Patent ID: 8272286

Claim:
A linear actuator with a dustproof mechanism, comprising: a ball screw; a movable stage including a ball screw nut that engages the ball screw, the movable stage capable of making linear reciprocating motion in an axial direction of the ball screw in response to a rotary motion of the ball screw; a housing member disposed to cover at least the ball screw; an opening formed in the housing member along a path along which the movable stage travels; and a dustproof belt disposed inside the housing member to block the opening, the movable stage including a detouring device that allows a portion of the dustproof belt that overlaps with the movable stage to detour in order to move the movable stage along the opening with the opening remaining blocked with the dustproof belt; and end plate covers covering the ends of the housing member, each of the end plate covers being shaped to cover areas of the housing member where the dustproof belt is disposed, each of the end plate covers including a flange disposed in a position facing the location where the dustproof belt is disposed in the housing member.