JPS61185834A - Latch type piezo-electric actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a latch-type actuator using a piezoelectric element.

(Prior Art and its Problems) Conventionally, an electromagnetic actuator using a coil has been used as a latch-type actuator.

However, electromagnetic actuators generate a magnetic field by energizing a coil and use the magnetic force to move a movable member, so they require a large amount of input energy and have problems such as heat generation and magnetic interference.

Also, since it uses a coil, it was difficult to miniaturize it.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to eliminate such conventional drawbacks and provide a latch-type piezoelectric actuator with a simple structure, small size, low power consumption, low heat generation, no magnetic interference, and high reliability. .

(Structure of the Invention) According to the present invention, a leaf spring having a flight member, an arm extending from the leaf spring and provided with an action member, a support part supporting the leaf spring in a curved manner, and a A latch-type piezoelectric actuator is obtained, characterized in that it is comprised of a piezoelectric element that faces the convex surface of a leaf spring and applies a force to the flight section.

(Detailed Description of Configuration) The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by adopting the above-mentioned configuration.

First, by using a piezoelectric element, which is known for its high energy conversion efficiency, as the driving source for the flight member, it uses low power, generates little heat, and eliminates magnetic interference.

In addition, by applying an axial force to a leaf spring to bend it, the leaf spring becomes a reverse spring.When the flight member provided on the leaf spring passes through a straight line connecting both ends of the leaf spring, the leaf spring It operates in reverse and is latched.

When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element is slightly displaced but very quickly, so the flying member is accelerated by the piezoelectric element and flies away from the piezoelectric element. When the flying member passes through a straight line connecting both ends of the leaf spring, the leaf spring is reversed and latched, making it possible to obtain a stroke of the flying member that is much longer than the displacement of the piezoelectric element.

Furthermore, since no coil is used and the reversing spring is also a leaf spring, the structure is simple and compact.

Further, by providing an operating member such as a movable contact on the arm extending from the leaf spring, the arm can absorb adverse effects such as wear of the operating member, thereby increasing reliability.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay. In FIG. 1, a flying member 2 is provided on a plate 1,
Both ends of the leaf spring 1 are inserted into grooves 3a and 93b as supporting parts provided in the mounting member 3 to apply an axial force to the leaf spring 1, so that the leaf spring 1 is curved. Moreover, the first piezoelectric element 4
A first force transmitting member 5 is connected to one end 4a of the second piezoelectric element 6 in the stretching direction (direction of arrow B), and a second force transmitting member 7 is connected to one end 6a of the second piezoelectric element 6 in the stretching direction (direction of arrow B). However, the first force transmitting member 5 and the second force transmitting member 7 are arranged to face each other with the flight member 2 in between. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. The other end 4b of the element 4 is fixed to the mounting member 3. The second force transmitting member 7 is arranged so that the other end 6b of the second piezoelectric element 6 is connected to the mounting member 3 so that the second force transmitting member 7 is in a symmetrical position with respect to the straight line connecting both ends of the leaf spring 1 with respect to the first force transmitting member 5.
is fixed. And near the center of the board 1,
An arm 9 having a movable contact 8 as an operating member is connected to the tip, and this arm 9 has a movable contact 8 at the tip.
first and second fixed contacts 1 connected to a mounting member 3
0.11.

When the flying member 2 is in contact with the first force transmitting member 5 as shown in FIG. 1(a), that is, with the movable contact 8 in contact with the first fixed contact 10, When a voltage is applied to the element 4, the first piezoelectric element 4 is slightly displaced at a very high speed in the direction of the arrow. Then, the flight member 2 that is in contact with the first force transmission member 5 transmits the first piezoelectric element 4
The receiving force is accelerated, leaves the first force transmitting member 5, flies, passes through the straight line connecting both ends of the leaf spring 1, and the leaf spring 1 reverses, as shown in FIG. 1(b). When the flying member 2 is in contact with the second force transmitting member 7, the movable contact 8 is in contact with the second fixed contact 11. Further, when a voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric element 6 from a state where the flight member 2 is in contact with the second force transmission member 7 as shown in FIG. 1(b), the flight member 2
receives a force from the second piezoelectric element 6 in the direction of arrow B, is accelerated, leaves the second force transmitting member 7, and flies toward the first force transmitting member 5, and the leaf spring 1 reverses again, When the flying member 2 is in contact with the first force transmitting member 5 as shown in FIG. 1(a), the movable contact 8 is in contact with the first fixed contact 10. In this way, the movable contact 8 can be switched from the first fixed contact 10 to the second fixed contact 11 or from the second fixed contact 11 to the first fixed contact 10.

In the present invention, in order to accelerate the flight member 2 and fly the flight member 2 by the force generated by the first or second piezoelectric element 4.6 when a voltage is applied, and cause the leaf spring 1 to perform a reversal operation, a The movable contact 8 provided at the tip of the arm 9 can obtain a stroke as large as several tens to hundreds of times the amount of displacement of the first or second piezoelectric element 4 or 6.

