Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
Patent
1998-07-14
1999-12-14
Graysay, Tamara L.
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
744248R, 277634, 277921, H20K 700
Patent
active
060002921
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an actuator for transporting a workpiece by transmitting a rotary driving force of a rotary driving source to a slider by the aid of a driving force-transmitting means provided on a main actuator body so that the slider is displaced.
BACKGROUND ART
An actuator has been hitherto used as a means for transporting a workpiece. The actuator basically comprises a rotary driving source arranged at the inside of a housing of the actuator, a driving force-transmitting means such as a ball screw for converting the rotary driving force of the rotary driving source into rectilinear motion to be transmitted to another member, and a slider for making displacement along the longitudinal direction of the actuator by the aid of the driving force-transmitting means.
The slider makes displacement along an opening of the housing, and it transmits the rotary motion of the rotary driving source disposed in the housing to the outside of the housing as the rectilinear motion.
However, the conventional actuator involves the following fear depending on the environment in which the actuator is used. That is, for example, dust, water, water vapor, coolant, cutting fluid, and grinding fluid make invasion through the opening of the housing, and they adhere to the driving force-transmitting means. When the actuator is driven, the dust or the like is caught in the gap between the driving force-transmitting means and the slider, resulting in stop or breakage of the actuator. Further, the following problem is pointed out. That is, when the actuator is used at a place to be prevented from dust or the like, such as those relevant to the medical field, those relevant to the field of food, and clean rooms, any leakage occurs from the actuator to the outside, concerning, for example, the dust and the grease used for the motor, the ball screw, the bearing and the like for constructing the driving force-transmitting means and the rotary driving source.
This invention has been made in order to solve the problems described above, an object of which is to provide an actuator which makes it possible to avoid adhesion of dust or the like to a driving force-transmitting means, wipe out the fear of stop or breakage or the like of the driving force-transmitting means, and avoid leakage of dust or the like to the outside.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the object described above, the present invention lies in an actuator for converting rotary motion of a rotary driving source into rectilinear motion by the aid of a driving force-transmitting means to move a workpiece by using a slider which makes displacement in accordance with an action of the rectilinear motion, the actuator comprising: force-transmitting means therein; housing, for making the displacement by the aid of the driving force-transmitting means; and provided to close the opening, wherein: slider protruding through the opening.
According to the present invention, the opening is closed by the seal member. When the rotary driving source is operated, then the rotary motion of the rotary driving source is converted into the rectilinear motion by means of the driving force-transmitting means, and the slider is displaced. The seal member is pressed by the slider, and it is bent outwardly with respect to the opening. The seal member abuts against the wall of the slider to avoid invasion and leakage of dust or the like through the opening.
In a preferred embodiment, the seal member comprises a pair of elastic members, and step sections are formed at portions of the respective elastic members opposing to one another. When a forward end of one of the elastic members is engaged with the step section of the other when the opening is closed, the respective elastic members make abutment is a well-suited manner. Thus, it is possible to appropriately avoid invasion and leakage of dust or the like.
In another preferred embodiment, the elastic member is formed with a plurality of step sections. When the forward end of one of the elastic m
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patent: 4690412 (1987-09-01), Tuckley et al.
patent: 4934835 (1990-06-01), Albert
patent: 4976067 (1990-12-01), Maas
patent: 5454278 (1995-10-01), Kasuga
patent: 5761960 (1998-06-01), Nagai et al.
patent: 5796187 (1998-08-01), Nagai et al.
Nagai Shigekazu
Shiomi Hiroyuki
Sugiyama Toru
Fenstermacher David
Graysay Tamara L.
SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
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