Toggle-style overload protection device

An improved overload protection device for use in a restraint camming apparatus in which a linear guide guides an associated operating member in reciprocating movement in first and second different and opposing directions and a restraint cam drives the operating member in its reciprocating movement and the restraint cam drives the operating member at least in the first of said two directions, the improvement, comprising;

• a collapsible toggle assembly interposed between said restraint cam and said operating member, the toggle assembly including a body portion connected to said operating member, said toggle assembly having two free arms extending therefrom that are separated by a intervening space, a cam follower rotatably supported on a pin, two pairs of first and second support links, each of the first and second support links having two opposing ends, first ends of said first and second support links being rotatably connected to said toggle assembly body portion free arms, and the second ends of said first and second support links being aligned together and engaging said cam follower pin to thereby support said cam follower between said body portion free ends, said first and second support links supporting said cam follower in contact with said restraint cover in a first operative position until a preselected force is applied to said cam follower by said restraint cam, whereby said support links rotate inwardly of said toggle assembly body portion free arms and move said cam follower into said intervening space to thereby break contact of said cam follower with said restraint cam.

An anti-overloading device for use with an associated camming apparatus for driving an operating member in reciprocating motion in two opposing directions, the apparatus further including a linear guide assembly that guides the associated operating member in the reciprocating movement, and a rotatable cam for driving said operating member in said reciprocating movement during rotation of said cam, and further including a cam follower rotatably mounted to said operating member and positioned thereon so as to provide contact between said cam and said operating member, the anti-overloading device comprising, in combination:

• a collapsible toggle assembly for supporting the cam follower in contact between said cam and said operating member during operation of said restraint camming apparatus, the collapsible toggle assembly collapsing to break said contact between said cam and said cam follower to thereby stop motion by said operating member in one of said two direction, when said operating member encounters a resistance force exceeding a preselected magnitude during movement in said one direction;
• said collapsible toggle assembly including a base portion mounted to said operating member, the base portion having two free ends extending away from said base portion toward said cam and separated by a base portion intervening space;
• two linkages disposed on opposite sides of said base portion and rotatably connected to said toggle assembly free ends, said two linkages spanning said base portion intervening space on opposite sides of said base portion intervening space, said linkages further rotatably supporting said cam follower therebetween in a first operative position where said cam follower extends away from said toggle assembly base portion and into contact with said cam during said operating member reciprocating movement, said linkages further collapsing upon themselves and toward said toggle assembly base portion when said operating member encounters a resistance force exceeding a preselected magnitude in its movement in said one direction, thereby drawing said cam follower into a second operative position where it is removed said from contact with said cam.