CA1112483A - Friction drive apparatus - Google Patents
Friction drive apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1112483A CA1112483A CA338,215A CA338215A CA1112483A CA 1112483 A CA1112483 A CA 1112483A CA 338215 A CA338215 A CA 338215A CA 1112483 A CA1112483 A CA 1112483A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- friction
- support frame
- drive apparatus
- movable support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
A friction drive apparatus for imparting generally linear motion to a member having first and second laterally spaced sur-faces, such as an annular structure, utilizing a fixed support, a rotatable friction wheel in driving contact with the first sur-face of the member, a movable support frame mounted on the fixed support for linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between the friction wheel and the first surface of the member, drive means rigidly secured to the movable support frame and connected to the friction wheel for rotating it, means for biasing the movable support frame toward the plane of tangency, thereby biasing the friction wheel against the first surface of the member, and a freely rotatable back-up wheel hav-ing its circumferential periphery in contact with the second sur-face of the member, with the back-up wheel being rigidly secured to the fixed support opposite from the friction wheel.
A friction drive apparatus for imparting generally linear motion to a member having first and second laterally spaced sur-faces, such as an annular structure, utilizing a fixed support, a rotatable friction wheel in driving contact with the first sur-face of the member, a movable support frame mounted on the fixed support for linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between the friction wheel and the first surface of the member, drive means rigidly secured to the movable support frame and connected to the friction wheel for rotating it, means for biasing the movable support frame toward the plane of tangency, thereby biasing the friction wheel against the first surface of the member, and a freely rotatable back-up wheel hav-ing its circumferential periphery in contact with the second sur-face of the member, with the back-up wheel being rigidly secured to the fixed support opposite from the friction wheel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a friction drive appara-tus for imparting generally linear motion to a member, and more ~ particularly to a friction drive apparatus having the entire ~ drive train, including the friction drive wheel, mounted on a ~ ; movable support frame which is biased toward the member. The F present invention finds particular utility in providing a con-i stant friction drive force for rotating a rotary sorting con- veyor support ring.
Various devices have been employed for distributing and sorting articles and packages, including items of mail or mer-chandise. As discussed in U. S. Patent No. 3,750,879 granted August 7, 1973, such devices may take the form of a rotary car-rousel-type conveyor having a plurality of panels or carriages pivotally mounted on a support ring, wherein the articles to be conveyed are fed to the carriages and upon rotation of the carrousel to the appropriate location, the carriage is tilted, causing the article to enter an a~jacent discharge chute. In this prior art device, the support ring is caused to rotate about its axis by two vertically aligned friction drive wheels which are fixedly mounted beneath the ring approximately 180 apart. In this arrangement, the friction drive force, being dependent strictly on the force of gravity acting on the car-rousel, is not easily controlled or maintained at a constant ~5 ~ value. Furthermore, drive wheel wear wil} act to alter the friction drive force over time, thus necessitating replacement or repositioning of the drive wheels.
The baggage handling turntable assembly disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 3,180,483, granted April 27, 1965, has a rotary plat-form comprised of radial frame elements attached to an annular support rail which is shown as an L-shaped angle section. This device utilizes a drive roller and a back-up roller mounted on opposite sides of the vertical leg of the support rail to impart friction drive to the rail, with the wheels being spring loaded together. A problem inherent in this type of device is that any variation in the thickness of the vertical leg of the rail will result in a variable driving force. Furthermore, any out-of-roundness of the support rail will result in movement of the~
drive roller, which movement will result in a reaction force, i tending to horizontally displace the rotary platform from its normal position. These factors may also result in uneven drive wheel force, which is a considerable disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvan-tages of the prior art by providing a friction drive apparatus having a drive force which is easily set and maintained at a constant value.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a friction drive apparatus for a rotary sorting conveyor support member which will produce little, if any, horizontal displacement of the conveyor as a result of any out-of-roundness of the support member.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fric-tion drive apparatus which automatically compensates for drive wheel wear and which is fully reversib~e.
