THREE AXIS DRIVE APPARATUS

• US 20080064543A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Taguchi, Toshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,017 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/8
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/626 followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/04 wherein the guideway is also moved, e.g. travelling crane bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/023 Cartesian coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/104 with cables, chains or ribbons

Abstract

A pulley drive mechanism 26 for driving a second pulley 23 includes: a spline shaft 27 rotated integrally with the second pulley 23, for supporting the second pulley so that the second pulley can be moved in the direction of Y-axis in the drawing; a third pulley 28 arranged at one end portion of the spline shaft 27; and a third belt drive mechanism 29 for driving the spline shaft 27 through the third pulley 28.

Claims

1. A three axis drive apparatus for driving a driven member in first, second and third directions perpendicular to each other, comprising:

a base comprising a first support portion fixed thereon;

a first guide mechanism comprising;

a first guide member supported by the first support portion; and

a first slider guided by the first guide member in the first direction;

a second guide mechanism comprising;

a second guide member extending in the second direction from the first slider; and

a second slider guided by the second guide member in the second direction;

a third guide mechanism that is provided on the second slider and guides the driven member to the third direction;

a first belt drive mechanism comprising;

a first slider drive transmission belt that slides the first slider; and

a first motor that drives the first slider drive transmission belt through a plurality of first pulleys;

a second belt drive mechanism comprising;

a second slider drive transmission belt that slides the second slider; and

a second motor that drives the second slider drive transmission belt through a plurality of second pulleys; and

a driven member drive mechanism comprising;

at least one of driven member drive transmission belt that slides the driven member; and

a third motor that drives the driven member in the third direction through a plurality of driven member pulleys,

wherein the first pulleys, at least one of the second pulleys, at least one of the driven member pulleys, the first motor, the second motor and the third motor are fixed on the first support portion.

2. The three axis drive apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein in the second belt drive mechanism, three pulleys of the second pulleys are supported on the first slider and draw a part of the second belt along with second direction.

3. The three axis drive apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the driven member drive mechanism further comprises:

a spline shaft that is supported on the first slider so as to extend in the second direction and is rotated by at least one of the driven member drive transmission belt;

a pair of third pulleys that is rotatably driven by the spline shaft and provided so as to be movable in an axial direction of the spline shaft;

a secondary driven member drive transmission belt that moves the driven member in the third direction by the pair of the third pulleys.

4. The three axis drive apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the driven member drive mechanism comprises:

a feed screw shaft supported on the second slider so as to extend in the third direction and rotatably driven by the driven member drive transmission belt;

a nut that is connected to the driven member, is screwed to the feed screw shaft and is moved in the third direction by rotation of the feed screw shaft.

5. The three axis drive apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein the driven member drive mechanism comprises:

a second direction drawing pulley that is supported on the first slider and draws a part of the driven member drive transmission belt in the second direction;

three first direction drawing pulleys that are supported on the second slider and draw a part of the driven member slider drive transmission belt in the second direction which is drawn in the first direction by the second direction drawing pulley,

wherein one of the first direction drawing pulley, which is engaged with an end part of the driven member drive transmission belt drawn in the first direction, is fixed on the feed screw shaft.

6. The three axis drive apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein the driven member drive mechanism comprises:

a third slider comprising a nut portion screwed on the feed screw shaft,

a slider support member that supports the third slider so as to be movable in an axial direction of the feed screw shaft.

7. The three axis drive apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the third guide mechanism comprising:

a screw shaft rotated by the driven member drive transmission belt;

a movable body engaged with the screw shaft directly or indirectly;

a guide rail that is provided so as to be parallel to the screw shaft and guides the movable body in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail;

wherein the movable body is driven by the screw shaft and guided by the guide rail.