Linear Actuator

Abstract

To provide a linear actuator having a structure which enables a coil to be provided at a movable element while inhibiting increase in the size.SOLUTION: A linear actuator 10 includes: a movable element 30 which has a movable element body 31 and a coil 32 attached to the movable element body and may move in a predetermined first direction; a magnet which is disposed facing the coil in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; an elastic member 50 which elastically deforms in conjunction with movement of the movable element in the first direction and applies a force acting in the first direction to the movable element; and a flexible wiring member 60 electrically connected to the coil at one side in the second direction of the movable element body. The wiring member extends from the one side in the second direction of the movable element body to the other side in the second direction of the movable element body through one side in the first direction of the movable element body and is drawn from the other side in the second direction of the movable element body to the one side in the first direction relative to the movable element body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a linear actuator. [Background technology]

[0002] A linear actuator having a mover that can move in a predetermined direction is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a linear vibration motor having a permanent magnet and a coil as such a linear actuator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-22349 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the linear actuator described above, for example, a configuration in which a coil is provided on a mover is conceivable, but in this case, if an attempt is made to arrange a wiring member that supplies power to the coil while avoiding the wiring member interfering with the mover, it is conceivable that the entire linear actuator will become large due to the increase in size of the case that houses the mover and the wiring member.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, one object of the present invention is to provide a linear actuator having a structure in which a coil can be provided on a mover while preventing the actuator from becoming large in size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the linear actuator of the present invention includes a mover having a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body and capable of moving in a predetermined first direction, a magnet arranged to face the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an elastic member that elastically deforms with the movement of the mover in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the mover, and a flexible wiring member electrically connected to the coil on one side of the mover body in the second direction. the first extension portion is located on one side of the movable body in the second direction and extends in the first direction; a second extension portion that sandwiches the movable body in the second direction between the first extension portion and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction; a first connection portion that connects an end portion of the first extension portion on one side of the first direction and an end portion of the second extension portion on one side of the first direction; a third extension portion that is arranged alongside the second extension portion in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction and is pulled out to one side of the first direction further than the movable body; and a second connection portion that connects an end portion of the second extension portion on the other side of the first direction and an end portion of the third extension portion on the other side of the first direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a coil can be provided on a mover in a linear actuator while preventing the linear actuator from becoming large. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a linear actuator according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment, and shows a cross section taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the linear actuator of the first embodiment, taken along line VV of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the mover of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the linear actuator of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the linear actuator of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the case of the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a part of the case of the third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a linear actuator according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the linear actuator of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a part of the mover body and a wiring member according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a part of the mover body and a wiring member according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a sectional perspective view showing a linear actuator according to the eighth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Each figure shows an X-axis, a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis, and a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis. In the following description, the direction parallel to the Z-axis is called the "up-down direction Z," the direction parallel to the Y-axis is called the "front-back direction Y," and the direction parallel to the X-axis is called the "left-right direction X." The up-down direction Z, the front-back direction Y, and the left-right direction X are perpendicular to each other.

[0010] In the up-down direction Z, the positive side (+Z side) where the Z-axis arrow points is called the "upper side," and the negative side (-Z side) opposite the side where the Z-axis arrow points is called the "lower side." In the front-to-back direction Y, the positive side (+Y side) where the Y-axis arrow points is called the "front side," and the negative side (-Y side) opposite the side where the Y-axis arrow points is called the "rear side." In the left-to-right direction X, the positive side (+X side) where the X-axis arrow points is called the "right side," and the negative side (-X side) opposite the side where the X-axis arrow points is called the "left side."

[0011] In the following embodiments, the left-right direction X corresponds to the "first direction", the up-down direction Z corresponds to the "second direction", and the front-back direction Y corresponds to the "third direction". The right side (+X side) corresponds to the "one side of the first direction", the left side (-X side) corresponds to the "other side of the first direction", the upper side (+Z side) corresponds to the "one side of the second direction", and the lower side corresponds to the "other side of the second direction".

[0012] Note that the up-down direction Z, the front-rear direction Y, the left-right direction X, the upper side, the lower side, the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side are names simply for describing the positional relationship of each part, and the actual positional relationship may be a positional relationship other than the positional relationship indicated by these names. In addition, in this specification, a "parallel direction" includes a substantially parallel direction, and a "perpendicular direction" includes a substantially perpendicu- lar direction.

[0013] First Embodiment The linear actuator 10 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a linear resonant actuator (LRA). The linear actuator 10 is mounted on an electronic device such as a smartphone. As shown in FIG. 1, the linear actuator 10 includes a case 20 and a wiring member 60. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the linear actuator 10 includes a mover 30, an elastic member 50, and a damper member 70. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the linear actuator 10 includes a magnet 40.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the case 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped box extending in the left-right direction X. In this specification, "the case is a rectangular parallelepiped box" includes a case where the case is strictly a rectangular parallelepiped box and a case where the case is approximately a rectangular parallelepiped box. In this embodiment, the case 20 is approximately a rectangular parallelepiped box that is flat in the vertical direction Z and long in the horizontal direction X. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the case 20 accommodates the mover 30, the magnet 40, the elastic member 50, a part of the wiring member 60, and the damper member 70 inside. In this embodiment, the material of the case 20 is a magnetic material. As shown in FIG. 4, the case 20 is configured by fixing the first case member 21 and the second case member 22 to each other in the vertical direction Z.

[0015] The first case member 21 is located below the second case member 22. The first case member 21 has a bottom wall portion 21a and a pair of side walls 21b, 21c. That is, the case 20 has the bottom wall portion 21a and a pair of side walls 21b, 21c. The bottom wall portion 21a has a rectangular plate shape with a plate surface facing the vertical direction Z and elongated in the left-right direction X. The inner wall surface of the bottom wall portion 21a, that is, the upper surface, is an opposing surface 26a that faces the mover 30 in the vertical direction Z. Thus, in this embodiment, the case 20 has an opposing surface 26a that faces the mover 30 in the vertical direction Z that intersects with the left-right direction X. The side wall portion 21b protrudes upward from the edge of the front side (+Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21a. The side wall portion 21c protrudes upward from the edge of the rear side (-Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21a. The side walls 21b, 21c are plate-shaped with their plate surfaces facing the front-rear direction Y. The side walls 21b, 21c extend in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the bottom wall 21a corresponds to a "first wall" located in the up-down direction Z perpendicular to the left-right direction X.

[0016] The side wall portion 21b has a guide portion 24a and a wall main body portion 21d. That is, the case 20 has the guide portion 24a and the wall main body portion 21d. The guide portion 24a protrudes upward and diagonally forward from the edge of the front side (+Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21a. The guide portion 24a extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 24a has a guide surface 24c. The guide surface 24c is a surface of the guide portion 24a that faces the inside of the case 20. The guide surface 24c extends in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the guide surface 24c faces rearward and diagonally upward. The wall main body portion 21d protrudes directly upward from the upper end of the guide portion 24a. The inner wall surface of the wall main body portion 21d, that is, the rear side (-Y side) surface, is an opposing surface 26b that faces the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y. Thus, in this embodiment, the case 20 has an opposing surface 26b that faces the mover 30 in the front-rear direction Y that intersects with the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the wall main body portion 21d is connected to the bottom wall portion 21a via the guide portion 24a. The guide portion 24a is provided at a corner between the bottom wall portion 21a and the wall main body portion 21d. The guide portion 24a is located inside (rearward) of the case 20 with respect to the wall main body portion 21d.

[0017] The side wall portion 21c is provided symmetrically to the side wall portion 21b in the front-rear direction Y. The side wall portion 21c has a guide portion 24b and a wall main body portion 21e. That is, the case 20 has the guide portion 24b and the wall main body portion 21e. The guide portion 24b protrudes upward and obliquely rearward from the edge of the rear side (-Y side) of the bottom wall portion 21a. That is, the guide portion 24a and the guide portion 24b protrude from the bottom wall portion 21a in a direction away from each other in the front-rear direction Y as they move upward. The guide portion 24b extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 24b has a guide surface 24d. The guide surface 24d is a surface of the guide portion 24b that faces the inside of the case 20. The guide surface 24d extends in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the guide surface 24d faces forward and obliquely upward. The wall main body portion 21e protrudes directly upward from the upper end of the guide portion 24b. The inner wall surface of the wall main body portion 21e, i.e., the front side (+Y side) surface, is an opposing surface 26c that faces the mover 30 in the front-rear direction Y. Thus, in this embodiment, the case 20 has the opposing surface 26c that faces the mover 30 in the front-rear direction Y that intersects with the left-right direction X.

[0018] In this embodiment, the wall main body portion 21e is connected to the bottom wall portion 21a via the guide portion 24b. The guide portion 24b is provided at a corner portion between the bottom wall portion 21a and the wall main body portion 21e. The guide portion 24b is located inside (on the front side) of the case 20 with respect to the wall main body portion 21e. In this embodiment, the pair of wall main body portions 21d, 21e correspond to a "pair of second wall portions" located on both sides in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z.

[0019] The second case member 22 is located above the first case member 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the second case member 22 has a top wall portion 22a, a pair of side wall portions 22b, 22c, and a pair of guide portions 23a, 23b. The top wall portion 22a has a rectangular plate shape with a plate surface facing the vertical direction Z and elongated in the left-right direction X. The top wall portion 22a and the bottom wall portion 21a overlap each other almost entirely when viewed in the vertical direction Z. Both edges of the top wall portion 22a in the front-rear direction Y are in contact with the upper ends of the pair of side wall portions 21b, 21c. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner wall surface of the top wall portion 22a, that is, the lower surface, is an opposing surface 26d that faces the mover 30 in the vertical direction Z. Thus, in this embodiment, the case 20 has an opposing surface 26d that faces the mover 30 in the vertical direction Z that intersects with the left-right direction X.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the side wall portion 22b protrudes downward from the edge of the right side (+X side) of the top wall portion 22a. The side wall portion 22c protrudes downward from the edge of the left side (-X side) of the top wall portion 22a. The side wall portions 22b and 22c are plate-shaped with their plate surfaces facing the left-right direction X. The side wall portions 22b and 22c extend in the front-rear direction Y. The side wall portion 22b contacts the right end of the bottom wall portion 21a and the right end of the pair of side wall portions 21b and 21c. The side wall portion 22c contacts the left end of the bottom wall portion 21a and the left end of the pair of side wall portions 21b and 21c.

[0021] The pair of guide portions 23a, 23b are provided on both edges of the top wall portion 22a in the front-to-rear direction Y. The guide portion 23a is provided in the center in the left-to-right direction X of the front (+Y side) edge of the top wall portion 22a. The guide portion 23b is provided in the center in the left-to-right direction X of the rear (-Y side) edge of the top wall portion 22a. The guide portions 23a, 23b extend in the left-to-right direction X.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the guide portion 23a protrudes downward and obliquely forward from the edge of the front side (+Y side) of the top wall portion 22a. More specifically, the guide portion 23a protrudes downward and obliquely forward from the inner edge of a recess 22d recessed on the rear side (-Y side) of the front edge of the top wall portion 22a. The guide portion 23a is disposed facing the rear side (-Y side) of the wall main body portion 21d in the side wall portion 21b. The guide portion 23a is located above the guide portion 24a. The guide portion 23a and the guide portion 24a sandwich the front edge of the base portion 31a described later in the vertical direction Z. The guide portion 23a and the guide portion 24a approach each other in the vertical direction Z as they move toward the front side.

