US5199701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carrier apparatus using ultrasonic actuator
Assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-10-29
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Granted: 1993-04-06
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Expires: 2010-10-29
Abstract
Abstract This carrier apparatus employs an ultrasonic actuator comprising a piezoelectric actuator made of a piezoelectric element which extends and contracts in the radial direction of a cylindrical vibrator in the inner space of the cylindrical vibrator as a power source. This ultrasonic actuator elastically deforms the cross section of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical vibrator into an elliptical shape by the extension and contraction of the piezoelectric actuator, and transmits a driving force in a tangential direction to an article pressed on a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body by utilizing the circumferential and radial transformations (or displacements) generated on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical vibrator upon elastic deformation of the elliptical shape.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaharu Shioya
- 👤 Takahiro Mizushina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:08
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/0005; H02N2/001; H02N2/02; H02N2/026; H02N2/10; H02N2/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A carrier apparatus comprising: a cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface; changing means, capable of being extended and contracted, for elastically changing a circular cross section of said cylindrical body into an elliptical cross section; control means for controlling the extension and contraction of said changing means so that the changing of the cross section of said cylindrical body to said elliptical shape is caused intermittently; and rotation means, located in contact with a predetermined position being on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body and being not overlapped with major and minor axes of said elliptical cross section, for rotating in response to a displacement of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body, which is caused by changing of the cross section of said cylindrical body to said elliptical shape; whereby an object to be carried by said carrier apparatus is carried by rotation of said rotation means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A carrier apparatus comprising: a cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface; changing means, capable of being extended and contracted, for elastically changing a circular cross section of said cylindrical body into an elliptical cross section; control means for controlling the extension and contraction of said changing means so that the changing of the cross section of said cylindrical body to said elliptical shape is caused intermittently; and rotation means, located in contact with a predetermined position being on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body and being not overlapped with major and minor axes of said elliptical cross section, for rotating in response to a displacement of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body, which is caused by changing of the cross section of said cylindrical body to said elliptical shape; whereby an object to be carried by said carrier apparatus is carried by rotation of said rotation means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes a piezoelectric vibrator, and said control means includes voltage supplying means for supplying a voltage to the piezoelectric vibrator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body is in tubular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said changing means is located so as to extend and contract i the radial direction of the cylindrical body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said changing means includes a piezoelectric vibrator, and said control means includes voltage supplying mean for supplying a voltage to the piezoelectric vibrator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said changing means includes a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said changing means includes two piezoelectric vibrators arranged so that a direction in which one of the vibrators extends and contracts crosses at an angle of 45° to a direction in which the other extends and contracts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said changing means is located substantially at the center of said cylindrical body in the axial direction thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation means includes a cylindrical member which is capable of rotating in its circumferential direction, and has a protruding portion located on the inner peripheral surface thereof and extending in a circumferential direction of said cylindrical member to contact the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising: means for pressing the object on the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising: means for producing a force to press said cylindrical body on said rotation means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A carrier apparatus comprising: a cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface; changing means, capable of being extended and contracted, for elastically changing the cross section of said cylindrical body to an elliptical shape; control means for controlling the extension and contraction of said changing means so that a displacement of the cylindrical body to the elliptical shape is caused intermittently; and auxiliary means for pressing an object to be moved on a predetermined position being on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body and being not overlapped with major and minor axes of said elliptical cross section; whereby an object is moved in response to a deformation of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body, which is caused by changing of the cross section of said cylindrical body to the elliptical shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A carrier apparatus comprising: a cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface; changing means, capable of being extended and contracted, for elastically changing the cross section of said cylindrical body to an elliptical shape; control means for controlling the extension and contraction of said changing means so that a displacement of the cylindrical body to the elliptical shape is caused intermittently; and auxiliary means for pressing an object to be moved on a predetermined position being on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body and being not overlapped with major and minor axes of said elliptical cross section; whereby an object is moved in response to a deformation of the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body, which is caused by changing of the cross section of said cylindrical body to the elliptical shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said changing means includes a piezoelectric vibrator, and said control means includes voltage supplying means for supplying a voltage to the piezoelectric vibrator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said cylindrical body is tubular.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said changing means is located so as to extend and contract in the radial direction of the cylindrical body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said changing means includes a piezoelectric vibrator, and said control means includes voltage supplying means for supplying voltage to the piezoelectric vibrator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said changing means includes a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said changing means includes two piezoelectric vibrators arranged so that a direction in which one of the vibrators extends and contracts crosses at an angle of 45° to a direction in which the other extends and contracts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said changing means is located substantially at the center of said cylindrical body in the axial direction thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The carrier apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising: means for producing a force to press said auxiliary means on the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body; whereby the object to be moved is pressed on the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-05 | 1996-10-05 | 1997-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-05 | 2000-10-05 | 2001-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-05 | 2004-10-05 | 2005-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |