X-a and the large-diameter shaft portion 34Y-a are engaged with the eccentric shaft support holes 8f and 8i so as not to move in the radial direction. Therefore, the first eccentric shaft member 34X rotates about the adjustment axis PX, which is the central axis of the large-diameter shaft portion 34X-a, and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y is the central axis of the large-diameter shaft portion 34Y-a. It rotates around the adjustment axis PY1.

  The front eccentric pin 34Y-b and the rear eccentric pin 34Y-c are formed coaxially at a position eccentric with respect to the adjustment axis PY1. Therefore, when the second eccentric shaft member 34Y is rotated about the adjustment axis PY1, the Y-axis trajectory of the front eccentric pin 34Y-b and the rear eccentric pin 34Y-c in an arc-shaped trajectory centered on the adjustment axis PY1. The moving power to is given. The front eccentric pin 34Y-b and the rear eccentric pin 34Y-c are engaged with the horizontally elongated hole 36e and the horizontally elongated hole 37e, respectively, in a state where the relative movement in the Y direction is restricted. , 34Y-c are moved in the X direction in the horizontally long holes 36e and 37e, and the moving force in the Y direction is transmitted to the second lens frame support plate 36 and the second lens frame support plate 37. Here, the two first vertically long holes 36a and the second vertically long holes 36f formed on the second group lens frame support plate 36 are both long holes in the Y direction, and are formed on the second group lens frame support plate 37. Since the two first vertically long holes 37a and the second vertically long holes 37f are also long holes in the Y direction, the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 are engaged with the projections ( It is guided by the front eccentric pin 34X-b and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c, the front boss 8j and the rear boss 8k) and moves straight in the Y direction. As a result, the position of the second lens group frame 6 with respect to the second lens group moving frame 8 is displaced in the Y direction, and the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 is adjusted in the Y direction.

  The front eccentric pin 34X-b and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c are formed coaxially at a position eccentric with respect to the adjustment axis PX. Therefore, when the first eccentric shaft member 34X is rotated about the adjustment axis PX, the front eccentric pin 34X-b and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c move in an approximately X-direction along an arc-shaped locus about the adjustment axis PX. The moving power to is given. Since the front eccentric pin 34X-b and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c are engaged with the first vertically elongated hole 36a and the first vertically elongated hole 37a, respectively, in a state where the relative movement in the X direction is regulated, While the pins 34X-b and 34X-c are moved in the Y direction in the first vertically elongated holes 36a and 37a, the moving force in the X direction with respect to the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 is increased. Is transmitted. Here, the front eccentric pin 34Y-b and the rear eccentric pin 34Y-c can move in the X direction with respect to the horizontally long hole 36e and the horizontally long hole 37e, respectively. Since the movement in the X direction is restricted with respect to the second vertically long hole 36f and the second vertically long hole 37f, the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 are connected to the second vertically long hole 36f and the second vertically long hole 36f. It is swung about the lower end side having the vertically long hole 37f. The center of this swing is the relative position of the horizontally long holes 36e, 37e and the eccentric pins 34Y-b, 34Y-c before and after engaging with them, and the second vertically long holes 36f, 37f with the bosses 8j, 8k before and after engaging with them. The center position changes as the second group lens frame supporting plate 36 and the second group lens frame supporting plate 37 swing. Since the second group rotation shaft 33 supporting the second group lens frame 6 is located at a position distant from the center of the swing, the swing of the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 is caused by the movement of the second group At the position of the rotation shaft 33, it can be handled as an approximation of a linear movement in the X direction. Therefore, the position of the second lens group LG2 changes in the X direction due to the rotation of the first eccentric shaft member 34X.

