JP2546162Y2 - Linear actuator - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a linear actuator which has a simple structure, is inexpensive, and can perform high-resolution linear motion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of linear actuators have been proposed as linear actuators. An object of the present invention is to propose a linear actuator having a new configuration that is simple and inexpensive and can realize linear motion with relatively high resolution.

[0003]

In the linear actuator of the present invention, a cam member and a pair of leaf springs are used in combination to realize a simple, inexpensive, and high-resolution linear motion. ing. That is, the cam member is arranged so that its cam surface moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of linear motion, and this cam surface is formed by an intermediate portion of a pair of leaf springs arranged in parallel in the linear motion direction. It is sandwiched. One end of the pair of leaf springs is a fixed end, and the other end is movable in the axial direction (the direction of linear motion).

[0004]

When the cam member is driven by a motor or the like, an intermediate portion of the pair of leaf springs is pushed by the cam surface in a direction orthogonal to the direction of linear movement. Since one end of the leaf spring is a fixed end, when the leaf spring is displaced in this way, the other movable end of the leaf spring moves in the axial direction (linear motion direction). If the movable end is connected to the driven member side, the driven member can be moved linearly.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The linear actuator 1 of the present embodiment is incorporated as, for example, a drive mechanism of a one-axis table 2 and includes an elliptical cam 3 and a pair of leaf springs 4 and 5 as basic components.

[0007] The pair of leaf springs 4 and 5 are arranged in parallel to each other in the moving direction X of the table 2. One ends 4a and 5a of these leaf springs are fixed to the fixed part 7 side via a fixed clamper 6 made of a magnet or the like. The other ends 4b and 5b are fixed to a table-side clamper 8 made of a magnet or the like coupled to the back surface of the table 2. A central portion 4 of the pair of leaf springs 4 and 5 in the axial direction.
c and 5c are movable in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction X.

The elliptical cam 3 is disposed between the central portions 4c, 5c. That is,
The cam surface 3a of the elliptical cam 3 has these central portions 4c, 5c
Abuts the inside surface of the The center portions 4c, 5c are always fixed to the cam surface 3a by elastic members 9, 10 such as coil springs from their outer surfaces so that these joined states are always maintained. Pressed by force. The elliptical cam 3 is attached to the output shaft 12a of the motor 12.

In the linear actuator 1 thus configured, when the elliptical cam 3 is rotated by the motor 12, the cam surfaces 3a cause the central portions 4c, 5c of the pair of leaf springs to move as shown by imaginary lines in the drawing. It is repeatedly displaced in a direction away from each other and in a direction approaching each other. Thus, the center portions 4c, 5
When c moves, the movable ends 4b, 5b of the leaf spring
Reciprocates in the movement direction X. Therefore, the table 2 connected to these ends 4b, 5b moves in the movement direction X.

Although an elliptical cam is used in this embodiment,
It is also possible to use cam members having other shapes.

[0011]

As described above, in the present invention, the intermediate portion of the pair of leaf springs is displaced in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction (moving direction) by using the cam member, and this movement is performed. This is converted into a reciprocating motion in the axial direction (moving direction) of one end of the leaf spring. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a linear motion with the same stroke by using a cam member having a cam surface with a small dimensional change as compared with a case where the driven member is linearly moved directly by the cam member. Therefore, with a cheap and simple configuration,
High-resolution linear motion can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a linear actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the linear actuator of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Linear actuator 2 ... Table 3 ... Elliptical cam 4, 5 ... Leaf spring 4a, 5a ... Fixed-side end of leaf spring 4b, 5b ... On the moving side of leaf spring End 4c, 5c: Central part of leaf spring 9, 10, Elastic member 12, Motor

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A cam member and a pair of leaf springs, wherein the pair of leaf springs are arranged substantially in parallel, one end of which is a fixed end, and the other end of which only moves in the axial direction. Is a free moving end, and the cam member is provided at a middle position of the pair of leaf springs so as to move intermediate portions of these leaf springs in directions separating from each other and approaching each other. A linear actuator, wherein the driven member is linearly moved by moving ends of the pair of leaf springs.