JP2019213411A - Vibration type actuator and personal care device - Google Patents

Abstract

To avoid damage to driving means even when a large amplitude is generated by resonance.SOLUTION: A vibration type actuator 100 vibrates an action body 202 that exerts a force to affect an object, and comprises: driving means 110 that is extended or contracted by voltage; attachment parts 121 that are respectively attached to both ends of the driving means 110 in the extension/contraction direction; two output parts 122 that are arranged side by side with the driving means 110 therebetween in a direction intersecting the extention/contraction direction and connected to the action body 202; four coupling parts 123 that couple the two attachment parts 121 and two output parts 122 to form an annular shape and increase or decrease the space between the output parts 122 on the basis of the extension or contraction of the driving means 110; and pre-loading means 130 that applies a pressure in a direction to increase the space between the output parts 122.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibration type actuator and a personal care device such as an electric razor, an electric toothbrush, and an electric hair trimmer equipped with the vibration type actuator.

  As an electric shaver which is one of personal care devices using a vibration type actuator, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

  The electric razor of Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a blade is disposed at one end of a body and a piezoelectric element that vibrates the blade with respect to the body is coupled to the body. The electric shaver having such a configuration can be reduced in size, weight, and power saving by using a piezoelectric element as a drive source.

JP-A-1-181894

  However, the configuration of the conventional electric razor has a problem that it is difficult to ensure an amplitude for cutting hairs well. In addition, when using resonance that is effective for obtaining a large amplitude, there is a problem that the piezoelectric element is damaged beyond the limit of deformation due to inertial force due to resonance.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a vibration type actuator capable of increasing the amplitude of an action body such as a blade by resonance while preventing breakage of the driving means, and personal care using the vibration type actuator The purpose is to provide a device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vibration type actuator according to one aspect of the present invention is a vibration type actuator that vibrates an acting body that exerts a force on an object, and that expands and contracts by a voltage or a magnetic field. Mounting portions respectively attached to both end portions of the driving means in the extending / contracting direction, two output portions arranged in a direction intersecting the extending / contracting direction with the driving means interposed therebetween, and connected to the operating body, The connecting portion and the two output portions are connected in a ring shape, and four connecting portions that expand and contract between the two output portions based on expansion and contraction of the driving means, and a direction in which the space between the output portions expands. And a preloading means for applying pressure.

  As a result, when the driving means expands and contracts, the two output units can vibrate with a large amplitude with respect to the displacement of the driving means. Further, since the driving means is pre-compressed in the expansion / contraction direction by the urging force of the preloading means, even when the vibration actuator is operated in a resonance state, the driving means can be driven with an extension amount that does not break, so a small or thin structure However, the effector can be vibrated with a large amplitude.

  The vibration type actuator of the present invention and the personal care device provided with the vibration type actuator can prevent the driving means from being damaged even when driven in a resonance state to increase the amplitude of the acting body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric razor which is one of personal care devices provided with a vibration type actuator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the personal care device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the action body is attached to the vibration type actuator in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the vibration type actuator according to the first embodiment using arrows. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the action body attached to the vibration type actuator in the first embodiment using arrows. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a vibration-type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the personal care device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the personal care device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an action body to which a vibration type actuator and a weight are attached according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an unbalanced action body to which the vibration type actuator and the weight according to the fourth embodiment are attached.

  Next, embodiments of the vibration type actuator and the personal care device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below shows a comprehensive or specific example. The numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connecting forms of the constituent elements, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as optional constituent elements.

  In addition, the drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, and ratio adjustment are appropriately performed to show the present invention, and may differ from actual shapes, positional relationships, and ratios.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric razor which is one of personal care devices provided with a vibration type actuator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the personal care device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a vibration type actuator provided in the personal care device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the action body is attached to the vibration type actuator in the first embodiment. As shown in these drawings, the personal care apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment is an electric razor that cuts the hair by causing the action body 202 functioning as a blade member to act on body hair such as a heel, and drives the action body 202. And a cover member 204 that prevents the skin from directly touching the action body 202, and a box-shaped base body 205 that stores a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the vibration actuator 100.

  The vibration type actuator 100 includes a driving unit 110 including a piezoelectric element or a magnetostrictive element that expands and contracts by a voltage or a magnetic field, a conversion mechanism 120 that can expand and contract the expansion / contraction width of the driving unit 110, and a preload that applies a preload to the conversion mechanism 120. Means 130. The vibration type actuator 100 is held by a holding portion 251 provided on the base body 205 or the like.

  The driving unit 110 is not particularly limited as long as it is an element that expands and contracts in one axis direction by at least one of a voltage and a magnetic field, but in the present embodiment, a rectangular parallelepiped piezoelectric element is employed as the driving unit 110. . The driving means 110 expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction according to the applied voltage.

  The conversion mechanism 120 is an overall ring-shaped mechanism, and intersects (including a three-dimensional intersection) the expansion / contraction of the drive unit 110 disposed inside the conversion mechanism 120 with the expansion / contraction direction (X-axis direction in the drawing) of the drive unit 110. It converts into expansion / contraction of the other part on a direction axis (for example, Y-axis direction in a figure). The conversion mechanism 120 can also increase the amplitude of the driving unit 110 at the output unit and increase the force of the driving unit 110 at the output unit based on the relationship between the entire circumference and the length of the driving unit 110 in the expansion / contraction direction. It is also possible. In other words, the distance DO between the connecting portion between the one output portion 122 and the connecting portion 123, the connecting portion between the other output portion 122 and the connecting portion 123, and the one attaching portion 121 shown in FIG. The amplitude of the driving means 110 can be increased at the output section depending on the relationship between the connecting portion between the connecting portion 123 and the connecting portion 123 between the other mounting portion 121 and the connecting portion 123, and the driving means. It is also possible to increase the force of 110 at the output. In the case of the present embodiment, since the vibration type actuator 100 is applied to the electric razor that cuts the hair using the action body 202 that is a blade member, the conversion mechanism 120 is set so that the amplitude can be increased.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the conversion mechanism 120 includes an attachment part 121, an output part 122, and a connecting part 123, as shown in FIGS.

  The attachment portion 121 is a portion of the conversion mechanism 120 that is connected to both ends of the driving means 110 in the extending / contracting direction of the driving means 110. In the case of the present embodiment, the attachment portion 121 is a rectangular column-shaped portion, and is provided in two places in the conversion mechanism 120 so as to face each other in the extending and contracting direction of the driving unit 110. Further, the mounting portion 121 is provided with a groove for inserting the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the driving means 110 in an opposing manner toward the inside.

  The connection method of the attachment part 121 and the drive means 110 is not specifically limited, The method using a fastening member and the method using an adhesive agent can be illustrated. In the case of the present embodiment, the mounting portion 121 and the driving means 110 are not displaced, for example, fitting with a groove in the Y-axis direction in the drawing, and the Z-axis direction in the drawing by a fastening member, an adhesive, or the like. Is fixed.

  The output unit 122 is arranged at two portions that are arranged with the drive unit 110 in between in a direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing) intersecting the expansion / contraction direction (X-axis direction in the drawing) of the drive unit 110 and connected to the action body 202. is there. The output unit 122 is a part that outputs expansion / contraction of the driving unit 110 as vibration in a direction different from the expansion / contraction direction. The entire conversion mechanism 120 is set so that the distance between the two output portions 122 is shorter than the sum of the length of the driving means 110 and the length of the two attachment portions in the extension / contraction direction. Accordingly, the expansion / contraction width of the two output units 122 is larger than the expansion / contraction width of the driving unit 110. The two output units 122 are set by setting the entire conversion mechanism 120 so that the distance between the two output units 122 is longer than the sum of the length of the driving unit 110 and the lengths of the two attachment units in the expansion / contraction direction. The force obtained based on the above is larger than the force generated by the driving means 110.

