Cam mechanism

Abstract

A cam mechanism through which torque applied to an input shaft is converted into the bi-directional rotation and reciprocating axial movement of an output shaft. Two cam elements are utilized, one consisting of a roller gear cam attached to the input shaft, and the other of a recessed channel type cam formed on one side of the roller gear cam. Two power transfer mechanisms are also utilized, one consisting of a turret installed adjacently to the roller gear cam as means of imparting a rotational movement to the output shaft, and the other consisting of a reciprocating swing arm of which one end is driven by the channel type cam. The turret is connected to the output shaft through a sliding spline that allows the output shaft to move axially within the turret, by means of a movable connection with the reciprocating swing arm, while being rotationally driven by the splined connection. A slider part is adjacently installed to the output shaft in the same axial direction, and is used to connect the output shaft to the reciprocating swing arm through a moving joint provided between one end of the slider and output shaft, and a moving joint between the other end of the slider and the end of the reciprocating swing arm. The reciprocating swinging action of the swing arm end is thus converted into a reciprocating axial movement of the slider and output shaft. The use of a slider allows the range of swing of the swing arm to be adjusted by simply installing a slider of different dimensions.