[0023] The guide portion 23a has a guide surface 23c. The guide surface 23c is a surface of the guide portion 23a that faces the inside of the case 20. The guide surface 23c extends in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the guide surface 23c faces rearward and diagonally downward. The guide surface 23c sandwiches the front edge (+Y side) of the base portion 31a (described later) in the up-down direction Z between the guide surface 23c and the guide surface 24c in the up-down direction Z.

[0024] The guide portion 23b protrudes downward and obliquely rearward from the edge of the rear side (-Y side) of the top wall portion 22a. More specifically, the guide portion 23b protrudes downward and obliquely rearward from the inner edge of a recess 22e recessed toward the front side (+Y side) of the rear edge of the top wall portion 22a. The guide portion 23b is disposed facing the front side (+Y side) of the wall main body portion 21e in the side wall portion 21c. The guide portion 23b is located above the guide portion 24b. The guide portion 23b and the guide portion 24b sandwich the rear edge of the base portion 31a (described later) in the vertical direction Z. The guide portion 23b and the guide portion 24b approach each other in the vertical direction Z toward the rear side.

[0025] The guide portion 23b has a guide surface 23d. The guide surface 23d is a surface of the guide portion 23b that faces the inside of the case 20. The guide surface 23d extends in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the guide surface 23d faces forward and diagonally downward. The guide surface 23d sandwiches the rear edge (-Y side) of the base portion 31a (described later) in the up-down direction Z between the guide surface 23d and the guide surface 24d in the up-down direction Z.

[0026] The guide surfaces 23c, 24c are disposed on a side (-Y side) closer to the mover 30 than the opposing surface 26b in the front-rear direction Y. The guide surfaces 23d, 24d are disposed on a side (+Y side) closer to the mover 30 than the opposing surface 26c in the front-rear direction Y. The guide surfaces 23c, 23d are disposed on a side (-Z side) closer to the mover 30 than the opposing surface 26d in the vertical direction Z. The guide surfaces 24c, 24d are disposed on a side (+Z side) closer to the mover 30 than the opposing surface 26a in the vertical direction Z.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the case 20 has protrusions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d. The protrusions 25a and 25b protrude leftward from the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22b, that is, the left (-X side) surface. The protrusions 25a and 25b are provided at both ends of the side wall portion 22b in the front-rear direction Y. The protrusions 25c and 25d protrude rightward from the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22c, that is, the right (+X side) surface. The protrusions 25c and 25d are provided at both ends of the side wall portion 22c in the front-rear direction Y. Each of the protrusions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d is formed, for example, by crimping a part of each of the provided side walls 22b and 22c in the left-right direction X.

[0028] In this embodiment, the mover 30 extends in the left-right direction X. The mover 30 is movable in the left-right direction X within the case 20. The mover 30 has a mover body 31 and a coil 32. In this embodiment, the mover 30 vibrates in the left-right direction X by an electromagnetic force generated between the coil 32 and the magnet 40 when power is supplied to the coil 32, and an elastic force applied from the elastic member 50. The mover body 31 extends in the left-right direction X. The mover body 31 has a base 31a and protruding parts 31b and 31c. The base 31a is a part where the coil 32 is held. As shown in FIG. 2, the base 31a is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flat in the up-down direction Z and extends in the left-right direction X.

[0029] The base 31a has a recess 31d recessed downward from the upper surface of the base 31a. The inner edge of the recess 31d is rectangular when viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 6, the base 31a has a recess 31g recessed upward from the lower surface of the base 31a. The inner edge of the recess 31g is rectangular when viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 31d and the recess 31g are provided at positions overlapping each other when viewed in the vertical direction Z. The base 31a has a through hole 31e penetrating the base 31a in the vertical direction Z. The through hole 31e penetrates from the bottom surface of the recess 31d to the bottom surface of the recess 31g. As shown in FIG. 2, the through hole 31e is a hole of a substantially circular shape. The coil 32 is fitted and held inside the through hole 31e. In this way, the coil 32 is attached to the movable body 31.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 4, the base 31a is located inside the area surrounded by the bottom wall 21a, the top wall 22a, the guides 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b. The base 31a is supported by the guides 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b so as to be movable in the left-right direction X. As a result, the guides 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b guide the movement of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X. The base 31a has guided surfaces 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d. That is, the mover body 31 has guided surfaces 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d.

[0031] The guided surface 34a is provided at the upper end of the front edge (+Y side) of the base 31a. The guided surface 34a faces front and diagonally upward, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34a is formed, for example, by chamfering the front and upper corners of the base 31a. The guided surface 34a is disposed opposite the guide surface 23c. The guided surface 34a is capable of coming into contact with the guide surface 23c.

[0032] The guided surface 34b is provided at the lower end of the front edge (+Y side) of the base 31a. The guided surface 34b faces front and diagonally downward, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34b is formed, for example, by chamfering the front and lower corners of the base 31a. The guided surface 34b is disposed opposite the guide surface 24c. The guided surface 34b is capable of coming into contact with the guide surface 24c.

[0033] The guided surface 34c is provided at the upper end of the rear edge (-Y side) of the base 31a. The guided surface 34c faces rearward and diagonally upward, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34c is formed by chamfering the rear and upper corners of the base 31a. The guided surface 34c is disposed opposite the guide surface 23d. The guided surface 34c is capable of coming into contact with the guide surface 23d.

[0034] The guided surface 34d is provided at the lower end of the rear edge (-Y side) of the base 31a. The guided surface 34d faces rearward and diagonally downward, and extends in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34d is formed, for example, by chamfering the rear lower corners of the base 31a. The guided surface 34d is disposed opposite the guide surface 24d. The guided surface 34d is capable of coming into contact with the guide surface 24d.

[0035] The guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b are disposed at an interval in the vertical direction Z. The guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b approach each other in the vertical direction Z toward the front side (+Y side). The guided surface 34a and the guided surface 34b are sandwiched in the vertical direction Z by the guide surface 23c and the guide surface 24c. In a state in which the guided surface 34a and the guide surface 23c are in contact with each other and the guided surface 34b and the guide surface 24c are in contact with each other, the front end surface of the base 31a faces the facing surface 26b facing the front side of the base 31a through a gap in the front-rear direction Y. That is, in a state in which the mover 30 contacts the guide surfaces 23c and 24c in this embodiment, the mover 30 faces the facing surface 26b through a gap in the front-rear direction Y. As a result, in this embodiment, the mover 30 does not contact the facing surface 26b.

[0036] The relationship between the guided surfaces 34c and 34d is similar to the relationship between the guided surfaces 34a and 34b described above, except that they are symmetrical in the front-rear direction Y. When the guided surfaces 34c and 34d are in contact with the guide surfaces 23d and 24d, the mover 30 faces the opposing surface 26c, which faces the rear side (-Y side) of the base 31a, with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. As a result, in this embodiment, the mover 30 does not contact the opposing surface 26c.

[0037] In a state where the guided surface 34a and the guide surface 23c are in contact with each other, and the guided surface 34c and the guide surface 23d are in contact with each other, the upper end surface of the base 31a faces the opposing surface 26d facing the upper side of the base 31a through a gap in the vertical direction Z. That is, in the state where the movable element 30 contacts the guide surfaces 23c and 23d, the movable element 30 faces the opposing surface 26d through a gap in the vertical direction Z in the state where the movable element 30 contacts the guide surfaces 23c and 23d. As a result, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 does not contact the opposing surface 26d. In addition, in a state where the guided surfaces 34b and 34d contact the guide surfaces 24c and 24d, the movable element 30 faces the opposing surface 26a facing the lower side of the base 31a through a gap in the vertical direction Z. As a result, in the present embodiment, the movable element 30 does not contact the opposing surface 26a.

[0038] In this embodiment, the guided surface 34a always faces the entire guide surface 23c of the guide portion 23a in the left-right direction X within the range in which the mover 30 moves in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34b always faces the entire guide surface 24c of the guide portion 24a in the left-right direction X within the range in which the mover 30 moves in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34c always faces the entire guide surface 23d of the guide portion 23b in the left-right direction X within the range in which the mover 30 moves in the left-right direction X. The guided surface 34d always faces the entire guide surface 24d of the guide portion 24b in the left-right direction X within the range in which the mover 30 moves in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the positions of the entire guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b in the left-right direction X are included in the position of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X within the movement range of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X. More specifically, the positions of the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b in the left-right direction X as a whole are included in the position of the base portion 31a in the left-right direction X within the movement range of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 31b protrudes to the right (+X side) from the base 31a. The protrusion 31c protrudes to the left (-X side) from the base 31a. The protrusions 31b and 31c are, for example, substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The dimensions of the protrusions 31b and 31c in the front-rear direction Y are smaller than the dimensions of the base 31a in the front-rear direction Y. In this embodiment, the protrusions 31b and 31c are provided in the center of the base 31a in the front-rear direction Y. Both ends of the protrusions 31b and 31c in the front-rear direction Y are located away from both ends of the base 31a in the front-rear direction Y.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the dimension in the left-right direction X of the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31b is smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction X of the rear portion 31i of the protrusion 31b. The right end (+X side) of the front portion 31h is located to the left (-X side) of the right end of the rear portion 31i. The dimension in the left-right direction X of the front portion 31h is smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction X of the protrusion 31c, for example. The dimension in the left-right direction X of the rear portion 31i is the same as the dimension in the left-right direction X of the protrusion 31c, for example. In this embodiment, the rear portion 31i is a portion of the movable body 31 that overlaps with a third extension portion 66, which will be described later, when viewed in the up-down direction Z.

[0041] The mover body 31 has protrusions 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d. The protrusions 33a and 33b protrude to the right (+X) from both ends in the front-rear direction Y at the right end of the base 31a. The protrusions 33a and 33b sandwich the protrusion 31b in the front-rear direction Y. The protrusions 33c and 33d protrude to the left (-X) from both ends in the front-rear direction Y at the left end of the base 31a. The protrusions 33c and 33d sandwich the protrusion 31c in the front-rear direction Y. The protrusions 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d are, for example, rectangular parallelepiped shapes. The protrusion heights of the protrusions 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d are smaller than the protrusion heights of the protrusions 31b and 31c.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the mover body 31 has a groove 31f. In this embodiment, the groove 31f is provided across the base 31a and the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31b. The groove 31f is recessed downward from the upper surface of the mover body 31 and extends in the left-right direction X. The left (-X side) end of the groove 31f opens into the recess 31d. The right (+X side) end of the groove 31f opens into the right end face of the front portion 31h. The groove 31f is provided closer to the front (+Y side) than the center of the mover body 31 in the front-rear direction Y.

