Gear mechanism (1), in particular coaxial gear mechanism, having an internal gear (3) with an inwardly directed toothing (5), a tooth carrier (11) which is arranged coaxially with respect to the internal gear and in which a multiplicity of teeth (7) for engaging with the toothing (5) are accommodated, wherein the teeth (7) are mounted radially displaceably in the tooth carrier (11), a drive element with a profiling (22) for radially driving the radially displaceably mounted teeth (7), wherein the profiling (22) has, over its circumference, at least two elevations, wherein the gear mechanism is constructed such that there is a positive transmission ratio between a drive via the drive element and an output via the tooth carrier (11).

The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated simplified gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a gear block, a torque lever arm, cam followers and/or a socket, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each linkage assembly of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.

The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated simplified gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a gear block, a torque lever arm, cam followers and/or a socket, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each linkage assembly of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.

A compound harmonic drive including: a first internal ring gear; a second internal ring gear, the second internal ring gear being coaxial to the first internal ring gear; a first external gear located within the first internal ring gear and coaxial to the first internal ring gear, the first external gear meshes with the first internal ring gear; and a second external gear located within the second internal ring gear and coaxial to the second internal ring gear, the second external gear meshes with the second internal ring gear. The first internal ring gear and the second internal ring gear are composed of a flexible material.

The gearbox mechanism includes a plurality of cam-actuated rocker block assemblies, for transferring power to an output gear. Each rocker block assembly includes a gear pad having a surface that periodically interfaces with the output gear. The interface surface comprises a plurality of projections which correspond to complementary projections on the output gear. Each rocker block assembly further includes a gear pad, a rocker arm, cam followers and/or path followers, which connect or link the rocker block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each cam followers and/or a second unique pathway or groove in the cam's planar surface for the pathway follower so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two or three dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.

The gearbox mechanism includes a plurality of cam-actuated rocker block assemblies, for transferring power to an output gear. Each rocker block assembly includes a gear pad having a surface that periodically interfaces with the output gear. The interface surface comprises a plurality of projections which correspond to complementary projections on the output gear. Each rocker block assembly further includes a gear pad, a rocker arm, cam followers and/or path followers, which connect or link the rocker block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each cam followers and/or a second unique pathway or groove in the cam's planar surface for the pathway follower so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two or three dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.

The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a gear block, a rocker arm, cam followers and/or gear block tracking post, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each cam followers and/or gear block tracking post of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two or three dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.

The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a gear block, a rocker arm, cam followers and/or gear block tracking post, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each cam followers and/or gear block tracking post of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two or three dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.

There are provided a lens barrel and a cam follower that can appropriately prevent the occurrence of backlash and can be smoothly operated while relaxing the requirements for machining accuracy. The lens barrel includes a stationary barrel, a rotary barrel, and a movable barrel, and moves the movable barrel along an optical axis by the rotation of the rotary barrel relative to the stationary barrel. The movable barrel includes a cam follower (100) which has a hollow shape and of which a distal end is open; and the cam follower (100) is fitted to a straight groove provided in the stationary barrel and a cam groove provided in the rotary barrel. The cam follower (100) includes a press-fitting portion provided at a proximal end portion thereof, and is mounted on the movable barrel through the press-fitting portion. Further, the surface of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the cam groove and the surface of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the straight groove have an arc shape convex toward the outside, and the cam follower (100) is in point contact with the inner wall surfaces of the cam groove and the straight groove. Furthermore, the cam follower (100) includes a first slit (120) that is cut in from the distal end toward a proximal end thereof in parallel to an axis and a second slit (122) that is cut in from an outer peripheral portion of the cam follower toward an inner peripheral portion thereof so as to be orthogonal to the axis. The second slit (122) is disposed at a position that is closer to the proximal end than a portion of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the cam groove and a portion of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the straight groove and is closer to the distal end than the press-fitting portion (102), and penetrates the inner peripheral portion.

There are provided a lens barrel and a cam follower that can appropriately prevent the occurrence of backlash and can be smoothly operated while relaxing the requirements for machining accuracy. The lens barrel includes a stationary barrel, a rotary barrel, and a movable barrel, and moves the movable barrel along an optical axis by the rotation of the rotary barrel relative to the stationary barrel. The movable barrel includes a cam follower (100) which has a hollow shape and of which a distal end is open; and the cam follower (100) is fitted to a straight groove provided in the stationary barrel and a cam groove provided in the rotary barrel. The cam follower (100) includes a press-fitting portion provided at a proximal end portion thereof, and is mounted on the movable barrel through the press-fitting portion. Further, the surface of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the cam groove and the surface of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the straight groove have an arc shape convex toward the outside, and the cam follower (100) is in point contact with the inner wall surfaces of the cam groove and the straight groove. Furthermore, the cam follower (100) includes a first slit (120) that is cut in from the distal end toward a proximal end thereof in parallel to an axis and a second slit (122) that is cut in from an outer peripheral portion of the cam follower toward an inner peripheral portion thereof so as to be orthogonal to the axis. The second slit (122) is disposed at a position that is closer to the proximal end than a portion of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the cam groove and a portion of the cam follower (100) to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the straight groove and is closer to the distal end than the press-fitting portion (102), and penetrates the inner peripheral portion.