JP2002191182A - Vibration-wave motor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration-wave motor which can eliminate as much as possible an inclusion of water and oil or the like in a motor case. SOLUTION: A spring receptacle 9 disposed in the motor case is provided with an oil/water absorbing member 15 in opposition to a bearing 11b to support an output shaft 12 provided through the motor case. As a material of the absorbing member 15, for example, paper (Japanese paper, drawing paper, kitchen paper, blotting paper or the like) or cloth (wool, cotton or the like) which assures a higher absorbing property and does not generate any chemical reaction with oil and water, and the like are listed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vibration wave motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vibration wave motor includes a vibrating body that forms a driving vibration such as a traveling wave by applying an alternating voltage, which is an alternating signal, to a piezoelectric element as an electromechanical energy conversion element to an elastic body such as a metal. A contact body is brought into pressure contact with a driving section of the elastic body via a pressurizing means, and the contact body is frictionally driven by driving vibration formed in the driving section of the elastic body, and the vibrating body and the contact body are driven. And relative movement. In general, the vibrating body is used as a stator, and the contact body is used as a rotor.

As the vibrator, a vibrator having a structure in which a ring-shaped piezoelectric element plate is adhered to one surface of a ring-shaped or disk-shaped elastic body is provided, and an output shaft is connected to the stator. The rotation is transmitted to the output shaft.

When the vibration wave motor having the above structure is used, for example, as a focusing motor for a lens barrel,
Although the stator and the rotor are directly assembled in the lens barrel, for example, when a motor is used as a single unit, components are housed in a motor case as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a ring-shaped elastic body.
A connecting portion 1b is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the ring portion 1a formed on the outer peripheral portion.
Is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the connecting portion 1b, a connecting portion 1c fixed to the housing 5 constituting the motor case is formed, the piezoelectric element 2 is bonded to one surface of the ring portion 1a, and the other surface of the ring portion 1a is formed. Is fixed to the sliding member 3.

The motor case is composed of a housing 5 and a case 10, and a bearing 1 provided on the housing 5 is provided.
1a and the bearing 11b provided on the case 10
An output shaft 12 is rotatably supported as a rotation shaft that passes through the case 10, the elastic body 1, the rotor 6, and the disc spring 8.

[0007] The rotor 6 formed in a disk shape is provided with an elastic body 1.
A thin spring portion 6b is formed inside an abutment portion 6a formed on the outer peripheral portion that comes into contact with the sliding member 3 described above. Disc spring 8
Has one end in contact with the rotor 6 via the disc-shaped rubber sheet 7 and the other end in contact with the spring receiver 9. The spring bearing 8 is fixed to the output shaft 12 so that the axial fixed position can be changed, and transmits the rotation of the rotor 6 to the output shaft 12 via the disc spring 8.

On the other hand, a flexible wiring board (not shown) that is in contact with the electrodes of the piezoelectric element 2 is bonded to the piezoelectric element 2 bonded to the elastic body 1, and this flexible wiring board is connected to a terminal board 13 fixed to the housing 5. And a terminal portion formed at the tip of the terminal board 13 projects outside through an opening provided at the abutting portion between the housing 5 and the case 10, and is connected to a drive circuit (not shown). The communication connector is connected to the terminal portion of the terminal board 13. At this time, the performance tends to decrease when water and oil enter the motor case through the opening and the oil and moisture adhere to the drive mechanism inside the motor. Measures such as sealing the electrical input terminal with a sealing member 14 such as a silicone resin are performed.

[0009]

However, in long-term use in various environments, for example, oil, moisture, and the like flow into the motor through a minute gap between the output shaft 12 and the bearings 11a and 11b. However, it is difficult to completely prevent oil, moisture, and the like from flowing into the motor.

[0010] In addition, since water droplets are concentrated at one point in the direction of gravity due to dew condensation due to the use environment, there is a risk that the wiring of the electric input terminal to which a high voltage is applied may be short-circuited.

[0011] In addition, moisture may lead to deterioration of motor characteristics such as deterioration of the adhesive strength inside the motor and an increase in the amount of abrasion of the sliding material, and the current method can cope with oil flowing out of bearings and the like. could not.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration wave motor in which the presence of moisture, oil, and the like in a motor case is eliminated as much as possible.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibrator for forming a drive wave on an elastic body by applying an alternating signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a pressing member provided on a driving surface of the elastic body. The vibration wave motor includes a drive mechanism configured by a rotating body that is in pressurized contact via the rotor and is rotationally driven by the drive wave, and a substantially closed housing case that houses the drive mechanism. An absorbing member for absorbing is arranged in the housing case.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the absorbing member is paper.

In a third aspect based on the first aspect, the absorbing member is a cloth.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the above aspects, the absorbing member is disposed in an oil transmission path.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first, second or third aspect is provided.
In the invention, the absorbing member is arranged in a moisture transmission path.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first, second or third aspect is provided.
In the invention, the absorbing member is disposed at a position where water droplets are easily generated.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the first, second or third aspect is provided.
The invention is characterized in that the absorbing member is disposed in at least two or more places in an oil transmission path, a water transmission path, or a place where water droplets are easily generated.

In an eighth aspect based on the fourth or seventh aspect, the drive mechanism has an output shaft for transmitting rotation of the rotating body, and a bearing member for supporting the output shaft. The oil transmission path is formed in the housing case through the bearing member.

In a ninth aspect based on the fifth or seventh aspect, the drive mechanism has an output shaft for transmitting rotation of the rotating body, and a bearing member for supporting the output shaft. The moisture transmission path is formed in the housing case through the bearing member.

In a tenth aspect based on the sixth or seventh aspect, the location where the water droplets are easily generated is an inner peripheral wall surface of the case. In the above-described invention, since the absorbing member that absorbs the liquid is disposed inside the vibration wave motor in a substantially closed state, processing for providing the absorbing member can be easily performed.

In addition, it is possible to absorb moisture caused by dew condensation generated inside the vibration wave motor.

Furthermore, it is possible to absorb oil, moisture and the like flowing from the outside of the vibration wave motor and prevent the vibration and the motor from adhering to the drive mechanism housed in the housing case.

Further, oil flowing out of the bearing of the motor can be absorbed.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the configuration of the vibration wave motor shown in FIG.
The same members as those of the configuration of the conventional vibration wave motor shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and will be described below.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a ring-shaped elastic body.
A connecting portion 1b is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the ring portion 1a formed on the outer peripheral portion.
Is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the connecting portion 1b, a connecting portion 1c fixed to the housing 5 constituting the motor case is formed, the piezoelectric element 2 is bonded to one surface of the ring portion 1a, and the other surface of the ring portion 1a is formed. Is fixed to the sliding member 3.

The motor case includes a housing 5 and a case 10, and a bearing 1 provided on the housing 5 is provided.
1a and the bearing 11b provided on the case 10
An output shaft 12 is rotatably supported as a rotation shaft that passes through the case 10, the elastic body 1, the rotor 6, and the disc spring 8.

The rotor 6 formed in a disk shape is used for the elastic body 1.
A thin spring portion 6b is formed inside an abutment portion 6a formed on the outer peripheral portion that comes into contact with the sliding member 3 described above. Disc spring 8
Has one end in contact with the rotor 6 via the disc-shaped rubber sheet 7 and the other end in contact with the spring receiver 9. The spring bearing 8 is fixed to the output shaft 12 so that the axial fixed position can be changed, and transmits the rotation of the rotor 6 to the output shaft 12 via the disc spring 8.

On the other hand, a flexible wiring board (not shown) that is in contact with the electrodes of the piezoelectric element 2 is bonded to the piezoelectric element 2 bonded to the elastic body 1, and this flexible wiring board is connected to the terminal board 13 fixed to the housing 5. And a terminal portion formed at the tip of the terminal board 13 projects outside through an opening provided at the abutting portion between the housing 5 and the case 10, and is connected to a drive circuit (not shown). The communication connector is connected to the terminal portion of the terminal board 13. At this time, the performance tends to decrease when water and oil enter the motor case through the opening and the oil and moisture adhere to the drive mechanism inside the motor. Measures such as sealing the electrical input terminal with a sealing member 14 such as a silicone resin are performed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an oil / water absorbing member 15 is bonded and fixed to the spring receiver 9 facing the bearing 11b. Further, a similar oil / water absorbing member 15 is bonded and fixed to the connecting portion 1c of the elastic body 1 and the inner peripheral portion of the housing 5 inside the connecting portion 1c.

In the present embodiment, the oil / water absorbing member 15 is preferably made of a material having high hygroscopicity and not causing a chemical reaction with oil and water. Examples include paper (Japanese paper, drawing paper, kitchen paper, blotting paper, etc.), cloth (wool,
Cotton, etc.).

In the present embodiment, oil can be mainly absorbed by arranging the absorbing member 15 near the output shaft 12 and the bearing 11b, which are likely to be oil transmission paths attached to the case 10.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment. Note that the basic configuration of the vibration wave motor of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The description is omitted.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an absorbing member 15 is disposed on the outer surface side of the disc spring 8 which is also the oil transmission path.

According to the present embodiment, oil can be absorbed,
In addition, the vibration damping effect of the spring 8 can be obtained.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment. Note that the basic configuration of the vibration wave motor of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The description is omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
An absorbing member 15 is disposed on the surface of the housing 5 which is likely to be a transmission path of a liquid such as moisture and on the inner bottom of the case 10 by bonding and the like.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent oil, moisture and the like from adhering to the drive mechanism inside the motor.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
An embodiment will be described. Note that the basic configuration of the vibration wave motor according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, an absorbing member 15 is arranged on the inner peripheral side wall of a case where dew condensation is likely to occur by adhesive fixing or the like.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent water droplets from adhering to the drive mechanism inside the motor.

The present invention is not limited to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, respectively. The configurations may be arbitrarily combined, whereby it is possible to prevent scattering of water and oil inside the motor, and inundation of parts due to concentration in the direction of gravity.

[0045]

According to the present invention, it is possible to protect the drive mechanism inside the motor from harmful oil and moisture without using a complicated structure or component structure, and to drive the vibration wave motor with a stable frictional force. Can be provided.

Further, since no chemical substance is used for the absorbing member, it can be safely disposed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vibration wave motor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a vibration wave motor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a vibration wave motor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a vibration wave motor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a vibration wave motor showing a cross section of a conventional vibration wave motor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elastic body 2 Piezoelectric element (Electro-mechanical energy conversion element) 3 Sliding material 4 Vibrating body 5 Housing 6 Rotor (rotating body) 7 Rubber sheet 8 Disc spring 9 Spring receiver 10 Case 11a Bearing 11b Bearing 12 Output as a rotating shaft Shaft 13 Electric input terminal 14 Seal member 15 Absorbing member

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaharu Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 5H680 AA12 BB03 BB15 BC01 DD01 DD23 DD53 DD66 DD75 EE03 FF08 GG19

Claims (10)

[Claims] A vibrating body for forming a driving wave on an elastic body by applying an alternating signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element;
A driving mechanism configured by a rotating body that is in pressure contact with the driving surface of the elastic body via a pressing member and that is driven to rotate by the driving wave; and a substantially closed housing case that houses the driving mechanism. A vibration wave motor comprising: a vibration wave motor, wherein an absorbing member for absorbing a liquid is disposed in the housing case. 2. The vibration wave motor according to claim 1, wherein said absorbing member is paper. 3. The vibration wave motor according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing member is a cloth. 4. The vibration wave motor according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing member is disposed in a transmission path of the oil. 5. The vibration wave motor according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing member is arranged in a moisture transmission path. 6. The vibration wave motor according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing member is disposed at a position where water droplets are easily generated. 7. The absorption member according to claim 1, wherein the absorption member is disposed in at least two or more of a transmission path of oil, a transmission path of moisture, and a place where water droplets are easily generated. 3. The vibration wave motor according to 3. 8. The drive mechanism has an output shaft for transmitting the rotation of the rotating body, and a bearing member for supporting the output shaft, and the oil transmission path is provided in the housing case through the bearing member. 5. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, wherein:
Or a vibration wave motor according to 7. 9. The drive mechanism has an output shaft for transmitting the rotation of the rotating body, and a bearing member for supporting the output shaft, and the moisture transmission path is formed in the housing case through the bearing member. The vibration wave motor according to claim 5, wherein the vibration wave motor is formed. 10. The vibration wave motor according to claim 6, wherein the portion where the water droplet is easily generated is an inner peripheral wall surface of the case.