Cam follower mounting assembly and method

Abstract

A cam follower mounting assembly includes a mounting member, such as a rotary indexer output mounting plate, having first and second cam follower mounting surfaces and a bore between the mounting surfaces, and a cam follower mounted on the mounting member wherein the cam follower includes a mounting shaft received in the bore of the mounting member and having a cam follower member rotatably disposed on a first shaft end proximate the first cam follower mounting surface in a manner to be engaged by a cooperating cam track and a second shaft end proximate the second cam follower mounting surface. The second end of the mounting shaft includes a threaded bore extending from an second end surface substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the mounting shaft. The mounting assembly further comprises a screw having an enlarged head and a threaded shaft threadably received in the threaded bore of the cam follower mounting shaft and a washer disposed between the enlarged head of screw and the second cam follower mounting surface. When the screw is threaded into the threaded bore of the cam follower mounting shaft to secure the cam follower on the mounting member, bending forces on the mounting shaft are substantially reduced to thereby improve perpendicular alignment of the mounting shaft with respect to the cam follower mounting surfaces and thus the cooperating cam track, thereby improving service lifespan of the cam follower and cam track.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.