CN114583914A - Linear actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a linear actuator. The linear actuator has: a mover which has a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body and is movable in a predetermined first direction; a magnet disposed to face the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an elastic member that elastically deforms in accordance with movement of the movable element in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the movable element; and a wiring member having flexibility and electrically connected to the coil at one side of the movable element body in the second direction. The wiring member extends from one side of the movable element body in the second direction to the other side of the movable element body in the second direction through one side of the movable element body in the first direction, and is drawn out from the other side of the movable element body in the second direction to one side of the movable element body in the first direction than the movable element body.

Description

Linear actuator

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a linear actuator.

Background

Linear actuators having a movable member movable in a predetermined direction are known. For example, as such a linear actuator, patent document 1 describes a linear vibration motor having a permanent magnet and a coil.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2020 and 22349

In the linear actuator as described above, for example, a structure in which the coil is provided in the movable element is considered. However, in this case, if it is desired to arrange the wiring member for supplying electric power to the coil so as to avoid interference between the wiring member and the mover, it is considered that the size of the entire linear actuator may be increased due to an increase in the size of a case for housing the mover and the wiring member therein.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a linear actuator having a structure in which a coil can be provided to a movable element while suppressing an increase in size.

One embodiment of the present invention is a linear actuator including: a mover which has a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body and which is movable in a predetermined first direction; a magnet disposed to face the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an elastic member that elastically deforms in accordance with movement of the movable element in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the movable element; and a wiring member having flexibility and electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable element main body in the second direction, the wiring member extending from one side of the movable element main body in the second direction to the other side of the movable element main body in the second direction through the one side of the movable element main body in the first direction and being drawn out from the other side of the movable element main body in the second direction to one side of the first direction than the movable element main body.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coil can be provided in a movable element in a linear actuator while suppressing an increase in size of the linear actuator.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a linear actuator of a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment, which is a view showing an IV-IV section in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment, which is a V-V sectional view in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a movable element of the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a linear actuator of a second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a sectional perspective view showing a linear actuator of a third embodiment.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a housing of the third embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view showing a part of the housing of the third embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective view showing a linear actuator of a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing a part of a linear actuator of a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a part of a mover body and a wiring member of the sixth embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a part of a mover body and a wiring member of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a sectional perspective view showing a linear actuator of an eighth embodiment.

Description of the reference symbols

10. 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710: a linear actuator; 20. 120, 220, 320, 420, 720: a housing; 30. 130, 130: a movable member; 31. 131: a movable member main body; 32: a coil; 40: a magnet; 50: an elastic member; 60. 560, 660, 760: a wiring member; 61: a coil connecting portion; 62. 562, 662: a first extension portion; 62 a: a wide width part; 63. 663: a first connection portion; 64: a second extension portion; 65: a second connecting portion; 66. 566, 766: a third extension portion; 70: a damping member; 567 a: a fourth extension portion; 567 b: a third connecting portion; 567 c: a fifth extension portion; 567 d: a fourth connecting portion; 661 a: a first coil connecting portion; 661 b: a second coil connecting part; 668: a sixth extension; 669: a fifth connecting part; x: a left-right direction (first direction); y: a front-rear direction (third direction); z: up-down direction (second direction).

Detailed Description

The figures show the X-axis, the Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis, and the Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis. In the following description, a direction parallel to the Z axis is referred to as "vertical direction Z", a direction parallel to the Y axis is referred to as "front-rear direction Y", and a direction parallel to the X axis is referred to as "left-right direction X". The vertical direction Z, the front-rear direction Y, and the left-right direction X are perpendicular to each other.

The positive side (+ Z side) of the Z axis in the up-down direction Z, which is indicated by an arrow, is referred to as "upper side", and the negative side (-Z side), which is opposite to the side indicated by the arrow, is referred to as "lower side". The positive side (+ Y side) of the Y axis in the front-rear direction Y, which is indicated by an arrow, is referred to as "front side", and the negative side (-Y side), which is opposite to the side indicated by the arrow, is referred to as "rear side". A positive side (+ X side) facing an arrow on the X axis in the left-right direction X is referred to as "right side", and a negative side (X side) opposite to the side facing the arrow on the X axis is referred to as "left side".

In the following embodiments, the left-right direction X corresponds to a "first direction", the up-down direction Z corresponds to a "second direction", and the front-back direction Y corresponds to a "third direction". The right side (+ X side) corresponds to "one side in the first direction", the left side (-X side) corresponds to "the other side in the first direction", the upper side (+ Z side) corresponds to "one side in the second direction", and the lower side corresponds to "the other side in the second direction".

The vertical direction Z, the longitudinal direction Y, the horizontal direction X, the upper side, the lower side, the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side are only names for explaining the arrangement of the respective parts, and the actual arrangement may be an arrangement other than the arrangement indicated by the names. In the present specification, the "parallel direction" also includes a substantially parallel direction, and the "perpendicular direction" also includes a substantially perpendicular direction.

< first embodiment >

The Linear Actuator 10 of the present embodiment shown in fig. 1 is a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA). The linear actuator 10 is mounted on an electronic device such as a smartphone, for example. As shown in fig. 1, the linear actuator 10 has a housing 20 and a wiring member 60. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the linear actuator 10 has a movable member 30, an elastic member 50, and a damping member 70. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the linear actuator 10 has a magnet 40.

As shown in fig. 1, the housing 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape extending in the left-right direction X. In the present specification, the phrase "the casing has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape" includes a case where the casing has a strictly rectangular parallelepiped box shape and a case where the casing has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape. In the present embodiment, the housing 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape that is flat in the vertical direction Z and long in the horizontal direction X. As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the case 20 internally houses the movable element 30, the magnet 40, the elastic member 50, a part of the wiring member 60, and the damper member 70. In the present embodiment, the material of the case 20 is a magnetic body. As shown in fig. 4, the case 20 is configured by fixing the first case member 21 and the second case member 22 to each other in the vertical direction Z.

The first case member 21 is located on the lower side of the second case member 22. The first case member 21 has a bottom wall portion 21a and a pair of side wall portions 21b, 21 c. That is, the case 20 has a bottom wall portion 21a and a pair of side wall portions 21b and 21 c. The bottom wall portion 21a has a rectangular plate shape with a plate surface facing the vertical direction Z and being long in the horizontal direction X. The inner wall surface of the bottom wall portion 21a, i.e., the upper surface, is an opposing surface 26a that opposes the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z. As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing 20 has the facing surface 26a facing the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z intersecting the horizontal direction X. The side wall 21b protrudes upward from the front (+ Y side) edge of the bottom wall 21 a. The side wall portion 21c protrudes upward from the edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21 a. The side wall portions 21b and 21c are plate-shaped with plate surfaces facing in the front-rear direction Y. The side wall portions 21b, 21c extend in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall portion 21a corresponds to a "first wall portion" disposed in the vertical direction Z perpendicular to the horizontal direction X.

The side wall portion 21b has a guide portion 24a and a wall body portion 21 d. That is, the housing 20 has the guide portion 24a and the wall body portion 21 d. The guide portion 24a protrudes upward and obliquely forward from the edge portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21 a. The guide portion 24a extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 24a has a guide surface 24 c. The guide surface 24c is a surface facing the inside of the housing 20 among the surfaces of the guide portion 24 a. The guide surface 24c extends in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the guide surface 24c faces the rear side and obliquely upward. The wall body 21d protrudes from the upper end of the guide portion 24a directly upward. The inner wall surface of the wall body 21d, i.e., the surface on the rear side (-Y side), is an opposed surface 26b opposed to the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y. As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing 20 has the facing surface 26b facing the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y intersecting the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the wall body 21d is connected to the bottom wall 21a via the guide portion 24 a. The guide portion 24a is provided at a corner portion between the bottom wall portion 21a and the wall body portion 21 d. The guide portion 24a is located on the inner side (rear side) of the housing 20 with respect to the wall body portion 21 d.

The side wall portion 21c is provided symmetrically with the side wall portion 21b in the front-rear direction Y. The side wall portion 21c has a guide portion 24b and a wall body portion 21 e. That is, the housing 20 has the guide portion 24b and the wall body portion 21 e. The guide portion 24b protrudes upward and obliquely rearward from the edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21 a. That is, the guide portions 24a and 24b project from the bottom wall portion 21a in directions away from each other in the front-rear direction Y as going toward the upper side. The guide portion 24b extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 24b has a guide surface 24 d. The guide surface 24d is a surface facing the inside of the housing 20 among the surfaces of the guide portion 24 b. The guide surface 24d extends in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the guide surface 24d faces the front side and obliquely upward. The wall body 21e protrudes from the upper end of the guide portion 24b directly upward. The front side (+ Y side) surface, which is the inner wall surface of the wall body 21e, is an opposing surface 26c that opposes the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y. As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing 20 has the facing surface 26c facing the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y intersecting the left-right direction X.

In the present embodiment, the wall body portion 21e is connected to the bottom wall portion 21a via the guide portion 24 b. The guide portion 24b is provided at a corner portion between the bottom wall portion 21a and the wall body portion 21 e. The guide portion 24b is located on the inner side (front side) of the housing 20 with respect to the wall body portion 21 e. In the present embodiment, the pair of wall main bodies 21d and 21e correspond to "a pair of second wall portions" located on both sides in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z.

The second case member 22 is located on the upper side of the first case member 21. As shown in fig. 1, the second case member 22 has a top wall portion 22a, a pair of side wall portions 22b, 22c, and a pair of guide portions 23a, 23 b. The top wall portion 22a has a rectangular plate shape whose plate surface is oriented in the vertical direction Z and is long in the horizontal direction X. The top wall portion 22a and the bottom wall portion 21a substantially entirely overlap with each other when viewed in the vertical direction Z. Both edge portions of the top wall portion 22a in the front-rear direction Y contact the upper end portions of the pair of side wall portions 21b, 21 c. As shown in fig. 4, the lower surface, which is the inner wall surface of the top wall portion 22a, is an opposing surface 26d that opposes the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z. As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing 20 has the facing surface 26d facing the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z intersecting the horizontal direction X.

As shown in fig. 1, the side wall portion 22b protrudes downward from the edge portion on the right side (+ X side) of the top wall portion 22 a. The side wall portion 22c protrudes downward from the edge portion on the left side (X side) of the ceiling wall portion 22 a. The side walls 22b and 22c are plate-shaped with plate surfaces facing in the left-right direction X. The side walls 22b and 22c extend in the front-rear direction Y. The side wall portion 22b is in contact with the right end of the bottom wall portion 21a and the right end of the pair of side wall portions 21b and 21 c. The side wall portion 22c is in contact with the left end of the bottom wall portion 21a and the left ends of the pair of side wall portions 21b and 21 c.

The pair of guide portions 23a, 23b are provided at both edge portions of the top wall portion 22a in the front-rear direction Y. The guide portion 23a is provided in the center in the left-right direction X in the edge portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the top wall portion 22 a. The guide portion 23b is provided in the center portion in the left-right direction X in the edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the top wall portion 22 a. The guide portions 23a, 23b extend in the left-right direction X.

