COUNTERBALANCE AND DRIVE SYSTEM FOR MACHINE SLIDE MECHANISM
First Claim
1. A counterbalance and drive system for a machine slide mechanism comprising:
- a machine mount supporting a vertically displaceable slide mechanism and a counterweight;
a counterbalance system including a first flexible connector suspended from the machine mount and interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight so that a gravitational force acting on the slide mechanism is at least partially opposed by a gravitational force acting on the counterweight;
a drive system including a second flexible connector suspended from the machine mount and interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight, the drive system including;
a drive motor operatively engaged along a length of the second flexible connector for vertically displacing the slide mechanism; and
a compliant connector operating within a limited range of compliance imparts a regulated amount of tension along at least a portion of the length of the second flexible connector between the engagement of the drive motor and the counterweight.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A counterbalance and drive system for a machine slide mechanism includes a counterbalance system having a first flexible connector suspended from a machine mount and interconnecting a slide mechanism and a counterweight and a drive system having a second flexible connector suspended from the machine mount and interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight. The drive system includes both a drive motor operatively engaged along a length of the second flexible connector for vertically displacing the slide mechanism and a compliant connector operating within a limited range of compliance that imparts a regulated amount of tension along at least a portion of the length of the second flexible connector between the engagement of the drive motor and the counterweight.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A counterbalance and drive system for a machine slide mechanism comprising:
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a machine mount supporting a vertically displaceable slide mechanism and a counterweight; a counterbalance system including a first flexible connector suspended from the machine mount and interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight so that a gravitational force acting on the slide mechanism is at least partially opposed by a gravitational force acting on the counterweight; a drive system including a second flexible connector suspended from the machine mount and interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight, the drive system including; a drive motor operatively engaged along a length of the second flexible connector for vertically displacing the slide mechanism; and a compliant connector operating within a limited range of compliance imparts a regulated amount of tension along at least a portion of the length of the second flexible connector between the engagement of the drive motor and the counterweight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A counterbalance and drive system for a machine slide mechanism comprising:
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a machine mount supporting a vertically displaceable slide mechanism and a counterweight; a first flexible connector suspended from the machine mount interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight for forming a counterbalance such that a gravitational force acting on the slide mechanism is at least partially opposed by a gravitational force acting on the counterweight through a transmission of a first amount of tension by the first flexible connector between the slide mechanism and the counterweight; a second flexible connector suspended from the machine mount interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight; a drive motor operatively engaged along a length of the second flexible connector for vertically displacing the slide mechanism; a tensioner that imparts a second lesser amount of tension along a portion of the second flexible connector between the engagement of the drive motor and the counterweight to maintain the engagement between the drive motor and the second flexible connector. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification