Dental tool driving apparatus having rotating and roto-reciprocating motions
First Claim
1. Manually deployable tool apparatus for driving a tool implement with rotating motion about a first axis combined with axial reciprocation of adjustable stroke length, said apparatus comprisingA. means forming a manually deployable housing,B. output shaft means mounted with said housing for rotation about and reciprocation along said first axis,(i) said output shaft means having opposed first and second ends,(ii) said first end being arranged for removably and replaceably mounting a tool implement,C. input means mounted with said housing for driven rotation and engaged with said output shaft means for rotating said output shaft means about said first axis,D. cam means drivingly engaged with said output shaft means for imparting to said output shaft means axial movement in a first direction during driven rotation of said output shaft, andE. cam follower means mounted with said housing and including a cam engaging surface for selective adjustable engagement with said cam means for moving said cam means to impart said axial movement and to adjust said stroke length.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A manually deployable power tool for dental treatment and other uses drives an output shaft with continuous rotary motion, combined with selected axial reciprocation of adjustable stroke length. The drive mechanism for imparting this combined motion to the output shaft has a single rotary input drive coupled with an adjustable cam mechanism. The cam mechanism produces the reciprocating motion in response to the driven rotation of the output shaft. The tool drive mechanism has a high degree of axial symmetry, and is arranged to facilitate the delivery of liquid material to the output, tool-carrying end of the output shaft.
140 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Manually deployable tool apparatus for driving a tool implement with rotating motion about a first axis combined with axial reciprocation of adjustable stroke length, said apparatus comprising
A. means forming a manually deployable housing, B. output shaft means mounted with said housing for rotation about and reciprocation along said first axis, (i) said output shaft means having opposed first and second ends, (ii) said first end being arranged for removably and replaceably mounting a tool implement, C. input means mounted with said housing for driven rotation and engaged with said output shaft means for rotating said output shaft means about said first axis, D. cam means drivingly engaged with said output shaft means for imparting to said output shaft means axial movement in a first direction during driven rotation of said output shaft, and E. cam follower means mounted with said housing and including a cam engaging surface for selective adjustable engagement with said cam means for moving said cam means to impart said axial movement and to adjust said stroke length.
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19. Cam apparatus for imparting movement along a first axis, said apparatus comprising
A. cam follower means for acting radially relative to said axis, B. cam means rotatable about said first axis relative to said follower means and having a camming surface for sliding engagement with said follower means, said camming surface having progressively different bevels, relative to a plane transverse to said first axis, at progressively different radial positions, and C. means mounting said cam means relative to said follower means for rotation about said first axis and for camming displacement along said first axis, so that engagement of said camming surface with said follower means deflects said cam means along said first axis by different offsets as said cam means rotates.
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24. A method for driving a shaft with rotation about an axis concurrent with and axial oscillation of varying stroke-length, said method comprising the steps of
A. rotating a shaft about the shaft axis, B. providing a camming surface on one end of said shaft, (i) said camming surface having a circumference with a bevel edge disposed at a fixed angle relative to said shaft axis, (ii) said bevel edge being off-center from the center of said shaft, such that the intersection of construction lines is offset from the center of said shaft where such construction lines contact and not intersect said camming surface and are spaced circumferentially thereabout and that are oriented at a first angel relative to said shaft axis, C. abuttingly engaging said beveled edge of said camming surface with a cam engaging surface that does not rotate with said shaft, said cam engaging surface having a selected beveled edge, and D. resiliently biasing said shaft axially toward said cam engaging surface, E. so that engagement of said cam engaging surface with said camming surface axially deflects said shaft against said resilient bias, with the stroke length of said axial deflection being determined by the position of said cam engaging surface radially relative to said shaft axis.
Specification