Apparatus for driving rod for rotation

Claim 1

An apparatus for driving rod for rotation comprising: a support member; a d.c. motor having a rotary shaft carried by the support member; a solenoid assembly carried by the support member and including a fixed core member, a plunger member, a spring member for urging the plunger member and an electrical coil which surrounds the fixed core member, the arrangement being such that the plunger member is driven to a first position against the resilience of the spring member when the electrical coil is energized and the plunger member is located at a second position which is spaced from the first position when the electrical coil is deenergized; output shaft means rotatably mounted in the support member; reduction gearing means interposed between the rotary shaft of the motor as an input shaft thereof and the output shaft means as an output rotating shaft thereof for providing a speed reduction of rotation of the d.c. motor before it is transmitted to the output shaft means; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on one of the rotating shafts of the reduction gearing and including projection means which abuts the plunger member in said first position and which does not abut against the plunger member in the said second position; lost motion coupling means for coupling the rotatable member to the rotating shaft in a manner to permit a rotation of the rotatable member within a given small angel while preventing a rotation of the rotatable member beyond the given angle; a first stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger member, and a second stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger; wherein said small angle is represented by α, an angle subtended with respect to the center of rotation of the projection means by a first point on the projection means where it abuts against the plunger member in its first position which is assumed as a result of its rotation in the first direction and a second point on the projection means where it abuts against the plunger member at its first position which is assumed as a result of rotation in the second direction by β, and an angle subtended by a pair of points on the plunger member which correspond to the first and the second point with respect to the center of rotation of the projection means by γ, α is substantially equal to (β+γ/2); and wherein said reduction gearing means comprises a small gear fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and a larger gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft means and meshing with the small gear, the larger gear being formed in its lower surface with an annular groove in which the rotatable member is rotatably mounted, and in which the support member comprises a base located above the small and the larger gear and carrying the d.c. motor and the solenoid assembly thereon and also rotatably carrying the output shaft means and having an opening through which the plunger member extends, the lost motion coupling means comprising a fan-shaped groove formed in the larger gear so as to be continuous with the annular groove, the projection means on the rotatable member engaging the fan-shaped groove which permits the projection means to rotate therein through the given small angle.

Claim 2

An apparatus for driving rod for rotation comprising: a support member; a d.c. motor having a rotary shaft carried by the support member; a solenoid assembly carried by the support member and including a fixed core member, a plunger member, a spring member for urging the plunger member and an electrical coil which surrounds the fixed core member, the arrangement being such that the plunger member is driven to a first position against the resilience of the spring member when the electrical coil is energized and the plunger member is located at a second position which is spaced from the first position when the electrical coil is deenergized; output shaft means rotatably mounted in the support member; reduction gearing means interposed between the rotary shaft of the motor as an input shaft thereof and the output shaft means as an output rotating shaft thereof for providing a speed reduction of rotation of the d.c. motor before it is transmitted to the output shaft means; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on one of the rotating shafts of the reduction gearing and including projection means which abuts the plunger member in said first position and which does not abut against the plunger member in the said second position; lost motion coupling means for coupling the rotatable member to the rotating shaft in a manner to permit a rotation of the rotatable member within a given small angel while preventing a rotation of the rotatable member beyond the given angle; a first stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger member, and a second stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger; wherein said small angle is represented by α, an angle subtended with respect to the center of rotation of the projection means by a first point on the projection means where it abuts against the plunger member in its first position which is assumed as a result of its rotation in the first direction and a second point on the projection means where it abuts against the plunger member at its first position which is assumed as a result of rotation in the second direction by β, and an angle subtended by a pair of points on the plunger member which correspond to the first and the second point with respect to the center of rotation of the projection means by γ, α is substantially equal to (β+γ/2); and wherein said reduction gearing means comprises a small gear fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and a larger gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft means and meshing with the small gear, the larger gear being formed in its lower surface with an annular groove in which the rotatable member is rotatably mounted, and in which the support member comprises a base located above the small and the larger gear and carrying the d.c. motor and the solenoid assembly thereon and also rotatably carrying the output shaft means and having an opening through which the plunger member extends, the lost motion coupling means comprising a fan-shaped groove formed in the larger gear so as to be continuous with the annular groove, the projection means on the rotatable member engaging the fan-shaped groove which permits the projection means to rotate therein through the given small angle.

Claim 6

An apparatus for driving rod for rotation comprising: a support member; a d.c. motor having a rotary shaft carried by the support member; including a fixed core member, a plunger member, a spring member for urging the plunger member and an electrical coil which surrounds the fixed core member, the arrangement being such that the plunger member is driven to a first position against the resilience of the spring member when the electrical coil is energized and the plunger member is located at a second position which is spaced from the first position when the electrical coil is deenergized; output shaft means rotatably mounted in the support member; reduction gearing means including a gear fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and another gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft means, the reduction gearing being interposed between the rotary shaft of the motor as an input shaft thereof and the output shaft means as an output rotating shaft thereof for providing a speed reduction of rotation of the d.c. motor before it is transmitted to the output shaft means; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on one of the rotating shafts of the reduction gearing and including projection means which does not abut the plunger member in one of its first and second positions and which abuts against the plunger member in the other of its first and second positions, said rotatable member with projection means being rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of said plunger; lost motion coupling means for coupling the rotatable member to the rotating shaft in a manner to permit a rotation of the rotatable member relative to said shaft through a given small angle α while preventing a rotation of the rotatable member subsequent to abutment of the projection means with the plunger member and the rotating shaft beyond the given angle; a first stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger member, and a second stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger; wherein said plunger member, said output shaft, said rotatable member and said rotary shaft have axes in parallel relationships thereto; and wherein the rotational speed of the rotatable member through said small angle α is approximately equal to the rotational speed of the rotatable member prior to the projection means abutting the plunger.

