Planocentric drive mechanism

Claim 2

A planocentric drive mechanism, comprising: (a) a rotating shaft having an axis of rotation; (b) a plurality of first pins disposed equally circumferentially spaced in a circle, said circle being centered about said axis of rotation, said pins being stationary with respect to first rotating shaft, said pins also being spaced radially apart from said rotating shaft; (c) an eccentric cam carried by said rotating shaft and disposed to rotate eccentrically about said axis of rotation, said cam being non-rotatable with respect to said rotating shaft; (d) a pinion gear rotatably carried by said eccentric cam, said pinion gear including: (i) a plurality of apertures formed through said pinion gear, each of said apertures having a respective one of said first pins disposed at least partially therein; and (ii) a plurality of cycloidal teeth disposed about the periphery of said pinion gear; and (e) an output shaft rotatably supported by said rotating shaft, said output shaft being concentric with and rotatable about said axis of rotation, said output shaft including a plurality of second pins extending from said output shaft, said second pins being disposed equally circumferentially spaced in a circle, said circle being centered about said axis of rotation, the number of said second pins being at least one more than the number of said cycloidal teeth, said second pins meshing with said cycloidal teeth.

Claim 3

A drive mechanism, comprising: (a) a rotating shaft having an axis of rotation; (b) a plurality of first pins disposed equally circumferentially spaced in a circle, said circle being centered about said axis of rotation, said pins being stationary with respect to rotating shaft, said pins also being spaced radially apart from said rotating shaft; (c) an eccentric cam carried by said rotating shaft and disposed to rotate eccentrically about said axis of rotation, said cam being non-rotatable with respect to said rotating shaft; (d) a pinion gear rotatably carried by said eccentric cam, said pinion gear including: (i) a plurality of apertures formed through said pinion gear, each of said apertures having a respective one of said first pins disposed at least partially therein; and (ii) a plurality of cycloidal teeth disposed about the periphery of said pinion gear; (e) an output shaft rotatably supported by said rotating shaft, said output shaft being concentric with and rotatable about said axis of rotation, said output shaft including a plurality of second pins extending from said output shaft, said second pins being disposed equally circumferentially spaced in a circle, said circle being centered about said axis of rotation, the numbered of said second pins being at least one more than the number of said cycloidal teeth, said second pins meshing with said cycloidal teeth; (f) a second eccentric cam formed integrally with said output shaft intermediate the two ends of said output shaft, said second eccentric cam being disposed to rotate eccentrically about said axis of rotation; and (g) a yoke having an axis of reciprocation, said yoke having first and second surfaces disposed substantially perpendicular to said axis of reciprocation in a spaced apart relation from each other, said first and second surfaces defining an open side recess therebetween, said open side recess having a thickness less than the thickness of said yoke, said open side recess being configured to receive said second eccentric cam, said second eccentric cam being disposed at least partially in said recess, said yoke also including a slot formed through said yoke parallel to said axis of reciprocation and in communication with said open side recess, said shaft being disposed through said slot.

Claim 4

A drive mechanism, comprising: (a) a rotating shaft having an axis of rotation; (b) a plurality of first pins disposed equally circumferentially spaced in a circle, said circle being centered about said axis of rotation, said pins being stationary with respect to rotating shaft, said pins also being spaced radially apart from said rotating shaft; (c) an eccentric cam carried by said rotating shaft and disposed to rotate eccentrically about said axis of rotation, said cam being non-rotatable with respect to said rotating shaft; (d) a pinion gear rotatably carried by said eccentric cam, said pinion gear including: (i) a plurality of apertures formed through said pinion gear, each of said apertures having a respective one of said first pins disposed at least partially therein; and (ii) a plurality of cycloidal teeth disposed about the periphery of said pinion gear; (e) an output shaft rotatably supported by said rotating shaft, said output shaft being concentric with and rotatable about said axis of rotation, said output shaft including a plurality of second pins extending from said output shaft, said second pins being disposed equally circumferentially spaced in a circle, said circle being centered about said axis of rotation, the numbered of said second pins being at least one more than the number of said cycloidal teeth, said second pins meshing with said cycloidal teeth; (f) a second eccentric cam formed integrally with said output shaft intermediate the two ends of said output shaft, said second eccentric cam being disposed to rotate eccentrically about said axis of rotation; and (g) a yoke having an axis of reciprocation, said yoke having first and second surfaces disposed substantially perpendicular to said axis of reciprocation in a spaced apart relation from each other, said first and second surfaces defining an open side recess therebetween, said open side recess having a thickness less than the thickness of said yoke, said open side recess being configured to receive said second eccentric cam, said second eccentric cam being disposed at least partially in said recess, said yoke also including a slot formed through said yoke parallel to said axis of reciprocation and in communication with said open side recess, said shaft being disposed through said slot.