Positioning apparatus
AssigneeEvan Koblanski
InventorJohn Koblanski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator able to move along a track. The actuator has an elastic coupling member that surrounds the track. The coupling member has a regularly grooved internal surface. There are pairs of piezo electric transducers surround the coupling member. These transducers are polarized with each member of a pair being polarized in a direction different from the other member of the pair. There is an insulator between neighbouring pairs of transducers and absorber means at each end of the actuator. Voltage can be applied to the transducers whereby the application of voltage expands and contracts the transducers, generating waves in the coupling member causing it to move along the track.
Claims35
An actuator able to move along a track and comprising:
- an elastic coupling member to surround the track, said coupling member having a regularly grooved internal surface;
- a plurality of pairs of piezo electric transducers surrounding said coupling member, said transducers being polarized with each member of a pair being polarized in a direction different from the other member of the pair;
- an insulator between neighbouring pairs of transducers;
- absorber means at each end of the actuator;
- means to apply voltage to said transducers whereby the application of voltage expands and contracts said transducers, which transmit pressure to said coupling member to cause it to move along said track.
A card scanner comprising:
- a base member;
- longitudinal track members mounted on said base member;
- means to hold the card on said base member;
- an actuator mounted on said track member and able to move along the track member, said actuator comprising:
- an elastic coupling member to surround the track, said coupling member having a regularly grooved internal surface;
- a plurality of pairs of piezo electric transducers surrounding said coupling member, said transducers being polarized with each member of a pair being polarized in a direction different from the other member of the pair;
- an insulator between neighbouring pairs of transducers;
- absorber means at each end of the actuator;
- means to apply voltage to said transducers whereby the application of voltage expands and contracts said transducers, which transmit pressure to said coupling member to cause it to move along said track;
- a scanning head moved by operation of said actuators to scan a card.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.