Cable drive focusing mechanism for optical instruments
First Claim
1. In a microscope having a stationary member and a member slidably mounted thereto for supporting thereon either a stage assembly or an optical head assembly, apparatus for moving said stage assembly or said optical head assembly relative to the stationary member, comprising:
- (a) a stationary first member;
(b) a movable second member mounted to said stationary first member for movement parallel to said first member;
(c) a shaft rotatably supported by said stationary first member;
(d) first means secured to said first member;
(e) second means secured to said second member; and
(f) drive means having opposite ends mounted to said first member, said drive means forming a closed loop which couples together said first means, said second means and said rotatable shaft whereby rotation of said rotatable shaft causes said drive means to move said second member parallel to said first member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adjusting mechanism for an optical instrument such as a microscope has a plurality of pulleys which are coupled together by a flexible, non-elastic cable. One of the pulleys is fixably rotated to a support member while the other pulleys are rotatably fixed to a movable member. The cable is further coupled to an adjusting shaft. Both ends of the cable are fixed to the support member. Rotation of the adjusting shaft takes up the cable on one side of the pulleys and pays out an exact and equal amount of cable on the opposite side of the pulleys. The pulleys fixed to the movable member are, consequently, moved a proportional amount. The movable member is displaced an exactly equal amount. The adjusting mechanism includes a counter balancing member which is adjustable to counteract the forces exerted upon the movable member.
19 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a microscope having a stationary member and a member slidably mounted thereto for supporting thereon either a stage assembly or an optical head assembly, apparatus for moving said stage assembly or said optical head assembly relative to the stationary member, comprising:
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(a) a stationary first member; (b) a movable second member mounted to said stationary first member for movement parallel to said first member; (c) a shaft rotatably supported by said stationary first member; (d) first means secured to said first member; (e) second means secured to said second member; and (f) drive means having opposite ends mounted to said first member, said drive means forming a closed loop which couples together said first means, said second means and said rotatable shaft whereby rotation of said rotatable shaft causes said drive means to move said second member parallel to said first member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a microscope having an adjusting shaft for moving a first member relative to a fixed second member, apparatus for applying torque to the adjusting shaft, comprising:
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a support member; a shaft rotatably supported by said support member; a resilient member mounted for cooperation with said rotatable shaft, said resilient member having one of its ends mounted to said support member and its other end mounted to said rotatable shaft for applying torque. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a microscope having a stationary member and a member slidably mounted thereto for supporting thereon either a stage assembly or an optical head assembly, apparatus for moving said stage assembly or said optical head assembly relative to the stationary member, comprising:
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(a) a first member; (b) a second member mounted to said first member for movement relative thereto; (c) a shaft rotatably supported by said first member; (d) first means rotatably fixed to said first member; (e) second means rotatably fixed to said second member; (f) drive means having opposite ends mounted to said first member, said drive means forming a closed loop which couples together said first means, said second means and said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft causes said drive means to move said second member relative to said first member; and (g) means cooperative with said shaft and said support member for applying torque to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification