JPS59178986A - Mechanical amplifying mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize small size, light weight, low power, low heat generation and high speed by mechanically amplifying the stretch of a piezoelectric or electrostrictive element in combination of arms and hinges. CONSTITUTION:An arm 8 is connected via a hinge 9 to one end 7a of a piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 in a stretching direction, an arm 10 is connected via a hinge 11 to the other end 7b, a stationary member 12 and the arm 8 are connected via a hinge 8, a stationary member 12 and an arm 10 are connected via hinge 14, a wire 15 as an actuator is connected to an arm 16, which is connected to the arm 8 via a hinge 17, and arms 16, 10 are connected via a hinge 18. The ultrafine displacement of the element 7 is enlarged by the arms 8, 10, transmitted to the arm 16, which is rotated, the ultrafine displacement of the element 7 is further enlarged to move the end 15a of the wire 15 connected to the arm 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mechanical amplification mechanism using piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements.

Conventionally, electromagnetic converters have been widely used as electrical/mechanical converters because they allow large strokes to be obtained.
Because current is passed through the coil, heat generation in the coil is unavoidable, resulting in poor energy conversion efficiency and further problems in speeding up the process.

Therefore, in recent years, devices using piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements that have high energy conversion efficiency, low power consumption, low heat generation, and can be driven at high speed have been considered, but when voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements, Since the displacement is as small as 10-odd micrometers, a mechanical amplification mechanism is required to efficiently amplify the minute displacement.

An example of a conventional mechanical amplification mechanism using a piezoelectric or electrostrictive element is a printing mechanism shown in FIG. Figure 1 (
a) shows a state in which no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 1; when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 1, the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 1 expands as shown in FIG. 1(b); The minute displacement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 1 is magnified by the lever mechanism consisting of the connecting parts 2 and 3 and the arm 4.
A wire 5 attached to the tip of the arm 4 allows impact printing of dots. As shown in FIG. 1(a), if the distance between the connection part 2 and the connection part 3 is AI+the distance between the connection part 3 and the wire 5 is 12, then the mechanical amplification factor in this case is approximately A! z/1. becomes. If the displacement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 1 is 10 μ+] and the stroke of the wire 5 is one, the mechanical amplification factor will be 100 times. In other words, if 13@=2 mm, it would be as large as 200 mm, and it would be difficult to increase the speed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact, lightweight, low-power, low-heat, and high-speed mechanical amplification mechanism that eliminates these conventional drawbacks.

According to the present invention, the first arm is connected to one end of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element in the stretching direction via the first hinge, and the second arm is connected to the other end of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element in the stretching direction. connecting a second arm via a fixing member and the first arm via a third hinge; connecting the fixing member and the second arm via a fourth hinge; Fifth
one end of the hinge is connected to the first arm such that the distance between the fifth hinge and the third hinge is greater than the distance between the first hinge and the third hinge, and
one end of the hinge is connected to the second arm such that the distance between the sixth hinge and the fourth hinge is greater than the distance between the second hinge and the fourth hinge, and
The other end of the fifth hinge and the other end of the sixth hinge are connected to the arm of There is obtained a mechanical amplification mechanism characterized in that the fifth hinge and the sixth hinge are connected such that the distance between the centers is greater than the distance between the fifth hinge and the sixth hinge.

The present invention will be described below with reference to drawings showing embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printing mechanism. The piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 used extends in the direction of the arrow when a voltage is applied.

An arm 8 is connected via a hinge 9 to one end 7a of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 in the direction of expansion and contraction, that is, in the direction of the arrow, and to the other end 7b of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 in the direction of expansion and contraction, that is, in the direction of the arrow. The arm 10 was connected via a hinge 11, the fixed member 12 and arm 8 were connected via a hinge 13, the fixed member 12 and arm 10 were connected via a hinge 14, and a wire 15 as an operating element was connected. Arm 16 and arm 8 are connected via hinge 17, and arm 16 and arm 1
0 is connected via a hinge 18. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the distance between hinge 13 and hinge 9 is 731, and the distance between hinge 13 and hinge 17 is /4. If the distance between the hinge 14 and the hinge 11 is 115, and the distance between the hinge 14 and the hinge 18 is 16, in order to expand the displacement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7, l14>IJs and z a > It 5
Make it. Further, when the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 is displaced, a force is applied to the arm 16 via the hinges 17 and 18, or in order to convert these forces into rotational force of the arm 16,
Hinge 17 and hinge 18 are connected to arm 16 so that the lines of action of these forces do not coincide. Tip 1 of wire 15
The distance between 5a and the center of rotation of arm 16 is 18 + hinge 1
7 and the hinge 18 is 17, the displacement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 cannot be further expanded by the arm 16.
8〉l. Note that the hinge refers to the part that can be bent and deformed, and the arm refers to the part that is difficult to deform. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7, as shown in FIG.
rotates, and the minute displacement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 is further magnified and the tip 15 of the wire 15 connected to the arm 16
A can perform impact printing of dots by performing a movement.

