US2884799A

US2884799A - Variable speed drive mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2884799A
Application number: US608806A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Giannuzzi
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1956-09-10
Filing date: 1956-09-10
Publication date: 1959-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-05

Description

May 5, 1959 G. A. GIANNUZZI VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANIEM Filed Sept. l0, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE A. GIANNUZZI W ATTORNEY May 5, 1959 G. A. GIANNUzzl VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANISM 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed S-ept.

May 5, 1959 G. A. GlANNUzzl VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANISM FiledA Sept. 10,

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l@ ...MUHPHHI /f 25 mim/ mz: \r om?? mz3. k\ \\E mw mz... D .l Il* \T I. m V 08m omm 8m 8N o9 om, om ov 0o -Index Point Displacement May 5, 1959 G. A. GIANNUZZI 2,884,799

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. l0, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 '2,884,799 VARIA-ABLE SPEED RIVE MECHANISM George A. Giannuzzi, Vestal, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application September 10, 1956, Serial No. 608,806 12 claims. (Cl. 714-393) This invention relates to a variable speed drive mechanism and more particularly to a selectable variable speed drive mechanism. Variable speed mechanisms intended to convert a uniform rotational motion to accelerating, decelerating, or intermittent motion in general are well known; however, these mechanisms are limited in a facility for optionally selecting the type of motion desired and producing the motion in accordance with the selection made.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a mechanism for translating uniform rotational motion into variable motion of a preselected type.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved drive mechanism whichis capable of modifying the position of a point within an otherwise constant point cycle machine without interrupting the machine cycle.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism which is capable of arresting the position of a point within a constant point cycle machine without interrupting the machine cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a selective means for modifying modified constant rotary motion which becomes nonfunctional at the time the constarrt rotary motion is modified to a static condition.

In machines employed for interpreting record cards or like documents, it is highly desirable to perform operations on the document being interpreted without interruption 'of the constant point cycle of the machine. Hence, particular application of this invention is readily seen as well as broad application of the invention in a vconstant point cycle machine where it is desirable to :perform lcertain static operations without interruption of the machine cycle. It has been the practice in interpreting record lcards to feed a record card into operational position by the use of skid rolls which feed the card against a registration gate and lslip during the period of operation. The skid rolls operate at a speed higher than Pnormal speed for the machine and after an operation is performed on "the card, the registration gate is moved yor swung out of position to allow the 'skid rolls to feed the card out of the operational zone to a pair of feed rolls operating at normal speed. Objectionable features of this arrangement are that the skid rolls drive the card against the registration gate with suicient force to cause damage to the edge olf the card. lf an attempt is made to have the skid rolls feed the card with less `force against lthe registration gate, it is possible that the card will never align properly against the registration gate. Further the use of skid rolls `is an impositive control overthe card whereas this invention has positive control over the card at all times.

According to thisinvention, a particular zone is `selected `*for an operation for all points `within a lportion of a machine cycle.

Y Accordingly, by acceleratingor decelerating a `point from the start of a portion of the cycle to the `zone of operation and subsequent to the operation States atnt:

accelerate or decelerate the point, type of motion involved will depend upon the `point being acted upon, so that the point at the end of the cycle will be again in time with the timing of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingrdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

vIn the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the invention in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the differential arm, gear sector, and cam followers;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4 4;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of index point displacement with respect to degrees of rotation;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing an alternate arrangement for establishing a drive to the output shaft, and;

Fig. 7 is an exploded isometric view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. l, a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft 10 rotatably mounted in a stationary frame member 11 carries a rigidly attached gear 12 on its end opposite the end connected to a power source, not shown. The gear 12 is rotatably supported in a frame 13 xed to the frame member 11 by suitable fastening means such as the screw 14. A shaft 15, parallel to the shaft 10 and rotatably supported by a bearing 16 in the frame 13 and a bearing 17 in a frame member 18, rotatably carries a gear 19 on bearings 20 and 21. The gear `19 is arranged along the shaft 15 to mesh with the gear l12 and has an integral differential arm 22 having a T-shaped end 23 pivotally mounting a gear sector 27 intermediately by a pin 28. The gear sector 27 is contained between the T portion 23 of the differential arm and a plate 24 fastened to the T by screws 25 and 26 and recessed to accommodate the gear sector. The gear sector 27 has a

cam follower

29 and 30 on eachend extending at right angles and disposed to follow a pair of encompassing

complementary cams

31 and 32 coaxial with the shaft 15 and rigidly attached to the frame 13 by a series of screws 33. The gear sector 27 meshes with a gear 34 journaled on the shaft 15 by means of

bearings

35 and 36. The gear 34 also has an integral differential arm 37 which pivotally carries `a gear sector 42 intermediately mounted by a pin 43. The end 39 of the differential arm 37 is T- shaped and a plate 3S is fastened to it by screws 40 and 41 to contain the gear sector 42.