[0043] The coil 32 is configured by winding a conductor around a central axis J extending in the up-down direction Z. The central axis J is an imaginary axis line as shown in the appropriate drawings. For example, when the mover 30 is stationary, the central axis J passes through the center of the case 20 in the left-right direction X and the center of the front-rear direction Y. The coil 32 is substantially annular in shape centered on the central axis J when viewed in the up-down direction Z. The coil 32 is fitted into the through hole 31e and fixed to the mover body 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the coil 32 protrudes, for example, above the through hole 31e. The lower end of the coil 32 is located, for example, at the same position in the up-down direction Z as the lower end of the through hole 31e. Power is supplied to the coil 32 from outside the linear actuator 10 via the wiring member 60.

[0044] 5, the magnet 40 is disposed inside the case 20 facing the coil 32 in the up-down direction Z perpendicular to the left-right direction X. A gap is provided between the magnet 40 and the coil 32 in the up-down direction Z. The magnet 40 is, for example, in the form of a rectangular plate with a plate surface facing the up-down direction Z and elongated in the front-rear direction Y. The magnet 40 includes a first magnet 41, a second magnet 42, a third magnet 43, and a fourth magnet 44.

[0045] The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are located above the coil 32. The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are fixed to the inner wall surface of the top wall portion 22a, i.e., the opposing surface 26d. The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction X. The second magnet 42 is located on the left side (-X side) of the first magnet 41. The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 are in contact with each other in the left-right direction X. For example, when the mover 30 is stationary, a central axis J passes between the first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42 in the left-right direction X.

[0046] The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are located below the coil 32. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are fixed to the inner wall surface of the bottom wall portion 21a, i.e., the opposing surface 26a. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction X. The fourth magnet 44 is located to the left (-X side) of the third magnet 43. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 are in contact with each other in the left-right direction X. For example, when the mover 30 is stationary, the central axis J passes between the third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44 in the left-right direction X.

[0047] The first magnet 41 and the third magnet 43 are arranged to sandwich the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. The first magnet 41 and the third magnet 43 are arranged to overlap each other when viewed in the vertical direction Z. The second magnet 42 and the fourth magnet 44 are arranged to sandwich the coil 32 in the vertical direction Z. The second magnet 42 and the fourth magnet 44 are arranged to overlap each other when viewed in the vertical direction Z.

[0048] Each magnet 40 has magnetic poles along the up-down direction Z. The first magnet 41 has a magnetic pole 41N which is an N pole on the upper side. The first magnet 41 has a magnetic pole 41S which is an S pole on the lower side. The second magnet 42 has a magnetic pole 42S which is an S pole on the upper side. The second magnet 42 has a magnetic pole 42N which is an N pole on the lower side. The third magnet 43 has a magnetic pole 43N which is an N pole on the upper side. The third magnet 43 has a magnetic pole 43S which is an S pole on the lower side. The fourth magnet 44 has a magnetic pole 44S which is an S pole on the upper side. The fourth magnet 44 has a magnetic pole 44N which is an N pole on the lower side.

[0049] The first magnet 41 and the second magnet 42, which are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction X, have their N poles and S poles arranged in the opposite directions in the up-down direction Z. The third magnet 43 and the fourth magnet 44, which are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction X, have their N poles and S poles arranged in the opposite directions in the up-down direction Z. The first magnet 41 and the third magnet 43, which are arranged with the coil 32 sandwiched between them in the up-down direction Z, have their N poles and S poles arranged in the same direction along the up-down direction Z. The second magnet 42 and the fourth magnet 44, which are arranged with the coil 32 sandwiched between them in the up-down direction Z, have their N poles and S poles arranged in the same direction along the up-down direction Z.

[0050] The elastic member 50 is a member that elastically deforms in association with movement of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X, and applies a force in the left-right direction X to the mover 30. As shown in Fig. 3, in this embodiment, the elastic member 50 is a coil spring that extends in the left-right direction X. The elastic member 50 includes a first elastic member 51, a second elastic member 52, a third elastic member 53, and a fourth elastic member 54.

[0051] The first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are located on the right side (+X side) of the mover 30. In this embodiment, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are located between the mover 30 and the side wall portion 22b in the left-right direction X. The first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are arranged to sandwich the protruding portion 31b in the front-rear direction Y. The first elastic member 51 is located on the front side (+Y side) of the protruding portion 31b. The second elastic member 52 is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the protruding portion 31b. The right end of the first elastic member 51 and the right end of the second elastic member 52 are in contact with the side wall portion 22b of the case 20. The left end of the first elastic member 51 (-X side) and the left end of the second elastic member 52 are in contact with the base portion 31a of the mover main body 31. The convex portions 25a and 33a are inserted into both ends of the first elastic member 51 in the left-right direction X, respectively. The protrusions 25b, 33b are inserted into both ends of the second elastic member 52 in the left-right direction X. This prevents the positions of the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 from shifting in the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction Y.

[0052] In this embodiment, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 correspond to a pair of elastic members 50 located on the right side (+X side) of the movable body 31 and arranged on either side of the wiring member 60 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z.

[0053] The third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are located on the left side (-X side) of the mover 30. The third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are located between the mover 30 and the side wall portion 22c in the left-right direction X. The third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are arranged to sandwich the protruding portion 31c in the front-rear direction Y. The third elastic member 53 is located on the front side (+Y side) of the protruding portion 31c. The fourth elastic member 54 is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the protruding portion 31c. The left end of the third elastic member 53 and the left end of the fourth elastic member 54 are in contact with the side wall portion 22c of the case 20. The right end of the third elastic member 53 (+X side) and the right end of the fourth elastic member 54 are in contact with the base portion 31a of the mover main body 31. The protruding portions 25c and 33c are inserted into both ends of the third elastic member 53 in the left-right direction X, respectively. The protrusions 25d, 33d are inserted into both ends of the fourth elastic member 54 in the left-right direction X. This prevents the positions of the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 from shifting in the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction Y.

[0054] The first elastic member 51 and the third elastic member 53 are disposed to sandwich in the left-right direction X a portion of the base 31a located forward (+Y side) of the protruding portions 31b and 31c. The second elastic member 52 and the fourth elastic member 54 are disposed to sandwich in the left-right direction X a portion of the base 31a located rearward (-Y side) of the protruding portions 31b and 31c.

[0055] When the mover 30 moves to the right (+X side) from the position shown in each drawing, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are compressed and elastically deformed in the left-right direction X. As a result, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 apply an elastic force to the mover 30 in a direction to move the mover 30 away from the side wall portion 22b, that is, in the leftward direction (-X side direction).

[0056] On the other hand, when the mover 30 moves to the left (-X side) from the position shown in each drawing, the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 are compressed and elastically deformed in the left-right direction X. As a result, the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 apply an elastic force to the mover 30 in a direction to move the mover 30 away from the side wall portion 22c, that is, to the right (+X side).

[0057] The damper member 70 is fixed to an inner wall surface of the case 20. The damper member 70 faces the movable body 31 in the left-right direction X. The damper member 70 is a member that damps the kinetic energy of a colliding object. The damper member 70 is made of, for example, rubber. The damper member 70 has, for example, a square shape when viewed in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the damper member 70 includes a first damper member 71 and a second damper member 72.

[0058] The first damper member 71 is fixed to an inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22b, that is, to a surface on the left side (-X side) of the side wall portion 22b. In this embodiment, the first damper member 71 is located rearward (-Y side) from the center of the side wall portion 22b in the front-rear direction Y. The first damper member 71 is located on the right side (+X side) of the rear portion 31i of the protruding portion 31b.

[0059] The second damper member 72 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 22c, i.e., the right side (+X side) surface of the side wall portion 22c. In this embodiment, the second damper member 72 is located rearward (-Y side) from the center of the side wall portion 22c in the front-rear direction Y. The second damper member 72 is located leftward (-X side) of the rear portion of the protruding portion 31c. The first damper member 71 and the second damper member 72 are disposed to sandwich the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X.

[0060] The wiring member 60 is electrically connected to the coil 32 on the upper side of the movable body 31. The wiring member 60 is a flexible member. The wiring member 60 is, for example, a flexible printed circuit board. In this embodiment, the wiring member 60 is strip-shaped. The width direction of the strip-shaped wiring member 60 is the front-rear direction Y that is perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Hereinafter, in the description of the wiring member 60, the dimension in the front-rear direction Y may be simply referred to as the "width".

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, the wiring member 60 has a coil connection portion 61, a first extension portion 62, a first connection portion 63, a second extension portion 64, a second connection portion 65, and a third extension portion 66. The wiring member 60 is configured by connecting the coil connection portion 61, the first extension portion 62, the first connection portion 63, the second extension portion 64, the second connection portion 65, and the third extension portion 66 in this order. In the coil connection portion 61, the first extension portion 62, the second extension portion 64, the second connection portion 65, and the third extension portion 66, the thickness direction is the vertical direction Z. In the first connection portion 63, the thickness direction is a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction Y and intersects with the vertical direction Z.

[0062] The coil connection part 61 is one end part of the wiring member 60. The coil connection part 61 has a rectangular shape with rounded corners that is long in the front-rear direction Y when viewed from above. The coil connection part 61 is fixed to a part of the bottom surface of the recess 31d that is located to the right (+X side) of the coil 32. The coil lead wires 32a, 32b drawn out from the coil 32 to the right are electrically connected to the coil connection part 61. In other words, the coil 32 is electrically connected to the coil connection part 61. This electrically connects the coil 32 and the wiring member 60 to each other.

[0063] The first extension portion 62 is located on the upper side of the mover body 31 and extends in the left-right direction X. The first extension portion 62 extends from a portion of the coil connection portion 61 closer to the front side (+Y side) to the right side (+X side). The first extension portion 62 passes through the groove portion 31f and extends to the right of the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31b.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first extending portion 62 has a wide portion 62a extending from the coil connecting portion 61 to the right side (+X side) and a narrow portion 62b connected to the right side of the wide portion 62a. The wide portion 62a passes through the groove portion 31f and extends to the right side beyond the front portion 31h of the protruding portion 31b. The width of the wide portion 62a is greater than the width of the narrow portion 62b and the width of the first connecting portion 63. The front edge (+Y side) of the wide portion 62a protrudes forward beyond the front edge of the narrow portion 62b. The rear edge (-Y side) of the wide portion 62a is located at the same position in the front-rear direction Y as the rear edge of the narrow portion 62b.

[0065] The first connection portion 63 is connected to the right end (+X side) of the first extension portion 62, that is, the right end of the narrow width portion 62b. In this embodiment, the first connection portion 63 is a portion bent downward with respect to the first extension portion 62. The first connection portion 63 is in an elastically deformed state. As shown in FIG. 5, the first connection portion 63 is bent, for example, in an arc shape that is convex to the right side when viewed from the rear side (-Y side). In this embodiment, the first connection portion 63 passes to the right of the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31b, and is bent in an arc shape from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31. The lower end of the first connection portion 63 is connected to the right end of the second extension portion 64. As a result, the first connection portion 63 connects the right end of the first extension portion 62 and the right end of the second extension portion 64.

[0066] The second extension portion 64 is a portion that sandwiches the mover body 31 in the up-down direction Z between itself and the first extension portion 62 and extends in the left-right direction X. The second extension portion 64 extends to the left (-X side) from the lower end of the first connection portion 63. The left portion of the second extension portion 64 is located below the front portion 31h of the protrusion 31b. The second extension portion 64 is disposed on the opposing surface 26a.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 3, the second connection portion 65 connects the left end (-X side) of the second extension portion 64 and the left end of the third extension portion 66. The second connection portion 65 has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction Y when viewed in the up-down direction Z. The second connection portion 65 is disposed across the lower side of the protruding portion 31b and the lower side of the base portion 31a. The second connection portion 65 is disposed across the lower side of the front portion 31h and the lower side of the rear portion 31i. The second connection portion 65 protrudes rearward (-Y side) beyond the second extension portion 64. The second connection portion 65 is disposed on the opposing surface 26a.

[0068] 5, the second connection portion 65 is supported from the left side by a protrusion 27 provided on the inner wall surface of the case 20. This prevents the wiring member 60 from shifting to the left side within the case 20. The protrusion 27 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 21a, i.e., the opposing surface 26a. The protrusion 27 is formed, for example, by crimping a part of the bottom wall portion 21a upward.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 3, the third extension portion 66 is arranged alongside the second extension portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. The third extension portion 66 extends from the rear portion of the second connection portion 65 to the right (+X side). The third extension portion 66 is drawn out to the right of the mover body 31. The third extension portion 66 penetrates the side wall portion 22b in the left-right direction X and is drawn out to the outside of the case 20. For example, the third extension portion 66 extends to the right from the case 20. The portion of the third extension portion 66 located inside the case 20 is arranged on the opposing surface 26a. An external power source (not shown) is connected to the third extension portion 66. Power from the external power source is supplied to the coil 32 via the wiring member 60.

[0070] By arranging the first extension portion 62, the first connection portion 63, the second extension portion 64, the second connection portion 65, and the third extension portion 66 as described above, the wiring member 60 extends from the upper side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+X side) of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31, and is drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31 to the right side of the mover body 31. In other words, the wiring member 60 is provided sandwiching the right side portion of the mover body 31 in the vertical direction Z, and is drawn out to the right side of the mover body 31. Therefore, the wiring member 60 is less likely to interfere with the mover body 31 compared to a case in which the wiring member 60 is wound around the mover body 31. In addition, the wiring member 60 can be prevented from becoming long. As a result, compared to a case in which the wiring member 60 is wound around the mover body 31, the case 20 that accommodates the mover body 31 and the wiring member 60 can be prevented from becoming large. Therefore, the coil 32 can be provided on the mover 30 while preventing the linear actuator 10 from becoming large.

[0071] Also, the wiring member 60 extends from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+X side) of the mover body 31. Therefore, in response to the movement of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X, a part of the wiring member 60 is relatively drawn in to the lower side of the mover body 31, or a part of the wiring member 60 is relatively drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31. This allows the wiring member 60 to move relative to the mover body 31 in accordance with the movement of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, it is possible to allow the movement of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X while reducing the stress applied to the wiring member 60. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the wiring member 60 from breaking, etc. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as an inability to supply power to the coil 32.

[0072] Specifically, for example, when the mover body 31 moves to the right (+X side) from the position shown in FIG. 5, a part of the first connection portion 63 is relatively drawn in to the lower side of the mover body 31. As a result, even if the mover body 31 moves to the right, it is possible to prevent the mover body 31 from being pulled strongly. On the other hand, when the mover body 31 moves to the left (-X side), the second extension portion 64 is relatively drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31. As a result, even if the mover body 31 moves to the left, it is possible to prevent the mover body 31 from being pulled strongly. As a result, even if the mover 30 moves in the left-right direction X, it is possible to prevent stress from being applied to the wiring member 60. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wiring member 60 from being broken.

[0073] In addition, the wiring member 60 routed from the upper side of the mover body 31 through the right side (+X side) of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31 is drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31 to the right of the mover body 31. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be routed without passing under the coil 32. This makes it possible to prevent the linear actuator 10 from becoming larger in size in the up-down direction Z, compared to, for example, a case in which the wiring member 60 extending to the lower side of the mover body 31 passes under the coil 32 and is drawn out to the left side (-X side) of the mover body 31. In addition, the wiring member 60 can be further prevented from becoming longer.

[0074] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the third extension portion 66 drawn out to the right (+X side) of the movable body 31 is arranged side by side with the second extension portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, compared to a case in which the second extension portion 64 and the third extension portion 66 are arranged overlapping in the up-down direction Z, it is possible to prevent the linear actuator 10 from becoming large in size in the up-down direction Z.

[0075] According to the present embodiment, the first connection portion 63 is a portion bent downward with respect to the first extension portion 62. Therefore, by bending the wiring member 60 along the mover body 31 to create the first connection portion 63, the wiring member 60 can be easily routed from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31. Furthermore, by routing the wiring member 60 from the upper side of the mover body 31 to the lower side of the mover body 31, the first connection portion 63 located on the right side (+X side) of the mover body 31 can be bent into an arc shape with a relatively large radius. Therefore, even if the first connection portion 63 is bent with respect to the first extension portion 62, the stress applied to the first connection portion 63 can be made relatively small. This can further suppress the wiring member 60 from breaking.

[0076] Further, according to the present embodiment, the first extension portion 62 has a wide portion 62a that is wider than the first connection portion 63. Therefore, it is easy to increase the rigidity of the first extension portion 62. As a result, even when the first connection portion 63 is bent, the first extension portion 62 connected to the first connection portion 63 is less likely to deform. Therefore, the portion of the first extension portion 62 to which the first connection portion 63 is connected is prevented from floating up, and the first connection portion 63 is prevented from bulging upward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wiring member 60 from interfering with the case 20. Also, it is possible to prevent the case 20 from becoming large. As a result, it is possible to further prevent the linear actuator 10 from becoming large.

[0077] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a damper member 70 is provided that is fixed to the inner wall surface of the case 20 and faces the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, when the mover body 31 moves in the left-right direction X, the mover body 31 comes into contact with the damper member 70. This allows the kinetic energy of the mover body 31 to be damped by the damper member 70, and also prevents the mover body 31 from coming into direct contact with the inner wall surface of the case 20. This makes it possible to prevent the mover body 31 from directly hitting the inner wall surface of the case 20 and generating noise.

[0078] According to the present embodiment, the damper member 70 includes a portion of the movable body 31 that overlaps with the third extension portion 66 in the up-down direction Z, that is, the first damper member 71 located on the right side (+X side) of the rear portion 31i of the protruding portion 31b. By arranging the first damper member 71 on the right side of the rear portion 31i that overlaps with the third extension portion 66 arranged side by side with the second extension portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y in the up-down direction Z, it is possible to prevent the first damper member 71 from interfering with the first connection portion 63. In addition, by arranging the first damper member 71 on the side (-Y side) where the third extension portion 66 is arranged side by side with the second extension portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y, it is possible to prevent the linear actuator 10 from becoming larger in the front-rear direction Y, compared to the case where the first damper member 71 is arranged forward of the first connection portion 63 (+Y side).

[0079] Also, for example, when the elastic member is a metal leaf spring, a configuration is also conceivable in which a conductor electrically connected to the coil 32 is electrically connected to the leaf spring, and power is supplied to the coil 32 via the leaf spring. In contrast, according to this embodiment, the elastic member 50 is a coil spring. In this case, it is difficult to connect a conductor to the elastic member 50. Therefore, when the elastic member 50 is a coil spring, a structure in which power is supplied to the coil 32 by a flexible wiring member 60 as in this embodiment is useful. In this embodiment, in the linear actuator 10 having such a structure in which the elastic member 50 is a coil spring, a flexible wiring member 60 is used to easily supply power to the coil 32, while the linear actuator 10 can be prevented from becoming large as described above.

[0080] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 as a pair of elastic members 50 are disposed to sandwich the wiring member 60 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 can suitably apply an elastic force to the mover main body 31. Even if the wiring member 60 is sandwiched between the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 in the front-rear direction Y, the wiring member 60 is routed as described above, so that interference of the wiring member 60 with the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 can be suppressed.

[0081] In addition, according to this embodiment, by using a coil spring as the elastic member 50, a pair of elastic members 50 can be arranged on both sides of the mover body 31 in the left-right direction X, and a structure in which a part of the mover body 31 is arranged between the pair of elastic members 50 can be adopted. Specifically, the protrusion 31b can be arranged between the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 in the front-rear direction Y, and the protrusion 31c can be arranged between the third elastic member 53 and the fourth elastic member 54 in the front-rear direction Y. This allows the mass of the mover body 31 to be increased by the amount of the protrusions 31b and 31c provided. Therefore, the kinetic energy when the mover 30 vibrates in the left-right direction X can be increased. Therefore, the linear actuator 10 can preferably apply vibration to the device in which the linear actuator 10 is mounted.

[0082] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the wiring member 60 is strip-shaped. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be easily bent and arranged. Specifically, the first connection portion 63 can be easily bent into an arc shape. Moreover, according to this embodiment, the width direction of the wiring member 60 is a direction perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the thickness of the wiring member 60 in the up-down direction Z can be easily reduced. This can further suppress the linear actuator 10 from becoming large in the up-down direction Z. Furthermore, when the mover body 31 moves in the left-right direction X, as described above, a part of the wiring member 60 can be relatively easily drawn in to the lower side of the mover body 31, and a part of the wiring member 60 can be relatively easily drawn out from the lower side of the mover body 31. This can more suitably suppress the application of stress to the wiring member 60. Therefore, the wiring member 60 can be more suitably suppressed from breaking.

[0083] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the material of the case 20 is a magnetic material. Therefore, when power is supplied to the coil 32, a magnetic flux also flows inside the case 20, and a magnetic circuit passing through the coil 32 and the magnet 40 is more suitably configured. This improves the electromagnetic force generated between the coil 32 and the magnet 40. Therefore, the mover 30 can be more suitably moved in the left-right direction X.

[0084] Here, for example, when the magnet 40 is provided on the mover 30 and the coil 32 is provided on the case 20, the magnet 40 may be attracted to the case 20 made of a magnetic material by magnetic force, causing the mover 30 to rub against the inner wall surface of the case 20. In this case, the mover 30 becomes difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

[0085] In contrast, according to this embodiment, the coil 32 is provided on the mover 30, and the magnet 40 is fixed to the case 20 made of a magnetic material. This can prevent the mover 30 from being attracted to the case 20. This can prevent the mover 30 from rubbing against the inner wall surface of the case 20. This can prevent the mover 30 from becoming difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

[0086] Furthermore, regardless of whether the coil 32 and the magnet 40 are provided on the mover 30 or on the case 20, there is a risk that the mover 30 will rub against the inner wall surface of the case 20 due to the mover 30 tilting within the case 20. In this case as well, the mover 30 will be less likely to move in the left-right direction X.

