Actuator and actuator system
AssigneeSMC Corporation
InventorsShigekazu Nagai, Masahiko Suzuki
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Abstract
An actuator has a linearly elongate frame, side, end, and top covers detachably and selectively mounted on side surfaces of the frame, a table mechanism displaceable in the axial direction of the frame in response to energization of an electric motor, and a ball screw for transmitting drive forces from the electric motor to the table mechanism. The operator can select various actuator configurations depending on the environment in which the actuator is to be installed and the application in which the actuator is to be used. In the preferred embodiment, the ball screw is used in combination with a piston/cylinder arrangement for moving the table mechanism in a linear direction. The piston/cylinder having a magnetic coupling for coupling the piston to the table mechanism.
Claims6
An actuator comprising:
- a frame extending linearly for a predetermined length;
- a table block for displacement in an axial direction of said frame in response to operation of a rotating drive source;
- a ball screw for transmitting drive forces from said rotating drive source to said table block;
- a drive control block disposed on one end of said ball screw for controlling said drive forces transmitted from said rotating drive source to said ball screw;
- and
- a cylinder disposed axially parallel to said ball screw, said cylinder having a piston coupled to said table block, wherein said cylinder is disposed axially inside said frame and comprises a cylinder tube and a piston having a magnet displaceable in said cylinder tube, said table block includes a surface supporting another magnet thereon, and said piston is coupled to said table block through a magnetic coupling between respective magnets of said piston and said table block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.