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Title:
A MOTOR DEVICE FOR LINEAR ACTUATION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2008/061948
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The proposed motor device (1) for linear actuation includes: a fixed wheel (2) that engages with at least one connecting wheel (3), whose axis moves with respect to the fixed wheel (2) and which in turn engages with an actuation wheel (4), whose axis moves with respect to the fixed wheel (2). An arm (5, 50), keyed onto the actuation wheel (4), supports at least one work pin (6, 60), which has an axis substantially parallel to the axes of said wheels (2, 3, 4), so as to allow the work pin (6, 60) to be operated along a rectilinear trajectory.

Inventors:
GAMBERINI GIULIANO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2007/062476
Publication Date:
May 29, 2008
Filing Date:
November 16, 2007
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GPIII S R L (IT)
GAMBERINI GIULIANO (IT)
International Classes:
F16H21/18
Domestic Patent References:
WO1999011906A11999-03-11
Foreign References:
US4715240A1987-12-29
US4023420A1977-05-17
JPS5973654A1984-04-25
GB1105349A1968-03-06
DE3620101A11987-12-17
Other References:
CHIRONIS N P: "Gear-slider mechanisms", PRODUCT ENGINEERING, MCGRAW-HILL PUBLICATION, NEW YORK, NY, US, vol. 36, no. 3, 1 February 1965 (1965-02-01), pages 62 - 65, XP002173659, ISSN: 0032-9754
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
DALL'OLIO, GIANCARLO (Via Delle Armi 1, Bologna, IT)
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Claims:

CLAIMS

1. A motor device for linear actuation, characterized in that it includes: a fixed wheel (2), an actuation wheel (4) associated to said fixed wheel by transmission means, and driven to rotate with respect to the fixed wheel (2); an arm (5, 50) keyed to said actuation wheel, for supporting at least one work pin (6, 60) , having an axis substantially parallel to axes of said wheels (2, 4); with the diameter (D 4 ) of the actuation wheel (4) being given by the relation:

D 4 = D/2 (1) where D stands for the diameter of the fixed wheel (2) ; with the distance (L 6 _ 4 L 60 - 4 ) between the axes of the work pin (6, 60) and of the actuation wheel (4) defined by the relation : where L 4 _ 2 stands for the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel (4) and of the fixed wheel (2); such as to allow linear actuation of the work pin (6, 60), along a rectilinear trajectory.

2. A motor device, according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means include a toothed belt, which engages with the fixed wheel (2) and the actuation wheel (4) .

3. A motor device, according to claim 1, wherein said

transmission means include a connection wheel (3) having an axis mobile with respect to the fixed wheel (2), and set in engagement with the fixed wheel and with the actuation wheel (4); with the axes of said wheels (2, 3, 4) being 5 parallel.

4. A motor device, according to one of the claims from 1 to 3, further including a pair of work pins, namely a first work pin (6) and a second work pin (60) , carried by the arm

10 (50) and having axes parallel to each other and to the axis of the actuation wheel (4), with the distances (L 6 _ 4 , L 60 - 4 ) between the axes of the respective first and second work pins (6, 60) and of the actuation wheel (4) defined by the relation :

IJ Lg_ 4 = L 50 - 4 = Lzj_ 2 (3) where L 4 _ 2 stands for the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel (4) and of the fixed wheel (2), so as to allow actuation of each work pin (6, 60) along rectilinear trajectories . 0

5. A motor device, according to claim 4, further including said pair of work pins, first (6) and second (60), carried by opposite ends of the arm (50) and having axes substantially coplanar with the axis of the actuation wheel 5 (4), so as to allow actuation of each work pin (6, 60), along rectilinear orthogonal trajectories.

6. A motor device, according to one of the claims from 1 to

3, further including a plurality of X work pins, carried by

30 ends of the arm angularly offset by an angle of 360°/X, with the same distances between the axes of the respective

work pins and of the actuation wheel (4), equal to the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel (4) and of the fixed wheel (2), so as to allow actuation of each work pin along rectilinear trajectories, angularly offset by an angle of 360°/X.