  In the case of the present embodiment, in the conversion mechanism 120, the output unit 122 is a rectangular column-shaped portion, and is provided at two places with the drive unit 110 sandwiched in a direction orthogonal to the expansion / contraction direction of the drive unit 110 in the conversion mechanism 120. . Note that the thickness of the output part 122 may be the same as the thickness of the connecting part 123.

  The connecting portion 123 is a four portion that connects the two attachment portions 121 and the two output portions 122 so as to form an annular shape, and expands and contracts between the two output portions 122 based on the expansion and contraction of the driving means 110. The connecting portion 123 connects one attachment portion 121 and one output portion 122, and converts expansion / contraction of the two attachment portions 121 by the driving unit 110 into expansion / contraction of the two output portions 122. In the conversion mechanism 120, the connecting portion 123 is a rectangular plate-like portion, and is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the surface on which the pair of attachment portions 121 and the pair of output portions 122 are disposed.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the thickness of the connecting portion 123 is thinner than the thickness of the attachment portion 121 and the output portion 122. Thereby, the connection part 123 can be elastically deformed and bent in the thickness direction (direction from the inside of the conversion mechanism 120 to the outside), and behaves rigidly in the other directions. Therefore, the connecting portion 123 can be converted into expansion / contraction of the output portion 122 with almost no loss of expansion / contraction energy of the attachment portion 121.

  In addition, when the vibration actuator 100 is not in operation, the interval between the pair of output portions 122 is set to be shorter than the interval between the pair of attachment portions 121. Specifically, the distance DO (see FIG. 4) between the connecting portion between one output portion 122 and the connecting portion 123 and the connecting portion between the other output portion 123 and the connecting portion 123 is equal to that of the one attaching portion 121. The length of the connecting portion 123 is set to be shorter than the distance DI between the connecting portion with the connecting portion 123 and the connecting portion between the other mounting portion 121 and the connecting portion 123. Thereby, as described above, the expansion / contraction amount of the two output units 122 can be made larger than the expansion / contraction amount of the driving unit 110. Further, the minimum interval between the pair of output portions 122 is set to be wider than the maximum width of the attachment portion 121 in the direction in which the output portions 122 are arranged.

  The connection method of the attachment part 121 and the output part 122 and the connection part 123 is not specifically limited, The connection method using a hinge, welding, mechanical fitting, etc. can be illustrated. In the case of the present embodiment, the attachment portion 121, the output portion 122, and the connecting portion 123 are integrally formed using spring steel or the like as a material. Thereby, the assembly of the conversion mechanism 120 becomes unnecessary, and the vibration actuator 100 can be further downsized.

  Note that the mounting portion 121 and the output portion 122 are arranged inwardly projecting from the connecting portion 123, but the output portion 122 and the driving means 110 are not in contact with each other even when the driving means 110 expands and contracts. The length of the connecting portion 123 is set.

  The preload unit 130 is a member that applies pressure to the output unit 122 in a direction in which the space between the output units 122 spreads. The structure of the preload means 130 is not particularly limited, and the structure in which the output unit 122 is urged outward from between the output units 122 even in the structure in which the output unit 122 is urged from the outside of the conversion mechanism 120. It doesn't matter. In the case of the present embodiment, the preload means 130 is disposed so as to straddle the drive means 110 between the output sections 122 and applies pressure in a direction in which the space between the output sections 122 spreads. Thus, by arranging the preload means 130 between the output units 122, the vibration type actuator 100 can be reduced in size.

  The shape of the preload means 130 is not particularly limited as long as the output section 122 can be urged without interfering with the drive means 110. In the case of the present embodiment, the preload means 130 has an annular shape that allows the preload means 130 to be pierced inward, but may be a rectangular ring or the like. Further, the preload means 130 may have a circular arc shape or a shape obtained by dividing a rectangular ring into two.

  The material of the preload means 130 is not particularly limited, and is arbitrarily selected according to the preload applied to the drive means 110 such as metal such as spring steel or resin. Here, the preload applied to the drive unit 110 by the preload unit 130 is a pressure that can be maintained in a state where the drive unit 110 is compressed in the expansion / contraction direction via the conversion mechanism 120 when the vibration actuator 100 is not operating. Specifically, for example, when the vibration type actuator 100 is vibrated without providing the preload means 130, the amplitude of the driving means 110, the resonance frequency of the vibration type actuator 100, or the action body 202 is attached to the vibration type actuator 100. A preload is applied so as to reduce the difference from the amplitude of the drive means 110 when the drive means is vibrated at the resonance frequency in the above state.

  Next, the personal care apparatus 200 provided with the vibration type actuator 100 will be described. The vibration type actuator 100 is an elastic body having a substantially elliptical ring shape as a whole, and is disposed so as to extend along the major axis direction (X-axis direction in the drawing) of the substantially elliptical cross section. The driving means 110 is accommodated without gaps by press-fitting or the like in a cross-linked manner. The output unit 122 is disposed at a portion corresponding to the apex of the vibration type actuator 100 in the short axis direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing). The attachment portion 121 and the output portion 122 are connected by a connecting portion 123 that can be elastically deformed.

  The holding portion 251 (see FIG. 2) is a portion that holds the vibration type actuator 100 with respect to the base body 205 at a vibration node portion of the vibration type actuator 100 with the action body 202 attached. In the case of the present embodiment, the vibration type actuator 100 is rotationally symmetric even around the major axis, and is rotationally symmetric even when placed around the minor axis. Therefore, the holding portion 251 has an intersection of the major axis and the minor axis. The area containing is held. Specifically, the holding unit 251 holds the vicinity of the intermediate position in the vibration direction of the driving unit 110.

  A method of holding the vibration type actuator 100 of the holding unit 251 is not particularly limited, but the holding unit 251 is provided so as to protrude from the base body 205 in the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the long axis and the short axis. The vibration type actuator 100 is fixed to the base body 205 by holding the drive means 110 so as to surround the four outer peripheral surfaces passing through the middle point in the long axis direction (X axis direction). Further, the driving means 110 can be held while avoiding the preloading means 130.

  The thickness of the holding portion 251 in the major axis direction, that is, the thickness that the holding portion 251 restrains the driving unit 110 in the major axis direction is preferably as thin as possible. On the other hand, it is preferable to provide rigidity that is difficult to swing with respect to the vibration of the vibration type actuator 100.

  The vibration type actuator 100 held by the holding unit 251 can operate without contacting other than the holding unit 251. As a result, loss due to contact can be prevented, and the action body 202 can be vibrated efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the action body 202 that is a blade member is connected to the output portion 122 of the conversion mechanism 120 and is urged with a certain force so as to contact the inner surface of the cover member 204 by a spring or the like.

  Here, a specific design example of each part in the present embodiment is as follows. In addition, description of a specific numerical value is only a design example, and does not limit the invention.

  The driving means 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped of 10 mm in the X direction, 3 mm in the Y direction, and 2 mm in the Z direction. The conversion mechanism 120 has an outer shape of approximately 20 mm in the X direction (major axis direction), 14.7 mm in the Y direction (minor axis direction), and 7 mm in the Z direction orthogonal to the major and minor axes. It is a ring. The short length (thickness) of the connecting portion 123 is 1.0 mm, and the angle formed by the virtual extension line of the connecting portion 123 and the virtual extension line (stretching direction axis) of the long axis direction of the driving means 110 is 11 °. is there.

  The holding portion 251 surrounds four outer peripheral surfaces passing through the midpoint of the long axis direction (X axis direction) of the driving unit 110 and is 0.1 mm in the X direction.

  The action body 202 which is a blade member is 5 mm in the X direction, 20 mm in the Y direction, and 6 mm in the Z direction.