Claim 7

An apparatus for driving rod for rotation comprising: a support member; a d.c. motor having a rotary shaft carried by the support member; including a fixed core member, a plunger member, a spring member for urging the plunger member and an electrical coil which surrounds the fixed core member, the arrangement being such that the plunger member is driven to a first position against the resilience of the spring member when the electrical coil is energized and the plunger member is located at a second position which is spaced from the first position when the electrical coil is deenergized; output shaft means rotatably mounted in the support member; reduction gearing means including a gear fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and another gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft means, the reduction gearing being interposed between the rotary shaft of the motor as an input shaft thereof and the output shaft means as an output rotating shaft thereof for providing a speed reduction of rotation of the d.c. motor before it is transmitted to the output shaft means; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on one of the rotating shafts of the reduction gearing and including projection means which does not abut the plunger member in one of its first and second positions and which abuts against the plunger member in the other of its first and second positions, said rotatable member with projection means being rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of said plunger; lost motion coupling means for coupling the rotatable member to the rotating shaft in a manner to permit a rotation of the rotatable member relative to said shaft through a given small angle α while preventing a rotation of the rotatable member subsequent to abutment of the projection means with the plunger member and the rotating shaft beyond the given angle; a first stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger member, and a second stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger; wherein said plunger member, said output shaft, said rotatable member and said rotary shaft have axes in parallel relationships thereto; and wherein the rotational speed of the rotatable member through said small angle α is approximately equal to the rotational speed of the rotatable member prior to the projection means abutting the plunger.

Claim 12

An apparatus for driving rod for rotation comprising: a support member; a d.c. motor having a rotary shaft carried by the support member; a solenoid assembly carried by the support member and including a fixed core member, a plunger member, a spring member for urging the plunger member and an electrical coil which surrounds the fixed core member, the arrangement being such that the plunger member is driven to a first position against the resilience of the spring member when the electrical coil is energized and the plunger member is located at a second position which is spaced from the first position when the electrical coil is deenergized; output shaft means rotatably mounted in the support member; reduction gearing means including a gear fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and another gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft means, the reduction gearing being interposed between the rotary shaft of the motor as an input shaft thereof and the output shaft means as an output rotating shaft thereof for providing a speed reduction of rotation of the d.c. motor before it is transmitted to the output shaft means; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on one of the rotating shafts of the reduction gearing and including projection means which does not abut the plunger member in one of its first and second positions and which abuts against the plunger member in the other of its first and second positions, said rotatable member with projection means being rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of said plunger; lost motion coupling means for coupling the rotatable member to the rotating shaft in a manner to permit a rotation of the rotatable member relative to said shaft through a given small angle α while preventing a rotation of the rotatable member subsequent to abutment of the projection means with the plunger member and the rotating shaft beyond the given angle; a first stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger member, and a second stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger; and wherein said plunger member, said output shaft, said rotatable member and said rotary shaft have axes in parallel relationships thereto.

Claim 13

An apparatus for driving rod for rotation comprising: a support member; a d.c. motor having a rotary shaft carried by the support member; a solenoid assembly carried by the support member and including a fixed core member, a plunger member, a spring member for urging the plunger member and an electrical coil which surrounds the fixed core member, the arrangement being such that the plunger member is driven to a first position against the resilience of the spring member when the electrical coil is energized and the plunger member is located at a second position which is spaced from the first position when the electrical coil is deenergized; output shaft means rotatably mounted in the support member; reduction gearing means including a gear fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and another gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft means, the reduction gearing being interposed between the rotary shaft of the motor as an input shaft thereof and the output shaft means as an output rotating shaft thereof for providing a speed reduction of rotation of the d.c. motor before it is transmitted to the output shaft means; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on one of the rotating shafts of the reduction gearing and including projection means which does not abut the plunger member in one of its first and second positions and which abuts against the plunger member in the other of its first and second positions, said rotatable member with projection means being rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of said plunger; lost motion coupling means for coupling the rotatable member to the rotating shaft in a manner to permit a rotation of the rotatable member relative to said shaft through a given small angle α while preventing a rotation of the rotatable member subsequent to abutment of the projection means with the plunger member and the rotating shaft beyond the given angle; a first stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger member, and a second stop member for preventing a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction at an angle of rotation where the projection means has rotated through the given angle beyond the position of the plunger; and wherein said plunger member, said output shaft, said rotatable member and said rotary shaft have axes in parallel relationships thereto.