Importance

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Abstract

A drive mechanism for imparting intermittent movement to an output member. The drive mechanism includes a rotatable input member which operates through a crank to move a beam with oscillatory or reciprocating movement. The beam is interconnected with a one-way overrunning clutch associated with the output member so that oscillatory movement of the beam is transmitted to the clutch. The clutch is designed such that rotation of the clutch in a first direction will cause the clutch to engage the output member to rotate the output member, while the clutch is freely rotatable with respect to the output member in a second direction. A resilient member, such as a compression spring, interconnects one end of the beam and the clutch and if the output member encounters an excessive load, oscillation of the beam in the first direction will compress the spring to provide overload protection for the drive. A second overrunning clutch can also be associated with the output member and is fixed against rotation. The second clutch permits rotation of the output member in the first direction, but prevents rotation in the second or reverse direction to thereby prevent back driving of the output member due to torsional feedback during the return stroke of the first clutch.

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First Claim