JP2011013580A - Structure for setting rotational ring of lens barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve workability in setting of a rotational ring to a stationary ring that supports a rotational-ring drive gear in a lens barrel in which rotational driving force is transmitted to the rotational ring by the rotational-ring drive gear.SOLUTION: A setting structure inserts and supports the rotational ring that has a peripheral surface gear on the outer periphery of the rotational ring to the stationary ring that supports the rotational-ring drive gear driven to rotate by a motor. The setting structure includes a rotational-ring supporting mechanism which allows the stationary ring to support the rotational ring rotatably within a predetermined rotation range, and permits insertion/removal of the rotational ring in an optical axis direction at an assembling/disassembling position at one end of the rotation range. The rotational ring has a non-gear area, where the peripheral surface gear does not exist, formed in a peripheral-direction area which is opposed to the rotational-ring drive gear when being at the assembling/disassembling position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for assembling a rotating ring constituting a lens barrel.

  In the lens barrel, a structure is used in which a rotational driving force is transmitted to a peripheral gear provided on the outer periphery of the rotating ring via a gear (rotating ring driving gear) that is rotated by a motor.

JP 2004-151710 A

  When assembling this type of lens barrel, it is common to insert the rotating ring in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the fixed ring in a state where the rotating ring driving gear is supported. At the time of this insertion, if the teeth of the peripheral gear of the rotating ring interfere with the teeth of the rotating ring driving gear, the insertion is hindered, so it is necessary to adjust the phase of each gear. Normally, the position where the rotary ring can be attached to the fixed ring is limited to a specific position in the rotation direction, and the rotary ring drive gear is in a recessed position that is difficult to access from the outside. In some cases, it is difficult to adjust the gear phase, and there has been a need to improve the workability of assembling the rotating ring.

  Based on the above problem awareness, the present invention is a lens barrel that transmits a rotational driving force to a rotating ring by means of a rotating ring driving gear, and is an excellent assembly workability of a rotating ring with respect to a fixed ring that supports the rotating ring driving gear. The purpose is to provide an attached structure.

  The present invention relates to a rotary ring that is rotatably supported in a fixed ring and has a peripheral gear on the outer periphery, and a rotary ring that is supported by the fixed ring and meshes with the peripheral gear and is rotated by a motor to rotate the rotary ring. In a lens barrel having a drive gear, the rotating ring is supported between the fixed ring and the rotating ring so that the rotating ring can rotate within a predetermined rotation range, and is fixed at an assembly / disassembly position at one end of the rotation range. A rotating ring support mechanism that allows insertion and removal of the rotating ring in the optical axis direction with respect to the ring is provided, and the rotating ring has no circumferential gear in a circumferential region facing the rotating ring drive gear when in the assembly / disassembly position. A non-gear region is formed.

  The rotating ring support mechanism includes, for example, a guide groove that is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the stationary ring and includes a circumferential component, an insertion / removal opening that is formed at one end of the guide groove and opens at the end surface of the stationary ring, and a rotating ring. In addition, it can be configured by a guide projection that is slidably fitted in the guide groove and can be inserted and removed in the optical axis direction through the insertion and removal opening.

  The rotating ring can be configured to rotate with movement in the optical axis direction in a specific rotation region with respect to the fixed ring. Specifically, a guide groove of a fixed ring is formed as a groove including an annular groove portion in a circumferential direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and an inclined groove portion that communicates with the annular groove and is inclined with respect to the optical axis. The end of the groove is communicated with the insertion / removal opening. The rotating ring moves in the direction of the optical axis while rotating when the rotational driving force is transmitted by the rotating ring drive gear when the guide projection is located in the inclined groove, and rotates when the guide projection is located in the annular groove. When the rotational driving force is transmitted by the ring driving gear, it is rotated without moving in the optical axis direction. In this case, the rotary ring drive gear is formed as a long gear corresponding to the movement of the rotary ring in the optical axis direction.

  In the rotating ring assembly structure of the present invention, when the rotating ring is in the assembly / disassembling position, insertion of another annular member between the rotating ring and the fixed ring causes the circumferential gear to be rotated with respect to the rotating ring drive gear. It is preferable to provide engagement guide means for rotating the rotating ring in a direction in which engagement occurs.

  For example, the rotating ring to which the present invention is applied is a cam ring having a cam groove that relatively moves the holding member of the optical element in the optical axis direction by rotation, and the holding member of the optical element is provided on the end surface of the cam ring. A cam follower insertion / removal opening is formed in the cam groove that allows the cam follower to be inserted / removed in the optical axis direction. Then, on the cam groove inside the cam follower insertion / removal opening, there is provided a rotational force applying surface that generates a component force in the rotation direction with respect to the cam ring when pressed by the insertion movement force in the optical axis direction of the cam follower. Thus, the meshing guidance means can be configured.

  According to the present invention, in the insertion / removal of the rotating ring at the assembly / disassembly position with respect to the stationary ring, there is no possibility of interference between the peripheral surface gear of the rotating ring and the rotating ring drive gear. An assembly structure with excellent workability can be obtained.

