JP3215792B2 - Linear guide system for lens barrel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a linear guide device for a lens barrel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a zoom lens camera, when a unitized lens barrel is mounted on a housing provided with a female helicoid and a linear guide groove parallel to an optical axis crossing the female helicoid on an inner peripheral surface, The following method was used. That is, after inserting the lens barrel unit from the rear of the housing and screwing the male helicoid provided on the outer periphery of the outermost movable barrel to the female helicoid of the housing, the linear guide is provided on the rear end face of the movable barrel. The plate is screwed by engaging its radial key in the linear guide groove of the housing.

However, according to such an assembling method,
The number of processes was large, and the work was troublesome.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and simplifies the work of assembling a lens barrel unit into a housing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a straight-ahead guide device without increasing the size of a cylinder.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a first cylindrical body having a female helicoid on an inner peripheral surface and a straight guide groove extending across the female helicoid and parallel to an optical axis; A second cylinder having a male helicoid to be screwed; a straight cylinder having a rectilinear projection engaged with the rectilinear guide groove and rotatably supported with respect to the second cylinder; A straight-projection-introducing recess formed at the end of the entrance of the straight-travel guide groove so as to communicate with the straight-travel guide groove; and the second cylinder is screwed into the first cylinder, and the straight-projection is A retaining body fixed to one end of the first cylindrical body in a state fitted in the rectilinear guiding groove; the retaining body is simultaneously fitted in the rectilinear projection introducing recess and the rectilinear guiding groove and moves straight It is characterized in that it has a retaining projection for closing the entrance of the guide groove.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the lens shutter type zoom lens camera shown in FIG. 19. First, the concept of the zoom lens camera will be described with reference to FIG. The lens configuration is the front group lens L
1 and a rear lens unit L2.

[0007] The camera body includes an overall movement motor control means 60, a rear group movement motor control means 61, and a zoom operation means 6.
2, shutter release means 63, distance measuring device 64, photometric device 65, and AE motor control means 66 are provided.

When the zoom operating means 62 such as a zoom lever provided on the camera body is operated, the whole moving motor control means 60 controls the whole moving motor 25 by a zoom lens comprising a front lens group L1 and a rear lens group L2. A command for moving the camera from the wide side to the tele side, or a command for moving the camera from the tele side to the wide side. The focal length is changed by the operation of the zoom operation unit 62 by the photographer, and is set to an arbitrary focal length. The image magnification of the finder field is changed in conjunction with the focal length change by the zoom operation means 62. Therefore, the photographer can know the change in the focal length due to the operation of the zoom operation unit 62 by observing the change in the image magnification of the finder field. The focal length set by the operation of the zoom operation unit 62 can be recognized by, for example, a numerical value displayed on an LCD display panel (not shown).

When the shutter release means 63 is operated, the whole-group moving motor control means 60 is driven by the rear-group moving motor control means 61.
At the same time, the overall movement motor 25 is driven to focus the zoom lens on the subject. The shutter release means 63
The shutter button is constituted by a release button. When the shutter button is depressed one step, a distance measurement command to the distance measurement device 64 and a photometry command to the photometry device 65 are given. Then, the shutter 27 of the AF / AE shutter unit 21 is operated. The shutter 27 receives the photometric output from the photometric device 65 and opens its shutter blade 27a for a predetermined time.

When operated, the zoom operation means 62 drives the whole movement motor 25 to move the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 integrally. At the same time as this movement, the rear group moving motor 30 may be operated via the rear group moving motor control means 61. However, the important point of this zoom lens camera is that the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens The movement of L2 is not performed by the conventional zooming concept of continuously changing the focal length without moving the focal point position. That is, when the zoom operation means 62 is operated, only the whole movement motor 25 is operated, and the front group lens L
1 and the rear group lens L2 are moved back and forth without changing the air gap between them, and the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 are operated by operating both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30. Is moved while changing the air gap between the two.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is impossible that a subject at a specific distance is always in focus. However, in a lens shutter type camera such as this camera which does not observe an image taken by a photographing optical system, the focus is set at the time of shutter release. There is no problem at all if it fits. In the aspect, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are moved while allowing the focal position to move, and both the entire moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 are operated during the shutter release to focus. .

After executing any one of the above-described control modes in response to the operation of the zoom operation means 62, the shutter release means 63 is operated in at least a part of the focal length range of the focal length set by the zoom operation means 62. When this is done, the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30
Are operated to focus on the subject. The amount of movement of the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 by the entire movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 at this time is not limited to the amount of movement obtained by subject distance information by the distance measuring device 64,
It is determined in consideration of the amount of movement obtained by the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 62. As described above, when the shutter release means 63 is operated and both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are operated to perform the focusing operation, the degree of freedom in controlling the lens position is increased, and the control thereof is performed. Becomes easier.

Note that, theoretically, when the zoom operating means 62 is operated, the entire moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 are moved.
Without operating any of them, only the view magnification of the finder and the focal length information are changed, and the shutter release means 63
Is operated, the focal length information and the distance measuring device 64
, The front and rear group lenses L1 and L2 are moved to the positions uniquely determined by the focal length information and the subject distance information. It can also be done.

Next, an embodiment in which the zoom lens barrel having the above concept is concretely described mainly with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. First, the schematic configuration and operation of the zoom lens barrel 10 will be described.
A movable lens barrel 19, a third movable lens barrel 16, and a fixed lens barrel block 12 are provided. The third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed to the cylindrical portion of the fixed lens barrel block 12, and moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction with rotation. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a rectilinear guide tube 17 whose rotation is regulated and moves in one direction in the optical axis direction, and the second movable lens tube 19 rotates relative to the rectilinear guide tube 17. While moving back and forth in the optical axis direction. First movable lens barrel 2
In the case of 0, the rotation is restricted, and moves in the optical axis direction by the relative rotation with respect to the second movable lens barrel 19. The whole moving motor 25 is fixed to the fixed lens barrel block 12 and has an AE motor 29 and a rear group moving motor 30 mounted thereon.
0 is fixed to the first movable lens barrel 20. The front group lens L1 is a lens having a positive power supported by the lens support cylinder 34, and the rear group lens L2 is a lens support cylinder 5
This is a lens having negative power supported by zero.

The fixed lens barrel block 12 fixed in front of the aperture plate 14 of the camera body has a cylindrical portion 12p.
A female helicoid 12a and a plurality of linear guide grooves 12 that are parallel to the optical axis O and traverse the female helicoid 12a.
b. One of the plurality of straight guide grooves 12b has a code plate 1 having a predetermined pattern on the bottom thereof.
3a is fixed. The code plate 13 a is configured as a part of the flexible printed circuit board 13 located outside the fixed lens barrel block 12. Aperture plate 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes an aperture 14 for determining an exposure area on the film.
a.

The cylindrical portion 12p of the fixed lens barrel block 12 is formed with a gear housing portion 12c which swells radially outward and extends in the optical axis direction (see FIG. 15). A drive pinion 15 that is long in the optical axis direction is rotatably stored in the gear storage portion 12c. The drive pinion 15 has both ends of the shaft 7 rotatably supported by a support hole 4 provided in the fixed lens barrel block 12 and a support hole 31 a provided in the gear support plate 31. The tooth surface of the drive pinion 15 projects from the inner peripheral surface of the fixed lens barrel block 12.

On one side of the fixed lens barrel block 12, there is formed a support portion 32 for fixing the entire movement motor 25 on the rear surface and supporting a gear train 26 composed of a plurality of gears on the front surface. On the other side of the fixed lens barrel block 12, a through-hole 12k parallel to the O optical axis for projecting the end of the flexible printed board 6 outward, and a flexible printed board protruding from the through-hole 12k. A fixing portion 12m for fixing the end portion of No. 6 is formed.

A third movable barrel 16 is screwed into the inner periphery of the fixed barrel block 12. This third movable lens barrel 16
Has a plurality of linear guide grooves 16 extending in the optical axis direction on the inner peripheral surface.
c, and a male helicoid 16a meshing with the female helicoid 12a of the fixed lens barrel block 12 and an outer peripheral gear 16b meshing with the drive pinion 15 on the outer periphery of the rear end portion (see FIG. 14).
And The drive pinion 15 is connected to the third movable lens barrel 1.
6 in the entire moving range in the optical axis direction.
And has an axial length that meshes with it.

A linear guide tube 17 is supported on the inner periphery of the third movable lens barrel 16 so as to be integrally movable with the third movable lens barrel 16 in the optical axis direction and relatively rotatable around the optical axis. . The rectilinear guide cylinder 17 includes a rear end flange portion 17d having a plurality of engagement protrusions 17c protruding radially outward on the rear outer periphery,
A retaining flange 1 having a smaller diameter than the flange 17d, which is provided with a slight gap in front of the rear end flange 17d.
7e. A plurality of notches 17f are formed in the circumferential direction of the retaining flange 17e. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a plurality of engaging projections 16d (FIG. 17) protruding radially inward on the inner periphery of the rear end portion.
d is inserted through the notch 17f so that both flanges 17
It is located in the gap between d and 17e, and is connected to the rectilinear guide tube 17 by rotating relative to the rectilinear guide tube 17. An aperture plate 23 having an opening 23a having substantially the same shape as the aperture 14a is fixed to a rear end surface of the straight guide cylinder 17. The engagement protrusion 17c is slidably engaged with a straight guide groove 12b parallel to the optical axis O of the fixed lens barrel block 12, and its rotation is restricted. The contact terminal 9 for slidingly contacting the code plate 13a and generating a signal corresponding to the focal length during zooming is fixed to the engagement protrusion 17c ', which is one of the engagement protrusions 17c.

The straight guide cylinder 17 also has an inner peripheral surface
A plurality of rectilinear guide grooves 17a parallel to the optical axis O and a plurality of lead grooves 17b penetrating the peripheral wall of the guide cylinder 17 and inclined with respect to the circumferential direction and the optical axis direction are formed.

A second movable lens barrel 19 is fitted on the inner periphery of the straight guide cylinder 17. The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of lead grooves 19 that are inclined on the inner peripheral surface in a direction opposite to the lead grooves 17b.
and a plurality of follower projections 19a having a trapezoidal cross section protruding outward in the radial direction and a follower pin 18 located on the follower projection 19a. The follower pin 18 includes a ring member 18a and a center fixing screw 18b that supports the ring member 18a on a follower projection 19a. The follower projection 19a
Slidably fitted in the lead groove 17b of the straight guide cylinder 17,
The follower pin 18 is provided in the straight guide groove 1 of the third movable lens barrel 16.
6c slidably fits. Therefore, when the third movable lens barrel 16 rotates, the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates and moves straight in the optical axis direction.

A first movable lens barrel 20 is fitted on the inner periphery of the second movable lens barrel 19. The first movable lens barrel 20 engages a plurality of follower pins 24 provided on the outer periphery of a rear end portion with a corresponding inner peripheral lead groove 19c, and a linear guide member 22.
Is guided straight ahead. This straight guide member 22 is
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an annular portion 22a and a pair of guide legs 22b extending from the annular portion 22a in the optical axis direction.
And a plurality of engagement projections 28 slidably engaged with the rectilinear guide grooves 17a protruding radially outward of the annular portion 22a, and the inner peripheral surface of the first movable lens barrel 20 and the AF. A guide leg 22b is inserted between the / AE shutter unit 21 so as to be able to guide straight.

The annular portion 22a of the rectilinear guide member 22
The second movable lens barrel 19 is coupled to the rear end portion so as to be integrally movable in the optical axis direction and relatively rotatable around the optical axis. The rectilinear guide member 22 has a rear end flange portion 22d having a plurality of engagement protrusions 28 protruding radially outward on a rear outer periphery.
And a retaining flange portion 22c smaller in diameter than the flange portion 22d, provided with a slight gap in front of the rear end flange portion 22d, and a plurality of notches 22e in the circumferential direction of the retaining flange portion 22c. (See FIG. 9). The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of engaging projections 19b (FIG. 17) projecting inward in the radial direction on the inner periphery of the rear end portion. The linear guide member 22 is positioned in the gap between the flange portions 22c and 22d.
Relative to the straight guide member 22. With the above configuration, when the second movable barrel 19 rotates in the forward and reverse directions, the first movable barrel 20 moves straight forward and backward with respect to the second movable barrel 19 in the optical axis direction while the rotation is restricted. I do.

At the front end of the first movable lens barrel 20, a barrier device 35 having barriers 48a and 48b is mounted.
An AF / AE shutter unit 21 having a shutter 27 including three shutter blades 27a (FIG. 13) is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface. The AF / AE shutter unit 21 has a plurality of fixing holes 40a (FIG. 12) formed at equal angular intervals on the outer periphery of the shutter mount 40. The plurality of follower pins 24 also serve as fixing means for the AF / AE shutter unit 21, and include a pin hole 20 a formed in the first movable lens barrel 20 and a fixing hole 40 a
The follower pin 24 is fitted and fixed to the shutter unit 21, and the shutter unit 21 is fixed to the first movable lens barrel 20 (see FIG. 11). The follower pin 24 can be fixed by, for example, bonding, screwing, or the like. Reference numeral 41 denotes a decorative plate fixed to the front end of the first movable lens barrel 20.

