Rotary indexing machine

Claim 2

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separate from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and non-rotatable relative to said frame but movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; and means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release the first gear from said second gear so as to permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step.

Claim 3

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separated from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear and one of said first and second gears being resilient in its axial direction; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; and means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear, and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release said first gear from said second gear so as to permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step.

Claim 4

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separated from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear and one of said first and second gears being resilient in its axial direction; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; and means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear, and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release said first gear from said second gear so as to permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step.

Claim 5

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 2, in which one of said first and second gears comprises a hub and a set of crown teeth projecting from said hub, said hub having an annular recess extending inwardly from its outer peripheral surface and spaced from the base of said teeth so as to render said teeth resilient in the axial direction of said gear.

Claim 6

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 2, further comprising fluid-controlled cylinder and piston means connecting said second gear to said frame so as to be nonrotatable but resilient in its axial direction during its engagement with said third gear.

Claim 7

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 3, further comprising auxiliary resilient means connected to the part of said hub forming the base of said teeth and acting upon said hub part in the axial direction of said resilient gear.

Claim 8

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 5, in which said auxiliary resilient means comprise fluid-controlled cylinder and piston means.

Claim 9

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separate from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear, and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release said first gear from said second gear so as to permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step; a vertical upright rigidly secured to said frame; bearing means supporting said turntable so as to be rotatable about the upper end of said upright and coaxially thereto; driving means for said indexing means; and a tubular shaft surrounding and coaxial to said upright and connecting said driving means to said indexing means, said first and second gears being coaxially to and annularly surrounding said shaft and having upwardly projecting teeth, said third gear being supported by said shaft above said first and second gears and having downwardly projecting teeth adapted to engage with and disengage from the teeth of said first and second gears.

Claim 10

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separate from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear, and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release said first gear from said second gear so as to permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step; a vertical upright rigidly secured to said frame; bearing means supporting said turntable so as to be rotatable about the upper end of said upright and coaxially thereto; driving means for said indexing means; and a tubular shaft surrounding and coaxial to said upright and connecting said driving means to said indexing means, said first and second gears being coaxially to and annularly surrounding said shaft and having upwardly projecting teeth, said third gear being supported by said shaft above said first and second gears and having downwardly projecting teeth adapted to engage with and disengage from the teeth of said first and second gears.

Claim 11

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 7, in which said substantially stationary second gear is disposed radially inward of said first gear which is rigidly secured to said turntable.

Claim 12

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separate from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; and means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear, and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release said first gear from said second gear to thus permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step, said means for moving said third gear in its axial direction comprising cylinder and piston means, and means for supplying a fluid pressure medium to said cylinder and piston means.

Claim 13

A rotary indexing machine having a frame; a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame; indexing means for alternately turning said turntable one step of a predetermined length in its peripheral direction and for stopping said turntable for a predetermined period between adjacent turning steps; a first crown gear secured to said turntable; a second crown gear separate from and coaxial to said first gear and secured substantially stationary to said frame, one of said two gears surrounding the other gear; a third crown gear coaxial to said first and second gears and movable in its axial direction relative to said first and second gears; and means for alternately moving said third gear substantially simultaneously into engagement with said first and second gears during said stopping period of said turntable so as to lock said first gear to said non-rotatable second gear, and for moving said third gear out of engagement with said first and second gears so as to release said first gear from said second gear to thus permit said indexing means to turn said turntable one step, said means for moving said third gear in its axial direction comprising cylinder and piston means, and means for supplying a fluid pressure medium to said cylinder and piston means.

Claim 14

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 9, in which said means for moving said third gear further comprise spring means, said cylinder and piston means being adapted to move in one direction under the action of said pressure medium and against the action of said spring means so as to disengage said third gear from said first and second gears, said spring means being adapted to move said cylinder and piston means in the opposite direction and to engage said third gear with said first and second gears when said pressure medium is released from said cylinder and piston means.

Claim 15

A rotary indexing machine as defined in claim 10, in which said frame comprises a stationary horizontal annular plate underneath said turntable, said gears being disposed between said plate and said turntable, said cylinder and piston means being disposed underneath said plate and comprising a cylinder and an annular piston, and connecting means extending through said plate and substantially rigidly connecting said piston to said third gear.