Actuator with translational and rotational control

Abstract

An actuator for precisely moving and positioning a manufacturing component includes a housing on which a magnet is mounted. An electrical coil is wound around a coil piston which is slidingly mounted on the housing for movement within the magnetic field generated by the magnet. A rod, having a member for gripping the component, is attached for translational movement with the coil piston, and a source of electrical current is connected to the coil which is wrapped around the coil piston. A drive motor is mounted on the device, and a linkage connects the drive motor to the grip for rotation of the grip as desired. In the operation of the actuator, a current is selectively passed through the coil. This current in the coil then moves the coil piston and the attached grip within the magnetic field to position the component as desired in translation. Also, the drive motor can be activated to move the grip in rotation as desired. Additionally, position sensors can be mounted on the device to determine the location of the coil piston and a controller can be incorporated in the actuator to use this position determination for controlling movement of the coil piston and the attached grip in translation and rotation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.