The AF / AE shutter unit 21 corresponds to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 18, the shutter mounting base 40,
A shutter blade support ring 46 fixed to a rear portion of the shutter mount 40, and a lens support tube 50 (rear group lens L) supported to be relatively movable with respect to the shutter mount 40.
2). The front lens L1, the AE motor 29, and the rear group moving motor 30 are supported by the shutter mount 40. The shutter mount 40 has an annular portion having a shooting opening 40d through which the lens support tube 34 is inserted, and three legs 40b extending rearward from the annular portion. Two of the gaps between the three legs 40b are a pair of guide legs 2 of the straight guide member 22.
2b is configured as a rectilinear guide portion 40c which slidably engages and guides the movement.

The shutter mount 40 further includes an AE gear train 45 for transmitting the rotation of the AE motor 29 to the shutter 27.
And the rotation of the rear group moving motor 30 with the screw shaft 4
3 and the photo interrupters 56 and 57 connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6.
Rotating plates 58, 5 having a number of circumferential slits
9 are supported. The photointerrupter 57 and the rotating plate 59 constitute a rear group moving motor encoder for detecting the rotation of the rear group moving motor 30, and the photointerrupter 56 and the rotating plate 58 constitute the AE motor 29.
An AE motor encoder that detects the rotation of the AE motor is configured.

Between the shutter mount 40 and the shutter blade support ring 46 fixed to the mount 40, the shutter 2
7, a support member 47 for pivotally supporting the three shutter blades 27a of the shutter 27, and an annular driving member 49 for applying rotational power to the shutter blades 27a. The annular driving member 49 includes three operation protrusions 49a respectively engaging with the three shutter blades 27a at equal angular intervals. The shutter blade support ring 46 is provided at the front wall with the photographing opening 4.
6a and three support holes 46b provided at equal angular intervals around the photographing opening 46a.
A flexure restricting surface 46c exposed from Oc and slidably supports the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of guide legs 22b.

Further, a support member 47 located in front of the shutter blade support ring 46 includes a photographing opening 47a facing the photographing opening 46a and three shaft portions 47b (see FIG. 13) facing the three support holes 46b, respectively. (Only parts are shown). Each of the three shutter blades 27a has, at one end, a shaft hole 27b through which the shaft 47b is inserted, and at the other end, a shielding portion that shields the imaging openings 46a, 47a.
An elongated hole 27c is provided between the one end and the other end to allow the operation projection 49a to pass therethrough. The support member 47 is provided with the respective shaft portions 47b supporting the shutter blades 27a, respectively.
The shutter blade support ring 46 is fixed to the shutter blade support ring 46 in a state of being fitted into the corresponding support hole 46b.

The annular driving member 49 has a gear train 4 on its outer periphery.
5 has a gear portion 49b for receiving rotation from. The support member 47 has three arc grooves 47c in the circumferential direction at positions close to the three shaft portions 47b. The three operation projections 49a of the annular driving member 49 penetrate through the three arc grooves 47c, and the long holes 27 of the respective shutter blades 27a.
c. The shutter blade support ring 46 is inserted from the rear side of the shutter mount 40 while supporting the annular driving member 49, the support member 47, and the shutter 27, and is screwed to the shutter mount 40.

Behind the shutter blade support ring 46, there is disposed a lens support tube 50 supported on the shutter mount 40 via slide shafts 51 and 52 so as to be relatively movable. The shutter mount 40 and the lens support cylinder 50 are urged to move in the direction away from each other by the coil spring 3 fitted to the slide shaft 51, thereby eliminating play between them. The drive gear 42a provided in the gear train 42 is restricted from moving in the axial direction, and a female screw is formed on the inner periphery thereof. A screw shaft 43 having one end fixed to the lens support cylinder 50 is screwed to the female screw.
And the screw shaft 43 constitute a feed screw mechanism. Therefore, when the rear group moving motor 30 is driven to rotate and the drive gear 42a rotates forward or backward, the screw shaft 43 advances and retreats with respect to the drive gear 42a, and is supported by the lens support tube 50, that is, the support tube 50. The rear lens group L2 moves relative to the front lens group L1.

At the front of the shutter mount 40, holding members 53, 55 for holding the motors 29, 30 and the like supported by the shutter mount 40 are screwed. The motors 29 and 30 and the photo interrupters 56 and 57 are connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6 having one end fixed to the shutter mount 40. In a state where the first to third movable lens barrels 20, 19, 16 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21 and the like are assembled, an aperture plate 23 is fixed to the rear end face of the straight guide cylinder 17.

