IP Library Granted Patent US 7,554,756
Granted Patent B2
US 7,554,756 · App. 12/059,786 · Granted Jun 30, 2009

Cylindrical molded article, lens barrel, camera, and injection mold

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,554,756
App. No.
12/059,786
Granted
Jun 30, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive frame 34 as a cylindrical molded article has a drive frame main body 34 a , three first cam grooves 34 c , three second cam grooves 34 d , three high-density regions H, and three cam pins 43 . The cam pins 43 are disposed in the circumferential direction between first center lines X 1 which are positioned in the center in the circumferential direction between adjacent high-density regions H, and the high-density regions H.

Claims (33)

1. A cylindrical molded article formed by injection molding, comprising:

a cylindrical portion;

at least three cam grooves formed on either the inner peripheral face or the outer peripheral face of the cylindrical portion;

at least three cam pins formed on the other face of either the inner peripheral face or the outer peripheral face of the cylindrical portion; and

at least three high-density regions on the face where the cam grooves are formed, in which there is the highest proportion of the axial direction dimension accounted for by the three or more cam grooves with respect to the axial direction dimension of the cylindrical portion,

the cam pins are disposed between first center lines which are positioned in the center in the circumferential direction between the adjacent high-density regions, and first high-density regions, each being one of the adjacent high-density regions, in the circumferential direction.

2. The cylindrical molded article according to claim 1 , further comprising at least three low-density regions on the face where the cam grooves are formed, in which there is the lowest proportion of the axial direction dimension accounted for by the three or more cam grooves with respect to the axial direction dimension of the cylindrical portion,

wherein the cam pins are disposed between the high-density regions and the low-density regions in the circumferential direction.

3. The cylindrical molded article according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cam pins are disposed between second center lines which are positioned in the center in the circumferential direction between the first high-density regions and the first center lines, and the first high-density regions, in the circumferential direction.

4. The cylindrical molded article according to claim 1 ,

wherein the three or more cam pins are disposed at a constant pitch in the circumferential direction.

5. The cylindrical molded article according to claim 2 ,

wherein the cam pins are disposed between second center lines which are positioned in the center in the circumferential direction between the first high-density regions and the first center lines, and the first high-density regions, in the circumferential direction.

6. The cylindrical molded article according to claim 5 ,

wherein the three or more cam pins are disposed at a constant pitch in the circumferential direction.

7. The cylindrical molded article according to claim 2 ,

wherein the three or more cam pins are disposed at a constant pitch in the circumferential direction.

8. A lens barrel for supporting an imaging optical system, comprising:

the cylindrical molded article according to claim 1 ; and

a lens frame to which are fixed the lens group included in the imaging optical system, and having at least three second cam pins engaging with the cam grooves.

9. A camera, comprising:

the lens barrel according to claim 8 ;

an imaging optical system supported by the lens barrel;

an imaging unit for capturing an optical image of a subject formed by the imaging optical system; and

an outer case supporting the lens barrel.

10. An injection mold for injection molding a molding material to obtain a cylindrical molded article having at least three cam grooves and at least three cam pins, comprising:

a first portion having a cavity arranged to mold the cylindrical molded article;

a second portion having a sprue as a channel through which the molding material is injected;

a third portion having three first runners connected to the sprue; and

a fourth portion having gates connecting the cavity and the three first runners.

wherein the first portion has a portion corresponding to the cam pins, and three high-density regions in which there is the highest proportion of the axial direction dimension accounted for by the portion corresponding to the three or more cam grooves with respect to the axial direction dimension of the cavity, and

the cam pins are disposed in the circumferential direction between first center lines which are positioned in the center in the circumferential direction between the adjacent high-density regions, and first high-density regions, each being one of the adjacent high-density regions.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 20, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2008
From: IYODA, MAKOTO; NAKAO, SUGURU; IRIE, SHOUICHI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 021052/0943 →