'3 Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the fric-tion drive apparatus of this invention is adapted to impart generally linear motion to a member having first and second laterally spaced surfaces, and comprises a fixed support, a rotatable friction wheel in driving contact with the first sur-~face of the member, a movable support frame mounted on the fixed ~support for linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between the friction wheel and the first surface of the member, drive means rigidly secured to the movable ~support frame and connected to the friction wheel for rotating the wheel, means for biasing the movable support frame toward the plane of tangency at the point of contact between the fric-tion wheel and the first surface of the member, thereby biasing the friction wheel against the first surface of the member, and ~a freely rotatable back-up wheel having its circumferential periphery in contact with the second surfac~ of the member, with ~ the back-up wheel being rigidly secured to the fixed support opposite from the friction wheel. The member to which motion is ; ~ to be imparted typically comprises an annular structure, with the friction wheel being in contact with the inner circumferential periphery of the structure, and the bac~-up wheel being in contact ;with the outer circumferential periphery of the structure.
.`3 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodi-; ment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ~F THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a rotary sorting conveyor having a friction drive apparatus con-structed in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the friction drive apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a side view of the friction drive apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
; DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFE~RED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The preferred embodiment of the friction drive apparatus of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1-3, and is rep-resented generally by the numeral 10. The drive apparatus is adapted to impart generally linear motion to a member 12. As embodied herein, member 12 preferably includes a first sur-face 14 and a second surface 16, which are laterally spaced apart. Member 12 may comprise a four-sided structure, as shown in Fig. 3, or, as another example, may be U-shaped.
In the preferred embodiment depicted in Fig. 1, member 12 comprises an annular structure, with the first and second sur-faces comprising, respectively, the inner and outer circumfer-~ential peripheries of the structure. As shown, member 12 may be constructed as a structural steel ring supported and ~;24~3 .` . I
.,~',` ,: I
.
. .
~" ` centered by vertically aligned support wheels 18 and horizon-tally aligned guide wheels 20 angularly spaced about the ring, j ` Ilwith the support wheels lying beneath the ring and the guide ~ ~ :
wheels contacting the outer periphery of the ring. A
l,plurality of carriages with tilting tray tops, represented gen-~erally by the numeral 22, may be mounted on the support ring, ¦iwith the tilting trays being pivotally mounted to the carriage ,~in a conventionally known manner. The carriages are adapted to receive the articles to be conveyed and sorted at a central in-~ 10 liduction station 24 and to discharge the articles at the appro-p~ I priate discharge chute 26.
¦I While the invention finds particular utility in the appli-~¦cation of a driving force to a rotary sorting conveyor support ring, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the scope of the invention is ¦obviously not so limited. The friction drive apparatus des-cribed herein is suitable for imparting generally linear motion ¦to essentially any type of support member.
As can best be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the friction drive ¦apparatus of the present invention.includes a fixed support 30, Itypically construc~ed as a structural steel frame and adapted Ito carry the other elements of the drive apparatus, as will be ¦discussed below. A freely rotatable back-up wheel 32 is secured ~at one end of support 30 via an adjustable bracket 34 and con-ventional axle and bearing supports (not shown). Frame 30 is l~situated such that the back-up wheel 32 will contact, or nearly ¦~contact, one surface of the carriage support member 12, with the ¦¦final ad~ustment of the contacting force being made via one or more adjustment bolts 36 which secure bracket 34 to frame 30.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the back-up wheel is ~ ~ !
', ~
- I
situated so as to contact the outer circumferential periphery 16 , of the carriage support ring.
~- The purpose of the back-up wheel is to offset the force exerted by the friction wheel 38, to be discussed below. Thus, ilthe back-up wheel will preferably be aligned directly opposite the friction wheel. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig.
1, the axes of rotation of the friction wheel and the back-up wheel are radially aligned with the axis of rotation P of the annular carriage support ring 12. It should be noted, however, ¦'that the back-up wheel and the friction wheel need not be pre-cisely aligned vertically, and in a preferred embodiment, the back-up wheel may be aligned on the order of 3/4 inch lower than the friction wheel.
In order to maintain non-slipping contact between the fric-Ition wheel and the support member, the circumferential periphery of the friction wheel is preferably comprised of a non-skid material such as, for example, rubber or another similar mater-ial. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, the non-skid material comprises a soft rubber tire. Similarly, the outer periphery of ~ 20 ¦¦ back-up wheel 32 is preferably comprised of a hard rubber or sim-{~ Ililar non-skid material.
