Intermittent transmission apparatus

Details Intermittent transmission apparatus Intermittent transmission apparatus

2002-01-07

2003-08-12

Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)

Machine element or mechanism

Mechanical movements

Rotary to reciprocating and intermittent rotary

C074S436000, C074S437000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06604437

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improvement in an intermittent transmission apparatus for transmitting inputted torque drive as intermittent torque drive.
2. Description of Related Art
A Geneva gear is known as an example of intermittent transmission apparatus for outputting continuous torque drive input as intermittent torque drive. That is, the Geneva gear is capable of alternately producing a drive period in which chive is transmitted to an output shaft, and a non-drive period in which drive is not transmitted to the output shaft.
A conventional and commonly seen Geneva gear, as shown in
FIG. 12
has a center portion formed of a driving element D
1
and a driven element D
2
. The driving element D
1
includes a member B
1
supporting an engaging pin P, and a member B
2
having a driving element recess R
1
and a circular arc surface S. The driven element D
2
includes a member B
3
defining four driven element recesses R
2
for engaging the engaging pin P and four circular arc recessed surfaces R
3
corresponding to said circular arc surface S.
When the driving element D
1
rotates, the engaging pin P engages one of the four driven element recesses R
2
to rotate the driven element D
2
by 90 degrees. At this time, tips of the member B
3
of driven element D
2
enter the recess R
1
provided on the driving element D
1
, thereby to be allowed to rotate with the driving element D
1
.
After the 90-degree rotation, the engaging pin P moves out of the recess R
2
of driven element D
2
while the driving element D
1
continues to rotate. Rotation of the driven element D
2
is restricted for a fixed period by slidable contact between a recess R
3
and the circular arc surface S of driving element D
1
. This is repeated, whereby continuous rotation of the driving element D
1
is transmitted as intermittent rotational motion to the driven element D
2
.
With such a Geneva gear, when a reactive force is applied from the driven element D
2
to the driving element D
1
while rotation of the driven element is restricted, this force is received only by the engaging pin P of driving element D
1
. Thus, it is sometimes inadequate to cope with a strong reactive force only by means of the engaging pin P.
This invention intends to provide improvements over the conventional Geneva gear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An intermittent transmission apparatus according to this invention also may, broadly, be divided into a driving element and a driven element. The driving element includes a first cam having a first cam surface, a second cam having a second cam surface and a circular arc surface, and an intermediate member having a rotation restricting means. The driven element includes first engaged members for contacting the first cam surface, second engaged members for contacting the second cam surface, and a driven element main body having recesses for contacting the rotation restricting means.
In the intermittent transmission apparatus according to this invention, during non-drive periods of the driven element, the recesses of the driven element main body contact the rotation restricting means provided on the intermediate member of the driving element, in addition to the second engaged members contacting the circular arc surface of the second cam. Thus, during the non-drive periods, rotation is restricted by two methods, and even when a reactive force acts on the driven element, a strong reactive force may be dealt with sufficiently.
Torque drive is transmitted from the driving element to the driven element through the cam surfaces. By varying the shapes of the cam surfaces, a desired profile of output rotating angle may be obtained.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2606235 (1952-08-01), Penk
patent: 3813952 (1974-06-01), Fehrenbacher
patent: 3840107 (1974-10-01), Mack et al.
patent: 3855873 (1974-12-01), Fletcher et al.
patent: 4109548 (1978-08-01), Shinohara et al.
patent: 5906134 (1999-05-01), Yamada
patent: 6234047 (2001-05-01), Yamada
Microfilm of the specification and drawings annexed to the request of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 50-96795 (Laid-open No. 52-13280) (Hitachi, Ltd.), Jan. 29, 1977, Fig. 3.
CD-ROM of the specification and drawings annexed to the request of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 4-76117 (Laid open No. 6-40507) (Shiikuan Chen), May 31, 1994, Fig. 1.

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