# US 5,326,197 A · Drive apparatus

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- Number: US 5,326,197 A
- Document ID: US5326197A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/021,975
- Filed: 1993-02-24
- Granted: 1994-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1992-03-09
- Assignees: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Seiji Takei
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5326197A

## CPC

- F16C 29/0635: {whereby the return paths are provided as bores in a main body of the U-shaped carriage, e.g. the main body of the U-shaped carriage is a single part with end caps provided at each end}
- B61B 13/06: Saddle or like balanced type
- F16C 29/00: Bearings for parts moving only linearly (F16C32/06 takes precedence; incorporated in flexible shafts F16C1/28 {; parts of bearings in general and special methods for making bearings or parts thereof in general F16C33/00})
- Y10T 74/18568: Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
- Y10T 74/1967: Rack and pinion
- Y10T 408/5617: Laterally adjustable surface
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B61B: RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (lifts or hoists, elevators, escalators, moving walkways B66B)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A drive apparatus that is compact in size, low in cost, allows the attaining of a high degree of accuracy as well as high-speed driving, suppresses noise, and obtains both large thrust and braking force. The present invention is able to obtain the above-mentioned advantages of compact size, reduction of costs, high accuracy, high-speed driving and suppression of noise as a result of providing a torque generation device on a slider guided by a track rail, attaching a drive roller to which is torque is applied by an output shaft of the torque generation device, and that drive roller rolling along the track rail. In addition, the above-mentioned advantages of large thrust and braking force are obtained by forming indentations in at least one of either the track rail or drive roller with respect to the other track rail or drive roller.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive apparatus comprising:
a track rail having a track formed along the axial direction;
a slider guided by said track;
a torque generation device mounted on said slider; and
a drive roller that rolls while engaging with said track rail by application of torque by an output shaft of said torque generation device;
wherein, indentations are formed in an engaging surface of at least either said track rail or said driver roller with respect to the other of said track rail or said drive roller, and wherein the side surface of said track rail serves as the track surface over which said driver roller is to roll.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drive apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indentations are comprised of knurlings.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drive apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indentations are formed in said track rail, and an elastic member having a high friction coefficient is attached on the surface of said drive roller that engages with said track rail.

### Claim 4

A drive apparatus comprising:
a track rail having a track formed along the axial direction;
a slider guided by said track, said slider having a rolling element circulating path in which a plurality of rolling elements are disposed between said slider and said track rail;
a torque generation device mounted on said slider; and
a drive roller that rolls while engaging with said track rail by application of torque by an output shaft of said torque generation device;
wherein, indentations are formed in an engaging surface of at least either said track rail or said driver roller with respect to the other of said track rail or said drive roller, and
wherein said rolling elements circulate within said rolling element circulating path to facilitate the movement of said slider along said track rail.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein said drive roller is in contact with said track rail.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein said indentations are comprised of knurlings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein a groove is formed in the upper portion of said track rail along the axial direction, and the inside surface of said groove serves as the track surface over which said drive roller rolls.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein the side surface of said track rail serves as the track surface over which said driver roller rolls.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein said indentations are formed in said track rail, and an elastic member having a high friction coefficient is attached on the surface of said drive roller that engages with said track rail.