[0087] In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the case 20 has the guide parts 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b that guide the movement of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the guide parts 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b can prevent the mover 30 from tilting in the case 20. This can prevent the mover 30 from rubbing against the inner wall surface of the case 20. Therefore, it is possible to further prevent the mover 30 from becoming difficult to move in the left-right direction X. In addition, it is possible to prevent the mover 30 from swinging around in the case 20, and to prevent abnormal noise from being generated. In addition, by providing the guide parts 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b in the case 20, it is easy to reduce the gap between the mover 30 and the case 20 in the portions other than the guide parts 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b. This can suitably increase the size of the mover body 31 in the case 20, and increase the mass of the mover body 31. This makes it possible to increase the kinetic energy when the mover 30 vibrates in the left-right direction X. This allows the linear actuator 10 to suitably apply vibration to the device in which the linear actuator 10 is mounted.

[0088] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the positions of the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b as a whole in the left-right direction X are included in the position of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X within the movement range of the mover 30 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the mover 30 can be guided in the left-right direction X more stably by the guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b.

[0089] According to this embodiment, the guide portions 24a and 24b are provided at the corners between the bottom wall portion 21a and the pair of wall main portions 21d and 21e. Therefore, the guide portions 24a and 24b can easily support the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction Y. This allows the guide portions 24a and 24b to guide the mover 30 more stably in the left-right direction X. According to this embodiment, the guide portions 24a and 24b are located inside the case 20 with respect to the pair of wall main portions 21d and 21e. Therefore, by supporting the mover 30 with the guide portions 24a and 24b, it is possible to prevent the mover 30 from rubbing against the inner wall surfaces of the pair of wall main portions 21d and 21e.

[0090] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the case 20 has a rectangular box shape extending in the left-right direction X. The guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b are provided at the four corners of the case 20 when viewed in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the four guide portions 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b can guide the mover 30 in the left-right direction X more stably.

[0091] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the mover 30 is in contact with the guide surfaces 23c, 24c, it faces the opposing surface 26b with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the guide surfaces 23c, 24c can prevent the mover 30 from rubbing against the opposing surface 26b. This can prevent the mover 30 from becoming difficult to move in the left-right direction X.

[0092] Also, similar to the effect of the guide surfaces 23c and 24c described above, the guide surfaces 23d and 24d can suppress the movable element 30 from rubbing against the opposing surface 26c. Also, similar to the effect of the guide surfaces 23c and 24c described above, the guide surfaces 23c and 23d can suppress the movable element 30 from rubbing against the opposing surface 26d. Also, similar to the effect of the guide surfaces 23c and 24c described above, the guide surfaces 24c and 24d can suppress the movable element 30 from rubbing against the opposing surface 26a. As a result, it is possible to suppress the movable element 30 from rubbing against both side surfaces in the up-down direction Z and both side surfaces in the front-rear direction Y of the inner wall surface of the case 20. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be suitably moved in the left-right direction X. Note that, in this embodiment, the intersecting direction in which the opposing surfaces 26a and 26d face the movable element 30 is the up-down direction Z, and the intersecting direction in which the opposing surfaces 26b and 26c face the movable element 30 is the front-rear direction Y.

[0093] <Second embodiment> In the following description of each embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment may be appropriately denoted by the same reference numerals and description may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 7, the case 120 of the linear actuator 110 of this embodiment has a first case member 121 and a second case member 122. The second case member 122 does not have the guide parts 23a and 23b, unlike the second case member 22 of the above-described first embodiment. The side wall part 121b of the first case member 121 is provided with a guide part 128a. The side wall part 121c is provided with a guide part 128b. The guide parts 128a and 128b are configured such that the center part of each of the side wall parts 121b and 121c in the up-down direction Z is recessed toward the inside side (-Y side) of the case 120. Although not shown, the guide parts 128a and 128b extend in the left-right direction X.

[0094] The mover 130 has guided recesses 137a and 137b provided in the mover body 131. The guided recess 137a is recessed from the front (+Y side) surface of the mover body 131 to the rear (-Y side). The guided recess 137b is recessed from the rear surface of the mover body 131 to the front. Although not shown, the guided recesses 137a and 137b extend in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 128a is fitted into the guided recess 137a. The guide portion 128b is fitted into the guided recess 137b. This allows the mover 130 to be easily and stably supported by the guide portions 128a and 128b. In this embodiment, the mover 130 is supported in the up-down direction Z by the guide portions 128a and 128b. When supported by the guide portions 128a and 128b, the mover 130 is disposed away from the bottom wall portion 21a and the top wall portion 22a in the up-down direction Z. This prevents the mover 130 from rubbing against the bottom wall portion 21a and the top wall portion 22a.

[0095] With the guide portions 128a, 128b fitted into the guided recesses 137a, 137b, the mover 130 is disposed facing portions of the sidewall portions 121b, 121c other than the portions where the guide portions 128a, 128b are provided, with a gap therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. This prevents the mover 130 from rubbing against the sidewall portions 121b, 121c. The other configurations of the linear actuator 110 can be similar to the other configurations of the linear actuator 10 of the first embodiment described above.

[0096] <Third embodiment> As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the case 220 in the linear actuator 210 of this embodiment has a first case member 221 and a second case member 222. The first case member 221 is box-shaped and opens upward. As shown in FIG. 9, the first case member 221 has a bottom wall portion 221a, a pair of side wall portions 221b, 221c protruding upward from both edges of the bottom wall portion 221a in the front-rear direction Y, and a pair of side wall portions 221f, 221g protruding upward from both edges of the bottom wall portion 221a in the left-right direction X. The side wall portion 221f connects the right side (+X side) ends of the pair of side wall portions 221b, 221c to each other. The side wall portion 221g connects the left side (-X side) ends of the pair of side wall portions 221b, 221c to each other. The side walls 221b, 221c, 221f, and 221g protrude vertically upward from the periphery of the bottom wall 221a. In this embodiment, the bottom wall 221a corresponds to a "first wall," and the pair of side walls 221b, 221c correspond to a "pair of second walls."

[0097] The second case member 222 is fixed to the upper side of the first case member 221. The second case member 222 closes the upper opening of the first case member 221. Unlike the first embodiment, the second case member 222 does not have side walls 22b, 22c. In this embodiment, the second case member 222 is made of a top wall 222a having a substantially rectangular plate shape with a plate surface facing the up-down direction Z. In this embodiment, a side wall 221f is provided in the first case member 221 instead of the side wall 22b. A side wall 221g is provided in the first case member 221 instead of the side wall 22c.

[0098] The case 220 has holes 221h, 221i provided in a part of the left-right direction X of the edge of the bottom wall 221a in the front-rear direction Y. The holes 221h, 221i extend in the left-right direction X. The hole 221h is provided in the center of the front (+Y side) edge of the bottom wall 221a in the left-right direction X. The hole 221h is provided across the bottom wall 221a and the side wall 221b. The hole 221h is provided in a corner where the bottom wall 221a and the side wall 221b are connected. The hole 221i is provided in the center of the rear (-Y side) edge of the bottom wall 221a in the left-right direction X. The hole 221i is provided across the bottom wall 221a and the side wall 221c. The hole 221i is provided at a corner where the bottom wall 221a and the side wall 221c are connected.

[0099] In this embodiment, the guide portion 224a is connected to a first edge portion 221j located in the front-rear direction Y of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221h. The first edge portion 221j is an edge portion located on the rear side (-Y side) of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221h. The first edge portion 221j is provided on the bottom wall portion 221a. The guide portion 224a obliquely protrudes upward from the first edge portion 221j in the front-rear direction Y toward the side wall portion 221b (+Y direction). Both ends of the guide portion 224a in the left-right direction X are arranged at an interval in the left-right direction X from a pair of second edges 221m located on both sides of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221h in the left-right direction X. As shown in FIG. 10, a gap G1 is provided between the guide portion 224a and the second edge portion 221m. The shape of the guide portion 224a is similar to the shape of the guide portion 24a in the first embodiment.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the guide portion 224b is connected to a first edge portion 221k located in the front-rear direction Y of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221i. The first edge portion 221k is an edge portion located on the front side (+Y side) of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221i. The first edge portion 221k is provided on the bottom wall portion 221a. The guide portion 224b obliquely protrudes upward from the first edge portion 221k in the front-rear direction Y toward the side wall portion 221c (-Y direction). Both ends of the guide portion 224b in the left-right direction X are disposed at an interval in the left-right direction X from a pair of second edges 221p located on both sides in the left-right direction X of the inner edge portion of the hole portion 221i. A gap is provided between the guide portion 224b and the second edge portion 221p. The shape of the guide portion 224b is similar to the shape of the guide portion 24b in the first embodiment.

[0101] In this embodiment, the guide portion 23a is connected to an inner edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of a recess 222d provided on an edge portion on the front side (+Y side) of the top wall portion 222a. Both edges in the left-right direction X of the recess 222d are provided farther in the left-right direction X than both edges in the left-right direction X of the guide portion 23a. As shown in Fig. 10, a gap G2 is provided between the guide portion 23a and the inner edge portion in the left-right direction X of the recess 222d.

[0102] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in this embodiment, the guide portion 23b is connected to an inner edge portion on the front side (+Y side) of a recess 222e provided on an edge portion on the rear side (-Y side) of the top wall portion 222a. Both edges in the left-right direction X of the recess 222e are provided farther in the left-right direction X than both edges in the left-right direction X of the guide portion 23b. A gap is provided between the guide portion 23b and the inner edge portion in the left-right direction X of the recess 222e. Other configurations of the linear actuator 210 of this embodiment can be similar to other configurations of the linear actuator 10 of the first embodiment.

[0103] According to this embodiment, the case 220 has holes 221h, 221i provided in a part of the left-right direction X of the edge of the bottom wall 221a in the front-rear direction Y. The guides 224a, 224b are connected to first edges 221j, 221k located in the front-rear direction Y of the inner edges of the holes 221h, 221i. Therefore, by providing a pair of side walls 221b, 221c that directly and perpendicularly protrude from the edge of the bottom wall 221a in the front-rear direction Y and partially providing the holes 221h, 221i in the bottom wall 221a, the guides 224a, 224b can be provided on the first edges 221j, 221k of the holes 221h, 221i. This makes it easier to increase the rigidity of the side walls 221b and 221c in the vertical direction Z compared to the case where the lower portion of the side wall is a guide portion inclined obliquely with respect to the vertical direction Z over the entire axial direction, such as the side walls 21b and 21c in the first embodiment. Therefore, even if a compressive force in the vertical direction Z is applied to the case 220 by the magnetic force generated between the magnet 40 and the coil 32, the case 220 can be prevented from being compressed and deformed in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the gap between the top wall 222a and the mover 30 and the gap between the bottom wall 221a and the mover 30 from becoming too small. This makes it possible to prevent the case 220 from being deformed and pressed against the mover 30, and to prevent the mover 30 from becoming difficult to move.

