US3665771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stroke multiplying retractor mechanism
Assignee: ISI MANUFACTURING Inc A MI CORP
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Filing: 1970-06-25
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A retractor mechanism for an article handling or transfer apparatus is comprised of a stationary, longitudinal frame member, which slidingly supports a longitudinally movable carriage assembly, which normally carries the article handling implement. The carriage assembly is supported on spaced, parallel slideways and is moved by a gear and rack mechanism composed of a fixed rack attached to the stationary frame and a movable rack attached to and moving with the carriage assembly which are interconnected by at least one pinion gear. The pinion gear is supported in a carrier, which is connected to the piston rod of a fluid cylinder which provides a power actuation for longitudinal movement of the pinion carrier to drive the carriage assembly. The carriage driving rack and pinion mechanism, between the carriage and the supporting frame, is such that the piston stroke of the fluid cylinder acting on the pinion carrier to reciprocate the pinion carrier will be multiplied at least two times to move the carriage assembly a distance double the stroke of the fluid cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Leland F Blatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:25
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H19/00; F16H19/02; F16H19/04; B; B21; B21D; B21D43/00; B21D43/02; B21D43/04; B21D43/10; B21D43/105; B21J; B21J13/00; B21J13/08; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/44; B23Q1/56; B23Q1/60; B23Q1/601; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18088; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/1876; Y10T74/18768; Y10T74/18776; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/1967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
In a retractor mechanism for an article handling apparatus adapted to be longitudinally moved back and forth along a stationary support, the improvement comprising a stationary support including an elongated housing having a longitudinal center axis, a pinion carrier mounted upon and longitudinally movable relative to said housing; a carriage disposed parallel to said pinion carrier guidably mounted upon and depending from said housing; a pair of parallel first rack gears secured within said houSing and disposed on opposite sides of said center axis parallel thereto; said carriage being slidably mounted on said housing for movement between a first and a second end position; a second pair of parallel second rack gears secured to said carriage in juxtaposed position to said first pair of rack gears; said pinion carrier being disposed between said first and second pair of rack gears; a pair of axially aligned oppositely disposed pinions rotatably journalled and supported on said carrier in mesh with said first and second pair of rack gears to drivingly connect said carriage to said support, and power means including a cylinder and reciprocal piston rod mounted on said support with said piston rod operably connected to said carrier for reciprocation thereof, so that on actuation of said cylinder, said carrier is moved longitudinally causing rotatable driving engagement of said pinions with said first and second rack gears, to thereby longitudinally move said carriage in the same direction as said carrier but at a different speed; said piston rod being reciprocally disposed along said center axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
In a retractor mechanism for an article handling apparatus adapted to be longitudinally moved back and forth along a stationary support, the improvement comprising a stationary support including an elongated housing having a longitudinal center axis, a pinion carrier mounted upon and longitudinally movable relative to said housing; a carriage disposed parallel to said pinion carrier guidably mounted upon and depending from said housing; a pair of parallel first rack gears secured within said houSing and disposed on opposite sides of said center axis parallel thereto; said carriage being slidably mounted on said housing for movement between a first and a second end position; a second pair of parallel second rack gears secured to said carriage in juxtaposed position to said first pair of rack gears; said pinion carrier being disposed between said first and second pair of rack gears; a pair of axially aligned oppositely disposed pinions rotatably journalled and supported on said carrier in mesh with said first and second pair of rack gears to drivingly connect said carriage to said support, and power means including a cylinder and reciprocal piston rod mounted on said support with said piston rod operably connected to said carrier for reciprocation thereof, so that on actuation of said cylinder, said carrier is moved longitudinally causing rotatable driving engagement of said pinions with said first and second rack gears, to thereby longitudinally move said carriage in the same direction as said carrier but at a different speed; said piston rod being reciprocally disposed along said center axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
152 words
In the mechanism as defined in claim 1, there being a second pair of axially aligned pinions longitudinally spaced along and journalled upon said carrier such that in the first end of travel position of said carriage said first pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with both said first and second pair of rack gears, and said second pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with only said first pair of rack gears; in an intermediate position of said carriage said first and second pair of pinions will be both in meshing engagement with said first and second pairs of rack gears, and in a second end of travel position said second pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with both said first and second pair of rack gears and said first pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with only said first pair of rack gears.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
In the mechanism as defined in claim 1, there being second and third pairs of axially aligned pinions journalled upon and longitudinally equally spaced along said carrier such that in a first end of travel position of said carriage said first pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with both said first and said second pair of rack gears and said second and third pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with only said first pair of rack gears; in an intermediate position said first, second and third pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with both said first and second pair of rack gears, and in a second end of travel position said third pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with both said first and second pair of rack gears and said first and second pair of pinions will be in meshing engagement with only said first pair of rack gears.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the mechanism as defined in claim 1, cushioning means mounted on and disposed at opposite ends of said housing alternately engagable with said carrier to prevent shock loads from being transferred to said carriage at respective ends of travel of said carrier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
A reciprocating stroke multiplying retractor mechanism comprising in combination: a stationary frame, a carriage movably mounted on said frame for relative sliding movement therealong, at least one upper rack gear fixedly connected to said stationary frame, at least one lower rack gear disposed on said carriage for movement therewith; means drivingly connecting said upper and lower rack gears, said means including a longitudinal support disposed intermediate said upper and lower rack gears, at least one pinion rotatably mounted on said support adapted for coacting meshing engagement with said upper and lower rack gears; a power cylinder and piston rod operably connected to said support for reciprocation of said support; said power means upon actuation causing rotation of said pinion to thereby longitudinally move said carriage relative to said stationary frame by meshing engagement of said pinion with said lower rack Gear; said pinion in the first position of said mechanism being disposed between the rear end of said upper rack and the front end of said lower rack gear and in the second position, after actuation of said mechanism by said power means, being disposed between the front end of said upper rack gear and the rear end of said lower rack gears; said lower rack gear and its associated carriage having been moved a distance approximately twice the distance of the longitudinal movement of said pinion along said upper rack gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
232 words
A reciprocating stroke multiplying retractor mechanism comprising in combination: a stationary frame, a carriage movably mounted on said frame for relative sliding movement therealong, at least one upper rack gear fixedly connected to said stationary frame, at least one lower rack gear disposed on said carriage for movement therewith; means drivingly connecting said upper and lower rack gears, said means including a longitudinal support disposed intermediate said upper and lower rack gears, at least one pinion rotatably mounted on said support adapted for coacting meshing engagement with said upper and lower rack gears; a power cylinder and piston rod operably connected to said support for reciprocation of said support; said power means upon actuation causing rotation of said pinion to thereby longitudinally move said carriage relative to said stationary frame by meshing engagement of said pinion with said lower rack Gear; said pinion in the first position of said mechanism being disposed between the rear end of said upper rack and the front end of said lower rack gear and in the second position, after actuation of said mechanism by said power means, being disposed between the front end of said upper rack gear and the rear end of said lower rack gears; said lower rack gear and its associated carriage having been moved a distance approximately twice the distance of the longitudinal movement of said pinion along said upper rack gear.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |