A surgical system includes a surgical instrument that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is controlled in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly. From the drive output disk in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly to the driven disk of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface has zero backlash for torque levels used in surgical procedures.

A surgical system includes a surgical instrument that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is controlled in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly. From the drive output disk in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly to the driven disk of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface has zero backlash for torque levels used in surgical procedures.

A height adjustment device of a steering column of a motor vehicle includes an electric motor and a reduction gear. The electric motor drives a threaded spindle to raise and lower a steering assembly connected to the steering column. The threaded spindle is engaged with a spindle nut, a rotational movement of the threaded spindle is converted into a translational movement of the spindle nut in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle, and the threaded spindle is surrounded on a circumferential side by at least one spring that exerts a spring force on the spindle nut to counteract a weight force of the steering assembly acting in the direction of the axis of rotation of the threaded spindle. The at least one spring includes a compression spring between the reduction gear and the spindle nut and tensioned when the steering assembly is lowered.

Provided is a micro head having a simple structure and yet entailing extremely little backlash. A micro head includes a spindle, a sleeve, a thimble, a backlash absorbing member, and a collar, wherein the cylindrical backlash absorbing member is fixed to the sleeve in a state where the spindle is inserted at a position in the sleeve.

A screw actuator having a screw shaft and a nut arrangement is described herein, the nut arrangement comprising: a primary nut; a first secondary nut having a first thread; a second secondary nut having a second thread; and a first attachment means. The first nut, first secondary nut, and second secondary nut are connected to the first attachment means with a first, initial, axial spacing between the first and second secondary nuts. The first secondary nut is mounted to the first attachment means via bearings that allow the first secondary nut to rotate relative to the first attachment. The first secondary nut is connected to the second secondary nut via a screw thread connection having a pitch lower than a pitch of a screw thread of the screw actuator shaft.

Drive devices, in particular linear drives, spindle drives, and/or telescopic drives, for moveable vehicle components are provided. A housing assembly for a drive device is also provided. A connecting element for a drive device is also provided. A spring element for a drive device is also provided.

An adjusting drive for a steering column for a motor vehicle may include a threaded spindle that by way of an external thread engages in a spindle nut. The adjusting drive may also include a drive motor that is coupled to the threaded spindle or the spindle nut such that driving at least one of the threaded spindle or the spindle nut with the drive motor causes the threaded spindle and the spindle nut to rotate relative to one another. To reduce production complexity and improve functionality, the threaded spindle may have a core element that at least in portions is coaxially surrounded in a fixed manner by a threaded element that is configured from plastic and comprises the external thread.

A linear stage assembly comprising a nut having a wall defining a bore which has a nut helical thread which includes: a crest, a root, and a flank between the crest and root; a screw having a screw helical thread about an exterior which includes: a crest, a root, and a flank between the crest and the root; wherein the nut and the screw are in a mating relationship so that the nut flank and the screw flank are in contact with one another defining a contact interface which imposes a frictional force that is sufficiently small to allow generally longitudinal movement in response to an actuation load of the screw or the nut relative to the other and sufficiently large to prevent back drive of the screw or the nut relative to the other after the actuation load is removed and in response to an opposing reaction force.

A furniture system having a furniture item which includes an electrically-adjustable component, a control unit and a linear actuator for adjusting a component of the furniture item is provided. The linear actuator includes a gear mechanism including a hollow element and a first stage formed as a friction wheel stage. The linear actuator further includes a motor on a drive side and an adjustment member arranged on an output side. The linear actuator, in particular the motor, the gear mechanism and the adjustment member are adapted to alter a length of the adjustment member by means of the motor and the gear mechanism. The control unit is coupled with the linear actuator and adapted to actuate the linear actuator for adjusting the component.

A relative translation system is disclosed. The relative translation system can include a relative translation assembly and a drive mechanism. The relative translation assembly can have a fixed support member, a translatable member supported by the fixed support member, and a translation guide portion to facilitate translation of the translatable member relative to the fixed support member. The translation guide portion can have a fixed translation member and a movable translation member. The movable translation member can be configured to maintain preload on the fixed and movable translation members and accommodate thermal expansion. The drive mechanism can be configured to cause translation of the translatable member relative to the fixed support member.