In addition, since the elasticity of the arm portion can absorb adverse effects such as wear on the movable contact 8, reliability is high.

Furthermore, since a pressure element known for its high energy conversion efficiency is used as the drive source for the flight member 2,
Low heat generation eliminates magnetic interference.

Furthermore, there is no coil, and the structure is simple and compact because an axial force is applied to the leaf spring and the leaf spring is turned into a reverse spring to perform the latching action.

In the above example, voltage was applied alternately to the first piezoelectric element 4 and the second piezoelectric element 6 to switch the contact 8. The movable contact 8 can also be switched by simultaneously applying a voltage to. Such usage power could not be achieved with conventional latch-type actuators.

Note that the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element needs to rise quickly in a pulsed manner, but the pulse width may be short. For example, a pulse width of 0.1 ms is sufficient, and a longer pulse width does not matter. Since a piezoelectric element is electrically the same as a capacitor, it does not consume power and therefore does not generate heat even if a voltage is continuously applied for a long time.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay. The leaf spring 12 and the arm portion 13 are made of a single thin plate.

It goes without saying that the effects of the present invention can be similarly exhibited regardless of the shape and connection method of the leaf spring and the arm portion.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay. The leaf spring 14 and the arm portion 15 are made of a single thin plate. Since the arm portion does not protrude in the width direction of the leaf spring as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the size is further reduced.

It goes without saying that the effects of the present invention can be similarly exhibited in such an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pen lifting mechanism such as a pen recorder. In FIG. 4(a), the leaf spring 19 is connected to the arm portion 2 to which the pen holder 20 is connected.
1 is attached, and further curved toward the first piezoelectric element 4 due to the axial force received by the grooves 3ay 3b provided in the attachment member 3 as a support portion. The flying member 2 provided on the leaf spring 19 is in contact with the first piezoelectric element 4 connected to the mounting member 3. The second piezoelectric element 6 is shown in FIG.
), when the leaf spring 19 is reversed, it is connected to the mounting member 3 so that the flight member 2 comes into contact with it.

Further, the pen 22 is supported by the pen holder 20.

In an embodiment with such a configuration, when a voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric element 4 while the flying member 2 is in contact with the first piezoelectric element 4 as shown in FIG. 4(a), the flying member 2
is accelerated by the force from the first piezoelectric element 4, flies away from the first piezoelectric element 4, passes through the straight line connecting both ends of the plate spring 190, and the plate spring 19 reverses its action, as shown in Fig. 4(b). ), the flying member 2 is in contact with the second piezoelectric element 6.

Therefore, the pen 22 can descend from the top to the bottom and print. Further, when a voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric element 6 in a state where the flight member 2 is in contact with the second piezoelectric element 6 as shown in FIG. The flying member 2 returns to the state in which it is in contact with the first piezoelectric element 4 as shown in a).

The pen 22 can be raised and lowered in a vertical manner.

It goes without saying that even in such an embodiment of the present invention, the effects of the present invention such as simple structure, small size, low power consumption, low heat generation, no magnetic interference, and high reliability are similarly exhibited.

It should be noted that the present invention can be applied not only to the embodiments described above but also to various latch-type actuators and achieve similar effects. The effects of the present invention include: a leaf spring having a flight member; an arm extending from the leaf spring and provided with an action member; a supporting member supporting the leaf spring in a curved manner; This is accomplished by comprising a piezoelectric element that applies force to the flying member.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, piezoelectric elements were arranged on both the curved convex side and the opposite concave side of the leaf spring, but if the leaf spring inversion return means is used, the curved leaf spring Even if the piezoelectric element is placed only on the convex surface side, the effects of the present invention can be similarly exhibited.

Further, in the present invention, in addition to a single-plate piezoelectric element having a longitudinal effect or a transverse effect, similar effects can be obtained by using a laminated piezoelectric element or even an electrostrictive element.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, a latch-type piezoelectric actuator with a simple structure, small size, low power consumption, low heat generation, and high reliability without magnetic interference can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay,
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pen recorder etc. It is a figure which shows one Example applied to the elevating mechanism of. In the figure, 1. 12, 14, 19... leaf spring, 2... flight member, 3... mounting member, 4... first piezoelectric element, 5...
- First force transmission member, 6... Second piezoelectric element, 7...
・No. 20 Force transmission member, 8... Movable contact, 9.13, 1
5ν21... Arm part, 10... First fixed contact,
11...Second fixed contact, 20...Pen Honda, 2
2... Each pen is shown.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a leaf spring having a flight member; an arm portion extending from the leaf spring and provided with an action member; a support portion supporting the leaf spring in a curved manner; and the flight member facing the curved convex surface of the leaf spring. A latch-type piezoelectric actuator is characterized in that it is comprised of a piezoelectric element that applies force to a piezoelectric actuator.