Reciprocating device

• US 4,378,705 A
• Filed: 08/19/1980
• Issued: 04/05/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tokico Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tokico Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oka, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Staab, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US06/179,530
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 74/37, 74/89.2, 74/89.21, 74/89.22
• US Class Current: 74/37
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/041 with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0473 with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18152 Belt or chain carried member

Abstract

A reciprocating device comprises an endless member such as a chain or a belt having a forward and a backward side spans and driven to circulate in one direction, a reciprocating member guided substantially parallel to both the forward and backward side spans of the endless member, engaging mechanism provided on the reciprocating member which selectively engages with the forward or the backward side span of the endless member, and a changeover mechanism for switching the engaging mechanism from either one of the forward or backward side span of the endless chain to the other at the preselected limit position of the reciprocation movement range of the reciprocating member. The reciprocating member moves according to the movements of the forward side span of the endless chain upon engagement of the engaging mechanism to the forward side span of the endless chain, and moves respectively when engaged with the backward side span of the endless chain. The reciprocating movement range of the reciprocating member is determined by the changeover timing of the changeover mechanism.

Claims

1. A reciprocating device comprising:

an endless member such as a chain or belt having a forward side span and a backward side span, and moving in circulation;

driving means for driving said endless member along only one direction;

a reciprocating member freely movable for reciprocation, said reciprocating member comprising a first movable member and a second movable member, said second movable member being unitarily movable with said first movable member and also separately and relatively movable with respect to said first movable member;

guide means for guiding said reciprocating member substantially parallel along said forward side span and backward side span of said endless member, said guide means guiding said first movable member;

engaging means consisting of a sprocket wheel rotatably provided on said reciprocating member, for selectively engaging with either said forward side span or backward side span of said endless member, said sprocket wheel having a projection and being provided with teeth throughout a predetermined angular range, said reciprocating member moving to one side according to the movement of said endless member upon engagement of said endless member with said forward side span of said endless member, and moving to the other side upon engagement of said engaging means with said backward side span of said endless member;

changeover means for changing over the engagement of said engaging means from either one side span of said endless member to the other side span of said endless member, at predetermined reciprocating movement range limit positions of said reciprocating member, said changeover means having locking and releasing means for locking said sprocket wheel in a non-rotatable state and releasing the locking with respect to said sprocket wheel; and

stopping means for stopping the movement of said first movable member at the predetermined reciprocating movement range limit positions of said reciprocating member, said stopping means being arranged and provided in a manner such that the stopping operation of said stopping means and the lock releasing operation of said locking and releasing means are performed simultaneously,

said stopping means comprising means which moves unitarily with said first movable member and stops the movement of said first movable member by engaging with said guide means in an immovable manner at the reciprocating movement range limit positions of said reciprocating member,

said second movable member having an elongated opening with said projection of said sprocket wheel inserted therethrough, said elongated opening extending in a direction perpendicular to said forward and backward side spans of said endless member, said second movable member moving relatively with respect to said first movable member during rotation of said sprocket wheel due to the engagement between said projection and said elongated opening,

said sprocket wheel engaging to either said forward side span or backward side span in a non-rotatable state when said sprocket wheel is locked, to move unitarily with said reciprocating member in accordance with the movement of said endless member, and being rotated by the movement of said endless member when the lock with respect to said sprocket wheel is released to engage with the other side span of said endless member from either said forward side span or backward side span of said endless member,

said locking and releasing means having first and second locking means for locking said projection of said sprocket wheel in a state where said sprocket wheel is fixedly engaged with either one of said forward side span or backward side span of said endless member, and means for respectively releasing the locking operation of said first and second locking means at said predetermined reciprocating movement range limit positions of said reciprocating member at both said forward and backward side spans of said endless member.

2. A reciprocating device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

converting means for converting the displacement of said reciprocating member to a reduced scale; and

first and second limit switches provided at positions relative to the reciprocating movement range limits, said first and second locking means being released by the actuation of said first and second limit switches.