Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a main actuator body 12, a driving unit 16, a feed screw shaft 32 for transmitting rotary driving force of a rotary driving source 14, a displacement member 40 for externally fitting and surrounding the feed screw shaft 32 to make displacement along the axial direction in accordance with the engaging action between a male thread 36 and a female thread 42, sensor attachment long grooves 24a, 24b provided at side surface portions of the main actuator body 12, and sensors 25 installed at predetermined portions in the sensor attachment long grooves 24a, 24b.

Abstract: A suction pad comprises a workpiece attracting section made of a metallic material and brought to contact with a surface of a workpiece; a main body made of a flexible material and integrally coupled to the workpiece attracting section; an adapter made of a metallic material and attached to the main body; and a spring member made of a metallic material with one end thereof connected to the workpiece attracting section and the other end thereof connected to the adapter. A rotation-stop and guide mechanism for a suction pad comprises a spline shaft having splines and coupled to the suction pad, a cylindrical member externally fitted to the spline shaft and displaceable along the spline shaft, and a plurality of balls arranged between the cylindrical member and the spline shaft, the balls forming a rotation-stop in cooperation with the splines that stops the rotation of the cylindrical member against the spline shaft, rolling upon displacement of the cylindrical member along the spline shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing vacuum suction pads, in which, in addition to reductions of contaminant components, the material of vacuum suction pads is subjected to an improved surface treatment which prevents deposition of pad marks on work surfaces and reduces frictional resistance of suction pads on work surfaces to lessen their fatigue. Suction pads of synthetic rubber, to be connected to a vacuum source, are each formed with a thin halogenation-hardened layer at least on a sucking surfaces to be held in contact with a work surface.

Abstract: An electric actuator includes a hollow actuator housing, an electric motor connected to the hollow actuator housing, a feed screw shaft coupled to the drive shaft of the electric motor, for transmitting rotational drive power from the electric motor, and a spline tube disposed in the hollow actuator housing in surrounding relationship to the feed screw shaft and held in engagement with the feed screw shaft, for displacement axially with respect to the hollow actuator housing with the rotational drive power transmitted by the feed screw shaft. Since the feed screw shaft is surrounded by the spline tube, dust and dirt particles are prevented from being deposited on the feed screw shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electric actuator which makes it possible to prevent a driving force-transmitting shaft from adhesion of dust or the like, and eliminate any fear for deterioration of driving force-transmitting function. A hole is defined in a body which is arranged to extend in a vertical direction. A motor is secured to one end of the body. A feed screw is coaxially connected to a rotary shaft of the motor. The feed screw is rotatably supported by angular contact ball bearings. A feed nut is engaged with the feed screw. The hole is slidably engaged with a cylinder member which is formed to be cylindrical and lengthy. The cylinder member surrounds the feed screw. The feed nut is secured to one end of the cylinder member, and a bracket is secured to the other end thereof.

Abstract: A suction pad comprises a workpiece attracting section made of a metallic material and brought to contact with a surface of a workpiece; a main body made of a flexible material and integrally coupled to the workpiece attracting section; an adapter made of a metallic material and attached to the main body; and a spring member made of a metallic material with one end thereof connected to the workpiece attracting section and the other end thereof connected to the adapter. A rotation-stop and guide mechanism for a suction pad comprises a spline shaft having splines and coupled to the suction pad, a cylindrical member externally fitted to the spline shaft and displaceable along the spline shaft, and a plurality of balls arranged between the cylindrical member and the spline shaft, the balls forming a rotation-stop in cooperation with the splines that stops the rotation of the cylindrical member against the spline shaft, rolling upon displacement of the cylindrical member along the spline shaft.

Abstract: There are described an improved vacuum suction pad and a method for manufacturing such suction pads, in which, in addition to reductions of contaminant components, the material of vacuum suction pads is subjected to an improved surface treatment which prevents deposition of pad marks on work surfaces and reduces frictional resistance of suction pads on work surfaces to lessen their fatigue. Suction pads of synthetic rubber, to be connected to a vacuum source, are each formed with a thin halogenation-hardened layer at least on a sucking surfaces to be held in contact with a work surface.

Abstract: A suction pad comprises a workpiece attracting section made of a metallic material and brought to contact with a surface of a workpiece; a main body made of a flexible material and integrally coupled to the workpiece attracting section; an adapter made of a metallic material and attached to the main body; and a spring member made of a metallic material with one end thereof connected to the workpiece attracting section and the other end thereof connected to the adapter. A rotation-stop and guide mechanism for a suction pad comprises a spline shaft having splines and coupled to the suction pad, a cylindrical member externally fitted to the spline shaft and displaceable along the spline shaft, and a plurality of balls arranged between the cylindrical member and the spline shaft, the balls forming a rotation-stop in cooperation with the splines that stops the rotation of the cylindrical member against the spline shaft, rolling upon displacement of the cylindrical member along the spline shaft.

Abstract: To attract a workpiece with a limited contact region, e.g., a doughnut-shaped compact disc having a central circular hole, a skirt of a substantially arcuate attractor is held against an annular land extending around the central circular hole. Suction forces are applied through a plurality of suction holes surrounded by the skirt to attract the annular land for attracting and carrying the compact disc. A mini disc having an annular step along a peripheral region around a central hole thereof may stably be attracted and carried by an attractor having inner and outer annular contact members which axially project different distances to contact the peripheral region and an area, respectively, that is radially spaced from the peripheral region by the annular step.

Abstract: A suction pad assembly for holding a work by suction includes a suction pad and a connector. The suction pad comprises a root part connected to a vacuum and suction source through the connector and a skirt part integrally joined to the root part. The connector has an entirely protrudent part in a noncircular form in transverse section. The root part has a recess into which the noncircularly protrudent part of the connector is fitted. Alternatively, the root part has an entirely protrudent part in a noncircular form in transverse section and the connector has a recess in a noncircular form in transverse section, into which the protrudent part of the root part is fitted.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for holding by suction and conveying. The apparatus comprises a pipe joint connected to a vacuum and suction source through a tube; a cylindrical connector connected to a suction pad; and a connecting member through which the pipe joint is coupled to the connector. The connecting member includes a cylindrical member angularly movably surrounding the outer periphery of the connector, and between the cylindrical member and the connector, is provided structure inhibiting the movement of the cylindrical member in a direction of the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mechanism for locking the angular movement of a suction pad. The mechanism comprises a tubular body fitted to a root part of the suction pad and having a flange; a cover member attached to a moving assembly for displacing the suction pad; a first bush having a slide resistance lower than the tubular body and fitted to the flange of the tubular body; and a second bush having a slide resistance lower than the cover member and fitted to the inside of the cover member. The first bush and second bush are engaged with each other in such a manner that alternating concavities and convexities of the first bush are meshed with alternating convexities and concavities of the second bush, respectively, whereby the displacement of the suction pad in its axial direction is guided, and the angular movement of the suction pad is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for holding by suction and conveying, making use of a suction pad for holding a work by suction. The apparatus is characterized in that the suction pad comprises a root part to be connected to a vacuum and suction source and a skirt part provided integrally with the root part, and a cushioning part is provided integrally between the root part and the skirt part.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a suction pad for attracting and holding a work, which comprises a suction base coupled via a connector to a vacuum suction source, a suction skirt integrally provided in continuation with the base, and a vacuum chamber which is defined inside the suction pad and communicates with the inside of the skirt. In addition, the suction pad includes a plurality of smaller-diameter through holes which cause the vacuum chamber to communicate with a suction surface of the skirt, and partition walls for surrounding the through holes. The partition walls define a number of small vacuum chambers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a suction pad for attracting and holding a work, which comprises a suction base coupled to a vacuum suction source, a suction skirt integrally provided in continuation with the base, and a rib provided in a position near a circumferential end of the suction skirt, the rib being brought into contact with the work when the suction pad attracts and holds the work.

Abstract: A suction pad for attracting a workpiece under vacuum has a cylindrical base to be connected to a vacuum source, and a skirt integrally joined to the base, for developing a vacuum therein to attract the workpiece. The suction pad can be kept at a temperature suitable for the workpiece, by an electric heater which is controlled in response to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor embedded in the skirt. The suction pad with the controlled temperature does not cause problems which would otherwise result from the different temperatures of the suction pad and the workpiece.