Movable part of a linear motor with carriage connecting member

Abstract

To increase positioning repeatability of a movable part as one of components constituting a carriage.SOLUTION: A movable part (10) of a linear motor comprising a primary part (70) movable relative to a secondary part, comprises: a carriage (12); the primary part; and an interface member (40) connecting the carriage (12) to the primary part (70) in such a way as to detach the carriage and the primary part. The carriage is configured to fixedly support an object to be moved, such as a machine part of a machine tool. The carriage comprises: two opposite lateral sides; and a bottom side having an interface member receiving portion comprising a stationary receiving portion. A carriage interface member is fixedly connected to the primary part (70) and comprises anchoring portions mounted on respective anchoring receiving parts of the carriage. Two opposite edge portions of the carriage interface member are aligned and fixedly connected to a portion (18a) of the respective opposite lateral sides of the carriage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a movable part of a linear motor, comprising a carriage, a first part of a linear motor, and a carriage connecting member that removably connects the carriage to the first part. The present invention also relates to a linear motor comprising such a movable part.

Background Art

[0002] A linear motor can be used to quickly position an object such as a machined part of a machine tool. The linear motor comprises a first part or a movable part, and a second part or a stationary part, and a carriage adapted to carry mechanical parts is connected to the first part. The second part typically comprises a magnetic track with a permanent magnet fixed between linear guides that enables a magnetic reciprocating movement between the first part and the second part to move the carriage along the linear guide. Conventional linear motors are disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 (US8030804B2).

[0003] In known linear motors, the first part is usually connected to the lower side of the carriage by a screw that penetrates the carriage from its upper side to its lower side. Therefore, in normal use, the mechanical parts to be moved are fixed to the upper side of the carriage, and in order to access the linear motor for replacement or maintenance purposes, it is first necessary to remove the mechanical parts from the upper side, which often involves complex and time-consuming disassembly procedures.

[0004] Patent Document 2 (US11025152B2) discloses a connecting device for a linear motor that overcomes the above problems. The connecting device comprises many parts, especially a wedge that requires strict mechanical tolerances, and the wedge has a high manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the wedge induces significant internal stresses in the carriage that should be avoided for high-performance front-end applications.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 8030804 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 11025152 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Therefore, the object to be addressed by the present invention is to provide a movable part of a linear motor comprising a carriage, a first part of a linear motor, and a carriage connecting member that detachably connects the carriage to the first part, wherein the carriage connecting member is designed to reduce mechanical deformation, thereby improving the reproducibility of positioning the object being moved.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a carriage connecting member that is cost-effective in terms of manufacturing.

[0008] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lightweight carriage connecting member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] These objectives are achieved by a movable part of a linear motor having a first part that is movable relative to a second part. The movable part comprises a carriage, a first part, and a carriage connecting member that detachably connects the carriage to the first part. The carriage is configured to fixedly support an object to be moved, such as a machined part of a machine tool. The carriage comprises two opposing sides and a bottom side having a connecting member receiving section with a plurality of fixed receiving sections. The carriage connecting member is fixedly connected to the first part and comprises fixed sections that connect to each of the fixed receiving sections of the carriage. The two opposing edges of the carriage connecting member are aligned and fixedly connected to each of the opposing sides of the carriage.

[0010] In one embodiment, one edge of the carriage connecting member is provided with a carriage fixing screw hole aligned with a through hole provided on one lateral side of the carriage, and the one edge is fixed to the lateral side by a screw.

[0011] In one embodiment, the opposite edge of the carriage connecting member has a tapered surface, and when a screw is screwed into a screw hole provided on the opposite side of the carriage, and the distal end of the screw contacts the tapered surface, a force perpendicular to the axis of the screw hole is generated on the carriage connecting member.

[0012] In one embodiment, the carriage connecting member comprises an upper surface having a raised fixing portion and a flat bottom surface, the fixing portion comprising a raised central portion having a flat surface and a first fixing hole extending from the flat surface to the bottom surface, and two raised edges located on two opposing edges of the carriage connecting member.

[0013] In one embodiment, each of the fixed receiving portions of the carriage connecting member receiving portion is provided with a bearing surface, and each of the fixed portions of the carriage connecting member is provided with a mounting surface that rests on its respective support surface.

[0014] In one embodiment, each of at least two fixing portions is provided with a groove that extends from one side of the fixing portion toward the opposite side of the fixing portion to form a mounting surface.

[0015] In one embodiment, the fixed portion extends perpendicularly across the carriage connecting member, from one of the opposing longitudinal sides of the member to the other.

[0016] In one embodiment, one side of the carriage is surrounded on the side by two parts to form a notch, and a reinforcing piece is removably fixed inside the notch by a fastening means that penetrates the thickness of the reinforcing piece, and the distal end of the fastening means is connected to the one side.

[0017] In one embodiment, the carriage connecting member is in the form of a rectangular plate and includes a reinforcing member that extends and protrudes longitudinally along the center of the rectangular plate between the fixed portions.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a linear motor having the movable part described above.

[0019] The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description of some embodiments given as examples and illustrated by the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a movable part of a linear motor including a carriage, a carriage connecting member, and a primary side portion according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the carriage of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows perspective views of the carriage connecting member of FIG. 1 from various directions. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the movable part of FIG. 1 when assembled. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along A-A.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a movable part 10 of a linear motor including a carriage 12, a first part 70, and a carriage connecting member 40 that removably connects the carriage 12 to the first part 70 of the linear motor. The first part 70 is adapted to cooperate with a second part of a linear motor (not shown) in a conventional manner. The second part typically includes a magnetic track having a permanent magnet fixed between linear guides to enable a magnetic reciprocating motion between the first part and the second part to move the carriage 12 along the linear guide.

[0022] The carriage 12 comprises an upper section 14, which has a flat surface with multiple connecting sections 16, each having multiple holes extending toward the bottom section 28 of the carriage 12 as shown in Figure 2. These connecting sections 16 are used to secure the carriage 12 to a moving block (not shown) of a linear guide. Furthermore, the carriage 12 is configured to fix and support an object to be moved, such as a machined part of a machine tool. This is typically achieved by four lateral mounting surfaces 19 having screw holes and shoulders that precisely set the vertical position of the object to be moved.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the carriage connecting member 40 comprises an upper portion 42 and a lower portion 58 configured to connect to the carriage 12 and the first portion 70 of the linear motor, respectively. In this regard, the carriage lower portion 28 shown in Figure 2 comprises a rectangular connecting member receiving portion 30 having four fixed receiving portions 32 molded to cooperate with the locking portion provided on the upper portion 42 of the carriage connecting member 40, as will be described in detail later. The carriage lower portion 28 further comprises two inclined portions 36 adapted to be positioned opposite each other along the upper side of the first portion 70.

[0024] The two opposing surfaces 34 extend along the two opposing longitudinal sides of the connecting member receiving portion 30 so as to face the two lateral upper surfaces 74 of the first portion 70 of the linear motor, as shown in Figure 1. The carriage bottom side portion 28 further comprises two side portions 36 adapted to be positioned along the two opposing upper surfaces of the first portion 70.

[0025] Referring to Figure 3, the upper part 42 of the carriage connecting member 40 is located near its center and comprises two raised central portions 44a and 44b extending from one of its two parallel, opposing longitudinal edges to the other. The upper part 42 further comprises two raised edges 50a and 50b, each having two opposing lateral edge ends. Each raised central portion 44a and 44b comprises an upper flat surface 45 from which a first fixing hole 46 is provided, extending from the flat surface 45 and opening onto the bottom surface 58 of the carriage connecting member 40. The bottom surface 58 of the carriage connecting member 40 is a flat surface fixed to the upper part 70.