It is sectional drawing in the zoom imaging | photography area | region (an upper half part is a wide end and a lower half part is a tele end) which shows one Embodiment of the zoom lens barrel provided with the rotation ring assembly structure by this invention. It is sectional drawing in the accommodation state of the zoom lens barrel. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the zoom lens barrel with the housing and the image sensor holder disassembled and the movable lens block removed. It is a disassembled perspective view of a movable lens block. It is a front perspective view of a cam ring. It is a back perspective view of the 2nd feeding cylinder. It is a development top view near the cylindrical part of a housing, and a cam ring rear end part. FIG. 6 is a developed plan view of the vicinity of the rear end portion of the cam ring showing the retracted state of the zoom lens barrel and the relative position with the cam ring drive gear at the wide end and the tele end. FIG. 5 is a developed plan view of the vicinity of a rear end portion of a cam ring showing a relative position with a cam ring drive gear at an assembly / disassembly position of a zoom lens barrel. It is an expansion | deployment top view of a 2nd delivery cylinder. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the relative positions of the cam ring drive gear and the cam ring when the zoom lens barrel is stored. It is a back perspective view which shows the relative position of the cam ring drive gear and cam ring in the tele end of a zoom lens barrel. It is a back perspective view showing the relative position of the cam ring drive gear and the cam ring at the assembly / disassembly position of the zoom lens barrel. FIG. 6 is a front view of the cam ring and the zoom gear train when the zoom lens barrel is stored. It is a front view of the cam ring and zoom gear train at the tele end of the zoom lens barrel. It is a front view of a cam ring and a zoom gear train at a rotational position where a circumferential gear starts to mesh with a cam ring drive gear. It is a front view of a cam ring and a zoom gear train at an assembly / disassembly position with respect to a housing.

  1 and 2 show an embodiment of a zoom lens barrel ZL provided with a linear guide mechanism according to the present invention. The imaging optical system of the zoom lens barrel ZL includes a first lens group LG1, a second lens group LG2, a third lens group LG3, a low-pass filter 25, and an imaging element 26 in order from the object (subject) side. In the following description, the optical axis direction means a direction parallel to the optical axis O of the photographing optical system, the front means front in the optical axis direction (subject side), and the rear means rear in the optical axis direction (image). Surface side).

  The low-pass filter 25 and the image sensor 26 are unitized and fixed to the image sensor holder 23, and the image sensor holder 23 is fixed to the rear portion of the housing (fixed ring) 22.

  The third group lens frame 51 that holds the third lens group LG3 is supported so as to be movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the housing 22, and is driven by an AF motor 160 (FIG. 3).

  The housing 22 has a cylindrical portion 22a having the optical axis O as the center, and a movable lens (cam ring) block 110 is movably supported inside the cylindrical portion 22a as shown in FIG. ing. As shown in FIG. 4, the movable lens (cam ring) block 110 includes a second-group linear guide ring 10, a cam ring (rotating ring) 11, and a second feeding cylinder (another annular member, a holding member for optical elements) 12. The first feeding cylinder 13, the cam ring coupling ring 14, and the second group lens block 80 are included.

  The movable lens (cam ring) block 110 is driven and controlled by a zoom motor 150. As shown in FIG. 3, a zoom motor 150 that rotates the worm gear 103 forward and backward is supported by the housing 22, and a zoom gear train 120 that transmits the driving force of the zoom motor 150 between the housing 22 and the image sensor holder 23. Is supported. As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11D, the zoom gear train 120 includes a cam ring drive gear (rotary ring drive gear) 28 via a second gear 105 and a third gear 106 in order from the first gear 104 meshing with the worm gear 103. Rotational transmission is performed. The rotation axis of the worm gear 103 is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis O, but the rotation is transmitted by the orthogonal transformation in the next first gear 104, and the zoom gear train from the first gear 104 to the cam ring drive gear 28. Each gear 120 is supported so as to rotate on a rotation axis substantially parallel to the optical axis O. As shown in FIG. 3, the first gear 104, the second gear 105, and the third gear 106 are double gears having coaxially a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear having different numbers of teeth, and the large diameter gear 104 a of the first gear 104. Meshes with the worm gear 103, the small diameter gear 104b of the first gear 104 meshes with the large diameter gear 105a of the second gear 105, and the small diameter gear 105b of the second gear 105 meshes with the large diameter gear 106a of the third gear 106. . Further, the cam ring drive gear 28 is also a double gear in which a long gear portion 28a and a large-diameter gear portion 28b having different numbers of teeth are coaxially formed integrally, and the large-diameter gear portion 28b is the rear of the long gear portion 28a in the optical axis direction. It is located at the end and has a larger diameter than the long gear portion 28a. The small-diameter gear 106b of the third gear 106 is engaged with the large-diameter gear portion 28b, and the rotational driving force of the zoom motor 150 is transmitted to the cam ring driving gear 28. The long gear portion 28a is formed long in the optical axis direction so as to correspond to the movement of the cam ring 11 described later in the optical axis direction, and the housing 22 has a long gear storage portion 22b (in which the long gear portion 28a is stored). 3 and 7) are formed. A shaft projection 22c (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) is projected from the front end portion of the long gear housing portion 22b, and the image sensor holder 23 has a shaft projection 23a (FIG. 1, FIG. 1) located behind the shaft projection 22c. 2 and 3) project, and the front and rear shaft protrusions 22c and 23a support the shaft holes formed in the front end portion and the rear end portion of the cam ring drive gear 28. The long gear portion 28a is exposed to the inside of the cylindrical portion 22a in a state of being pivotally supported by the shaft protrusions 22c and 23a.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the cam ring 11 has a cylindrical portion 11a having the optical axis O as the center and a rear end flange 11b protruding from the rear end of the cylindrical portion 11a in the outer diameter direction. ing. Three guide projections (rotating ring support) are slidably fitted to the rear end flange 11b with respect to three cam ring guide grooves (rotating ring support mechanisms) 22d formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 22a of the housing 22. (Mechanism) 11c is projected. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the cam ring guide groove 22d includes a lead groove portion 22d1 inclined with respect to the optical axis O and an annular groove portion 22d2 centering on the optical axis O connected to the front end portion of the lead groove portion 22d1. And have. A peripheral gear 11d is further formed on the rear end flange 11b at a rear end position that does not overlap the guide projection 11c, and the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring drive gear 28 meshes with the peripheral surface gear 11d. When the rotational driving force of the zoom motor 150 is transmitted from the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring driving gear 28, which is the final gear of the zoom gear train 120, via the peripheral surface gear 11d, the cam ring 11 is attached to the zoom lens barrel ZL. Between the housed state (FIG. 2) and the zoom shooting area (FIG. 1), the guide protrusion 11c moves in the optical axis direction while rotating under the guidance of the lead groove 22d1, and in the zoom shooting area (FIG. 1), The guide projection 11c is guided at the annular groove 22d2 and rotated at a fixed position in the optical axis direction. A large-diameter gear accommodating portion 11e is formed at the rear end of the cam ring 11 (FIG. 7). The large-diameter gear housing portion 11e is a recess formed by cutting out a part of the rear end of the rear end flange 11b so as to shift the position of the rear end (rear surface) of a part of the circumferential gear 11d forward. The area | region located ahead of the large diameter gear accommodating part 11e among the peripheral gear 11d is the offset gear part 11d1 formed offset ahead compared with the other area | region of the peripheral gear 11d.

