Apparatus for easily engaging, disengaging and locking load to rotatable driving element

Claim 2

An arrangement for locking to a hub the annulus of a load to be rotated by said hub comprising, in combination: an elongated dog pivotally mounted at one end to the hub; said dog including on the opposite end a friction surface facing said annulus, the pivotal connection between the dog and hub lagging a line joining the axis of rotation of the hub and the center of said friction surface, relative to the intended direction of rotation of the hub; the angle between said dog and said line being less than 45*, the pivotal axis being parallel to said axis of rotation of said hub; means attached to the hub engaging a portion of the annulus generally opposite to the portion of the annulus in contact with the dog; and biasing means coupled to said dog for biasing said dog about its pivotal mounting in a direction to cause said surface to wedge against said annulus, whereby when siad hub is rotated in said intended direction, wedging action between the load annulus and friction surface tends to lock the load and dog together and to cause the load to rotate with the hub.

Claim 3

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said friction surface has a radius of curvature somewhat smaller than that of said annulus and initially is biased in contact with said annulus at the center portion of said surface.

Claim 4

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of other dogs as described in claim 1, each with a friction surface and each having a biasing means, alL dogs being equally spaced from one another and from said axis of rotation.

Claim 5

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 further including means creating a force on said dog in a direction generally tangential to said annulus at the point of contact with said dog for rotating said dog about its pivotal connection in a direction opposite to the bias direction for moving said friction surface out of contact with said annulus.

Claim 6

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 further including means engaging a portion of the annulus comprising at least one other dog similar to the dog claimed.

Claim 7

An arrangement for locking the annulus of a driven load to a hub comprising, in combination: two elongated dogs, each pivotally mounted at one end to the hub; each dog including a friction surface facing the annulus on the opposite end of the dog, the pivotal connection between one dog and the hub lying on one side of a line joining the axis of rotation of the hub and the center of its friction surface, the angle between said dog and said line being less than 45*, and the pivotal connection between the other dog and the hub lying on the other side of a second line joining the axis of rotation of the hub and the center of its friction surface, the angle between said other dog and said second line being less than 45*; and biasing means coupled to said dogs for urging each around its pivotal mounting in a plane substantially normal to said axis of rotation in a direction to wedge its friction surface with said annulus, whereby when the hub is rotated said wedging between the annulus and one of said friction surfaces tends to lock the load and dog having said one of said friction surfaces together and to cause the load to be rotated with the hub, one surface locking with the annulus depending upon the direction of rotation of the hub.

Claim 8

An arrangement for locking the annulus of a driven load to a hub comprising, in combination: two elongated dogs, each pivotally mounted at one end to the hub; each dog including a friction surface facing the annulus on the opposite end of the dog, the pivotal connection between one dog and the hub lying on one side of a line joining the axis of rotation of the hub and the center of its friction surface, the angle between said dog and said line being less than 45*, and the pivotal connection between the other dog and the hub lying on the other side of a second line joining the axis of rotation of the hub and the center of its friction surface, the angle between said other dog and said second line being less than 45*; and biasing means coupled to said dogs for urging each around its pivotal mounting in a plane substantially normal to said axis of rotation in a direction to wedge its friction surface with said annulus, whereby when the hub is rotated said wedging between the annulus and one of said friction surfaces tends to lock the load and dog having said one of said friction surfaces together and to cause the load to be rotated with the hub, one surface locking with the annulus depending upon the direction of rotation of the hub.

Claim 9

Apparatus for rotating a load, having a revolved contour shape, about the axis of revolution of said load comprising, in combination: rotationally driven means supporting a portion of the load but permitting rotation therebetween; elongated means pivotally mounted at one end to said rotationally driven means, the other end portion of which is in frictional engagement with said load, the pivotal axis of said elongated means lying on the trailing side, relative to the direction of rotation of said rotationally driven means, of a line joining the driven means axis to the mid-point of contact between said elongated means and said load, the angle between said line and a second line extending between said pivotal axis and said midpoint of contact being less than 45*; and biasing means coupled to said elongated means for biasing said means about its pivotal mounting in a direction to cause said other end portion to wedge against said revolved contour shape of said load, whereby when said rotationally driven means is rotated, said wedging between the load and said other end tends to lock the said lock and said elongated means together and to cause the load to rotate with the hub.