[0026] Each raised edge portion 50a, 50b also comprises an upper flat surface 51 with a first fixing hole 53, the first fixing hole 53 extending from the flat surface 51 and opening onto the bottom side 58 of the carriage connecting member 40. The raised edge portion 50a further comprises a cantilevered section having a carriage fixing threaded hole 54. The axes of the carriage fixing threaded holes 54 are each parallel to the plane of the carriage upper portion 14 when the carriage connecting member 40 is attached to the connecting member receiving portion 30. The other raised edge portion 50b comprises an upper flat surface 51 and a tapered surface 52 extending from the upper flat surface 51 to the corresponding side edge of the carriage connecting member 40. The latter has a linear, elongated ridge or raised reinforcing member 56 on its upper portion 42. The reinforcing member 56 extends across the intermediate portion of the carriage connecting member 40 from one of the two opposing sides of the carriage connecting member 40 to the other between the fixed portions 44a, 44b, 50a, and 50b.

[0027] The two central raised portions 44a, 44b and the one raised edge portion 50b each include two grooves 48 positioned on either side of the reinforcing member 56 to form a mounting surface 49. The lower surface of the cantilevered portion of the raised edge portion 50a also functions as a mounting surface 49. Referring to Figure 5, each of the four fixed receiving portions 32 of the rectangular connecting member receiving portion 30 has a projection that extends in a direction parallel to the plane above the carriage to form a support surface 33. The mounting surfaces 49 of the carriage connecting member fixing portions 44a, 44b, 50a, 50b are intended to rest on their respective support surfaces 33.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the carriage 12 has two opposing sides 18a and 18b adjacent to each of the opposing sides of the rectangular connecting member receiving portion 30. A through hole 20 is provided in the side 18a. The axes of these through holes 20 are parallel to the plane of the carriage upper side portion 14 when the carriage connecting member 40 is attached to the connecting member receiving portion 30. The carriage connecting member 40 is parallel to the plane of the carriage upper side portion 14 when the carriage connecting member 40 is attached to the connecting member receiving portion 30.

[0029] The carriage 12 is designed to be easily manufactured by machining. The slot 17 on the upper part 14 of the carriage 12 is the result of machining the support surface 33 on which the corresponding mounting surface 49 is placed. The linear groove 38 and the fixed receiving portion 32 are also manufactured by machining the bottom part 28 of the carriage. Similarly, the elongated opening 60 on the bottom surface 58 of the carriage connecting member 40 is the result of machining the mounting surface 49.

[0030] The movable part 10 is assembled as follows: The bottom surface 58 of the carriage connecting member 40 is fixed to the upper part of the first part 70 of the linear motor by a plurality of screws 55 that extend through the first part fixing holes 46, 53 of the carriage connecting member 40, and the ends of the screws 55 are screwed into their respective fixing points 72 provided on the upper surface of the first part 70.

[0031] Then, the carriage connecting member 40 is fitted into the rectangular connecting member receiving portion 30 with its fixing portions 44a, 44b, 50a, 50b and its reinforcing members 56 positioned inside the corresponding fixing receiving portions 32 and straight grooves 38, respectively. Then, as shown in Figure 5, the connecting member receiving portion 30 is moved parallel to the carriage 12 along a direction parallel to the plane above the carriage so that its mounting surface 49 comes into contact with the corresponding support surface 33 of the carriage 12.

[0032] In this configuration, the carriage fixing screw holes 54 of the cantilever portion of the raised edge 50a are aligned with the through holes 20 in the side portion 18a of the carriage 12. This cantilever portion is then fixed to the adjacent side portion 18a by screws 22. Headless screws 23 (threaded rods 23) are adjusted in the screw holes 21 of the opposite side portion 18b so as to abut against the tapered surface 52 of the raised edge 50a. In this way, vertical forces are also generated to ensure that the mounting surface 49 is firmly mounted on the support surface 33.

[0033] The carriage connection member 40 is made of high thermal conductivity steel with a thermal conductivity of over 40 W / mK, preferably about 50 W / mK. The rectangular shape and dimensions of the carriage connection member are selected to cover the entire motor contact surface to increase heat transfer and thereby improve the thermal behavior of the motor.