As embodied herein, friction wheel 38 is rotatably mounted via axle 40 which is supported by bearings 42 secured to support bracket 44. The support bracket is secured to a movable support ¦jframe 46 which may typically be constructed as a four-sided structural steel frame. As embodied herein, movable support ~, ¦iframe 46 is situated within the confines of fixed support 3~, ~ and is mounted on the fixed support by support wheels 48 rotat-- ~lably mounted on the movable support frame. Fixed support 30 is i I
~ 6-' )''' ~ ~ p~3 ,. . .
.: preferably constructed with rails 50 laterally spaced from the sides of movable support frame 46 and adapted to provide support for wheels 48. Fixed support 30 will also preferably include guide rails 52 situated above rails 50 and spaced therefrom by ~i 5 ¦la distance approximately equal to the diameter of wheels 48 so .as to limit the movement of wheels 48, and thereby movable sup-¦iport frame 46, in the vertical plane. Thus, in addition to sup-porting movable support frame 46 on fixed support 30, support ¦¦wheels 48 may serve to prevent unwanted vertical movement of !frame 46.
~' ~ As embodied herein, unwanted lateral movement of movable ~support frame 46 i8 preferably prevented through the use of ¦horizontally aligned guide wheels 54 mounted at the respective corners of frame 46 by conventional bearing brackets 56. Fixed Isupport 30 may be constructed with additional guide rails (not ¦shown) laterally spaced from the sides of movable support frame 46 and adapted to contact horizontal guide wheels 54, or, as ¦Ishown in Figs. 2 and 3, guide rails 52 may be constructed such ¦ that their interior sides contact wheels 54, thereby serving ¦ to restrict their lateral movement, thus restricting lateral r,,~ i movement of movable support frame 46.
As can be seen, vertical support wheels 48 and horizontal ¦¦guide wheels 54, in contact with their respective support and/
or guide rails, serve to precisely control the direction of ¦
~¦movement of support frame 46 and to limit any unwanted dis-¦ placements of the frame.
n accordance with the invention, a drive means 58 is rigidly secured to movable support frame 46, and is prefer-ably connected to friction wheel 3B via a motion-translating ~! I
~ -7- ' .
I ' speed reducer 60, which is also secured to movable support frame 46. As embodied herein, the drive means 58 comprises a variable speed electric motor. As further embodied herein, the output shaft 62 of drive means 58 and the input shaft 64 of speed reducer 60 are connected via pulleys and drive belt 66 substantially as shown. Likewise, the output shaft 68 of speed reducer 60 has a sprocket wheel 70 secured to it, while the axle 40 of friction wheel 38 has a similar sprocket 72, and these two sprockets are connected via a conventional roller ~ chain 74.
In accordance with the invention, fixed support 30, includ-ing support rails 50 and guide rails 52, and movable support frame 46, including the drive means 58, the speed reducer 60, the friction wheel support bracket 44 and bearings 42, the fric-tion wheel 38 and its associated axle 40 mounted thereon are situated such that rotating friction wheel 38 may be brought in-to driving contact with carriage support member 12 by rolling movement of support frame 46 along the support rails 50 of fixed support 30. As embodied herein, the above-recited elements are further situated such that movement of support frame 46 along fixed support 30 is limited to strictly linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between friction wheel 38 and carriage support member 12. In a preferred embodi-~ment of the invention, support member 12, friction wheel 38, and back-up wheel 32 are situated substantially horizontally.
The preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, wherein support member t2 comprises an annular ring having inner and outer cir-cumferential surfaces 14 and 16, respectively, is constructed f~ 3 such that friction wheel 38 contacts the inner circumferential surface 14.
