Drive mechanism for intermittent shaft rotation at irregular intervals
OwnerDon M. Wonginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Geneva drive mechanism for intermittently and selectively rotating one or more drive shafts through indexed positions. A conventional Geneva mechanism is modified to include a drive movable between a non-driving and driving position. When the driver is in its non-driving position, a plurality of Geneva wheels is secured against rotation. When the driver is moved to its driving position, it engages a selected Geneva wheel and rotates the wheel through one indexed position. Meanwhile, any other Geneva wheels remain secured against rotation. A compact gear mechanism is disclosed for coupling the Geneva mechanism and drive motor to a pair of coaxially mounted shafts.
Claims18
In a Geneva drive mechanism for intermittently coupling a shaft or the like to a drive motor, said Geneva drive mechanism including a Geneva wheel coupled to a first rotationally mounted shaft to rotate therewith and a second rotationally mounted shaft coupled to be driven by the drive motor, the improvement comprising:
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a driver having a drive pin for engaging said Geneva wheel;
- and
- a locking ring of generally cylindrical shape having a circular portion of generally circular cross section and a cutout portion adjacent said circular portion formed with a cutout for receiving said Geneva wheel;
- said drive assembly being mounted to rotate with said second shaft and to slide between a first, non-driving position and a second, driving position, in said non-driving position said circular portion of said locking ring engaging said Geneva wheel to prevent rotation thereof, and in said driving position said drive pin engaging said Geneva wheel and said cutout portion receiving said Geneva wheel to permit rotation thereof;
- and
- selectively engageable means for urging said drive assembly from said non-driving to said driving position, whereby said Geneva wheel and said first shaft are selectively intermittently driven.
In a Geneva drive mechanism for intermittently coupling a shaft or the like to a drive motor, said Geneva drive mechanism including a Geneva wheel coupled to a first rotationally mounted shaft to rotate therewith and a second rotationally mounted shaft coupled to be driven by the drive motor, the improvement comprising:
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a driver having a drive pin for engaging said Geneva wheel and a surface formed to present a cam follower profile;
- and
- a locking ring of generally cylindrical shape having a circular portion of generally circular cross section and a cutout portion adjacent said circular portion formed with a cutout for receiving said Geneva wheel;
- said drive assembly being mounted to rotate with said second shaft and to slide between a first, non-driving position and a second, driving position, in said non-driving position said circular portion of said locking ring engaging said Geneva wheel to prevent rotation thereof, and in said driving position said drive pin engaging said Geneva wheel and said cutout portion receiving said Geneva wheel to permit rotation thereof;
- and
- cam means selectively engageable to contact said cam follower profile for urging said drive assembly from said non-driving to said driving position and for maintaining said drive assembly in said driving position for a duration controlled by said cam follower profile, whereby said Geneva wheel and said first shaft are selectively intermittently driven.
A Geneva drive mechanism for intermittently and selectively rotating a plurality of shafts or the like comprising:
- first and second rotationally mounted shafts and first and second Geneva wheels respectively coupled thereto to rotate coaxially therewith;
- a rotationally mounted intermediate shaft adapted to be coupled to a drive motor;
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a driver having a drive pin for engaging said Geneva wheels and defining first and second cam follower surfaces;
- and
- a locking ring of generally cylindrical shape having a circular portion of generally circular cross section and a cutout portion adjacent said circular portion formed with a cutout for receiving said Geneva wheels;
- said drive assembly being mounted on said intermediate shaft to rotate therewith and to slide between a first, non-driving position and a second, driving position, in said non-driving position said circular portion of said locking ring engaging said Geneva wheels to prevent rotation thereof, and in said driving position said drive pin driving a selected on of said Geneva wheels and said cutout portion receiving the Geneva wheel so engaged to permit rotation thereof;
- and
- cam means selectively actuable to select and engage one of said cam follower surfaces for urging said drive assembly from said non-driving to said driving position, and thereby selecting one of said Geneva wheels to be driven, and for maintaining said drive assembly in said driving position for a duration controlled by the selected cam follower surface, whereby the selected Geneva wheel, and the respective shaft coupled thereto, are selectively intermittently rotated.
In an automatic cooking device of the sort having a cooking vessel, a compartmentalized carousel for holding ingredients to be dispensed into said cooking vessel, a motor for driving said carousel, and a support structure for supporting said carousel and defining a dispensing aperture through which the carousel dispenses ingredients into the cooking vessel, apparatus for selectively advancing the compartments of said carousel into registration with said dispensing aperture comprising:
- a first rotationally mounted shaft and a first Geneva wheel coupled thereto to rotate coaxially therewith, said first shaft being further coupled to rotate said carousel;
- a rotationally mounted intermediate shaft coupled to said motor;
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a driver having a drive pin for engaging said Geneva wheel and a surface formed to present a cam follower profile;
- and
- a locking ring of generally cylindrical shape having a circular portion of generally circular cross section and a cutout portion adjacent said circular portion formed with a cutout for receiving said Geneva wheel;
- said drive assembly being mounted to rotate with said second shaft and to slide between a first, non-driving position and a second, driving position, in said non-driving position said circular portion of said locking ring engaging said Geneva wheel to prevent rotation thereof, and in said driving position said drive pin engaging said Geneva wheel and said cutout portion receiving said Geneva wheel to permit rotation thereof;
- and
- cam means selectively engageable to contact said cam follower profile for urging said drive assembly from said non-driving to said driving position and for maintaining said drive assembly in said driving position for a duration controlled by said cam follower profile, whereby said Geneva wheel, and said first shaft, are selectively intermittently driven.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.