US3593587A

US3593587A - Indexing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3593587A
Application number: US861643A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R Henry
Original assignee: Yorkshire Ind Inc
Current assignee: Yorkshire Ind Inc
Priority date: 1969-09-29
Filing date: 1969-09-29
Publication date: 1971-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-20

Abstract

Indexing apparatus comprising, in combination: adjustment apparatus having a rotatable carrier, a rotatable mounting member supported by the carrier eccentrically to the axis of the carrier, a shaft nonrotatably connected to one side of the mounting member, eccentrically of the axis of the mounting member, the carrier and shaft axes being parallel to and equidistant from the axis of the mounting member, and on the other side of the mounting member, a pinion coaxial with the mounting member and nonrotatably connected thereto and an internal gear in driving engagement with the pinion, and mounted coaxially of the carrier and nonrotatably relative thereto, the pinion having a pitch diameter of one half that of the internal gear, and the shaft axis lying in the pitch circle of the pinion drive means connected to the carrier for rotating the carrier; at least one drive member coaxially connected to the shaft nonrotatably in the direction of rotation of the shaft; and, an endless loop in driving engagement with each drive member.

Description

United States Patent (72] Inventor Robert R. Henry Andover, Mas.

[21] Appl. No, 861,643

[22] Filed Sept. 29, 1969 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 [73] Assignee Yorkshire Industries Inc.

Andover, Mass.

s41 mnsxnvc APPARATUS 3,399,582 9/1968 Henry 3,402,621 9/1968 Johnsonetal.

ABSTRACT: Indexing apparatus comprising, in combination: adjustment apparatus having a rotatable carrier, a rotatable mounting member supported by the carrier eccentrically to the axis of the carrier, a shaft nonrotatably connected to one side of the mounting member, eccentrically of the axis of the mounting member, the carrier and shaft axes being parallel to and equidistant from the axis of the mounting member, and on the oflter side of the mounting member, a pinion coaxial with the mounting member and nonrotatably connected thereto and an internal gear in driving engagement with the pinion, and mounted coaxially of the carrier and nonrotatably relative thereto, the pinion having a pitch diameter of one half that of the internal gear, and the shaft axis lying in the pitch circle of the pinion drive means connected to the carrier for rotating the carrier; at least one drive member coaxially connected to the shaft nonrotatably in the direction of rotation of the shaft; and, an endless loop in driving engagement with each drive member.

N f e INDEXING APPARATUS This invention relates to indexing apparatus and more particularly to simple indexing apparatus utilizing apparatus heretofore described in US. Pat. No. 3,399,582, dated Sept. 3, I968.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a simple and economical indexing apparatus. Another object is to provide an indexing apparatus providing smooth acceleration and deceleration of the indexed material.

The invention features indexing apparatus comprising, in combination: adjustment apparatus having a rotatable carrier, a rotatable mounting member supported by the carrier eccentrically to the axis of the carrier, a shaft nonrotatably connected to one side of the mounting member, eccentrically of the axis of the mounting member, the carrier and shaft axes being parallel to and equidistant from the axis of the mounting member, and on the other side of the mounting member a pinion coaxial with the mounting member and nonrotatably connected thereto and an internal gear in driving engagement with the pinion, the gear being mounted coaxially of the carrier and nonrotatably relative thereto, the pinion having a pitch diameter of one half that of the internal gear, and the shaft axis lying on the pitch circle of the pinion; drive means connected to the carrier for rotating the carrier; at least one drive member coaxially connected to the shaft nonrotatably in the direction of rotation of the shaft; and, an endless loop in driving engagement with each drive member. In embodiments of this invention, the drive member has a diameter greater than, equal to, or less than the maximum excursion of the shaft axis with rotation of the carrier. Where the diameter is less than this maximum excursion, a clutch may be mounted on the shaft, nonrotatable in a predetermined direction of shaft rotation, and rotatable in the reverse direction, with the drive member mounted on the clutch.

