Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a movable table system comprising: a table; a first actuator for moving the table in a first direction; a second actuator for moving the table in a second direction; a first linear guide, which is coupled to the first actuator and the table, for guiding the table in the second direction; a second linear guide, which is coupled to the second actuator and the table, for guiding the table in the first direction; and a support portion for supporting the first actuator and the second actuator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2016/000038, which was filed on Jan. 5, 2016, and which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0006062 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jan. 13, 2015. The disclosures of the above patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a movable table system, more particularly to a table system that allows movement along two perpendicular directions. 
       2. Description of the Related Art 
       [0003]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0004]    A movable table system, especially one that allows movement along two perpendicular directions, is generally known as an XY table. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a drawing disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0013820. 
         [0006]    For the sake of convenience, new reference numerals have been assigned. 
         [0007]    In  FIG. 1 , the XY table includes a base  20 , guide rails  21  installed on the base  20  along the direction of the x axis, guide rails  22  installed at the ends of the guide rails  21  along the direction of the y axis, an x-axis table  23  arranged on the guide rails  21  and coupled to be movable along the x axis, two guide rollers  24 ,  25  arranged on the x-axis table  23 , an x-axis drive motor  26 , an x-axis transport screw  27  connected to the x-axis drive motor  26 , a y-axis table  28  arranged on the guide rails  22  and coupled to be movable along the y axis, guide rails  29  of the x-axis direction arranged on the y-axis table  28 , a y-axis drive motor  30 , a y-axis transport screw  31  connected to the y-axis drive motor  30 , and a top table  32  arranged on the x-axis table  23  and the y-axis table  28 . With this XY table  10 , when the x-axis drive motor  26  is driven, the x-axis table  23  is moved in the direction of the x axis by way of the x-axis transport screw  27  connected to the shaft of the x-axis drive motor  26 , and at the same time, the top table  32  is moved in the direction of the x axis by way of the guide rollers  24 ,  25  provided on the x-axis table  23 . When the y-axis drive motor  30  is driven, the y-axis table  28  is moved in the direction of the y axis by way of the y-axis transport screw  31  connected to the shaft of the y-axis drive motor  30 , and the top table  32  arranged on the y-axis table  28  is concurrently moved in the direction of the y axis. 
         [0008]    However, the movement of the top table  32  in the x-axis and y-axis directions requires the structures of the x-axis table  23 , y-axis table  28 , and base  20  provided underneath, which may lead to the structure of the XY table  10  having a generally large size and heavy mass. Besides the XY table disclosed in  FIG. 1 , most XY tables provide movement for the top table by having at least one or more moving tables arranged under the top table. Various types of XY tables, such as those disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2008-0083297, Korean Patent Publication No. 2000-0006149, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-297189, for example, have at least one or more moving tables arranged below the top table. The present disclosure is to resolve the problem found in the related art and provide an XY table system having a simple and lightweight structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The technical problem addressed is set forth in the latter portion of the ‘detailed description of the invention’ section. 
         [0010]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features). 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a movable table system is provided which includes: a table; a first actuator for moving the table in a first direction; a second actuator for moving the table in a second direction; a first linear guide that is coupled to the first actuator and the table and is configured to guide the table along the second direction; a second linear guide that is coupled to the second actuator and the table and is configured to guide the table along the first direction; and a support portion supporting the first actuator and the second actuator. 
         [0012]    The advantages of the present disclosure are set forth in the latter portion of the ‘detailed description of the invention’ section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a drawing disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0013820. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C  illustrate the movements of a first linear guide and second linear guide according to the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a linear guide according to the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of another example of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are plan views of other examples of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7B ,  FIG. 7C , and  FIG. 7D  are plan views illustrating an example of using a movable table system according to the present disclosure in a laser processing apparatus. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a 3D drawing illustrating an example of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a 3D drawing illustrating another example of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    A movable table system  100  according to the present disclosure may include a table  110 , a first actuator  120  that moves the table in a first direction  121 , a second actuator  130  that moves the table  110  in a second direction  131 , a first linear guide  140  that is coupled to the first actuator  120  and the table  110  to guide the table  110  along the second direction  131 , a second linear guide  150  that is coupled to the second actuator  130  and the table  110  to guide the table  110  along the first direction  121 , and a support portion  160  that supports the first actuator  120  and the second actuator  130 . 
         [0025]    The table  110  is one that can move in the first direction  121  and second direction  131 , corresponding to the top table in the XY table of  FIG. 1 . In the context of a laser processing apparatus, a laser source can be placed on the table  110 , whereas in the context of wire bonding for semiconductor manufacturing, a bonding head can be placed. 
         [0026]    The first actuator  120  and second actuator  130  may move the table  110  in the first direction  121  and second direction  131 , respectively. 