7. A motor device, according to one of the claims from 1 to

6, wherein the distance (L 6 _ 4 , L 60 - 4 ) between the axes of the work pin (6, 60) and of the actuation wheel (4), and the distance (L 4 _ 2 ) between the axes of the actuation wheel (4) and of the fixed wheel (2) , have variable extension, so as to allow adjustment of the linear stroke of the work pin

(6, 60) .

8. A motor device, according to one of the claims from 1 to 7, further including a frame (10), hinged coaxial with the fixed wheel (2) and supporting said wheels (3, 4) in a rotating way.

9. A motor device, according to claims 3 and 8, wherein said support frame (10), rotating with respect to the fixed wheel (2), includes a triplet of connecting rods (7, 8, 9), mutually hinged in points corresponding to the axes of the respective wheels (2, 3, 4) .

10. A motor device, according to one of the claims from 8 to 9, further including a synchronization group (H), connected to the support frame (10) and allowing the work pin (6, 60) to be operated to translate.

11. A motor device, according to claim 10, wherein said

synchronization group (11) includes: a first wheel (12), carried by the support frame (10), coaxial with the actuation wheel (4), connected by transmission means to a third wheel (14), carried idle by the arm (5, 50), and supporting the work pin (6, 60); transmission means for connecting said first wheel to said third wheel; said third wheel having a diameter (D 14 ) defined by the relation:

D 14 = 2 x D 12 (4) where D 12 stands for the diameter of the first wheel (12), so as to allow the work pin (6, 60) to be operated to translate .

12. A motor device, according to claim 11, wherein said transmission means include at least a second wheel (13), carried idle by the arm (5, 50) and engaging with said first wheel (12) and third wheel (14) .

Description:

A MOTOR DEVICE FOR LINEAR ACTUATION

FIELD QF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to motor devices for linear actuation, indicated particularly for the textile field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many technical fields there are actuation devices including a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, which is capable of driving to translate a pin, situated at the stem base .

Moreover, guiding elements engages the pin, so as to ensure a straight trajectory of the pin.

The main disadvantage that affects such devices is due to the fact that the actuation strokes and speeds are extremely limited, basically due to the inertia and friction between the pin and the guides.

There are also magnetically actuated linear motors, in which the rotor and stator are linear, generally rectilinear, and in which driving power is generated to act along linear trajectories, generally rectilinear.

This type of motors, extremely expensive and particularly difficult to manage, is not suitable for actuation characterized by variable speeds and limited strokes of the "rotor slide".

SUMMARY QF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to avoid the above mentioned drawbacks by proposing a motor device for linear actuation, which allows to adjust easily the actuation

strokes and speeds, ensuring extremely reduced production and managing costs.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a motor device, which is extremely versatile and reliable, and which requires easy maintenance steps and achieves high productivity standards.

The above mentioned objects are obtained, in accordance with the contents of the claims, by a motor device for linear actuation, characterized in that it includes: a fixed wheel; an actuation wheel associated to said fixed wheel by transmission means, and driven to rotate with respect to the fixed wheel; an arm keyed to said actuation wheel, for supporting at least one work pin, having an axis substantially parallel to axes of said wheels; with the diameter of the actuation wheel being given by the relation:

D 4 = D/2 (1) where D stands for the diameter of the fixed wheel; with the distance between the axes of the work pin and of the actuation wheel defined by the relation:

(L 60 - Lβ_ 4 ) = Li 4 _ 2 (2) where L 4 _ 2 stands for the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel and of the fixed wheel; such as to allow linear actuation of the work pin, along a rectilinear trajectory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristic features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description of some preferred, but not exclusive embodiments, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: - Figures from 1 to 8 are schematic views of subsequent operation steps of a first embodiment of the proposed motor device;

Figures from 9 to 12 are schematic views of subsequent operation steps of another embodiment of the proposed motor device;

Figures from 13 to 16 are schematic views of subsequent operation steps of a still further embodiment of the proposed motor device;

Figures from 17 to 24 are schematic views of subsequent operation steps of a yet further embodiment of the proposed motor device.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Having regard to the above mentioned Figures, it is agreed that the general reference 1 indicates the proposed motor device for linear actuation, which includes a fixed toothed wheel 2, engaging with at least one connecting toothed wheel 3, having moving axis with respect to the fixed wheel

2, and engaging in turn with an actuation toothed wheel 4, which likewise has an axis that can move with respect to the fixed wheel 2.