[0104] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the guide portion 224a obliquely protrudes upward from the first edge portion 221j in the front-rear direction Y toward the side wall portion 221b. Therefore, the guide portion 224a can support the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction Y. This allows the guide portion 224a to stably guide the mover 30 in the left-right direction X. This effect can also be obtained by the guide portion 224b.

[0105] According to the present embodiment, both ends of the guide portion 224a in the left-right direction X are disposed at intervals in the left-right direction X from a pair of second edges 221m located on both sides of the inner edge of the hole portion 221h in the left-right direction X. Therefore, a gap G1 is provided between the guide portion 224a and the second edges 221m in the left-right direction X. As a result, when the first case member 221 is made by pressing a metal plate, for example, when a plate-shaped portion obtained by punching a part of the metal plate is bent obliquely upward to make the guide portion 224a, it is possible to suppress deformation of the portion other than the plate-shaped portion due to the plate-shaped portion. Therefore, the plate-shaped portion is easily bent, and the guide portion 224a is easily made. This effect is also obtained for the guide portion 224b.

[0106] According to this embodiment, both ends of the guide portion 23a in the left-right direction X are disposed at intervals in the left-right direction X from the edges of the inner edge of the recess 222d located on both sides in the left-right direction X. Therefore, a gap G2 is provided between the guide portion 23a and the edge of the recess 222d in the left-right direction X. As a result, when the second case member 222 is made by pressing a metal plate, for example, when a plate-shaped portion obtained by punching a part of the metal plate is bent obliquely downward to make the guide portion 23a, it is possible to suppress deformation of the portion other than the plate-shaped portion due to the plate-shaped portion. Therefore, the plate-shaped portion is easily bent, and the guide portion 23a is easily made. This effect is also obtained for the guide portion 23b of this embodiment.

[0107] <Fourth embodiment> 11, in the linear actuator 310 of this embodiment, the first case member 321 of the case 320 does not have holes 221h, 221i, unlike the first case member 221 of the third embodiment. The first case member 321 is provided with guide portions 328a, 328b, 328d, and 328f instead of the guide portions 224a and 224b of the third embodiment. The other configurations of the first case member 321 are similar to the other configurations of the first case member 221 of the third embodiment.

[0108] The guide portion 328a is provided on the side wall portion 321b on the front side (+Y side) of the first case member 321. The guide portion 328a is provided on the side wall portion 321b in the center in the up-down direction Z and in the center in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 328a extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 328a is formed, for example, by crimping a part of the side wall portion 321b to the rear side (-Y side). The guide portion 328a protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the side wall portion 321b. The guide portion 328a has an arc shape that protrudes rearward toward the mover 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X.

[0109] The guide portion 328b is provided on the side wall portion 321c on the rear side (-Y side) of the first case member 321. The guide portion 328b is provided on the side wall portion 321c at the center in the up-down direction Z and the center in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 328b extends in the left-right direction X. The guide portion 328b is formed, for example, by crimping a part of the side wall portion 321c to the front side (+Y side). The guide portion 328b protrudes forward from the front surface of the side wall portion 321c. The guide portion 328b has an arc shape that is convex toward the movable element 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X. The pair of guide portions 328a, 328b are arranged to sandwich the base portion 31a of the movable element 30 in the front-rear direction Y, which is an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the left-right direction X.

[0110] The guide portions 328d and 328f are provided on the bottom wall portion 321a on the lower side of the first case member 321. The guide portions 328d and 328f are arranged with a gap between them in the front-rear direction Y. The guide portion 328d is located forward (+Y side) of the coil 32. The guide portion 328f is located rearward (-Y side) of the coil 32. The guide portions 328d and 328f are provided in the center of the bottom wall portion 321a in the left-right direction X. The guide portions 328d and 328f extend in the left-right direction X. The guide portions 328d and 328f are formed, for example, by crimping a part of the bottom wall portion 321a upward. The guide portions 328d and 328f protrude upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 321a. The guide portions 328d and 328f are arc-shaped and convex upward toward the mover 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X.

[0111] The second case member 322 is provided with guide portions 328c and 328e instead of the guide portions 23a and 23b and the recesses 222d and 222e of the third embodiment described above. The other configurations of the second case member 322 are similar to the other configurations of the second case member 222 of the third embodiment.

[0112] The guide parts 328c and 328e are provided on the top wall part 322a of the second case member 322. The guide parts 328c and 328e are arranged with a gap between them in the front-rear direction Y. The guide part 328c is located in front of the coil 32 (+Y side). The guide part 328e is located behind the coil 32 (-Y side). The guide parts 328c and 328e are provided in the center of the top wall part 322a in the left-right direction X. The guide parts 328c and 328e extend in the left-right direction X. The guide parts 328c and 328e are formed, for example, by crimping a part of the top wall part 322a downward. The guide parts 328c and 328e protrude downward from the lower surface of the top wall part 322a. The guide portions 328c and 328e are arc-shaped and convex downward toward the mover 30 when viewed in the left-right direction X.

[0113] The pair of guide portions 328c, 328d are arranged to sandwich in the vertical direction Z a portion of the base 31a of the mover 30 that is located on the front side (+Y side) of the coil 32. The pair of guide portions 328e, 328f are arranged to sandwich in the vertical direction Z a portion of the base 31a of the mover 30 that is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the coil 32. Other configurations of the linear actuator 310 of this embodiment can be similar to other configurations of the linear actuators of each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0114] According to this embodiment, the guide portion includes a pair of guide portions 328a, 328b arranged to sandwich the mover 30 in the front-rear direction Y, which is an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the left-right direction X, and a pair of guide portions 328c, 328d arranged to sandwich the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z, which is orthogonal to both the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, each guide portion can stably support the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction Y. In addition, the guide portion includes a pair of guide portions 328e, 328f arranged to sandwich the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z. That is, the guide portion includes two pairs of guide portions arranged to sandwich the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z. Therefore, each guide portion can more stably support the mover 30 in the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction Y.

[0115] <Fifth embodiment> As shown in Fig. 12, the case 420 of the linear actuator 410 of this embodiment has a first case member 421 and a second case member 422. The first case member 421 has a first case member main body 421m and guide portions 428a, 428d. The second case member 422 has a second case member main body 422m and a guide portion 428c. The guide portions 428a, 428d are separate from the first case member main body 421m. The guide portion 428c is separate from the second case member main body 422m.

[0116] The case 420 has a case body 420m composed of a first case member body 421m and a second case member body 422m. Guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d are attached to the case body 420m. Although not shown, the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d extend in the left-right direction X. The material constituting the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d is different from the material constituting the case body 420m. In this embodiment, the material constituting the case body 420m is metal. In this embodiment, the material constituting the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d is resin.

[0117] The first case member main body 421m is different from the first case member 321 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole 421k is provided instead of the guide portion 328a, and a through hole 421j is provided instead of the guide portion 328d. The through hole 421k penetrates the side wall portion 421b in the front-rear direction Y. The through hole 421j penetrates the bottom wall portion 421a in the up-down direction Z. Although not shown, the through holes 421k and 421j extend in the left-right direction X. Although not shown, the first case member main body 421m is also different from the first case member 321 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole similar to the through holes 421k and 421j is provided instead of the guide portions 328b and 328f. The other configurations of the first case member main body 421m are similar to the other configurations of the first case member 321 of the fourth embodiment.

[0118] The second case member main body 422m differs from the second case member 322 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole 422f is provided instead of the guide portion 328c. The through hole 422f penetrates the top wall portion 422a in the up-down direction Z. Although not shown, the through hole 422f extends in the left-right direction X. The second case member main body 422m also differs from the second case member 322 of the fourth embodiment in that a through hole similar to the through hole 422f is provided instead of the guide portion 328e. The other configurations of the second case member main body 422m are similar to the other configurations of the second case member 322 of the fourth embodiment.

[0119] The guide portion 428a has a fixed portion 428g fitted and fixed in the through hole 421k, and a main body portion 428h connected to the rear side (-Y side) of the fixed portion 428g. The fixed portion 428g may be fixed by press-fitting or by adhesive. The main body portion 428h is located inside the case main body 420m. The main body portion 428h protrudes on both sides in the up-down direction Z beyond the fixed portion 428g and the through hole 421k. The main body portion 428h has a guide surface 428p facing the rear side. The guide surface 428p is a flat surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction Y. The guide surface 428p faces the end surface of the front side (+Y side) of the base portion 31a. The guide surface 428p is capable of contacting the end surface of the front side of the base portion 31a. FIG. 12 shows a state in which guide surface 428p is in contact with the front end surface of base 31a, but a small gap may be provided between guide surface 428p and the front end surface of base 31a.

[0120] The guide portion 428c has a fixed portion 428i fitted and fixed in the through hole 422f, and a main body portion 428j connected to the lower side of the fixed portion 428i. The fixed portion 428i may be fixed by press-fitting or by adhesive. The main body portion 428j is located inside the case main body 420m. The main body portion 428j protrudes on both sides in the front-rear direction Y beyond the fixed portion 428i and the through hole 422f. The main body portion 428j has a guide surface 428q facing downward. The guide surface 428q is a flat surface perpendicular to the up-down direction Z. The guide surface 428q faces the upper end surface of the base portion 31a. The guide surface 428q can come into contact with the upper end surface of the base portion 31a. FIG. 12 shows a state in which guide surface 428q faces the upper end surface of base 31a with a small gap therebetween, but guide surface 428q and the upper end surface of base 31a may be in contact with each other.

[0121] The guide portion 428d has a fixed portion 428k fitted and fixed in the through hole 421j, and a main body portion 428m connected to the upper side of the fixed portion 428k. The fixed portion 428k may be fixed by press-fitting or by adhesive. The main body portion 428m is located inside the case main body 420m. The main body portion 428m protrudes on both sides in the front-rear direction Y beyond the fixed portion 428k and the through hole 421j. The main body portion 428m has a guide surface 428r facing upward. The guide surface 428r is a flat surface perpendicular to the up-down direction Z. The guide surface 428r faces the lower end surface of the base portion 31a. The guide surface 428r can come into contact with the lower end surface of the base portion 31a. 12 shows a state in which guide surface 428r faces the lower end face of base 31a with a small gap therebetween, but guide surface 428r and the lower end face of base 31a may be in contact with each other. Guide surface 428q of guide portion 428c and guide surface 428r of guide portion 428d are disposed to sandwich in the vertical direction Z a portion of base 31a that is located on the front side (+Y side) of coil 32.

[0122] Although not shown, guide portions similar to the guide portions 428a, 428c, and 428d are attached to the through holes provided in place of the guide portions 328b, 328e, and 328f of the fourth embodiment. The other configurations of the linear actuator 410 can be similar to the other configurations of the linear actuators of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0123] According to this embodiment, the material constituting the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d is different from the material constituting the case main body 420m. Therefore, for example, by using a material constituting the case main body 420m that has a relatively high strength to increase the rigidity of the case 420, and by using a material constituting the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d that can reduce the frictional force between the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d and the mover 30, the frictional force between the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d and the mover 30 can be reduced.

[0124] According to the present embodiment, the material constituting the case body 420m is metal, and the material constituting the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d is resin. Therefore, it is easy to reduce the frictional force between the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d and the mover 30 while suitably increasing the rigidity of the case body 420m. This allows the mover 30 to be suitably guided in the left-right direction X by the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d. Furthermore, by making the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d separate from the case body 420m, it is easy to freely determine the shapes of the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d. Therefore, it is easy to increase the areas of the guide surfaces 428p, 428q, and 428r in the guide parts 428a, 428c, and 428d. This allows the areas of the guide surfaces 428p, 428q, and 428r to be increased, and the mover 30 can be stably supported by the guide surfaces 428p, 428q, and 428r.

[0125] Sixth embodiment As shown in FIG. 13, the wiring member 560 of the linear actuator 510 of this embodiment has a coil connection portion 61, a first extension portion 562, a first connection portion 63, a second extension portion 64, a second connection portion 65, a third extension portion 566, a fourth extension portion 567a, a third connection portion 567b, a fifth extension portion 567c, and a fourth connection portion 567d. The first extension portion 562 is similar to the first extension portion 62 of the first embodiment, except that the width in the front-rear direction Y is uniform. In this embodiment, the third extension portion 566 is similar to the third extension portion 66 of the first embodiment, except that it is located at the center of the linear actuator 510 in the front-rear direction Y. In this embodiment, the wiring member 560 has a shape symmetrical in the front-rear direction Y. Note that the wiring member 560 may have an asymmetrical shape in the front-rear direction Y.

[0126] The fourth extension portion 567a is located on the upper side of the mover body 31. The fourth extension portion 567a extends in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the first extension portion 562 and the fourth extension portion 567a are arranged with a gap between them in the front-rear direction Y. The fourth extension portion 567a is located on the rear side (-Y side) of the first extension portion 562. The shape of the fourth extension portion 567a is the same as that of the first extension portion 562. The first extension portion 562 and the fourth extension portion 567a are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction Y with the center of the third extension portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y in between. In this embodiment, the first extension portion 562 and the fourth extension portion 567a extend from the coil connection portion 61 to the right side (+X side). The first extension portion 562 extends from the end of the front side (+Y side) of the coil connection portion 61 to the right side. The fourth extending portion 567a extends from the rear end portion of the coil connecting portion 61 to the right side.

[0127] The fifth extension portion 567c is located below the movable body 31. The fifth extension portion 567c extends in the left-right direction X. The fifth extension portion 567c sandwiches the movable body 31 between itself and the fourth extension portion 567a in the up-down direction Z. The fifth extension portion 567c is disposed at a distance from the second extension portion 64 on the rear side (-Y side). The second extension portion 64 and the fifth extension portion 567c are disposed to sandwich the third extension portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y. The second extension portion 64 and the fifth extension portion 567c are disposed symmetrically in the front-rear direction Y with the center of the third extension portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y sandwiched therebetween. The shape of the fifth extension portion 567c is similar to the shape of the second extension portion 64, except that it is inverted in the front-rear direction Y.

[0128] The third connection portion 567b connects the right end (+X side) of the fourth extension portion 567a and the right end of the fifth extension portion 567c. The third connection portion 567b is disposed behind (-Y side) the first connection portion 63 with a gap therebetween. The shape of the third connection portion 567b is similar to that of the first connection portion 63. The first connection portion 63 and the third connection portion 567b are disposed symmetrically in the front-rear direction Y across the center of the third extension portion 566 in the front-rear direction Y.

[0129] The fourth connection portion 567d connects the left end (-X side) of the fifth extension portion 567c and the left end of the third extension portion 566. The fourth connection portion 567d is connected to the rear side (-Y side) of the second connection portion 65. The second connection portion 65 and the fourth connection portion 567d are connected to each other in the front-rear direction Y to form a band-shaped portion extending in the front-rear direction Y. In this embodiment, the third extension portion 566 extends to the right side (+X side) from the connection portion between the second connection portion 65 and the fourth connection portion 567d.

[0130] In this embodiment, among the wirings (not shown) provided in the wiring member 560, the wiring electrically connected to the coil lead wire 32a passes through the fourth extension portion 567a, the third connection portion 567b, the fifth extension portion 567c, and the fourth connection portion 567d in this order, and extends to the third extension portion 566. Among the wirings provided in the wiring member 560, the wiring electrically connected to the coil lead wire 32b passes through the first extension portion 562, the first connection portion 63, the second extension portion 64, and the second connection portion 65 in this order, and extends to the third extension portion 566. Other configurations of the linear actuator 510 can be similar to other configurations of the linear actuators in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0131] According to this embodiment, the wiring member 560 has a fourth extension portion 567a, a third connection portion 567b, a fifth extension portion 567c, and a fourth connection portion 567d in addition to the first extension portion 562, the first connection portion 63, the second extension portion 64, and the second connection portion 65. The first extension portion 562 and the fourth extension portion 567a are arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction Y, and extend from the coil connection portion 61 to the right side (+X side). Therefore, the wiring member 560 can be provided with two paths connecting the coil connection portion 61 and the third extension portion 566. This allows the wiring electrically connected to the pair of coil lead wires 32a, 32b to be routed to the third extension portion 566 via separate paths.

[0132] Seventh embodiment As shown in FIG. 14, the wiring member 660 of the linear actuator 610 of this embodiment has a first coil connection portion 661a, a first extension portion 662, a first connection portion 663, a second extension portion 64, a second connection portion 65, a third extension portion 66, a second coil connection portion 661b, a sixth extension portion 668, and a fifth connection portion 669.

[0133] The first coil connection portion 661a is electrically connected to the coil 32 on the upper side of the mover body 31. In this embodiment, the first coil connection portion 661a is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 31d. The second coil connection portion 661b is electrically connected to the coil 32 on the lower side of the mover body 31. In this embodiment, the second coil connection portion 661b is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 31g. The first coil connection portion 661a and the second coil connection portion 661b are disposed to sandwich the mover body 31 in the vertical direction Z. Although not shown, a pair of coil lead wires drawn from the coil 32 are connected to the first coil connection portion 661a and the second coil connection portion 661b, respectively.

[0134] In this embodiment, the first extension portion 662 extends from the first coil connection portion 661a to the right (+X side). Other configurations of the first extension portion 662 are similar to other configurations of the first extension portion 562 of the sixth embodiment. The sixth extension portion 668 extends from the second coil connection portion 661b to the right (+X side). The sixth extension portion 668 is located forward (+Y side) of the second extension portion 64.

[0135] The first connection portion 663 connects the right end (+X side) of the first extension portion 662 to the right end of the second extension portion 64. The fifth connection portion 669 connects the right end of the first extension portion 662 to the right end of the sixth extension portion 668. The first connection portion 663 and the fifth connection portion 669 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction Y. The fifth connection portion 669 is located in front of the first connection portion 663 (+Y side). The shape of the fifth connection portion 669 is similar to that of the first connection portion 663. The dimension of the first connection portion 663 in the front-rear direction Y and the dimension of the fifth connection portion 669 in the front-rear direction Y are smaller than the dimension of the first extension portion 662 in the front-rear direction Y. The other configurations of the first connection portion 663 are similar to the other configurations of the first connection portion 63 of the first embodiment.

[0136] In this embodiment, the wiring provided in the first coil connection portion 661a among the wirings (not shown) provided in the wiring member 660 is electrically connected to one of the pair of coil lead wires, and extends to the third extension portion 66 through the first extension portion 662, the first connection portion 663, the second extension portion 64, and the second connection portion 65 in this order. The wiring provided in the second coil connection portion 661b among the wirings (not shown) provided in the wiring member 660 is electrically connected to the other of the pair of coil lead wires, and extends to the third extension portion 66 through the sixth extension portion 668, the fifth connection portion 669, the first extension portion 662, the first connection portion 663, the second extension portion 64, and the second connection portion 65 in this order. The other configurations of the linear actuator 610 can be similar to the other configurations of the linear actuators of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0137] According to this embodiment, the wiring member 660 has a first coil connection portion 661a electrically connected to the coil 32 on the upper side of the movable body 31, and a second coil connection portion 661b electrically connected to the coil 32 on the lower side of the movable body 31. Therefore, even if one of a pair of coil lead wires drawn from the coil 32 is drawn from the upper side of the coil 32 and the other is drawn from the lower side of the coil 32, each of the pair of coil lead wires can be easily connected to the first coil connection portion 661a and the second coil connection portion 661b, respectively. This makes it possible to easily electrically connect the coil 32, in which the pair of coil lead wires are drawn from opposite sides in the up-down direction Z, to the wiring member 660.

[0138] The coil 32 in which a pair of coil lead wires are drawn out from opposite sides in the vertical direction Z includes, for example, a single-layer wound coil and a multi-layer wound coil with an odd number of layers. When the coil 32 is a multi-layer wound coil, the wire material constituting the coil 32 is configured by alternately stacking layers wound from one side to the other in the vertical direction Z and layers wound from the other side to one side in the vertical direction Z. In this case, when the number of layers of the coil 32 is an even number, the pair of coil lead wires are drawn out from the same side in the vertical direction Z, and when the number of layers of the coil 32 is an odd number, the pair of coil lead wires are drawn out from different sides in the vertical direction Z.

[0139] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the wiring member 660 has a sixth extension portion 668 extending from the second coil connection portion 661b to the right side (+X side), and a fifth connection portion 669 connecting a right end portion of the first extension portion 662 to a right end portion of the sixth extension portion 668. Therefore, the sixth extension portion 668 extending from the second coil connection portion 661b can be merged with the first extension portion 662 extending from the first coil connection portion 661a. This makes it possible to prevent the wiring member 660 from becoming complicated.

[0140] Eighth embodiment As shown in FIG. 15, the wiring member 760 of the linear actuator 710 of this embodiment is different from the wiring member 60 of the first embodiment in the direction in which the third extension portion 766 is drawn out. In this embodiment, the third extension portion 766 extends from the left end (-X side) of the second extension portion 64 in a direction intersecting the left-right direction X. More specifically, the third extension portion 766 extends from the left end of the second extension portion 64 to the rear side (-Y side). That is, in this embodiment, the third extension portion 766 extends from the left end of the second extension portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z. The third extension portion 766 is drawn out from inside the case 720 to outside the case 720 through a through hole 721m provided in the rear side wall portion 721c of the first case member 721 in the case 720. In this embodiment, the third extension portion 766 passes below the second elastic member 52 and below the movable element body 31 and is drawn out to the outside of the case 720. The other configurations of the wiring member 760 are similar to the other configurations of the wiring member 60 of the first embodiment.