This place is here. If a mechanical amplification factor of 100 times is required, IJ
3-a s= 117 = 2 rut 114 =
It is only necessary to set IJ 6 = 11 g = 20 mm, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the size and speed up compared to the conventional embodiment. It is also easy to obtain a mechanical amplification factor that is still larger than in the conventional case.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printing mechanism. FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7, and when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7, as shown in FIG. 3(1)), the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 The electrostrictive element 7 extends in the direction of the arrow, and its displacement is expanded and transmitted to the tip 15a of the wire 15, thereby impact-printing the dots and dots. The mechanical amplification factor in this case is also approximately -1(
x, +'L)4 2 ls 4 11t The effects of the present invention are similarly exhibited.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay device. A movable contact 19 is connected to the arm 16 as an operating element,
A fixed contact 20 and another fixed contact 2 correspond to the movable contact 19.
1 will be provided. FIG. 4(a) shows a state in which no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7, and the movable contact 19 is in contact with the fixed contact 20. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7, the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element 7 extends in the direction of the arrow, and its displacement is expanded and transmitted to the movable contact 19 as an operating element, as shown in FIG. 4(b). As shown, the movable contact 19 leaves the fixed contact 20 and contacts another fixed contact 21 . Even in this case, the mechanical amplification factor is approximately +(F+
, k) z, and the effects of the present invention are similarly exhibited.

In the above explanation, we have discussed the case where a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element to cause elongation.
When the polarity of the applied voltage is reversed, the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element contracts. It is clear that the effects of the present invention can be similarly exhibited even if this phenomenon is utilized.

However, piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements (such as piezoelectric or electrostrictive materials alone, or laminates with a structure in which piezoelectric or electrostrictive materials are laminated and a voltage is applied to each piezoelectric or electrostrictive material) are not yet available. The effects of the present invention are also exhibited in the same manner.

As described above, according to the present invention, a compact, lightweight, low power, low heat generation, and high speed mechanical amplification mechanism can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are diagrams showing an embodiment of a conventional mechanical amplification mechanism, and FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are diagrams showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printing mechanism. , Figure 3(a),
4(b) is a diagram showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printing mechanism, and FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams showing one embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a relay device. 1.7...Piezoelectric or electrostrictive element, 2. Meter...connection part,
4, 8, 1.0.16...arm, 5. j5...Wire, 6. j2...Fixing member, 9. 11. 13,1
．． 4゜17.18...Hinge, 19...Movable contact,
2 (1, 21...Fixed contact.・Tofu

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first arm is connected to one end of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element in the stretching direction via a first hinge, and a second arm is connected to the other end of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive element in the stretching direction. a second arm is connected via a hinge, a fixing member and the first arm are connected via a third hinge, and the fixing member and the second arm are connected via a fourth hinge. and one end of the fifth hinge is connected to the first arm such that the distance between the fifth hinge and the third hinge is greater than the distance between the first hinge and the third hinge. , one end of the sixth hinge is connected to the second arm such that the distance between the sixth hinge and the fourth hinge is greater than the distance between the second hinge and the fourth hinge, The other end of the fifth hinge and the other end of the sixth hinge are connected to the third arm so as to apply a rotational force, and an operating element is connected to the third arm, and the operating element and the third arm are connected to each other. A mechanical amplification mechanism characterized in that the mechanical amplification mechanism is connected such that the distance between the centers of rotation of the fifth hinge and the sixth hinge is greater than the distance between the rotation centers of the fifth hinge and the sixth hinge.