As shown in fig. 4, the guide portion 23a protrudes downward and obliquely forward from the edge portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the ceiling wall portion 22 a. More specifically, the guide portion 23a protrudes downward and obliquely forward from an inner edge portion of a concave portion 22d recessed rearward (Y side) out of the front edge portion of the top wall portion 22 a. The guide portion 23a is disposed to face the rear side (-Y side) of the wall body portion 21d in the side wall portion 21 b. The guide portion 23a is located on the upper side of the guide portion 24 a. The guide portion 23a and the guide portion 24a sandwich a front edge portion of the base portion 31a, which will be described later, in the vertical direction Z. The guide portion 23a and the guide portion 24a approach each other in the up-down direction Z as going toward the front side.

The guide portion 23a has a guide surface 23 c. The guide surface 23c is a surface facing the inside of the housing 20 among the surfaces of the guide portion 23 a. The guide surface 23c extends in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the guide surface 23c faces the rear side and obliquely downward. An edge portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the base portion 31a, which will be described later, is sandwiched between the guide surface 23c and the guide surface 24c in the vertical direction Z.

The guide portion 23b protrudes downward and obliquely rearward from the edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the ceiling wall portion 22 a. More specifically, the guide portion 23b protrudes downward and obliquely rearward from an inner edge portion of a concave portion 22e that is recessed forward (+ Y side) from among rear edge portions of the top wall portion 22 a. The guide portion 23b is disposed to face the front side (+ Y side) of the wall body 21e in the side wall portion 21 c. The guide portion 23b is located on the upper side of the guide portion 24 b. The guide portion 23b and the guide portion 24b sandwich a rear edge portion of the base portion 31a, which will be described later, in the vertical direction Z. The guide portion 23b and the guide portion 24b approach each other in the up-down direction Z as they face the rear side.

The guide portion 23b has a guide surface 23 d. The guide surface 23d is a surface facing the inside of the housing 20 among the surfaces of the guide portion 23 b. The guide surface 23d extends in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the guide surface 23d faces the front side and obliquely downward. An edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the base portion 31a, which will be described later, is sandwiched between the guide surface 23d and the guide surface 24d in the vertical direction Z.

The guide surfaces 23c, 24c are disposed on the side closer to the movable element 30 (the side Y) than the facing surface 26b in the front-rear direction Y. The guide surfaces 23d and 24d are arranged closer to the mover 30 than the facing surface 26c in the front-rear direction Y (+ Y side). The guide surfaces 23c and 23d are disposed on the side closer to the movable element 30 (the side on the negative Z side) than the facing surface 26d in the vertical direction Z. The guide surfaces 24c and 24d are arranged on the side (+ Z side) closer to the movable element 30 than the facing surface 26a in the vertical direction Z.

As shown in fig. 3, the housing 20 has projections 25a, 25b, 25c, 25 d. The protruding portions 25a and 25b protrude leftward from the left side (-X side) surface, which is the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22 b. The convex portions 25a and 25b are provided at both ends of the side wall portion 22b in the front-rear direction Y. The protruding portions 25c and 25d protrude rightward from the right side (+ X side) surface, which is the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22 c. The convex portions 25c and 25d are provided at both ends of the side wall portion 22c in the front-rear direction Y. The projections 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d are formed by, for example, pressing a part of the side walls 22b and 22c in the left-right direction X.

In the present embodiment, the movable element 30 extends in the left-right direction X. The movable element 30 is movable in the left-right direction X within the housing 20. The mover 30 has a mover body 31 and a coil 32. In the present embodiment, the movable element 30 vibrates in the left-right direction X by an electromagnetic force generated between the coil 32 and the magnet 40 by supplying power to the coil 32 and an elastic force applied from the elastic member 50. The mover body 31 extends in the left-right direction X. The movable body 31 has a base 31a and protruding portions 31b, 31 c. The base 31a is a portion that holds the coil 32. As shown in fig. 2, the base portion 31a has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape which is flat in the vertical direction Z and extends in the left-right direction X.

The base 31a has a recess 31d recessed from the upper surface of the base 31a toward the lower side. The inner edge of the concave portion 31d is rectangular when viewed from above. As shown in fig. 6, the base 31a has a recess 31g recessed from the lower surface of the base 31a toward the upper side. The inner edge of the recess 31g is rectangular when viewed from the lower side. As shown in fig. 4, the concave portion 31d and the concave portion 31g are provided at positions overlapping each other when viewed in the up-down direction Z. The base 31a has a through hole 31e penetrating the base 31a in the vertical direction Z. The through hole 31e penetrates from the bottom surface of the recess 31d to the bottom surface of the recess 31 g. As shown in fig. 2, the through hole 31e is a substantially circular hole. The coil 32 is fitted and held inside the through hole 31 e. Thereby, the coil 32 is attached to the movable element body 31.

As shown in fig. 4, the base portion 31a is located inside the bottom wall portion 21a, the top wall portion 22a, the guide portion 23b, the guide portion 24a, and the guide portion 24 b. The base 31a is supported by the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b so as to be movable in the left-right direction X. Thereby, the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b guide the movement of the movable element 30 in the left-right direction X. The base 31a has guided surfaces 34a, 34b, 34c, 34 d. That is, the mover body 31 has guided surfaces 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34 d.

The guided surface 34a is provided at an upper end portion of the edge portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the base portion 31 a. The guided surface 34a faces the front side and obliquely upward side, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34a is formed by chamfering a corner portion on the front side and the upper side of the base portion 31a, for example. The guided surface 34a is disposed opposite to the guide surface 23 c. The guided surface 34a can contact the guide surface 23 c.

The guided surface 34b is provided at the end portion on the lower side among the edge portions on the front side (+ Y side) of the base 31 a. The guided surface 34b faces the front side and obliquely downward, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34b is formed by chamfering a front and lower corner of the base 31a, for example. The guided surface 34b is disposed opposite to the guide surface 24 c. The guided surface 34b can contact the guide surface 24 c.

The guided surface 34c is provided at an upper end portion of the edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the base portion 31 a. The guided surface 34c faces the rear side and obliquely upward side, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34c is formed by chamfering a corner portion on the rear side and the upper side of the base portion 31 a. The guided surface 34c is disposed opposite to the guide surface 23 d. The guided surface 34c can contact the guide surface 23 d.

The guided surface 34d is provided at the lower end portion of the edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the base portion 31 a. The guided surface 34d faces the rear side and obliquely downward, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34d is formed by chamfering a rear lower corner of the base 31a, for example. The guided surface 34d is disposed opposite to the guide surface 24 d. The guided surface 34d can contact the guide surface 24 d.

The guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b are arranged with a gap in the vertical direction Z. The guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b approach each other in the up-down direction Z as going toward the front side (+ Y side). The guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b are sandwiched between the guide surface 23c and the guide surface 24c in the vertical direction Z. In a state where the guided surface 34a is in contact with the guide surface 23c and the guided surface 34b is in contact with the guide surface 24c, the front end surface of the base portion 31a faces the facing surface 26b facing the front of the base portion 31a with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. That is, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 is in contact with the guide surfaces 23c and 24c, and is in a state of facing the facing surface 26b with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. Thus, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 does not contact the facing surface 26 b.

The relationship between the guided surface 34c and the guided surface 34d is the same as the relationship between the guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b described above, except that the relationship is symmetrical in the front-rear direction Y. In a state where the guided surfaces 34c, 34d are in contact with the guide surfaces 23d, 24d, the movable element 30 is opposed to the opposed surface 26c opposed to the rear side (-Y side) of the base portion 31a with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. Thus, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 does not contact the facing surface 26 c.

In a state where the guided surface 34a is in contact with the guide surface 23c and the guided surface 34c is in contact with the guide surface 23d, the upper end surface of the base portion 31a faces the facing surface 26d facing the upper side of the base portion 31a with a gap therebetween in the vertical direction Z. That is, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 is in contact with the guide surfaces 23c and 23d, and is in a state of facing the facing surface 26d with a gap in the vertical direction Z. Thus, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 does not contact the facing surface 26 d. In a state where the guided surfaces 34b and 34d are in contact with the guide surfaces 24c and 24d, the movable element 30 is opposed to the facing surface 26a facing the lower side of the base portion 31a with a gap therebetween in the vertical direction Z. Thus, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 does not contact the facing surface 26 a.

In the present embodiment, the guided surface 34a always faces the entire guide surface 23c of the guide portion 23a in the left-right direction X as long as the movable element 30 moves in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34b always faces the entire guide surface 24c of the guide portion 24a in the left-right direction X as long as the movable element 30 moves in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34c always faces the entire guide surface 23d of the guide portion 23b in the left-right direction X as long as the movable element 30 moves in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34d always faces the entire guide surface 24d of the guide portion 24b in the left-right direction X within a range in which the movable element 30 moves in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the position in the left-right direction X of the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b as a whole is included in the position in the left-right direction X of the movable element 30 within the movement range in the left-right direction X of the movable element 30. More specifically, the position in the left-right direction X of the entire guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b is included in the position in the left-right direction X of the base portion 31a within the movement range in the left-right direction X of the movable element 30.

As shown in fig. 2, the protruding portion 31b protrudes rightward (+ X side) from the base portion 31 a. The protruding portion 31c protrudes from the base portion 31a to the left side (-X side). The projections 31b and 31c are, for example, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shapes. The dimension in the front-rear direction Y of the protruding portions 31b, 31c is smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction Y of the base portion 31 a. In the present embodiment, the protruding portions 31b and 31c are provided at the center portion in the front-rear direction Y of the base portion 31 a. Both ends in the front-rear direction Y of the protruding portions 31b, 31c are located at positions distant from both ends in the front-rear direction Y of the base portion 31 a.

As shown in fig. 3, the dimension in the left-right direction X of the front portion 31h of the projection 31b is smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction X of the rear portion 31i of the projection 31 b. The right (+ X side) end of the front portion 31h is positioned to the left (X side) of the right end of the rear portion 31 i. The dimension of the front portion 31h in the left-right direction X is smaller than the dimension of the protrusion 31c in the left-right direction X, for example. The dimension in the left-right direction X of the rear portion 31i is, for example, the same as the dimension in the left-right direction X of the projection 31 c. In the present embodiment, the rear portion 31i is a portion of the movable element body 31 that overlaps with a third extending portion 66 described later when viewed in the vertical direction Z.

The mover body 31 has convex portions 33a, 33b, 33c, 33 d. The convex portions 33a and 33b protrude rightward (+ X) from both ends in the front-rear direction Y of the right end of the base portion 31 a. The convex portions 33a and 33b sandwich the protruding portion 31b in the front-rear direction Y. The convex portions 33c and 33d protrude leftward (-X) from both ends in the front-rear direction Y of the left end of the base portion 31 a. The convex portions 33c and 33d sandwich the protruding portion 31c in the front-rear direction Y. The convex portions 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d have, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The protruding heights of the convex portions 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are smaller than the protruding heights of the protruding portions 31b, 31 c.

As shown in fig. 2, the mover body 31 has a groove portion 31 f. In the present embodiment, the groove 31f is provided across the base 31a and the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31 b. The groove 31f is recessed downward from the upper surface of the mover body 31 and extends in the left-right direction X. The left side (-X side) end of the groove 31f opens into the recess 31 d. The right (+ X side) end of the groove 31f opens at the right end face of the front portion 31 h. The groove 31f is provided on the front side (+ Y side) of the center of the movable element main body 31 in the front-rear direction Y.

The coil 32 is formed by winding a wire around a central axis J extending in the vertical direction Z. The central axis J is an imaginary axis suitably shown in the drawings. For example, in a state where the movable element 30 is stationary, the central axis J passes through the center of the housing 20 in the left-right direction X and the center of the front-rear direction Y. The coil 32 has a substantially annular shape centered on the central axis J when viewed in the vertical direction Z. The coil 32 is fitted in the through hole 31e and fixed to the mover body 31. As shown in fig. 4, the upper end of the coil 32 protrudes upward beyond the through hole 31e, for example. The lower end of the coil 32 is located at the same position as the lower end of the through hole 31e in the vertical direction Z, for example. The coil 32 is supplied with electric power from the outside of the linear actuator 10 via the wiring member 60.

As shown in fig. 5, the magnet 40 is disposed inside the case 20 so as to face the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z perpendicular to the horizontal direction X. A gap is provided between the magnet 40 and the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. The magnet 40 has, for example, a rectangular plate shape with a plate surface facing the vertical direction Z and long in the front-rear direction Y. The magnet 40 includes a first magnet 41, a second magnet 42, a third magnet 43, and a fourth magnet 44.

The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are located on the upper side of the coil 32. The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are fixed to the facing surface 26d, which is the inner wall surface of the top wall 22 a. The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are arranged in the left-right direction X. The second magnet 42 is located on the left side (-X side) of the first magnet 41. The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are in contact in the left-right direction X. For example, in a state where the movable element 30 is stationary, the central axis J passes between the first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 in the left-right direction X.

The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are located on the lower side of the coil 32. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are fixed to the facing surface 26a, which is the inner wall surface of the bottom wall 21 a. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are arranged in the left-right direction X. The fourth magnet 44 is positioned on the left side (-X side) of the third magnet 43. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are in contact in the left-right direction X. For example, in a state where the movable element 30 is stationary, the central axis J passes between the third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 in the left-right direction X.

The first magnet 41 and the third magnet 43 are disposed so as to sandwich the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. The first magnet 41 and the third magnet 43 are disposed so as to overlap each other when viewed in the vertical direction Z. The second magnet 42 and the fourth magnet 44 are disposed so as to sandwich the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. The second magnet 42 and the fourth magnet 44 are disposed so as to overlap each other when viewed in the vertical direction Z.

Each magnet 40 has a magnetic pole along the vertical direction Z. The first magnet 41 has a magnetic pole 41N as an N pole on the upper side. The first magnet 41 has a magnetic pole 41S as an S-pole on the lower side. The second magnet 42 has a magnetic pole 42S as an S pole on the upper side. The second magnet 42 has a magnetic pole 42N as an N-pole on the lower side. The third magnet 43 has a magnetic pole 43N as an N-pole on the upper side. The third magnet 43 has a magnetic pole 43S as an S-pole on the lower side. The fourth magnet 44 has a magnetic pole 44S as an S pole on the upper side. The fourth magnet 44 has a magnetic pole 44N as an N-pole on the lower side.

The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction X have N poles and S poles arranged opposite to each other in the vertical direction Z. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44, which are disposed adjacent to each other in the left-right direction X, have N poles and S poles that are disposed opposite to each other in the vertical direction Z. The first magnet 41 and the third magnet 43 disposed so as to sandwich the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z have the same arrangement of the N-pole and the S-pole in the vertical direction Z. The second magnet 42 and the fourth magnet 44 disposed so as to sandwich the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z have the same arrangement of the N-pole and the S-pole in the vertical direction Z.

The elastic member 50 is a member that elastically deforms in accordance with the movement of the movable element 30 in the left-right direction X, and applies a force in the left-right direction X to the movable element 30. As shown in fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the elastic member 50 is a coil spring extending in the left-right direction X. The elastic member 50 includes a first elastic member 51, a second elastic member 52, a third elastic member 53, and a fourth elastic member 54.

The first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are located on the right side (+ X side) of the movable piece 30. In the present embodiment, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are positioned between the movable element 30 and the side wall portion 22b in the left-right direction X. The first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are disposed so as to sandwich the protruding portion 31b in the front-rear direction Y. The first elastic member 51 is located on the front side (+ Y side) of the protruding portion 31 b. The second elastic member 52 is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the protruding portion 31 b. The right end of the first elastic member 51 and the right end of the second elastic member 52 contact the side wall portion 22b of the housing 20. The left-side end portion (X-side) of the first elastic member 51 and the left-side end portion of the second elastic member 52 are in contact with the base portion 31a of the movable piece main body 31. The convex portions 25a and 33a are inserted into both end portions of the first elastic member 51 in the left-right direction X, respectively. The protruding portions 25b and 33b are inserted into both ends of the second elastic member 52 in the left-right direction X. This suppresses the position of the first elastic member 51 and the position of the second elastic member 52 from being displaced in the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction Y.

In the present embodiment, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 correspond to a pair of elastic members 50 located on the right side (+ X side) of the mover body 31 and disposed so as to sandwich the wiring member 60 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z.

The third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are located on the left side (-X side) of the movable piece 30. The third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are located between the movable element 30 and the side wall portion 22c in the left-right direction X. The third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are disposed so as to sandwich the protruding portion 31c in the front-rear direction Y. The third elastic member 53 is located on the front side (+ Y side) of the protruding portion 31 c. The fourth elastic member 54 is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the protruding portion 31 c. The left end of the third elastic member 53 and the left end of the fourth elastic member 54 contact the side wall portion 22c of the housing 20. The right-side (+ X side) end of the third elastic member 53 and the right-side end of the fourth elastic member 54 are in contact with the base 31a of the movable piece main body 31. The convex portions 25c and 33c are inserted into both end portions of the third elastic member 53 in the left-right direction X, respectively. The convex portions 25d and 33d are inserted into both end portions of the fourth elastic member 54 in the left-right direction X, respectively. This suppresses the position of the third elastic member 53 and the position of the fourth elastic member 54 from being displaced in the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction Y.

The first elastic member 51 and the third elastic member 53 are disposed so as to sandwich portions of the base portion 31a located on the front side (+ Y side) of the protruding portions 31b and 31c in the left-right direction X. The second elastic member 52 and the fourth elastic member 54 are disposed so as to sandwich a portion of the base portion 31a located on the rear side (-Y side) of the protruding portions 31b and 31c in the left-right direction X.

When the movable element 30 moves to the right side (+ X side) from the position shown in each drawing, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are compressively elastically deformed in the left-right direction X. Thus, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 apply an elastic force to the movable element 30 in a direction in which the movable element 30 is away from the side wall portion 22b, that is, in a left direction (-X direction).

On the other hand, when the movable element 30 moves to the left side (-X side) from the position shown in the drawings, the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are elastically deformed in compression in the left-right direction X. Thereby, the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 apply an elastic force to the movable element 30 in a direction in which the movable element 30 is away from the side wall portion 22c, that is, in a right-side direction (+ X-side direction).

The damping member 70 is fixed to an inner wall surface of the casing 20. The damping member 70 faces the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X. The damping member 70 is a member that attenuates the kinetic energy of the colliding object. The damping member 70 is made of rubber, for example. The damping member 70 has a square shape when viewed in the left-right direction X, for example. In the present embodiment, the damper member 70 includes a first damper member 71 and a second damper member 72.

The first damping member 71 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22b, i.e., the left side (-X side) surface of the side wall portion 22 b. In the present embodiment, the first damper member 71 is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the center of the side wall portion 22b in the front-rear direction Y. The first damper member 71 is located on the right side (+ X side) of the rear side portion 31i of the projection 31 b.

The second damping member 72 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22c, that is, the right side (+ X side) surface of the side wall portion 22 c. In the present embodiment, the second damping member 72 is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the center of the side wall portion 22c in the front-rear direction Y. The second damping member 72 is located on the left side (-X side) of the rear side portion of the protrusion 31 c. The first damper member 71 and the second damper member 72 are disposed so as to sandwich the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X.

The wiring member 60 is electrically connected to the coil 32 on the upper side of the mover body 31. The wiring member 60 is a member having flexibility. The wiring member 60 is, for example, a flexible printed circuit board. In the present embodiment, the wiring member 60 has a strip shape. The width direction of the tape-shaped wiring member 60 is the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Hereinafter, in the description of the wiring member 60, the dimension in the front-rear direction Y may be simply referred to as "width".

As shown in fig. 2, the wiring member 60 has a coil connecting portion 61, a first extending portion 62, a first connecting portion 63, a second extending portion 64, a second connecting portion 65, and a third extending portion 66. The wiring member 60 is configured by connecting a coil connection portion 61, a first extension portion 62, a first connection portion 63, a second extension portion 64, a second connection portion 65, and a third extension portion 66 in this order. In the coil connecting portion 61, the first extending portion 62, the second extending portion 64, the second connecting portion 65, and the third extending portion 66, the thickness direction is the vertical direction Z. In the first connection portion 63, the thickness direction is a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction Y and intersecting the up-down direction Z.

The coil connecting portion 61 is one end portion of the wiring member 60. The coil connecting portion 61 has a rectangular shape with rounded corners elongated in the front-rear direction Y when viewed from above. The coil connecting portion 61 is fixed to a portion of the bottom surface of the recess 31d, which is located on the right side (+ X side) of the coil 32. The coil lead wires 32a and 32b led out to the right from the coil 32 are electrically connected to the coil connecting portion 61. That is, the coil 32 is electrically connected to the coil connecting portion 61. Thereby, the coil 32 is electrically connected to the wiring member 60.

The first extending portion 62 is a portion located on the upper side of the mover body 31 and extending in the left-right direction X. The first extending portion 62 extends rightward (+ X side) from a portion near the front side (+ Y side) in the coil connecting portion 61. The first extending portion 62 extends to the right side of the front portion 31h of the protruding portion 31b through the groove portion 31 f.

In the present embodiment, the first extension portion 62 has a wide portion 62a extending rightward (+ X side) from the coil connecting portion 61 and a narrow portion 62b continuous with the right side of the wide portion 62 a. The wide portion 62a passes through the groove portion 31f and extends to the right of the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31 b. The width of the wide portion 62a is larger than the width of the narrow portion 62b and the width of the first connecting portion 63. The front edge (+ Y side) of the wide portion 62a protrudes forward beyond the front edge of the narrow portion 62 b. The rear (Y-side) edge of the wide portion 62a and the rear edge of the narrow portion 62b are located at the same position in the front-rear direction Y.