[0141] Thus, in this embodiment, the wiring member 760 extends from the upper side of the movable body 31 through the right side (+X side) of the movable body 31 to the lower side of the movable body 31, and is drawn out from the lower side of the movable body 31 in a direction intersecting with the left-right direction X. Other configurations of the linear actuator 710 can be similar to other configurations of the linear actuators in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0142] Even when the third extension portion 766 extends in a direction intersecting the left-right direction X as in this embodiment, as described in the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the case 720 that houses the mover body 31 and the wiring member 760 from becoming large, compared to when the wiring member 760 is arranged by winding it around the mover body 31. Therefore, it is possible to provide the coil 32 in the mover 30 while preventing the linear actuator 710 from becoming large.

[0143] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the third extension portion 766 extends from the left (-X side) end of the second extension portion 64 in the front-rear direction Y perpendicular to the left-right direction X. Therefore, compared to the case in which the third extension portion 766 extends in a direction inclined obliquely with respect to the left-right direction X, it is easier to pull out the third extension portion 766 from the side wall portion 721c of the rectangular box-shaped case 720 to the outside of the case 720.

[0144] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other configurations may be adopted within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. The wiring member may be made of any material. The wiring member may not be flexible. The wiring member may have any shape and may be routed in any manner. The first extension portion may not have a wide portion. The third extension portion may be arranged so as to overlap with the second extension portion in the second direction. The third extension portion may extend in any direction. The third extension portion may extend in the up-down direction Z in the above-described embodiment. For example, in the eighth embodiment, the third extension portion 766 may extend downward from the end portion on the left side (-X side) of the second extension portion 64. The wiring member may be linear.

[0145] The elastic member may be any type of elastic member as long as it elastically deforms in association with movement of the mover in the first direction (left-right direction X) and applies a force in the first direction (left-right direction X) to the mover. The elastic member may be a leaf spring. The number of elastic members is not particularly limited. Only one elastic member may be provided.

[0146] The shape of the mover body is not particularly limited. The number, shape, and arrangement of the magnets are not particularly limited. The linear actuator may have a configuration in which a magnet is provided on the mover and a coil is fixed to the case. The damper member may be any type of damper member. The damper member may not be provided. The material of the case may be a non-magnetic body. The shape of the case is not particularly limited. The shape of the guide portion is not particularly limited. The number of guide portions is not particularly limited. At least one of the guide portion and the portion of the mover supported by the guide portion may be coated with a solid lubricant coating such as a fluororesin coating. A lubricant such as grease may be provided between the guide portion and the portion of the mover supported by the guide portion. The guide portion may not be provided.

[0147] Another aspect of the linear actuator may include a mover having a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body, the mover being movable in a predetermined first direction, a case that houses the mover, and a magnet arranged inside the case facing the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the magnet being fixed to the case, and the case being made of a magnetic material.

[0148] Another aspect of the linear actuator may include a movable element movable in a first direction and a case that houses the movable element, the case having a guide portion that guides the movement of the movable element in the first direction. In another aspect of the linear actuator, the case may have an opposing surface that faces the movable element in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the guide portion may have a guide surface that is disposed closer to the movable element than the opposing surface in the second direction, and the movable element may be configured to face the opposing surface in the second direction with a gap therebetween when in contact with the guide surface.

[0149] The use of the linear actuator to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. The linear actuator may be mounted on any type of equipment. The configurations and methods described in this specification above can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict each other.

[0150] [Note] (Appendix 1) a mover having a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body and movable in a predetermined first direction; a magnet disposed opposite the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an elastic member that elastically deforms in response to movement of the mover in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the mover; a flexible wiring member electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable body in the second direction; Equipped with a wiring member extending from one side of the movable body in the second direction, through one side of the movable body in the first direction, to the other side of the movable body in the second direction, and pulled out from the other side of the movable body in the second direction in a direction intersecting the first direction.

[0151] (Appendix 2) The wiring member is a first extension portion located on one side of the mover body in the second direction and extending in the first direction; a second extending portion extending in the first direction and sandwiching the mover body between the first extending portion and the second extending portion; a first connection portion connecting an end portion of the first extension portion on one side in the first direction and an end portion of the second extension portion on one side in the first direction; a third extension portion extending from an end portion of the second extension portion on the other side in the first direction in a direction intersecting the first direction; 2. The linear actuator of claim 1,

[0152] (Appendix 3) The linear actuator of claim 2, wherein the third extension portion extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction from the end portion of the second extension portion on the other side in the first direction.

[0153] (Appendix 4) A linear actuator as described in Appendix 3, wherein the third extension portion extends from the end of the second extension portion on the other side of the first direction in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0154] (Appendix 5) A moveable element that is movable in a predetermined first direction; a case that houses the movable element therein; Equipped with The case has a guide portion that guides the movement of the mover in the first direction, the linear actuator.

[0155] (Appendix 6) The guide portion extends in the first direction, A linear actuator as described in Appendix 5, wherein the position of the entire guide portion in the first direction is included in the position of the mover in the first direction within the movement range of the mover in the first direction.

[0156] (Appendix 7) The case is A first wall portion located in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a pair of second wall portions located on both sides in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction; having The linear actuator of claim 5 or 6, wherein the guide portions are provided at corners between the first wall portion and each of the pair of second wall portions, and are positioned more inwardly than the case than the pair of second wall portions.

[0157] (Appendix 8) the case has a hole provided in a part of an edge portion of the first wall portion in the third direction, the hole being provided in a part of the first wall portion in the first direction; 8. The linear actuator of claim 7, wherein the guide portion is connected to a first edge portion of an inner edge portion of the hole portion that is located in the third direction.

[0158] (Appendix 9) A linear actuator as described in Appendix 8, wherein the guide portion protrudes obliquely from the first edge portion to one side in the second direction and toward the second wall portion in the third direction.

[0159] (Appendix 10) 10. The linear actuator of claim 8, wherein both ends of the guide portion in the first direction are spaced apart in the first direction from a pair of second edges of an inner edge of the hole portion that are located on both sides in the first direction.

[0160] (Appendix 11) The case has a rectangular box shape extending in the first direction, 11. A linear actuator according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the guide portions are provided at each of the four corners of the case when viewed in the first direction.

[0161] (Appendix 12) The mover has a guided recess extending in the first direction, 7. The linear actuator according to claim 5, wherein the guide portion is fitted into the guided recess.

[0162] (Appendix 13) The guide portion is A pair of guide parts arranged to sandwich the mover in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first direction; a pair of guide parts arranged to sandwich the mover in a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the perpendicular direction; 13. The linear actuator of any one of claims 5 to 12, comprising:

[0163] (Appendix 14) the case has a case body to which the guide portion is attached, 14. The linear actuator according to claim 5, wherein a material constituting the guide portion is different from a material constituting the case body.

[0164] (Appendix 15) the case body is made of a metal; 15. The linear actuator according to claim 14, wherein the material constituting the guide portion is resin.

[0165] (Appendix 16) the case has an opposing surface facing the mover in a direction intersecting the first direction, the guide portion has a guide surface that is disposed closer to the mover than the opposing surface in the intersecting direction, 16. The linear actuator according to claim 5, wherein, when the movable element is in contact with the guide surface, the movable element faces the opposing surface in the intersecting direction with a gap therebetween. [Explanation of symbols]

[0166] 10,110,210,310,410,510,610,710...Linear actuator, 20,120,220,320,420,720...Case, 30,130...Mover, 31,131...Mover body, 32...Coil, 40...Magnet, 50...Elastic member, 60,560,660,760...Wiring member, 61...Coil connection portion, 62,562,662...First extension portion, 62a...Wide portion, 63,663... First connection portion, 64...second extension portion, 65...second connection portion, 66,566,766...third extension portion, 70...damper member, 567a...fourth extension portion, 567b...third connection portion, 567c...fifth extension portion, 567d...fourth connection portion, 661a...first coil connection portion, 661b...second coil connection portion, 668...sixth extension portion, 669...fifth connection portion, X...left-right direction (first direction), Y...front-back direction (third direction), Z...up-down direction (second direction)

Claims

1. a mover having a mover body and a coil attached to the mover body and movable in a predetermined first direction; a magnet disposed opposite the coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an elastic member that elastically deforms in response to movement of the mover in the first direction and applies a force in the first direction to the mover; a flexible wiring member electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable body in the second direction; Equipped with The wiring member is a first extension portion located on one side of the mover body in the second direction and extending in the first direction; a second extending portion extending in the first direction and sandwiching the mover body between the first extending portion and the second extending portion; a first connection portion connecting an end portion of the first extension portion on one side in the first direction and an end portion of the second extension portion on one side in the first direction; a third extension portion disposed alongside the second extension portion in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and drawn out to one side of the first direction beyond the movable element body; a second connection portion connecting an end portion of the second extension portion on the other side in the first direction and an end portion of the third extension portion on the other side in the first direction; A linear actuator having a

2. the first connection portion is a portion bent toward the other side in the second direction with respect to the first extension portion, The linear actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the first extension portion has a wide portion that is wider than the first connection portion.

3. a case that houses the movable element therein; a damper member fixed to an inner wall surface of the case and facing the mover body in the first direction; Further equipped with 3. The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein the damper member includes a damper member located on one side in the first direction of a portion of the movable body that overlaps with the third extension portion when viewed in the second direction.

4. The wiring member is a coil connection portion to which the coil is electrically connected; a fourth extension portion located on one side of the mover body in the second direction and extending in the first direction; a fifth extension portion extending in the first direction and sandwiching the mover body between the fifth extension portion and the fourth extension portion in the second direction; a third connection portion connecting an end portion of the fourth extension portion on one side in the first direction and an end portion of the fifth extension portion on one side in the first direction; a fourth connection portion connecting an end portion of the fifth extension portion on the other side in the first direction and an end portion of the third extension portion on the other side in the first direction; having 4. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first extension portion and the fourth extension portion are arranged at an interval in the third direction and extend from the coil connection portion to one side in the first direction.

5. The wiring member is a first coil connection portion electrically connected to the coil on one side of the movable body in the second direction; a second coil connection portion electrically connected to the coil on the other side of the mover body in the second direction; 4. The linear actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

6. the first extension portion extends from the first coil connection portion to one side in the first direction, The wiring member is a sixth extension portion extending from the second coil connection portion to one side in the first direction; a fifth connection portion connecting an end portion of the first extension portion on one side in the first direction and an end portion of the sixth extension portion on one side in the first direction; 6. The linear actuator of claim 5, further comprising:

7. The linear actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

8. the elastic member includes a pair of elastic members located on one side of the movable body in the first direction, The linear actuator according to claim 7 , wherein the pair of elastic members are arranged to sandwich the wiring member in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

9. The wiring member is in a belt shape, The linear actuator according to claim 1 , wherein a width direction of the wiring member is a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

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