Rotary actuated linear latching motor

A linear motor comprising:

• a linearly movable output member;
• an electric motor having a rotatable output shaft;
• a cam eccentrically mounted on the output shaft and rotatable therewith, the cam providing a rotary drive force to advance the output member;
• a first latch means, counted on the output member and pivotal between a first and a second position by selective engagement with the cam, for fixedly engaging the output member when pivoted to the second position during a predetermined angular portion of each single complete rotation of the cam and transmitting the rotary drive force of the cam to the output member to advance the output member a predetermined linear distance during each single rotation of the cam and for allowing free movement of the output member therethrough when in the first position;
• and
• means, coupled to the output member, for retaining the output member in an incremental advance position.

A linear motor comprising:

• a linearly movable output member;
• an electric motor having a rotatable output shaft;
• a cam eccentrically mounted on the output shaft and rotatable therewith, the cam providing a rotary drive force to advance the output member;
• mechanical means, selectively engaged with the cam, for engaging the output member during a predetermined angular portion of each single complete rotation of the cam and transmitting the rotary drive force of the cam to the output member to advance the output member a predetermined linear distance during each single rotation of the cam;
• and
• means, coupled to the output member, for retaining the output member in an incremental advance position, the retaining means including retaining latch means mounted on the output member and movable between first and second positions, for engaging and latching the output member in a fixed position when pivoted to the second position and for allowing free movement of the output member therethrough when in the first position.

A linear motor comprising:

• a linearly movable output member;
• first and second spaced latch member coupled to the output member, the first latch member being movable between first and second positions;
• biasing means for biasing the first latch member to the first position in which the output member is freely movable with respect to the first latch member;
• the second latch member being movable between first and second positions;
• means for biasing the second latch member to the second position in which the second latch member is fixedly engaged with the output member preventing movement of the output member in a second direction;
• and
• selectively energizable means for engaging and moving the first latch member to the second position in which the first latch member is fixedly engaged with the output member and for continuing to move the first latch member, when engaged with the output member, and the output member for a predetermined linear advance distance in the first direction, the selectively energizable means including a motor having a rotatable output shaft and an eccentric cam mounted on the output shaft and providing mechanical drive force directly to the first latch member to advance the output member, the cam being engageable with the first latch member to move the first latch member into engagement with the output member during a predetermined angular portion of each single rotation of the output shaft.

A linear motor comprising:

• a linear movable output member;
• an electric motor having a rotatable output shaft;
• a cam eccentrically mounted on the output shaft and rotatable therewith, the cam providing a rotary drive force to advance the output member;
• mechanical means, selectively engaged with the cam, for engaging the output member during a predetermined angular portion of each single complete rotation of the cam and transmitting the rotary drive force of the cam to the output member to advance the output member a predetermined linear distance during each single rotation of the cam;
• an electromagnetic solenoid formed of a core and a coil, a plunger movably disposed within the core and movable from a first extended position with respect to the core and a second position in which the plunger is drawn into the core by a magnetic attraction with the core when electric current is applied to the coil, the plunger being movable a predetermined distance from the first to the second position;
• and
• unidirectional latch means, coupled to the output member and engaged by the plunger, when the plunger is in the second position, for engaging the output member and preventing the output member from moving in a direction opposite from the direction of incremental advance of the output member such that each predetermined linear distance of advance of the output member is accumulative over successive complete rotations of the cam.