  The first feeding cylinder 13 and the second group linear guide ring 10 are positioned in front of and behind the cam ring 11 (combined body of the cam ring 11 and the cam ring coupling ring 14). The first feeding cylinder 13 is slidably engaged with the rectilinear guide groove 22e with a rectilinear guide protrusion 13b projecting in the outer diameter direction from the rear end portion of the cylindrical portion 13a centering on the optical axis O. Thus, it is guided so as to be movable relative to the housing 22 in the optical axis direction. Similarly, the second-group linear guide ring 10 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction by slidably engaging the linear guide protrusion 10a with the linear guide groove 22e of the housing 22. The second group linear guide ring 10 has a rotation guide claw 10b that engages with a rotation guide claw 11f formed on the inner peripheral surface near the rear end of the cam ring 11, and this cam engagement causes the cam ring 11 to On the other hand, relative rotation is possible, and they are coupled (bayonet coupling) so as to move together in the optical axis direction. The first feeding cylinder 13 includes a rotation guide claw 14a provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cam ring coupling ring 14 coupled to the cam ring 11, and a rotation guide claw formed on the inner circumferential surface near the rear end portion of the cylindrical portion 13a. By the sliding contact relationship of 13c, relative rotation with respect to the cam ring 11 is possible, and the cam ring 11 is coupled (bayonet coupled) so as to move together in the optical axis direction. That is, the three members of the second group linear guide ring 10, the cam ring 11, and the first feeding cylinder 13 move together in the optical axis direction, and are linearly guided to the housing 22 in the optical axis direction. The cam ring 11 is relatively rotatable with respect to the rectilinear guide ring 10 and the first feeding cylinder 13.

  The second-group linear guide ring 10 guides the second-group lens block 80 (FIG. 4) so that it can move relatively in the optical axis direction through three linear guide bars 10c protruding forward in the optical axis direction. The second group lens block 80 includes a second group lens moving frame (optical element holding member) 8 that supports a second group lens holding frame 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that holds the second lens group LG2 inside. The linear movement guide bar 10c is slidably engaged with the linear movement guide groove 8a formed in the second group lens moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction, so that the linear movement is guided. A variable aperture stop mechanism 70 and a shutter block 100 are respectively supported by the second group lens moving frame 8 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction so as to be positioned in front of and behind the second group lens holding frame 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2). ).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second feeding cylinder 12 that holds the first lens group LG1 has three outer straight guide keys that protrude rearward from the cylindrical portion 12a (two appear in FIG. 6). 12b and three inner straight guide keys 12c supported inward of the cylindrical portion 12a are provided. The outer rectilinear guide key 12b can be engaged with a rectilinear guide groove 13d (FIG. 4) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 13a of the first feeding cylinder 13, and the inner rectilinear guide key 12c is provided on the second group lens moving frame 8. It can be engaged with a rectilinear guide groove 8b (FIG. 4) formed on the inner peripheral surface. Due to the sliding relationship between the rectilinear guide grooves 13d, 8b and the rectilinear guide keys 12b, 12c, the second feeding cylinder 12 is guided in a straight manner so as to be movable relative to the housing 22 in the optical axis direction.

  A cam follower support seat 12d is formed on the second feeding cylinder 12 behind the outer straight guide key 12b (FIG. 6). Three cam follower support seats 12d are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction, and each cam follower support seat 12d supports a first group cam follower CF1 protruding in the inner diameter direction, and the three first group cam follower CF1 Each is slidably engaged with a first group control cam groove CG1 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a of the cam ring 11. Since the second feeding cylinder 12 is linearly guided in the optical axis direction via the first feeding cylinder 13 and the second group lens moving frame 8, when the cam ring 11 rotates, the first group cam follower CF1 becomes the first group control cam groove. Under the guidance of CG1, the second feeding cylinder 12 is moved in the optical axis direction along a predetermined locus. Thereby, the movement of the first lens group LG1 in the optical axis direction is controlled. R, W, and T shown in FIG. 9 are the first group control cams in the retracted state of the zoom lens barrel ZL (FIG. 2), the wide end (upper half of FIG. 1), and the tele end (lower half of FIG. 1), respectively. The position of the first group cam follower CF1 on the locus of the groove CG1 is shown. Further, CG1-P in the figure is a storage control region from the storage position R to the wide end position W in the first group control cam groove CG1, and CG1-Z is similarly from the wide end position W to the tele end position T. This is a zoom control area. The first group control cam groove CG1 further has an assembly / disassembly region CG1-X at the tip of the tele end position T. An end portion of the assembly / disassembly region CG1-X is opened at the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 11a of the cam ring 11, and the first group cam follower CF1 can be inserted and removed in the optical axis direction.

  The second group cam follower CF2 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second group lens moving frame 8 is engaged with the second group control cam groove CG2 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cam ring 11. 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 follows the shape of the second group control cam groove CG2. 8, that is, the second lens group LG2 moves along a predetermined locus in the optical axis direction.

  A group biasing spring 27 made of a compression spring is inserted between the second group lens moving frame 8 and the second feeding cylinder 12, and the second group lens moving frame 8 and the second feeding cylinder 12 are separated from each other. Is being energized.

  The zoom lens barrel ZL having the above structure operates as follows. 2, the length of the optical system in the optical axis direction (distance from the object side surface of the first lens group LG1 to the imaging surface of the image sensor 26) is larger than that in the imaging state shown in FIG. It is getting shorter. In this barrel storage state, the cam ring 11 is located at the rearward movement end in the optical axis direction, and the relationship with the cam ring drive gear 28 is as shown in FIG. 8A (storage state), FIG. 10A, and FIG. ing. That is, the cam ring drive gear 28 and the peripheral gear 11d are formed by an offset gear portion 11d1 in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the long gear portion 28a (near the boundary portion with the large diameter gear portion 28b) and in front of the large diameter gear housing portion 11e. Meshed. The large-diameter gear portion 28b enters the large-diameter gear housing portion 11e, and the large-diameter gear portion 28b overlaps a part of the peripheral gear 11d in the optical axis direction. In other words, the rear part of the large-diameter gear portion 28b and the peripheral surface gear 11d are located in the same plane orthogonal to the optical axis O. Therefore, the cam ring 11 can be retracted to a deep position at the rear in the optical axis direction without causing interference with the large-diameter gear portion 28b. At this time, the first group cam follower CF1 is located at the storage position R.

  When a transition signal to the photographing state in the lens barrel storage state (for example, a main switch provided in a camera on which the zoom lens barrel ZL is mounted) is input, the zoom motor 150 is driven in the lens barrel feeding direction, The rotation of the worm gear 103 is transmitted to the cam ring 11 while being decelerated by the zoom gear train 120. Here, the cam ring drive gear 28 itself comprising a double gear also has a reduction function, and further reduces the rotation transmitted from the third gear 106 to the large-diameter gear 28b and transmits the rotation from the long gear portion 28a to the peripheral gear 11d. The cam ring 11 to which the rotational driving force is transmitted in this way is fed forward in the optical axis direction while rotating with respect to the housing 22 by the relationship between the lead groove portion 22d1 of the cam ring guide groove 22d and the guide protrusion 11c. The direction of rotation of the cam ring 11 when the lens barrel is extended is indicated by an arrow N1 in FIG. Since the cam ring 11 is fed forward while rotating with respect to the cam ring drive gear 28 whose position in the optical axis direction is fixed, the meshing position of the circumferential gear 11d with respect to the long gear portion 28a gradually changes forward. Accordingly, the large-diameter gear accommodating portion 11e of the cam ring 11 is detached forward from the position where it overlaps the large-diameter gear 28b. The cam ring 11 is rotated by a predetermined angle until the disengagement is completed, and the circumferential position of the large-diameter gear accommodating portion 11e is displaced with respect to the large-diameter gear 28b. In order to prevent interference between the gear 11d (rear end flange 11d) and the large-diameter gear 28b, the circumferential formation region of the large-diameter gear accommodating portion 11e is set wider with a margin than the diameter of the large-diameter gear 28b. ing. The second group linear guide ring 10 and the first feeding cylinder 13 move forward together with the cam ring 11.

