Brake device

A drive unit, comprising:

• a brake device comprising:
• a frame;
• at least one pair of mutually opposing braking elements;
• at least one actuation element in operative connection with each braking element;
• and
• a spring device;
• wherein each braking element has
• three joint sections which are arranged in a row and are connected to one another via flexure bearings, and
• a middle joint section of the three joint sections which has a contact section,
• wherein the three joint sections form a concavity facing away from the contact section;
• wherein two joint sections of the three joint sections adjoining the middle joint section are end joint sections each connected integrally to the frame via a respective flexure bearing of the flexure bearings;
• wherein the spring device is positioned to exert a first force on each braking element so that the respective contact section can be pressed with a defined force against an element to be braked situated between the braking elements;
• wherein the brake device is designed such that a continuous energy input into the actuation elements can generate a second force on the braking elements which counteracts the first force exerted on the braking elements by the spring device;
• and
• wherein, when the continuous energy input into the actuation elements is absent, the second force exerted by the actuation elements on the braking elements is removed.

A positioning device, comprising:

• a brake device comprising:
• a frame;
• at least one pair of mutually opposing braking elements;
• at least one actuation element in operative connection with each braking element;
• and
• a spring device;
• wherein each braking element has
• three joint sections which are arranged in a row and are connected to one another via flexure bearings, and
• a middle joint section of the three joint sections which has a contact section,
• wherein the three joint sections form a concavity facing away from the contact section;
• wherein two joint sections of the three joint sections adjoining the middle joint section are end joint sections each connected integrally to the frame via a respective flexure bearing of the flexure bearings;
• wherein the spring device is positioned to exert a first force on each braking element so that the respective contact section can be pressed with a defined force against an element to be braked situated between the braking elements;
• wherein the brake device is designed such that a continuous energy input into the actuation elements can generate a second force on the braking elements which counteracts the first force exerted on the braking elements by the spring device;
• and
• wherein, when the continuous energy input into the actuation elements is absent, the second force exerted by the actuation elements on the braking elements is removed.