JP2002266975A - Actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact actuator easily installable in a device. SOLUTION: A driving source is provided on an axis of a working shaft for advancing or retreating a moving body so that an output shaft thereof points to a direction crossing the axis of the working shaft at right angles.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric actuator which can be suitably used for a reclining mechanism of a sofa type massage machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of actuator, there has been one having a configuration shown in FIG. As shown
In the conventional actuator B, a worm shaft 300 is connected to an output shaft 200 capable of normal and reverse rotation of the electric motor 100, and a screw shaft 400 is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the worm shaft 300. The worm gear 410 provided on the screw shaft 400 and the worm 310 provided on the worm shaft 300 are meshed with each other, so that the screw shaft 400 is advanced and retracted in the axial direction by the power from the electric motor 100.

[0003]

However, the following problems still remain in the conventional electric actuator B described above.

That is, as described above, the conventional electric actuator B has a substantially L-shape formed by the screw shaft 400 and the electric motor 100, and when it is provided, it is inevitably L-shaped. , Dead space had been created.

Further, among the members constituting the electric actuator B, the relatively heavy electric motor 100 protrudes, so that the weight balance is poor and the handling is difficult.

From the above, for example, when the actuator B for reclining a sofa-type massage machine is applied, it is possible to freely design the massage machine in relation to the layout of the driving portion of the massage machine. There were problems such as becoming difficult and limiting the function of the massage machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide an actuator that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, the moving body is moved in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the operating axis on the axis of the operating axis for driving the moving body. The drive source was arranged so that the output shaft was oriented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a power transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the working shaft is provided in parallel with the drive source on the axis of the working shaft for driving the moving body forward and backward.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a speed reduction mechanism is provided in the power transmission means.

According to the present invention, a worm for transmitting a driving force to the screw shaft and a motor are arranged side by side on the axis of the screw shaft for driving the moving body forward and backward. Make the motor shaft and worm shaft protrude in the orthogonal direction,
A transmission belt was wound between both shafts.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An actuator according to the present invention comprises:
A drive source is arranged on the axis of the working axis that drives the moving body forward and backward so that its output axis is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the working axis, and is used for reclining such as a sofa type massage machine. It can be suitably used.

In particular, in the present actuator, the drive source is disposed on the axis of the operating shaft so that the output shaft of the drive source is orthogonal to the axis of the operating shaft, so that the drive as a component of the actuator is provided. The sources are compactly arranged on the axis of the working axis, so that the actuator itself has a compact form with small irregularities.

Accordingly, the present actuator does not require much space, and has a small unevenness and hardly produces a dead space around the actuator. Therefore, the actuator can be easily incorporated into various devices.

In particular, among the members constituting the electric actuator, an electric motor as a relatively heavy driving source is disposed on the axis of the working shaft so as not to protrude outward, so that the weight balance is maintained. Good and easy to handle.

It is preferable that not only the above-mentioned drive source but also a power transmission means for transmitting a driving force output from the drive source to the working shaft is disposed on the axis of the working shaft.

That is, by arranging the drive source and the power transmission means in front of and behind the axis of the working shaft, both of the constituent members of the actuator can be compactly integrated on the axis of the working shaft. It can be in a compact form with less irregularities.

As described above, the present actuator has the form,
Since both the weight balance is good and the device is formed so as to be easily incorporated into the devices, the layout, design and functions of the devices are not restricted by applying the present actuator to the devices.

For example, as described above, when the present actuator is incorporated in a sofa-type massage machine, it is arranged behind the seat and connected to the reclining mechanism. Since there is no,
As long as the position can be connected to the reclining mechanism, it can be appropriately incorporated into a vacant portion on the back side of the seat.

Further, a speed reduction mechanism can be provided in the power transmission means, and the rotation speed of the working shaft is made slower than the rotation speed of the motor by reducing the output rotation speed output from the motor by the speed reduction mechanism. Can be done.

In this way, by reducing the rotational speed of the working shaft, the moving speed of the moving body that moves forward and backward in conjunction with the working shaft can also be reduced. The forward and backward speed can be adjusted.

Further, on the axis of the screw shaft as the working shaft,
A worm as a power transmission means and a motor as a drive source are arranged side by side in front of and behind, a motor shaft and a worm shaft project in a direction orthogonal to the screw shaft, and a transmission belt is wound between both shafts. In this case, the worm and the motor can be compactly integrated on the axis of the screw shaft, so that the actuator itself can be formed in a compact form with small unevenness, and the worm and the motor arranged side by side can be easily linked.

Further, the rotation speed of the working shaft can be made lower than the rotation speed of the motor by operating the interlocking mechanism between the motor shaft and the worm shaft and operating the worm as a speed reduction mechanism. The moving speed of the moving body that is driven in conjunction with the moving body is also reduced, and the moving speed of the moving body can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the actuator.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of an actuator A according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a control unit 3, FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view in a rear view, FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the power transmission mechanism 2, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing one use state of the actuator A according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the actuator A in this embodiment is used for reclining a sofa-type massage machine X, and includes an operating section 1 and a power transmission for transmitting a driving force to the operating section 1. It comprises a mechanism section 2 and a control section 3 for controlling the movement of the operation section 1.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
A screw shaft 4 as a working shaft rotatable in forward and reverse directions is provided, and a worm gear portion 4a that meshes with a worm 13 of the power transmission mechanism portion 2 described later is provided on the starting end 4b side of the screw shaft 4. are doing. Bearings 5 are provided on the screw shafts 4 near both ends of the worm gear portion 4a. In the drawing, reference numerals 6 and 7 denote nuts and washers disposed at both ends of the screw shaft 4 for preventing the screws from coming off.

The worm gear portion 4a and the bearing 5 are housed in a gear case 8, and the gear case 8
The screw shaft protection cover 9 is connected to the shaft, and the screw shaft protection cover 9 covers the entire screw shaft 4.

The screw shaft 4 in the screw shaft protection cover 9
The end portion 4c side is inserted into the cylindrical slider 10 which is a moving body, and furthermore, the inner thread portion 10a provided on the inner peripheral surface on the start end portion 10b side of the slider 10 meshes. I have. Therefore, the slider 10 can be moved forward and backward by the forward and reverse rotation of the screw shaft 4. In FIG. 3, the slider 10 in the forward state is indicated by a dashed line, and the slider 10 in the backward state is indicated by a solid line.

The power transmission mechanism 2 for transmitting power to the operating section 1 is disposed on the axis of the screw shaft 4 of the operating section 1.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the power transmission mechanism 2 includes a motor 12 which is a driving source and is rotatable in forward and reverse directions.
A worm 13 as a power transmission means is provided, and the motor 12 and the worm 13 are arranged side by side on the axis of the screw shaft 4 of the operating section 1.

As described above, by consolidating the motor 12 and the worm 13 on the axis of the screw shaft 4, the actuator A can be formed in a compact form with less unevenness.
It can be easily incorporated into the massage machine X.

Therefore, there is no need to change the layout or design of the massage machine X for incorporating the actuator A, and the trouble of such change can be saved.

Further, since the relatively heavy motor 12 is disposed on the axis of the screw shaft 4 of the operating section 1, the weight balance of the actuator A is good and the handling is easy.

The worm 13 is meshed with the worm gear 4a of the operating section 1 as described above.
A worm shaft 14 which is a rotation shaft of 13 is supported by bearings 15 near both ends of the worm 13.

The starting end 14a of the worm shaft 14 and the motor 1
As shown in FIG. 5, a motor shaft 16 which is an output shaft of
The motor shaft 16 is provided with a drive pulley 17 at the projecting end thereof, and a worm shaft 14 is provided with a driven pulley 18 at the projecting end thereof. Then, a transmission belt 19 is wound between the pulleys 17 and 18 so that
The worm shaft 14 is rotated by the motor 12 by interlocking 4 and 16.

Therefore, by rotating the motor 12 in the normal and reverse directions, the worm 13 can be rotated in the normal and reverse directions, and the screw shaft 4 having the worm gear portion 4a meshed with the worm 13 and the screw shaft 4 meshed with the screw shaft 4 As described above, the slider 10 having the internal thread portion 10a can also be sequentially rotated forward and reverse to move the slider 10 as the moving body forward and backward.

As described above, the driving force output from the motor 12, which is the driving source, is applied to the pulleys 17, 18, which are the power transmitting means.
And the transmission shaft 19 and the worm shaft 14 and the worm 13 to transmit the power to the screw shaft 4 serving as the working shaft.
Can be rotated, and the slider 10 as a moving body can be driven forward and backward by the rotation of the screw shaft 4.

Further, in addition to the worm 13, the diameter of the driven pulley 18 is made several times larger than the diameter of the driving pulley 17 to form the speed reduction mechanism 11. Thus, the diameter of the driven pulley 18 is By making it several times larger than the diameter, the rotation speed of the worm shaft 14 with respect to the rotation speed of the motor shaft 16 is reduced, and by using the worm 13 as the power transmission means, the operation unit 1 with respect to the rotation speed of the worm shaft 14 is changed. The number of rotations of the screw shaft 4 is reduced.

As described above, in addition to using the worm 13, the speed reduction mechanism 11 is formed by making the diameter of the driven pulley 18 several times larger than the diameter of the driving pulley 17.
The output rotation speed output from the motor 12 can be further reduced in the power transmission mechanism 2, and the screw shaft 4
Can be made much slower than the rotation speed of the motor 12.

Then, by the operation of the speed reduction mechanism 11,
Slider 10 that moves forward and backward in conjunction with the rotational drive of the operating shaft
The speed of the slider 10 can also be reduced so that the speed of the slider 10 can be adjusted to the optimum speed.Moreover, even a small motor with a small output can easily drive the slider 10 forward and backward. it can. In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a power transmission mechanism protection case connected to the gear case 8 and the screw shaft protection cover 9;
Covers the entire power transmission mechanism 2.

Similarly to the power transmission mechanism 2, the control unit 3 is disposed on the axis of the screw shaft 4 of the operation unit 1.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the control unit protection case 21 that accommodates the control unit 3 is disposed within the width of the screw shaft protection cover 9.

The control section protection case 21 is connected to the screw shaft protection cover 9 and, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided on the opposite side of the power transmission mechanism section protection case 20. The control unit protection case 21 accommodates a switch 22, a limit switch 23 for detecting a stroke of the slider 10 that moves forward and backward, and various codes.

By arranging the control section 3 on the axis of the screw shaft 4 of the operating section 1 as described above, the present actuator A can be made more compact and have less unevenness. Can be incorporated into the device. In the drawing, reference numeral 24 denotes a cord for connecting the control unit 3, the operating unit 1, and the power transmission mechanism unit 2, reference numeral 25 denotes a cord for taking power, and reference numeral 26 denotes a plug.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the actuator A having the above configuration is incorporated in a sofa-type massage machine X, the actuator A is disposed on the back side of the seat a of the massage machine X, and the reclining mechanism is provided. (Not shown). Here, by incorporating the actuator A, the positions of the backrest portion b and the foot rest portion c of the massage machine X can be adjusted up and down.

The actuator A is, as described above,
A worm 13 as a power transmission means for transmitting the advance / retreat driving force to the screw shaft 4 and a motor 12 as a drive source are arranged side by side on the axis of the screw shaft 4 as an operating shaft for driving the advance / retreat. Since the control section 3 is also disposed on the axis of the screw shaft 4, the entire actuator A is compactly formed, and there is little unevenness and hardly any dead space around the actuator A.

Accordingly, the massage machine X can be easily incorporated into the massage machine X, and can be suitably used for reclining the massage machine X.

In this embodiment, the case where the actuator A is used for reclining the massage machine X has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Can be used for various devices.

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the drive source is arranged on the axis of the working shaft for driving the moving body forward and backward so that the output shaft is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the working shaft. This arrangement makes the actuator itself a compact form with small irregularities. Therefore, the present actuator does not take up much space, and since it has small irregularities and hardly generates a dead space around it, it can be easily incorporated into various devices. In addition, among the members constituting the electric actuator, an electric motor as a relatively heavy drive source is arranged on the axis of the working shaft so as not to protrude outward, so that the weight balance is reduced. Good and easy to handle. As described above, the present actuator has a configuration,
Since both the weight balance is good and the device is formed so as to be easily incorporated into devices, the layout, design and functions of the devices are not limited by applying the present actuator to the devices. (2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, the power transmission means for transmitting the driving force to the operating shaft is provided in parallel with the driving source on the axis of the operating shaft for driving the moving body to move forward and backward. The drive source and the power transmission means, which are the constituent members of the above, can be compactly integrated on the axis of the working shaft, and the actuator itself can be made into a compact form with less unevenness. Therefore, the present actuator does not take up much space, and since it has small irregularities and hardly generates a dead space around it, it can be easily incorporated into various devices. (3) According to the third aspect of the present invention, by providing a speed reduction mechanism in the power transmission means, the output rotation speed output from the motor can be reduced, and the rotation speed of the working shaft can be reduced by the rotation speed of the motor. It can be slower than the speed.
Therefore, the moving speed of the moving body that moves forward and backward in conjunction with the action axis can also be reduced, and the moving speed of the moving body can be adjusted to a speed suitable for the purpose of use of the actuator. Further, since the size of the motor can be reduced, the overall configuration can be made more compact. (4) According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, a worm and a motor for transmitting a driving force to the screw shaft are arranged side by side on the axis of the screw shaft for driving the moving body forward and backward. Since the motor shaft and the worm shaft protrude in the direction perpendicular to each other, and the transmission belt is wound between the two shafts, the actuator itself can be formed into a compact form with small irregularities, and can be easily incorporated into equipment. . Further, the worm and the motor arranged side by side can be easily linked. Moreover,
Since the interlocking mechanism between the motor shaft and the worm shaft and the worm operate as a reduction mechanism, the rotation speed of the working shaft can be made lower than the rotation speed of the motor.
The forward / backward speed of the moving body that moves forward / backward in conjunction with the action axis can also be reduced, and the forward / backward speed of the moving body can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the actuator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of an actuator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the actuator according to the present invention as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the actuator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a power transmission mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing one use state of the actuator according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Actuator. 4 Screw shaft 4a Worm gear part 10 Slider 10a Internal screw part 11 Reduction mechanism 12 Motor 13 Worm 14 Worm shaft 16 Motor shaft 17 Drive pulley 18 Driven pulley 19 Transmission belt

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor: Manabu Morimoto 4680, Ikata, Fukuoka, Taki-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture F-term in Kyushu Hitachi Maxell Co., Ltd. EA19 EA23 EA32 FA14 FA30 3J062 AA60 AB21 AC07 BA12 CD02 CD22

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An actuator, wherein a driving source is disposed on an axis of a working shaft for driving a moving body to move forward and backward such that an output shaft thereof is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the working shaft. 2. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein a power transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the operation shaft is provided in parallel with a drive source on an axis of the operation shaft for driving the moving body forward and backward. Actuator. 3. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein a speed reduction mechanism (11) is provided in the power transmission means. 4. A worm (13) for transmitting a driving force to the screw shaft (4) on the axis of the screw shaft (4) for driving the moving body forward and backward.
And the motor (12) are arranged side by side in front and back, and the motor shaft (16) and the worm shaft (14) are projected in a direction orthogonal to the screw shaft (4), and An actuator characterized by winding a transmission belt (19).