In accordance with the invention, friction wheel 38 is maintained in driving contact with carriage support member 12 at a constant friction drive force by means for biasing the movable support frame 46 toward the plane of tangency at the point of contact between member 12 and friction wheel 38, thereby biasing the friction wheel against the member. As em-~ bodied herein, the means for biasing the movable support frame comprises at least one compression spring 76 mounted in a con-ventional manner as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, spring 76 is mounted at one end of rod 78 which ex-tends through an opening in movable support frame 46 and is secured at its other end to fixed support 30. One end of spring 15 ~ 76 abuts the inner periphery of support frame 46 and the other , ~ .
end abuts a nut 80 which is adjustably secured near the end of the rod. The spring compression may thus be set at the desired value by adjusting the position of nut 80 on the rod.
By increasing the spring compression, the contact force between the friction wheel and the carriage support member may be increased, thereby increasing the tangential driving force applied by the friction wheel. Similarly, the tangential driv-ing force may be decreased by decreasing the spring compression.
As further embodied herein, the means for biasing the movable support frame may alternatively comprise one or more air cylin-ders arranged between the movable frame and the fixed support in a conventional manner.
It will be apparent to those s~illed in the art that var-ious modifications and variations can be made in the friction .`3 drive apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. As an example, the tan-gential driving force applied to the carriage support member 12 by friction wheel 38 may be increased by providing additional ~ compression springs arranged similarly to spring 76. Thus, it ~is intended that the present invention cover modifications and ;variations of this invention, provided they come within the scope of ehe appended claim~ and their equivalents.
,
The present invention relates to a friction drive appara-tus for imparting generally linear motion to a member, and more ~ particularly to a friction drive apparatus having the entire ~ drive train, including the friction drive wheel, mounted on a ~ ; movable support frame which is biased toward the member. The F present invention finds particular utility in providing a con-i stant friction drive force for rotating a rotary sorting con- veyor support ring.
Various devices have been employed for distributing and sorting articles and packages, including items of mail or mer-chandise. As discussed in U. S. Patent No. 3,750,879 granted August 7, 1973, such devices may take the form of a rotary car-rousel-type conveyor having a plurality of panels or carriages pivotally mounted on a support ring, wherein the articles to be conveyed are fed to the carriages and upon rotation of the carrousel to the appropriate location, the carriage is tilted, causing the article to enter an a~jacent discharge chute. In this prior art device, the support ring is caused to rotate about its axis by two vertically aligned friction drive wheels which are fixedly mounted beneath the ring approximately 180 apart. In this arrangement, the friction drive force, being dependent strictly on the force of gravity acting on the car-rousel, is not easily controlled or maintained at a constant ~5 ~ value. Furthermore, drive wheel wear wil} act to alter the friction drive force over time, thus necessitating replacement or repositioning of the drive wheels.
The baggage handling turntable assembly disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 3,180,483, granted April 27, 1965, has a rotary plat-form comprised of radial frame elements attached to an annular support rail which is shown as an L-shaped angle section. This device utilizes a drive roller and a back-up roller mounted on opposite sides of the vertical leg of the support rail to impart friction drive to the rail, with the wheels being spring loaded together. A problem inherent in this type of device is that any variation in the thickness of the vertical leg of the rail will result in a variable driving force. Furthermore, any out-of-roundness of the support rail will result in movement of the~
drive roller, which movement will result in a reaction force, i tending to horizontally displace the rotary platform from its normal position. These factors may also result in uneven drive wheel force, which is a considerable disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvan-tages of the prior art by providing a friction drive apparatus having a drive force which is easily set and maintained at a constant value.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a friction drive apparatus for a rotary sorting conveyor support member which will produce little, if any, horizontal displacement of the conveyor as a result of any out-of-roundness of the support member.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fric-tion drive apparatus which automatically compensates for drive wheel wear and which is fully reversib~e.
'3 Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the fric-tion drive apparatus of this invention is adapted to impart generally linear motion to a member having first and second laterally spaced surfaces, and comprises a fixed support, a rotatable friction wheel in driving contact with the first sur-~face of the member, a movable support frame mounted on the fixed ~support for linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between the friction wheel and the first surface of the member, drive means rigidly secured to the movable ~support frame and connected to the friction wheel for rotating the wheel, means for biasing the movable support frame toward the plane of tangency at the point of contact between the fric-tion wheel and the first surface of the member, thereby biasing the friction wheel against the first surface of the member, and ~a freely rotatable back-up wheel having its circumferential periphery in contact with the second surfac~ of the member, with ~ the back-up wheel being rigidly secured to the fixed support opposite from the friction wheel. The member to which motion is ; ~ to be imparted typically comprises an annular structure, with the friction wheel being in contact with the inner circumferential periphery of the structure, and the bac~-up wheel being in contact ;with the outer circumferential periphery of the structure.
