Power transmission mechanism

Claim 2

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element, said lens element being movable in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said first axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotatIonal direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said second axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a unidirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means, and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position; e. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said first axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element is said second axial direction; and f. means continuously biasing said actuator means to said neutral position.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes resilient means for normally maintaining said drive means in said inoperative position.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises an actuator lever connected to said track drive means for moving said track drive means between said operative position and said inoperative position.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein said drive means includes a first extending arm that intermittently engages said drive track means to rotate said rotatable element in a first direction.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said drive means includes a second extending arm that intermittently engages said drive track means to rotate said rotatable element in a second direction.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein said operating means comprises an eccentric rotatably driven by said drive means.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein said actuator lever is resiliently connected to said track drive means.

Claim 9

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, and a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element for moving said lens element in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and for moving said lens element in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a continuously rotating unidirectional drive means; b. a first engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said reversibly rotatable element and an inoperative position disengaged from said reversibly rotatable element; c. a second engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said reversibly rotatable element and an inoperative position disengaged from said reversibly rotatable element; d. actuator means connected to said first and second engagement elements for moviNg a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its normally inoperative position into its operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its normally inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position; and e. operating means driven by said drive means for imparting motion to said first and second engagement elements, said first engagement element having reciprocative motion when in its operative position advancing said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction by driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation of said first engagement element in one direction and experiencing non-driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation in the opposite direction, said second engagement element having reciprocative motion when in its operative position advancing said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction by driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation of said second engagement element in one direction and experiencing non-driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation in the opposite direction, whereby said reversibly rotatable element is intermittently rotated in said first rotational direction when said first engagement element is in its operative position and said reversibly rotatable element is intermittently rotated in said second rotational direction when said second engagement element is in its operative position.

Claim 10

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, and a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element for moving said lens element in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and for moving said lens element in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a continuously rotating unidirectional drive means; b. a first engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said reversibly rotatable element and an inoperative position disengaged from said reversibly rotatable element; c. a second engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said reversibly rotatable element and an inoperative position disengaged from said reversibly rotatable element; d. actuator means connected to said first and second engagement elements for moviNg a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its normally inoperative position into its operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its normally inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position; and e. operating means driven by said drive means for imparting motion to said first and second engagement elements, said first engagement element having reciprocative motion when in its operative position advancing said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction by driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation of said first engagement element in one direction and experiencing non-driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation in the opposite direction, said second engagement element having reciprocative motion when in its operative position advancing said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction by driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation of said second engagement element in one direction and experiencing non-driving engagement with said reversibly rotatable element during each reciprocation in the opposite direction, whereby said reversibly rotatable element is intermittently rotated in said first rotational direction when said first engagement element is in its operative position and said reversibly rotatable element is intermittently rotated in said second rotational direction when said second engagement element is in its operative position.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises an eccentric rotatably driven by said drive means.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said actuator means includes resilient means normally maintaining said first and second engagement elements in said inoperative position.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein said actuator means includes a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second engagement elements for effecting said movement of a selected one of said first and second engagement elements into its operative position.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second pawl engagement elements for effecting movement of a selected one of said first and second pawl engagement elements into its operative position.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentric means comprises an eccentric hub driven by said rotating drive means, said ratchet pawl being slidably mounted on said eccentric hub through a central axial bore in said ratchet pawl.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the said actuator means is movable from its neutral position to a forward position where said first engagement element engages said track drive means to drive said lens element in a forward axial direction and said actuator means is movable from its neutral position to a reverse position where said second engagement element engages said track drive means to drive said lens element in a reverse axial direction.

Claim 17

In a camera having a zoom lens including a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to the lens element, said lens element being movable in a forward axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a reverse axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said forward axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said reverse axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a unidirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means, and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position, said actuator means including a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second pawl engagement elements for effecting movement of a selected one of said first and second pawl engagement elements into its operative position; e. means continuously biasing said actuator means to said neutral position; and f. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said forward axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said reverse axial direction, said eccentric means comprising an eccentric hub driven by said rotating drive means, and said ratchet pawl means being slidably mounted on said eccentric hub through a central axial bore in said ratchet pawl means.