  When the cam ring 11 rotates in the feeding direction N1, the second feeding cylinder 12 guided linearly through the second group lens moving frame 8 and the first feeding cylinder 13 on the outside of the cam ring 11 is stored in the first group control cam groove CG1. When the first group cam follower CF1 moves in the region CG1-P, the first group cam follower CF1 is moved forward in the optical axis direction with respect to the combined body of the cam ring 11, the first feeding cylinder 13, and the second group linear guide ring 10. The cylindrical portion 12 a of the feeding cylinder 12 gradually increases the amount of protrusion from the first feeding cylinder 13. Further, when the cam ring 11 is rotated, the second group lens moving frame 8 guided linearly through the second group linear guide ring 10 is moved inside by the relationship between the second group cam follower CF2 and the second group control cam groove CG2. The cam ring 11 is moved in the optical axis direction along a predetermined locus different from that of the second feeding cylinder 12.

  Eventually, when the zoom lens barrel ZL is extended by a predetermined amount, it reaches the wide end of the zoom photographing region shown in the upper half section of FIG. In the zoom photographing region, the guide protrusion 11c of the cam ring 11 is positioned in the annular groove portion 22d2 of the cam ring guide groove 22d, and the movement of the cam ring 11 in the optical axis direction is stopped. As shown in FIG. 8A, at the wide end, the peripheral surface gear 11 d of the cam ring 11 meshes with the vicinity of the front end of the long gear portion 28 a of the cam ring drive gear 28. At the wide end, the first group cam follower CF1 is positioned at the wide end position W of the first group control cam groove CG1 shown in FIG.

  The first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 are fed out from the lens barrel retracted state by the former moving amount of the cam ring 11 with respect to the housing 22 and the cam of the second feeding cylinder 12 with respect to the cam ring 11, respectively. The latter is determined as the sum of the amount of forward movement of the cam ring 11 relative to the housing 22 and the amount of cam extension of the second group lens moving frame 8 relative to the cam ring 11. Zooming is performed by moving the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 along the photographing optical axis O while changing the air interval between them. When the zoom motor 150 is driven in the telephoto direction (the same direction as when extending from the lens barrel storage state to the wide end) from the wide end extended state shown in the upper half section of FIG. 1, eventually the lower half cross section of FIG. The tele end shown in FIG. In the zoom photographing region from the wide end to the tele end, the cam ring 11 is guided by the annular groove 22d2 of the cam ring guide groove 22d and rotates at a fixed position in the optical axis direction, and does not advance or retreat in the optical axis direction. Therefore, the relative position in the optical axis direction of the peripheral gear 11d with respect to the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring drive gear 28 does not change in the zoom photographing region, and extends from the wide end to the tele end as shown in FIGS. 8A and 10B. In the meantime, the vicinity of the front end of the long gear portion 28a can maintain meshing with the circumferential gear 11d, and a rotational driving force can be applied to the cam ring 11. The position in the optical axis direction of the first lens group LG1 in the zoom shooting area is controlled by the relationship between the zoom control area CG1-Z of the first group control cam groove CG1 and the first group cam follower CF1, and is shown in FIG. The first group cam follower CF1 reaches the tele end position T of the first group control cam groove CG1.

  When a transition signal from the shooting state (zoom shooting area) to the storage state (for example, turning off the main switch of the camera) is input, the zoom motor 150 is driven in the lens barrel storage direction, and the zoom lens barrel ZL The storing operation opposite to the feeding operation is performed. The rotational force of the zoom motor 150 is transmitted to the cam ring 11 via the zoom gear train 120 including the cam ring driving gear 28, and the cam ring 11 is rotated in the direction opposite to that when the lens barrel is extended. The direction of rotation of the cam ring 11 when the lens barrel is housed is indicated by an arrow N2 in FIG. When the cam ring 11 rotating in the storage direction N2 passes the wide end, the guide protrusion 11c receives the guide of the lead groove portion 22d1 of the cam ring guide groove 22d, and is moved rearward in the optical axis direction while rotating. Then, the meshing position of the circumferential gear 11d with respect to the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring driving gear 28 gradually changes backward. The first feeding cylinder 13 and the second group linear guide ring 10 are linearly moved in the optical axis direction along with the cam ring 11. The second feeding cylinder 12 that holds the first lens group LG1 has a cam ring 11 that is moving backward by guiding the first group cam follower CF1 to the storage control region CG1-P of the first group control cam groove CG1. Is further moved relative to the rear in the optical axis direction. Further, the second group lens moving frame 8 holding the second lens group LG2 is different from the second feeding cylinder 12 with respect to the cam ring 11 due to the relationship between the second group cam follower CF2 and the second group control cam groove CG2. It is moved relative to the optical axis along the locus.

  Eventually, when the lens barrel storage state shown in FIG. 2 is reached, the cam ring 11 surrounds the rear end portion of the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring drive gear 28 (near the boundary portion with the large diameter gear portion 28b). It reaches the rearward moving end where the offset gear portion 11d1 of the surface gear 11d is engaged. At the rearward movement end, the circumferential phases of the large diameter gear portion 28b and the large diameter gear housing portion 11e coincide with each other, and the large diameter gear portion 28b enters the large diameter gear housing portion 11e. That is, as described above, the optical axis position of the large-diameter gear portion 28b and a part of the rear surface of the peripheral gear 11d overlap with each other, and the cam ring 11 is not restricted by the large-diameter gear portion 28b and is positioned as shown in FIG. Can be moved back up.

