IP Library Granted Patent US 9,658,516
Granted Patent B2
US 9,658,516 · App. 14/976,816 · Granted May 23, 2017

Blade drive device and optical apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,658,516
App. No.
14/976,816
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a blade drive device capable of suppressing the increase in number of components while suppressing the bounding of blades, and an optical apparatus including the blade drive device. A blade drive device 10 includes a partition plate 21 having an opening 22 , blades 31 a to 34 a, 31 b to 34 b which are expanded in a state where the opening 22 is closed and which overlap one another in a state where the opening 22 is opened, and a first regulating portion 23 A and a second regulating portion 24 A integrally formed with the partition plate 21 , on which the blades 31 a, 31 b abut when being expanded. An optical apparatus includes the blade drive device 10.

Claims (23)

1. A blade drive device comprising:

a partition plate having an opening and being extensive between a base plate of the blade drive device and a support plate of the blade drive device, wherein the partition plate creates a layer of first space between the partition plate and the base plate, and a layer of second space between the partition plate and the support plate;

a set of blades arranged in an overlapping matter in a thickness direction of the blade drive device and stored in one of the first and second spaces, wherein the set of blades are operable in the one of the first and second spaces to deploy to first positions where the set of blades reduces their overlapping areas among them to close the opening and retract to second positions where the set of blades increases their overlapping areas among them to open the opening, and the set of blades includes a leading blade being deployed ahead of a rest of the blades in the set; and

a regulating portion integrally formed on the partition plate and positioned to come in abutment with the leading blade overrunning its first position upon arrival of the leading blade at the first position from the second position, wherein one of the base plate and the support plate is formed with a guide hole through which the regulating portion is inserted with a clearance formed between the regulating portion and an inner peripheral of the guide hole.

2. The blade drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the regulating portion is provided with a first end and a second end in the thickness direction, wherein the second end is fixed to the partition plate so that the regulating portion stands from the partition plate.

3. The blade drive device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the set of blades constitutes a rear curtain.

4. The blade drive device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the regulating portions is made of a material nearly as hard as a material of which the blades are made.

5. The blade drive device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the regulating portion comprises a cushioning member forming a side of the regulating portion opposite to the side of the regulating portion coming in abutment with the leading blade.

6. An optical apparatus comprising

the blade drive device according to claim 1 .

7. The blade drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the regulating portion is positioned to stand clear of the leading blade being settled at the first position by a clearance, which is narrow enough for the regulating potion to come in abutment with the leading blade overrunning its first position upon arrival of the leasing blade at the first position from the second position.

8. The blade drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second set of blades arranged in an overlapping matter in a thickness direction of the blade drive device and stored in the other of the first and second spaces, wherein the second set of blades are operable in the other of the first and second spaces to deploy to third positions where the second set of blades reduces their overlapping areas among them to close the opening and retract to fourth positions where the second set of blades increases their overlapping areas among them to open the opening, and the second set of blades includes a second leading blade being deployed ahead of a rest of the blades in the second set; and

a second regulating portion integrally formed on a side of the partition plate opposite to the side on which the regulating portion is integrally formed and positioned to come in abutment with the second leading blade overrunning its third position upon arrival of the second leading blade at the third position from the fourth position.

9. The blade drive device according to claim 8 , wherein the second regulating portion is provided with a first end and a second end in the thickness direction, wherein the second end is fixed to the partition plate so that the second regulating portion stands from the partition plate.

10. The blade drive device according to claim 9 , wherein the other of the base plate and the support plate is formed with a second guide hole into which the first end of the second regulating portion is inserted with a clearance formed between the first end of the second regulating portion and an inner peripheral of the second guide hole.

11. The blade drive device according to claim 8 , wherein the second set of blades constitutes a front curtain.

12. The blade drive device according to claim 8 , wherein the second regulating portion is made of a material as hard as a material of which the blades are made.

13. The blade drive device according to claim 8 , wherein the second regulating portion comprises a second cushioning member forming a side of the second regulating portion opposite to the side of the regulating portion coming in abutment with the second leading blade.

14. The blade drive device according to claim 8 , wherein the second regulating portion is positioned to stand clear of the second leading blade being settled at its third position by a clearance, which is narrow enough for the second regulating potion to come in abutment with the second leading blade overrunning its third position upon arrival of the second leading blade at the third position from the fourth position.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 20, 2022
From: SEIKO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA (TRADING AS SEIKO HOLDINGS CORPORATION)
To: SEIKO GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062182/0124 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2019
From: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
To: SEIKO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA (TRADING AS SEIKO HOLDINGS CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 050873/0971 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: OISHI, SEIICHI; TOKURA, SHOICHI
To: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
Reel/Frame 037370/0190 →