JP2010206907A - Vibration motor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high power motor that is used even when its installation space is limited, by saving the space of the motor that serves as a drive source for an operating mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: A vibration motor unit vibrates a vibrator and uses the vibration thereby transmitting motive power. The unit includes the vibrator, a pressurizing mechanism which transmits the motive power of the vibrator by biasing the vibrator in a predetermined direction, and a base member which holds the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism. In this adopted vibration motor unit, the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism are held in such positions as to catch the base member between the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibration motor unit, and more particularly to a vibration motor that can be suitably used for a small drive device.

  A motor is used as a drive source for various devices including movable parts such as optical devices and home appliances. And along with higher functionality and downsizing in optical equipment, home appliances, etc., downsizing and higher output are also required in drive mechanisms. In response to such needs, a small DC geared motor is used, and this small motor is connected to a plurality of stages of speed reducers to generate torque like a large motor. For example, Patent Document 1 relates to a motor speed reduction mechanism that transmits the rotational force of a forward / reverse drive motor to a drive target, and a plurality of gears are rotatably supported by gears meshed so that rotation is transmitted alternately. A technique is disclosed in which gears are linked in the direction of the central axis of rotation to increase the reduction ratio and to reduce the installation space. However, since a drive device including such a reduction mechanism uses a plurality of reduction gears and requires a reduction gear installation space, it is necessary to secure a large motor installation area. In addition, there is a backlash due to the use of a plurality of reduction gears, there is a problem that stop accuracy is poor, and further, the operation sound of the reduction gears is greatly generated.

  Therefore, a drive device using a vibration motor such as an ultrasonic motor has been proposed. The vibration motor includes a vibrator that generates a predetermined vibration and a driven member that is brought into frictional contact with the vibrator, and transmits the movement of the vibrator to the driven member and converts it into the movement of the driving mechanism. . Patent Document 2 discloses an optical system driving device that uses a vibration motor as a driving source for focusing operation in a lens barrel. The vibration motor disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes an output shaft that is rotatably supported by a base member on an outer peripheral surface of an output shaft, and includes a vibrator having a driving force extraction portion, and a driving force extraction portion of the vibrator. A pressure member that pressurizes and contacts the outer peripheral surface of the output shaft is mounted on the base member, and the vibrator is pressed against the output shaft side by the pressure member to transmit the driving force of the vibration motor to the output shaft side. Is adopted. Such a vibration motor can improve torque without using a plurality of reduction gears as compared with the DC geared motor used in Patent Document 1 and the like.

JP 2002-168308 A Japanese Patent No. 4182588

  In products having a movable mechanism for miniaturization and high functionality in recent years, further miniaturization of the drive mechanism is required. The techniques such as Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 require a large installation area of the entire motor, and thus cannot meet such needs. In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-power motor that can be used even when the installation area is limited by reducing the space of a motor that is a drive source of an operating mechanism.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have achieved the above-described problem by employing the following vibration motor unit and lens driving device.

  The vibration motor unit according to the present invention is a vibration motor unit that vibrates a vibrator and transmits power by using the vibration, and the vibrator and a pressurizing mechanism that biases the vibrator in a predetermined direction. And a base member for holding the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism, wherein the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism are held at a position where the base member is sandwiched between the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism. And

  More preferably, the vibration motor unit according to the present invention has a vibrator holder for holding the vibrator, and the vibrator holder is held by the base member.

  In the vibration motor unit according to the present invention, the pressurizing mechanism is connected to the elastic material that is expanded and contracted in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the vibrator is biased, and is in contact with the vibrator. It is more preferable to include a pressurizing guide, and transmit the urging force of the elastic material through the pressurizing guide to transmit the power generated by the vibration of the vibrator.

  In the vibration motor unit according to the present invention, the pressurizing guide includes a pressing portion that is substantially perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction of the elastic material, and the pressing portion contacts the moving element on one surface side of the base member. More preferably, the vibrator is pressed by the urging force of the elastic material connected to the pressure guide on the other surface side of the base member.

  In the vibration motor unit according to the present invention, it is more preferable that the pressurizing guide is provided so as to mesh with the base member in the thickness direction and to be slidable in a direction in which the vibrator is biased.

  The vibration motor unit according to the present invention has a configuration in which a vibrator and a pressurizing mechanism necessary for the vibration motor are arranged at a position where the base member is sandwiched between the vibrator and the pressurization mechanism and held by the base member. Therefore, the area required for installation can be reduced as compared with the conventional case. As a result, it is suitable as a drive source for miniaturized and highly functional movable devices.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of the vibration motor unit which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an example of the vibration motor unit which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the vibrator side in the vibration motor unit which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the pressurization mechanism side in the vibration motor which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of the base member in the vibration motor unit which concerns on this invention.

  The vibration motor unit according to the present invention is a vibration motor unit that vibrates a vibrator and transmits power by utilizing the vibration, and includes a vibrator, a pressurizing mechanism, and a base member. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vibration motor unit 1 according to the present invention, the vibrator 2 and the pressurizing mechanism 6 sandwich the base member 5 between the vibrator 2 and the pressurizing mechanism 6. It is held in position. That is, the vibrator 2 and the pressurizing mechanism 6 are arranged on different surfaces of the base member 5, respectively. Hereinafter, embodiments of the vibration motor unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vibration motor unit according to the present invention.

  The vibration motor generates power using the vibration of the vibrator. This power is transmitted to the driven transmission member arranged according to the application. Specifically, the vibration motor unit according to the present invention causes the vibrator to contact the driven transmission member and vibrates the vibrator, thereby transmitting the vibration of the vibrator to the driven transmission member. This is a vibration motor unit used for causing the drive transmission member to perform a desired motion.

  In the present embodiment, the vibrator 2 is made of a piezoelectric element and has a flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 2, a protrusion 21 is provided on the side surface of the vibrator 2 that is the power output side, and the protrusion 21 is brought into contact with the driven transmission member 4. In the case of a vibration motor using a piezoelectric element, control is performed so as to achieve a desired vibration operation according to the shape of the vibrator, the place where a voltage is applied to the vibrator, the amount and period of the applied voltage, and the like. In the vibrator 2, the applied voltage is controlled so that vibration that causes a desired motion to occur in the protrusion 21 occurs.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the vibrator holder 3 is a frame in which a groove-like housing portion 31 for housing the vibrator 2 is formed. The vibrator 2 is held in such a state that it can vibrate in the direction. The accommodating portion 31 of the vibrator holder 3 is formed in a groove shape according to the shape of the vibrator 2 so that the protrusion 21 and the opposite side surface 22 of the vibrator 2 are exposed to the outer surface of the vibrator holder 3. Is formed. In addition, the vibrator holder 3 is provided with a voltage application mechanism for oscillating the vibrator 2 so as to be connectable to the vibrator 2, a vibration detection mechanism for detecting the vibration state of the vibrator, electrodes, etc. Is provided).

  In the present embodiment, the vibrator holder 3 that holds the vibrator 2 is provided separately from the base member 5, and the vibrator holder 3 is attached to the base member 5. However, without being limited to this configuration, for example, a holder function for holding the vibrator may be provided integrally with the base member so that the base member directly holds the vibrator. Thereby, it is not necessary to use a holder part separately, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  Here, the driven transmission member 4 will be described. The driven transmission member 4 receives a power generated by the vibration motor unit according to the present invention and generates a predetermined motion. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the driven transmission member 4 is provided with a drive ring 42 on the rotating shaft 41, and the controlled vibration of the vibrator 2 is transmitted to the drive ring 42, and the vibrator 2 and the drive ring Due to the frictional force with 42, a relative movement in the rotational direction of the rotating shaft 41 is generated. In the vibration motor of the present embodiment, the protrusion 21 of the vibrator 2 that is pressed against the drive ring 42 generates rotational vibration that draws an ellipse on the contact surface with the drive ring 42. The rotational direction and speed of the drive ring 42 can be adjusted by the vibration speed and the vibration direction rotating in an elliptical shape in the protrusion 21.

  Next, the pressurizing mechanism 6 will be described. In the vibration motor, the projecting portion 21 of the vibrator 2 is brought into pressure contact with the driven transmission member 4 in order to transmit the vibration of the vibrator 2 as a driving force to the driven transmission member 4. Therefore, the pressurizing mechanism 6 urges the vibrator 2 in a predetermined direction, and thereby transmits the power of the vibrator 2 to the driven transmission member 4. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 21 of the vibrator 2 is brought into pressure contact with the driven transmission member 4.

  Examples of the pressurizing mechanism 6 include a method of using the elastic force of an elastic material and an example in which pressure is transmitted to the vibrator side using a pressure mechanism such as pneumatic pressure and the vibrator 2 is biased toward the driven transmission member 4. It is done. In the vibration motor unit according to the present invention, when the pressurizing mechanism 6 is configured to use an elastic material, the pressurizing mechanism 6 having a lighter and simpler configuration can be obtained.

  The pressurizing mechanism includes an elastic material that expands and contracts in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the vibrator is biased, and a pressurizing guide, and transmits the biasing force of the elastic material to the vibrator in a predetermined direction. A configuration in which the vibrator is pressed against the drive transmission member is preferable. Examples of the elastic material include a spring. The pressurizing guide is connected to the elastic material and abuts against the vibrator, and the vibrator is pressed against the drive transmission member using the biasing force of the elastic material via the pressurizing guide. Thus, the vibrator is transmitted in the direction of the drive transmission member.

  Specifically, the pressurizing guide includes a pressing portion that is substantially perpendicular to the expansion / contraction direction of the elastic member of the pressurizing mechanism, and the pressing portion contacts the vibrator. The biasing force of the elastic member connected to the pressure guide on the other surface side of the base member is used as a force for pressing the vibrator on the one surface side of the base member. That is, by providing the pressurizing guide with a pressing portion that is substantially perpendicular to the elastic material expansion / contraction direction, the vibrator 2 is pressed in the same direction as the elastic material expansion / contraction direction.

  And the structure of the press part of a pressurization guide should just be substantially perpendicular | vertical with respect to the expansion-contraction direction of the elastic material of a pressurization mechanism. For example, the pressurizing guide may be a substantially L-shaped member having a right-angled bent portion. That is, the substantially L-shaped one surface is arranged on the other surface side of the base member holding the pressurizing mechanism as a parallel surface parallel to the expansion / contraction direction of the elastic material. Then, a configuration is considered in which the other surface of the substantially L-shaped member is disposed over both sides of the base member in the thickness direction of the base member as a vertical surface perpendicular to the elastic material expansion and contraction direction. It is done. As a result, the parallel surface of the substantially L-shaped member is connected so as to be parallel to the expansion / contraction direction of the elastic material, and the other vertical surface extends to a position where it contacts the vibrator in the thickness direction of the base member. A configuration in which the vibrator is pressed in the same direction as the expansion / contraction direction of the elastic material is conceivable with the vertical surface serving as the pressing portion. At this time, the base member may be provided with an opening or a notch for disposing the pressurizing guide to restrict the movable range of the pressurizing guide described above in a predetermined direction.

  Next, a more preferable configuration of the pressurizing guide 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. The pressurizing guide 7 shown in the present embodiment is provided so as to mesh with the base member 5 in the thickness direction and to slide in the direction in which the vibrator 2 is urged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the first pressure guide member 71 and the second pressure guide member 72 are configured so that the pressure guide 7 meshes with the base member 5. The first pressurizing guide 71 is directly connected to the elastic member 61 of the pressurizing mechanism 6. In the example shown in FIG. 2, two springs 61 and 61 are used as the elastic material. The first pressurizing guide member 71 is provided with pressurizing mechanism connecting portions 74 and 74, and the end portions 63 and 63 of the elastic member 61 are engaged with the pressurizing mechanism connecting portions 74 and 74. Then, the pressurizing mechanism 6 and the pressurizing guide are connected by attaching the first pressurizing guide member 71 to the base member 5 in a state where the pressurizing mechanism connecting portions 74 and 74 are in contact with the base member 5. Let The first pressurizing guide member 71 includes a pressing portion 73 that extends in a direction orthogonal to the biasing direction of the pressurizing mechanism 6 (the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 4).

