Rotary to linearly reciprocating motion converter

An apparatus, comprising:

• a closure member having a passage there through, a pinion shaft rotatably received through the passage of the closure member, a pinion gear having a first diameter connected to a proximal end of the pinion shaft, a crank arm having an inboard end connected to a distal end of the pinion shaft and an outboard end radially offset from an axis of the pinion shaft and having a force transfer member;
• a case having an opening and an interior ring gear with a second diameter that is twice the first diameter, the opening adapted to engage the closure member;
• wherein upon engagement of the closure member with the opening, the pinion gear engages the interior ring gear of the case;
• wherein powered rotation of the closure member relative to the case revolves the pinion shaft about an axis of the interior ring gear and rotates the pinion gear about its axis to cause the force transfer member at the outboard end of the crank arm to reciprocate along a linear diametrical pathway;
• and
• wherein a reciprocating conveyor coupled to the force transfer member can be used to convey articles supported thereon.

A method, comprising:

• providing a closure member with a passage there through, a pinion shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a pinion gear connected to the proximal end of the pinion shaft and having a first plurality of teeth, a crank arm having an inboard end connected to the distal end of the pinion shaft and an outboard end with a force transfer member;
• providing a case having an opening and an interior ring gear with a second plurality of teeth that is twice the first plurality of teeth on the pinion gear;
• disposing the closure member to engage the opening of the case to engage the first plurality of teeth on the pinion gear with the second plurality of teeth of the interior ring gear;
• supporting the case with the closure member engaged with the opening;
• engaging a reciprocatable conveyor with the load supporting portion on the distal end of the pinion shaft;
• coupling a motor to drive the closure member to rotate;
• and
• operating the motor to reciprocate the conveyor along a linear path as the pinion gear revolves and rotates within the interior ring gear.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a conveyor movably supported on a frame;
• a converter for converting rotary input to reciprocating linear output, the converter including a case with an interior cavity having an interior ring gear with a first plurality of teeth and a first diameter, the interior ring gear being accessible through an opening in the case, a closure member having a passage therethrough, the closure member adapted for engaging the opening of the case, a pinion gear having a second diameter that is half the first diameter and a second plurality of teeth adapted to engage the first plurality of teeth, a pinion shaft received through the passage and having a proximal end connected to the pinion gear engaged with the interior ring gear and a distal end coupled to an inboard end of a crank arm disposed opposite the closure member from the pinion gear, an outboard end of the crank arm connected to a load bearing member that is coupled to the conveyor;
• and
• a rotary motor;
• wherein coupling the rotary motor to the closure member and operating the motor to rotate the closure member relative to the case linearly reciprocates the conveyor relative to the frame.