  The preload means 130 has an outer shape of 3 mm in the X direction, 8 mm in the Y direction, 7 mm in the Z direction, and a uniform thickness of 0.5 mm.

  The spring constant of the preload means 130 is 400 N / mm, and the preload means 130 is disposed on the side of the output portion 122 of the conversion mechanism 120 so as to be deformed by 0.25 mm (having a biasing force of 100 N), and is driven via the conversion mechanism 120. The means 110 is compressed 0.05 mm in the X direction.

  In order to increase the amplitude of the output part 122, the driving means 110 has a large displacement in the X direction, the angle formed by the virtual extension line of the connecting part 123 and the virtual extension line of the long axis direction of the driving means 110 is small, and the preload It is desirable that the spring constant of the means 130 is small.

  About the personal care apparatus 200 comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the vibration type actuator according to the first embodiment using arrows. As shown in the figure, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element included in the driving unit 110, the piezoelectric element extends in the X direction. Along with the extension of the driving means 110, the distance between the two attachment portions 121 increases in the X direction to the same extent as the extension of the driving means 110. As the distance between the two attachment portions 121 is expanded, the portion connected to the attachment portion 121 of the connecting portion 123 expands in the X-axis direction as the attachment portion 121 expands.

  As a result, the portion of the connecting portion 123 connected to the output portion 122 is displaced toward the driving means 110 in the Y direction. Since the Y direction (short axis) of the conversion mechanism 120 is shorter than the X direction (long axis), the Y direction is greatly displaced relative to the displacement in the X direction. Accordingly, the two output units 122 are displaced so as to approach the Y direction to the same extent, and accordingly, the two operating bodies 202 are displaced so as to approach the Y direction to the same extent.

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the action body 202 fixed to the output unit 122 is largely displaced in the opposite direction together with the output unit 122.

  Further, when the drive unit 110 is driven at the resonance frequency of the vibration type actuator 100 to which the action body 202 is attached, the inertial force driven by the action body 202 is regenerated to the drive means 110 via the conversion mechanism 120, and the voltage A displacement larger than the displacement caused by the application occurs.

  On the other hand, when the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element is released or a reverse potential is applied, the piezoelectric element contracts in the X direction, and the movement reverse to the above, that is, the movement opposite to the arrow shown in FIG. Specifically, as the driving unit 110 is contracted, the interval between the two attachment portions 121 is also narrowed. As the distance between the two attachment portions 121 decreases, the distance between the portions of the connecting portion 123 connected to the attachment portion 121 also decreases.

  Thereby, the part connected to the output part 122 of the connection part 123 is displaced in the Y direction so as to move away from the driving means 110. Since the Y direction (short axis) of the conversion mechanism 120 is shorter than the X direction (long axis), the Y direction is greatly displaced relative to the displacement in the X direction. Along with this, the two output units 122 are displaced so as to be distant from each other in the Y direction, and accordingly, the two acting bodies 202 are displaced so as to be distant from each other in the Y direction.

  As described above, by changing the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element, the vibration type actuator 100 can convert the slight expansion / contraction of the driving means 110 into the large expansion / contraction of the action body 202 based on the lever principle. For example, when the conversion mechanism 120 is the size of the present embodiment, the action body 202 can be vibrated with an amplitude that is about five times the expansion and contraction of the driving means 110. In addition, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element included in the driving unit 110 at the resonance frequency of the structure, the conversion mechanism 120 resonates, and can be enlarged and output 10 times or more.

  Furthermore, since the elongation due to resonance is compressed in advance by the preloading means 130, the piezoelectric element can be vibrated with a large amplitude without being stretched beyond the limit and broken. Therefore, it is also possible to output the signal further enlarged to 10 times the amplitude.

(Embodiment 2)
The vibration type actuator 100 and the second embodiment of the personal care device 200 including the vibration type actuator 100 will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol may be attached | subjected to what has the effect | action and function similar to the said Embodiment 1, and the same shape, mechanism, and structure (part) may be abbreviate | omitted. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of the same contents may be omitted.

