Indexing mechanism

Claim 2

An indexing mechanism for moving a strip of material a predetermined distance including a. an indexing shaft; b. a drive means secured to said indexing shaft and engaging said strip of material; c. means for rotating said indexing shaft a predetermined distance in one direction only, including d. clutch means engaging said indexing shaft and adapted to rotate said shaft in an indexing and non-indexing direction; e. means engaging said clutch means for actuating said clutch means in an indexing and non-indexing direction; f. a ratchet wheel mounted on said indexing shaft, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of edge-mounted teeth members; g. and a stop pawl member mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, said pawl member being adapted to engage the teeth members of said ratchet wheel upon rotation of said indexing shaft in a non-indexing direction only thereby stopping the rotation of said indexing shaft whereby the strip of material is moved by said drive means a predetermined distance during the indexing rotation of the indexing shaft.

Claim 3

The indexing mechanism of claim 1 in which said clutch means includes a. a pair of stationary clutch plates engaging said indexing shaft; b. and a rotatably mounted clutch member engaging said clutch plates, said clutch member being engaged by said actuating means for movement in a non-indexing direction whereby said ratchet wheel is moved in a non-indexing direction until engaged by said stop pawl member.

Claim 4

The indexing mechanism of claim 2 in which said stationary clutch plates contain frictional surfaces thereon and said rotatably mounted clutch member contains frictional surfaces in engagement with the frictional surfaces of said clutch plate whereby upon movement of said clutch member in a non-indexing direction, said ratchet wheel is engaged by said stop pawl member.

Claim 5

The indexing mechanism of claim 2 in which said clutch means includes a. a second clutch member rotatably mounted on said indexing shaft and adapted to engage said indexing shaft when rotated in an indexing direction and to disengage said indexing shaft when rotated in a non-indexing direction; b. and said actuating means includes a first arm member mounted on said second clutch member; c. and a first cam member engaging said fIrst arm member and adapted to rotate said first arm member a predetermined distance in said indexing and non-indexing direction whereby a strip of material is moved by said drive means a distance commensurate with the movement of said arm member in an indexing direction.

Claim 6

The indexing mechanism of claim 4 in which said second clutch member comprises a roller clutch.

Claim 7

The indexing mechanism of claim 4 in which said clutch means includes a. an indexing shaft extension member supporting said clutch plates; b. a torsion spring secured to said indexing shaft and said extension member; c. and said actuating means includes a constantly rotating drive member engaging said clutch member for moving said clutch member in a non-indexing direction whereby said torsion spring will constantly urge said indexing shaft in a non-indexing direction.

Claim 8

The indexing mechanism of claim 6 in which a. the peripheral edge of said clutch member comprises a plurality of tooth portions; b. and said drive member comprises a gear member engaging the tooth portions of said clutch member whereby the clutch member is constantly rotated in a non-indexing direction.

Claim 9

The indexing mechanism of claim 4 in which said actuating means includes a. a second arm member mounted on said clutch member; b. and a second cam member engaging said second arm member and adapted to rotate said second arm member a predetermined distance in said indexing and non-indexing direction whereby said stop pawl member will engage and stop the movement of said ratchet wheel during the rotation of said second arm member in a non-indexing direction.

Claim 10

The indexing mechanism of claim 8 which includes a. latching means mounted on said first arm members; b. and control means mounted adjacent said first arm member and adapted to latch said latching means when operated thereby disabling the operation of said first arm member by said first cam member.

Claim 11

The indexing mechanism of claim 9 in which said latching means comprises an armature member secured to said first arm member and said control means comprises an electromagnetic member positioned adjacent said armature member whereby, upon energization of said electromagnetic member, said first arm member is disabled from engagement with said first cam member.

Claim 12

The indexing mechanism of claim 9 which includes a. second latching means mounted on said second arm member; b. and a second arm member to latch said second latching means when operated thereby disabling the movement of said ratchet wheel in a non-indexing direction.

Claim 13

The indexing mechanism of claim 11 which includes resilient means normally engaging said first and second arm member for movement into engagement with said first and second cam members.

Claim 14

An indexing mechanism for moving a strip of material a predetermined distance in one direction including a. a rotatably mounted indexing shaft; b. a drive member secured to said indexing shaft and engaging said strip of material; c. a rotatably mounted first clutch member mounted on said indexing shaft, said first clutch member adapted to engage said indexing shaft when rotated in an indexing direction thereby rotating the indexing shaft a like distance and to disengage the indexing shaft when rotated in a non-indexing direction whereby the strip of material is moved by said drive member during the rotation of said indexing shaft; d. a second clutch member engaging said indexing shaft, said second clutch member adapted to be rotated in an indexing and non-indexing direction; e. actuating means engaging said first and second clutch members for rotating said clutch members in a indexing and non-indexing direction; said actuating means includes cam actuated arm members engaging said clutch members for rotating said clutch members in a indexing and non-indexing direction; f. a ratchet wheel secured to said indexing shaft, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of rearwardly facing edge-mounted teeth members; g. and a stop pawl mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, said stop pawl adapted to engage the teeth members of said ratchet wheel upon rotation of said ratchet wheel in a non-indexing direction thereby stopping the rotation of said ratchet wheel and said indexing shaft whereby the strip of material is moved by said drive member a predetermined distance.

Claim 15

An indexing mechanism for moving a strip of material a predetermined distance in one direction including a. a rotatably mounted indexing shaft; b. a drive member secured to said indexing shaft and engaging said strip of material; c. a rotatably mounted first clutch member mounted on said indexing shaft, said first clutch member adapted to engage said indexing shaft when rotated in an indexing direction thereby rotating the indexing shaft a like distance and to disengage the indexing shaft when rotated in a non-indexing direction whereby the strip of material is moved by said drive member during the rotation of said indexing shaft; d. a second clutch member engaging said indexing shaft, said second clutch member adapted to be rotated in an indexing and non-indexing direction; e. actuating means engaging said first and second clutch members for rotating said clutch members in a indexing and non-indexing direction; said actuating means includes cam actuated arm members engaging said clutch members for rotating said clutch members in a indexing and non-indexing direction; f. a ratchet wheel secured to said indexing shaft, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of rearwardly facing edge-mounted teeth members; g. and a stop pawl mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, said stop pawl adapted to engage the teeth members of said ratchet wheel upon rotation of said ratchet wheel in a non-indexing direction thereby stopping the rotation of said ratchet wheel and said indexing shaft whereby the strip of material is moved by said drive member a predetermined distance.

Claim 16

The indexing mechanism of claim 13 in which a. said cam actuated arm members have armature members mounted on their ends; b. and said actuating means includes electromagnetic members mounted adjacent the armature members and adapted, upon operation, to engage the armature members, thereby disabling the movement of said arm members.