Interchangeable lens assembly

A camera interchangeable objective lens of the automatic preset aperture type for use with a camera having a drive element movable from a retracted to an advanced position attendant to the initiation of an exposure comprising:

• a variable aperture diaphragm;
• an aperture adjusting unit including a diaphragm adjusting ring and an adjusting member integrally connected to said adjusting ring;
• a first spring directly connected to and biasing said adjusting unit to a retracted aperture fully open position;
• an actuating member movable between retracted and advanced positions and releasably coupled to follow said drive element to move toward retracted and advance positions with the movement of said drive element toward retracted and advanced positions;
• and
• a unidirectional coupling member located on and movable with said actuating member releasably directly engaging said adjusting member to couple said adjusting member and said actuating member whereby to only advance said adjusting member and diaphragm ring in a direction to reduce said diaphragm aperture under the direct pressure of the advancing actuating member and to permit the free retraction of said diaphragm and adjusting member only under the influence of said first spring member with the retraction of said actuating member.

A camera interchangeable objective lens of the automatic preset aperture type for use with a camera having a drive element movable from a retracted to an advancing position attendant to the initiation of an exposure comprising:

• a variable aperture diaphragm;
• an aperture adjusting member connected to said diaphragm;
• a first follower rigidly affixed to said adjusting member and defining therewith an adjusting unit;
• a first spring directly connected to said adjusting unit and biasing said adjusting unit to an aperture open position;
• actuating means consisting of a unitary lever swingable between retracted and advanced positions and a second follower located on said lever and a second spring biasing said lever to urge said second follower to releasably engage and follow said drive element whereby said lever moves towards retracted and advanced positions with the movement of said drive element toward retracted and advanced positions;
• and
• unidirectional coupling means releasably coupling said first follower and said actuating means and including a projection affixed to said lever proximate its free end and concurrently movable therewith and having a first face facing the direction of advance of said lever and releasably directly abutting said first follower, said first follower being advanceable away from said projection first face, whereby said coupling means only permits the advancement of said first follower, adjusting member and diaphragm in a direction to reduce said aperture under the direct pressure of the advancing lever and permits the free retraction of said first follower adjusting member and diaphragm only under the influence of said first spring with the retraction of said lever.

In an interchangeable lens assembly which has a manually operable diaphragm setting member and is detachably mountable on a camera body including reciprocating means which is displaced from an initial position prior to the commencement of an exposure and returns to the initial position upon the completion of the exposure, the combination comprising:

• a diaphragm mechanism for forming an adjustable diaphragm aperture and including a diaphragm control ring;
• a control member integrally connected to said diaphragm control ring and defining therewith a diaphragm control unit;
• an actuating member angularly movable within a predetermined angle;
• a first spring directly biasing said actuating member toward a predetermined extreme position of the movement thereof;
• a unidirectionally engaging portion fixedly located on said actuating member so that it directly abuts said control member to move the same when said actuating member is moved toward the other extreme position from said predetermined extreme position and that it disengages from said control member when said actuating member is moved toward said predetermined extreme position;
• a second spring directly connected to said control member for biasing said control member in a direction to engage said unidirectionally engaging portion whereby said control member is also moved to follow said unidirectionally engaging portion when said actuating member is moved to said predetermined extreme position;
• interlocking means for drive intercoupling said actuating member with said reciprocating means when said interchangeable lens is mounted on the camera body whereby said actuating member is maintained in the other of extreme position when said reciprocating means is in its initial position and said actuating member is permitted to move toward said predetermined extreme position when said reciprocating means is displaced from its initial position;
• and
• means for adjustably limiting the amount of the movement of said actuating member from said predetermined extreme position, said means including a cam member and an engaging member one of which is provided on said actuating member and the other of which is interlocked with said diaphragm setting member.