[0034] In one embodiment, a reinforcing piece 24 may be removably attached inside the notch of the carriage 12 to increase its rigidity when normal use generates high mechanical stress on the carriage. One side of the reinforcing piece 24 is connected to the side 18a by screws 24, as shown in Figure 1. These screws 24 are installed inside each through hole 26 that extends across the thickness of the reinforcing piece.

[0035] Various modifications and variations of the embodiments described in the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the two opposing raised edges of the carriage connecting member may be fixed to the side of the carriage by other fastening means, such as pins pressed into through holes provided in the opposing side surfaces of the carriage and corresponding holes provided in the two opposing raised edges of the carriage connecting member. This application provides, for example, the following perspectives. [Perspective 1] A movable part (10) of a linear motor having a first part (70) that is movable relative to a second part, wherein the movable part (10) is Carriage (12) and, Part 1 (70), A connecting member (40) that detachably connects the carriage (12) to the first part (70) and The carriage (12) is configured to fixedly support a moving object, such as a machined part of a machine tool. The carriage (12) Two opposing sides, A bottom side portion (28) having a connecting member receiving portion (30) equipped with a fixing receiving portion (32) and Equipped with, The carriage connecting member (40) is fixedly connected to the first part (70) and includes fixing parts (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) mounted on each of the fixing receiving parts (32) of the carriage (12), The two opposing edge portions (50a, 50b) of the carriage connecting member (40) are aligned and fixedly connected to the opposing side portions (18a, 18b) of the carriage (12). Moving parts (10). [Perspective 2] One edge portion (50a) of the carriage connecting member (40) is provided with a carriage fixing screw hole portion (54) that is aligned with a through hole (20) provided in one side portion (18a) of the carriage (12), One edge portion (54a) is fixed to one side portion (18a) by a screw (22). The movable part (10) described in perspective 1. [Perspective 3] The movable part (10) according to viewpoint 2, wherein the opposite edge portion (50b) of the carriage connecting member (40) is provided with a tapered surface (52), and the screw (23) is screwed into a screw hole (21) provided on the opposite side portion (18b) of the carriage (12), and the distal end of the screw (23) abuts against the tapered surface (52), thereby generating a force on the carriage connecting member (40) perpendicular to the axis of the screw hole. [Perspective 4] The carriage connecting member (40) comprises an upper surface (42) having raised fixing portions (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) and a flat bottom surface (58), The fixing portion comprises a raised central portion (44a, 44b) each having a flat surface (45) and a first fixing hole (46) extending from the flat surface (45) to the bottom surface (58), and two raised edge portions (50a, 50b) located on two opposing edges of the carriage connecting member (40). The movable part (10) described in any one of viewpoints 1 to 3. [Perspective 5] Each of the fixed receiving portions (32) of the connecting member receiving portion (30) is provided with a bearing surface (33), The movable part (10) according to viewpoint 4, wherein each of the fixed portions (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) of the carriage connecting member (40) is provided with a mounting surface (49) that is placed on the respective bearing surface (33). [Perspective 6] The movable part (10) according to viewpoint 5, wherein each of at least two fixed parts has a recess (48) extending from one side of the fixed part toward the opposite side of the fixed part in order to form the stationary surface (49). [perspective 7] The fixed portion (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) extends perpendicularly across the carriage connecting member (40) from one of the opposing longitudinal sides of the carriage connecting member (40) to the other, as described in any one of viewpoints 1 to 6. [Perspective 8] One lateral side portion (18a) is positioned on the side by two parts to form a notch (18), The reinforcing piece (24) is removably fixed inside the notch by a fixing means (27) that extends through the thickness of the reinforcing piece (24), and the distal end of the fixing means (27) is connected to one of the lateral sides (18a). The movable part (10) described in any one of viewpoints 1 to 7. [Perspective 9] The movable part (10) according to any one of viewpoints 1 to 8, wherein the carriage connecting member (40) is in the form of a rectangular plate and comprises a raised reinforcing member that extends from the center of the rectangular plate along the longitudinal direction between the fixed portions. [Perspective 10] A linear motor having a movable part described in any one of viewpoints 1 to 9. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Moving parts 12 Carriage 14 Upper part 16 Connection part 17 slots 18a, 18b Side 20 Through holes 22 screws 21 screw holes 23 Headless screws (threaded bolts) 24 Reinforcement piece 26 Through holes 27 screws 19. Side mounting surface 28 Bottom side 30 Connecting member receiving part 32 Locking receiver 33 Bearing surface 34 Opposing surfaces 36 Side 38 Straight grooves 40 Carriage connecting member 42 Top surface fixed part 44a, 44b Central raised area 45 Upper flat surface 46 Part 1 fixing hole 48 Groove 49 Mounting surface 50a, 50b Raised edge portion 51 Upper flat surface 52 Tapered surface 53 Part 1 fixing hole 54 Screw holes for carriage fixing 55 screws 56 Reinforcement material 58 Bottom 60 Long, narrow opening 70 Part 1 72 Fixed point 74 Side upper surface