  The third lens group frame 51 that supports the third lens group LG3 is moved back and forth in the optical axis direction by the AF motor 160 independently of the driving of the first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 by the zoom motor 150 described above. Can be made. Then, when the optical system is in the zoom photographing area from the wide end to the tele end, the third lens group LG3 is moved in the optical axis direction by driving the AF motor 160 according to the subject distance information obtained by the distance measuring means. To move to and focusing is executed.

  As described above, in the zoom lens barrel ZL of the present embodiment, the cam ring drive gear 28 that requires a length in the optical axis direction corresponding to the movement of the cam ring 11 in the optical axis direction is used as the peripheral gear of the cam ring 11. It is configured as a double gear provided with a long gear portion 28a in charge of meshing with 11d and a large-diameter gear portion 28b integrally formed behind the long gear portion 28a. Since the cam ring drive gear 28 itself has a speed reducing function, it is possible to obtain a required speed reduction ratio while reducing the number of constituent gears of the zoom gear train 120 and making the structure compact. The large-diameter gear accommodating portion 11e for allowing the large-diameter gear portion 28b to enter is provided at the rear end of the cam ring 11, so that the cam ring 11 is deep in the rear in the optical axis direction without being restricted by the large-diameter gear portion 28b. The lens can be retracted to the position, and the storage length of the zoom lens barrel ZL can be reduced while the cam ring drive gear 28 has a speed reducing function.

  In addition, the third gear 106 immediately before transmitting the motor driving force to the cam ring driving gear 28 is also a double gear having a reduction function, which also contributes to a reduction in the number of constituent gears of the zoom gear train 120 and compactness. ing. If the cam ring drive gear 28 is a long gear with a constant diameter that does not include the large-diameter gear portion 28b over the entire length in the axial direction, the gear (third gear 106) that meshes with the long gear is the long gear. The large-diameter gear (106a) for reduction cannot be arranged at an axial position that overlaps with (in the common axis orthogonal plane) (because it interferes with the long gear). For this reason, the conventional general configuration is that the gear meshing with the long gear is an idle gear that does not have a reduction function. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the small-diameter gear 106b of the third gear 106 is engaged with the large-diameter gear portion 28b of the cam ring driving gear 28, whereby the axial position overlapping the long gear portion 28a (common axis orthogonal) The large-diameter gear 106a can be disposed in the plane). Therefore, in addition to the cam ring drive gear 28, the third gear 106 can be provided with a reduction function.

  When the large-diameter gear portion 28b is advanced into the large-diameter gear housing portion 11e, the offset gear portion 11d1 is engaged with the long gear portion 28a, so that the circumferential gear 11d and the cam ring drive gear 28 are interposed. A sufficient meshing area is ensured. Since this offset gear portion 11d1 is formed only in a partial region in the circumferential direction corresponding to the large-diameter gear housing portion 11e, the cam ring 11 is moved in the optical axis direction by widening the entire width of the peripheral gear 11d in the optical axis direction. It does not increase the size.

  Next, the assembly structure of the cam ring 11 and the cam ring drive gear 28 with respect to the housing 22 will be described. Each of the three cam ring guide grooves 22d of the housing 22 has an insertion / removal opening 22d3 that opens to the front end surface of the tubular portion 22a at the end of the annular groove 22d2 (FIGS. 3 and 7). The three guide projections 11c of the cam ring 11 can be inserted into and removed from the cam ring guide groove 22d. This rotational position at which the phases of the guide protrusion 11c and the insertion / removal opening 22d3 coincide with each other is referred to as an assembly / disassembly position of the cam ring 11. On the rear end flange 11b of the cam ring 11, a non-gear region 11g where the peripheral gear 11d does not exist is formed at a position facing the long gear housing portion 22b when in the assembly / disassembly position. That is, the rotatable range of the cam ring 11 with respect to the housing 22 is such that the guide protrusion 11c is moved from one end of the cam ring guide groove 22d (the end of the annular groove 22d2 positioned behind the insertion / removal opening 22d3) to the other end (lead groove). 22d1 (the rear end of the cam ring guide groove 22d), but the circumferential gear 11d is formed at a circumferential position over the entire rotatable range. Instead, one end region of the rotatable range (region where the guide protrusion 11c is positioned behind the insertion / removal opening 22d3) is a non-gear region 11g where the peripheral gear 11d does not exist. Therefore, the cam ring 11 is not rotated to the assembly / disassembly position by the drive control of the zoom motor 150. Further, since the cam ring 11 itself is covered with the first feeding cylinder 13 and is not exposed to the outside, the cam ring 11 cannot be gripped and rotated from the outside by hand. Therefore, there is no possibility that the cam ring 11 is unintentionally rotated to the assembly / disassembly position. When the cam ring 11 is removed from the housing 22, the cam ring 11 is manually rotated to the assembly / disassembly position using a special jig.

