Linear tape motor

A magnetic circuit apparatus for moving, guiding and securing said mobile piece of apparatus within said stationary piece of apparatus comprising:

• said stationary piece of apparatus including:
• embedded permanent magnets and alternate flux paths wherein magnetic flux can pass through any combination of paths, each of which, extends throughout the length of said mobile apparatus travel;
• at least one electromagnetic coil within each said flux path whereas the amount of permanent magnet flux through said path can be electronically controlled on an individual basis;
• said Contact and guide structure extending the length of said mobile apparatus travel whereas said mobile apparatus is constrained, by contact, to the axis of travel, with magnetic force and friction hold and said contact surfaces establish a fixed air gap to said mobile apparatus in each of alternate magnetic flux paths throughout said long stroke mobile apparatus travel;
• said mobile piece of apparatus including:
• multiple components, equal in number to said magnetic circuit alternate flux paths in said stationary apparatus and connected to each other by a magnetic insulator bending structure;
• whereas each said component uniquely completes one and only one magnetic circuit path in said stationary apparatus and said bending structures magnetically isolate said components from each other;
• whereas each said component includes a fixed air gap in its magnetic circuit when in contact with said stationary apparatus;
• whereas each said component of said mobile apparatus is, independently, forced against said stationary apparatus proportional to the amount of magnetic flux passing through its air gap.

A system that uses structural bending means to reduce friction forces opposing assembly of a first apparatus into a second apparatus and to increase sliding friction forces along the travel axis both during and after assembly and to reduce friction forces opposing disassembly and said system precludes movement in other directions by means of structural interference:

• said system comprises:
• a first apparatus including an opposing pair of flexure wedges wherein each said wedge prefers to bend about an axis parallel to the axis of travel of said first apparatus and
• a second apparatus including contact surfaces whereas each is positioned to contact, position and secure an opposing flexure wedge therein said first apparatus and each is parallel to the axis of travel and extends the length of travel of said first apparatus and
• a means whereas said first apparatus and said second apparatus maintain alignment during non contact and
• external means to force contact between said flexure wedges and said contact surfaces and thereafter maintain forceful contact between said flexure wedges and said contact surfaces and thereafter provide low force contact between said flexure wedges and said contact surfaces and thereafter force said flexure wedges and said contact surfaces apart and thereafter maintain aligned separation between said flexure wedges and said contact surfaces and
• wherein said first apparatus and said second apparatus are separated and aligned and thereafter said external means forcefully inserts said first apparatus into contact with said second apparatus whereas said flexure wedges included in said first apparatus press against said contact surfaces included in said second apparatus and contact forces normal to the contacting surfaces are generated whereas friction forces parallel to the contacting surfaces oppose further movement of said first apparatus and thereafter said first apparatus continues to move and increase normal surface contact forces by said bending in each said flexure wedge therein until force equilibrium is reached and said increase in contact forces increases insertion efficiency and friction hold forces along axis of travel whereas said structural interference constrains movement in degrees of freedom other than insertion/extraction and axis of travel and:
• wherein said first apparatus and said second apparatus are aligned and forcibly held in contact and said external force is removed whereby each said flexure wedge unbends and relieves residual normal and friction forces and applying said external means to force extraction of said first apparatus from said second apparatus causes reverse direction bending in each said flexure wedge whereby said contacting surfaces are forced apart and extraction and separation efficiency is increased.