Actuator, mover, and armature

Provided is an actuator the overall length of which can be reduced, and the overall height of which can be reduced when used as a vertical actuator. Also provided are a moving element and an armature used in this actuator. The actuator (3) is formed by inserting the moving element (1) into a cross-shaped through-hole in the center portion of the armature (2). The moving element has a cross-shaped cross section wherein the arrangement of first magnets (11a) and third magnets (11c) provided in one intersecting plane and the arrangement of second magnets (11b) and fourth magnets (11d) provided in the other intersecting plane are shifted by 1/4 of the magnetic field cycle. By applying a current to four drive coils, that is, to first through fourth drive coils (41a-41d), independent alternating magnetic fields shifted 90° with respect to each other are generated in the through-hole, thereby obtaining continuous thrust force with the one armature (2), even with a phase-bundled concentrated winding configuration.