         [0027]    The first actuator  120  and the second actuator  130  can be implemented as the drive motors connected with transport screws shown in  FIG. 1 , but for high-speed control, they may preferably be implemented as linear motors equipped with drive parts  122 ,  132  and movement parts  123 ,  133 . Although it is not shown in the drawings, it is well known to the skilled person that the movement part  123 ,  133  and the drive part  122 ,  132  of a linear motor are coupled by way of a linear guide. Preferably, the center lines of the first actuator and second actuator may intersect perpendicularly. When the center lines  124 ,  134  of the first actuator  120  and second actuator  130  intersect perpendicularly, the first direction  121  can be referred to as the x direction, and the second direction can be referred to as the y direction  131 . 
         [0028]    The first linear guide  140  may directly connect the table  110  with the first actuator  120 . 
         [0029]    The first linear guide  140  may guide the table such that, when the second actuator  130  moves the table  110  in the second direction  131 , only the table  110  is moved in the second direction  131  and the first actuator  120  is not moved. 
         [0030]    The second linear guide  150  may directly connect the table  110  with the second actuator  130 . 
         [0031]    The second linear guide  150  may guide the table such that, when the first actuator  120  moves the table  110  in the first direction  121 , only the table  110  is moved in the first direction  121  and the second actuator  130  is not moved. 
         [0032]    In cases where the first actuator  120  and the second actuator  130  are linear motors, the drive parts  122 ,  132  may be coupled to the support portion  160  and be supported by the support portion  160 . 
         [0033]    The support portion  160  is not limited to a particular form as long as it is for supporting the drive parts  122 ,  132 . In cases where the first actuator  120  and the second actuator  140  are not linear motors, for example if they are drive motors as in  FIG. 1 , the drive motors can be coupled to the support portion  160 . Also, although it is not shown in the drawings, the support portion  160  can be composed of two support portions that are coupled to the first actuator  120  and second actuator  130 , respectively. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3A to 3C  illustrate the movements of a first linear guide and second linear guide according to the present disclosure. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 3A , the first linear guide  140  includes a first side portion  141 , which couples with the table  110 , and a second side portion  142 , which couples with the first actuator  120 . When the table  110  is moved in the second direction  131 , the first side portion  141  of the first linear guide  140  may move together with the table  110  in the second direction  131 , but the second side portion  142  coupled with the first actuator  120  may not move. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 3B , the second linear guide  150  includes a first side portion  151 , which couples with the table  110 , and a second side portion  152 , which couples with the second actuator  130 . When the table  110  is moved in the first direction  121 , the first side portion  151  of the second linear guide  150  may move together with the table  110  in the first direction  121 , but the second side portion  152  coupled with the first second actuator  130  may not move. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3C  shows the first actuator  120  and the second actuator  130  operating simultaneously. For the sake of convenience, the support portion is not shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a linear guide according to the present disclosure. 
         [0039]    In a linear guide  200  that can be used according to the present disclosure, the part that moves in a straight line, such as the first side portion  210  to which the table  110  is secured in  FIG. 3  for example, can move along a rail  230 . Also, the part that does not move, such as the second side portion  220  to which the first and second actuators  120 ,  130  are secured in  FIG. 3  for example, does not move along the rail  230 . The linear guide  200  disclosed in  FIG. 4  is an example of a linear guide that can be used in the present disclosure, and all types of linear guide capable of performing the same function can be included in the present disclosure. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of another example of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
         [0041]    A movable table system  300  according to another example based on the present disclosure may include a table  310 , a first linear motor  320  that includes a drive part  322  and a movement part  323  and moves the table  310  in a first direction  321 , a second linear motor  330  that includes a drive part  332  and a movement part  333  and moves the table  310  in a second direction  331 , a first linear guide  340  that is coupled to the first linear motor  320  and the table  310  to guide the table  310  along the second direction  321 , a second linear guide  350  that is coupled to the second linear motor  330  and the table  310  to guide the table  310  along the first direction  321 , a support portion  360  that supports the first linear motor  320  and the second linear motor  330 , a third linear guide  370  coupled with the drive part  322  of the first linear motor  320  and the support portion  360  to guide the drive part  322  of the first linear motor  320  along the first direction  321 , and a fourth linear guide  380  coupled with the drive part  332  of the second linear motor  330  and the support portion  360  to guide the drive part  332  of the second linear motor  330  along the second direction  331 . 
