Index table

An index table in which a first rotating shaft that supports a table, to which a workpiece is secured, and that extends in a direction intersecting a vertical direction is index driven, the index table comprising:

• a rotating member that is secured to the first rotating shaft or that is supported by a second rotating shaft , the rotating member rotating by an amount that is the same as that of the first rotating shaft as a result of transmission of rotation of the first rotating shaft to the rotating member through a rotation transmission mechanism;
• a supporting member provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in a direction intersecting a center of axis of the rotating member;
• an urging member for urging the supporting member;
• and
• a displacement restricting device that restricts rotation displacement of the supporting member,
• wherein the rotating member has an engaging portion that engages the supporting member at a bias position separated from the center of axis,
• wherein the supporting member has an engagement surface that extends over a range in which the engaging portion is displaced as the first rotating shaft rotates 360 degrees, and that receives, through the engaging portion, a first rotary torque applied to the rotating shaft by a weight supported by the rotating shaft,
• wherein the urging member causes a second rotary torque in a direction opposite to the first rotary torque to be generated at the rotating shaft through the engaging portion,
• wherein the displacement restricting device includes two restricting members and two moving members, the two restricting members being provided in a frame so that one is disposed at one side of an axis of the first rotating shaft to which the rotating member is secured and the other is disposed at the other side of the axis of the first rotating shaft to which the rotating member is secured or so that one is disposed at one side of an axis of the second shaft that supports the rotating member and the other is disposed at the other side of the axis of the second rotating shaft that supports the rotating member, the two moving members being provided at the supporting member and each contacting a corresponding one of the restricting members,
• wherein one of the moving member and the restricting member disposed at the one side of the axis has a guide surface that is parallel to a direction of reciprocation of the supporting member, and the other of the moving member and the restricting member disposed at the one side has a sliding contact surface that slidingly contacts the guide surface or a plurality of rolling members that contact the guide surface,
• wherein the displacement restricting device restricts the rotation displacement of the supporting member caused by forces that act between the urging member and the engaging portion, the forces being parallel to each other, being in opposite directions, and having the same magnitude.