| 摘要 |
<p>SHUTTLE TABLE DRIVE MECHANISM A shuttle table drive mechanism utilizing a plurality of interleaved overlapping chain strands. The shuttle table structure includes a fixed frame, a longitudinally extending intermediate stage having first and second spaced ends slidingly coupled to the fixed frame and arranged for linear movement in a first plane and a longitudinally extending load carrying upper table having first and second spaced ends slidingly coupled to the intermediate stage and arranged for linear movement in a second plane which is parallel to the first plane. A pair of sprocket assemblies are attached to the fixed frame near the first and second ends of the intermediate stage. The drive chain mechanism includes 2N+1 chain strands coupled between the frame and the intermediate stage. One end of each of N+1 of the chain strands are connected near the first end of the intermediate stage and one end of the remaining N chain strands are connected near the second end of the intermediate stage. Each of the N+1 and N chain strands is positioned about the distant sprocket assembly and the remaining ends of the N+1 chain strands and the N chain strands are connected together by a coupler or transition stage. The transition stage is formed by the interleaved overlapping of the N and N+1 chain strands, a plurality of spacing members and a plurality of pins, one extending transversely through each link of the 2N+1 chain strands and the spacing members, thereby maintaining each of the strands and the spacing members longitudinally stationary relative to one another. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernable only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.</p> |