An arm 5, keyed onto the actuation wheel 4, supports, for example in a rotary fashion, a work pin 6, whose axis is substantially parallel to the axes of the above mentioned wheels 2, 3, 4.

The proposed motor device 1 has such dimension that the

- A -

diameter D 4 of the actuation wheel 4 is given by the relation:

D 4 = D/2 (1) where D stands for the diameter of the fixed wheel 2; and the distance L 6 _ 4 between the axes of the work pin 6 and of the actuation wheel 4 is given by the relation:

L 6 -4 = L 4 _ 2 (2) where L 4 _ 2 stands for the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the fixed wheel 2, so as to allow the linear actuation of the work pin 6 along a rectilinear trajectory and a combined roto-translational motion

(Figures from 1 to 8) .

Consequently, the work pin 6 is operated to perform a stroke along a rectilinear trajectory equal to 4 x L 6 _ 4 (= 4 x L 4 _ 2 ) , with linear speed null in the regions corresponding to the end stops, for the inversion of the motion direction, and the maximum linear speed in a prefixed intermediate position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the distance L 6 _ 4 between the axes of the work pin 6 and of the actuation wheel 4, and the distance L 4 _ 2 between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the fixed wheel 2 have a variable extension, so as to allow adjusting the linear stroke of the work pin 6 (Figures from 9 to 12) . The motor device 1 has also a frame 10, hinged to the fixed wheel 2 and supporting the remaining wheels, the connecting wheel 3 and the actuation wheel 4, in a rotating way. The frame 10 includes for example a triplet of connecting rods 7, 8, 9, mutually hinged in a point corresponding to the axes of the same wheels 2, 3, 4.

According to a preferred embodiment, the invention includes

advantageously a synchronization group 11, connected to the support frame 10 that allows linear actuation of the work pin 6 along a rectilinear trajectory, with a purely translational motion (Figures from 13 to 16) . For example, the synchronization group 11 includes: a first toothed wheel 12, coaxial with the actuation wheel 4, keyed onto the support frame 10 and aimed at engaging with at least a second toothed wheel 13, carried idle by the arm 5 and engaging with a third toothed wheel 14, carried idle by the arm 5 that supports the work pin 6.

The synchronization group 11 is dimensioned in such a way that the diameter D 14 of the third synchronization wheel is defined by the relation:

D 14 = 2 x D 12 (4) where D 12 stands for the diameter of the first wheel 12, so as to allow linear actuation of the work pin 6 along a rectilinear trajectory with a purely translational motion.

It can be noted in Figures from 1 to 8 that a counterclockwise rotation of the connection wheel 3 and a corresponding clockwise "main" rotation of the actuation wheel 4 and of the arm 5 keyed thereto, thus of the work pin 6, correspond to the counterclockwise actuation of the support frame 10.

Therefore, if the synchronization group 11 is not present, the work pin 6 performs rectilinear trajectories rotating with respect to its axis by 180° during the forward stroke and by as many 180° during the relative backward stroke, always in clockwise direction.

The presence of the synchronization group 11 makes the work pin 6 counter-rotate constantly, which prevents the latter from rotating with respect to its axis.

Actually, the clockwise rotation of the supporting arm 5 is corresponded by a counterclockwise rotation of the synchronization wheels, first 12 and third 14, that compensates for the previous "main" clockwise contribution, acting on the work pin 6.