The first connecting portion 63 is connected to an end portion on the right side (+ X side) of the first extending portion 62, that is, an end portion on the right side of the narrow-width portion 62 b. In the present embodiment, the first connection portion 63 is a portion bent downward with respect to the first extension portion 62. The first connecting portion 63 is elastically deformed. As shown in fig. 5, the first connection portion 63 is bent in an arc shape protruding to the right side when viewed from the rear side (Y side), for example. In the present embodiment, the first connecting portion 63 passes through the right side of the front portion 31h of the protruding portion 31b, and is bent in an arc shape from the upper side of the movable element body 31 to the lower side of the movable element body 31. The end of the lower side of the first connection portion 63 is connected to the end of the right side of the second extension portion 64. Thereby, the first connecting portion 63 connects the end portion on the right side in the first extending portion 62 and the end portion on the right side in the second extending portion 64.

The second extending portion 64 is a portion that extends in the left-right direction X with the movable piece main body 31 sandwiched therebetween in the up-down direction Z with the first extending portion 62. The second extending portion 64 extends from the end portion of the lower side of the first connecting portion 63 to the left side (-X side). The left side portion of the second extension 64 is located on the lower side of the front side portion 31h in the projection 31 b. The second extension 64 is disposed on the facing surface 26 a.

As shown in fig. 3, the second connecting portion 65 connects the end portion on the left side (X side) in the second extending portion 64 and the end portion on the left side in the third extending portion 66. For example, the second connection portion 65 has a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the front-rear direction Y when viewed in the vertical direction Z. The second connection portion 65 is disposed across the lower side of the protruding portion 31b and the lower side of the base portion 31 a. The second connection portion 65 is disposed across the lower side of the front portion 31h and the lower side of the rear portion 31 i. The second connection portion 65 protrudes to the rear side (-Y side) than the second extension portion 64. The second connection portion 65 is disposed on the facing surface 26 a.

As shown in fig. 5, the second connection portion 65 is supported from the left side by the convex portion 27 provided on the inner wall surface of the housing 20. This suppresses the wiring member 60 from being displaced to the left in the housing 20. The protruding portion 27 protrudes upward from the facing surface 26a, which is the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 21 a. The convex portion 27 is formed by, for example, pressing a part of the bottom wall portion 21a to the upper side.

As shown in fig. 3, the third extending portion 66 is arranged in line with the second extending portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. The third extending portion 66 extends rightward (+ X side) from the rear side portion of the second connecting portion 65. The third extending portion 66 is drawn out to the right side of the mover body 31. The third extending portion 66 penetrates the side wall portion 22b in the left-right direction X and is drawn out to the outside of the housing 20. The third extension 66 extends, for example, rightward from the housing 20. A portion of the third extension 66 located inside the housing 20 is disposed on the opposing surface 26 a. An external power supply, not shown, is connected to the third extension portion 66. The power of the external power supply is supplied to the coil 32 via the wiring member 60.

As the first extending portion 62, the first connecting portion 63, the second extending portion 64, the second connecting portion 65, and the third extending portion 66 are arranged as described above, the wiring member 60 extends from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+ X side) of the mover body 31, and is drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31 to the right side of the mover body 31. That is, the wiring member 60 is provided so as to sandwich the right portion of the mover body 31 in the vertical direction Z, and is drawn out to the right side of the mover body 31. Therefore, the wiring member 60 is less likely to interfere with the mover body 31, as compared with a case where the wiring member 60 is wound around the mover body 31 and disposed. In addition, the wiring member 60 can be prevented from being lengthened. Accordingly, as compared with a case where the wiring member 60 is disposed by being wound around the mover body 31, the case 20 housing the mover body 31 and the wiring member 60 can be prevented from being increased in size. Therefore, the coil 32 can be provided to the movable element 30 while suppressing an increase in size of the linear actuator 10.

The wiring member 60 extends from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+ X side) of the mover body 31. Therefore, according to the movement of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X, a part of the wiring member 60 is relatively drawn into the lower side of the mover body 31, or a part of the wiring member 60 is relatively drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31. This allows the wiring member 60 to move relative to the mover body 31 in accordance with the movement of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the movement of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X can be permitted while reducing the stress applied to the wiring member 60. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be suppressed from being broken. This can suppress occurrence of a problem such as failure in supplying power to the coil 32.

Specifically, for example, in a case where the movable piece main body 31 is moved to the right side (+ X side) from the position shown in fig. 5, a part of the first connecting portion 63 is relatively drawn into the lower side of the movable piece main body 31. This can prevent the movable body 31 from being strongly stretched even if the movable body 31 moves to the right side. On the other hand, when the mover body 31 moves to the left side (the (-X side), the second extending portion 64 is relatively drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31. This can prevent the movable element body 31 from being strongly stretched even if the movable element body 31 moves to the left. Thus, even if the movable element 30 moves in the left-right direction X, the application of stress to the wiring member 60 can be suppressed. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be suppressed from being broken or the like.

In addition, the wiring member 60, which is disposed from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+ X side) of the mover body 31, is drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31 to the right side of the mover body 31. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be arranged without passing through the lower side of the coil 32. Thus, for example, as compared with a case where the wiring member 60 extending to the lower side of the mover body 31 passes through the lower side of the coil 32 and is drawn out to the left side (-X side) of the mover body 31, the linear actuator 10 can be suppressed from being large in the vertical direction Z. In addition, the wiring member 60 can be further suppressed from becoming long.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the third extending portion 66 that is drawn to the right side (+ X side) from the mover body 31 is arranged in line with the second extending portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the linear actuator 10 can be prevented from being increased in size in the vertical direction Z, compared to the case where the second extending portion 64 and the third extending portion 66 are arranged to overlap in the vertical direction Z.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the first connection portion 63 is a portion bent downward with respect to the first extension portion 62. Therefore, by bending the wiring member 60 along the mover body 31 to form the first connecting portion 63, the wiring member 60 can be easily arranged from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31. Further, by arranging the wiring member 60 from the upper side of the movable piece main body 31 to the lower side of the movable piece main body 31, the first connecting portion 63 located on the right side (+ X side) of the movable piece main body 31 can be curved in an arc shape with a relatively large radius. Therefore, even if the first connection portion 63 is bent with respect to the first extension portion 62, the stress applied to the first connection portion 63 can be made relatively small. This can further suppress breakage and the like of the wiring member 60.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the first extension portion 62 has the wide portion 62a having a width larger than that of the first connection portion 63. Therefore, the rigidity of the first extension portion 62 is easily increased. Thus, even in a state where the first connection portion 63 is bent, the first extension portion 62 connected to the first connection portion 63 is not easily deformed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the portion of the first extension portion 62 connected to the first connection portion 63 from floating, thereby suppressing the first connection portion 63 from bulging upward. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be suppressed from interfering with the case 20. In addition, the size increase of the housing 20 can be suppressed. This can further suppress an increase in size of the linear actuator 10.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the damper member 70 is provided so as to be fixed to the inner wall surface of the housing 20 and to face the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, when the mover body 31 moves in the left-right direction X, the mover body 31 comes into contact with the damping member 70. Thereby, the kinetic energy of the mover body 31 is attenuated by the damping member 70, and the mover body 31 is suppressed from directly contacting the inner wall surface of the case 20. Therefore, the movable element body 31 can be prevented from directly contacting the inner wall surface of the housing 20 to generate noise.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the damper member 70 includes the first damper member 71 located on the right side (+ X side) of the portion of the movable element main body 31 that overlaps with the third extending portion 66 when viewed in the up-down direction Z (i.e., the rear side portion 31i of the protruding portion 31 b). By disposing the first damper member 71 on the right side of the rear portion 31i overlapping the third extending portion 66 in the longitudinal direction Y with the second extending portion 64, interference between the first damper member 71 and the first connection portion 63 can be suppressed. Further, by disposing the first damper member 71 so as to be shifted from the first connection portion 63 on the side (-Y side) where the third extending portion 66 is disposed so as to be lined up with the second extending portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the linear actuator 10 in the front-rear direction Y, compared to a case where the first damper member 71 is disposed on the front side (+ Y side) of the first connection portion 63.

For example, when the elastic member is a metal plate spring, a configuration may be considered in which a lead electrically connected to the coil 32 is electrically connected to the plate spring, and power is supplied to the coil 32 through the plate spring. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the elastic member 50 is a coil spring. In this case, it is difficult to connect a lead wire or the like to the elastic member 50. Therefore, when the elastic member 50 is a coil spring, a structure in which electric power is supplied to the coil 32 through the flexible wiring member 60 as in the present embodiment is useful. In the present embodiment, in the linear actuator 10 having the structure in which the elastic member 50 is a coil spring, the wiring member 60 having flexibility is used to easily supply electric power to the coil 32, and the increase in size of the linear actuator 10 can be suppressed as described above.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 as the pair of elastic members 50 are disposed so as to sandwich the wiring member 60 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the movable body 31 can be appropriately given an elastic force by the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52. Even if the wiring member 60 is sandwiched in the front-rear direction Y by the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52, the wiring member 60 is disposed as described above, and therefore, the wiring member 60 can be prevented from interfering with the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52.

Further, according to the present embodiment, by using a coil spring as the elastic member 50, it is possible to adopt a structure in which a pair of elastic members 50 are disposed on both sides of the movable element body 31 in the left-right direction X, respectively, and a part of the movable element body 31 is disposed between the pair of elastic members 50. Specifically, the protruding portion 31b may be disposed between the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 in the front-rear direction Y, and the protruding portion 31c may be disposed between the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 in the front-rear direction Y. This can increase the mass of the mover body 31 to the extent that the projections 31b and 31c are provided. Therefore, the kinetic energy of the movable element 30 when it vibrates in the left-right direction X can be increased. Therefore, the linear actuator 10 can appropriately apply vibration to the device on which the linear actuator 10 is mounted.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the wiring member 60 has a strip shape. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be easily arranged in a bent state. Specifically, the first connection portion 63 is easily curved in an arc shape. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the width direction of the wiring member 60 is a direction perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the thickness of the wiring member 60 in the vertical direction Z can be easily reduced. This can further suppress an increase in the size of the linear actuator 10 in the vertical direction Z. Further, when the mover body 31 moves in the left-right direction X, as described above, it is possible to easily draw a part of the wiring member 60 relatively into the lower side of the mover body 31, and it is possible to easily draw a part of the wiring member 60 relatively from the lower side of the mover body 31. This can more appropriately suppress the application of stress to the wiring member 60. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be more appropriately suppressed from being broken.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the material of the case 20 is a magnetic body. Therefore, when power is supplied to the coil 32, magnetic flux flows also in the case 20, and thus a magnetic path passing through the coil 32 and the magnet 40 is more appropriately configured. This can increase the electromagnetic force generated between the coil 32 and the magnet 40. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be moved more appropriately in the left-right direction X.

