Rotationally adjustable support mechanism

Claim 2

A rotationally adjustable support mechanism comprising: a first member mountable on a fixed frame and having a major planar region with a semicircular opening formed in a central area thereof, said opening surmounting two shoulders; a second piece-part supporting member having a major planar region with a semi-circular opening formed in a central area thereof, the openings in said first and second members being dimensioned such that the arcuate edges thereof when aligned and juxtaposed are substantially coextensive between said shoulders of said first member; semi-circular bushing mounted within said opening of said first member and locked between said shoulders thereof, said bushing being formed with an outer U-shaped channel, the side walls of which confine is slideable contact therebetween arcuate portions of said first and second members adjacent the respective openings therein; and adjusting means coupled between said first member and said second member for rotating the latter relative to the former about said bushing to establish, and then maintain a desired angular position of said second member, and any piece part when supported thereon, relative to said first member.

Claim 3

A rotationally adjustable support mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises an outwardly extending tab formed on each of said first and second members, both tabs being positioned so as to be in overlying and spaced relationship with respect to each other, at least one of said tabs including a threaded opening for receiving a threaded member; a threaded member secured within the threaded opening of one of said tabs and being adjusted so that a free inner end thereof is biased against an adjacent surface of the other of said tabs to thereby control the spacing between said tabs and, in turn, the angular position of said second member relative to said first member; and biasing means for continuously urging said tabs towards each other, thereby maintaining said inner free end of said threaded member in continuous contact with said other tab.

Claim 4

A rotationaLly adjustable support mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first member has a protuberance extending outwardly from one side thereof spaced above and centered with respect to the semi-circular opening formed therein, and wherein said second member has a slot formed therein and located so as to receive said protuberance, opposite ends of said slot providing rotational stops which limit the degree of rotational displacement of said second member relative to said first member.

Claim 5

An assembly for supporting and rotationally adjusting the position of a normally stationary part relative to an associated shaft driven part, said assembly comprising: a base plate securable to a stationary frame, and having a centrally located semi-circular opening which surmounts two shoulders formed therein, and further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of said opening and extending outwardly from one side surface of said base plate; an angularly adjustable member having a piece part supporting ledge formed as an integral part thereof, and having a major planar region with a semi-circular opening formed in a central area thereof, the openings in said adjustable member and base plate being dimensioned such that the arcuate edges thereof when aligned and juxtaposed, are substantially coextensive between the shoulders of said base plate, said adjustable member further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of the opening therein and extending outwardly from one side surface thereof so as to be in overlying and spaced relationship with respect to said tab of said base plate; a semi-circular bushing formed with an outer arcuate, U-shaped channel, said bushing being force-fit between said shoulders surmounted by the opening in said base plate, the walls of said channel confining in slideable contact therebetween arcuate portions of said base plate and rotatable member adjacent the respective openings therein, and means for adjusting the spacing between said tabs, and to thereby control the angular displacement of said adjustable member, and an associated part when supported thereon, relative to both said base plate and any associated and adjacent shaft driven part.

Claim 6

An assembly for supporting and rotationally adjusting the position of a normally stationary part relative to an associated shaft driven part, said assembly comprising: a base plate securable to a stationary frame, and having a centrally located semi-circular opening which surmounts two shoulders formed therein, and further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of said opening and extending outwardly from one side surface of said base plate; an angularly adjustable member having a piece part supporting ledge formed as an integral part thereof, and having a major planar region with a semi-circular opening formed in a central area thereof, the openings in said adjustable member and base plate being dimensioned such that the arcuate edges thereof when aligned and juxtaposed, are substantially coextensive between the shoulders of said base plate, said adjustable member further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of the opening therein and extending outwardly from one side surface thereof so as to be in overlying and spaced relationship with respect to said tab of said base plate; a semi-circular bushing formed with an outer arcuate, U-shaped channel, said bushing being force-fit between said shoulders surmounted by the opening in said base plate, the walls of said channel confining in slideable contact therebetween arcuate portions of said base plate and rotatable member adjacent the respective openings therein, and means for adjusting the spacing between said tabs, and to thereby control the angular displacement of said adjustable member, and an associated part when supported thereon, relative to both said base plate and any associated and adjacent shaft driven part.

