The disclosure relates to a piezo actuator device, preferably for controlling a dispensing of an application agent onto a component, including: at least one movable valve body for opening and closing at least one valve seat, at least one preferably pivotable actuating arm for actuating the at least one valve body, and a piezo actuator configured to move the at least one valve body to close and/or open the at least one valve seat.

A smart material actuator comprising a layered web assembly, compensator, smart material device and at least one actuating arm. The web assembly comprises a first surface in operable contact with the smart material device and having at least one resilient member in operable connection with the compensator and the actuating arm. Upon activation of the smart material device, the resilient member flexes and the actuating arm moves. The web assembly is formed of joined layers of inner and outer plates.

Disclosed is a stage system comprising at least one flexure frame having a fixed center and movable distal ends configured to displace a tabletop operatively connected thereto along at least one axis of movement and at least two actuators comprising a first actuator and a second actuator positioned within the at least one flexure frame. The first actuator is positioned within the at least one flexure frame at a first angle of deflection from at least one beam of the at least one flexure frame and the second actuator is positioned within the at least one flexure frame at a second angle of deflection from the at least one beam. The at least two actuators are configured to produce a compensating displacement to offset yaw error as the at least two actuators expand from a contracted first position to an expanded second position.

A simple rugged motor has a stator and a rotor formed by stacked silicon steel sheets operates by having a plurality of major and minor coil windings of the stator individually electrified under signals of a control unit, so as to steadily drive a rotor thereof. The simple rugged motor further has an orbit coupling balance assembly engaging an orbiting scroll for a corresponding fixed scroll disposed in a compression chamber to orbit for air compression, so as to form a scroll compressor. Or the simple rugged motor has a coupling assembly engaging a female screw compressor rotor to compress the air by a rotatable male screw compressor rotor disposed in a compression chamber, so as to form a screw compressor.

A vibration-type driving apparatus is capable of, in a case where a sintered body is impregnated with resin, preventing the resin that has hardened from interfering with other members. A movable body is brought into pressure contact with a vibrating body having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and an elastic body. The vibrating body and the movable body are moved relatively to each other through vibrations excited in the vibrating body. The movable body has a frictional surface including the sintered body impregnated with the resin and comes into contact with the vibrating body. The movable body has a sloped surface adjacent to the frictional surface in a cross section perpendicular to a direction in which the vibrating body and the movable body move relatively to each other. An angle formed by the frictional surface and the sloped surface is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

Disclosed is a vibration wave motor including: a vibrator provided with a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate; a frictional member having a frictional contact surface coming into contact with the vibrator; a fixing member having a recess to which the frictional member is fixed; and pressurizing unit that pressurizes the vibrator toward the frictional member, wherein the vibrator and the frictional member make relative movement using vibration generated from the vibrator, a fixing material for fixing the frictional member is provided between the frictional member and the fixing member, and the frictional member is fixed by coming into contact with the fixing member.

A MEMS actuator device of a piezoelectric type formed on a substrate, with a base unit including a base beam element having a main extension in a extension plane and a thickness in a thickness direction perpendicular to the extension plane, smaller than the main extension. A piezoelectric region extends over the beam element. An anchor region is rigid to the base beam element and to the substrate. A base constraint structure is connected to one end of the base beam element and is configured to allow a deformation of the base beam element in the extension plane and substantially reduce a deformation of the base beam element in the thickness direction.

A dielectric elastomer motor includes an artificial muscle and a conversion mechanism cooperating with the artificial muscle. The artificial muscle includes a dielectric elastomer film or layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. First and second electrodes are attached to the first surface and the second surface of the dielectric elastomer film, respectively. First and second bases are attached to the dielectric elastomer so as to be spaced apart from each other. The first base and the second base are capable of reciprocation relative to each other upon change in size of the dielectric elastomer. The conversion mechanism converts the reciprocation of the bases to pivotal or rotational movement. The dielectric elastomer receives voltage application with a predetermined timing via the first and the second electrodes.

A dielectric elastomer driving mechanism includes a driver, a follower, and a power transmitter. The driver includes a dielectric elastomer driving element made up of a dielectric elastomer layer and two electrode layers sandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer. The driver also includes a tension maintaining element maintaining, in a no-voltage state, the dielectric elastomer driving element in a state in which tension occurs, and includes an output portion capable of moving along with the expanding or contracting of the dielectric elastomer driving element. The follower includes a following element actuating in accordance with a driving force inputted. The power transmitter is connected to the output portion of the driver for transmitting a driving force of the driver to the follower.

A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor including: a columnar body having two opposite bottom surface portions and a plurality of side surface portions surrounding a region between the two bottom surface portions, and having a through hole that penetrates between the two bottom surface portions; a driving shaft inserted through the through hole of the columnar body; and a flexible printed circuits (FPC) on which a plurality of sheet-like piezoelectric elements are mounted, wherein the FPC has an FPC main body bringing the plurality of piezoelectric elements into contact respectively with the plurality of side surface portions of the columnar body and wound around the columnar body, and can supply driving electric power to the plurality of piezoelectric elements.