         [0042]    In cases where the drive parts  322 ,  332  of the first linear motor  320  and second linear motor  330  are secured to the support portion  360 , the reaction forces resulting from the movement by the movement parts  323 ,  333  of the first linear motor  320  and second linear motor  330  may be transferred directly to the support portion  360  and cause the support portion  360  to shake. To resolve this problem, the present disclosure may use a third and a fourth linear guide  370 ,  380  to connect the support portion  360  with the drive parts  322 ,  332  of the first linear motor  320  and second linear motor  330 . That is, using the third and fourth linear guides  370 ,  380  allows the drive parts  322 ,  332  of the first linear motor  320  and second linear motor  330  to be moved over the support portion  360  by the reaction forces of the movement parts  323 ,  333 . Preferably, the third and fourth linear guides  370 ,  380  may be implemented such that the parts to which the support portion  360  is coupled do not move and the parts to which the drive parts  322 ,  332  of the first linear motor  320  and second linear motor  330  do move. The linear guide disclosed in  FIG. 4  or a cross-roller table can be used. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are plan views of other examples of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
         [0044]    The movable table systems  400  disclosed in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  include position adjuster parts  440 ,  441 ,  450  added to the drive parts  422 ,  432  of the first linear motor  420  and second linear motor  430 . It would be preferable to have the drive parts  422 ,  432  of the first linear motor  420  and second linear motor  430  return to their original positions after they have been moved backwards by the reaction forces from the movement parts  423 ,  433  of the first linear motor  420  and second linear motor  430 . For this, the position adjuster parts  440 ,  441 ,  450  may further be included. For the position adjuster part, a combination of a damper  440  and a spring  441  coupled together can be used as in  FIG. 6A , or an actuator  450  can be used as in  FIG. 6B . The actuator  450  can be a linear motor. If an actuator  450  is used for the position adjuster part, there is also the advantage that the movement of the drive parts  422 ,  432  due to inertial reaction forces can be actively prevented when the movable table system  400  is accelerated or decelerated while installed on an XY table (not shown) of a long stroke. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 7A to 7D  are plan views illustrating an example of using a movable table system according to the present disclosure in a laser processing apparatus. 
         [0046]    Movable table systems according to the present disclosure may include those that use a laser head, for emitting a laser beam, attached directly onto the table and those that use a laser head installed on the exterior of the movable table system.  FIGS. 7A to 7D  show an example of using a movable table system according to the present disclosure for a laser processing apparatus using a laser source installed on the exterior. 
         [0047]    A movable table system  500  installed with a laser source according to the present disclosure may include a table  510 , a first linear motor  520  that includes a drive part  522  and a movement part  523  and moves the table  510  in a first direction  521 , a second linear motor  530  that includes a drive part  532  and a movement part  533  and moves the table  510  in a second direction  531 , a first linear guide  540  that is coupled to the first linear motor  520  and the table  510  to guide the table  510  along the second direction  521 , a second linear guide  550  that is coupled to the second linear motor  530  and the table  510  to guide the table  510  along the first direction  521 , a support portion  560  that supports the first linear motor  520  and the second linear motor  530 , a first reflector part  580  that is installed on at least one of the movement parts  523 ,  533  of the first linear motor  520  and second linear motor  530  and alters the path  570  of a beam entering the movable table system  500  from the exterior, and a second reflector part  590  installed on the table  510  that alters the path of the beam such that the path  571  of the beam directed to the table  510  by the first reflector part  580  leaves the table  510 . Although the path of the beam leaving the table  510  is not shown in the drawings, it may be preferable that the beam leaves in a direction perpendicular to the surface  511  of the table  510 . The first reflector part  580  and second reflector part  590  are not limited in terms of the particular forms that can be used, as long as they can keep the loss of the laser beam low. For example, it would be possible to use a mirror. Also, lenses can be added to the table  510  so that a laser beam coming from the second reflector part  590  may be better concentrated to one point. 
         [0048]      FIG. 7B  illustrates the path of a beam when the first linear motor  520  is operated,  FIG. 7C  illustrates the path of a beam when the second linear motor  530  is operated, and  FIG. 7D  illustrates the path of a beam when both the first linear motor  520  and the second linear motor  530  are operated.  FIGS. 7B to 7D  show an example in which a laser beam generated from the exterior is transferred to the table for use in laser processing. For the sake of convenience, the support portion is not shown in  FIGS. 7B to 7D . 
