Abstract: A bending imaging apparatus includes a movable lens group, a motor which drives the movable lens group and includes a lead screw extending parallel to the optical axis, a bending optical element at at least one end of the optical axis, a housing which supports the movable lens group and the bending optical element; a motor support bracket including a motor support portion, a screw support portion, and a planar portion between the motor support portion and the screw support portion and extends alongside the housing; a cover member including a planar portion facing the planar portion of the motor support bracket, and a fixer which fixes the cover member to the housing with a repulsive force generated between the planar portions of the motor support bracket and the cover member with the motor support bracket pressed against the housing.

Abstract: A drive system includes a rotational driving member, a rotational driven member, to which a rotational resistance is applied, a holding member of a rotatable optical element supported by the rotational driving member and the rotational driven member, an insertion controller preventing the holding member from rotating when the holding member is in an inserted position, and a removal controller allowing the holding member to move to a fully removed position and prevents the holding member from rotating at a limited removed position. An insertion/removal operation of the holding member is performed by relative rotation between the rotational driving member and the rotational driven member, and when the holding member is prevented from rotating by the insertion controller and the removal controller, the rotational driven member and the holding member rotate with the rotational driving member about the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes an outer barrel including a first cam follower, an internal movable member including a second cam follower, a cam ring, a first cam groove formed on a surface of the cam ring and engaged with the first cam follower, and a second cam groove formed on the surface of the cam ring and is open at a front end of the cam ring. When the outer barrel is positioned in front of a predetermined position, the second cam groove determines a position of the internal movable member in the outer barrel via a limit portion while the second cam groove is not engaged with the second cam follower, and when the outer barrel moves rearward beyond the predetermined position, the second cam groove engages with the second cam follower and moves the internal movable member rearward.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes an outer barrel including a first cam follower, an internal movable member including a second cam follower, a cam ring, a first cam groove formed on a surface of the cam ring and engaged with the first cam follower, and a second cam groove formed on the surface of the cam ring and is open at a front end of the cam ring. When the outer barrel is positioned in front of a predetermined position, the second cam groove determines a position of the internal movable member in the outer barrel via a limit portion while the second cam groove is not engaged with the second cam follower, and when the outer barrel moves rearward beyond the predetermined position, the second cam groove engages with the second cam follower and moves the internal movable member rearward.

Abstract: A drive system includes a rotational driving member, a rotational driven member, to which a rotational resistance is applied, a holding member of a rotatable optical element supported by the rotational driving member and the rotational driven member, an insertion controller preventing the holding member from rotating when the holding member is in an inserted position, and a removal controller allowing the holding member to move to a fully removed position and prevents the holding member from rotating at a limited removed position. An insertion/removal operation of the holding member is performed by relative rotation between the rotational driving member and the rotational driven member, and when the holding member is prevented from rotating by the insertion controller and the removal controller, the rotational driven member and the holding member rotate with the rotational driving member about the optical axis.