Claim 10

Apparatus for rotating a load, having a revolved contour shape, about the axis of revolution of said load comprising, in combination: rotationally driven means supporting a portion of the load but permitting rotation therebetween; elongated means pivotally mounted at one end to said rotationally driven means, the other end portion of which is in frictional engagement with said load, the pivotal axis of said elongated means lying on the trailing side, relative to the direction of rotation of said rotationally driven means, of a line joining the driven means axis to the mid-point of contact between said elongated means and said load, the angle between said line and a second line extending between said pivotal axis and said midpoint of contact being less than 45*; and biasing means coupled to said elongated means for biasing said means about its pivotal mounting in a direction to cause said other end portion to wedge against said revolved contour shape of said load, whereby when said rotationally driven means is rotated, said wedging between the load and said other end tends to lock the said lock and said elongated means together and to cause the load to rotate with the hub.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rotationally driven means may be driven in either direction and further including a second elongated means similar to the first but having its pivotal axis lying on the opposite side of another line joining said driven means axis and the midpoint of contact between said second elongated means and said load, the angle between a line joining said pivotal axis of said second means with its midpoint of contact and said another line being less than 45*, whereby one of the pivotally mounted means prevents relative rotation between the load and driven means depending on the direction in which the load is driven.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 7 further including means coupled to said elongated means for pivoting said elongated means away from contact with said load in a direction substantially tangential to said load at said point of contact for permitting removal Thereof.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 9 further including a member movable axially of said rotationally driven means and means for urging said member toward said rotationally driven means, said member including a plurality of fingerlike elements projecting normal to the direction of movement of said member for holding said load against said rotationally driven means.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said fingerlike elements are pivotable about said member and wherein said apparatus further includes means for concurrently pivoting said fingerlike elements so that said fingerlike elements do not engage said load thereby permitting the removal of said load.

Claim 15

The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said member includes means for permitting each fingerlike element to move independently of the others in a direction substantially axially of said rotationally driven means for holding a load in contact with said rotationally driven means.

Claim 16

An arrangement for removably holding a load comprising, in combination: a member including a reference surface against which said load is to be held; movable means coupled to said member and movable between two positions, the first closer to the reference surface than the second; means including a plurality of cam surfaces oppositely disposed and in fixed positions relative to said reference surface; and a plurality of fingerlike elements pivotally attached to said movable means, each of the pivotal axes lying substantially parallel to its related cam surface each fingerlike element being in line with one of said cam surfaces, each fingerlike element biased about its pivotal attachment to an extended position over and engaged with said load for holding said load against said reference surface when said movable means is in its first position, and said fingerlike elements engaging the respective cam surfaces and pivoting about their pivotal attachments to retracted positions while moving away from said load when said movable means is moved to its second position.

Claim 17

An arrangement for removably holding a load comprising, in combination: a member including a reference surface against which said load is to be held; movable means coupled to said member and movable between two positions, the first closer to the reference surface than the second; means including a plurality of cam surfaces oppositely disposed and in fixed positions relative to said reference surface; and a plurality of fingerlike elements pivotally attached to said movable means, each of the pivotal axes lying substantially parallel to its related cam surface each fingerlike element being in line with one of said cam surfaces, each fingerlike element biased about its pivotal attachment to an extended position over and engaged with said load for holding said load against said reference surface when said movable means is in its first position, and said fingerlike elements engaging the respective cam surfaces and pivoting about their pivotal attachments to retracted positions while moving away from said load when said movable means is moved to its second position.

Claim 18

An arrangement as set forth in claim 13 wherein said load comprises a tape reel formed with a central opening therein and wherein said fingerlike elements are pivotally attached to a portion of the movable means within a space coextensive with said central opening and are biased to a position such that the ends of the elements extend beyond the opening and bear against the exposed surface of the tape reel for holding the tape reel against the reference surface when the movable means is in its first position.