  8 and 9 show the vibration type actuator 100 of the second embodiment. As shown in these drawings, the preload means 130 includes a slit 131 at a location not in contact with the conversion mechanism 120.

  In order to increase the amplitude of vibration of the output unit 122, it is preferable to increase the displacement of the driving unit 110 in the X direction. In addition, it is preferable to reduce the angle formed by the virtual extension line of the connecting portion 123 and the virtual extension line of the drive unit 110 in the long axis direction. Further, it is desirable that the spring constant of the preload means 130 is small.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the spring constant of the preload means 130 can be reduced by providing the preload means 130 with the slit 131. As a result, the effect of the preload means 130 on the expansion and contraction of the drive means 110 can be suppressed, and therefore the action body 202 can be vibrated at high speed, large amplitude, and high thrust. In the present embodiment, since the action body 202 is an electric razor, a dark wrinkle or the like can be shaved without any problem.

  As a specific design example of the circular cylindrical preloading unit 130 employed in the present embodiment, the external shape of the preloading unit 130 is 3 mm in the X direction, 8 mm in the Y direction, 7 mm in the Z direction, and the thickness is uniformly 0. The width of the central slit 131 is 1 mm. At this time, the spring constant of the preload means 130 is 200 N / mm, and the preload means 130 is disposed on the side surface of the output portion 122 of the conversion mechanism 120 so as to be deformed by 0.5 mm (having a biasing force of 100 N). The driving means 110 is compressed by 0.05 mm in the X direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the holding unit 251 may hold the driving unit 110 while being pierced by the slit 131.

(Embodiment 3)
Embodiment 3 of the vibration type actuator 100 and the personal care device 200 including the vibration type actuator 100 will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol may be attached | subjected to what has the effect | action and function similar to the said Embodiment 1, 2, and the same shape, mechanism, and structure, and description may be abbreviate | omitted. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of the same contents may be omitted.

  11 and 12 show the vibration type actuator in the third embodiment. Although the preload means 130 is not shown, the vibration type actuator 100 of the third embodiment also includes the preload means 130. As shown in these drawings, the driving means 110 of the vibration type actuator 100 includes a fixing member 111 and two driving members respectively connected to both sides of the fixing member 111 in the expansion / contraction direction (X-axis direction) of the driving means 110. 112. In the present embodiment, the driving member 112 is a piezoelectric element.

  Here, as a specific design example of each part in the present embodiment, the drive member 112 is a rectangular parallelepiped of 3 mm in the X direction, 3 mm in the Y direction, and 2 mm in the Z direction. The fixing member 111 is made of a hard material such as hardened steel, is a rectangular parallelepiped of 5 mm in the X direction, 3 mm in the Y direction, and 2 mm in the Z direction, and is set longer in the X direction than the preload means 130. .

  Based on the above differences, the operation and action of the personal care device 200 in the third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  Since one end of each of the two drive members 112 is connected to the fixed member 111, displacement in the X direction is output to the other end side. Accordingly, the attachment portion 121 is displaced in the X direction to the same extent. The subsequent steps are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Since the fixing member 111 can be freely designed in an arbitrary shape, it can be reliably fixed to the base body 205 at the node of the vibration type actuator 100, and the expansion and contraction of the driving means 110 by the thin holding portion 251 being bent and shaken. The loss of the enlargement rate can be reduced. Furthermore, since the driving member 112 is not directly held by the base body 205, the possibility of damage to the driving member 112 that is a piezoelectric element can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, since the fixing member 111 is longer than the preloading unit 130 in the vibration direction of the driving unit 110, the holding unit 251 holds the fixing member 111 at two places so as to straddle the preloading unit 130. Can do. Thereby, the vibration type actuator 100 can be held in a stable state.