Claims

1. A movable part (10) of a linear motor having a first part (70) that is movable relative to the second part, The movable part (10) Carriage (12) and, The above Part 1 (70), A carriage connecting member (40) that removably connects the carriage (12) to the first part (70) and Equipped with, The carriage (12) is configured to fixally support a moving object, such as a machining part of a machine tool. The carriage (12) is Two opposing sides, A bottom side portion (28) having a connecting member receiving portion (30) equipped with a fixing receiving portion (32) and Equipped with, The carriage connecting member (40) is fixedly connected to the first part (70) and includes fixing parts (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) mounted on each of the fixing receiving parts (32) of the carriage (12), The two opposing edge portions (50a, 50b) of the carriage connecting member (40) are aligned and fixedly connected to the opposing side portions (18a, 18b) of the carriage (12). One edge portion (50a) of the carriage connecting member (40) is provided with a carriage fixing screw hole portion (54) aligned with a through hole (20) provided in one side portion (18a) of the carriage (12), One edge portion (54a) is fixed to the one side portion (18a) by a screw (22), The opposite edge portion (50b) of the carriage connecting member (40) is provided with a tapered surface (52), and the screw (23) is screwed into a screw hole (21) provided in the opposing side portion (18b) of the carriage (12), and the distal end of the screw (23) abuts against the tapered surface (52), generating a force on the carriage connecting member (40) perpendicular to the axis of the screw hole. The carriage connecting member (40) comprises an upper surface (42) having raised fixing portions (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) and a flat bottom surface (58), The fixing portion comprises a raised central portion (44a, 44b) each having a flat surface (45) and a first fixing hole (46) extending from the flat surface (45) to the bottom surface (58), and two raised edge portions (50a, 50b) located on two opposing edges of the carriage connecting member (40), Each of the fixing receiving portions (32) of the connecting member receiving portion (30) is provided with a bearing surface (33), Each of the fixed portions (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) of the carriage connecting member (40) is provided with a mounting surface (49) which is placed on the respective bearing surface (33), Each of at least two fixed portions has a recess (48) extending from one side of the fixed portion toward the opposite side of the fixed portion in order to form the mounting surface (49) described above, the movable portion (10).

2. The movable portion (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portions (44a, 44b, 50a, 50b) extend perpendicularly across the carriage connecting member (40) from one of the opposing longitudinal sides of the carriage connecting member (40) to the other.

3. One side portion (18a) is positioned on the side by two portions to form a notch, The reinforcing piece (24) is removably fixed inside the notch by a fixing means (27) that extends through the thickness of the reinforcing piece (24), and the distal end of the fixing means (27) is connected to the one side portion (18a). The movable part (10) according to claim 1.

4. The movable part (10) according to claim 1, wherein the carriage connecting member (40) is in the form of a rectangular plate and comprises a raised reinforcing member that extends from the center of the rectangular plate along the longitudinal direction between the fixed portions.

5. A linear motor comprising the movable part described in claim 1.

Images