US-12627196-B2 - Connector for a linear motor

Abstract

A linear motor connector system comprises a first linear motor, a second linear motor, and a first connector. The first connector includes a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor. The first connector further includes a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor. The first tab holder is positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and faces the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors.

Inventors

• Masaaki Saito

Assignees

• TYCO ELECTRONICS JAPAN G.K.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20221103

Priority Date

20211105

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A linear motor connector system, comprising: a first linear motor and a second linear motor; and a first connector, including: a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor; a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor, the first tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and facing the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors, wherein the first plug holder and the first tab holder are positioned substantially flush with side faces of the linear motors, wherein, with at least a portion of the first plug holder inserted into a portion of the first tab holder and electrically connecting the first and second linear motors, each recessed portion extends only partially into abutting end portions of an exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in the direction of connection; and a relay connector electrically connecting the first plug holder and the first tab holder in series, the relay connector is positioned within the recessed portions of the first and second linear motors and is substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors.
2. 2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first tab holder and the second tab holder define complementary engaging portions for locking the first and second tab holders together.
3. 3 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover, wherein the cover, the first plug holder and the first tab holder are fixed with a fastener.
4. 4 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second connector positioned in a recessed portion provided in an edge portion of the exterior face of either one of the first or second linear motors, the second connector including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical wires and a second tab holder.
5. 5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein the housing and the second tab holder are positioned substantially flush with a side face of the linear motor.
6. 6 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is engaged with a portion of the second tab holder.
7. 7 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein an engaging portion of the housing and an engaging portion of the second tab holder are coupled together.
8. 8 . The system according to claim 4 , further comprising a third connector positioned in a recessed portion provided in an edge portion of the exterior face of either one of the first or second linear motors.
9. 9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the third connector includes a third tab holder, and the third tab holder is covered with a cap or an insulating member.
10. 10 . The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a fourth connector including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical wires, and a third tab holder.
11. 11 . A linear motor connector system, comprising: a first linear motor having a first tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed in an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor; a second linear motor having a second tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed in an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor, the first tab holder and the second tab holder facing each other along a direction of connection of the first and second linear motors; and a relay connector electrically connecting the first and second tab holders and connecting the first linear motor and the second linear motor in series, wherein the relay connector is positioned within the recessed portions of the first and second linear motors and the first tab holder, the second tab holder, and the relay connector are positioned substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors with the relay connector electrically connecting the first and second tab holders and the first and second tab holders positioned in their respective recessed portions, each recessed portion extends only partially into abutting and adjacent end portions of an exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in the direction of connection.
12. 12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the relay connector comprises a slide plate.
13. 13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the slide plate has a lock mechanism.
14. 14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second tab holders have identical shapes.
15. 15 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second tab holders have different shapes.
16. 16 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second tab holders each have at least one through-hole and are fixed to the first and second linear motors with a fastener arranged through the through-hole.
17. 17 . The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a connector positioned in a recessed portion provided in an edge portion of the exterior face of either one of the first or second linear motors, the second connector including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical wires and a third tab holder.
18. 18 . A linear motor connector system, comprising: a first linear motor and a second linear motor; and a first connector, including: a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor; a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor, the first tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and facing the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors, a depth of each of the recessed portions sufficient such that the entire first plug holder and the entire first tab holder are positioned substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors with the first plug holder and the first tab holder electrically connected and the first linear motor electrically connected to the second linear motor, wherein the recessed portion of the first linear motor is directly adjacent the recessed portion of the second linear motor; and a relay connector electrically connecting the first plug holder and the first tab holder in series, the relay connector is positioned within the recessed portions of the first and second linear motors and is substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors.
19. 19 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein conductors of the first plug holder and the first tab holder are recessed relative to the side faces of the linear motors in a direction perpendicular to the direction of connection.
20. 20 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein each recessed portion extends into an exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in a direction perpendicular to the direction of connection to a depth at least equal to a thickness of a respective one of the first plug holder and the first tab holder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-181416, filed on Nov. 5, 2021. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to connectors for linear motors. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector for connecting at least two linear motors in a series direction. BACKGROUND Linear motors are used in various fields, for example, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and the like. The linear motors can be used as, for example, a servomotor or the like. A linear motor contains an iron core, a coil, and the like inside its body. A plurality of linear motors may be connected in a series direction to improve output. In order to connect a plurality of linear motors in a series direction, an electrical connection therebetween is required. However, since an iron core, a coil, and the like are contained inside a linear motor, conventional connectors have difficulty in connecting linear motors in series due to space constraints. SUMMARY A linear motor connector system comprises a first linear motor, a second linear motor, and a first connector. The first connector includes a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor. The first connector further includes a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor. The first tab holder is positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and faces the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connection of a plurality of linear motors; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connection of a plurality of linear motors (in the XZ plane); FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connection of linear motors using connectors of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 201a, (B) a tab holder 101b, and (C) a plug holder 101a; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 202a, (B) a tab holder 102b, and (C) a plug holder 102a; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 203a, (B) a tab holder 103b, and (C) a plug holder 103a; FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 204a, (B) a tab holder 104b, and (C) a plug holder 104a; FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 205a, (B) a tab holder 105b, and (C) a plug holder 105a; FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 206a, (B) a tab holder 106b, (C) a plug holder 106a, and (D) a relay connector 106c; FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 207a, (B) a tab holder 107b, (C) a plug holder 107a, and (D) a cover 107c; FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 208a, (B) a tab holder 108a/108b, and (C) a relay connector 108c; FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 209a, (B) a tab holder 109a/109b, and (C) a relay connector 109c; FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram schematically showing (A) a housing 210a, (B) a tab holder 110a/110b, and (C) a relay connector 110c; FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram schematically showing connectors according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present disclosure: FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram schematically showing