Patent ID: 7230773

Claim:
A drive mechanism of a zoom lens for driving at least three optical elements of a photographing optical system in an optical axis direction, said drive mechanism comprising: a front movable member, an intermediate movable member and a rear movable member, in that order from the front of said zoom lens in said optical axis direction, which support said three optical elements, respectively, and are guided linearly in said optical axis direction without rotating, wherein one of said front movable member and said rear movable member serves as a common-engaging spring support member, and the other of said front movable member and said rear movable member, and said intermediate movable member serve as two single-engaging spring support members; a common driving member including a driving device for moving said front, intermediate and rear movable members independently of one another in said optical axis direction to perform a zooming operation; and a first spring member and a second spring member for removing backlash between said front, intermediate and rear movable members and said driving device, both one end of said first spring member and one end of said second spring member being connected to said common-engaging spring support member and the other ends of said first spring member and said second spring member being connected to said two single-engaging spring support members, respectively.