Claim 18

In a camera having a zoom lens including a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to the lens element, said lens element being movable in a forward axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a reverse axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said forward axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said reverse axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a unidirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means, and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position, said actuator means including a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second pawl engagement elements for effecting movement of a selected one of said first and second pawl engagement elements into its operative position; e. means continuously biasing said actuator means to said neutral position; and f. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said forward axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said reverse axial direction, said eccentric means comprising an eccentric hub driven by said rotating drive means, and said ratchet pawl means being slidably mounted on said eccentric hub through a central axial bore in said ratchet pawl means.

Claim 19

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element, said lens element being movable in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said first axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said second axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a undirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position; and e. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said first axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said second axial direction, said eccentric means comprising an eccentric hub driven by said rotating drive means and said ratchet pawl means being slidably mounted on said eccentric hub through a central axial bore in said ratchet pawl means.

Claim 20

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element, said lens element being movable in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said first axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said second axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a undirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position and for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position; and e. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said first axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said second axial direction, said eccentric means comprising an eccentric hub driven by said rotating drive means and said ratchet pawl means being slidably mounted on said eccentric hub through a central axial bore in said ratchet pawl means.

Claim 21

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein the said actuator means is movable from its neutral position to a forward position where said first engagement element engages said track drive means to drive said lens element in a forward axial direction and said actuator means is movable from its neutral position to a reverse position where said second engagement element engages said track drive means to drive said lens element in a reverse axial direction.

Claim 22

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said actuator means includes a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second pawl engagement elements for effecting movement of a selected one of said first and second pawl engagement elements into its operative position.

Claim 23

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element, said lens element being movable in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said first axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said second axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a unidirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means, and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position anD for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position and including a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second pawl engagement elements for effecting movement of a selected one of said first and second pawl engagement elements into its operative position; e. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said first axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction, and thereby advance said lens element in said second axial direction.

Claim 24

In an optical instrument having a lens element movable in an axial direction, a reversibly rotatable element connected to said lens element, said lens element being movable in a first axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a first rotational direction and in a second axial direction when said rotatable element is rotated in a second rotational direction, and means connecting said reversibly rotatable element to said lens element for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said first rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said first axial direction and for converting a rotary motion of said reversibly rotatable element in said second rotational direction to axial motion of the lens element to advance said lens element in said second axial direction, the combination therewith comprising: a. a unidirectional continuously rotating drive means; b. annular toothed track means affixed to said rotatable element; c. ratchet pawl means spaced from said annular toothed track means, said ratchet pawl means including: i. a first pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means, and ii. a second pawl engagement element movable between an operative position in engagement with said annular toothed track means and an inoperative position disengaged from said annular toothed track means; d. actuator means connected to said ratchet pawl means for moving a selected one of said first and second engagement elements from its inoperative position into operative position while the other of said first and second engagement elements remains in its inoperative position anD for returning said selected one of said first and second engagement elements to its inoperative position, said actuator means having a neutral position in which both said first and second engagement elements are in their inoperative position and including a manually operable actuator lever resiliently connected to said first and second pawl engagement elements for effecting movement of a selected one of said first and second pawl engagement elements into its operative position; e. an eccentric driven by said drive means for imparting back and forth motion to said ratchet pawl means such that said first pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said first rotational direction and thereby advance said lens element in said first axial direction and such that said second pawl engagement element is effective when in its operative position to rotate said reversibly rotatable element intermittently in said second rotational direction, and thereby advance said lens element in said second axial direction.

Claim 25

The invention defined in claim 19 wherein the said actuator means is movable from its neutral position to a forward position where said first engagement element engages said track drive means to drive said lens element in a forward axial direction and said actuator means is movable from its neutral position to a reverse position where said second engagement element engages said track drive means to drive said lens element in a reverse axial direction.