Rotary Actuator Coupling Structure for Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coupling structures between rotary actuators and driven bodies suffer from positional misalignment, leading to vibration, noise, and complex maintenance, particularly in compact devices like ATMs and printers, where the structure becomes bulky due to the need for longer axial lengths to accommodate misalignment and intermediary couplings.

Innovation Solution

A coupling structure where the shaft of the driven body is supported by oppositely laid frames, with one end rotatably supported and the other end coupled to a rotary actuator through a tubular recess, featuring a D-cut surface and key arrangements for secure engagement, and anti-vibration buffers to prevent rotation and vibration propagation, allowing for external attachment and detachment of the rotary actuator without disassembling the frames.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a universal coupling is used to connect the output shaft of the rotary actuator to the driven body, then the coupling can accommodate misalignment between shafts, but the axial length of the overall structure becomes longer and the structure becomes more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment absorptionVSAvoidaxial length

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediary coupling component from the system. By directly connecting the output shaft of the rotary actuator to the driven body through a simplified coupling structure, it removes the need for complex universal couplings while still achieving the necessary connection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex coupling to accommodate misalignment, the patent inverts the approach by designing a direct connection that inherently handles misalignment through the rotational freedom of the output shaft, eliminating the need for additional alignment components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a universal coupling is used to connect the output shaft of the rotary actuator to the driven body, then the coupling can accommodate misalignment between shafts, but the overall structure becomes more complicated and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment absorptionVSAvoidcoupling structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling structure is segmented into distinct functional parts: the output shaft, the coupling element, and the driven body connection. This segmentation allows each part to be independently designed and maintained, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining misalignment absorption capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rotary actuator is coupled to the driven body through a coupling structure, then misalignment can be absorbed, but the coupling portion requires maintenance and replacement operations that are complicated and require disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment absorptionVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The simplified coupling structure serves multiple functions: it connects the output shaft to the driven body, accommodates misalignment, and allows for easy maintenance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate maintenance operations on complex coupling components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the axial length is increased to accommodate the coupling structure between frames, then misalignment can be absorbed, but the overall device size becomes larger and application to compact devices is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment absorptionVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the coupling function directly into the connection between the output shaft and driven body, eliminating the need for separate coupling components. This integration reduces the overall axial length and device size while maintaining misalignment absorption capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10161458B2Structure for coupling rotary actuator to driven body

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 OKI MICRO ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED

AI summary

To provide a structure for coupling a rotary actuator to a driven body whereby vibration and noise are reduced and assembly, disassembly, and maintenance after attachment to another device are made easy. This structure comprises the following: support parts laid out opposite a frame; a driven body positioned between said support parts; a shaft that holds said driven body and acts as a rotary shaft; and a rotary actuator coupled to said shaft. One end of the shaft is rotatably supported by one of the support parts, and the other end of the shaft is supported by being coupled to the rotary actuator through the opposing frame by being fitted into a tubular recess formed in the output shaft of the rotary actuator. A protrusion that is formed on the rotary actuator and cushioned in the direction of rotation is fitted into an engagement hole in the frame so as to affix the rotary actuator to the frame.