Leadscrew coupler

A flexible shaft coupling for transferring rotational motion from an input shaft rotatable about an axis to an output shaft rotatable about an axis, said coupling comprising:

• a coupler member arranged to engage said input shaft,
• means for connecting said coupling to said output shaft,
• an intermediate member connected to said coupler member,
• first means for connecting said intermediate member to said output shaft connecting means, said intermediate member being connected to said output shaft to permit movement of said intermediate member relative to said output shaft by rotation about a first pivot axis substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of said output shaft, and
• second means for connecting said coupling member to said intermediate member to locate said intermediate member with respect to said input shaft along the axis of said input shaft and to permit rotation of said intermediate member about a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of said input shaft and substantially perpendicular to said first pivot axis,
• said first and second connecting means permitting first and second transverse movement of said intermediate member substantially perpendicular to the axis of said input shaft and parallel to said first and second pivot axes whereby movement of the input shaft transverse to the axis thereof is not transmitted to said output shaft.

A coupling for transferring motion from a leadscrew, rotatable about an axis, to a carriage comprising:

• a coupler member arranged to move along said leadscrew when the leadscrew rotates about its axis;
• carriage connecting means for connecting said coupling to a carriage;
• an intermediate member;
• first means for connecting said intermediate member to said carriage connecting means to permit movement of said intermediate member relative to said carriage connecting means by rotation about a first pivot axis substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the leadscrew;
• and
• second means for connecting said coupling member to said intermediate member to permit rotation of said intermediate member about a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the leadscrew and substantially perpendicular to said first pivot axis such that said first and second connecting means permit first and second transverse movement of said carriage connecting means substantially perpendicular to the axis of said leadscrew and parallel to said first and second pivot axes, whereby movement of the leadscrew transverse to the axis thereof is not transmitted to said carriage, said first and second connecting means and said intermediate member being integrally formed from a single sheet member.