Cam followers

44 and 45 on each end of `the `gear sector 42 extending at right angles therefrom are disposed to follow a pair of `encompassing'complementary

cams

46 and 47, respectively, rotatably suspended by a plurality of rollers 48 xed tothe frame 18. The

cams

44 and 45 are held in a complementary position by suitable fastening means 49 or many be of integral construction. The

cams

44 and 45 may be rotated to any angular position by turning a knob, not shown, connected to a shaft 50 journaled in the frame 18 having a gear y51 fixed thereto which meshes with gear teeth 52 vformed `on the `periphery of the complementary cam 46. The gear sector 42 is in mesh with la gear 53 secured to the shaft 15. An output gear 54 is also fixed to the shaft 15 and disposed thereon to engage a Agear 55 fixed to an output shaft l56 which is journaled Vinthe vframe'r11.

Thecomplementary cams

31 and 32 may be thought of .as master cams, since they are held in a fixed position to relate their timing definitively tothe operational zone of a` machine. The

complementary cams

46 and 47 may be defined as secondary cams. The rise and fall of the master cams is such that no output will be produced during the zone of operation. Further, the characteristics of the variable speed drive mechanism are such that when the master cams, as defined, effect no output, the secondary cams will produce no output, regardless of phase relationships between the master and secondary cams, since there will be no input from the master cams to be acted upon by the secondary cams.

Assume a portion of a machine cycle is divided into twenty-five index points or positions. The knob for rotating the shaft 50 would contain twenty-five index points so that any index point could be selected to come into the zone of operation when the master cams will effect no output. This zone of operation is clearly seen in Fig. and lies between 60 and 95.

In operation, the gear sector 27 is reciprocated during rotation of the differential arm 22 by the action of the

cam followers

29 and 30 riding on the contours of the master cams respectively. The gear sector 27 being in mesh with the gear 34 will drive the gear 34 in accordance with the modified rotational motion of the shaft or the output effected by the master cams. The gear 34 drives the differential arm 37, the arm being integral therewith, and as it does so, the gear sector 42 pivoted thereon is reciprocated as the

cam followers

44 and 45 pursue the secondary cams. The gear sector 42 consequently drives the meshing gear 53 fixed to the shaft 15. The shaft rotates as the gear 53 is driven, thereby causing the output shaft 56 to be driven through the

meshing gears

54 and 55.

In Fig. 5, point O represents the position for all index points at the start of their change from normal constant speed operation or displacement to an accelerated speed or displacement and point F represents the position where all index points have returned to constant speed or displacement operation. The differential gearing aforedescribed is arranged in a manner so that the effect of the master and secondary cams produce the desired results during a portion of the cycle between points O and F. For example, to bring index point 13 into the operating zone, the secondary cams are angularly displaced by rotation of the selector knob so that the rise of the secondary cams is at 95, the rise of the master cams is at From position O index point 13 will accelerate so that by 60 the resultant peripheral displacement of the output shaft 56 will be greater than normal for constant point rotation. Then from 60 to 95 index point 13 will be in the zone of operation and since during this interval the output shaft 56 is stationary, the index point 13 will be behind that of a corresponding index point in constant point cycle. The index point 13 will be accelerated from 95 to 164 at point D where it will be at the speed but ahead of the corresponding index point in a constant point cycle. This acceleration from 95 to 164 is effected by the resultant outputs of both the master and secondary cams, the secondary cams having been displaced to start at 95. Index point 13 will continue at the same speed to position E at which time it will be decelerated to be in time with the corresponding constant point at position F. This deceleration from point E to F is effected by the fall of the secondary cams.

When the rise of the secondary cams is in full phase with the master cams, index point will be in the zone of operation at no output of the master cams and when the fall of the secondary cams is in full phase with the rise of the master cams, index point 1 will be in the zone of operation at no output of the master cams. Angular displacement of the secondary cams other than the rise or fall being in full phase with master cams will cause index points intermediate of the index points 1 and 25 to be in the zone of operation at no output of the master cams.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revo-lution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a rotatable output shaft, a first differential means engaged with said input shaft to be driven thereby, a stationary means for acting upon said first differential means to modify in a predetermined manner the motion imparted by said in- -put shaft, a second differential means engaged with said rst differential means to be driven thereby and engaged with said output shaft, and a normally stationary means rotatable to selected positions for acting upon said second differential means, to modify the motion imparted by said first differential means.

2. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a first gear sector connected to the input shaft, a stationary means for acting upon said first gear sector to modify the motion imparted by said input shaft in a predetermined manner, a rotatable means engaged with said first gear sector to receive the modified motion therefrom and to transmit the modified motion to a second gear sector pivotally connected eccentrically thereto, a normally stationary means rotatable to selected positions for acting upon said second gear sector to modify the motion imparted by said rotatable means engaged with the first gear sector in a predetermined manner, and a rotatable means engaged with said second gear sector to receive the modified motion therefrom and to transmit the modified motion to an output shaft connected coaxially thereto.

3. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a control means operable for modifying the constant speed of the input shaft to effect variable motion in a predetermined manner so that no motion will occur during a certain interval, a normally stationary control means rotatable to selected positions and operable for modifying the motion effected by said control means in a predetermined manner, and an output shaft rotatable in a manner dictated by said stationary and rotatable modifying means.

4. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a means engaged with the input shaft for effecting differential motion, a stationary means for acting upon said means engaged with the input shaft to modify the motion imparted by said input shaft in a predetermined manner, a rotatable means engaged with said means engaged with the input shaft, a means carried by said rotatable means for effecting differential motion, a normally stationary means rotatable to selected positions for acting upon said means carried by said rotatable means for modifying in a predetermined manner the motion imparted by the rotatable means, and an output shaft engaged with the means carried by the rotatable means for effecting differential motion to be rotated thereby.

5. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a rotatable output shaft, a rst gear fixed to said input shaft, a second gear engaged with said first gear and having a radially extending arm, a first gear sector provided with cam followers on each end pivotally attached to the radially extending arm on said second gear, a stationary cani encontpassing said cam followers and arranged to act thereon to modify the motion imparted by said input shaft as 'the cam followers follow the cam, a third gear engaged with said first gear sector to be driven thereby having a radially extending arm, a second `gear sector provided with cam followers on each end pivotally attached to the radially extending arm on said third gear, a normally stationary cam rotatable to selectable positions encompassing said cam followers on the second gear sector to act thereon to modify the motion imparted by said first gear sector, and a gear fixed to said output shaft engaged with said second gear sector to be rotated thereby.

6. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism cornp'rising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a first arm extending radially from said input shaft, a first gear sector pivotally mounted on said first arm provided with a cam follower on each end extending at right angles from the gear sector and parallel to the axis of the input shaft, a stationary pair of complementary cams encompassing said cam followers in a manner that each cam follower on said first gear sector follows a cam to. modifythe motion imparted by said input shaft in a predetermined manner, a gear engaged with said first gear sector to be rotated thereby, a second arm extending radially from said gear, a second gear sector pivotally mounted on said second arm provided with a cam follower on each end extending at right angles from the gear sector and parallel to said input shaft, a normally stationary pair of complementary cams rotatable to selectable positions encompassing said cam followers on the second gear sector in a manner that each cam follower on said second gear sector follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said first gear sector in a predetermined manner, and an output member engaged with said second gear sector to be rotated thereby.

7. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a gear fixed to said input shaft, a shaft parallel to said input shaft, a first gear journaled on said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with the gear on said input shaft, a first arm extending radially from said first gear, a first gear sector pivotally mounted on said first arm having a cam follower on each end extending at right angles from the gear sector and parallel to the axis of said input shaft, a stationary pair of complementary cams encompassing said cam followers in a manner that each cam follower on said first gear sector follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said input shaft in a predetermined manner, a second gear journaled on said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said first gear sector, a second arm extending radially from said second gear, a second gear sector pivotally mounted on said second arm having a cam follower on each end extending at right angles from the gear sector and parallel to the axis of the input shaft, a normally stationary pair of cams rotatable to selectable positions encompassing said cam followers on the second gear sector in a manner that each cam follower on said second gear sector follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said first gear sector in a predetermined manner, a gear fixed to said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said second gear sector to be rotated thereby, an output shaft parallel to said input shaft, and a gear fixed to said output shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said gear fixed to said parallel shaft.

8. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising a one-revolution per machine cycle input shaft normally rotatable at a constant speed, a gear fixed to said input shaft, a shaft parallel to said input shaft, a first gear journaled on said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with the gear on said input shaft, a first arm extending radially from said first gear, a first gear sector pivotally mounted on said first arml having a cam follower on each end extending at right angles from the gear sector and parallel to the axis of said input shaft, a stationary pair of complementary cams cncompassing said cam followers in a manner that each cani follower on said first gear sector follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said input shaft in a predetermined manner, a second gear journaled on said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said first gear sector, a second arm extending radially from said second gear, a second gear sector pivotally mounted on said second arm having a cam follower on each end extending at right angles to the gear sector and parallel to the axis of the input shaft, a normally stationary pair of cams rotatable to selectable positions encompassing said cam followers on the second gear sector in a manner that each cam follower on said second gear sector follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said first gear sector in a predetermined manner, a first gear fixed to said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with lsai-d second gear sector to be rotated thereby, a second gear xed to said parallel shaft, an output shaft parallel to said input shaft, and a gear fixed to said output shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said second gear fixed to said parallel shaft.

9. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism cornprising: a one revolution per machine cycle input shaft rotatable at a constant speed, a rotatable output shaft, a first gear fixed to said input shaft, a second gear engaged with said first gear and having a radially extending arm, a first arm having opposite ends pivotally attached intermediate the ends thereof at right angles to said arm, extending from said second gear, a first gear sector attached to said first arm, cam followers attached on each end of `said first arm, a stationary cam disposed to act upon said cam followers attached to said first arm thereby modifying the motion imparted by said input shaft, a third gear engaged with said first gear sector to be driven thereby and having a radially extending arm, a second arm having opposite ends pivotally attached intermediate the ends thereof at right angles to said arm extending from said third gear, a second gear sector attached to said second arm, cam followers attached on each end of said second arm, a normally stationary cam rotatable to selected positions and disposed to act upon said cam followers attached to said second arm to modify the motion imparted by said rst gear sector, and a gear fixed to said output shaft and engaged with said second gear sector to be rotated thereby.

l0. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising: an input shaft rotatable at constant speed, an arm extending radially from said input shaft, a rst arm having opposite ends pivotally attached intermediate the ends thereof at right angles to said arm extending from said input shaft, a first gear sector attached to said first arm, cam followers attached on each end of said first arm, a stationary pair of complementary cams disposed to act upon said cam followers in a manner that each cam follower follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said input shaft in a predetermined manner, a first gear engaged with said first gear sector to be rotated thereby and having an arm radially extending therefrom, a second arm having opposite ends pivotally attached intermediate the ends thereof at right angles to said arm extending from said first gear, a second gear sector attached to said second arm, cam followers attached on each end of said second arm, a normally stationary pair of complementary cams rotatable to selected positions and disposed to act upon latter said cam followers in a manner that each cam follower follows a cam to modify the motion imparted by said first gear in a predetermined manner, and an output member engaged with said second gear sector to be rotated thereby.

l1. A selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising: an input shaft rotatable at constant speed, a `first gear fixed to said input shaft, a shaft parallel to said input shaft, a second gear journaled on said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said rst gear and having an arm extending radially therefrom, a iirst arm having opposite ends attached intermediate the ends thereof at right angles to said arm extending from said second gear, a rst gear sector attached to said first arm, cam followers attached on each end of said rst arm, a stationary pair of complementary cams disposed to act upon sai-d cam followers ina manner that each arm follower follows a cam to modify in a predetermined manner the motion imparted by said input shaft, a third gear journaled on said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said rst gear sector, and having an arm extending radially therefrom, a second arm having opposite ends attached intermediate of the ends thereof at right angles to said arm extending from said third gear, a second gear sector attached to said second arm, cam followers attached on each end of said second arm, a normally stationary pair of complementary cams rotatable to selected positions disposed to act upon latter said cam followers in a manner that each cam follower follows a cam to predeterminately modify the motion imparted by said first gear sector, a fourth gear fixed to said parallel shaft and arranged thereon to be in mesh with said second gear sector to be rotated thereby, a fifth gear fixed to said parallel shaft, an output shaft parallel to Said input shaft, and a gear fixed to said output shaft to be in mesh with said fifth gear.

12. In a machine of constant cycle point operation having a selected zone of operation, a selectable variable speed drive mechanism comprising: a one revolution per machine cycle input shaft rotatable at a constant speed, means operably connected to said input shaft for translating said constant speed to variable speeds, stationary means disposed to act upon said means connected to said input shaft for determining the variable speeds translated, means operably connected to said translating means for modifying said variable speeds thereby facilitating variable cycle point operation within the zone of opera- `tion and maintaining constant cycle point operation for the machine, normally stationary means angularly positionable and disposed to act upon said modifying means for effecting desired modication of the variable speeds and an output shaft connected to be operated by said modifying means in a manner dictated by said means for effecting the modification.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,079,044 Foster Nov. 18, 1913 2,674,183 Bergman Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 699,477 Germany Nov. 29, 1940 713,843 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1954