Connector for a linear motor
A linear motor connector system comprises a first linear motor, a second linear motor, and a first connector. The first connector includes a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor. The first connector further includes a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor. The first tab holder is positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and faces the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors.
1 . A linear motor connector system, comprising:
a first linear motor and a second linear motor; and
a first connector, including:
a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor;
a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor, the first tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and facing the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors, wherein the first plug holder and the first tab holder are positioned substantially flush with side faces of the linear motors, wherein, with at least a portion of the first plug holder inserted into a portion of the first tab holder and electrically connecting the first and second linear motors, each recessed portion extends only partially into abutting end portions of an exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in the direction of connection; and
a relay connector electrically connecting the first plug holder and the first tab holder in series, the relay connector is positioned within the recessed portions of the first and second linear motors and is substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first tab holder and the second tab holder define complementary engaging portions for locking the first and second tab holders together.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover, wherein the cover, the first plug holder and the first tab holder are fixed with a fastener.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second connector positioned in a recessed portion provided in an edge portion of the exterior face of either one of the first or second linear motors, the second connector including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical wires and a second tab holder.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein the housing and the second tab holder are positioned substantially flush with a side face of the linear motor.
6 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is engaged with a portion of the second tab holder.
7 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein an engaging portion of the housing and an engaging portion of the second tab holder are coupled together.
8 . The system according to claim 4 , further comprising a third connector positioned in a recessed portion provided in an edge portion of the exterior face of either one of the first or second linear motors.
9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the third connector includes a third tab holder, and the third tab holder is covered with a cap or an insulating member.
10 . The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a fourth connector including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical wires, and a third tab holder.
11 . A linear motor connector system, comprising:
a first linear motor having a first tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed in an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor;
a second linear motor having a second tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed in an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor, the first tab holder and the second tab holder facing each other along a direction of connection of the first and second linear motors; and
a relay connector electrically connecting the first and second tab holders and connecting the first linear motor and the second linear motor in series, wherein the relay connector is positioned within the recessed portions of the first and second linear motors and the first tab holder, the second tab holder, and the relay connector are positioned substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors with the relay connector electrically connecting the first and second tab holders and the first and second tab holders positioned in their respective recessed portions, each recessed portion extends only partially into abutting and adjacent end portions of an exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in the direction of connection.
12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the relay connector comprises a slide plate.
13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the slide plate has a lock mechanism.
14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second tab holders have identical shapes.
15 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second tab holders have different shapes.
16 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second tab holders each have at least one through-hole and are fixed to the first and second linear motors with a fastener arranged through the through-hole.
17 . The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a connector positioned in a recessed portion provided in an edge portion of the exterior face of either one of the first or second linear motors, the second connector including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical wires and a third tab holder.
18 . A linear motor connector system, comprising:
a first linear motor and a second linear motor; and
a first connector, including:
a first plug holder electrically connected to the first linear motor and positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the first linear motor;
a first tab holder electrically connected to the second linear motor, the first tab holder positioned in a recessed portion formed on an exterior face of a connecting portion of the second linear motor and facing the first plug holder along a direction of connection of the linear motors, a depth of each of the recessed portions sufficient such that the entire first plug holder and the entire first tab holder are positioned substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors with the first plug holder and the first tab holder electrically connected and the first linear motor electrically connected to the second linear motor, wherein the recessed portion of the first linear motor is directly adjacent the recessed portion of the second linear motor; and
a relay connector electrically connecting the first plug holder and the first tab holder in series, the relay connector is positioned within the recessed portions of the first and second linear motors and is substantially flush with, or recessed relative to, side faces of the linear motors.
19 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein conductors of the first plug holder and the first tab holder are recessed relative to the side faces of the linear motors in a direction perpendicular to the direction of connection.
20 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein each recessed portion extends into an exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in a direction perpendicular to the direction of connection to a depth at least equal to a thickness of a respective one of the first plug holder and the first tab holder.
21 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein each recessed portion extends only partially into adjacent and abutting end portions of the exterior housing of a respective one of the first and second linear motors in the direction of connection.
22 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein each recessed portion is defined by two longitudinal sidewalls extending in the direction of connection, and a transverse sidewall extending transverse to the direction of connection, wherein heights of each of the sidewalls defining the recessed portion are at least equal to a thickness of a respective one of the first plug holder and the first tab holder.