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US3636781A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Incremental rotation apparatus

Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
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Filing: 1969-10-02
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1989-10-02
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for providing incremental rotation of a shaft and having a continuous drive capability. A plurality of unidirectional clutches are coupled in operative arrangement to the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable in one direction only relative to the clutches. First drive means is coupled to one of the clutches for incrementally driving the shaft in the one direction, while the outer housing of a second one of the clutches is maintained stationary for preventing backlash of the shaft. A third one of the clutches coupled to a motor for continuously driving the shaft. A preferred embodiment of the invention is utilized for incrementally driving a tape capstan and alternatively for continuously driving the capstan, and can further be provided with second drive means coupled to a fourth one of the clutches for producing an interblock gap on the tape.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert R Elliott

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 03:47
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H29/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1503; Y10T74/1524

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
Incremental rotation apparatus comprising the combination of: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; first unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft in a first direction about said axis when said first clutch means is driven in said first direction; first drive means coupled to said first unidirectional clutch means for driving said first clutch means through a first predetermined rotation in said first direction when said first drive means is actuated; and second unidirectional clutch means coupled to said support means and to said shaft for preventing rotation of said shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
Incremental rotation apparatus comprising the combination of: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; first unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft in a first direction about said axis when said first clutch means is driven in said first direction; first drive means coupled to said first unidirectional clutch means for driving said first clutch means through a first predetermined rotation in said first direction when said first drive means is actuated; and second unidirectional clutch means coupled to said support means and to said shaft for preventing rotation of said shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
The incremental rotation apparatus according to claim 1, above, including means operable after said first direction rotation of said first clutch means for driving said first clutch means in said second direction through said first predetermined rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 75 words
The incremental rotation apparatus according to claim 1, above, further including: third unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft in said first direction when said third clutch means is driven in said first direction; and second drive means coupled to said third clutch means for driving said third clutch means through a second predetermined rotation in said first direction greater than said first predetermined rotation when said drive means is actuated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The incremental rotation apparatus according to claim 3, above, including means operable after said first direction rotation of said third clutch means for driving said third clutch means in said second direction through said second predetermined rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 64 words
The incremental rotation apparatus according to claim 1, above, further including: third unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft in said first direction when said third clutch means is driven in said first direction; and motor means coupled to said third clutch means for continuously driving said third clutch means in said first direction when said motor means is energized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 155 words
For combination with tape transport apparatus, apparatus for incrementally moving a tape and alternatively for continuously moving the tape, comprising: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; tape-engaging means for drivably engaging the tape, said tape-engaging means coupled to said shaft for being driven thereby; a plurality of unidirectional clutches coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in one direction only about said axis relative to said clutches; first drive means coupled to one of said clutches for driving said shaft through a first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said first drive means is actuated; means coupling a second one of said clutches to said support means for preventing rotation of said shaft opposite said one direction relative to said support means; and motor means coupled to a third one of said clutches for rotatably driving said shaft in said one direction About said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 155 words
For combination with tape transport apparatus, apparatus for incrementally moving a tape and alternatively for continuously moving the tape, comprising: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; tape-engaging means for drivably engaging the tape, said tape-engaging means coupled to said shaft for being driven thereby; a plurality of unidirectional clutches coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in one direction only about said axis relative to said clutches; first drive means coupled to one of said clutches for driving said shaft through a first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said first drive means is actuated; means coupling a second one of said clutches to said support means for preventing rotation of said shaft opposite said one direction relative to said support means; and motor means coupled to a third one of said clutches for rotatably driving said shaft in said one direction About said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 46 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, above, further including: second drive means coupled to a fourth one of said clutches for driving said shaft through a second predetermined rotation greater than said first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said second drive means is actuated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 155 words
Incremental rotation apparatus comprising the combination of: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; first unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable about said axis in one direction only relative to said first unidirectional clutch means; first drive means coupled to said first unidirectional clutch means for driving said shaft through a first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said first drive means is actuated; second unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft and to said support means, said shaft rotatable in said one direction only about said axis relative to said support means; third unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in said one direction about said axis relative to said third unidirectional clutch means; and second drive means coupled to said third unidirectional clutch means for driving said shaft through a second predetermined rotation in said one direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 155 words
Incremental rotation apparatus comprising the combination of: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; first unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable about said axis in one direction only relative to said first unidirectional clutch means; first drive means coupled to said first unidirectional clutch means for driving said shaft through a first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said first drive means is actuated; second unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft and to said support means, said shaft rotatable in said one direction only about said axis relative to said support means; third unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in said one direction about said axis relative to said third unidirectional clutch means; and second drive means coupled to said third unidirectional clutch means for driving said shaft through a second predetermined rotation in said one direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 58 words
The incremental rotation apparatus according to claim 8, above, further including: fourth unidirectional clutch means coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in said one direction about said axis relative to said fourth unidirectional clutch means; and motor means coupled to said fourth unidirectional clutch means for rotatably driving said shaft in said one direction about said axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 128 words
For combination with tape transport apparatus, apparatus for incrementally moving a tape, comprising: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; tape engaging means for drivably engaging the tape, said tape engaging means coupled to said shaft for being driven thereby; a plurality of unidirectional clutches coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in one direction only about said axis relative to said clutches; first drive means coupled to one of said clutches for driving said shaft through a first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said first drive means is actuated; and means coupling a second one of said clutches to said support means for preventing rotation of said shaft opposite said one direction relative to said support means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 128 words
For combination with tape transport apparatus, apparatus for incrementally moving a tape, comprising: support means; a shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to said support means; tape engaging means for drivably engaging the tape, said tape engaging means coupled to said shaft for being driven thereby; a plurality of unidirectional clutches coupled to said shaft, said shaft rotatable in one direction only about said axis relative to said clutches; first drive means coupled to one of said clutches for driving said shaft through a first predetermined rotation in said one direction when said first drive means is actuated; and means coupling a second one of said clutches to said support means for preventing rotation of said shaft opposite said one direction relative to said support means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, above, further including: second drive means coupled to a third one of said clutches for driving said shaft through a second predetermined rotation in said one direction when said second drive means is actuated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, above, further including: motor means coupled to a third one of said clutches for rotatably driving said shaft in said one direction about said axis, for continuously moving the tape.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-01-24 1975-07-26 1976-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-01-24 1979-07-26 1980-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-01-24 1983-07-26 1984-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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