  As the optical axis adjusting mechanism using two eccentric shaft members, another form as shown in FIG. 50 is also possible. The adjustment mechanism of FIG. 50 differs in that the front boss 8j and the rear boss 8k engage with oblong slots 36f ′ and 37f ′ that are inclined in both the Y direction and the X direction. The oblique elongated holes 36f 'and 37f' are parallel to each other and formed at symmetrical positions in the optical axis direction. Since the inclined oblong holes 36f 'and 37f' include both components in the X direction and the Y direction, when the second eccentric shaft member 34Y is rotated in this structure, the oblique holes 36f 'and 37f' are inclined with respect to the front boss 8j and the rear boss 8k. The long holes 36f 'and 37f' are slightly displaced in the X direction while moving in the Y direction. As a result, the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 move in the Y direction while slightly swinging the vicinity of the lower end portion having the oblong slots 36f 'and 37f' in the X direction. Further, when the first eccentric shaft member 34X is rotated, the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support while slightly displacing (swinging) in the Y direction are included as in the previous embodiment. The plate 37 moves in the X direction. By combining these two types of movements, the position of the second lens group frame 6 can be appropriately changed within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

  The optical axis adjustment of the second lens group LG2 by the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y is performed with the support plate fixing screw 66 loosened, and when the adjustment is completed, the support plate fixing screw 66 is tightened. Then, the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 sandwich the front support plate mounting surface 8c and the rear support plate mounting surface 8e while maintaining the adjusted positional relationship, and the second group rotation shaft 33 is also kept in the adjusted position. Since the optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 is determined based on the second group rotation shaft 33, as a result, the adjusted optical axis position is maintained. As a result of the optical axis position adjustment, the support plate fixing screw 66 moves together with the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37. However, as shown in FIG. 31, the screw shaft portion 66a is positioned with respect to the screw insertion hole 8h. The support plate fixing screw 66 and the second-group lens moving frame 8 do not interfere with each other with a loose fit with a sufficient amount of movement for adjusting the optical axis position.

  The mechanism for adjusting the position by moving the moving object two-dimensionally includes a second movable stage that can move forward and backward in a linear direction perpendicular to the first movable stage that can move forward and backward in a specific linear direction. A movable stage provided with a movable stage and further supporting a driven object thereon is known as a typical type. However, such a two-stage support structure has a disadvantage that the structure is complicated. On the other hand, in the optical axis position adjusting mechanism of the present lens barrel, each of the second group lens frame support plates 36, 37 moves in both the X component direction and the Y component direction on a single plane (8c, 8e). Since it is supported as possible, a two-dimensional adjustment mechanism can be realized with a simple structure.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 which are separated from each other in order to enhance the support stability of the second group lens frame 6 are provided, but the optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 is provided. If attention is paid to the point of adjusting the second lens group frame support plate 36 or 37, only one of the second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 can be moved. What is necessary is just to make the form to move only a board.

  However, in the present embodiment, as a more preferable form, a pair of front and rear support plates of the second lens group frame support plates 36 and 37 are provided, and the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y form a front and rear pair, respectively. An eccentric pin is provided, and a pair of front and rear bosses 8j and 8k is provided on the second group lens moving frame 8 as well. When the first eccentric shaft member 34X or the second eccentric shaft member 34Y is rotated, the front and rear second group lens frame support plates 36 and 37 maintain the same trajectory while maintaining parallel with each other. (The same amount in the same direction). For example, regardless of which of the front eccentric pin 34X-b and the rear eccentric pin 34X-c of the first eccentric shaft member 34X is rotated, the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 The second group lens frame support plate moves evenly (in the same amount) in the X direction and rotates either the front eccentric pin 34Y-b or the rear eccentric pin 34Y-c of the second eccentric shaft member 34Y. 36 and the second lens group frame support plate 37 move equally (the same amount) in the Y direction. As will be described later, in this embodiment, a rotational force is applied by a driver to the front eccentric pin 34X-b and the front eccentric pin 34Y-b on the side of the second group lens frame support plate 36. The support plate 37 follows the second lens group frame support plate 36 without kinking. Therefore, there is no possibility that the second-group rotating shaft 33 may be tilted during the optical axis adjustment, and the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 can be easily and accurately adjusted.

  Further, the first eccentric shaft member 34X and the second eccentric shaft member 34Y are sandwiched between the second group lens frame support plate 36 and the second group lens frame support plate 37 provided separately at the front and rear positions with the shutter unit 76 interposed therebetween. Like the second-group rotating shaft 33, the axial length is secured to be long enough to be equal to the length of the second-group lens moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction. Accurate optical axis adjustment is achieved.

  Next, adjustment of the optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 based on the relationship between the stopper arm 6e and the eccentric pin 35b will be described. As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the rotation restricting pin 35 has the large-diameter shaft portion 35a inserted into the rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m, and the eccentric pin 35b is located behind the rotation restriction pin insertion hole 8m. Projecting to As described above, when the large-diameter shaft portion 35a is inserted into the rotation restricting pin insertion hole 8m, the eccentric pin 35b does not rotate carelessly, but the eccentric pin 35b is rotated when a predetermined rotational force is applied. Is set to be able to. As shown in FIG. 27, the eccentric pin 35b is located on the movement locus of the stopper arm 6e. The eccentric pin 35b is provided so as to protrude at a position eccentric in the X direction with respect to the adjustment axis PY2 passing through the center of the large-diameter shaft portion 35a (FIG. 34). When rotated, the eccentric pin 35b is displaced substantially in the Y direction. As described above, since the eccentric pin 35b is a member that determines the imaging position of the second lens group frame 6, if the eccentric pin 35b is displaced in the Y direction, the optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 at the imaging position will result. Is moved in the Y direction. The optical axis position adjustment by the rotation restricting pin 35 can be used together with the adjustment by the second eccentric shaft member 34Y. In particular, when the adjustment amount by the second eccentric shaft member 34Y alone is not sufficient, the rotation is adjusted as an auxiliary adjustment. It is preferable to use the movement regulating pin 35.

  As shown in FIG. 28, each of the rotation operation grooves 34X-d, 34Y-d, and 35c in the first eccentric shaft member 34X, the second eccentric shaft member 34Y, and the rotation restricting pin 35 is a two-group lens moving frame. 8 is exposed in front. The rotation operation groove 66b of the support plate fixing screw 66 is also exposed to the front of the second group lens moving frame 8. Therefore, the operation of adjusting the optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 is all performed from the front of the second lens group moving frame 8. On the other hand, an inner diameter flange 12c for supporting a lens barrier mechanism is formed on the inner diameter side of the first outer cylinder 12 attached to the outside of the second group lens moving frame 8, and the inner diameter flange 12c At the same time, the front of the second group lens moving frame 8 is closed.

  As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, the inner diameter flange 12c of the first outer cylinder 12 has four circular driver insertion holes 12d for exposing the rotation operation grooves 34X-d, 34Y-d, 35c, and 66b forward. , 12e, 12f and 12g are formed penetrating in the optical axis direction. Further, in the first group retaining ring 3, the portion overlapping with the driver insertion holes 12e, 12f and 12g is also cut out in a circular shape. By forming these driver insertion holes 12d, 12e, 12f, and 12g, the front outer cylinder 12 is attached to the first outer cylinder 12, and forwardly with respect to any of the rotation operation grooves 34X-d, 34Y-d, 35c, and 66b. Can be engaged with the driver. Each of the driver insertion holes 12d, 12e, 12f, and 12g is exposed by removing the barrier cover 101 and the aforementioned lens barrier mechanism located behind the barrier cover 101, and does not actually disassemble the lens barrel components other than the lens barrier mechanism. The optical axis position of the second lens group LG2 can be adjusted while the camera is completed. Therefore, even if a positional error of the second lens group LG2 occurs during the assembling, it can be easily adjusted in the final step of assembling, and the workability is excellent.

  As described above, the zoom lens barrel 71 of the present embodiment retracts the second lens group LG2 out of the photographing optical axis Z1, and then moves the second lens group LG2 to the rear optical element (the third lens group LG3). , The low-pass filter LG4, the CCD 60) so as to be overlapped in the radial direction, so that the length in the optical axis direction at the time of storage can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional lens barrel. By providing a guide key 21e and a key groove 8p, which are sliding engagement portions that slidably engage in the optical axis direction when the second lens group LG2 is retracted, the cam projection 21a (the CCD holder 21) is provided. The positional accuracy of the second group lens moving frame 8 is improved, and as a result, it is possible to hold the second group lens frame 6 at an accurate retracted position. That is, the retracted optical element can be driven with high accuracy.

  However, the specific structure of the zoom lens barrel 71 is an example in which the present invention can be implemented, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the timing at which the guide key 21e and the key groove 8p are engaged is after the retreat operation of the second group lens frame 6 by the retreat cam surface 21c is completed. May be set during the evacuation operation or before the evacuation operation.

  In addition, as described above, the linearly advancing / retreating member corresponding to the second group lens moving frame 8 and the non-rotating member corresponding to the CCD holder 21 are each provided with a convex portion corresponding to the guide key 21e, and each corresponding to the key groove 8p. It is possible to arbitrarily select whether or not to provide the recessed portion. In other words, contrary to the embodiment, a convex portion such as the guide key 21e may be provided on the second group lens moving frame 8 side, and a concave portion such as the key groove 8p may be provided on the cam protrusion 21a side.

  Further, as described above, the engagement portion corresponding to the guide key 21e can be formed at a portion other than the cam protrusion 21a. Further, in the present invention, the mechanism (retreat control unit) for retracting the optical element outside the photographing optical axis may be a mode other than the cam projection 21a of the embodiment.

  Further, in the zoom lens barrel 71 of the embodiment, the second lens group LG2 performs the retreating movement by the rotation of the second lens group frame 6; The present invention is also applicable to a lens barrel that retracts an optical element to the outside. In short, any lens barrel having an optical element that moves in a direction away from the photographing optical axis (a direction including a component orthogonal to the photographing optical axis) during storage may be used.

  Further, in the embodiment, the optical element retracted outside the photographing optical axis is the second lens group LG2, but the retractable optical element in the present invention can be any lens group. Alternatively, a stop, a shutter, a low-pass filter, and the like other than the lens group can also be used as the retractable optical element.

Although the embodiment is a zoom lens barrel, the present invention can be applied to a single focus lens barrel as long as the retracting optical element is moved on and off the shooting optical axis. It is possible. Although the embodiment is applied to a so-called digital still camera, the present invention can be applied to other optical devices.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of elements related to a support mechanism of a first lens group in the zoom lens barrel in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of elements related to a support mechanism of a second lens group in the zoom lens barrel in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of elements related to a feeding mechanism from a fixed ring to a third outer cylinder in the zoom lens barrel in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a completed state in which a zoom motor and a finder unit are added to the zoom lens barrel of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a use state of a camera equipped with a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention is applied, at a wide end and a telephoto end. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the camera in a lens barrel stored state. FIG. 4 is a developed plan view of a fixed ring. FIG. 3 is a developed plan view of a helicoid ring. FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view showing components on the inner peripheral surface side of the helicoid ring in a see-through manner. It is a development top view of the 3rd outer cylinder. FIG. 4 is a developed plan view of a straight guide ring. FIG. 4 is a developed plan view of a cam ring. FIG. 7 is an exploded plan view showing the second group guide cam groove on the inner peripheral surface side of the cam ring in a see-through manner. FIG. 4 is a developed plan view of a straight guide ring. FIG. 5 is a developed plan view of a second group lens moving frame. It is a development top view of a 2nd outer cylinder. FIG. 4 is a developed plan view of a first outer cylinder. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an operation relationship of main components of the zoom lens barrel according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a support mechanism for a second group lens frame. FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a state where the support mechanisms of FIG. 20 are combined. It is the same rear perspective view. FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view showing a state where the cam projection is being inserted into the cam projection insertion / removal opening of the rear second lens group frame supporting plate. FIG. 3 is a front view of a single unit lens moving frame. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a single unit lens moving frame. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second group lens moving frame in a state where the second group lens frame and a shutter unit are assembled. It is the same rear perspective view. It is the same front view. It is the same rear view. 30 is a rear view showing a state where the second lens group frame is retracted from the state of FIG. 29. FIG. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 28 taken along the line XXXI-XXXI. FIG. 29 is a front view showing the second lens group frame held at the photographing position in the state of FIG. 28 in a see-through manner. It is a front view which expands and shows the principal part of the optical axis adjustment mechanism of the 2nd lens group by the 1st and 2nd eccentric shaft member. FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of an optical axis adjustment mechanism of a second lens group using a rotation restricting pin. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a relationship between a second lens group frame and a cam projection held at a shooting position. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state where the second lens group frame is rotated to a position near a retreat position by a retreat cam surface of a cam projection. It is a front view showing the state where the 2nd lens frame was held at the retreat position by the retreat position holding surface of the cam projection. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retreated AF lens frame and the CCD holder as viewed from obliquely below. FIG. 3 is a front view of a CCD holder, an AF lens frame, and a second lens group moving frame. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the second lens group is retracted to a position immediately before contacting a cam protrusion. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the second lens group frame is held at a retracted position and retracted to a rearward movement end. It is sectional drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning structure of an exposure control FPC board. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a mode of holding the exposure control FPC board by the second group lens frame. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the second lens group frame approaches the AF lens frame. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state immediately before the second group lens frame comes into contact with the AF lens frame. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where the second lens group frame is in contact with the AF lens frame. FIG. 8 is a front view showing a positional relationship between a movement locus of a second lens group frame and an AF lens frame. It is a perspective view of the 1st outer cylinder which covers a 2nd lens group moving frame. It is the same front view. It is a front view showing different embodiments of the optical axis adjustment mechanism of the 2nd lens group by the 1st and 2nd eccentric shaft member.