Claim 7

An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said base plate further includes an outwardly extending protuberance spaced from but centered above said semi-circular opening therein, and wherein said adjustable member has an oversized slot formed therein which is positioned above said opening to receive said base plate protuberance and, thereby, restrict the angular displacement of said adjustable member relative to said base plate.

Claim 8

An assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said bushing is made of plastic, and wherein said means for adjusting includes a threaded member extending through a tapped hole formed in the tab of said base plate, and further including a biasing spring connected between said base plate and adjustable member so as to continuously maintain the inner free end of said threaded member biased against the tab of said adjustable member.

Claim 9

An assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said protuberance comprises a threaded member secured within a threaded hole in said base plate, and having a head portion which slideably biases against the side of said adjustable member opposite said base plate.

Claim 10

An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said spring is secured at one end to an integral tab formed in the base plate and at the other end to an integral tab formed in the adjustable member, and wherein said base plate and adjustable member each has a cutaway portion extending and tapering outwardly from the associated semicircular opening therein to an outer edge thereof so as to allow the bushing mounted on said base plate to be positioned in a partially concentric, non-contacting manner relative to a rotatable shaft.

Claim 11

In a shaft position sensing assembly wherein an adjustable sensor is positioned adjacent a motoR shaft-mounted and driven encoder, the combination further comprising: a rotationally adjustable support mechanism, said mechanism including: a base plate securable to a shaft end of the housing of the motor, and having a centrally located semi-circular opening which surmounts two shoulders formed therein, and further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of said opening and extending outwardly from one side surface of said base plate; an angularly adjustable member having a sensor supporting ledge formed as an integral part thereof, and having a major planar region with a semi-circular opening formed in a central area thereof, the openings in said adjustable member and base plate being dimensioned such that the arcuate edges thereof when aligned and juxtaposed, are substantially coextensive between the shoulders of said base plate, said adjustable member further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of the opening therein and extending outwardly from one side surface thereof so as to be in overlying and spaced relationship with respect to said tab of said base plate; and means for adjusting the spacing between said tabs, to thereby control the angular displacement of said adjustable member, together with said sensor supported thereon, relative to both said base plate and adjacent shaft driven encoder, said adjusting means including a threaded member extending through a tapped hole formed in one of said tabs, and further including a biasing spring connected between said base plate and adjustable member so as to continuously maintain the inner free end of said threaded member biased against the other of said tabs.

Claim 12

In a shaft position sensing assembly wherein an adjustable sensor is positioned adjacent a motoR shaft-mounted and driven encoder, the combination further comprising: a rotationally adjustable support mechanism, said mechanism including: a base plate securable to a shaft end of the housing of the motor, and having a centrally located semi-circular opening which surmounts two shoulders formed therein, and further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of said opening and extending outwardly from one side surface of said base plate; an angularly adjustable member having a sensor supporting ledge formed as an integral part thereof, and having a major planar region with a semi-circular opening formed in a central area thereof, the openings in said adjustable member and base plate being dimensioned such that the arcuate edges thereof when aligned and juxtaposed, are substantially coextensive between the shoulders of said base plate, said adjustable member further having a tab formed therein, said tab being spaced to one side of the opening therein and extending outwardly from one side surface thereof so as to be in overlying and spaced relationship with respect to said tab of said base plate; and means for adjusting the spacing between said tabs, to thereby control the angular displacement of said adjustable member, together with said sensor supported thereon, relative to both said base plate and adjacent shaft driven encoder, said adjusting means including a threaded member extending through a tapped hole formed in one of said tabs, and further including a biasing spring connected between said base plate and adjustable member so as to continuously maintain the inner free end of said threaded member biased against the other of said tabs.

Claim 13

In a shaft position sensing assembly in accordance with claim 9, said base plate further including an outwardly extending protuberance spaced from but centered above said semi-circular opening therein, and said adjustable member further including an oversized slot formed therein which is positioned above said opening to receive said base plate protuberance and, thereby, restrict the angular displacement of said adjustable member relative to said base plate, and said base plate and adjustable member further being characterized by each having a cutaway portion extending and tapering outwardly from the associated semi-circular opening therein to an outer edge thereof so as to allow the bushing mounted on said base plate to be positioned in a partially concentric, non-contacting manner relative to the motor shaft.