Rotary Encoder and Drive Apparatus

A drive apparatus comprising:

• a drive section;
• a movable section moved by a driving force of the drive section;
• a rotary encoder that detects an amount of movement of the movable section;
• and
• a control section that controls the drive section in accordance with the amount of movement detected by the rotary encoder, wherein
• the rotary encoder includes:
• a base whose undersurface's concentric positions are provided with fixed contacts;
• a plate spring that includes a plurality of arm sections whose tips are equipped with movable contacts corresponding to the fixed contacts and that also includes curving projection sections between the tips of the arm sections and base ends;
• and a gear whose one surface's concentric positions are provided with curving-line-shaped projection sections that extend along the concentric circles and that correspond to the curving projection sections of the plate spring, wherein:
• the plate spring is attached to the base such that the movable contacts correspond to the fixed contacts;
• the gear is attached to the base such that the gear can rotate and the curving-line-shaped projection sections correspond to the curving projection sections of the plate spring;
• and, when the gear rotates, at least one of the curving-line-shaped projection sections pushes at least one corresponding curving projection section and a movable contact at the tip of the arm section on which the at least one corresponding curving projection section is formed touches the corresponding fixed contact.