Noncontacting electric power transfer apparatus, noncontacting signal transfer apparatus, split-type mechanical apparatus employing these transfer apparatus, and a control method for controlling same

• US 5,770,936 A
• Filed: 10/03/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: Nomura, Kenji, Hirose, Kenji, Hamamoto, Hiroyuki, Nitta, Yuji, Hirai, Junji, Hiraga, Yoshiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/725,171
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 318/640, 318/16, 318/560, 318/254, 318/492, 318/542, 318/556, 318/539, 318/538, 336/175, 336/118, 336/120, 336/84 C, 336/117, 336/115, 336/130, 336/131, 324/97, 324/207.17, 324/158.1, 324/167, 324/173, 324/175, 363/37, 307/104
• US Class Current: 318/538
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/00 Members which are comprised in the general build-up of a form of machine, particularly relatively large fixed members B23Q37/00 takes precedence ; positioning supports for measuring arrangements G01B5/0004; motorised alignment for optical elements G02B7/005; handling of mask or wafer G03F7/70691; adjusting or compensating devices for optical apparatuses G12B5/00; piezoelectric or electrostrictive positioners H10N30/20
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0009 Energy-transferring means or control lines for movable machine parts; Control panels or boxes; Control parts control handles for driving or feeding mechanisms B23Q5/54
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/09 for indicating or measuring cutting pressure or for determining cutting-tool condition, e.g. cutting ability, load on tool arrangements preventing overload of tools B23Q11/04; devices for indicating failure of drills during boring B23B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2233 for adjusting the tool relative to the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/902 Optical coupling to semiconductor

Abstract

A noncontacting power transfer apparatus, a noncontacting signal transfer apparatus(to be referred to below as a power coupler and a signal coupler, respectively), and a separate machine apparatus that uses these couplers are disclosed. The power coupler is composed of a primary side and a secondary side that are fixed to a static unit and rotatable unit of the machine apparatus, respectively, such that its output does not vary with arbitrary rotation by the rotatable unit. The signal coupler is composed of receiving side portion having a electric-to-light conversion device that converts an electric signal to an optical signal of rotational symmetry relative to the axis of rotation of the rotatable unit and a photoelectric conversion device that converts an optical signal to an electric signal. Accordingly, the rotatable unit can be supplied with power from the static unit even while rotating, and moreover, can communicate with the static unit. Further, the rotatable unit can be easily attached to the static unit and can remove from the static unit.

Claims

1. A noncontacting power transfer apparatus for supplying power from a power supplying part to a power receiving part without direct electric contact, said power supplying part and said power receiving part being movable relative to each other, comprising a high-frequency magnetic core having a mechanically openable portion and fixed with respect to said power supplying part, a primary coil wound on said high-frequency magnetic core and connected to a high-frequency alternating power source, and a secondary coil connected to a power receiving load, said secondary coil being moved passing through the mechanically openable portion of said magnetic core, when the portion is opened, to electromagnetically link with a magnetic path in said magnetic core, wherein

said secondary coil is movable relative to said magnetic core in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of said magnetic core,

said mechanically openable portion of said magnetic core comprising a moveable slab of high frequency magnetic material movable in the plane perpendicular to the direction of motion of said secondary coil relative to said magnetic core such that said slab when closed forms a part of a main magnetic path of said magnetic core.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further provided with a slide structure for moving said slab in the direction perpendicular to both the direction of motion of said secondary coil and the direction of the axis of said magnetic core, to close said mechanically openable portion.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further provided with means for closing said mechanically openable portion by rotating said slab around an axis directed parallel to the direction of motion of the secondary coil relative to said magnetic core.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power receiving part is a work pallet having an autonomous function.