Cartridge handling system

A motion transmitting apparatus for alternately providing linear displacement and rotational displacement of a carriage member in response to torque applied from a single rotatable drive shaft, comprising:

• (a) base means for rotatably supporting a rotatable member means;
• (b) rotatable member means, having a central axis of rotation, rotatably mounted on said base means for supporting said carriage member thereon in linearly displaceable relationship therewith;
• (c) linear displacement means for linearly displacing said carriage member with respect to said rotatable member means;
• (d) first gear means rotatably mounted on said rotatable member means and having a central axis of rotation positioned coaxially with said rotatable member means central axis of rotation, said first gear means being drivingly coupled to said rotatable drive shaft;
• (e) second gear means rotatably mounted on said rotatable member means and having a central axis of rotation positioned in parallel radially offset relationship with said rotatable member means central axis of rotation;
• said second gear means being drivingly connected to said linear displacement means;
• said second gear means having a circumferential portion thereof engaged with a circumferential portion of said first gear means;
• (f) latch means, having a latched operating state and an unlatched operating state, operatively associated with said rotatable member means for preventing rotation of said rotatable member means during said latched operating state;
• and
• (g) stop means, having an engaged state and a disengaged state, operatively associated with said linear displacement means for preventing movement of said linear displacement means during said engaged operating state.

A motion transmitting apparatus comprising:

• (a) base means for supporting various components of said apparatus thereon;
• (b) guide means for guiding the movement of a guided member, said guide means comprising a forward end, a rear end, and a central longitudinal axis extending between said forward end and said rear end, and being rotatable in at least a first direction about said central longitudinal axis;
• (c) shaft means for rotatably mounting said guide means on said base means, said shaft means comprising a first end fixedly attached to said rear end of said guide means, a second end rotatably received in said base means, and a central longitudinal axis extending in coaxial relationship with said central longitudinal axis of said guide means whereby said guide means is rotatable about said central longitudinal axis thereof through rotation of said shaft means;
• (d) a guided member received on said guide means and being displaceable relative to said guide means in a predetermined manner;
• (e) drive means for providing driving torque in at least a first torque direction to a transmission means;
• (f) first shaft gear means rotatably mounted on said shaft means in coaxial, independently rotatable relationship therewith and being coupled to said drive means for transmitting torque therefrom to a second gear means;
• (g) second shaft gear means rotatably mounted on said shaft means in coaxial, independently rotatable relationship therewith;
• said second gear means being coupled with said first gear means whereby rotation of said first gear means about said shaft means produces corresponding rotation of said second gear means about said shaft means;
• (h) guide gear means rotatably mounted on said guide means about a guide gear central axis of rotation positioned in parallel, radially displaced relationship relative said guide means central longitudinal axis;
• said guide gear means comprising a first operating mode in which it is rotatable about said central axis of rotation thereof and a second operating mode in which it is non-rotatable about said central axis of rotation thereof;
• said guide gear means being continuously peripherally engaged by said second shaft gear means during said first and second operating modes;
• said guide gear means being rotatable about said guide gear central axis of rotation in response to application of torque thereto by said second shaft gear means in said first operating mode;
• said guide gear means being orbitally displaceable about the periphery of said second shaft gear means during rotation of said guide means about said guide means central longitudinal axis in said second operating mode of said guide gear means;
• (i) guided member displacement means coupled to said guide gear means for producing displacement of said guided member relative said guide means in response to rotation of said guide gear means about said guide gear central axis of rotation;
• and
• (j) whereby said guided member is displaced relative said guide means in said first operating mode and whereby said guide means is rotated about said central longitudinal axis thereof in said second operating mode.

A cartridge handling system for use in association with a plurality of longitudinally extending rearwardly opening cartridge holding units arranged in a laterally and vertically extending array comprising:

• (a) cartridge engaging means for engaging an exposed end portion of a cartridge positioned in an aligned holding unit;
• (b) longitudinal displacement means operatively associated with said engaging means for longitudinally displacing a cartridge engaged by said engaging means;
• (c) flipping means operatively associated with said engaging means for invertingly rotating a cartridge engaged by said engaging means about a longitudinally extending flip axis;
• (d) lateral displacement means operatively associated with said engaging means for laterally displacing a cartridge engaged by said engaging means;
• and
• (e) unitary, rotatable drive means drivingly linked to said longitudinal displacement means, said flipping means, and said lateral displacement means for providing driving force thereto;
• (f) wherein the cartridge handling system contains no sensors mounted on moving system components and contains no motors mounted on moving machine components.