Abstract: Provided is an actuator, preferably a linear actuator, including a carriage having a lateral support surface for supporting a first longitudinal section of a belt against lateral deflection and a space adjacent to and longitudinally offset from the lateral support surface for partially surrounding a second longitudinal section of the belt that is deflected relative to the lateral support surface to take up slack and/or tension the belt. By containing the slack within the carriage using the space and the lateral support surface, slack may be removed from the belt or the belt may be tensioned in an easy and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator, preferably a linear actuator, including a carriage having a lateral support surface for supporting a first longitudinal section of a belt against lateral deflection and a space adjacent to and longitudinally offset from the lateral support surface for partially surrounding a second longitudinal section of the belt that is deflected relative to the lateral support surface to take up slack and/or tension the belt. By containing the slack within the carriage using the space and the lateral support surface, slack may be removed from the belt or the belt may be tensioned in an easy and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator, preferably a linear actuator, including a carriage (16) having a lateral support surface (144, 152) for supporting a first longitudinal section of a belt against lateral deflection and a space (164) adjacent to and longitudinally offset from the lateral support surface for partially surrounding a second longitudinal section of the belt that is deflected relative to the lateral support surface to take up slack and/or tension the belt. By containing the slack within the carriage using the space and the lateral support surface, slack may be removed from the belt or the belt may be tensioned in an easy and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: Provided is a carriage assembly 16 including a carriage 50, a wheel bar 90 that is deflectable relative to the carriage 50, and a plurality of wheels 92, 94, 96 mounted to the bar 90 for rotation around a respective axis 98, 100, 102, the axis 100 of at least one of the wheels 94 being offset from the axis 98, 102 of at least one of the other wheels 92, 96 in a direction of the wheel bar deflection. The wheel bar 90 is deflected relative to the carriage 50 to allow the wheels 92, 94, 96 to engage respective rails 32, 34 in a track 30 to eliminate or reduce play between the wheels and the track.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes an actuator housing (20), a drive screw assembly (26) extending into the actuator housing (20), a tubular thrust rod (22), and an inner sleeve (104) disposed therein and engaging the drive screw assembly (26) for supporting the drive screw assembly (26) against radial movement during axial movement of the thrust rod (22) relative to the actuator housing (20). The drive screw assembly (26) includes a rotatable drive screw (72), a nut (74) coupled to the thrust rod (22) for movement with the nut (74) and in threaded engagement with the screw (72) for driving the nut (74) relative to the screw (72), and a screw bearing (76) coupled to a distal end (90) of the screw (72) for providing engagement between the screw (72) and the inner sleeve (104), where the nut (74) translates rotational movement of the screw (72) into axial movement of the thrust rod (22).

Abstract: Provided is a carriage assembly 16 including a carriage 50, a wheel bar 90 that is deflectable relative to the carriage 50, and a plurality of wheels 92, 94, 96 mounted to the bar 90 for rotation around a respective axis 98, 100, 102, the axis 100 of at least one of the wheels 94 being offset from the axis 98, 102 of at least one of the other wheels 92, 96 in a direction of the wheel bar deflection. The wheel bar 90 is deflected relative to the carriage 50 to allow the wheels 92, 94, 96 to engage respective rails 32, 34 in a track 30 to eliminate or reduce play between the wheels and the track.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator, preferably a linear actuator, including a carriage (16) having a lateral support surface (144, 152) for supporting a first longitudinal section of a belt against lateral deflection and a space (164) adjacent to and longitudinally offset from the lateral support surface for partially surrounding a second longitudinal section of the belt that is deflected relative to the lateral support surface to take up slack and/or tension the belt. By containing the slack within the carriage using the space and the lateral support surface, slack may be removed from the belt or the belt may be tensioned in an easy and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes an actuator housing (20), a drive screw assembly (26) extending into the actuator housing (20), a tubular thrust rod (22), and an inner sleeve (104) disposed therein and engaging the drive screw assembly (26) for supporting the drive screw assembly (26) against radial movement during axial movement of the thrust rod (22) relative to the actuator housing (20). The drive screw assembly (26) includes a rotatable drive screw (72), a nut (74) coupled to the thrust rod (22) for movement with the nut (74) and in threaded engagement with the screw (72) for driving the nut (74) relative to the screw (72), and a screw bearing (76) coupled to a distal end (90) of the screw (72) for providing engagement between the screw (72) and the inner sleeve (104), where the nut (74) translates rotational movement of the screw (72) into axial movement of the thrust rod (22).

Abstract: A linear actuator having particular application for reconfigurable fixtures used to hold large area workpieces. The linear actuators include a thrust rod connected to a translatable nut member that is driven by a rotatable drive screw that has a longitudinal axis off-set from the longitudinal axis of the thrust rod that preferably is centrally disposed within the housing of the actuator. The off-set axis of the drive screw enables the drive screw per unit size to handle greater loads and run at higher speeds. Also, the use of a solid thrust rod enables the thrust rod per unit size to handle greater loads and be less expensive as opposed to being hollow when the drive screw is coaxial with the thrust rod. This arrangement also enables less material to be used to manufacture the linear actuator per unit size. The linear actuators may be used as an alternative to existing assemblies with central thrust rods.