Geneva motion indexer with hemispherical head

Claim 2

Indexing mechanism comprising: a head having a generally hemispherical surface with an edge substantially residing in a plane intersecting the center of said hemispherical surface, means journaling said head for rotation about a first axis extending perpendicularly to said plane from said center, a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis lying in said plane and perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, a plurality of equally spaced slots formed in said hemispherical surface, said slots intersecting and opening to said edge and converging toward the apex of said surface, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, said drive cam being a right cylindrical roller which is rotatable about its axis, the said axis of said roller intersecting said second axis at the center of said head, a plurality of generally semicircular locking recessed formed in said head equally spaced around and opening to said edge, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots locking means connected to said shaft for rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock said head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slots.

Claim 3

Indexing mechanism comprising, a head having a generally hemispherical surface with an edge substantially residing in a plane intersecting the center of said hemispherical surface, Pg,24 means journaling said head for rotation about a first axis extending perpendicularly to said plane from said center a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis lying in said plane and perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, a plurality of equally spaced slots formed in said hemispherical surface, said slots intersecting and opening to said edge and converging toward the apex of said surface, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, a plurality of generally semicircular locking recesses formed in said head equally spaced around and opening to said edge, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots, locking means connected to said shaft for rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock sad head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slots, said locking means having a recessed inner surface which lies sufficiently below said edge to provide clearance for said edge and having a semicircular outer surface which exceeds 180* in arc length.

Claim 4

Indexing mechanism comprising, a head having a generally hemispherical surface with an edge substantially residing in a plane intersecting the center of said hemispherical surface, Pg,24 means journaling said head for rotation about a first axis extending perpendicularly to said plane from said center a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis lying in said plane and perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, a plurality of equally spaced slots formed in said hemispherical surface, said slots intersecting and opening to said edge and converging toward the apex of said surface, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, a plurality of generally semicircular locking recesses formed in said head equally spaced around and opening to said edge, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots, locking means connected to said shaft for rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock sad head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slots, said locking means having a recessed inner surface which lies sufficiently below said edge to provide clearance for said edge and having a semicircular outer surface which exceeds 180* in arc length.

Claim 5

Indexing mechanism comprising: a head having a generally hemispherical surface with an edge substantially residing in a plane intersecting the center of said hemispherical surface, means journaling said head for rotation about a first axis extending perpendicularly to said plane from said center, a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis lying in said plane and perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, a plurality of equally spaced slots formed in said hemispherical surface, said slots intersecting and opening to said edge and converging toward the apex of said surface, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, a plurality of generally semicircular locking recesses formed in said head equally spaced around and opening to said edge, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots, locking means connected to said shaft for rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock said head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slot, said head being hollow, a drive shaft rotating a cam in the interior of said head which cams a shaft extending along said first axis.

Claim 6

Indexing mechanism comprising: a head having a generally hemispherical surface with an edge substantially residing in a plane intersecting the center of said hemispherical surface, means journaling said head for rotation about a first axis extending perpendicularly to said plane from said center, a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis lying in said plane and perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, a plurality of equally spaced slots formed in said hemispherical surface, said slots intersecting and opening to said edge and converging toward the apex of said surface, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, a plurality of generally semicircular locking recesses formed in said head equally spaced around and opening to said edge, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots, locking means connected to said shaft for rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock said head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slot, said head being hollow, a drive shaft rotating a cam in the interior of said head which cams a shaft extending along said first axis.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said head is connected to rotate a shaft extending from the apex thereof, and the shaft extending along said first axis is supported and guided for reciprocating movement by the shaft extending from the apex.

Claim 8

Indexing mechanism comprising, a hollow head having generally hemispherical inner and outer surfaces generated about the same center, support means within the hollow interior of said head and journaling said head for rotation abut a first axis passing through the center and the apex of the hemispherical surfaces, a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, the shaft journaling means including a bearing for one end of said shaft in the support means internally of said head, a plurality of equally spaced open-ended slots formed in said head, said slots converging toward the apex of said head, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, a plurality of equally spaced generally semicircular locking recesses formed in said head, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots, locking means connected to said shaft fOr rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock said head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slots.

Claim 9

Indexing mechanism comprising, a hollow head having generally hemispherical inner and outer surfaces generated about the same center, support means within the hollow interior of said head and journaling said head for rotation abut a first axis passing through the center and the apex of the hemispherical surfaces, a drive shaft, means journaling said drive shaft for rotation about a second axis perpendicularly intersecting said first axis at said center, the shaft journaling means including a bearing for one end of said shaft in the support means internally of said head, a plurality of equally spaced open-ended slots formed in said head, said slots converging toward the apex of said head, a drive cam connected to and extending angularly from said drive shaft and movable in camming relation in the respective slots during rotation of said shaft about said second axis, a plurality of equally spaced generally semicircular locking recesses formed in said head, there being a locking recess between each pair of adjacent slots, locking means connected to said shaft fOr rotation therewith and shaped to interfit in the respective recesses to lock said head against rotation when said drive cam is not engaged in any of said slots.

Claim 10

The indexing mechanism of claim 5 wherein said head has a cylindrical portion extending outwardly from the apex thereof, and said support means includes a bearing portion within the cylindrical head portion.

Claim 11

The indexing means of claim 6 wherein a housing surrounds said head and provides an external rotary bearing for said cylindrical portion of said head.