Linear Motor Compactness via Vertical Armature Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear motors face challenges in achieving compactness while ensuring smooth movement of the mover and component mounting devices, as they often require additional space due to the arrangement of armatures and field magnets, which hinders compactness in both width and lateral directions.
Innovation Solution
A linear motor design featuring a stator with a comb-like core and coils, a shaft-like mover with alternately polarized permanent magnets, and a retaining member that allows for compact arrangement, enabling smooth movement and reducing the overall size by integrating the stator, mover, and retaining member in a single frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the armature length is increased to improve driving force, then the driving force is improved, but the moment acting on sliders increases and smooth movement is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear motor configuration where the armature is positioned laterally to a configuration where the armature is positioned vertically above the mover. This dimensional change allows the armature to be supported directly by the frame member through retaining members, eliminating the moment issue that occurs when the armature is positioned laterally and connected through sliders. The vertical arrangement enables the armature weight to be directly supported rather than creating a moment arm that hinders smooth movement.
2Ease of operation
If sidewalls are added to guide the movable body, then movement guidance is improved, but the width direction dimension increases reducing compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conventional U-shaped track rail with sidewalls from the linear motor structure. Instead, the mover is guided through a different mechanism where the shaft-like member is movably supported by retaining members attached to the frame member. This extraction of the sidewall structure eliminates the need for extra width direction space while maintaining movement guidance through the retaining member support system.
3Area of stationary object
If the armature and linear guide are laterally arranged, then compactness in width direction is improved, but the occupied space in lateral arrangement direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the armature from a lateral arrangement to a vertical arrangement above the mover. This dimensional change consolidates the structure in the width direction while organizing components along the vertical direction. The armature, mover, and retaining members are arranged vertically, eliminating the need for lateral arrangement and reducing the occupied space in the lateral direction while maintaining compactness in the width direction.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple components are used for stator and mover support, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the support function into the frame member itself, which directly supports the mover through retaining members. This merging of the support function into the existing frame structure eliminates the need for separate complex support mechanisms, track rails, and multiple guiding components. The frame member serves both as the structural framework and as the support element for the mover, reducing the total number of components while maintaining structural stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for compact linear motor operation, reducing the occupied space and improving assemblability, enabling smooth movement of the mover and component mounting devices without hindrance from armature length or weight, while maintaining efficiency in component mounting processes.
Implementation Method 1
the coil is subjected to energization control, whereby the linear motor relatively moves the armature and the mover linearly
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of different permanent magnets, magnetic poles of which on the armature side are alternately different, arrayed in a row
Data Source
AI summary
A linear motor includes a stator having a core and an armature including coils respectively attached to the cores. A mover includes a shaft-like member having an opposed surface opposed to the armature and a field magneton made of a plurality of permanent magnets arrayed along the shaft-like member and fixed to the opposed surface. A frame member is configured to support the stator. A retaining member is attached to the frame member and configured to retain the shaft-like member movably in the longitudinal direction thereof such that the mover is movable in the first direction with respect to the stator.