Abstract: A gear mechanism containing a clutch assembly made of an outer member with an offset hub, a wrap spring, a pin wherein the rotation of the pin around the offset hub is less than one revolution. A protrusion on a stop at a fixed location is used to dislodge the wrap spring such that it is incapable of transferring torque to the pin. With the spring dislodged, the pin ceases rotation as the hub continues to rotate. Once the power source reverses the rotation, the spring engages the pin which causes the spring to tighten around the hub. The tightening of the spring causes the spring to transmit torque and consequently move the pin away from the stop. In applications where, in one direction, a rotation of less than one revolution is acceptable, the use of a fixed protrusion to dislodge the spring allows the full torque of the driving member to drive the mechanism in either rotational direction.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for selectively setting up or interrupting the delivery of a drive force in accordance with a direction and an amount of rotation of a shaft is disclosed. The mechanism includes a clutch gear rotated by the rotation of a motor. A slide cam is supported by a clutch shaft in such a manner as to be unrotatable relative to the shaft. Ratchet portions respectively provided on the clutch gear and slide cam are selectively coupled or uncoupled in accordance with the direction of rotation, thereby setting up or interrupting drive transmission. A cam portion is formed integrally with the slide cam and releases the ratchet portions when a pin is brought to a preselected position on a cam surface. A cam lever selectively moves the pin toward or away from the cam surface in accordance with the direction of rotation of the clutch gear. The drive source can be shared by a driveline for rotating a shaft to a preselected angular position and other drivelines.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated clutch having an integrated sensor activated control circuit for selectively engaging and disengaging the clutch.

Abstract: A solenoid for controlling the engagement and disengagement of a wrap spring clutch includes an electromagnetic coil having a core member disposed adjacent one axial end thereof. An armature is provided within the electromagnetic coil for selective axial movement in response to the energization and deenergization of the electromagnetic coil. The armature is connected to an actuator for the wrap spring clutch such that movement of the armature controls the engagement and disengagement thereof. The core member and the armature are both formed from relatively soft, magnetically permeable materials. A flux breaker is disposed within the electromagnetic coil between one axial end of the armature and the core member. The flux breaker is formed from a relatively hard, non-magnetically permeable material, such as stainless steel. The flux breaker prevents the armature from contacting the core member when attracted thereto by energization of the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: The assembly tool comprising an electrically operated clutch assembly and achieves rapid termination of energy throughput to provide accurate torque delivery for fastener tightening and similar applications. The clutch assembly includes a pair of equal diameter, axially aligned input and output hubs having a wrap-spring disposed thereabout. One end of the wrap-spring is coupled to the input hub and the other is coupled to a control annulus disposed concentrically and freely rotatably about the output hub. An electromagnet also concentrically disposed about the output hub is activated to couple the control annulus to the output hub. A resulting drag on the wrap-spring tightens it about the output hub and power is transmitted. Deactivation of the electromagnet provides rapid release of the wrap-spring and termination of power throughput. A one way (overrunning) clutch couples the hubs when power is applied in the opposite direction to, for example, facilitate removal of fasteners.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a movable member, the apparatus comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft and a clutch for engaging and disengaging the driving shaft and the driven shaft. The circumferential surface of a cam fixed around the driven shaft has such a specified angle of an arc whose center is the axis of the driven shaft that the movable member is prevented from shifting the position due to inertia rotation of the cam and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A spring clutch for limiting lost motion during release is provided. The spring clutch includes a shaft, a helically wound coaxially mounted spring for making frictional contact with the shaft, and means, such as a tang element, for selectively applying a loosing force to at least one end of the spring for rotation thereof with respect to the shaft. The inventive spring clutch further includes means for urging the spring toward the shaft when the spring is rotatably loosened. As a result, radial movement of the spring away from the shaft is substantially prevented. The urging means may be retained by a housing coaxially mounted about the shaft and may be chosen from a boss or an auxiliary spring. Preferably, the urging means is located at about 90 degrees along the outer radial surface of the shaft from the end of the spring at which the tang element is located.

Abstract: A method of, and a device for, controlling the rotation of an element about an axis are disclosed. A continuous torque is exerted on the element to rotate it in one direction, and a control member engages with one end of a wrap spring, which extends around a cylindrical part of the element, to preclude rotation of the element when the control member is in a first position. When the control member is out of the first position, the wrap spring loosens about the cylindrical element, thereby allowing the element to rotate under the continuous torque. However, rotation of the element under the continuous torque indirectly causes the control member to return to the first position, thus preclouding further rotation of the element.

