Drive arrangement for a writing head
AssigneeABB Instrumentation Limited
InventorsDietrich Roscher, Norbert Gebert, Udo Reinold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive arrangement, for example for a writing head, comprising a piezoelectrically actuated lever arrangement (1d) for moving a writing tip (21) in the direction of a recording medium when writing on the recording medium. This drive arrangement is characterized in that a piezoelectric actuator (4) is used, which is separate from the lever arrangement (1d) and in that the lever arrangement (1d) exerts a compressive force on the piezoelectric actuator (4), which is supported against a rigid abutment (section 1b). This drive arrangement can be used for a series of other applications as a positioning drive. Inverse arrangements are also described.
Claims15
Drive arrangement comprising:
- a frame including first, second and third rigid sections which are rigidly connected together to form a stationery yoke, wherein said first and third sections form opposite sides of the yoke and are connected by said second section, said frame being open opposite said second section;
- a movable limb resiliently hinged to said third section and extending freely across the open part of said frame opposite said second section, said movable limb extending from said third section to said first section;
- a piezoelectric actuator compressively located between said movable limb and said second side sections, whereby said movable limb can be resiliently displaced when said piezoelectric actuator is energized by a pulsating signal, which causes said actuator to expand and contract, and wherein only said movable limb applies the compressive force for locating said piezoelectric actuator;
- a step-up transmission including first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements each having first and second ends;
- said first ends of first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements being fixed respectively to said first and third sections of said yoke;
- said second ends of said first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements being connected together, said first and second flexible elements providing a differential sliding transmission for stepping up said resilient displacement of said first section, by said piezoelectric actuator, whereby displacement of said connected second ends of said first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements is increased;
- and said first and second elements extending in parallel directions adjacent to the first section of the yoke.
Printing head, having at least one printing device for printing on a recording medium, a carrier for holding the recording medium, and one or more drive arrangements for driving said printing device, each said drive arrangement comprising:
- a frame including first, second and third rigid sections which are rigidly connected together to form a stationery yoke, wherein said first and third sections form opposite sides of the yoke and are connected by said second section, said frame being open opposite said second section;
- a movable limb resiliently hinged to said third section and extending freely across the open part of said frame opposite said second section, said movable limb extending from said third section to said first section;
- a piezoelectric actuator compressively located between said movable limb and second sections, whereby said movable limb can be resiliently displaced when said piezoelectric actuator is energized by a pulsating signal, which causes said actuator to expand and contract, and wherein only said movable limb applies the compressive force for locating said piezoelectric actuator;
- a step-up transmission including first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements each having first and second ends;
- said first ends of first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements being fixed respectively to said first and third sections of said yoke;
- said second ends of said first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements being connected together, said first and second flexible elements providing a differential sliding transmission for stepping up said resilient displacement of said first section, by said piezoelectric actuator, whereby displacement of said connected second ends of said first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements is increased;
- and said first and second elements extending in parallel directions adjacent to the first section of the yoke, said second ends of said first and second elongate, resiliently flexible elements, which are connected together, being coupled to said printing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.