Piezoelectric conveying device

Abstract

A piezoelectric sheet conveying device of a linear contact type contains a pair of rollers containing the sheet therebetween. The first roller is driven by a piezoelectric vibrator forming a contact line between the edge insert of the vibrator and the outer surface of the first roller. The vibrator is urged against the first roller by a bias spring. The hardness of the edge insert of the vibrator is about 5.times.10.sup.7 N/cm.sup.2 and much higher than the hardness of the first roller being about 2.times.10.sup.6 N/cm.sup.2. As a result, elastic compressions of the first roller are achieved during periodic elongations of the vibrator and engagements of the first roller surface. Microgroove is formed along the contact line between the vibrator and the first roller which transmits the rotational torque to the first roller and advances the sheet in a predetermined direction. Subsequent contraction of the vibrator restores the outer surface of the first roller to its initial shape. Both the first roller and the vibrator can be made as laminated structures to achieve respectively correct composite hardness and reduce the driving voltage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.