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Resonant actuator for a personal care appliance having a programmable actuation capability

  • US 7,876,003 B2
  • Filed: 08/16/2006
  • Issued: 01/25/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A drive system for a personal care appliance, comprising:

  • a housing;

    a first opposing pair of permanent magnets positioned longitudinally along an interior surface of the housing, each first permanent magnet having a first portion with a north polarity and a second portion with a south polarity, the first and second portions each extending the length of the first permanent magnet;

    a second opposing pair of permanent magnets, generally orthogonal with the first pair of permanent magnets, positioned longitudinally along the internal surface of the housing, each second permanent magnet having a plurality of parts along the length thereof, alternating between north and south polarities, the first part of one second permanent magnet having a north polarity and the first part of the other second permanent magnet having a south polarity;

    a first moving armature mounted within the housing for moving rotationally, when energized, the first armature extending longitudinally of the cylinder;

    a second moving armature mounted within the housing for moving axially when energized;

    drive windings positioned around at least one of the moving armatures;

    a spindle element to which the first and second armatures are connected or form a part of, the spindle element extending outwardly from one end of the housing and adapted to be connected to an output assembly which includes a workpiece, wherein the spindle rotates when the first armature rotates and moves axially when the second armature moves axially;

    a source of power; and

    programmable control means for applying the power to the drive windings in a selected manner to produce rotational and/or axial movement of the workpiece on the output assembly.

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