Lens barrel and optical apparatus

A lens barrel comprising:

• a first barrel in which a straight groove extending in a predetermined axis direction is formed to pierce through the first barrel;
• a second barrel capable of rotating around the predetermined axis along an outer circumferential surface of the first barrel, a cam groove having a shape curved with respect to the predetermined axis direction being formed in the second barrel;
• a moving member that has a cam pin moving along the straight groove and the cam groove and moves in the predetermined axis direction while holding a lens inside the first barrel as the second barrel rotates with respect to the first barrel;
• and
• a damping mechanism that applies damping force depending on an angle of the cam groove to the predetermined axis direction to the second barrel,
• wherein the damping mechanism includes a contacting member that is provided in a first surface that is one of the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel and an inner circumferential surface of the second barrel and makes contact with and biases at least a part of a second surface that is the other of the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel and the inner circumferential surface of the second barrel, and
• the damping force changes by change of a distance between the first surface in which the contacting member is provided and the part of the second surface facing the contacting member depending on a position in a circumferential direction.

A method of producing a lens barrel, the method comprising:

• proving a first barrel in which a cam groove having a shape curved with respect to a predetermined axis direction is formed to pierce through the first barrel;
• providing a second barrel capable of rotating around the predetermined axis along an outer circumferential surface of the first barrel, a straight groove extending in the predetermined axis direction being formed in the second barrel;
• providing a moving member that has a cam pin moving along the cam groove and the straight groove and moves in the predetermined axis direction while holding a lens inside the first barrel as the second barrel rotates with respect to the first barrel;
• and
• providing a damping mechanism that applies damping force depending on an angle of the cam groove to the predetermined axis direction to the second barrel,
• wherein the damping mechanism includes a contacting member that is provided in a first surface that is one of the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel and an inner circumferential surface of the second barrel and makes contact with and biases at least a part of a second surface that is the other of the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel and the inner circumferential surface of the second barrel, and
• the damping force changes by change of a distance between the first surface in which the contacting member is provided and the part of the second surface facing the contacting member depending on a position in a circumferential direction.

A method of producing a lens barrel, the method comprising:

• providing a first barrel in which a straight groove extending in a predetermined axis direction is formed to pierce through the first barrel;
• providing a second barrel capable of rotating around the predetermined axis along an outer circumferential surface of the first barrel, a cam groove having a shape curved with respect to the predetermined axis direction being formed in the second barrel;
• providing a moving member that has a cam pin moving along the straight groove and the cam groove and moves in the predetermined axis direction while holding a lens inside the first barrel as the second barrel rotates with respect to the first barrel;
• and
• providing a damping mechanism that applies damping force depending on an angle of the cam groove to the predetermined axis direction to the second barrel,
• wherein the damping mechanism includes a contacting member that is provided in a first surface that is one of the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel and an inner circumferential surface of the second barrel and makes contact with and biases at least a part of a second surface that is the other of the outer circumferential surface of the first barrel and the inner circumferential surface of the second barrel, and
• the damping force changes by change of a distance between the first surface in which the contacting member is provided and the part of the second surface facing the contacting member depending on a position in a circumferential direction.