Claims
- 1. A rotary indexing mechanism comprising:
- a rotatably mounted shaft carrying at least two first stop members that revolve about the shaft along an orbital path in response to rotation of said shaft;
- a one-way clutch coupled to said shaft, said clutch drivable in a first direction to couple rotation to said shaft and in the opposite direction in which said shaft is uncoupled;
- linearly reciprocating means coupled to said clutch for driving said clutch in the first and opposite directions to cause incremental rotation of said shaft when driven in the first direction, said linearly reciprocating means reciprocable along a second path that periodically intersects said orbital path of said first stop members; and
- a second stop member integrally connected to said reciprocating means and reciprocable along said second path in response to driving of said clutch in the first and opposite directions, said second stop member intersecting said orbital path between two of said first stop members when said clutch is driven in the first direction;
- one of said first stop members and the second stop member mechanically engaging one another as said clutch is driven in the first direction to stop rotation of said shaft at a predetermined rotary position.
- 2. A rotary indexer comprising:
- a rotatably mounted shaft carrying an enlarged diameter disc member thereon, said disc member having a plurality of first stop members affixed thereto that revolve about the shaft along a circumferential path in response to rotation of said shaft;
- a one-way clutch coupled to said shaft, said clutch drivable in a first direction to couple rotation to said shaft and in the opposite direction in which said shaft is uncoupled;
- rack-and-pinion means coupled to said clutch for driving said clutch in the first and opposite directions to cause incremental rotation of said shaft when said clutch is driven in the first direction, said rack-and-pinion means including a pinion gear connected to said clutch and a rack member in engagement with said pinion gear, said rack member reciprocable along a linear path that intercepts said circumferential path of said first stop members;
- drive means coupled to said rack member for driving said rack member in the first and opposite directions to cause incremental rotation of said shaft when said rack member is driven in the first direction; and
- a second stop member integrally connected to said rack member and reciprocable along said linear path in response to driving of said rack member in the first and opposite directions, said second stop member extending between two of said first stop members when said clutch is driven in the first direction to mechanically engage a one of said first stop members as said clutch is driven in the first direction to thereby stop rotation of said shaft at a predetermined position determined by engagement between said first and second stop members.
- 3. A rotary indexing mechanism as in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first stop members is movably affixed to said disc member.
- 4. A rotary indexing mechanism as in claim 3, wherein at least one said first stop members comprises a cylindrical post.
- 5. A rotary indexing mechanism as in claim 2, wherein said second stop member is affixed to an end of said rack member.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 879,623, filed June 27, 1986, which was abandoned upon the filing hereof.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1502945 |
Sep 1969 |
DEX |
2218755 |
Oct 1973 |
DEX |
2484887 |
Dec 1981 |
FRX |
248450 |
Dec 1969 |
SUX |
11002 |
Jan 1915 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
879623 |
Jun 1986 |
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