.`3 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodi-; ment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ~F THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a rotary sorting conveyor having a friction drive apparatus con-structed in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the friction drive apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a side view of the friction drive apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
; DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFE~RED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The preferred embodiment of the friction drive apparatus of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1-3, and is rep-resented generally by the numeral 10. The drive apparatus is adapted to impart generally linear motion to a member 12. As embodied herein, member 12 preferably includes a first sur-face 14 and a second surface 16, which are laterally spaced apart. Member 12 may comprise a four-sided structure, as shown in Fig. 3, or, as another example, may be U-shaped.
In the preferred embodiment depicted in Fig. 1, member 12 comprises an annular structure, with the first and second sur-faces comprising, respectively, the inner and outer circumfer-~ential peripheries of the structure. As shown, member 12 may be constructed as a structural steel ring supported and ~;24~3 .` . I
.,~',` ,: I
.
. .
~" ` centered by vertically aligned support wheels 18 and horizon-tally aligned guide wheels 20 angularly spaced about the ring, j ` Ilwith the support wheels lying beneath the ring and the guide ~ ~ :
wheels contacting the outer periphery of the ring. A
l,plurality of carriages with tilting tray tops, represented gen-~erally by the numeral 22, may be mounted on the support ring, ¦iwith the tilting trays being pivotally mounted to the carriage ,~in a conventionally known manner. The carriages are adapted to receive the articles to be conveyed and sorted at a central in-~ 10 liduction station 24 and to discharge the articles at the appro-p~ I priate discharge chute 26.
¦I While the invention finds particular utility in the appli-~¦cation of a driving force to a rotary sorting conveyor support ring, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the scope of the invention is ¦obviously not so limited. The friction drive apparatus des-cribed herein is suitable for imparting generally linear motion ¦to essentially any type of support member.
As can best be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the friction drive ¦apparatus of the present invention.includes a fixed support 30, Itypically construc~ed as a structural steel frame and adapted Ito carry the other elements of the drive apparatus, as will be ¦discussed below. A freely rotatable back-up wheel 32 is secured ~at one end of support 30 via an adjustable bracket 34 and con-ventional axle and bearing supports (not shown). Frame 30 is l~situated such that the back-up wheel 32 will contact, or nearly ¦~contact, one surface of the carriage support member 12, with the ¦¦final ad~ustment of the contacting force being made via one or more adjustment bolts 36 which secure bracket 34 to frame 30.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the back-up wheel is ~ ~ !
', ~
- I
situated so as to contact the outer circumferential periphery 16 , of the carriage support ring.
~- The purpose of the back-up wheel is to offset the force exerted by the friction wheel 38, to be discussed below. Thus, ilthe back-up wheel will preferably be aligned directly opposite the friction wheel. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig.
1, the axes of rotation of the friction wheel and the back-up wheel are radially aligned with the axis of rotation P of the annular carriage support ring 12. It should be noted, however, ¦'that the back-up wheel and the friction wheel need not be pre-cisely aligned vertically, and in a preferred embodiment, the back-up wheel may be aligned on the order of 3/4 inch lower than the friction wheel.
In order to maintain non-slipping contact between the fric-Ition wheel and the support member, the circumferential periphery of the friction wheel is preferably comprised of a non-skid material such as, for example, rubber or another similar mater-ial. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, the non-skid material comprises a soft rubber tire. Similarly, the outer periphery of ~ 20 ¦¦ back-up wheel 32 is preferably comprised of a hard rubber or sim-{~ Ililar non-skid material.
As embodied herein, friction wheel 38 is rotatably mounted via axle 40 which is supported by bearings 42 secured to support bracket 44. The support bracket is secured to a movable support ¦jframe 46 which may typically be constructed as a four-sided structural steel frame. As embodied herein, movable support ~, ¦iframe 46 is situated within the confines of fixed support 3~, ~ and is mounted on the fixed support by support wheels 48 rotat-- ~lably mounted on the movable support frame. Fixed support 30 is i I
~ 6-' )''' ~ ~ p~3 ,. . .