A second adjustment apparatus may be provided opposite the aforementioned adjustment apparatus, corresponding elements of the two adjustment apparatuses being coaxially arranged in matching relative position, with the shaft extending from one to the other mounting member and nonrotatably connected to each. A plurality of drive members may also be provided, e.g., in the form of a plurality of sprockets driving endless chains, and a plurality of clutches where the drive member diameter is less than the previously described maximum excursion of the shaft axis.

Other objects, features, and advantages of this-invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing an alternate preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of adjustment apparatus taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the apparatus is mounted between portions of a frame 10. A pair of adjustment units 12, 12A are mounted on opposite sides of frame facing each other with corresponding parts in matching rotative positions and coaxially aligned. Units 12 and I2A are identical except that unit 12 includes a worm 38 and worm gear 40.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, adjustment unit 12 includes internal gear 14 which is nonrotatably joined to casting 42 by fasteners 36. The entire unit in turn is nonrotatably secured by fasteners 16 to frame 10. A carrier 32 is rotatably supported by bearings 33 on the outer periphery of and coaxially ofinternal gear 14.

Mounting member 18 is supported eccentrically by bearings 34 in carrier 32. Shaft 24 extends from one side of mounting member 18 to the mounting member of unit 12A, as best shown in FIG. I. Shaft 24 is supported in each unit 12, 12A, by a flexible coupling in each mounting member 18. The coupling comprises a spherical section 44 mounted in a holder 46. Shaft 24 is locked by key 22 to spherical section 44. An axially extending slot 48 having parallel] axial walls is also provided in spherical section 44. Pin 50, having a cylindrical portion extending from holder 46 into mounting member I8, also has a square head in slot 48 and a width just sufficient to permit an axial slip fit therein. The key 22 and pin 50 together render shaft 24 nonrotatable relative to mounting member 18.

A pinion gear 26 is positioned on the other side of mounting member 18, coaxially thereof, in mesh with internal gear 14. Pinion 26 is secured nonrotatably relative to mounting member 18 by a press fit and by pin 30 extending therebetween. A retaining washer 28, secured by lockwasher 29 to pinion 26, overlaps the mesh of the pinion, 26 and internal gear 14 teeth-securing pinion 26 and mounting member I8 in carrier 32.

The pinion 26 has a diameter one half that of internal gear 14. The shaft 24 and carrier 32 axes are equidistantly spaced from and are parallel to the axis of mounting member 18, the

shaft axis being positioned on a pitch circle (frequently referred to in the art as the pitch diameter) ofpinion 26.

Unlike unit 12A, a worm gear is mounted on the periphery of unit 12. A coacting worm 38 is rotatably mounted on casting 42 of unit 12 in driving engagement with worm gear 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and2 worm 38 is connected to drive means, motor 56, mounted on frame 10, via pulley 52 and drive belt 54, for driving carrier 32 of unit 12 in a predetermined direction.

Drive members sprockets 58 are spaced apart and are nonrotatably locked on shaft 24 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2A, a clutch mechanism such as a one way or a single revolution clutch may be interposed between each sprocket 58 to permit relative rotation of sprockets 58 and shaft 24 at predetermined times.

Chains 76, forming endless loops, engage drive sprockets 58 along a portion traversing between

sprockets

60, 64 respectively mounted on

rotatable shafts

62, 66. Chains 76 are held in engagement with drive sprockets 58 by

idler sprockets

68, 72 respectively mounted on

rotatable shafts

70, 74,

idler sprockets

68, 72 being somewhat out of line with drive sprockets 58 forcing chains 76 to have a slight are so as to engage sprockets 58.

In operation, as worm 38 is driven by motor 56, carrier 32 is rotated in a predetermined direction. As is more fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,582 this results in linear reciprocation of shaft 24 and rotation thereof about its own axis in a predetermined direction opposite that of carrier 32. Unit 12 is actuated by shaft 24 to provide the same motion to shaft 24 there adjacent.

If the diameter of sprockets 58 is equal to the maximum excursion of shaft 24, chains 76 will accelerate from and decelerate to an instantaneous zero velocity. If the diameter of sprockets 58 is greater than the excursion of shaft 24 the minimum velocity of chains 76 will always be positive. If, on the other hand, the sprockets 56 are smaller than the maximum excursion of chains 76, the chains will reverse in each cycle of shaft reciprocation. In this latter instance, as shown in FIG. 2A, a one way clutch 80 may be interposed between shaft 24 and each sprocket 58. Thus, when chains 76 reach the point at which they would ordinarily reverse direction, each clutch 80 will slip to provide a dwell.

Other embodiments will appear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

I. Indexing apparatus comprising, in combination:

adjustment apparatus having a rotatable carrier, a rotatable mounting member supported by said carrier eccentrically to the axis thereof, a shaft nonrotatably connected to said mounting member on one side thereof and eccentrically to the axis thereof, said carrier and shaft axes parallel to and equidistantly spaced from said mounting member axis, and on the other side of said mounting member a pinion and internal gear in driving engagement, said pinion coaxial with and nonrotatably connected to said mounting member, said internal gear mounted coaxially of said carrier and nonrotatably relative thereto, said pinion having a pitch diameter one half that of said internal gear, and said shaft axis lying on the pitch circle of said pinion;

drive means connected to said carrier for rotating said carriat least one drive member coaxially connected to said shaft nonrotatably in the direction of rotation of said shaft; and an endless loop in driving engagement with each said drive member.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 in which said drive member has a diameter at least as great as the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 in which said drive member has a diameter equal to the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 in which said drive member has a diameter less than the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated,

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 4 in which a clutch is mounted on said shaft, nonrotatable in a predetermined direction of shaft rotation and rotatable in the reverse direction, and in which said drive member is mounted on said clutch.

6. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 in which a second adjustment apparatus is provided opposite the other said adjustment apparatus corresponding elements thereof coaxially arranged in matching rotative positions, said shaft extending from one mounting member to the other and nonrotatably connected to each.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 in which said drive member has a diameter at least as great as the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated.

8. The apparatus claimed in claim 7 including a plurality of said drive members.

9. The apparatus claimed in claim 8 in which said drive members are sprockets and said loops are chains.

10. The apparatus claimed in claim 7 in which said drive member has a diameter equal to the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated.

ll. The apparatus claimed in claim 10 including a plurality of said drive members.

12. The apparatus claimed in claim II in which said drive members are sprockets and said loops are chains.

13. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 in which said drive member has a diameter less than the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated.

14. The apparatus claimed in claim 13 in which a clutch is mounted on said shaft nonrotatable in a predetermined direction of shaft rotation and rotatable in the reverse direction, and in which said drive member is mounted on said

Claims

1. Indexing apparatus comprising, in combination: adjustment apparatus having a rotatable carrier, a rotatable mounting member supported by said carrier eccentrically to the axis thereof, a shaft nonrotatably connected to said mounting member on one side thereof and eccentrically to the axis thereof, said carrier and shaft axes parallel to and equidistantly spaced from said mounting member axis, and on the other side of said mounting member a pinion and internal gear in driving engagement, said pinion coaxial with and nonrotatably connected to said mounting member, said internal gear mounted coaxially of said carrier and nonrotatably relative thereto, said pinion having a pitch diameter one half that of said internal gear, and said shaft axis lying on the pitch circle of said pinion; drive means connected to said carrier for rotating said carrier; at least one drive member coaxially connected to said shaft nonrotatably in the direction of rotation of said shaft; and an endless loop in driving engagement with each said drive member.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 in which said drive member has a diameter less than the maximum excursion of said shaft axis as said carrier is rotated.

11. The apparatus claimed in claim 10 including a plurality of said drive members.

12. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 in which said drive members are sprockets and said loops are chains.

14. The apparatus claimed in claim 13 in which a clutch is mounted on said shaft nonrotatable in a predetermined direction of shaft rotation and rotatable in the reverse direction, and in which said drive member is mounted on said clutch.

15. The apparatus claimed in claim 14 including a plurality of said drive members, each mounted on one said clutch.

16. The apparatus claimed in claim 15 in which said drive members are sprockets and said loops are chains.