(Embodiment 4)
Embodiment 4 of the personal care device 200 including the vibration type actuator 100 will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol may be attached | subjected to what has the effect | action and function similar to the said Embodiment 1, 2, 3, and the same shape, mechanism, and structure, and description may be abbreviate | omitted. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of the same contents may be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an action body and a vibration type actuator in the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, the personal care device 200 includes a weight 203 attached to the action body 202.

  The material of the weight 203 is not particularly limited, but a material having a large specific gravity is preferable, and examples thereof include tungsten and brass. These are industrially available and can be processed.

  The action body 202 is preferably attached to the weight 203, and the shape of the weight 203 is preferably the same as the length of the action body 202 in the vibration direction (Y-axis direction) of the action body 202. The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the Y-axis direction of the weight 203 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a rectangle, a square, and a circle.

  In the case of the present embodiment, two weights 203 are attached to each of four acting bodies 202 functioning as blade members so that two acting bodies 202 are sandwiched therebetween. Specifically, the shape of the weight 203 is a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners of 1 mm in the X direction, 18 mm in the Y direction, and 3 mm in the Z direction.

  As described above, according to the personal care device 200 including the weight 203, when the vibration type actuator 100 is resonated in the personal care device 200, a large inertia force is obtained via the conversion mechanism 120. In 202, the slight amplitude of the driving means 110 is enlarged to 50 times or more and output. In addition, since the action body 202 with the weight 203 is driven at high speed and with high thrust, the influence on other objects can be increased, and when the personal care device 200 is an electric razor, a dark wrinkle can be shaved without problems. Can be raised.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, another embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification and excluding some of the components may be used as an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the present invention includes modifications obtained by making various modifications conceivable by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention, that is, the meaning of the words described in the claims. It is.

  For example, although the electric razor is illustrated as the personal care device 200 in the first to fourth embodiments, the personal care device 200 is not limited to this. For example, when the personal care device 200 is an electric toothbrush that is used by being held by a human hand, the action body 202 is a brush. Further, the personal care device 200 may be a device that acts on a plant or a substance such as a mowing machine or a sculpture machine, as well as a device that acts on a human or animal such as a hair trimmer or a facial device.

  Further, the weight 203 is used not only for obtaining the high thrust of the action body 202 but also when the weight of the action body 202 attached to each of the two output portions 122 is different as shown in FIG. You may plan. In the case of FIG. 15, the action body 202 is attached to both of the output sections 122, but when the action body 202 is attached to only one of the output sections 122, the weight 203 is used as a counterweight to the other output section 122. You can attach it.

  As described above, the present invention can be used for an electric razor, an electric toothbrush, an electric hair trimmer, a facial instrument, a mowing machine, an engraving machine, etc. that exerts a force on an object by vibration and affects the object.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Vibration type actuator 110 Drive means 111 Fixing member 112 Drive member 120 Conversion mechanism 121 Attachment part 122 Output part 123 Connection part 130 Preload means 131 Slit 200 Personal care apparatus 202 Action body 203 Weight 204 Cover member 205 Base 251 Holding part

Claims (4)

A vibration type actuator that vibrates an acting body by exerting a force on an object,
Driving means that expands and contracts by voltage or magnetic field;
Attachment portions respectively attached to both end portions of the driving means in the expansion and contraction direction;
Two output units arranged across the drive means in a direction intersecting the expansion and contraction direction, and connected to the working body,
Connecting the two attachment parts and the two output parts in an annular shape, and four connecting parts for expanding and contracting between the two output parts based on expansion and contraction of the driving means;
A vibration-type actuator comprising preloading means for applying pressure in a direction in which the space between the output parts spreads. The vibration type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the preload means is disposed between the output units. 3. The vibration type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the preload means includes a slit at a position not in contact with the output unit. The vibration type actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An agent that exerts a force on an object to influence it;
A personal care device comprising a base having a holding portion for holding a vibration node portion of the driving means of the vibration actuator.

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