Device for moving objects

In a transfer mechanism including a first carriage, for moving material or objects engageable with said carriage, the combination comprising:

• a drive gear;
• transfer means for moving said material or objects with respect to said carriage;
• a first maltese gear connected to said carriage and driven by said drive gear so as to move said carriage;
• and
• a second maltese gear connected to said transfer means and driven by said drive gear so as to move said material or objects with respect to said carriage;
• wherein said first and second maltese gears are alternatively driven by said drive gear, and
• wherein said mechanism comprises a pair of crescent gears coaxial with and affixed to said drive gear, one each operatively engaging one of said first and second maltese gears, the circumference of said crescent gears comprising a gear tooth segment, a pair of cutaway segments disposed on each side of said gear tooth segment, and a circularly arcuate segment between said cutaway segments opposite said gear tooth segment, said arcuate segment subtending about half of said circumference.

In a transfer mechanism including a first carriage, for moving material or objects engageable with said carriage, the combination comprising:

• a drive gear;
• transfer means for moving said material or objects with respect to said carriage;
• a first maltese gear connected to said carriage and driven by said drive gear so as to move said carriage;
• and
• a second maltese gear connected to said transfer means and driven by said drive gear so as to move said material or objects with respect to said carriage;
• wherein said first and second maltese gears are alternatively driven by said drive gear;
• wherein said transfer means comprises a transfer gear affixed to said second maltese gear, and at least one screw driven by said transfer gear, said screw being engageable with said material or objects;
• and
• wherein:
• said transfer gear, said first maltese gear, and said second maltese gear are coaxial with one another;
• said transfer gear is affixed to said second maltese gear;
• and said first maltese gear is rotatably journalled with respect to said transfer and said second maltese gears.