  On the other hand, the second pressurizing guide member 72 is disposed between the first pressurizing guide member 71 and the vibrator 2 so as to contact each other. The second pressurizing guide member 72 is formed with a groove portion 75 in which the pressing portion 73 of the first pressurizing guide member 71 is disposed on the contact surface with the first pressurizing guide member 71. The second pressurization guide member 72 is disposed between the first pressurization guide member 71 and the vibrator 2 in a state where the pressing portion 73 of the first pressurization guide member 71 is disposed in the groove portion 75.

  Here, in the pressurizing mechanism 6 in the present embodiment, the elastic direction of the elastic member 61 is set to the urging direction of the vibrator 2 on the other surface 5b of the base member 5 (the direction of the arrow B shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). And so as to be substantially parallel to each other. A force pulled in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 5 acts on the first pressurizing guide member 71 connected to the pressurizing mechanism 6. Therefore, the second pressurizing guide member 72 is a pressing portion 73 of the first pressurizing guide member 71 by a force biased in the direction of arrow B on the one surface 5a of the base member 5 on the side where the vibrator holder 3 is disposed. Thus, it is pressed toward the vibrator 2 side. That is, in the present embodiment, the second pressurizing guide member 72 transmits the pressing force of the pressing portion 73. Further, by adopting a configuration in which the pressurizing guide 7 is engaged with the base member 5, the pressing force of the pressing portion 73 can be stably transmitted. As a result, the biasing force of the pressurizing mechanism 6 acts as a pressing force in a direction in which the vibrator 2 is pressed against the driven transmission member 4 side, which is a desired direction, via the pressurizing guide 7.

  Next, the base member 5 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the base member 5 in the present embodiment. The base member 5 is a substantially flat member that holds the vibrator holder 3 and the pressurizing mechanism 6. In addition, the base member 5 includes an attachment portion for fixing these members. As shown in FIG. 5, the one surface 5 a of the base member 5 is provided with a vibrator holder mounting portion 52 for fixing the vibrator holder 3 with screws. Further, the base member 5 is provided with a driven transmission member arrangement portion 51 for holding the driven transmission member 4 at a predetermined position, and the arranged driven transmission member 4 can be rotated around the rotation shaft 41. Hold.

  A pressurizing mechanism 6 is attached to the other surface 5 b of the base member 5. The base member 5 includes a pressurizing mechanism mounting hole 54 for fixing the pressurizing mechanism 7 with screws. The base portion 62 of the pressurizing mechanism 6 is fixed to the pressurizing mechanism mounting hole 54.

  Further, a pressurizing guide attaching portion 65 for attaching the pressurizing guide 9 that transmits the urging force of the elastic member 61 of the pressurizing mechanism 6 to the vibrator 2 is formed. As described above, in the present embodiment, the base member 5 is engaged with the pressurizing guide 7 including the first pressurizing guide member 71 and the second pressurizing guide member 72. Therefore, the pressurizing guide 7 meshes with the vibrator side base member 5 in the thickness direction and forms a notch that can slide in the biasing direction of the vibrator 2. That is, the first pressurizing guide member 71 and the second pressurizing guide member 72 are connected to each other with screws so as to sandwich the pressurizing guide mounting portion 53. In this state, the pressurizing guide 7 is disposed so as to be slidable in a direction in which it is pressed against the driven transmission member 4 that is the urging direction of the vibrator 2. Further, the other surface 5 b of the base member 5 abuts the pressurizing mechanism connecting portions 74 and 74 of the first pressurizing guide member 70.

  The base member is preferably made of any one of aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, germanium, germanium alloy, iron-based alloy, and copper alloy. By forming the base member from the above material, the base member is excellent in heat dissipation and vibration resistance, and can be reduced in weight and material cost. In addition, a vibration motor having excellent heat dissipation and vibration resistance can be provided. In particular, aluminum and aluminum alloys are suitable for processing the vibrator-side base member by the die-cast method, and high-precision shape processing becomes possible.

  Further, the base member 5 may be formed with a notch 53 at a portion where the vibrator holder 3 is disposed. The notch 53 is formed to prevent heat generated during vibration of the vibrator 2 from being transmitted to the vibrator-side base member 5 and to suppress vibration. That is, the vibrator 2 generates vibration and heat during operation, but this vibration affects the shakiness and precision operation of the component parts. In addition to the control circuit of the vibrator, the heat generated during operation is likely to cause malfunctions in electronic components that are indispensable for optical equipment and household electrical appliances. It is necessary to prevent heat storage. Therefore, the base member 5 has a configuration in which a notch 53 is formed at a position close to the vibration motor 4 to prevent heat storage and vibration transmission. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 61 provided in the pressurizing mechanism 6 is disposed on the other surface 5 b of the base member 5 at the position of the notch 53. Thereby, space saving of the arrangement | positioning location of the elastic material 61 can be achieved, and size reduction of a vibration motor can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the base member 5 is an example in which a part of the edge portion is curved in a substantially arc shape, but is not limited thereto. The vibrator holder and the pressurizing mechanism are arranged on different planes on the substantially flat member, and are held at a position where the base member is sandwiched between the vibrator holder and the pressurizing mechanism. It ’s fine. Moreover, although the example which made the to-be-driven transmission member arrangement | positioning part 51 the hole shape was shown, it is not limited to this, If the to-be-driven transmission member 4 is hold | maintained in the state which can be moved by predetermined operation | movement. That's fine. Further, the pressurizing guide mounting portion 65 formed on the base member 5 is in a direction in which the pressurizing guide 7 meshes with the thickness direction of the base member 5 and presses the vibrator 2 against the driven transmission member 4. Any shape may be used as long as it is slidable, and the shape is not limited to the notch shape. For example, an opening extending in the sliding direction of the pressurizing guide 7 may be used.

  Since the vibration motor unit according to the present invention described above can reduce the installation area and is a vibration motor, it can be used for various movable devices as a high-power and small-sized motor unit. For example, the vibration motor unit according to the present invention can be used in a lens driving device that linearly moves the lens in the optical axis direction. In addition, since the vibration motor unit according to the present invention can reduce the installation area, space can be saved, and the arrangement with other mechanisms arranged around the movable mechanism can be easily performed.

  In the vibration motor unit according to the present invention, the installation area can be reduced, and the thickness of the vibration motor unit can be reduced to reduce the size of the drive mechanism. Therefore, it can be used for an optical system device, a home appliance, and the like having a small movable mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vibration motor unit 2 ... Vibrator 5 ... Base member 6 ... Pressure mechanism 7 ... Pressure guide 61 ... Elastic material 73 ... Pressing part

Claims (5)

A vibration motor unit that vibrates a vibrator and transmits power by utilizing the vibration.
A vibrator,
A pressurizing mechanism for urging the vibrator in a predetermined direction;
A base member for holding the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism,
The vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism are held at a position where the base member is sandwiched between the vibrator and the pressurizing mechanism. Having a vibrator holder for holding the vibrator;
The vibration motor unit according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator holder is held on the base member. The pressurizing mechanism includes an elastic material that expands and contracts in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the vibrator is biased,
A pressure guide connected to the elastic material and in contact with the vibrator;
3. The vibration motor unit according to claim 1, wherein an urging force of an elastic material is transmitted through the pressurizing guide to transmit power generated by vibration of the vibrator. The pressurizing guide includes a pressing portion that is substantially perpendicular to the expansion / contraction direction of the elastic material,
The pressing portion is in contact with the vibrator on one side of the base member;
The vibration motor unit according to claim 3, wherein the vibrator is pressed by an urging force of an elastic member connected to the pressurizing guide on the other surface side of the base member. 5. The vibration motor unit according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing guide meshes with a thickness direction of the base member and is slidable in a direction in which the vibrator is biased.

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