Patent ID: 6906871
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A cam mechanism for a lens barrel, comprising: an annular member which is linearly guided along an optical axis, said annular member having at least one cam follower on an outer peripheral surface thereof; a cam ring having at least one cam groove on an inner peripheral surface thereof, said cam groove including a photographing section for moving said annular member to a ready-to-photograph position thereof, and an accommodation section for positioning said annular member to an accommodation position thereof at which no photographing operation is performed, said cam follower being engaged in said cam groove; and a biasing device for biasing said annular member forward to normally press said cam follower against a front cam surface in said cam groove, wherein a rear end portion of said cam groove is open at a rear end surface of said cam ring to serve as said accommodation section, and wherein said cam follower is disengageable from said front cam surface in said cam groove against a biasing force of said biasing device when said cam follower is engaged in said accommodation section.