ACTUATOR DEVICE HAVING CAM AND FOLLOWER AND CONTROLLER CONFIGURED TO EMPLOY RATE-BASED METHODOLOGY TO IDENTIFY POSITIONING OF FOLLOWER ON CAM AT PREDETERMINED LOCATION

摘要

An actuator device having a motor driven cam, a follower coupled to an output member and driven by the cam, and a controller for controlling operation of the motor. The cam has a first cam surface, a second cam surface and a lift portion between the first and second cam surfaces. The controller is configured to identify a predetermined point on the lift portion as the follower is moved relative to the cam along the lift portion toward the second cam surface. The controller identifies the predetermined point based on a rate of change in the position of the output member along an output member axis as a function of the rotational position of the cam about a cam axis. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the predetermined point to position the follower on the second cam surface.

主权项

1. An actuator device comprising:
an actuator assembly having a cam and follower assembly and an output member, the cam and follower assembly comprising a cam and a follower, the cam being rotatable about a cam axis and defining a cam profile having a first cam surface, a second cam surface and a lift portion that connects the first and second cam surfaces, the follower being engaged to the cam profile, the cam and follower assembly being drivingly coupled to the output member, wherein the output member is positioned at a first axial position along an output member axis when the follower is disposed on the first cam surface, wherein the output member is positioned at a second axial position along the output member axis when the follower is disposed on the second cam surface, the second axial position being offset from the first axial position along the output member axis; a first sensor that is configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a rotational position of the cam about the cam axis; a second sensor that is configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of a position of the output member along the output member axis; and a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and receiving the first and second sensor signals, the controller being configured to identify the positioning of the follower at a predetermined point on the lift portion as the follower is moved relative to the cam along the lift portion toward the second cam surface based on a rate of change in the position of the output member along the output member axis as a function of the rotational position of the cam about the cam axis.