US 4,061,232 AGranted

Rectilinear transport means

OwnerRalph A. Sicklesinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a rectilinear transport means particularly adapted for transporting a rectangular array of individual photographic film elements one at a time into register with the axis of a projector lens or the like or for the purpose of moving or controlling the movement of other objects in a generally rectilinear manner with respect to a generally rectangular array of elements or portions; the disclosure including a simple mechanical rotary actuator and indexing means wherein the rotary actuator continuously rotates in one direction and drives the indexing means back and forth in a generally serpentine path by engaging successively indexing portions spaced in rows generally parallel to each other and whereby the rotary phase direction of the rotary indexing means when it reaches opposite ends of the rows in the rectilinear path causes a reversal of direction in the movement of the indexing means so as to progressively move in one direction and then the other and wherein the disclosure also relates to means which responds to operation of the rotary actuator for moving the indexing means laterally relative to the rows so as to move from one row to the next at the ends thereof allowing the indexing means to move back and forth relative to the rotary actuator while the rotary actuator rotates only in one direction. The disclosure relating to a variety of species of mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing functions.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In a rectilinear transport means;

a stationary frame;
a rotary actuator rotatably mounted on said frame on a stationary axis of rotation;
indexing means moveably mounted on said frame to move in four directions relative thereto;
two of said four directions being substantially at right angles to two of the remaining directions;
said indexing means having a generally rectangular array of indexing portions;
said indexing portions being spaced generally equally relative to each other and disposed in rows;
said rows having adjacent respective opposite ends, said rows being substantially straight and said rows being spaced apart from each other substantially equal distances;
lateral displacement means operable by said rotary actuator and at the ends of said rows;
said lateral displacement means disposed to shift said indexing means in a direction laterally relative to said rows and to shift said indexing means a distance substantially equal to the distance between said rows;
said lateral displacement means operable by a movement of said rotary actuator to an end of one of said rows;
said rotary actuator having means disposed and adapted successively to engage and move one of said indexing portions with each revolution of said rotary actuator;
said rotary actuator disposed to move said indexing means a distance equal to the distance between said indexing portions;
and a single revolution control means disposed and adapted to drive said rotary actuator one revolution at a time;
the indexing portions of adjacent ones of said laterally spaced apart rows of said indexing portions being disposed substantially 180.degree. out of phase with each other relative to said rotary actuator and thus disposed for engagement with said rotary actuator whereby said rotary actuator continually rotates in one direction and drives one of said rows rectilinearally in one direction and successively drives the adjacent row of indexing portions rectilinearally in the opposite direction each time said lateral displacement means shifts said indexing means laterally relative to said rows and from an end of one row to a respective end of said adjacent row.

11 more elements

In a rectilinear transport means;

a stationary frame;
a rotary actuator rotatably mounted on said frame on a stationary axis of rotation;
indexing means moveably mounted on said frame to move in four directions relative thereto;
two of said four directions being substantially at right angles to two of the remaining directions;
said indexing means having a generally rectangular array of indexing portions;
said indexing portions being spaced generally equally relative to each other and disposed in rows;
said rows having adjacent respective opposite ends, said rows being substantially straight and said rows being spaced apart from each other substantially equal distances;
lateral displacement means operable by said rotary actuator in correspondence with the ends of said rows;
said lateral displacement means disposed to shift said indexing means in a direction laterally relative to said rows and to shift said indexing means a distance substantially equal to the distance between said rows;
said lateral displacement means operable by a movement of said rotary actuator to a position corresponding with an end of one of said rows;
said rotary actuator having means disposed and adapted successively to move one of said indexing portions with each rotary movement of said rotary actuator;
said rotary actuator disposed to move said indexing means a distance equal to the distance between said indexing portions;
and a rotary control means disposed and adapted to drive said rotary actuator;
the indexing portions of adjacent ones of said laterally spaced apart rows of said indexing portions being disposed substantially 180.degree. out of phase with each other relative to said rotary actuator and thus disposed for engagement with said rotary actuator whereby said rotary actuator continually rotates in one direction and drives one of said rows rectilinearally in one direction and successively drives the adjacent row of indexing portions rectilinearally in the opposite direction each time said lateral displacement means shifts said indexing means laterally relative to said rows and from an end of one row to a respective end of said adjacent row.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.