A drive mechanism is interposed between two members to make the members
move relatively with respect to each other. At least one of the two
members is guided to move linearly. The drive mechanism comprises: cam
followers that are rotatably supported on one of the two members, that
are arranged in the linear moving direction, and that are spaced from
each other; and a cam that is rotatably supported on the other one of the
two members and that is provided in its circumference with a cam groove
in which the cam followers engage, the rotation axis of the cam being
arranged in the direction of the linear moving direction. The two members
are made to move relatively with respect to each other by driving the cam
to rotate and making the cam followers engage successively in the cam
groove and move in the direction of the rotation axis.