Vibration member and vibration wave driving apparatus using the vibration member

A vibration member for use in a vibration wave driving apparatus, said vibration member comprising:

• an elastic member having a through hole formed with a threaded portion in an inner wall thereof;
• a fastening member having a threaded portion;
• an electro-mechanical energy transducer having a through hole;
• and
• a shaft inserted into the through holes of said elastic member and said electro-mechanical energy transducer, said shaft having a first threaded screw portion that meshes with the threaded portion of said elastic member, a second threaded screw portion that meshes with the threaded portion of said fastening member so as to cause rotation in an opposed direction to said first threaded screw portion, and a step that restricts a position of said elastic member relative to said shaft in a thrust direction,
• wherein said elastic member and said electro-mechanical energy transducer both are sandwiched between said step and said fastening member, and are fixed therebetween by screwing and fastening the second threaded screw portion of said shaft with the threaded portion of said fastening member.

A vibration wave driving apparatus comprising:

• a vibration member comprising:
• an elastic member having a through hole;
• a fastening member having a threaded portion;
• an electro-mechanical energy transducer having a through hole;
• and
• a shaft inserted into the through holes of said elastic member and said electro-mechanical energy transducer, said shaft having a threaded screw portion that meshes with the threaded portion of said fastening member, and a step that restricts a position of said elastic member relative to said shaft in a thrust direction,
• wherein said elastic member is sandwiched between said step of said shaft and said fastening member and fixed therebetween by screwing and fastening the threaded screw portion of said shaft with the threaded portion of said fastening member, and said shaft is restricted from rotating relative to said elastic member;
• and
• a rotor pressed against said vibration member under a predetermined pressing force and rotatably driven about said shaft of said vibration member by a friction force generated by vibration in said vibration member.

A vibration wave driving apparatus comprising:

• a vibration member comprising:
• an elastic member having a through hole formed with a threaded portion in an inner wall thereof;
• a fastening member having a threaded portion;
• an electro-mechanical energy transducer having a through hole;
• and
• a shaft inserted into the through holes of said elastic member and said electro-mechanical energy transducer, said shaft having a first threaded screw portion that meshes with the threaded portion of said elastic member, a second threaded screw portion that meshes with the threaded portion of said fastening member so as to cause rotation in an opposed direction to said first threaded screw portion, and a step that restricts a position of said elastic member relative to said shaft in a thrust direction,
• wherein said elastic member and said electro-mechanical energy transducer both are sandwiched between said step and said fastening member, and are fixed therebetween by screwing and fastening the second threaded screw portion of said shaft with the threaded portion of said fastening member;
• and
• a rotor pressed against said vibration member under a predetermined pressing force and rotatably driven about a shaft of said vibration member by a friction force generated by vibration in said vibration member.