Abstract: A lens barrel includes first and second lens groups guided in an optical axis direction without rotating about the optical axis, first and second support frames which support the first and second lens groups and include first and second cam followers, respectively; and a cam ring which is rotatable about the optical axis and includes a cam groove. The cam groove is formed as a continuous groove and includes first and second groove portions via which the first and second cam followers are guided to move the first and second lens groups, respectively. One of the first cam follower and the second cam follower enters one of the first groove portion and the second groove portion after passing through the other of the first groove portion and the second groove portion in a preparation stage of the lens barrel.

Abstract: A movable lens hood mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided linearly in a direction of an optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a first cam barrel rotatably driven to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a movable hood barrel having a photographic aperture positioned in front of the frontmost lens group and guided linearly in the optical axis direction; and a feed mechanism which drives the movable hood barrel forward/rearward in the optical axis direction relative to the frontmost lens group by rotation of the first cam barrel so that a space between the photographic aperture of the movable lens hood and the frontmost lens group in the optical axis direction varies in accordance with a variation of a focal length of the zoom lens.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a movable lens frame and a cam ring for moving the movable lens frame in a direction of an optical axis via a movement of the cam ring which is rotatable about the optical axis and movable in the direction thereof. The lens barrel includes a stationary ring provided around, and coaxial with, the cam ring; a rotatable ring provided around, and coaxial with, the stationary barrel, the rotatable ring being driven to rotate about the optical axis. A cam follower extends radially outwards from the cam ring, and a cam through-slot and a rotation transfer groove which are formed on the stationary ring and the rotatable ring, respectively, so that the cam follower is engaged in the cam through-slot and corresponding rotation transfer groove. The cam through-slot includes a linear and an inclined slot portion.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a front lens frame supporting a front lens group; a rear lens frame supporting a rear lens group; a cam ring including first and second cam grooves which receive first and second cam followers of the front and rear lens frames; the first and second cam grooves include first and second moving sections and first and second accommodation sections, respectively; and a guiding mechanism allowing the rear lens frame to relatively rotate when the second cam follower engages in a vicinity an accommodation position of the second accommodation section, and prohibiting the rear lens frame from relatively rotating while allowing the rear lens frame to only relatively move in the optical axis direction when the second cam follower engages in a section of the second cam groove which includes the second moving section and excludes this vicinity.

Abstract: Lens barrel has a lens supporting frame to which a frontmost lens group is fixed, a first moving frame to which the lens supporting frame is engaged, a second moving frame to which a rear lens group which is positioned behind the frontmost lens group is supported, and a support frame movement mechanism for moving the first and second moving frame between ready-to-photograph positions and accommodation positions behind the ready-to-photograph positions in an optical axis direction. The support frame movement mechanism makes the first moving frame and the second moving frame rotate about the optical axis relative to each other with the lens supporting frame and the second moving frame being in contact with each other when the first moving frame and the second moving frame are positioned in the vicinity of accommodation positions. One of the lens supporting frames includes a low-frictional portion provided on a contacting surface thereof.

Abstract: A colored liquid hypochlorite bleach composition is provided, comprising a particulate pigment such as Ultramarine Blue, which is stably suspended in the composition by means of a flocculate, such as calcium soap flocs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for carrying out a germicidal process on microbes, which uses hypochlorous acid or the like. More specifically, the present invention provides a sterilizing method in which an aqueous solution comprising (A) hypochlorous acid and/or a salt thereof, (B) a surfactant and (C) a pH adjusting agent is made in contact with microbes.

Abstract: A selectable assembling device of a zoom lens barrel includes a stationary barrel having a female helicoid, and linear guide grooves spaced at 120 degree intervals; a cam ring including bottomed cam grooves; a linear guide barrel provided with linear guide projections and linear guide slots spaced at 120 degree intervals; and a plurality of lens frames provided with sliding projections spaced at 120 degree intervals, which are engaged in the linear guide slots of the linear guide barrel, each of the sliding projections including a cam follower which is fitted in a corresponding bottomed cam groove of the cam ring. Upon assembly, a relative angular position of assembly for the cam ring and the linear guide barrel can be selected from among three circumferential positions spaced at 120 degree intervals. A device for guiding a flexible circuit board is also provided.

Abstract: A lens frame structure for optical axis adjustment includes a first frame having a central opening and a first reference surface normal to an optical axis, a second frame supporting a lens group to be aligned with the central opening, the second frame having a radial flange which has a second reference surface normal to the optical axis and contacting the first reference surface so that the second frame is movable in a direction normal to the optical axis, and a plurality of cutout portions formed on the radial flange, wherein an adhesive is inserted into each of the plurality of cutout portions to bond the second frame to the first frame.

Abstract: A lens drive system includes a lens frame having a lens element; a nut member secured to the lens frame, and which are both movable in an optical axis direction without rotating; a feed screw shaft having a male thread portion and a non-threaded portion, the male thread portion being engaged with a screw hole of the nut member; a motor for rotating the feed screw shaft; and a biasing member for biasing the nut member in a first direction toward the male thread portion. When the feed screw shaft is rotated to move the nut member and the lens frame in a second direction toward the non-thread portion, the female thread portion is disengaged from the male thread portion to move onto the non-threaded portion before the lens frame or the nut member abuts against an element of the lens drive system and stops thereby.

Abstract: A lens drive system includes a lens frame having a lens element; a nut member secured to the lens frame; a feed screw shaft having a male thread portion and a non-threaded portion, the male thread portion engaged with a screw hole of the nut member; an engagement portion formed on the nut member and having a deformable screw-engaging portion engaged with the male thread portion; and a motor for rotating the feed screw shaft. The screw-engaging portion is disengaged from the male thread portion when a large force is applied to the engagement portion in an axial direction. When the linear movement of the lens frame and the nut member is restricted during rotation of the feed screw shaft, the engagement portion remains on the male thread portion of the feed screw shaft while the female thread portion is moved onto the non-thread portion.

Abstract: Lens barrel has a lens supporting frame to which a frontmost lens group is fixed, a first moving frame to which the lens supporting frame is engaged, a second moving frame to which a rear lens group which is positioned behind the frontmost lens group is supported, and a support frame movement mechanism for moving the first and second moving frame between ready-to-photograph positions and accommodation positions behind the ready-to-photograph positions in an optical axis direction. The support frame movement mechanism makes the first moving frame and the second moving frame rotate about the optical axis relative to each other with the lens supporting frame and the second moving frame being in contact with each other when the first moving frame and the second moving frame are positioned in the vicinity of accommodation positions. One of the lens supporting frames includes a low-frictional portion provided on a contacting surface thereof.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a movable lens frame and a cam ring for moving the movable lens frame in a direction of an optical axis via a movement of the cam ring which is rotatable about the optical axis and movable in the direction thereof. The lens barrel includes a stationary ring provided around, and coaxial with, the cam ring; a rotatable ring provided around, and coaxial with, the stationary barrel, the rotatable ring being driven to rotate about the optical axis. A cam follower extends radially outwards from the cam ring, and a cam through-slot and a rotation transfer groove which are formed on the stationary ring and the rotatable ring, respectively, so that the cam follower is engaged in the cam through-slot and corresponding rotation transfer groove. The cam through-slot includes a linear and an inclined slot portion.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a cam barrel having bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a lens frame guided in an optical axis direction, cam followers, and resilient supports which are resiliently deformable radially. Each bottomed cam groove includes a zoom section, and an accommodation section. Each bottomed cam groove is formed so that a depth of the accommodation section is greater than the zoom section. The resilient bias of each resilient support causes the cam followers to be biased against the bottomed cam grooves wherein the follower pins are fitted in the bottomed cam grooves so that no play occurs when the bottomed cam grooves are in the zoom section. Each resilient support is free from being elastically deformed so that the cam followers are inserted in the bottomed cam grooves with a predetermined amount of play when the bottomed cam grooves are positioned in the accommodation section.

Abstract: A cam barrel rotating mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided in a direction of an optical axis without rotating about the optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a cam barrel rotatably supported to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a rotational barrel positioned around the cam barrel, the rotational barrel being rotatably driven; a plurality of rotation transmission grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam barrel, at an equi-angular intervals, extending parallel to the optical axis; and a plurality of inward projections formed on an inner peripheral surface of the rotational barrel to be engaged in the plurality of rotation transmission grooves, respectively.

Abstract: A lens barrier opening/closing device of a movable lens barrel includes a barrier blade which is driven to open and close a photographic aperture; a barrier drive ring driven to rotate about an optical axis; a first biasing device which biases the barrier drive ring in a rotational direction; a rotational barrel which rotates about the optical axis; a receiving surface formed on the barrier drive ring to extend parallel to the optical axis; and a transmission surface, formed on the rotational barrel, extending parallel to the optical axis. The receiving surface and the transmission surface are engaged with each other to rotate the barrier drive ring together with the rotational barrel about the optical axis in a direction against a biasing force of the first biasing device when the movable lens barrel moves from either the photographing position to the accommodation position or vise versa.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring which rotates about an optical axis while moving in the optical axis direction and has a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; a movable lens frame provided inside the cam ring so as to be movable in the optical axis direction without rotating about the optical axis; a cam mechanism for moving the movable lens frame in the optical axis direction by an amount of movement greater than that of the cam ring via rotation of the cam ring in accordance with a profile of the cam groove; and an outer ring which is provided around the cam ring and is engaged therewith so that the cam ring is rotatable about the optical axis relative to the outer ring and so that outer ring moves together with the cam ring in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens frame structure for optical axis adjustment includes a first frame having a central opening and a first reference surface normal to an optical axis, a second frame supporting a lens group to be aligned with the central opening, the second frame having a radial flange which has a second reference surface normal to the optical axis and contacting the first reference surface so that the second frame is movable in a direction normal to the optical axis, and a plurality of cutout portions formed on the radial flange, wherein an adhesive is inserted into each of the plurality of cutout portions to bond the second frame to the first frame.

Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a linear guide barrel provided with a linear guide projection at one end thereof, extending radially outwards; a cam barrel fitted on the linear guide barrel, rotatable relative to the linear guide barrel and movable along the optical axis with the linear guide barrel, the cam barrel being provided with a cam groove on an inner surface thereof; a linear guide slot formed on the linear guide barrel extending parallel to the optical axis; at least one lens frame positioned inside the linear guide barrel; a projection formed on the lens frame to be slidably engaged in the linear guide slot; and a cam follower formed on the projection to be engaged in the cam groove. The linear guide projection and the linear guide slot are formed on the linear guide barrel at the same circumferential position of the linear guide barrel.

Abstract: A lens frame guiding mechanism of a zoom lens includes lens frames having projections which extend radially outwards, wherein a cam follower is formed on each projection; a linear guide barrel; linear guide slots formed on the linear guide barrel parallel to the optical axis, wherein the projections of each lens frame are respectively engaged in the linear guide slots to be slidable therealong; a cam barrel fitted outside the linear guide barrel to be relatively rotatable about the optical axis thereto; and bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam barrel, in which the cam followers of a corresponding lens frame are respectively engaged. The lens frames are moved in the direction of the optical axis, without rotating about the optical axis, to change a focal length of said zoom lens via rotation of said cam barrel.