Patent ID: 7770700

Claim:
A brake apparatus for a linear motor, for positioning a movable section of said linear motor with respect to a fixed section of said linear motor, said brake apparatus comprising: a support section disposed on said fixed section and separated from said movable section; an elastic member composed of a magnetic member and having a proximal end supported by said support section in the form of a cantilever and a forward end capable of pressing said movable section by means of a resilient force exerted about a fulcrum of said proximal end; a magnetic flux-generating section disposed on said fixed section and separated from said movable section, said elastic member overlapping said magnetic flux-generating section; and a magnetic flux-passing member composed of a magnetic member disposed at said forward end of said elastic member opposing said fixed section, said fixed section also being composed of a magnetic member, wherein said forward end of said elastic member is capable of separating away from said movable section against said resilient force in accordance with an electromagnetic force caused by a magnetic flux generated by said magnetic flux-generating section that passes through said elastic member, wherein said forward end of said elastic member presses against said movable section by means of said resilient force to position said movable section with respect to said fixed section when said electromagnetic force is lowered or extinguished, by reducing or stopping said magnetic flux generated by said magnetic flux-generating section, and wherein a magnetic path of said magnetic flux passes through said magnetic flux-generating section, said elastic member, said magnetic flux-passing member, and said fixed section when said magnetic flux is generated by said magnetic flux-generating section.