Therefore, the synchronization group 11 allows the work pin 6 to perform again rectilinear trajectories, but without rotating with respect to its axis during the forward and backward strokes. Figures from 17 to 24 show another embodiment of the proposed motor device 1, which includes a pair of work pins, first 6 and second 60, carried by an arm 50 on its opposite ends, for example in a rotating way. The axes of the work pins are parallel to each other and to the axis of the actuation wheel 4, and in this case they are coplanar.

In this case, the motor device 1 is dimensioned in such a way, that the distances (L 6 _ 4 , L 60 - 4 ) between the axes of the respective work pins 6, 60 and of the actuation wheel 4 are defined by the relation: L 6 _ 4 = L 60 _ 4 = L 4 _ 2 (3) where L 4 _ 2 stands for the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the fixed wheel 2, so as to allow linear actuation of each work pin 6, 60 along rectilinear trajectories, orthogonal to each other and distinguished by corresponding combined roto-translational motions.

Also in this case, the distances (L 4 _ 2 , L 6 _ 4 , L 60 - 4 ) between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the fixed wheel 2, as well as between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the respective work pins (6, 60), can have variable extension, so as to allow the contextual adjustment of the linear stroke of the work pins 6, 60, in accordance with the relation (3) .

Likewise, each work pin 6, 60 can possibly be acted on by a synchronization group 11, connected to the support frame 10 of the wheels 2, 3, 4, capable of allowing the linear actuation of the relative work pin 6, 60, along corresponding translational motions.

According to a further embodiment (not shown for simplicity's sake) of the proposed motor device 1, the pair of work pins can be carried by the arm on the orthogonal ends, so as to allow the actuation of the same pins along the rectilinear trajectories, angularly out of phase by 45°.

Likewise, according to a further embodiment (not shown for simplicity's sake) of the proposed motor device 1, there can be a triplet of work pins, carried by the arm on the ends with an angular offset of 120°, for example in a rotating way, and the distances between the axes of the respective work pins and of the actuation wheel 4 are the same and equal to the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the fixed wheel 2, so as to allow actuation of each work pin, along rectilinear trajectories, angularly offset by 120°, likewise distinguished by corresponding combined roto-translational motions.

Therefore, it can be understood that, generally, the proposed motor device 1 can have X work pins, carried by the arm on the ends angularly offset by an angle of 360°/X, with the distances between the axes of the respective work pins and of the actuation wheel 4 being the same and equal to the distance between the axes of the actuation wheel 4 and of the fixed wheel 2, so as to allow the actuation of each work pin along rectilinear trajectories, angularly offset by an angle of 360°/X, distinguished by corresponding combined roto-translational motions, or purely translational ones, if there are the corresponding

synchronization groups 11.

The above mentioned embodiments have been described with reference to the wheels of toothed type, which engage directly with one another, but it remains implicit that they can be toothed wheels connected by relative toothed belts.

In the last case, for example, the fixed wheel 2 can engage with a toothed belt, engaged in turn with the actuation wheel 4, as the first wheel 12 of the synchronization group 11 can engage with a toothed belt, which engages with the third wheel 14: in this case it appears obvious that the toothed belts act like the toothed wheels, the connection wheel 3 and the second wheel 13.

It appears clear from what above that the proposed motor device for linear actuation allows adjusting easily the strokes and actuation speeds, ensuring extremely reduced production and managing costs.

The actuation speed of the work pin is in fact adjustable by a simple control of the rotation angular speed of the support frame of the connection and actuation wheels with respect to the fixed wheel.

The stroke of the work pin is also adjustable by a simple control of the distances between the axes, advantageously of variable extension, of the fixed wheel and of the actuation wheel, and between the axes of the latter and of the work pin.

The use of the toothed wheels, or pulleys, joined by connecting rods, makes the motor device, proposed by the invention, extremely versatile and reliable, requiring easy maintenance steps and achieving high productivity standards .

Obviously, the invention under consideration has been

described with reference to the enclosed figures as a pure, not limiting example. Therefore, it is clear that all the changes and variants can be applied thereto, remaining anyway within the scope defined by the following claims.