.: preferably constructed with rails 50 laterally spaced from the sides of movable support frame 46 and adapted to provide support for wheels 48. Fixed support 30 will also preferably include guide rails 52 situated above rails 50 and spaced therefrom by ~i 5 ¦la distance approximately equal to the diameter of wheels 48 so .as to limit the movement of wheels 48, and thereby movable sup-¦iport frame 46, in the vertical plane. Thus, in addition to sup-porting movable support frame 46 on fixed support 30, support ¦¦wheels 48 may serve to prevent unwanted vertical movement of !frame 46.
~' ~ As embodied herein, unwanted lateral movement of movable ~support frame 46 i8 preferably prevented through the use of ¦horizontally aligned guide wheels 54 mounted at the respective corners of frame 46 by conventional bearing brackets 56. Fixed Isupport 30 may be constructed with additional guide rails (not ¦shown) laterally spaced from the sides of movable support frame 46 and adapted to contact horizontal guide wheels 54, or, as ¦Ishown in Figs. 2 and 3, guide rails 52 may be constructed such ¦ that their interior sides contact wheels 54, thereby serving ¦ to restrict their lateral movement, thus restricting lateral r,,~ i movement of movable support frame 46.
As can be seen, vertical support wheels 48 and horizontal ¦¦guide wheels 54, in contact with their respective support and/
or guide rails, serve to precisely control the direction of ¦
~¦movement of support frame 46 and to limit any unwanted dis-¦ placements of the frame.
n accordance with the invention, a drive means 58 is rigidly secured to movable support frame 46, and is prefer-ably connected to friction wheel 3B via a motion-translating ~! I
~ -7- ' .
I ' speed reducer 60, which is also secured to movable support frame 46. As embodied herein, the drive means 58 comprises a variable speed electric motor. As further embodied herein, the output shaft 62 of drive means 58 and the input shaft 64 of speed reducer 60 are connected via pulleys and drive belt 66 substantially as shown. Likewise, the output shaft 68 of speed reducer 60 has a sprocket wheel 70 secured to it, while the axle 40 of friction wheel 38 has a similar sprocket 72, and these two sprockets are connected via a conventional roller ~ chain 74.
In accordance with the invention, fixed support 30, includ-ing support rails 50 and guide rails 52, and movable support frame 46, including the drive means 58, the speed reducer 60, the friction wheel support bracket 44 and bearings 42, the fric-tion wheel 38 and its associated axle 40 mounted thereon are situated such that rotating friction wheel 38 may be brought in-to driving contact with carriage support member 12 by rolling movement of support frame 46 along the support rails 50 of fixed support 30. As embodied herein, the above-recited elements are further situated such that movement of support frame 46 along fixed support 30 is limited to strictly linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between friction wheel 38 and carriage support member 12. In a preferred embodi-~ment of the invention, support member 12, friction wheel 38, and back-up wheel 32 are situated substantially horizontally.
The preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, wherein support member t2 comprises an annular ring having inner and outer cir-cumferential surfaces 14 and 16, respectively, is constructed f~ 3 such that friction wheel 38 contacts the inner circumferential surface 14.
In accordance with the invention, friction wheel 38 is maintained in driving contact with carriage support member 12 at a constant friction drive force by means for biasing the movable support frame 46 toward the plane of tangency at the point of contact between member 12 and friction wheel 38, thereby biasing the friction wheel against the member. As em-~ bodied herein, the means for biasing the movable support frame comprises at least one compression spring 76 mounted in a con-ventional manner as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, spring 76 is mounted at one end of rod 78 which ex-tends through an opening in movable support frame 46 and is secured at its other end to fixed support 30. One end of spring 15 ~ 76 abuts the inner periphery of support frame 46 and the other , ~ .
end abuts a nut 80 which is adjustably secured near the end of the rod. The spring compression may thus be set at the desired value by adjusting the position of nut 80 on the rod.