Explanation of reference numerals

A Aperture LG1 First lens group LG2 Second lens group (evacuation optical element)
LG3 third lens group (back optical element)
LG4 Low-pass filter (back optical element)
PX PY1 PY2 Adjustment axis S Shutter Z0 Lens barrel center axis Z1 Photographing optical axis Z2 Evacuation optical axis Z3 Optical axis of finder objective system 1 Group 1 lens frame 1a Male adjustment screw 1b Attachment 2 Group 1 adjustment ring 2a Female adjustment screw 2b Guide protrusion 2c Engagement claw 3 First group retaining ring 3a Spring receiving portion 6 Second group lens frame (optical element holding member, swing member)
6a Lens cylinder 6b Oscillating center cylinder 6c Oscillating arm 6d Oscillating shaft hole 6e Stopper arm 6f Front spring supporting portion 6g Back spring supporting portion 6h 6i Spring retaining projection 6j Retreating arm 6k 6p Spring hooking hole 6m Rear projecting portion 6n AF Frame contact surface 6q Linear support surface 6r Inclined support surface 6z Spring storage hole 8 Two-group lens moving frame (straight forward / backward member)
8a 8a-W Straight guide groove 8b Cam follower for second group 8b-1 Front cam follower 8b-2 Rear cam follower 8c Front support plate mounting surface 8d Partial cylindrical portion 8e Rear support plate mounting surface 8f Eccentric shaft support hole 8g Swing center cylinder storage Hole (projection entry hole)
8h Screw insertion hole 8i Eccentric shaft support hole 8j Front boss 8k Rear boss 8m Rotation restriction pin insertion hole 8n Through space 8p Keyway (sliding engagement portion)
8q Lens barrel entry recess 8r Stopper arm entry recess 8s Intermediate flange portion 8t 2nd lens moving opening 9 Shield ring 10 2nd straight guide ring (straight guide relay member)
10a crotch-shaped projection 10b ring portion 10c 10c-W straight guide key 10d FPC through hole 11 cam ring 11a second group guide cam groove 11a-1 front cam groove 11a-2 rear cam groove 11b first group guide cam groove 11c 11e circumferential groove 11d Barrier drive ring pressing surface 12 First outer cylinder 12a Engagement projection 12b First group adjustment ring guide groove 12c Inner diameter flange 12d Driver insertion hole 12e Driver insertion hole 12f Driver insertion hole 12g Driver insertion hole 13 Second outer cylinder 13a Straight guide projection 13b Straight guide groove 13c Inner diameter flange 14 Straight guide ring (straight guide relay member)
14a Linear guide protrusion 14b Relative rotation guide protrusion 14c Relative rotation guide protrusion 14d Circumferential groove 14e Roller guide through groove 14e-1 Circumferential groove 14e-2 Circumferential groove 14e-3 Lead groove 14f First straight guide groove 14g 2 straight guide groove 15 third outer cylinder 15a rotation transmitting protrusion 15b fitting protrusion 15c concave portion with spring contact 15d relative rotation guiding protrusion 15e circumferential groove 15f roller fitting groove 17 roller biasing spring 17a roller pressing piece 18 helicoid ring 18a Male helicoid 18b Rotating sliding protrusion 18c Spur gear part 18d Rotation transmitting recess 18e Fitting recess 18f Spring insertion recess 18g Circumferential groove 21 CCD holder (non-rotating member, fixed member, image sensor holder)
21a Cam protrusion (evacuation control unit, pressing protrusion)
21b Filter holder 21c Evacuation cam surface (evacuation control unit)
21d Evacuation position holding surface (Evacuation holding surface)
21e Guide key (sliding engagement part)
21f Evacuation direction slope 21v1 21v2 Shaft support hole 22 Fixed ring 22a Female helicoid 22b Straight guide groove 22c Slant groove 22d Rotation slide groove 22e Stopper insertion / removal hole 22f Annular portion 22g 22h Notch 22q FPC through hole 22t1 22t2 Support protrusion 22v1 22v2 shaft Supporting hole 22z Front annular region 24 First group biasing spring 25 Separating direction biasing spring 26 Disassembly stopper 28 Zoom gear 29 Zoom gear shaft 30 Finder gear 31 First group roller 32 Cam ring roller 32a Roller fixing screw 33 Second group rotation shaft Moving center axis)
33a Flange 34X First eccentric shaft member 34X-a Large diameter shaft portion 34X-b Front eccentric pin 34X-c Rear eccentric pin 34X-d Rotating operation groove 34Y Second eccentric shaft member 34Y-a Large diameter shaft portion 34Y-b Front Eccentric pin 34Y-c Rear eccentric pin 34Y-d Rotation operation groove 35 Rotation restricting pin (on-axis position holding means, stopper)
35a Large diameter shaft 35b Eccentric pin (stopper)
35c Rotating operation groove 36 37 2nd lens frame support plate 36a 37a First vertical hole 36b 37b Rotating shaft fitting hole 36c 37c Cam projection insertion / removal opening 36d Screw insertion hole 37d Screw screw hole 36e 37e Horizontal elongated hole 36f 37f Second Vertically elongated holes 36f '37f' Inclined elongated holes 36g Spring hooks 37g Guide key entry grooves 38 Axial pressing springs 39 Second lens frame return springs (on-axis position holding means, biasing springs)
39a front spring end 39b rear spring end 40 rotation transmission spring 40a fixed spring end 40b movable spring end 51 AF lens frame (third group lens frame)
51a 51b Guide hole 51c Front projecting cylindrical portion 51c1 Tip surface 51c2 Opening 51c3 51c4 51c5 51c6 Side surface 51d 51e Guide arm 51f Front projecting portion 51g Inclined contact surface 51h Evacuation direction inclined surface 52 53 AF guide shaft 54 AF nut 55 AF frame Energizing spring 60 CCD (solid-state image sensor, rear optical element)
61 packing 62 CCD base plate 64 retaining ring fixing screw 66 support plate fixing screw 66a screw shaft portion 66b rotation operation groove 70 digital camera 71 zoom lens barrel 72 camera body 74 reduction gear box 75 lens drive control FPC board 76 shutter unit 77 exposure Control FPC board 77a First linear portion 77b U-shaped portion 77c Second linear portion 77d Third linear portion 80 Finder unit 81a Object window 81b 81c Movable zoom lens 81d Prism 81e Eyepiece lens 81f Eyepiece window 83 84 Holding frame 85 86 Guide shaft 90 Cam gear 101 Barrier cover 102 Barrier holding plate 103 Barrier drive ring 104 105 Barrier blade 106 Barrier bias spring 107 Barrier drive ring bias spring 140 Control circuit 150 Zoom motor 160 AF motor

Claims (22)

Non-rotating member;
A rectilinear member that is relatively movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the non-rotating member and is guided linearly in the optical axis direction;
The retractable optical element constituting a part of the photographing optical system is supported, and the retractable optical element is movable to an on-axis position for positioning on the optical axis and an off-axis position for removing from the optical axis. A supported optical element holding member;
The optical element holding member and the non-rotating member are formed on one and the other, and when the relative distance between the rectilinear moving member and the non-rotating member is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the optical element holding member is brought into contact with the optical element holding member from the axial position. An evacuation control unit for moving to an off-axis position; and provided on the non-rotating member and the rectilinear advance / retreat member, at least when the optical element holding member moves from the on-axis position to the off-axis position or at the off-axis position. A sliding engagement portion which, when held, slidably engages with each other in the optical axis direction and regulates the direction of movement of the rectilinear member with respect to the non-rotating member;
An optical element retreat mechanism for a lens barrel, comprising: 2. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the sliding engagement portion includes a guide key and a key groove provided on one and the other of the non-rotating member and the linearly moving member. Evacuation mechanism. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the non-rotating member is located rearward of the rectilinear moving member in the optical axis direction, and the rectilinear moving ring moves from a photographing state to a retracted state of the lens barrel. An optical element retreat mechanism for the lens barrel that moves rearward in the direction of the optical axis when the retraction control section contacts the retraction control section on the non-rotating member side. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the non-rotating member is a fixed member that does not move in the optical axis direction. 5. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the sliding engagement portion moves the on-axis position of the optical element holding member from the on-axis position to the off-axis position by the retreat control unit. 6. An optical element retracting mechanism of the lens barrel that engages after the movement is completed. The optical element retreat mechanism for a lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the retreat control unit provided on the non-rotating member is arranged so that the non-rotating member moves in the optical axis direction from the non-rotating member toward the rectilinear member. An optical element retreat mechanism for a lens barrel having a pressing projection which projects to the retraction control section on the optical element holding member side and presses the retraction control section to the off-axis position. 7. An optical element retreat mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 6, wherein said pressing projection has a retreat holding surface parallel to an optical axis, and said optical element holding member is engaged with said retreat holding surface to be at an off-axis position. An optical element retracting mechanism for the held lens barrel. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the sliding engagement portion on the non-rotating member side is formed on a pressing projection. 9. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 8, wherein the sliding engagement portion formed on the pressing projection is a guide key formed on an outer surface of the pressing projection. . 10. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 9, wherein the guide key is formed in a part of an outer surface of the pressing projection in a direction of an optical axis. 11. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 6, wherein the linearly advanceable / retractable member is configured to enter the pressing projection when the linearly advanceable / retreatable member approaches the non-rotating member. An optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel having an entrance hole. 12. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 11, wherein the sliding engagement portion on the optical element holding member side is a key groove formed on an inner wall surface of the projection entry hole facing an outer surface of the pressing projection. The optical element retracting mechanism of the lens barrel. 13. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the rectilinear moving member is an annular body, and the optical element holding member has a light inside the circular rectilinear moving member. An optical element retracting mechanism of the lens barrel supported movably along a plane perpendicular to the axis. 14. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 13, wherein the optical element holding member is rotatably supported by a rotation center axis parallel to an optical axis positioned inside the linearly moving member. An optical element retreat mechanism for a lens barrel that is a member. 15. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 14, wherein the protrusion entry hole formed in the rectilinear advancing / retreating member also serves as a storage space for a rotation center axis of the optical element holding member. . 16. The lens element retraction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the retraction controller provided on the non-rotating member has a cam surface inclined with respect to the optical axis. Optical element retraction mechanism for the cylinder. 17. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrel has on-axis position holding means for holding the optical element holding member at the on-axis position in a shooting state. Optical element retraction mechanism. 18. The mechanism for retracting optical elements of a lens barrel according to claim 17, wherein said axial position holding means biases said optical element holding member to said axial position, and a biasing direction of said biasing spring. An optical element retracting mechanism for the lens barrel, comprising a stopper that determines a moving end of the optical element holding member. 20. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said rectilinear member is at least one rectilinear member which can move rectilinearly in an optical axis direction independently of said rectilinear member. An optical element retreat mechanism of the lens barrel guided straight in the optical axis direction via a guide relay member. 20. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the non-rotating member is an imaging element holder that holds an imaging element. 21. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising a rear optical element located between the retractable optical element and the non-rotating member in a photographing state, and in a retracted state. The optical element retracting mechanism of the lens barrel in which the retracting optical element and the rear optical element have overlapping positions in the optical axis direction. 22. The optical element retracting mechanism for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the retracting optical element is a lens group.

Images