# US 5,703,676 A · Zoom lens system for a photographic copier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,676 A - Document ID: US5703676A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/526,844 - Filed: 1995-09-11 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-09-20 - Assignees: Agfa-Gevaert - Inventors: Markus Mueller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703676A ## CPC - G03B 27/34: Means for automatic focusing therefor - G02B 7/10: by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A zoom objective for a photographic printer has a housing which accommodates two groups of lenses. One group is fixed and the other group is shiftable along the optical axis of the objective to change the magnification. The housing is externally threaded and meshes with an internally threaded magnification ring which surrounds the housing and serves to move the shiftable lens group. A clamping ring circumscribes the housing on either side of the magnification ring, and the clamping rings constitute abutments for the magnification ring. The clamping rings are adjustable along the optical axis of the objective. The housing is further surrounded by an internally threaded focusing ring which is in mesh with the housing and is provided with mounting elements for mounting the objective in a printer. The position of the housing in the printer can be varied by rotating the housing and the focusing ring relative to one another. This allows the objective to be focused following a change in magnification. Two additional clamping rings circumscribe the housing with one of the additional clamping rings being disposed on either side of the focusing ring. The additional clamping rings, which are again adjustable along the optical axis of the objective, function as abutments for the focusing ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lens system, comprising support means; a mounting member for said support means, said mounting member being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and said support means being provided with first threads, said mounting member being provided with second threads which mesh with said first threads; first lens means on said support means; second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means; and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of said abutments is shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a housing for said first and second lens means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said mounting member is generally annular. ### Claim 5 A lens system, comprising support means; a mounting member for said support means, said mounting member being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and at least one of said support means and said mounting member including an arresting portion for fixing said mounting member on said support means; first lens means on said support means; second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means; and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 6 A lens system, comprising support means; a mounting member for said support means, said mounting member being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and said mounting member including at least one bayonet coupling element; first lens means on said support means; second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means; and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 7 A lens system, comprising support means; a mounting member for said support means, said mounting member being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means; a pair of abutment members for limiting displacement of sale mounting member, at least one of said abutment members being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means; first lens means on said support means; second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means; and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein each of said abutment members is shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein one of said abutments and one of said abutment members have a common identifying characteristic. ### Claim 10 A copier, comprising a first arrangement for positioning masters at a first location; a second arrangement for positioning copy material at a second location; and a lens system for projecting images of masters from said first location to said second location, said lens system including support means, a mounting member for said support means, first lens means on said support means, second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means, and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, said mounting member and at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and said support means being provided with first threads, said mounting member being provided with second threads which mesh with said first threads. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The copier of claim 10, wherein each of said abutments is shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The copier of claim 10 wherein said support means comprises a housing for said first and second lens means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The copier of claim 10, wherein said mounting member is generally annular. ### Claim 14 A copier, comprising a first arrangement for positioning masters at a first location; a second arrangement for positioning copy material at a second location; and a lens system for projecting images of masters from said first location to said second location, said lens system including support means, a mounting member for said support means, first lens means on said support means, second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means, and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, said mounting member and at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and at least one of said support means and said mounting member including an arresting portion for fixing said mounting member on said support means. ### Claim 15 A copier, comprising a first arrangement for positioning masters at a first location; a second arrangement for positioning copy material at a second location; and a lens system for projecting images of masters from said first location to said second location, said lens system including support means, a mounting member for said support means, first lens means on said support means, second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means, and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, said mounting member and at least one of said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and said mounting member including at least one bayonet coupling element. ### Claim 16 A copier, comprising a first arrangement for positioning masters at a first location; a second arrangement for positioning copy material at a second location; and a lens system for projecting images of masters from said first location to said second location, said lens system including support means, a mounting member for said support means, a pair of abutment members for limiting displacement of said mounting member, first lens means on said support means, second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means, and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, said mounting member and at least one of said abutment members, as well as at least one of said abutments, being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The copier of claim 16, wherein each of said abutment members is shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The copier of claim 16, wherein one of said abutments and one of said abutment members have a common identifying characteristic. ### Claim 19 A lens system, comprising support means; first lens means on said support means; second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means; and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and said support means including housing means for said first and second lens means, said abutments being movable on said housing means along an axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising a moving device for shifting said second lens means relative to said first lens means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said moving device is mechanical. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein said first and second lens means have an optical axis and said second lens means is shiftable along said optical axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein said support means is provided with first threads and said one abutment is provided with second threads which mesh with said first threads. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein said one abutment is generally annular. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of said support means and said one abutment comprises an arresting portion for fixing said one abutment on said support means. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein said one abutment comprises a split ring having two ends, said arresting portion including an adjusting member for shifting said ends relative to one another so as to clamp said ring on said support means. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein said adjusting member comprises a screw which engages said ends. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising a mounting member for said support means, said mounting member being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein said first and second lens means have an optical axis and said mounting member is shiftable along said optical axis. ### Claim 30 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein said axis coincidences with the optical axis of said lens system. ### Claim 31 A copier, comprising a first arrangement for positioning masters at a first location; a second arrangement for positioning copy material at a second location; and a lens system for projecting images of masters from said first location to said second location, said lens system including support means, first lens means on said support means, second lens means on said support means movable relative to said first lens means, and a pair of abutments for limiting displacement of said second lens means, said abutments being shiftable between a plurality of locations of said support means, and said support means including housing means for said first and second lens means, said abutments being movable on said housing means along an axis. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The copier of claim 31, wherein said axis coincides with the optical axis of said lens system. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The copier of claim 31, wherein said lens system further includes a moving device for shifting said second lens means relative to said first lens means. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The copier of claim 33, wherein said moving device is mechanical. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The copier of claim 31, wherein said first and second lens means have an optical axis and said second lens means second lens means have an optical axis and said mounting member is shiftable along said optical axis. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The copier of claim 31, wherein said support means is provided with first threads and said one abutment is provided with second threads which mesh with said first threads. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The copier of claim 36, wherein said one abutment it generally annular. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The copier of claim 31, wherein at least one of said support means and said one abutment comprises an arresting portion for fixing said one abutment on said support means. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The copier of claim 38, wherein said one abutment comprises a split ring having two ends, said arresting portion including an adjusting member for shifting said ends relative to one another so as to clamp said ring on said support means. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The copier of claim 39, wherein said adjusting member comprises a screw which engages said ends. ### Claim 41 (depends on 31) The copier of claim 31, wherein said lens system further includes a mounting member for said support means, said mounting member being shiftable between a plurality of locations said support means. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The copier of claim 41, wherein said first and second lens means have an optical axis and said mounting member is shiftable along said optical axis.