Here, for example, when the magnet 40 is provided on the mover 30 and the coil 32 is provided on the housing 20, the magnet 40 may be attracted to the magnetic housing 20 by a magnetic force, and the mover 30 may rub against an inner wall surface of the housing 20. In this case, the movable element 30 is difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the coil 32 is provided on the movable element 30, and the magnet 40 is fixed to the magnetic housing 20. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be suppressed from being attracted by the case 20. This can suppress the occurrence of friction between the movable element 30 and the inner wall surface of the housing 20. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be prevented from being difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

In addition, regardless of whether the coil 32 and the magnet 40 are provided in the mover 30 or the case 20, friction may occur between the mover 30 and the inner wall surface of the case 20 due to, for example, the mover 30 being inclined in the case 20. Even in this case, the movable element 30 is difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the housing 20 includes the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b that guide the movement of the movable element 30 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b can suppress the tilt of the movable element 30 in the case 20. This can suppress the occurrence of friction between the movable element 30 and the inner wall surface of the housing 20. Therefore, the difficulty in moving the movable element 30 in the left-right direction X can be further suppressed. Further, the movable element 30 can be suppressed from oscillating and rotating within the case 20, and the generation of abnormal sound can be suppressed. Further, by providing the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b in the case 20, the gap between the movable element 30 and the case 20 can be easily reduced in portions other than the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24 b. This allows the size of the mover body 31 to be appropriately increased in the case 20, and the mass of the mover body 31 to be increased. Therefore, the kinetic energy of the movable element 30 when it vibrates in the left-right direction X can be increased. Therefore, vibration can be appropriately applied to the apparatus on which the linear actuator 10 is mounted by the linear actuator 10.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the position in the left-right direction X of the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b as a whole is included in the position in the left-right direction X of the movable element 30 within the movement range in the left-right direction X of the movable element 30. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be guided more stably in the left-right direction X by the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24 b.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the guide portions 24a and 24b are provided at the corners of the bottom wall portion 21a and the pair of wall body portions 21d and 21e, respectively. Therefore, the movable element 30 is easily supported in the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction Y by the guide portions 24a, 24 b. Thus, the movable element 30 can be guided more stably in the left-right direction X by the guide portions 24a and 24 b. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the guide portions 24a and 24b are positioned inside the housing 20 with respect to the pair of wall body portions 21d and 21 e. Therefore, by supporting the movable element 30 by the guide portions 24a and 24b, friction between the movable element 30 and the inner wall surfaces of the pair of wall body portions 21d and 21e can be suppressed.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the housing 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape extending in the left-right direction X. The guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b are provided at four corners of the housing 20, respectively, as viewed in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be guided more stably in the left-right direction X by the four guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24 b.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the movable element 30 is in contact with the guide surfaces 23c and 24c, and is in a state of facing the facing surface 26b with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the friction between the movable element 30 and the facing surface 26b can be suppressed by the guide surfaces 23c and 24 c. This can prevent the movable element 30 from being difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

In addition, similar to the effects of the guide surfaces 23c and 24c described above, the guide surfaces 23d and 24d can suppress the movable element 30 from rubbing against the facing surface 26 c. In addition, similar to the effects of the guide surfaces 23c and 24c, the guide surfaces 23c and 23d can suppress friction between the movable element 30 and the facing surface 26 d. In addition, similar to the effects of the guide surfaces 23c and 24c described above, the guide surfaces 24c and 24d can suppress friction between the movable element 30 and the facing surface 26 a. As described above, the occurrence of friction between the movable element 30 and both side surfaces in the vertical direction Z and both side surfaces in the front-rear direction Y of the inner wall surface of the housing 20 can be suppressed. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be appropriately moved in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the direction of intersection of the facing surfaces 26a, 26d with the movable element 30 is the vertical direction Z, and the direction of intersection of the facing surfaces 26b, 26c with the movable element 30 is the front-rear direction Y.

< second embodiment >

In the following description of the respective embodiments, the same components as those of the above-described embodiments may be omitted by appropriately designating the same reference numerals. As shown in fig. 7, the housing 120 of the linear actuator 110 of the present embodiment has a first housing member 121 and a second housing member 122. The second case member 122 does not have the guide portions 23a and 23b, unlike the second case member 22 of the first embodiment. A guide portion 128a is provided on the side wall portion 121b of the first case member 121. The side wall portion 121c is provided with a guide portion 128 b. The guide portions 128a and 128b are configured such that the center portions of the side wall portions 121b and 121c in the vertical direction Z are recessed toward the inside (-Y side) of the housing 120. Although not shown, the guide portions 128a and 128b extend in the left-right direction X.

The movable element 130 has guided recesses 137a and 137b provided in the movable element main body 131. The guided concave 137a is recessed from the front side (+ Y side) of the movable piece main body 131 toward the rear side (-Y side). The guided concave 137b is recessed from the rear side of the movable piece main body 131 toward the front side. Although not shown, the guided concave portions 137a and 137b extend in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 128a is fitted in the guided recess 137 a. The guide portion 128b is fitted into the guided recess 137 b. This allows the movable element 130 to be easily and stably supported by the guide portions 128a and 128 b. In the present embodiment, the movable element 130 is supported by the guide portions 128a and 128b in the vertical direction Z. In the state of being supported by the guide portions 128a, 128b, the movable element 130 is disposed at a position distant from the bottom wall portion 21a and the top wall portion 22a in the vertical direction Z. Thereby, the movable element 130 is suppressed from rubbing against the bottom wall portion 21a and the top wall portion 22 a.

In a state where guide portions 128a, 128b are fitted in guided concave portions 137a, 137b, movable element 130 is disposed to face portions of side wall portions 121b, 121c other than the portions where guide portions 128a, 128b are provided, with a gap therebetween in front-rear direction Y. This suppresses friction between the movable element 130 and the side wall portions 121b and 121 c. The other structure of the linear actuator 110 may be the same as that of the linear actuator 10 of the first embodiment described above.

< third embodiment >

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the housing 220 of the linear actuator 210 of the present embodiment has a first housing part 221 and a second housing part 222. The first case member 221 has a box shape with an open upper side. As shown in fig. 9, the first case member 221 includes a bottom wall portion 221a, a pair of side wall portions 221b and 221c protruding upward from both edge portions of the bottom wall portion 221a in the front-rear direction Y, and a pair of side wall portions 221f and 221g protruding upward from both edge portions of the bottom wall portion 221a in the left-right direction X. The side wall portion 221f connects right side (+ X side) end portions of the pair of side wall portions 221b, 221c to each other. The side wall portion 221g connects the left side (-X side) end portions of the pair of side wall portions 221b, 221c to each other. The side walls 221b, 221c, 221f, 221g protrude vertically upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 221 a. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall portion 221a corresponds to a "first wall portion", and the pair of side wall portions 221b and 221c correspond to a "pair of second wall portions".

The second casing member 222 is fixed to the upper side of the first casing member 221. The second case member 222 closes the opening of the upper side of the first case member 221. Unlike the first embodiment, the second case member 222 does not have the side walls 22b and 22 c. In the present embodiment, the second case member 222 is configured by a substantially rectangular plate-shaped ceiling wall portion 222a having a plate surface facing in the vertical direction Z. In the present embodiment, the first case member 221 is provided with a side wall portion 221f instead of the side wall portion 22 b. The first case member 221 is provided with a side wall portion 221g instead of the side wall portion 22 c.

The housing 220 has holes 221h and 221i provided in a part of the edge of the bottom wall 221a in the front-rear direction Y in the left-right direction X. Holes 221h and 221i extend in the left-right direction X. The hole 221h is provided in the center in the left-right direction X in the front (+ Y side) edge of the bottom wall 221 a. Hole 221h is provided across bottom wall 221a and side wall 221 b. Hole 221h is provided at a corner portion where bottom wall 221a and side wall 221b are connected. Hole 221i is provided in the center in the left-right direction X in the rear (Y) edge of bottom wall 221 a. Hole 221i is provided across bottom wall 221a and side wall 221 c. Hole 221i is provided at a corner portion where bottom wall 221a and side wall 221c are connected.

In the present embodiment, the guide portion 224a is continuous with a first edge portion 221j located in the front-rear direction Y of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221 h. The first edge 221j is an edge located on the rear side (-Y side) of the inner edge of the hole 221 h. The first edge portion 221j is provided on the bottom wall portion 221 a. The guide portion 224a projects obliquely from the first edge portion 221j toward the upper side and toward the side wall portion 221b in the front-rear direction Y (+ Y direction). Both ends of guide portion 224a in left-right direction X are disposed at an interval from a pair of second edge portions 221m located on both sides in left-right direction X in the inner edge portion of hole portion 221h in left-right direction X. As shown in fig. 10, a gap G1 is provided between the guide portion 224a and the second edge portion 221 m. The shape of the guide portion 224a is the same as that of the guide portion 24a of the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, in the present embodiment, the guide portion 224b is continuous with a first edge portion 221k located in the front-rear direction Y, of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221 i. The first edge 221k is an edge located on the front side (+ Y side) of the inner edge of the hole 221 i. The first edge portion 221k is provided on the bottom wall portion 221 a. The guide portion 224b obliquely projects from the first edge portion 221k toward the upper side and toward the side wall portion 221c in the front-rear direction Y (-Y direction). Both ends of guide portion 224b in left-right direction X are disposed at an interval from a pair of second edge portions 221p located on both sides in left-right direction X, of the inner edge portions of hole portion 221i in left-right direction X. A gap is provided between the guide portion 224b and the second edge portion 221 p. The shape of the guide portion 224b is the same as that of the guide portion 24b of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the guide portion 23a is continuous with the inner edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the recess 222d provided at the edge portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the top wall portion 222 a. Both edges in the left-right direction X of the concave portion 222d are provided apart from both edges in the left-right direction X of the guide portion 23a in the left-right direction X. As shown in fig. 10, a gap G2 is provided between the guide portion 23a and the inner edge portion of the recess 222d in the left-right direction X.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, in the present embodiment, the guide portion 23b is continuous with the front side (+ Y side) inner edge portion of the recess 222e provided at the rear side (-Y side) edge portion of the top wall portion 222 a. Both edges in the left-right direction X of the concave portion 222e are provided apart from both edges in the left-right direction X of the guide portion 23 b. A gap is provided between the guide portion 23b and the inner edge portion of the recess 222e in the left-right direction X. Other structures of the linear actuator 210 of the present embodiment can be the same as those of the linear actuator 10 of the first embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, housing 220 has holes 221h and 221i provided in a part of left-right direction X in the edge portion of bottom wall 221a in front-rear direction Y. The guide portions 224a and 224b are connected to first edge portions 221j and 221k located in the front-rear direction Y among inner edge portions of the holes 221h and 221 i. Therefore, by providing the pair of side walls 221b and 221c that directly and perpendicularly protrude from the edge portions of the bottom wall 221a in the front-rear direction Y and also providing the holes 221h and 221i partially in the bottom wall 221a, the guides 224a and 224b can be provided in the first edge portions 221j and 221k of the holes 221h and 221 i. Thus, for example, as compared with the case where the lower portions of the side wall portions are inclined obliquely with respect to the vertical direction Z over the entire range in the axial direction as in the side wall portions 21b and 21c of the first embodiment, it is easy to increase the rigidity of the side wall portions 221b and 221c with respect to the vertical direction Z. Therefore, even when a compressive force in the vertical direction Z is applied to the housing 220 by the magnetic force generated between the magnet 40 and the coil 32, for example, the housing 220 can be suppressed from being compressively deformed in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the gap between the top wall portion 222a and the movable element 30 and the gap between the bottom wall portion 221a and the movable element 30 from becoming excessively small. This can suppress the case 220 from being deformed and pressed against the movable element 30, and can suppress the movable element 30 from being difficult to move.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the guide portion 224a obliquely projects from the first edge portion 221j toward the upper side and toward the side wall portion 221b in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the guide portion 224a can support the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction Y. Thus, the movable element 30 can be stably guided in the left-right direction X by the guide portion 224 a. This effect is similarly obtained by the guide portion 224 b.

