Dynamic hammer and methods of striking workpieces

Claim 2

A hammer which comprises: a striker; means for mounting the striker for linear movement between a retracted position and an extended position, the striker being normally positioned in the retracted position; means for moving the mounting means in an arcuate path toward a workpiece to axially align the mounting means and the striker with the workpiece in a position tangential to the arcuate path; means for arresting the movement of the axially aligned mounting means; and means responsive to the arrest of movement of the mounting means, for impelling the striker linearly forward to the extended position to hammer the workpiece.

Claim 3

A hammer as recited in claim 1, wherein the impelling means comprises a weight aligned with the striker and movably mounted in the mounting means so that, when the motion of the mounting means is arrested, the weight moves into engagement with the striker to impel it to the extended position.

Claim 4

A hammer as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises: a housing for slidably mounting the striker; and means in the housing for normally urging the striker to its retracted position with a force which may be overcome by the impelling means.

Claim 5

In a mechanism for linearly striking a type pallet mounted for linear movement toward a platen; a housing having an axially extending bore; a striker mounted for linear sliding movement in the bore; means for urging the striker within the bore; means for moving the housing toward the type pallet to position the striker in axial alignment with the type pallet; means for abruptly stopping the moving housing with the striker axially aligned with the type pallet; and a ball freely mounted within the bore and thrust forward by momentum upon abrupt stopping of the housing for abutting and moving the striker against the effect of the urging means to linearly move the type pallet toward the platen.

Claim 6

In a mechanism for linearly striking a type pallet mounted for linear movement toward a platen; a housing having an axially extending bore; a striker mounted for linear sliding movement in the bore; means for urging the striker within the bore; means for moving the housing toward the type pallet to position the striker in axial alignment with the type pallet; means for abruptly stopping the moving housing with the striker axially aligned with the type pallet; and a ball freely mounted within the bore and thrust forward by momentum upon abrupt stopping of the housing for abutting and moving the striker against the effect of the urging means to linearly move the type pallet toward the platen.

Claim 9

A hammer mechanism for striking a workpiece, which comprises: an arm mounted for pivotal movement toward a workpiece; a housing mounted on the arm; a striker slidably located in the housing for movement from a normally retracted position to an extended position; stop means cooperating with the arm for positioning the housiNg and the striker in axial alignment with the workpiece; means for pivoting the arm to engage the stop means; and a weight movably located within the housing and having momentum imparted thereto by the pivoting of the arm for engaging and transferring momentum to the positioned striker to move the striker to the extended position to strikingly engage the workpiece.

Claim 10

A hammer mechanism for striking a workpiece, which comprises: an arm mounted for pivotal movement toward a workpiece; a housing mounted on the arm; a striker slidably located in the housing for movement from a normally retracted position to an extended position; stop means cooperating with the arm for positioning the housiNg and the striker in axial alignment with the workpiece; means for pivoting the arm to engage the stop means; and a weight movably located within the housing and having momentum imparted thereto by the pivoting of the arm for engaging and transferring momentum to the positioned striker to move the striker to the extended position to strikingly engage the workpiece.

Claim 11

A hammer mechanism as recited to claim 6 further comprising means for urging the striker into the retracted position, the effect of which is overcome by the momentum of the weight.

Claim 12

A hammer mechanism as recited in claim 7 wherein: the housing has a bore comprising an outer cylindrical chamber having an external opening and an inner cylindrical chamber of smaller diameter coaxially disposed with respect to the outer chamber and connecting therewith so as to define a shoulder at the juncture between the chambers, the inner chamber having a closed inner end; the striker comprises a cylindrical member mounted for sliding movement in the outer chamber so as to abut the shoulder in the retracted position; the urging means comprises a coil spring mounted in the outer chamber for normally urging the striker against the shoulder; and the weight comprises a ball freely mounted in the inner chamber for movement between the closed end of the inner chamber and the inner end of the striker.