Linear motor drive apparatus

1. Field of the Invention A linear motor drive apparatus has a fixed element () having a guide mechanism (), a movable element () guided by the guide mechanism () so as to move along a reference plane (P), parallel rows of first magnets () disposed in parallel to both sides of the reference plane (P) and mounted to the fixed element , and parallel rows of second magnets () disposed in parallel to both sides of the reference plane (P) and mounted to the movable element (), wherein the parallel rows of first magnets () has planar symmetry with respect to the reference plane (P), and wherein a steel plate () is provided so as to be parallel to the reference plane (P) at an intersection part of the movable element () with the reference plane (P), the steel plate () having a narrowed end part.