Further, according to the present embodiment, both end portions in the left-right direction X of the guide portion 224a are disposed at intervals in the left-right direction X from a pair of second edge portions 221m located on both sides in the left-right direction X in the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221 h. Therefore, a gap G1 is provided between the guide portion 224a and the second edge portion 221m in the left-right direction X. Thus, for example, when the first case member 221 is manufactured by pressing a metal plate, when the guide portion 224a is manufactured by bending a plate-like portion obtained by punching a part of the metal plate obliquely upward, it is possible to suppress deformation of the portion other than the plate-like portion due to the plate-like portion. Therefore, the plate-like portion is easily bent, and the guide portion 224a is easily manufactured. This effect is similarly obtained by the guide portion 224 b.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, both end portions in the left-right direction X of the guide portion 23a are disposed at intervals in the left-right direction X from edge portions on both sides in the left-right direction X among the inner edge portions of the concave portion 222 d. Therefore, a gap G2 is provided between the guide portion 23a and the edge of the recess 222d in the left-right direction X. Thus, for example, when the second case member 222 is manufactured by pressing a metal plate, when the guide portion 23a is manufactured by bending a plate-shaped portion obtained by punching a part of the metal plate obliquely downward, it is possible to suppress deformation of the portion other than the plate-shaped portion due to the plate-shaped portion. Therefore, the plate-like portion is easily bent, and the guide portion 23a is easily manufactured. This effect is obtained similarly for the guide portion 23b of the present embodiment.

< fourth embodiment >

As shown in fig. 11, in linear actuator 310 of the present embodiment, first casing member 321 of casing 320 does not have hole portions 221h and 221i unlike first casing member 221 of the third embodiment. Instead of the guide portions 224a and 224b of the third embodiment, the first case member 321 is provided with guide portions 328a, 328b, 328d, and 328 f. Other structures of the first case member 321 are the same as those of the first case member 221 of the third embodiment.

The guide portion 328a is provided to a front side (+ Y side) side wall portion 321b in the first case member 321. The guide portion 328a is provided at the center portion in the vertical direction Z and the center portion in the horizontal direction X of the side wall portion 321 b. The guide portion 328a extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 328a is made, for example, by crimping a part of the side wall portion 321b to the rear side (-Y side). The guide portion 328a protrudes from the rear surface of the side wall portion 321b toward the rear side. The guide portion 328a has an arc shape protruding rearward toward the movable element 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X.

The guide portion 328b is provided to a side wall portion 321c on the rear side (-Y side) in the first case member 321. The guide portion 328b is provided at the center portion in the vertical direction Z and the center portion in the horizontal direction X of the side wall portion 321 c. The guide portion 328b extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 328b is made, for example, by crimping a part of the side wall portion 321c to the front side (+ Y side). The guide portion 328b protrudes from the front surface of the side wall portion 321 c. The guide portion 328b has an arc shape protruding toward the front side of the movable element 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X. The pair of guide portions 328a and 328b are disposed so as to sandwich the base portion 31a of the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y, which is a vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction X.

The guide portions 328d, 328f are provided on the lower bottom wall portion 321a of the first case member 321. The guide portion 328d and the guide portion 328f are disposed at an interval in the front-rear direction Y. The guide portion 328d is located on the front side (+ Y side) of the coil 32. The guide 328f is located on the rear side (Y side) of the coil 32. The guide portions 328d and 328f are provided at the center portion in the left-right direction X in the bottom wall portion 321 a. The guide portions 328d, 328f extend in the left-right direction X. The guide portions 328d, 328f are made by, for example, crimping a part of the bottom wall portion 321a to the upper side. The guide portions 328d, 328f protrude upward from the upper side of the bottom wall portion 321 a. The guide portions 328d, 328f are arc-shaped as being projected upward toward the movable element 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X.

Instead of the guide portions 23a, 23b and the recessed portions 222d, 222e of the third embodiment, the second case member 322 is provided with guide portions 328c, 328 e. The other structure of the second case member 322 is the same as that of the second case member 222 of the third embodiment.

The guide portions 328c, 328e are provided to the top wall portion 322a of the second case member 322. The guide portion 328c and the guide portion 328e are disposed at an interval in the front-rear direction Y. The guide portion 328c is located on the front side (+ Y side) of the coil 32. The guide portion 328e is located on the rear side (Y side) of the coil 32. The guide portions 328c and 328e are provided at the center portion in the left-right direction X in the top wall portion 322 a. The guide portions 328c, 328e extend in the left-right direction X. The guide portions 328c, 328e are made by, for example, crimping a part of the top wall portion 322a to the lower side. The guide portions 328c, 328e protrude downward from the lower surface of the top wall portion 322 a. The guide portions 328c, 328e are arc-shaped as viewed in the left-right direction X, projecting downward toward the movable element 30.

The pair of guide portions 328c, 328d are disposed so as to sandwich a portion of the base portion 31a of the movable element 30 located on the front side (+ Y side) of the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. The pair of guide portions 328e and 328f are disposed so as to sandwich a portion of the base portion 31a of the movable element 30 located on the rear side (-Y side) of the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. Other configurations of the linear actuator 310 of the present embodiment can be the same as those of the linear actuators of the above embodiments.

According to the present embodiment, the guide portions include a pair of guide portions 328a, 328b arranged to sandwich the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y, which is a vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction X, and a pair of guide portions 328c, 328d arranged to sandwich the movable element 30 in the up-down direction Z perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be stably supported in the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction Y by the guide portions. The guide portions include a pair of guide portions 328e and 328f arranged to sandwich the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z. That is, the guide portion includes two pairs of guide portions arranged to sandwich the movable element 30 in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be supported more stably in the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction Y by the guide portions.

< fifth embodiment >

As shown in fig. 12, a housing 420 of a linear actuator 410 of the present embodiment has a first housing member 421 and a second housing member 422. The first case member 421 has a first case member body 421m and guide portions 428a, 428 d. The second casing member 422 has a second casing member body 422m and a guide portion 428 c. The guide portions 428a, 428d are separate bodies from the first casing member main body 421 m. The guide portion 428c is separate from the second casing member body 422 m.

The case 420 has a case main body 420m composed of a first case member main body 421m and a second case member main body 422 m. Guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d are attached to the housing main body 420 m. Although not shown, the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d extend in the left-right direction X. The material constituting the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d is different from the material constituting the case main body 420 m. In the present embodiment, the material constituting the case main body 420m is metal. In the present embodiment, the material constituting the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d is resin.

The first casing member main body 421m differs from the first casing member 321 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole 421k is provided instead of the guide portion 328a, and a through hole 421j is provided instead of the guide portion 328 d. The through hole 421k penetrates the side wall 421b in the front-rear direction Y. The through hole 421j penetrates the bottom wall 421a in the vertical direction Z. Although not shown, the through holes 421k and 421j extend in the left-right direction X. Although not shown in the drawings, the first casing member main body 421m is different from the first casing member 321 of the fourth embodiment in that the same through holes as the through holes 421k and 421j are provided instead of the guide portions 328b and 328 f. The other structure of the first casing member main body 421m is the same as that of the first casing member 321 of the fourth embodiment.

The second casing member body 422m is different from the second casing member 322 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole 422f is provided instead of the guide portion 328 c. The through hole 422f penetrates the top wall portion 422a in the vertical direction Z. Although not shown, the through-hole 422f extends in the left-right direction X. The second casing member body 422m is different from the second casing member 322 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole similar to the through hole 422f is provided instead of the guide portion 328 e. The other structure of the second casing member body 422m is the same as that of the second casing member 322 of the fourth embodiment.

The guide portion 428a has a fixing portion 428g fitted and fixed in the through hole 421k, and a body portion 428h connected to the rear side (-Y side) of the fixing portion 428 g. The fixing portion 428g may be fixed by press-fitting or may be fixed by an adhesive. Body portion 428h is located inside housing body 420 m. The body portion 428h protrudes beyond the fixing portion 428g and the through hole 421k to both sides in the vertical direction Z. The body portion 428h has a guide surface 428p toward the rear side. The guide surface 428p is a flat surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction Y. The guide surface 428p faces the front side (+ Y side) end surface of the base 31 a. The guide surface 428p can contact the front end surface of the base portion 31 a. In fig. 12, the guide surface 428p is in contact with the front end surface of the base portion 31a, but a slight gap may be provided between the guide surface 428p and the front end surface of the base portion 31 a.

The guide portion 428c includes a fixing portion 428i fitted into and fixed to the through hole 422f, and a body portion 428j connected to the lower side of the fixing portion 428 i. The fixing portion 428i may be fixed by press-fitting or may be fixed by an adhesive. Body portion 428j is located inside housing body 420 m. The body 428j protrudes to both sides in the front-rear direction Y from the fixing portion 428i and the through hole 422 f. The body 428j has a guide surface 428q facing downward. The guide surface 428q is a flat surface perpendicular to the up-down direction Z. The guide surface 428q faces an upper end surface of the base 31 a. The guide surface 428q can contact the upper end surface of the base 31 a. In fig. 12, the guide surface 428q is shown in a state of facing the upper end surface of the base portion 31a with a slight gap therebetween, but the guide surface 428q may be in contact with the upper end surface of the base portion 31 a.

The guide portion 428d includes a fixing portion 428k fitted and fixed in the through hole 421j and a body portion 428m connected to the upper side of the fixing portion 428 k. The fixing portion 428k may be fixed by press-fitting or may be fixed by an adhesive. Body portion 428m is located inside housing body 420 m. The body portion 428m protrudes on both sides in the front-rear direction Y from the fixing portion 428k and the through hole 421 j. The body 428m has a guide surface 428r facing upward. The guide surface 428r is a flat surface perpendicular to the up-down direction Z. The guide surface 428r faces the end surface on the lower side of the base 31 a. The guide surface 428r can contact with the end surface on the lower side of the base portion 31 a. In fig. 12, the guide surface 428r is shown in a state of facing the lower end surface of the base portion 31a with a slight gap therebetween, but the guide surface 428r may be in contact with the lower end surface of the base portion 31 a. The guide surface 428q of the guide portion 428c and the guide surface 428r of the guide portion 428d are arranged so as to sandwich a portion of the base portion 31a located on the front side (+ Y side) of the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z.

Although not shown, the same guide portions as the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d are attached to the through holes provided in place of the guide portions 328b, 328e, 328f of the fourth embodiment. Other structures of the linear actuator 410 can be the same as those of the linear actuators of the above embodiments.

According to the present embodiment, the material constituting the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d is different from the material constituting the case main body 420 m. Therefore, for example, the rigidity of the case 420 is increased by using a material having relatively high strength as the material constituting the case main body 420m, and the frictional force between the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d and the movable element 30 can be reduced by using a material constituting the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d which is capable of reducing the frictional force with the movable element 30.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the material constituting the case main body 420m is metal, and the material constituting the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d is resin. Therefore, the frictional force between the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d and the movable piece 30 is reduced while the rigidity of the case main body 420m is easily appropriately improved. Thus, the movable element 30 can be appropriately guided in the left-right direction X by the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428 d. Further, the shapes of the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d can be freely determined by making the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d separate from the housing main body 420 m. Therefore, the guide surfaces 428p, 428q, 428r of the guide portions 428a, 428c, 428d can be easily increased in area. This can increase the area of the guide surfaces 428p, 428q, 428r, and stably support the movable element 30 by the guide surfaces 428p, 428q, 428 r.

< sixth embodiment >

As shown in fig. 13, the wiring member 560 of the linear actuator 510 of the present embodiment has a coil connecting portion 61, a first extending portion 562, a first connecting portion 63, a second extending portion 64, a second connecting portion 65, a third extending portion 566, a fourth extending portion 567a, a third connecting portion 567b, a fifth extending portion 567c, and a fourth connecting portion 567 d. The first extension 562 is the same as the first extension 62 of the first embodiment, except that the width in the front-rear direction Y is uniform. In the present embodiment, the third extension 566 is the same as the third extension 66 of the first embodiment, except that it is located at the center of the linear actuator 510 in the front-rear direction Y. In the present embodiment, the wiring member 560 has a shape symmetrical in the front-rear direction Y. The wiring member 560 may have an asymmetrical shape in the front-rear direction Y.

The fourth extension portion 567a is located on the upper side of the mover body 31. The fourth extending portion 567a extends in the left-right direction X. In the present embodiment, the first extending portion 562 and the fourth extending portion 567a are disposed with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. The fourth extension portion 567a is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the first extension portion 562. The shape of the fourth extension 567a is the same as the shape of the first extension 562. The first extending portion 562 and the fourth extending portion 567a are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction Y with respect to the center of the third extending portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y. In the present embodiment, the first extension portion 562 and the fourth extension portion 567a extend rightward (+ X side) from the coil connecting portion 61. The first extension portion 562 extends rightward from an end portion on the front side (+ Y side) of the coil connecting portion 61. The fourth extending portion 567a extends rightward from the rear end of the coil connecting portion 61.

The fifth extending portion 567c is located on the lower side of the movable piece main body 31. The fifth extending portion 567c extends in the left-right direction X. The movable piece main body 31 is sandwiched between the fifth extending portion 567c and the fourth extending portion 567a in the up-down direction Z. The fifth extending portion 567c is disposed at a distance from the rear side (-Y side) of the second extending portion 64. The second extension portion 64 and the fifth extension portion 567c are arranged so as to sandwich the third extension portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y. The second extending portion 64 and the fifth extending portion 567c are symmetrically arranged in the front-rear direction Y with respect to the center of the third extending portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y. The shape of the fifth extending portion 567c is the same as that of the second extending portion 64, except that it is inverted in the front-rear direction Y.

The third connecting portion 567b connects an end portion on the right side (+ X side) in the fourth extending portion 567a and an end portion on the right side in the fifth extending portion 567 c. The third connecting portion 567b is disposed at a distance from the rear side (-Y side) of the first connecting portion 63. The shape of the third connecting portion 567b is the same as that of the first connecting portion 63. The first connecting portion 63 and the third connecting portion 567b are symmetrically arranged in the front-rear direction Y with respect to the center of the third extending portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y.

The fourth connecting portion 567d connects the end portion of the left side (X side) of the fifth extending portion 567c and the end portion of the left side of the third extending portion 566. The fourth connecting portion 567d is connected to the rear side (Y side) of the second connecting portion 65. The second connecting portion 65 and the fourth connecting portion 567d are connected to each other in the front-rear direction Y, and constitute a belt-like portion extending in the front-rear direction Y. In the present embodiment, the third extending portion 566 extends rightward (+ X side) from a connection portion of the second connection portion 65 and the fourth connection portion 567 d.

In the present embodiment, among the wires, not shown, provided in the wiring member 560, the wires electrically connected to the coil lead wires 32a extend to the third extending portion 566 sequentially through the fourth extending portion 567a, the third connecting portion 567b, the fifth extending portion 567c, and the fourth connecting portion 567 d. The wiring electrically connected to the coil lead wire 32b among the wirings provided in the wiring member 560 extends to the third extending portion 566 sequentially through the first extending portion 562, the first connecting portion 63, the second extending portion 64, and the second connecting portion 65. Other structures of the linear actuator 510 can be the same as those of the linear actuators of the above embodiments.

According to the present embodiment, the wiring member 560 has the fourth extending portion 567a, the third connecting portion 567b, the fifth extending portion 567c, and the fourth connecting portion 567d in addition to the first extending portion 562, the first connecting portion 63, the second extending portion 64, and the second connecting portion 65. The first extending portion 562 and the fourth extending portion 567a are disposed with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y, and extend rightward (+ X side) from the coil connecting portion 61. Therefore, two paths connecting the coil connecting portion 61 and the third extending portion 566 can be provided in the wiring member 560. Thus, the wires electrically connected to the pair of coil lead wires 32a and 32b can be led to the third extension portion 566 via different paths.

< seventh embodiment >

As shown in fig. 14, the wiring member 660 of the linear actuator 610 according to the present embodiment includes a first coil connecting portion 661a, a first extending portion 662, a first connecting portion 663, a second extending portion 64, a second connecting portion 65, a third extending portion 66, a second coil connecting portion 661b, a sixth extending portion 668, and a fifth connecting portion 669.

The first coil connecting portion 661a is electrically connected to the coil 32 on the upper side of the mover body 31. In the present embodiment, the first coil connecting portion 661a is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 31 d. The second coil connecting portion 661b is electrically connected to the coil 32 on the lower side of the mover body 31. In the present embodiment, the second coil connecting portion 661b is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 31 g. The first coil connecting part 661a and the second coil connecting part 661b are disposed so as to sandwich the mover body 31 in the vertical direction Z. Although not shown, a pair of coil lead wires drawn from the coil 32 are connected to the first coil connecting part 661a and the second coil connecting part 661b, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the first extension portion 662 extends rightward (+ X side) from the first coil connecting portion 661 a. Other structures of the first extension portion 662 are the same as those of the first extension portion 562 of the sixth embodiment. The sixth extending portion 668 extends rightward (+ X side) from the second coil connecting portion 661 b. The sixth extending portion 668 is located on the front side (+ Y side) of the second extending portion 64.

The first connecting portion 663 connects the end portion of the right side (+ X side) in the first extending portion 662 and the end portion of the right side in the second extending portion 64. The fifth connection portion 669 connects the end on the right side in the first extension 662 and the end on the right side in the sixth extension 668. The first connection portion 663 and the fifth connection portion 669 are arranged in the front-rear direction Y. The fifth connection portion 669 is located on the front side (+ Y side) of the first connection portion 663. The shape of the fifth connection portion 669 is the same as the shape of the first connection portion 663. The dimension in the front-rear direction Y of the first connection portion 663 and the dimension in the front-rear direction Y of the fifth connection portion 669 are smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction Y of the first extension portion 662. The other structure of the first connection portion 663 is the same as that of the first connection portion 63 of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, of the unillustrated wirings provided in the wiring member 660, the wiring provided in the first coil connecting portion 661a is electrically connected to one of the pair of coil lead wires, and extends to the third extending portion 66 through the first extending portion 662, the first connecting portion 663, the second extending portion 64, and the second connecting portion 65 in this order. Of the wiring lines not shown in the drawings of the wiring member 660, the wiring line provided in the second coil connecting portion 661b is electrically connected to the other of the pair of coil lead wires, and extends to the third extending portion 66 sequentially through the sixth extending portion 668, the fifth connecting portion 669, the first extending portion 662, the first connecting portion 663, the second extending portion 64, and the second connecting portion 65. Other structures of the linear actuator 610 can be the same as those of the linear actuators of the above embodiments.

According to the present embodiment, the wiring member 660 has the first coil connecting portion 661a electrically connected to the coil 32 on the upper side of the mover body 31 and the second coil connecting portion 661b electrically connected to the coil 32 on the lower side of the mover body 31. Therefore, even when one of the pair of coil lead wires drawn out from the coil 32 is drawn out from the upper side of the coil 32 and the other is drawn out from the lower side of the coil 32, the pair of coil lead wires can be easily connected to the first coil connecting part 661a and the second coil connecting part 661b, respectively. This makes it possible to easily electrically connect the coil 32, in which the pair of coil lead wires are led out from the opposite side in the vertical direction Z, to the wiring member 660.

The coil 32 having the pair of coil lead-out wires led out from the opposite side in the vertical direction Z is, for example, a single-layer wound coil, a multilayer wound coil having an odd number of layers, or the like. When the coil 32 is a multi-layer wound coil, the wire material constituting the coil 32 is formed by alternately stacking layers wound from one direction in the vertical direction Z to the other direction and layers wound from one direction in the other direction in the vertical direction Z. In this case, when the number of layers of the coil 32 is even, the pair of coil lead wires are led out from the same side in the vertical direction Z, and when the number of layers of the coil 32 is odd, the pair of coil lead wires are led out from different sides in the vertical direction Z.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the wiring member 660 has the sixth extension portion 668 extending rightward (+ X side) from the second coil connecting portion 661b, and the fifth connecting portion 669 connecting the right end of the first extension portion 662 and the right end of the sixth extension portion 668. Therefore, the sixth extending portion 668 extending from the second coil connecting portion 661b can be merged with the first extending portion 662 extending from the first coil connecting portion 661 a. Thereby, complication of the arrangement of the wiring member 660 can be suppressed.

< eighth embodiment >

As shown in fig. 15, the wiring member 760 of the linear actuator 710 according to the present embodiment is different from the wiring member 60 according to the first embodiment in the direction in which the third extension 766 is drawn. In the present embodiment, the third extension 766 extends from the left-side (-X side) end of the second extension 64 in a direction intersecting the left-right direction X. In more detail, the third extension 766 extends from the end on the left side in the second extension 64 to the rear side (Y side). That is, in the present embodiment, the third extending portion 766 extends from the left end of the second extending portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. The third extension 766 is drawn out from the inside of the case 720 to the outside of the case 720 through a through hole 721m provided in a side wall portion 721c on the rear side in the first case member 721 of the case 720. In the present embodiment, the third extension 766 is drawn out of the housing 720 through the lower side of the second elastic member 52 and the lower side of the movable element body 31. The other structure of the wiring member 760 is the same as that of the wiring member 60 of the first embodiment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the wiring member 760 extends from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+ X side) of the mover body 31, and is drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31 in a direction intersecting the left-right direction X. Other structures of the linear actuator 710 can be the same as those of the linear actuators of the above embodiments.

Even when the third extending portion 766 extends in a direction intersecting the left-right direction X as in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the case 720 that houses the mover body 31 and the wiring member 760 can be prevented from becoming larger in size as compared with the case where the wiring member 760 is wound around the mover body 31. Therefore, the coil 32 can be provided to the mover 30 while suppressing an increase in size of the linear actuator 710.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the third extending portion 766 extends from the left-side (the (-X side) end portion of the second extending portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to the left-right direction X. Therefore, as compared with the case where the third extending portion 766 extends in a direction inclined obliquely with respect to the left-right direction X, the third extending portion 766 is easily drawn out of the case 720 from the side wall portion 721c of the case 720 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other configurations can be adopted within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. The wiring member may be made of any material. The wiring member may not have flexibility. The wiring member may be in any shape and may be arranged arbitrarily. The first extension portion may not have the wide width portion. The third extending portion may be disposed to overlap the second extending portion in the second direction. The third extension may extend in any direction. The third extending portion may extend in the vertical direction Z of the above embodiment. For example, in the eighth embodiment, the third extension 766 may extend downward from the left (X) side end of the second extension 64. The wiring member may be linear.

The elastic member may be any type of elastic member as long as it is elastically deformed in accordance with the movement of the movable element in the first direction (the left-right direction X) and applies a force in the first direction (the left-right direction X) to the movable element. The elastic member may be a plate spring. The number of the elastic members is not particularly limited. The elastic member may be provided with only one.

The shape of the mover body is not particularly limited. The number, shape, and arrangement of the magnets are not particularly limited. The linear actuator may be configured such that a magnet is provided in the movable element and a coil is fixed to the housing. The damping member may be any kind of damping member. The damping member may not be provided. The material of the housing may be a non-magnetic body. The shape of the housing is not particularly limited. The shape of the guide portion is not particularly limited. The number of the guide portions is not particularly limited. At least one of the guide portion and the movable element at the portion supported by the guide portion may be coated with a solid lubricant coating such as a fluororesin coating. A lubricant such as grease may be provided between the guide portion and a portion of the movable element supported by the guide portion. The guide portion may not be provided.

Other ways of linear actuators are also possible as follows: the linear actuator has: a mover movable in a predetermined first direction, the mover including a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body; a housing that houses the movable element therein; and a magnet disposed in the case so as to face the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the magnet being fixed to the case, the case being made of a magnetic material.

Yet another way of the linear actuator may be as follows: the linear actuator has: a movable element that is movable in a predetermined first direction; and a housing that houses the movable element therein, the housing having a guide portion that guides movement of the movable element in the first direction. In another aspect of the linear actuator, the following structure may be adopted: the housing has an opposing surface that opposes the movable element in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the guide portion has a guide surface that is disposed closer to the movable element than the opposing surface in the second direction, and the movable element is in a state of being in contact with the guide surface and opposing the opposing surface with a gap therebetween in the second direction.

The use of the linear actuator to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. The linear actuator may be mounted on any device. The above, the structures and methods described in this specification can be combined appropriately within a range not inconsistent with each other.

[ accompanying notes ]

(attached note 1)

A linear actuator having:

a mover movable in a predetermined first direction, the mover including a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body;

a magnet disposed to face the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

an elastic member that elastically deforms in accordance with movement of the movable element in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the movable element; and

a wiring member having flexibility and electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable element body in the second direction,

the wiring member extends from one side of the movable element body in the second direction to the other side of the movable element body in the second direction through one side of the movable element body in the first direction, and is drawn out from the other side of the movable element body in the second direction in a direction intersecting the first direction.

(attached note 2)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 1, wherein,

the wiring member includes:

a first extending portion that is located on one side of the movable piece main body in the second direction and extends in the first direction;

a second extending portion that sandwiches the movable member main body with the first extending portion in the second direction and extends in the first direction;

a first connecting portion connecting an end portion of the first extending portion on one side in the first direction and an end portion of the second extending portion on one side in the first direction; and

a third extending portion that extends from an end portion of the second extending portion on the other side in the first direction in a direction intersecting the first direction.

(attached note 3)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 2, wherein,

the third extending portion extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction from an end portion of the second extending portion on the other side of the first direction.

(attached note 4)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 3, wherein,

the third extending portion extends from an end portion of the second extending portion on the other side in the first direction in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

(attached note 5)

A linear actuator having:

a movable element that is movable in a predetermined first direction; and

a housing that houses the movable element therein;

the housing has a guide portion that guides movement of the movable member in the first direction.

(attached note 6)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 5, wherein,

the guide portion extends in the first direction,

the position of the entire guide portion in the first direction is included in the position of the movable element in the first direction within the movement range of the movable element in the first direction.

(attached note 7)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 5 or supplementary note 6, wherein,

the housing has:

a first wall portion located in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

a pair of second wall portions respectively located on both sides of a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction,

the guide portions are provided at corners of the first wall portion and the pair of second wall portions, respectively, and are located on an inner side of the housing with respect to the pair of second wall portions.

(attached note 8)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 7, wherein,

the housing has a hole portion provided in a part of the first direction in the third-direction edge portion in the first wall portion,

the guide portion is connected to a first edge portion of the inner edge portion of the hole portion in the third direction.

(attached note 9)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 8, wherein,

the guide portion is obliquely projected from the first edge portion toward one side in the second direction and toward the second wall portion in the third direction.

(attached note 10)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 8 or supplementary note 9, wherein,

both ends of the guide portion in the first direction are disposed at an interval from a pair of second edges located on both sides of the first direction in the inner edge portion of the hole portion in the first direction.

(attached note 11)

The linear actuator according to any one of supplementary notes 7 to 10, wherein,

the housing is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box extending in the first direction,

when observing along the first direction, the guide parts are respectively arranged at four corners of the shell.

(attached note 12)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 5 or supplementary note 6, wherein,

the movable member has a guided recess extending in the first direction,

the guide portion is fitted in the guided recess.

(attached note 13)

The linear actuator according to any one of supplementary notes 5 to 12, wherein,

the guide portion includes a pair of guide portions arranged to sandwich the movable element in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a pair of guide portions arranged to sandwich the movable element in a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the vertical direction.

(attached note 14)

The linear actuator according to any one of supplementary notes 5 to 13, wherein,

the housing has a housing body to which the guide is mounted,

the guide portion is formed of a material different from a material of the housing body.

(incidentally 15)

The linear actuator according to supplementary note 14, wherein,

the material constituting the case main body is a metal,

the material constituting the guide portion is resin.

(subsidiary 16)

The linear actuator according to any one of supplementary notes 5 to 15, wherein,

the housing has an opposed surface opposed to the movable element in a crossing direction crossing the first direction,

the guide portion has a guide surface disposed on a side closer to the movable element than the facing surface in the intersecting direction,

the movable element is in contact with the guide surface, and is in a state of facing the facing surface with a gap therebetween in the intersecting direction.

Claims (10)

1. A linear actuator having:

a mover movable in a predetermined first direction, the mover including a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body;

a magnet disposed to face the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

an elastic member that elastically deforms in accordance with movement of the movable element in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the movable element; and

a wiring member having flexibility and electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable element body in the second direction,

the wiring member extends from one side of the movable element body in the second direction to the other side of the movable element body in the second direction through the one side of the movable element body in the first direction, and is drawn out from the other side of the movable element body in the second direction to the one side of the first direction than the movable element body.

2. The linear actuator of claim 1,

the wiring member includes:

a first extending portion that is located on one side of the movable piece main body in the second direction and extends in the first direction;

a second extending portion that sandwiches the movable member main body with the first extending portion in the second direction and extends in the first direction;

a first connecting portion that connects an end portion on one side of the first direction in the first extending portion and an end portion on one side of the first direction in the second extending portion;

a third extending portion that is arranged in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, is aligned with the second extending portion, and is drawn out to one side in the first direction than the movable element main body; and

a second connecting portion connecting an end portion of the second extending portion on the other side in the first direction and an end portion of the third extending portion on the other side in the first direction.

3. The linear actuator of claim 2,

the first connection portion is a portion bent to the other side of the second direction with respect to the first extension portion,

the first extension portion has a wide width portion having a width larger than that of the first connection portion.

4. Linear actuator according to claim 2 or 3,

the linear actuator further has:

a housing that houses the movable element therein; and

a damping member fixed to an inner wall surface of the housing and opposed to the movable element body in the first direction,

the damping member includes a damping member located on one side in the first direction of a portion of the movable piece main body that overlaps with the third extension portion as viewed in the second direction.

5. The linear actuator according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

the wiring member includes:

a coil connecting portion electrically connected to the coil;

a fourth extending portion that is located on one side of the movable piece main body in the second direction and extends in the first direction;

a fifth extending portion which is provided between the fourth extending portion and the movable member main body so as to sandwich the movable member main body in the second direction and extend in the first direction;

a third connecting portion that connects an end portion on one side of the first direction in the fourth extending portion and an end portion on one side of the first direction in the fifth extending portion; and

a fourth connecting portion connecting an end portion of the fifth extending portion on the other side in the first direction and an end portion of the third extending portion on the other side in the first direction,

the first extension portion and the fourth extension portion are disposed at an interval in the third direction and extend from the coil connecting portion to one side in the first direction.

6. The linear actuator according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

the wiring member includes:

a first coil connecting portion electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable element main body in the second direction; and

and a second coil connecting portion electrically connected to the coil on the other side of the movable element main body in the second direction.

7. The linear actuator of claim 6,

the first extension portion extends from the first coil connecting portion to one side in the first direction,

the wiring member includes:

a sixth extension portion extending from the second coil connecting portion to one side in the first direction; and

a fifth connecting portion that connects an end portion on one side of the first direction in the first extending portion and an end portion on one side of the first direction in the sixth extending portion.

8. The linear actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the elastic member is a coil spring.

9. The linear actuator of claim 8,

the elastic member includes a pair of elastic members located on one side of the movable piece main body in the first direction,

the pair of elastic members are disposed so as to sandwich the wiring member in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

10. The linear actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the wiring member is in the form of a tape,

the width direction of the wiring member is a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

Images