Mechanical positioning device for precisely determining a series of mechanical locations

Claim 2

A mechanical positioning apparatus for determining a plurality of precise mechanical positions comprising: a movable body member having a series of ratchet teeth thereon, each of said teeth defining a precise mechanical location on said body member; restoring means for biasing said body member in a first direction; a ratchet arm precisely mounted adjacent said series of ratchet teeth, said arm having a first position for engaging said teeth to hold said body member in a precise mechanical position against the bias of said restoring means; ratchet spring means coupled to said ratchet arm and normally biasing said arm in said first position; drive means intermittently driving said body member in a direction opposite said first direction and against the bias of said restoring means, said body member being driven in steps to engage said ratchet arm in said first position with at least the next adjacent ratchet tooth whereby said body member is intermittently driven and held in a plurality of precisely defined positions; means on said body member adjacent the last ratchet tooth of said series of teeth for engaging and moving said ratchet arm to a second position out of engagement with said series of teeth upon the next intermittent movement of said body member from the position of said body member defined by said last ratchet tooth engaged by said ratchet arm; means holding said ratchet arm in said second position whereby said body member is moved in said first direction by said restoring means; and, means on said body member adjacent the first tooth of said series of teeth for engaging said ratchet arm and moving said arm from said second position to said first position to stop the motion of said body member in said first direction and to hold said body member until the next movement of said body member by said drive means whereby said plurality of precisely defined positions of said body member may be repeated.

Claim 3

The mechanical positioning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: rotating means having a protruding finger, said finger intermittently engaging said body member as said rotating means rotates; an electric motor for driving said rotating means; and, a switch mounted adjacent to said rotating means for applying power to said motor, said switch being engaged by said projecting finger to remove power from said motor at the completion of each revolution of said rotating means.

Claim 4

The mechanical positioning apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said restoring means is a mechanical spring.

Claim 5

The mechanical positioning apparatus defined in claim 3 further comprising a movable tray mechanically attached to said body member, said tray adapted to receive and hold items for precise mechanical positioning.

Claim 6

In a radiant energy analyzer, a mechanical mechanism for precisely locating each of a multiplicity of samples in a position for analysis, comprising: a movable sample tray into which a multiplicity of samples are inserted for analysis; a movable body member having a first surface upon which are disposed a series of ratchet teeth and a second surface upon which are disposed a series of notches, each of said ratchet teeth defining a precise mechanical location on said body member; means connecting said sample tray and body member; restoring means for biasing said body member in a first direction; a ratchet arm precisely mounted adjacent said series of ratchet teeth, said arm having a first position for engaging said teeth to hold said body member in a precise mechanical position against the bias of said restoring means; ratchet spring means coupled to said ratchet arm and normally biasing said arm in said first position; rotating means for intermittently moving said body member in a direction opposite said first direction and against the bias of said restoring means, said rotating means having a protruding finger for intermittently engaging said series of notches in said body member as said rotating means is rotated whereby said body member is moved in steps to engage said ratchet arm in said first position with at least the next adjacent ratchet tooth, said ratchet arm holding said body member in one of a plurality of precise mechanical positions when said protruding finger is out of engagement with said series of notches; means on said body member adjacent the last ratchet tooth of said series of teeth for engaging and moving said ratchet arm to a second position out of engagement with said series of teeth upon the next intermittent movement of said body member from the position of said body member defined by said last ratchet tooth engaged by said ratchet arm; means for holding said ratchet arm in said second position whereby said body member is moved in said first direction by said restoring means; and, means on said body member adjacent the first tooth of said series of teeth for engaging said ratchet arm and moving said arm from said second position to said first position to stop the motion of said body member in said first direction and to hold said body member untIl the next movement of said body member by said rotating means whereby said plurality of precise mechanical positions of said body member connected to said sample tray may be repeated.

Claim 7

In a radiant energy analyzer, a mechanical mechanism for precisely locating each of a multiplicity of samples in a position for analysis, comprising: a movable sample tray into which a multiplicity of samples are inserted for analysis; a movable body member having a first surface upon which are disposed a series of ratchet teeth and a second surface upon which are disposed a series of notches, each of said ratchet teeth defining a precise mechanical location on said body member; means connecting said sample tray and body member; restoring means for biasing said body member in a first direction; a ratchet arm precisely mounted adjacent said series of ratchet teeth, said arm having a first position for engaging said teeth to hold said body member in a precise mechanical position against the bias of said restoring means; ratchet spring means coupled to said ratchet arm and normally biasing said arm in said first position; rotating means for intermittently moving said body member in a direction opposite said first direction and against the bias of said restoring means, said rotating means having a protruding finger for intermittently engaging said series of notches in said body member as said rotating means is rotated whereby said body member is moved in steps to engage said ratchet arm in said first position with at least the next adjacent ratchet tooth, said ratchet arm holding said body member in one of a plurality of precise mechanical positions when said protruding finger is out of engagement with said series of notches; means on said body member adjacent the last ratchet tooth of said series of teeth for engaging and moving said ratchet arm to a second position out of engagement with said series of teeth upon the next intermittent movement of said body member from the position of said body member defined by said last ratchet tooth engaged by said ratchet arm; means for holding said ratchet arm in said second position whereby said body member is moved in said first direction by said restoring means; and, means on said body member adjacent the first tooth of said series of teeth for engaging said ratchet arm and moving said arm from said second position to said first position to stop the motion of said body member in said first direction and to hold said body member untIl the next movement of said body member by said rotating means whereby said plurality of precise mechanical positions of said body member connected to said sample tray may be repeated.

Claim 8

The radiant energy analyzer of claim 5 wherein said rotating means is a Geneva movement mechanism comprising a rotating disc having a driving pin mounted thereon, said driving pin forming said protruding finger; and, an electric motor connected to said disc for producing rotation.

Claim 9

The radiant energy analyzer of claim 6 further including a switch by which power is supplied to said motor, said switch being opened by said driving pin to remove power from said motor at the end of each complete revolution of said disc.

Claim 10

The radiant energy analyzer as described in claim 5 wherein said restoring force means comprises a negator spring.

Claim 11

The radiant energy analyzer as described in claim 5 wherein said ratchet spring means comprises a leaf spring which normally presses upon the other end of said ratchet arm and wherein said means for holding said ratchet arm is a detent in said leaf spring, said detent accepting and holding one end of said ratchet arm when said arm is moved to said second position.