Intermittent drive mechanism

Claim 2

A drive mechanism comprising: a. a rotatably mounted support member; b. a plurality of spaced apart drive members circumferentially mounted on said support member; c. an actuating member rotatably mounted for movement between an operative and inoperative position, said actuating member positioned adjacent the path of movement of said drive members; d. means for normally rotating said actuating member into engagement with one of said drive members; e. and means for sequentially rotating said support member a predetermined distance to move the drive members through an operative and inoperative position whereby the actuating member is moved through an operative and inoperative position by said drive members.

Claim 3

The drive mechanism of claim 1 in which each of said drive members comprises a stud member, said stud member being spaced apart sufficiently to allow said actuating member to move through an operative and inoperative position upon the sequential rotation of said support member.

Claim 4

The drive mechanism of claim 2 in which said actuating member comprises a lever member having an end portion which is moved into engagement with said stud members by said normally rotating means, said lever member being rotated through an operative and inoperative position by movement of the stud members upon the sequential rotation of said support member.

Claim 5

The drive mechanism of claim 3 in which said sequentially rotating means includes a reciprocally movable cyclically operable drive means engaging said support member and a uni-directional control means engaging said stud members whereby said stud members will be rotated a predetermined distance in one direction only upon operation of said drive means.

Claim 6

A mechanism for moving a plurality of drive rollers between an operative and inoperative position comprising: a. a rotatably mounted disc member; b. a plurality of equally spaced stud members circumferentially mounted on said disc member; c. a plurality of lever members rotatably mounted adjacent said disc member, each of said lever members rotatably supporting a drive roller and having an end portion positioned adjacent one of said stud members; d. resilient means engaging each of said lever members for rotating said lever members in a direction whereby the end portion of said lever members engages one of said stud members; e. means for rotating said disc member a predetermined distance in one direction including a rotary drive member adapted for reciprocal movement through a predetermined distance; f. clutch means mounted on said drive member and engaging said disc member, said clutch means adopted to reciprocally rotate said disc member through said predetermined distance; g. and detent means engaging one of said stud members and adaptEd to block movement of said disc member in one direction whereby upon successive operations of said rotary drive member, said stud members will move said lever members through an operative and inoperative position.

Claim 7

A mechanism for moving a plurality of drive rollers between an operative and inoperative position comprising: a. a rotatably mounted disc member; b. a plurality of equally spaced stud members circumferentially mounted on said disc member; c. a plurality of lever members rotatably mounted adjacent said disc member, each of said lever members rotatably supporting a drive roller and having an end portion positioned adjacent one of said stud members; d. resilient means engaging each of said lever members for rotating said lever members in a direction whereby the end portion of said lever members engages one of said stud members; e. means for rotating said disc member a predetermined distance in one direction including a rotary drive member adapted for reciprocal movement through a predetermined distance; f. clutch means mounted on said drive member and engaging said disc member, said clutch means adopted to reciprocally rotate said disc member through said predetermined distance; g. and detent means engaging one of said stud members and adaptEd to block movement of said disc member in one direction whereby upon successive operations of said rotary drive member, said stud members will move said lever members through an operative and inoperative position.

Claim 8

The mechanism of claim 5 in which said stud members are spaced sufficiently apart to allow the end portion of each lever member to be engaged by adjacent stud member on every other operation of said rotary drive member whereby the lever member will be moved through an operative and inoperative position on successive operation of said drive member.

Claim 9

The mechanism of claim 5 in which said drive member comprises a rotary solenoid adapted, upon operation, to rotate said disc member a distance equal to one-half the arcuate distance between two studs.

Claim 10

The mechanism of claim 7 in which said detent means include a. a rotatably mounted detent arm positioned adjacent said disc member, said detent arm having a plurality of blocking surfaces; b. and spring means engaging said detent arm, said spring means adapted to move said detent arm in a direction to position one of the blocking surfaces adjacent one of said stud members whereby said disc member will be rotated by said solenoid in one direction only.

Claim 11

An intermittent drive mechanism comprising: a. a rotatably mounted disc member; b. four equally spaced stud members circumferentially mounted on said disc member; c. a pair of arm members each rotatably mounted adjacent said disc member in a plane perpendicular to each other, each of said levers supporting a drive roller and having an end portion positioned adjacent one of said stud members; d. spring means engaging said arm members and adapted to rotate each of the end portions of the arm members into engagement with one of said stud members; e. and means for rotating said disc member a distance equal to one-half the arcuate distance between the stud members whereby both arm members are rotated by said stud members through an operative and inoperative position upon successive operation of said rotating means.

Claim 12

An intermittent drive mechanism comprising: a. a rotatably mounted disc member; b. four equally spaced stud members circumferentially mounted on said disc member; c. a pair of arm members each rotatably mounted adjacent said disc member in a plane perpendicular to each other, each of said levers supporting a drive roller and having an end portion positioned adjacent one of said stud members; d. spring means engaging said arm members and adapted to rotate each of the end portions of the arm members into engagement with one of said stud members; e. and means for rotating said disc member a distance equal to one-half the arcuate distance between the stud members whereby both arm members are rotated by said stud members through an operative and inoperative position upon successive operation of said rotating means.

Claim 13

The intermittent drive mechanism of claim 9 in which said rotating means include a. a rotary solenoid adapted for reciprocal movement through a distance equal to one-half the arcuate distance between the stud means; b. clutch means mounted on said solenoid and engaging said disc member for reciprocally rotating said disc member through said distance; c. and detent means engaging said stud member in a blocking relationship to allow said stud members to be rotated in one direction by said clutch means whereby said stud members will move said arm members through an operative and inoperative position upon successive operations of said rotary solenoid.