By increasing the spring compression, the contact force between the friction wheel and the carriage support member may be increased, thereby increasing the tangential driving force applied by the friction wheel. Similarly, the tangential driv-ing force may be decreased by decreasing the spring compression.
As further embodied herein, the means for biasing the movable support frame may alternatively comprise one or more air cylin-ders arranged between the movable frame and the fixed support in a conventional manner.
It will be apparent to those s~illed in the art that var-ious modifications and variations can be made in the friction .`3 drive apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. As an example, the tan-gential driving force applied to the carriage support member 12 by friction wheel 38 may be increased by providing additional ~ compression springs arranged similarly to spring 76. Thus, it ~is intended that the present invention cover modifications and ;variations of this invention, provided they come within the scope of ehe appended claim~ and their equivalents.
,
Claims (13)
1. A friction drive apparatus for imparting generally linear motion to a member having first and second laterally spaced surfaces, comprising:
a) a fixed support;
b) a rotatable friction wheel in driving contact with said first surface of said member;
c) a movable support frame mounted on said fixed support for linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between said friction wheel and said first surface;
d) drive means rigidly secured to said movable support frame and connected to said friction wheel for rotating said wheel;
e) means for biasing said movable support frame toward said plane of tangency, thereby biasing said friction wheel against said first surface; and f) a freely rotatable back-up wheel having its circum-ferential periphery in contact with said second surface of said member, said back-up wheel being rigidly secured to said fixed support opposite from said friction wheel.
a) a fixed support;
b) a rotatable friction wheel in driving contact with said first surface of said member;
c) a movable support frame mounted on said fixed support for linear movement normal to the plane of tangency at the point of contact between said friction wheel and said first surface;
d) drive means rigidly secured to said movable support frame and connected to said friction wheel for rotating said wheel;
e) means for biasing said movable support frame toward said plane of tangency, thereby biasing said friction wheel against said first surface; and f) a freely rotatable back-up wheel having its circum-ferential periphery in contact with said second surface of said member, said back-up wheel being rigidly secured to said fixed support opposite from said friction wheel.
2. The friction drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said member comprises an annular structure, and said first and second surfaces comprise, respectively, the inner and outer circumferential peripheries of said structure, and wherein said friction wheel is tangent to said inner periphery.
3. The friction drive apparatus of claim 2, wherein the axes of rotation of said friction wheel and said back-up wheel are radially aligned with the axis of rotation of said annular structure.
4. The friction drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for biasing said movable support frame comprises at least one compression spring interposed between said fixed support and said movable support frame.
5. The friction drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said member, said friction wheel and said back-up wheel are situated substantially horizontally.
6. The friction drive apparatus of claim 4, including vertically aligned support wheels secured to said movable support frame for rotation along said fixed support.
7. The friction drive apparatus of claim 6, wherein said movable support frame is mounted within said fixed support, and wherein said support wheels are secured to the outer periphery of said movable support frame.
8. The friction drive apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fixed support includes horizontally aligned rail means above and below said support wheels adapted to provide support and vertical restraint for said wheels, thereby supporting and guiding said movable support frame.
9. The friction drive apparatus of claim 8 including horizontally aligned guide wheels secured to the outer periphery of said movable support frame and adapted to contact said fixed support to provide horizontal restraint for said wheels, thereby guiding said movable support frame in the horizontal plane.
10. The friction drive apparatus of claim 9, wherein said movable support frame is constructed in a substantially rectangular shape and said support wheels and said guide wheels are secured adjacent each of the respective corners of the support frame.
11. The friction drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a variable speed electric motor.
12. The friction drive apparatus of claim 11, including a speed reducer adapted to connect said drive means to said friction wheel.
13. The friction drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving surface of said frictional wheel is comprised of a non-skid material.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA338,215A CA1112483A (en) | 1979-10-23 | 1979-10-23 | Friction drive apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA338,215A CA1112483A (en) | 1979-10-23 | 1979-10-23 | Friction drive apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1112483A true CA1112483A (en) | 1981-11-17 |
Family
ID=4115410
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA338,215A Expired CA1112483A (en) | 1979-10-23 | 1979-10-23 | Friction drive apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1112483A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-10-23 CA CA338,215A patent/CA1112483A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |