A motor includes a pressing member pressing a vibrator onto a contacting member, first and second holding members respectively holding the vibrator and a transmission member, which transmits pressing force by the pressing member to the vibrator, and a coupling member coupling the first and second holding members. The vibrator and the contacting member move by vibrations occurring in the vibrator. The coupling member includes a rolling member moving the first and second holding members in a pressing direction of the pressing member, and an urging member, which is held by the second holding member, urging the first and second holding members in parallel with a moving direction of the vibrator and the contacting member. The rolling member is sandwiched between the first and second holding members, and abuts against the first holding member on a center side of the vibrator in the moving direction.

A motor includes a pressing member pressing a vibrator onto a contacting member, first and second holding members respectively holding the vibrator and a transmission member, which transmits pressing force by the pressing member to the vibrator, and a coupling member coupling the first and second holding members. The vibrator and the contacting member move by vibrations occurring in the vibrator. The coupling member includes a rolling member moving the first and second holding members in a pressing direction of the pressing member, and an urging member, which is held by the second holding member, urging the first and second holding members in parallel with a moving direction of the vibrator and the contacting member. The rolling member is sandwiched between the first and second holding members, and abuts against the first holding member on a center side of the vibrator in the moving direction.

A motor includes a vibrator, a plurality of pressing members that presses the vibrator onto a contacting member in contact with the vibrator, a transmission member that transmits pressing force, which is applied by the plurality of pressing members, to the vibrator, a first holding member that holds the vibrator, a second holding member that holds the transmission member, and a coupling member that couples the first holding member to the second holding member. The vibrator and the contacting member move relatively by vibrations that occur in the vibrator. The vibrator includes a protruding part that is provided on a surface opposite to a surface on a transmission member side. The pressing members are arranged separately to surround the protruding part. The coupling member is arranged at a position closer to the protruding part than the pressing members.

A motor includes a vibrator, a plurality of pressing members that presses the vibrator onto a contacting member in contact with the vibrator, a transmission member that transmits pressing force, which is applied by the plurality of pressing members, to the vibrator, a first holding member that holds the vibrator, a second holding member that holds the transmission member, and a coupling member that couples the first holding member to the second holding member. The vibrator and the contacting member move relatively by vibrations that occur in the vibrator. The vibrator includes a protruding part that is provided on a surface opposite to a surface on a transmission member side. The pressing members are arranged separately to surround the protruding part. The coupling member is arranged at a position closer to the protruding part than the pressing members.

A motor includes a vibrator, a mover guided by a guide member to move with the vibrator, and rollers sandwiched between the mover and the guide member. The mover includes first and second groove shapes formed along a moving direction of the vibrator to separate from each other. The guide member includes first and second guide parts opposite to the first and second groove shapes, respectively. The rollers are sandwiched among the first and second groove shapes, and the first and second guide parts. On a rear side of a surface of the guide member where the first and second guide parts are formed, the mover includes regulating parts regulating a movement of the guide member to the rear side. When the guide member abuts against the regulating parts, part of each of the rolling balls is positioned inside the first and second groove shapes.

A motor includes a vibrator, a mover guided by a guide member to move with the vibrator, and rollers sandwiched between the mover and the guide member. The mover includes first and second groove shapes formed along a moving direction of the vibrator to separate from each other. The guide member includes first and second guide parts opposite to the first and second groove shapes, respectively. The rollers are sandwiched among the first and second groove shapes, and the first and second guide parts. On a rear side of a surface of the guide member where the first and second guide parts are formed, the mover includes regulating parts regulating a movement of the guide member to the rear side. When the guide member abuts against the regulating parts, part of each of the rolling balls is positioned inside the first and second groove shapes.

Apparatus for transmitting motion to a moveable body comprising: a first bar having ends; two articulated arms, each comprising first and second arms connected at a joint having an axis about which the first and second arms rotate, wherein the first arms are of equal length, the second arms are of equal length and the second arm of each articulated arm is connected to a different end of the bar at a joint having an axis about which second arm and bar rotate; a mount connected to the first arm of each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which first arm rotates; a second bar coupled to each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which the second bar rotates; and a piezoelectric motor coupled to the first bar controllable to apply a force selectively in either direction along the bar's length; wherein, the joints are configured so that all the axes are substantially parallel and the first arms are parallel and the second arms are parallel for all rotations about the axes.

A piezoelectric actuator including an anchor, an elastic layer having a first end coupled to the anchor, and a piezoelectric layer on the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a solid sublayer including an elastic material and a second sublayer including a plurality of cavities. The piezoelectric layer is on the second sublayer of the elastic layer and includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.

A liquid material is discharged in a flying mode at a high tact by moving a needle (12) at a high speed with a small-sized drive device. A liquid droplet discharge device includes a liquid chamber (51) that is communicated with a discharge opening (60), and that is supplied with the liquid material, a needle (12) having a tip that is advanced and retracted within the liquid chamber, a drive device (2) that operates the needle (12) to advance and retract, and a displacement magnifying mechanism (3), wherein liquid droplets are discharged in a flying mode from the discharge opening (60). Even number of drive devices are disposed in a left-right symmetric relation, and the displacement magnifying mechanism (3) includes an elastically deformable U-shaped member (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) having a bottom portion to which the needle (12) is coupled.

An apparatus that passes vibrational energy across a mechanical structure lacking a perforation. The disclosed apparatus and method provide the ability to transfer work (rotary or linear motion) across pressure or thermal barriers or in a sterile environment without generating contaminants; the presence of reflectors in the solid barrier to enhance the efficiency of the energy/power transmission, and the ability to produce a bi-directional driving mechanism using a plurality of different mode resonances, such as a fundamental frequency resonance and a higher frequency resonance. In some instances, a plane within the mechanical structure lacking a perforation is a nodal plane of the vibrational energy field.