FLOAT SUPPORT DEVICE

摘要

PURPOSE:To eliminate the necessity of an external power line, by driving a motor for moving, along a smooth guide plate, a floating bed provided with a floating mechanism composed of a rotary disc having dynamic pressure generating grooves on the surface thereof, with the use of the output powers of photoelectric converter elements. CONSTITUTION:A motor 6 is disposed in the bottom section 9 of a floating bed 1, and a drive shaft 7 is led to the outside, piercing through a through-hole 1b formed in the bottom section. A rotary disc 8 is fitted on the drive shaft 7 through the intermediary of a resilient plate 11 and a receiving plate 12. Several spiral grooves for generating dynamic pressure and formed in the lower surface 8a of the rotary disc 8 which is adapted to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. The rotary disc 8 faces to a guide plate 9 having a surface 10 which is less undulated and flat. A photoelectric converter element 3 is provided on each of four wall surfaces of the floating bed 1, and the outputs of the photoelectric converter elements are used to drive the motor 6. Due to the provision of magnets 21 in the bottom surface of the floating bed 1 and the guide plate 9, the floating bed 1 is moved to right and left. With this arrangement, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of an external power so as to facilitate, the movement of the floating bed over a wide range. Accordingly, this arrangement is preferable for a robot in a clean room.