US3824877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indexing workpiece supporting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-04
•
Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract The rotatable table of the indexing workpiece supporting apparatus is carried by a vertical shaft which is rotatably mounted within a lower casing. This shaft is connected by bevel gears with a first inner shaft radially disposed within the casing with respect to the vertical shaft, this first inner shaft being in turn connected by interchangeable spur gears with a second inner shaft laterally situated with respect to the vertical shaft. A Geneva cross gearing connects this second inner shaft with a third one disposed in line with respect to the first inner shaft, but on the other side of the vertical shaft. This third shaft is in turn connected with a fourth shaft parallel to the second inner shaft, but situated on the other side of the vertical shaft, and this fourth shaft is driven by means of a vertical worm, the lower end of which projects below the casing to form an inlet shaft, and of a corresponding worm mounted loose on the said fourth shaft, but angularly retained thereon by a torque limiting coupling. The interchangeable gears and the Geneva cross gearing are disposed in opposed lateral recesses of the casing and are easily accessible through removable covers.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mazue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:54
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/02; B23Q16/04; B23Q16/06; B23Q16/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/14; Y10T74/1406; Y10T74/1418; Y10T74/1424; Y10T74/1441; Y10T74/1453; Y10T74/1459; Y10T74/1465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
An indexing workpiece supporting apparatus comprising: a casing having at least first end side and a first lateral side, with said first lateral side being formed with a first outwardly lateral recess; a rotatable supporting plate mounted on said first end side of said casing; driving shaft means to carry said supporting plate and to rotate same, said shaft means being rotatably supported in said casing; a first inner shaft rotatably carried within said casing to drive said shaft means, said first inner shaft being substantially perpendicular to said shaft means, and having a first end and a second end, with said first end extending into said first lateral recess; gear means to positively connect said first inner shaft with said shaft means to cause same to rotate in unison; a second inner shaft also rotatably carried within said casing, said second inner shaft being substantially parallel to, but spaced from said first inner shaft, and having a first and a second end with said first end of said second inner shaft extending into said first lateral recess; a pair of interchangeable gears removably mounted within said first lateral recess on said first and second inner shafts to connect same with each other; means within said casing to rotate said second inner shaft through a determined angle to cause said supporting plate to advance from an indexed position to the next one; and first removable cover means to close said first lateral recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
An indexing workpiece supporting apparatus comprising: a casing having at least first end side and a first lateral side, with said first lateral side being formed with a first outwardly lateral recess; a rotatable supporting plate mounted on said first end side of said casing; driving shaft means to carry said supporting plate and to rotate same, said shaft means being rotatably supported in said casing; a first inner shaft rotatably carried within said casing to drive said shaft means, said first inner shaft being substantially perpendicular to said shaft means, and having a first end and a second end, with said first end extending into said first lateral recess; gear means to positively connect said first inner shaft with said shaft means to cause same to rotate in unison; a second inner shaft also rotatably carried within said casing, said second inner shaft being substantially parallel to, but spaced from said first inner shaft, and having a first and a second end with said first end of said second inner shaft extending into said first lateral recess; a pair of interchangeable gears removably mounted within said first lateral recess on said first and second inner shafts to connect same with each other; means within said casing to rotate said second inner shaft through a determined angle to cause said supporting plate to advance from an indexed position to the next one; and first removable cover means to close said first lateral recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
In an indexing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said second inner shaft being substantially radial to said shaft means and said means to positively connect said first inner shaft with said shaft means being formed of a pair of bevel gears.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
In an indexing apparatus as claimed in claim 1: said casing having a second lateral side opposed to said first lateral side and formed with a second lateral recess; said second end of said second inner shaft extending into said second recess; said means to rotate said second inner shaft through a determined angle comprising: a. a third inner shaft rotatably carried within said casing, said third inner shaft being substantially parallel to but spaced from said second inner shaft, and having an end extending into said second recess; b. a Geneva cross mechanism disposed within said second recess and including a driving pinion carried by said third inner shaft and a driven wheel carried by said second inner shaft; c. and means to rotate said third inner shaft at a substantially uniform angular speed; and said apparatus further comprising second removable cover means to close said second lateral recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said third inner shaft being Substantially radial to said shaft means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said means to rotate said third inner shaft at a substantially uniform angular speed including: a fourth inner shaft rotatable carried within said casing and having a first end and a second end, with said second end extending into said second recess; gear means within said second recess to positively connect said fourth inner shaft with said third inner shaft; and means to rotate said fourth inner shaft at a substantially uniform angular speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5: said casing having a second end side opposed to said first end side; and said means to rotate said fourth inner shaft including: a. a worm wheel loosely carried by said fourth inner shaft; b. means to frictionally retain said worm wheel at a fixed angular position with respect to said fourth inner shaft, so as to realize a torque limiting connection between said fourth inner shaft and said worm wheel; c. and a worm rotatably carried by said casing in meshing engagement with said worm wheel, said worm having an axis substantially perpendicular to said second end side and projecting outwardly through said second end side to form the inlet shaft of said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 6: said Geneva cross pinion embodying a circular plate carrying means to cooperate with said Geneva cross wheel, said plate having a toothed periphery; said gear means to positively connect said fourth inner shaft with said third inner shaft including a pinion angularly fixed on said fourth inner shaft but longitudinally slidable thereon; said fourth inner shaft being formed with a radially protruding portion forming a shoulder, with said worm wheel abutting against said shoulder; and said means to frictionally retain said worm wheel at a fixed angular position on said fourth inner shaft including resilient means carried by said fourth inner shaft and acting on said pinion to urge same against said worm wheel so as to frictionally clamp said worm wheel between said pinion and said shoulder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said first and third inner shafts being substantially radial to said shaft means and said shaft means extending in said casing between said second and fourth inner shafts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5: means within said casing to lock said rotatable supporting plate at successive index positions, said means including a rod member slidable within said casing in a direction substantially parallel to said shaft means and spring means to urge said member into engagement with said plate; and said fourth inner shaft being formed with a cam-shaped portion to actuate said member against said spring means to liberate said plate during a portion of each revolution of said fourth inner shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 9: said casing having a third lateral side formed with a third recess; and said apparatus further comprising: a. electric switch means within said third recess, said switch means being actuated by said rod member to generate indexing electric pulses; b. and third removable cover means to close said third recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2635326A
Cited
US2898781A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |