Twin cam index drive

An indexing drive apparatus for driving work transfer means intermittingly between a plurality of work stations comprising:

• a predetermined number of first cam followers secured to said work transfer means, said predetermined number being equal to the number of said work stations;
• a plurality of second cam followers secured to said work transfer means and positioned in spaced relationship along a line traversed by said first cam followers and intermediate successive ones thereof;
• drive means;
• rotary cam means driven by said drive means including a first portion engageable with successive ones of said first cam followers and a second portion engageable with successive ones of said first and second cam followers to drive said work transfer means.

A drive means for a multi-station circular work transfer apparatus including a rotatable work supporting means, said drive means comprising:

• cylindrical rotatable cam means including coaxial primary and secondary cam portions, said secondary cam portion having a diameter greater than said primary cam portion;
• power means for rotatably driving said rotatable cam means;
• a predetermined number of primary cam followers secured in circumferentially spaced relationship to said rotatable work supporting means, said predetermined number being equal to the number of said work stations;
• a plurality of secondary cam followers secured to said rotatable work supporting means in circumferentially spaced relationship intermediate said primary cam followers and in circumferential alignment therewith, said secondary cam followers having a length less than said primary cam followers,
• said primary cam portion engaging a selective one of said primary cam followers to initially drive said rotatable work supporting means and a following one of said secondary cam followers engaging said secondary cam portion to continue driving said rotatable work supporting means as said primary cam follower moves out of engagement with said cam means.