  At the time of assembling the zoom lens barrel ZL, the cam ring 11 has the three guide protrusions 11c inserted / removed with the zoom gear train 120 including the cam ring drive gear 28 interposed between the housing 22 and the image sensor holder 23. It is inserted from the front into the cylindrical portion 22a of the housing 22 while being inserted into the cam ring guide groove 22d through 22d3. At the assembly / disassembly position of the cam ring 11, as shown in FIGS. 10C and 11D, there is a non-gear region 11 g with respect to the long gear portion 28 a of the cam ring drive gear 28 located in the long gear storage portion 22 b of the housing 22. Due to the opposing positional relationship, the cam ring 11 can be incorporated into the housing 22 without having to adjust the meshing between the long gear portion 28a and the peripheral gear 11d.

  Subsequently, the cam ring 11 is rotated from the assembly / disassembly position in the storage direction N <b> 2, and the peripheral gear 11 d is engaged with the long gear portion 28 a of the cam ring drive gear 28. At this time, depending on the assembly order of the members around the cam ring 11, it may be difficult to directly access and rotate the cam ring 11. For example, a unit combining the second group linear guide ring 10, the cam ring 11, the cam ring coupling ring 14 and the second group lens block 80 is inserted from the front of the cylindrical portion 22 a of the housing 22, and the unit is inserted into the cam ring 11. Leave it in the assembly and disassembly position. Subsequently, while the first group cam follower CF1 enters the assembly / disassembly region (cam follower insertion / removal opening) CG1-X of the first group control cam groove CG1, the second feeding cylinder 12 is moved forward with respect to the cylindrical portion 22a of the housing 22. Insert from. Further, the first feeding cylinder 13 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 22a of the housing 22 from the front while the outer rectilinear guide key 12b of the second feeding cylinder 12 is advanced into the rectilinear guide groove 13d. When such an assembling procedure is taken, the cam ring 11 is held at the assembly / disassembly position in a state where it is covered with the first feeding cylinder 13 and the second feeding cylinder 12 and is not exposed to the outside. Difficult to rotate. As another assembling procedure, a movable lens (cam ring) block 110 in which the first feeding cylinder 13 and the second feeding cylinder 12 are also combined with the above unit is formed first, and the movable lens (cam ring) block 110 is formed in the housing 22. It is also possible to assemble to. Similarly, in this case, since the cam ring 11 is not exposed to the outside, it is difficult to directly rotate it.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the first group control cam groove CG1 on the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 11 has a predetermined depth in the assembly / disassembly region CG1-X in both the optical axis direction and the circumferential direction. An inclined rotational force applying surface (meshing guiding means) CG1-K having an inclination is formed. With the first group cam follower CF1 in the assembly / disassembly region CG1-X of the first group control cam groove CG1, when the second feeding cylinder 12 is pushed rearward in the optical axis direction, the first group cam follower CF1 turns the rotational force applying surface CG1. -K is abutted against and pressed, and a component force for rotating the cam ring 11 in the storage direction N2 is generated by the inclined shape of the rotation component applying surface CG1-K. Then, the cam ring 11 rotates in the storage direction N2 from the assembly / disassembly position shown in FIG. 11D, and the teeth of the peripheral gear 11d approach and abut on the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring drive gear 28 as shown in FIG. 11C. Here, when the zoom motor 150 is rotationally driven in the lens barrel storage direction, the cam ring drive gear 28 can be meshed with the peripheral surface gear 11d without idling, and thereafter, the rotation control of the cam ring drive gear 28 causes the rotation of FIG. Further, the cam ring 11 can be arbitrarily rotated from the tele end position shown in FIG. 11B to the lens barrel storage position shown in FIGS. 10A and 11A. That is, at the assembly / disassembly position of the cam ring 11 with respect to the housing 22, it is not necessary to pay attention to the gear meshing relationship so that the peripheral surface gear 11 d does not exist in the region facing the cam ring drive gear 28, and the subsequent second feeding cylinder. Since the engagement guide means for rotating the cam ring 11 to engage the peripheral gear 11d and the cam ring drive gear 28 by the 12 assembling operations is provided, the overall assembly of the cam ring 11 is improved.

  As mentioned above, although demonstrated based on illustration embodiment, this invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the cam ring 11 in the illustrated embodiment rotates with the movement in the optical axis direction between the lens barrel storage state and the zoom photographing region, but the present invention relates to a rotating ring that does not move in the optical axis direction. Is also applicable. On the contrary, the cam ring 11 may move in the optical axis direction while rotating instead of rotating at a fixed position as in the illustrated embodiment in the zoom photographing region. In this case, the long gear portion 28a of the cam ring drive gear 28 may be extended forward as necessary.

  The embodiment is an example applied to a zoom lens barrel, but the present invention can also be applied to a single focus lens barrel as long as it includes at least a rotating ring that is driven to rotate.