Claim 19

An arrangement as set forth in claim 14, further including: a plurality of load engaging elements pivotally mounted on said reference surface, each element normally biased into engagement with the surface defining the opening in said tape reel; and means coupled between said movable means and said load engaging elements for moving the load engaging elements about their pivotal mountings in a direction opposite to the bias direction for releasing said tape reel in response to movement of said movable means to its second position.

Claim 20

Apparatus for removably securing a tape reel having a central opening therein to a supporting surface of a hub comprising, in combination: movable means projecting through the opening in said tape reel and movable in directions toward and away from said supporting surface; a plurality of fingerlike elements pivotally mounted to said movable means and biased to a position such that the free ends of said elements extend over a surface of the reel opposite that which abuts said supporting surface, thereby holding the reel against said supporting surface when said movable means is in a position relatively close to said supporting surface; and means responsive to movement of said movable means to a second position spaced further from said reference surface for pivoting said elements about their mountings to retracted positions while said elements are being lifted from the tape reel surface for permitting removal of said reel.

Claim 21

Apparatus for removably securing a tape reel having a central opening therein to a supporting surface of a hub comprising, in combination: movable means projecting through the opening in said tape reel and movable in directions toward and away from said supporting surface; a plurality of fingerlike elements pivotally mounted to said movable means and biased to a position such that the free ends of said elements extend over a surface of the reel opposite that which abuts said supporting surface, thereby holding the reel against said supporting surface when said movable means is in a position relatively close to said supporting surface; and means responsive to movement of said movable means to a second position spaced further from said reference surface for pivoting said elements about their mountings to retracted positions while said elements are being lifted from the tape reel surface for permitting removal of said reel.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said elements is movable independently of the others in the direction of movement of the movable means for securing a reel which is dimensionally uneven around its circumference between its side walls.

Claim 23

An arrangement for securing a tape reel having a central opening therein to a rotatable hub comprising, in combination: a plurality of elongated dogs each pivotally attached at one end to said hub, the pivot axes located within said reel opening and parallel to said hub axis of rotation, the opposite end of each dog including a frictional surface; means for urging said opposite end of each dog into contact with the wall forming the opening in said reel, said pivot axes being behind lines extending between the hub axis and mid-point of contact between said dogs and reel, relative to the intended direction of hub rotation; means slidably mounted to said hub movable axially of the hub and extending through said opening in said reel; a plurality of elements pivotally mounted to said slidable means and biased in a direction to cause said elements to extend in a direction generally normal to said hub axis with the ends of the elements extending beyond the central opening of the reel, whereby when said slidable means is urged toward said hub, said elements secure said reel against said hub, and when said hub is rotated, wedging action between said dogs and reel tends to lock the reel rotationally to the hub to be rotated therewith.

Claim 24

An arrangement for securing a tape reel having a central opening therein to a rotatable hub comprising, in combination: a plurality of elongated dogs each pivotally attached at one end to said hub, the pivot axes located within said reel opening and parallel to said hub axis of rotation, the opposite end of each dog including a frictional surface; means for urging said opposite end of each dog into contact with the wall forming the opening in said reel, said pivot axes being behind lines extending between the hub axis and mid-point of contact between said dogs and reel, relative to the intended direction of hub rotation; means slidably mounted to said hub movable axially of the hub and extending through said opening in said reel; a plurality of elements pivotally mounted to said slidable means and biased in a direction to cause said elements to extend in a direction generally normal to said hub axis with the ends of the elements extending beyond the central opening of the reel, whereby when said slidable means is urged toward said hub, said elements secure said reel against said hub, and when said hub is rotated, wedging action between said dogs and reel tends to lock the reel rotationally to the hub to be rotated therewith.

Claim 25

The combination as set forth in claim 18 further including: means coupled between said dogs and slidable means for moving said dogs away from contact with said reel as siad slidable means moves away from said hub; means for pivoting said elements toward said hub and inward toward said hub axis as said slidable means moves away from said hub; and means for moving said slidable means away from said hub to move said dogs and elements to permit removal of said reel.