In a conventional zoom lens camera, when assembling a unitized lens barrel into a housing integral with the camera body, the lens barrel unit is inserted from the rear of the housing to form the outermost moving barrel. A male helicoid provided on the outer periphery is screwed into a female helicoid of the housing, and then a linear guide plate is fitted on the rear end face of the movable barrel with a radial key in a linear guide groove of the housing. Was. However, in such a method, the number of steps is large, and the operation is troublesome.

Therefore, the present inventors incorporate a lens barrel unit in which the first, second, and third movable barrels 20, 19, 16 and the like are assembled in advance into the fixed barrel block 12, which is a housing. We have devised an assembly method that can simplify the work at the time. And assuming this assembly method, assembly,
We have devised a straight-ahead guidance device that does not have wasted space that is only required for disassembly and does not increase the size of the zoom lens barrel, and that can contribute to downsizing of the camera. Hereinafter, this straight-ahead guidance device which is a feature of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

That is, the method of assembling the present zoom lens barrel 10 will be briefly described. The lens barrel unit is set to the most extended state (see FIG. 1), and this is mounted on the fixed barrel block 12. After engaging the front end portion in a predetermined state (see FIG. 2), the entire moving motor 25 is rotationally driven in the retraction direction to screw the male helicoid 16a of the third movable lens barrel 16 into the female helicoid 12a. is there.

At this time, since the third movable barrel 16 and the fixed barrel block 12 are screw-fitted by helicoid, the third movable barrel 16 is screwed from its screwing start position (incorporation start position). A certain degree of rotation angle is required until the initial use position (the most extended position in the use range) where is completed. In the most extended state, the third movable lens barrel 16 has a specific rotation angle with respect to the female helicoid 12a because the third movable lens barrel 16 has the male helicoid 16a and the outer peripheral gear 16b at the same optical axis position around the rear end. Without this, the male helicoid 16a cannot be screwed into the female helicoid 12a. At the same time, the engagement projections 17c (1
7c ') naturally has a specific rotation angle relationship with the third movable lens barrel 16 when it is at the screwing start position in the most extended state, and it is necessary to move toward the initial use position while maintaining this relationship. No.

Therefore, the third movable lens barrel 16 and the straight guide cylinder 1
7 so that the female helicoid 12a completes the screwing to the initial use position in order to set the specific angular relationship to the third movable lens barrel 16 while maintaining the specific angular relationship of 7. A relief is required to move the retained engagement projection 17c (17c ') without contacting other parts until it is positioned in the linear guide groove 12b. In the straight traveling guide device, the relief portion is provided not on the lens barrel unit side but on the fixed barrel block 12 side. The provision of the relief portion on the lens barrel unit side means that, for example, when the lens barrel unit is incorporated into the fixed barrel block 12, the engaging projection 17c (17c ') is set at a specific angle with respect to the female helicoid 12a in the most extended state. The purpose is to set a relief for an extra rotation so that the rotation can be further performed in the feeding direction beyond the position. However, with such a structure, the lens barrel unit side has a structure in which the third movable barrel 16 and the rectilinear guide barrel 17 can be relatively rotated by more than the relative rotation angle at the most extended position in actual use. This necessitates the necessity that the lead grooves 17b, 19c and the like must be formed longer than necessary, and the size of the zoom lens barrel 10 is increased. 1, the drive pinion 15 housed in the gear housing 12c and the gear train 26 supported by the support 32 are omitted. 2, the gear train 26 supported by the support portion 32 is omitted.

The relief provided in the cylindrical portion 12p is configured as follows. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6, the cylindrical portion (first cylindrical body) of the fixed lens barrel block 12.
At the entrance of the straight guide groove 12b at the end of the 12p, a straight protrusion introducing recess 12g formed to communicate with the straight guide groove 12b.
Is provided. The rectilinear protrusion introduction concave portion 12g has an introduction surface 12e having the same inclination angle as the row of the female helicoid 12a.
have. The introduction surface 12e is provided with a straight guide groove 12b.
Is continued to one side A of The other side surface B of the straight guide groove 12b extends linearly to the front end of the cylindrical portion 12p. The front end face 12f of the rectilinear projection introduction concave part 12g is formed slightly receding toward the rear side of the optical axis, and an engagement notch 12d is formed in a part of the front end face 12f. A rectangular engaging hole 12h is formed at a substantially central portion of the rectilinear projection introducing recess 12g.

An annular retaining member (retaining member) 33
At least, the third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed into the cylindrical portion 12p, and the engagement protrusion 17c of the linear guide cylinder 17 is
2b, it is fixed to the front end of the cylindrical portion 12p. In other words, the annular retaining member 33 includes the first, second,
After the lens barrel unit in which the third movable barrels 20, 19, 16 and the like have been assembled in advance is assembled into the fixed barrel block 12, the lens barrel unit is fitted into the front end opening of the cylindrical portion 12p. 5 and FIG. 7, the rectilinear projection introducing recess 12 is formed.
g and the retaining projection 33 simultaneously fitted in the linear guide groove 12b.
a. As is clearly shown in FIG. 7, the retaining projection 33a is provided with the rectilinear protrusion introducing recess 12g and the rectilinear guide groove 1g.
In a state where the straight guide grooves 12b are simultaneously fitted, the front end portion (entrance portion) of the rectilinear guide groove 12b is closed by the retaining projection 33a. The retaining protrusions 33a are formed at three positions at the rear end of the annular portion 33i of the annular retaining member 33 so as to project rearward of the optical axis in correspondence with the three rectilinear guide grooves 12b. At the position corresponding to the through-hole 12k in the annular portion 33i, while entering the through-hole 12k and pressing the inner flexible printed circuit board 6 from the front,
Restriction projection 33g for suppressing rotation of annular retaining member 33 itself
Are formed.

The retaining projection 33a engages with the rectilinear projection introducing recess 12g in a regular state when the introduction surface 12e is engaged.
The inclined surface 33b parallel to the introduction surface 12e, the parallel surface 33d parallel to the other side surface B of the straight guide groove 12b, and one side A of the straight guide groove 12b cooperate with one side of the engagement protrusion 17c. A straight guide surface 33c for guiding the side portion C straight is formed. Further, the straight protrusion guide surface 33 is provided on the retaining protrusion 33a.
A connection surface 33f extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to both the c and the parallel surface 33d and connecting the straight guide surface 33c and the parallel surface 33d is formed.

When the annular stopper member 33 is engaged with the front end of the cylindrical portion 12p, the rectilinear guide surface 33c extends from the extension surface A 'of one side A of the rectilinear guide groove 12b in a direction of increasing the groove width. (See FIG. 8). This is for the following reason. That is, the zoom lens barrel 10
Of the second linear guide ring 17 at the time of feeding
(17c ') moves forward while being pressed against the one side surface A. Therefore, when the linear guide surface 33c protrudes into the linear guide groove 12b beyond the extension surface A' due to, for example, an error in manufacturing, the engagement is caused. The protrusion 17c (17c ') interferes with the straight guide surface 33c. In order to prevent this, the rectilinear guide surface 33c is offset in the direction in which the groove width is widened in advance so as not to protrude into the rectilinear guide groove 12b even if there is a manufacturing error. When the zoom lens barrel 10 is retracted, the engagement projection 17c
Since (17c ') is pressed against the other side surface B, the step between the straight guide surface 33c and the one side surface A does not matter.

On the outer surface of the retaining projection 33a, a radial projection of the annular portion 33i engages with the engaging hole 12h when the annular retaining member 33 is engaged with the front end of the cylindrical portion 12p. An engaging projection 33h is formed. An engagement protrusion 33e extending in the optical axis direction and engaging with the engagement notch 12d is formed at a position adjacent to the engagement protrusion 33h in the annular portion 33i.

Therefore, according to the present linear guide device for a zoom lens barrel, the lens barrel unit can be incorporated into the fixed barrel block 12 as follows. That is, assembling the members shown in FIG.
After configuring the lens barrel unit, it is set in the most extended state shown in FIG. Then, the lens barrel in the most extended state is engaged with the front end of the fixed lens barrel block 12 in a predetermined state, and the whole moving motor 25 is driven to rotate in the retracting direction. Then, the rotation of the whole moving motor 25 is transmitted to the gear train 26, the drive pinion 15, and the outer peripheral gear 16.
The male helicoid 16a moves toward the initial use position while rotating relative to the female helicoid 12a. At this time, the rectilinear guide cylinder 17 has a specific angular relationship with the third movable lens barrel 16 in the most extended state, and its engaging projection 17c (17c ').
Is moved as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, the engagement protrusion 17
The third movable barrel 16 of the rectilinear guide cylinder 17 until the initial use position where c (17c ') is positioned in the rectilinear guide groove 12b is reached.
A specific angular relationship to is maintained.

In the initial state of use, when the entire moving motor 25 is further rotated in the retraction direction, the male helicoid 16a of the third movable lens barrel 16 is turned into the female helicoid 12a.
, The third movable lens barrel 1
6 is retracted into the cylindrical portion 12p, and at the same time, the lens barrel unit is moved to the lens storage position by the mutual connection of the third movable barrel 16, the second movable barrel 19, and the first movable barrel 20. Toward the optical axis.

According to the above linear guide device, the space required for assembling and disassembling the lens barrel unit necessary for assembling the lens barrel unit into the fixed barrel block 12 is provided not on the lens barrel unit side but on the fixed barrel block 12 side. Since the lens barrel unit is provided, the size of the lens barrel unit is not increased. In addition, the space for the assembling and disassembling angle (the straight projection introducing recess 12g) provided in the fixed lens barrel block 12 is used not only for assembling and disassembling, but also for removing the annular retaining member 33 after the assembling work is completed. It is assembled to form a part of the straight guide groove 12b. As described above, since the fixed lens barrel block 12 does not form a useless space at the front end of the cylindrical portion 12p irrespective of the linear guide groove 12b, it does not become long in the optical axis direction. Therefore, the zoom lens barrel 10 can be further reduced in size.

In the present embodiment, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are respectively connected to the AF / AE shutter unit 21.
The AE motor 29 and the rear group moving motor 30 are mounted on the unit 21. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that the supporting structure and the driving structure of the front lens unit L1 and the rear lens unit L2 can be simplified, but at least one of the front lens unit L1 and the rear lens unit L2 is
Shutter mount 40, annular drive member 49, support member 4
7, the zoom lens is realized even if the AF / AE shutter unit 21 including the shutter 27 and the shutter blade holding ring 46 is provided as a separate member and is supported by a support member different from the unit.

This zoom lens camera operates as follows. FIG. 17 in which the zoom lens barrel 10 is most retracted
When the power switch (not shown) is turned on in the lens retracted state, the overall movement motor 25 is driven to rotate slightly in the forward direction. Then, this rotation is transmitted to the drive pinion 15 via the gear train 26 supported by the support portion 32, and the third movable barrel 16 is rotated in the extending direction.
The movable barrel 19 and the first movable barrel 20 are connected to the third movable barrel 16.
The camera is slightly extended in the optical axis direction, and the camera is in a photographable state in which the zoom lens is positioned at the wide end.

In this photographing enabled state, when the zoom operation means 62 is operated to the telephoto side, the whole movement motor 25 is driven to rotate in the forward direction via the whole movement motor control means 60, and is driven via the drive pinion 15 and the outer peripheral gear 16b. To rotate the third movable barrel 16 in the extending direction. Therefore,
The third movable lens barrel 16 is extended from the fixed lens barrel block 12 due to the relationship between the female helicoid 12a and the male helicoid 16a, and at the same time, the straight guide tube 17 is fixed by the relationship between the engagement projection 17c and the straight guide groove 12b. Block 12
With the third movable lens barrel 16 in a state of not rotating relative to the optical axis, it advances forward of the optical axis. At this time, the second movable lens barrel 19
The follower pin 18 is connected to the lead groove 17b and the linear guide groove 1
By simultaneously engaging with the third movable lens barrel 6c, the second movable lens barrel 6 relatively moves in the same direction as the third movable lens barrel 16 and moves forward in the optical axis with respect to the third movable lens barrel 16. The first movable lens barrel 20 is
Since the linear movement guide member 22 guides the linear movement and the follower pin 24 is moved and guided by the lead groove 19 c, the second movable lens barrel 19 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21 are not rotated relative to the fixed lens barrel block 12. Advances ahead of the optical axis.

While the zoom lens barrel 10 is driven in this manner, the rear group moving motor 30 is not driven, so that the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 are integrated with the optical axis while keeping the distance between them constant. (See FIG. 16). The focal length set by the zoom operation unit 62 is displayed by a display unit (not shown).

When the release button is depressed one step at an arbitrary focal length set by the zoom operation means 62, a distance measuring command is given to the distance measuring device 64 and a light measuring command is given to the light measuring device 65, so that the distance measuring Photometry is started. Thereafter, when the release button is depressed two steps, both the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 move the moving amount obtained from the subject distance information by the distance measuring device 64 and the focus set by the zoom operating means 62. The AE motor control means 6 moves the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained from the distance information to set the focal length and focus on the subject.
The AE motor 29 rotationally drives the annular driving member 49 in accordance with the subject luminance information from the photometric device 65 via 6 to drive the shutter 27 so as to satisfy a predetermined exposure. After the end of the shutter release, both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are immediately driven, and the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are returned to the state before the shutter release.

When the zoom operating means 62 is operated to the wide side, the whole moving motor 25 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction,
The movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the retracting direction, and is retracted into the fixed lens barrel block 12 together with the rectilinear guide cylinder 17. At the same time, the second movable lens barrel 19 is retracted into the movable lens barrel 16 while rotating in the same direction as the third movable lens barrel 16, and
The movable lens barrel 20 is moved by A with respect to the rotating second movable lens barrel 19.
It is moved together with the F / AE shutter unit 21.
Also during this retraction drive, the rear group moving motor 30 is not driven, as in the above-described retraction drive. Then, when the power switch is turned off after the zoom lens has moved to the wide end position, the zoom lens barrel 10 is moved into the lens storage position shown in FIG.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation of assembling the lens barrel to the housing is simplified, and no unnecessary space is required only during assembly and disassembly. It is possible to provide a straight-ahead guide device without increasing the size of the lens barrel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before a unit-shaped lens barrel is incorporated into a fixed barrel block in a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a unit-shaped lens barrel is incorporated in a fixed barrel block in the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a fixed lens barrel block of the zoom lens barrel alone;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third movable lens barrel of the zoom lens barrel alone;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an annular retaining member of the zoom lens barrel alone;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a main part of a straight-ahead guide device in the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a state different from FIG. 6 of a main part of the straight-ahead guide device in the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows AF / A of a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention is applied.
It is a perspective view which shows the mechanism which guides an E shutter unit straight.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a mechanism for guiding the AF / AE shutter unit in a straight line, which is different from FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the AF / AE shutter unit is assembled to a first movable lens barrel.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a relationship between the AF / AE shutter unit, a first movable lens barrel, and a second movable lens barrel.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the AF / AE shutter unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a third movable lens barrel drawn from a direction in which both the female helicoid and the outer peripheral gear can be seen.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a fixed lens barrel block of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 16 is an upper half sectional view showing a maximum extended state of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 17 is an upper half sectional view showing a main part of the zoom lens barrel in a lens housed state.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a control system for controlling the operation of the zoom lens barrel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 zoom lens barrel 12 fixed barrel block 12a female helicoid 12b rectilinear guide groove 12e introduction surface 12g rectilinear projection introduction concave portion 12p tubular portion (first cylinder) 16 third movable barrel (second cylinder) 16a male helicoid 17 Straight guide tube (straight tube) 17c 17c 'Engagement protrusion (straight protrusion) 33 Annular retaining member (retainer) 33a Retainer protrusion 33c Straight guide surface 33i Annular portion A One side surface of straight guide groove A' Extension surface B Other side of the straight guide groove C One side of the engagement protrusion O Optical axis

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-253530 (JP, A) JP-A-6-313829 (JP, A) JP-A-5-93836 (JP, A) 34407 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B ⁷ /02-7/105

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first type having a female helicoid on an inner peripheral surface and a straight guide groove extending across the female helicoid and parallel to an optical axis.
A second cylinder having a male helicoid screwed into the female helicoid;
A straight body having a rectilinear projection engaged with the straight guide groove and rotatably supported with respect to the second cylindrical body; an entrance of the straight guide groove at an end of the first cylindrical body; A straight-projection-introducing concave portion formed in communication with the straight-travel guide groove; and a state in which the second cylinder is screwed into the first cylinder, and the straight-projection is fitted in the straight-guide groove. A retaining body fixed to one end of the first cylindrical body; the retaining body is simultaneously fitted in the rectilinear projection introducing concave portion and the rectilinear guiding groove and closes the entrance portion of the rectilinear guiding groove. A linear guide device for a lens barrel, comprising a stopper projection. 2. The straight running guide device according to claim 1, wherein one side of the straight running projection is provided on the retaining projection of the retaining body in cooperation with one side surface of the straight running guide groove of the first cylindrical body. A linear guide device for a lens barrel having a straight guide surface for straight guide. 3. The straight running guide device according to claim 2, wherein the straight running guide surface of the retaining body is offset from the extension surface of the one side surface of the straight running guide groove of the first cylindrical body in a direction in which the groove width is widened. Linear guide device for the lens barrel. 4. The lens guide according to claim 1, wherein the rectilinear protrusion introduction recess of the first cylindrical body has an introduction surface having the same inclination angle as that of the female helicoid. Straight guide device for cylinders.