  The illustrated embodiment is an application example to a cam ring, but the present invention can also be applied to a rotating ring other than a cam ring. For example, as a driving structure of an optical element in a lens barrel, a rotating ring and a rectilinear ring are coupled so as to be relatively rotatable and move together in the optical axis direction, and a long rotation transmission groove is formed in the rotating ring in the optical axis direction. A guide groove (for example, a cam groove or a lead groove) having a predetermined locus is formed in the linearly-moving ring, and a follower provided in the holding member of the optical element is simultaneously engaged with the guide groove of the linearly-moving ring and the rotation transmission groove of the rotating ring. The configuration is known. When the rotating ring rotates, the follower to which the rotational force is transmitted is moved in the optical axis direction according to the guide groove of the linearly moving ring, and as a result, the position in the optical axis direction of the holding member of the optical element changes. The present invention can also be applied to an assembly structure of such a type of rotating ring. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied even if the rotating ring corresponding to the cam ring 11 in the illustrated embodiment directly supports the holding member of the optical element without using a cam groove or the like. In these cases, the rotating ring does not have a cam groove, but functions as the rotating ring in the present invention. That is, the present invention can be widely applied as long as it is a lens barrel rotating ring provided with a peripheral gear that meshes with a rotating ring driving gear supported by a fixed ring and receives a rotational driving force.

8 2 group lens moving frame (holding member for optical element)
10 2nd group straight guide ring 11 Cam ring (rotating ring)
11b Rear end flange 11c Guide protrusion (rotating ring support mechanism)
11d Peripheral gear 11d1 Offset gear part 11e Large diameter gear accommodating part 11g No-gear area 12 Second delivery cylinder (another annular member, optical element holding member)
12b Outer rectilinear guide key 12c Inner rectilinear guide key 12d Cam follower support seat 13 First feed cylinder 14 Cam ring coupling ring 22 Housing (fixed ring)
22b Long gear storage portion 22d Cam ring guide groove (rotating ring support mechanism)
22d1 lead groove 22d2 annular groove 22d3 insertion / removal opening 22e rectilinear guide groove 23 image sensor holder 28 cam ring drive gear (rotary ring drive gear)
28a Long gear portion 28b Large diameter gear portion 80 Second group lens block 103 Worm gear 110 Movable lens (cam ring) block 120 Zoom gear train 150 Zoom motor 160 AF motor CF1 First group cam follower (meshing guide means)
CF2 Group 2 cam follower CG1 Group 1 control cam groove CG1-K Rotational component force applying surface (meshing guide means)
CG1-X Assembly / disassembly area (cam follower insertion / removal opening)
CG2 Second group control cam groove LG1 First lens group LG2 Second lens group LG3 Third lens group O Optical axis ZL Zoom lens barrel

Claims (5)

A stationary ring,
A rotating ring that is rotatably supported in the stationary ring and has a peripheral gear on the outer periphery;
A rotating ring driving gear that is supported by the fixed ring and meshes with the peripheral gear, and is rotated by a motor to rotate the rotating ring;
In a lens barrel with
Between the stationary ring and the rotating ring, the rotating ring is supported by the stationary ring so as to be rotatable within a predetermined rotation range, and at the assembly / disassembly position of one end of the rotation range, It has a rotating ring support mechanism that allows insertion and removal,
A rotating ring assembly of a lens barrel, wherein a non-gear region where the peripheral gear does not exist is formed in a circumferential region facing the rotating ring drive gear when the rotating ring is in the assembly / disassembly position. Attached structure. The rotating ring assembly structure for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the rotating ring support mechanism includes:
A guide groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the stationary ring and including a circumferential component;
An insertion / removal opening that is formed at one end of the guide groove and that opens at the end face of the stationary ring,
A guide protrusion provided on the rotating ring, slidably fitted in the guide groove and detachable in the optical axis direction through the insertion / removal opening;
A rotating ring assembly structure for a lens barrel, comprising: 3. The lens barrel rotating ring assembly structure according to claim 2, wherein the guide groove includes an annular groove portion in a circumferential direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, and an inclined groove portion that communicates with the annular groove and is inclined with respect to the optical axis. And the end of the annular groove communicates with the insertion / removal opening,
The rotating ring moves in the optical axis direction while rotating when the rotational driving force is transmitted by the rotating ring driving gear when the guide protrusion is positioned in the inclined groove, and the guide protrusion is positioned in the annular groove. In this case, when the rotational driving force is transmitted by the rotating ring driving gear, the rotating structure of the lens barrel is rotated without moving in the optical axis direction. 4. A rotating ring assembly structure for a lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein when the rotating ring is in the assembly / disassembly position, another annular member between the rotating ring and the fixed ring. A rotating ring assembly structure for a lens barrel, comprising engagement guiding means for rotating the rotating ring in a direction in which the rotation of the peripheral gear with respect to the rotating ring drive gear is caused by inserting the rotating ring. 5. The lens barrel rotating ring assembly structure according to claim 4, wherein the rotating ring is a cam ring having a cam groove that relatively moves the holding member of the optical element in the optical axis direction by rotation,
A cam follower insertion / removal opening of the cam groove that allows the cam follower provided on the holding member to be inserted / removed in the optical axis direction on an end face of the cam ring,
The engagement guiding means is formed on the cam groove inside the cam follower insertion / removal opening, and generates a component force in the rotational direction with respect to the cam ring when pressed by the insertion movement force in the optical axis direction of the cam follower. A rotating ring assembly structure for a lens barrel, characterized by having a rotational component applying surface.

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