         [0049]      FIG. 8  is a 3D drawing illustrating an example of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a 3D drawing of the movable table system disclosed in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0051]    The 3D depiction of the movable table system  600  shows a table  610 , a first linear motor  620  that includes a drive part  622  and a movement part  623  and moves the table  610  in a first direction  621 , a second linear motor  630  that includes a drive part  632  and a movement part  633  and moves the table  610  in a second direction  631 , a first linear guide  640  that is coupled to the first linear motor  620  and the table  610  to guide the table  610  along the second direction  621 , a second linear guide  650  that is coupled to the second linear motor  630  and the table  610  to guide the table  610  along the first direction  621 , a support portion  660  that supports the first linear motor  620  and the second linear motor  630 , a third linear guide  670  coupled with the drive part  622  of the first linear motor  620  and the support portion  660  to guide the drive part  622  of the first linear motor  620  along the first direction  621 , a fourth linear guide  680  coupled with the drive part  632  of the second linear motor  630  and the support portion  660  to guide the drive part  632  of the second linear motor  630  along the second direction  631 , and position adjuster parts  700  that each include a damper and a spring to return the drive parts  622 ,  632  of the first linear motor  620  and second linear motor  630  to their original positions after these are moved backwards by the reaction forces of the movement parts  623 ,  633  of the first linear motor  620  and second linear motor  630 . Also illustrated is a laser head  710  mounted on the table  610 . Also, a first position sensor  720  for the movement part  623  of the first linear motor  620  and a second position sensor  721  for the movement part  633  of the second linear motor  630  are illustrated. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a 3D drawing of a movable table system according to the present disclosure. 
         [0053]      FIG. 9  is a 3D depiction of the movable table system disclosed in  FIG. 6B , showing the damper and spring configuration of the position adjuster in the 3D depiction of the movable table system in  FIG. 8  replaced by linear motors. That is, an example is shown in which a third linear motor  730  and a fourth linear motor  740  are used to adjust the positions of the drive parts  622 ,  632  of the first linear motor  620  and second linear motor  630 . 
         [0054]    A summary of the various implementations disclosed herein is provided below. 
         [0055]    (1) a movable table system that includes a table, a first actuator that moves the table in a first direction, a second actuator that moves the table in a second direction, a first linear guide that is coupled to the first actuator and the table to guide the table along the second direction, a second linear guide that is coupled to the second actuator and the table to guide the table along the first direction, and a support portion that supports the first actuator and the second actuator 
         [0056]    (2) a movable table system in which the first actuator and the second actuator are linear motors, and the linear motors each include a drive part and a movement part 
         [0057]    (3) a movable table system in which the center line of the first actuator and the center line of the second actuator intersect perpendicularly 
         [0058]    (4) a movable table system in which the first linear guide and the second linear guide each include a first side portion coupling with the table and a second side portion coupling with the first actuator and second actuator, respectively, where the first side portion of the first linear guide moves along the second direction, the second side portion of the first linear guide is fixed with respect to the second direction, the first side portion of the second linear guide moves along the first direction, and the second side portion of the second linear guide is fixed with respect to the first direction 
         [0059]    (5) a movable table system that includes at least one of a third linear guide coupled with the drive part of the first linear motor and the support portion to guide the drive part of the first linear motor along the first direction, and a fourth linear guide coupled with the drive part of the second linear motor and the support portion to guide the drive part of the second linear motor along the second direction 
         [0060]    (6) a movable table system in which the drive parts of the first linear motor and the second linear motor are moved by reaction forces occurring due to the movements of the movement parts of the first linear motor and second linear motor in opposite directions of the movements of the movement parts, respectively 
         [0061]    (7) a movable table system that includes a position adjuster part interworking with the drive part of at least one of the first linear motor and the second linear motor to move the drive part to an original position after the drive part is moved by a reaction force occurring due to the movement of the movement part of the first linear motor and second linear motor 
         [0062]    (8) a movable table system of in which the position adjuster part comprises a damper and a spring 
         [0063]    (9) a movable table system of in which the position adjuster part is a linear motor 
         [0064]    (10) a movable table system that includes a first reflector part interworking with the movement part of at least one of the first linear motor and the second linear motor to alter the path of a beam entering from the exterior into the movable table system towards a direction of the table 
         [0065]    (11) a movable table system that includes a second reflector part configured to alter the path of a beam such that the beam directed to the table by the first reflector part moves away from the table 
         [0066]    (12) a movable table system in which the path of the beam reflected by the second reflector part to move away from the table is perpendicular to the surface of the table 
         [0067]    (13) a movable table system that includes a lens for concentrating the beam reflected by the second reflector part and moving away from the table 
         [0068]    (14) a movable table system in which a laser head is installed on the table 
         [0069]    (15) a movable table system that includes at least one of a first position sensor for measuring the displacement of the movement part of the first linear motor in relation to the support portion, and a second position sensor for measuring the displacement of the movement part of the second linear motor in relation to the support portion 
         [0070]    According to the present disclosure, it is possible to build a movable table system having a light mass. 
         [0071]    According to the present disclosure, a movable table system can be implemented that has a simple structure and a light mass to enable easier high-speed control. 
         [0072]    According to the present disclosure, it is possible to build a laser processing apparatus which uses a movable table system having a simple structure and a light mass to enable easier high-speed control.