Abstract: A locking arrangement is disclosed for a machine, such as a postage meter, which includes a rotatable member (12) which rotates when the machine performs an operating cycle and a mechanical or electromechanical register (22; 20) for being incremented or decremented in response to operation of the machine. The arrangement includes a clutch (24) arranged between a fixed structure or member (28) and the rotatable member (12) the clutch being operable to engage or release said fixed structure or member. Means (60; 78) are associated with the registers (22; 20) for actuating the clutch to prevent rotation of the rotatable member (12) when the register displays a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electromagnetically controlled spring clutch mechanism comprising a first boss member rotatable as a unit with an input rotating element, a second boss member rotatable as a unit with an output rotating element, a coil spring fitted over and across the first and second boss members, a rotation control member for hampering contraction of the coil spring, a movable member, a magnet for biasing the movable member magnetically toward the rotation control member, and an electromagnet for magnetically attracting the movable member away from the rotation control member. When the electromagnet is energized, the movable member moves away from the rotation control member to permit contraction of the coil spring member, and the contraction of the coil spring effects a driving connection between the first and second boss members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the life of a control or drive spring in a wrap spring clutch. The tang of the control spring fits into a control slot of a control collar which rotates when the clutch is actuated. When the clutch is actuated, the control spring "wraps down" on both a rotating input member and the output shaft of the clutch to transfer the rotary motion of the input member to the output shaft. An elastomeric sleeve which is dimensioned to provide an interference fit between the tang and control slot of the control member is positioned on the tang and inserted in the control slot to remove any looseness or play between the tang and the control slot and thereby extend the life of the control spring and clutch.

Abstract: A slip clutch assembly includes a mandrel having a spring wound on a portion thereof. The spring effects torque transfer and, when further rotation is impaired, unwinds about the mandrel to prevent excessive torque transfer. Even after torque transfer is removed the driven element is securely positioned by the spring force.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic spring-wound clutch, an input rotary member is concentrically and rotatably fitted on an output rotary member having an annular enlarged portion, with its axial boss disposed adjacent the above annular enlarged portion. A coil spring is wound around the axial boss and the annular enlarged portion for gripping engagement with at least the former, with its one end engaged by the output rotary member and its other end by a sleeve concentrically and rotatably supported on the input and output rotary members. An armature is disposed for axial tilting about its one edge supported by a stationary member. Responsive to extinction of electromagnetic force caused by deenergization of a magnetic coil, the armature is axially tilted by the force of a spring into engagement with the sleeve to hold same from rotating.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bi-directional clutch, particularly useful in window shade applications. The bi-directional clutch includes a first or core member and an unwrap spring, that is, a spring having an inside diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the core, the spring being wound around the core. The unwrap spring has a number of helical turns and spring tangs which extend outwardly past the circumference of the spring and generally perpendicular to the axis of the spring. The spring is controlled by a second, control or driving member which, when rotated, applies force to one or the other of the spring tangs to unwrap or loosen the spring, thereby allowing the spring to rotate relative to the core. As the spring rotates, one of the spring tangs abuts a third or driven member. The third or driven member is rotated by the spring, allowing the third member to rotate relative to the first or core member.

Abstract: A spring clutch device includes a driving side clutch shell, a driven side clutch shell opposed to and coaxial with the driving side clutch shell, a clutch spring disposed in a tight manner over the two clutch shells, a stop member disposed coaxially with the clutch shells and engaged with one end of the clutch spring to control the action of the clutch spring, and a control member for acting on the stop member, there are formed projections on the circumference of the stop member, in an axially and circumferentially staggered relationship, and the control member is selectively displaceable to positions corresponding to the projections for engagement and disengagement with the projections, thereby controlling ON-OFF of the clutch.

Abstract: The control collar of a helical spring clutch is defined in part by a series of rings having radially projecting stop lugs which coact with an interposer. The rings may be adjusted angularly relative to one another to cause the lugs to effect successive disengagements of the clutch as the output member of the clutch is rotated through a selectively adjustable number of steps of selectively adjustable angular length.

Abstract: The normally engaged spring clutch assembly has a helical spring in interference fit with driving and driven clutch drums to transmit rotation from one clutch drum to the other. A control sleeve surrounds and is in close spaced relation to the spring. Each of the opposite end portions of the spring are engageable with the sleeve so that, in the engaged condition of operation, the sleeve rotates with the spring and, in the disengaged condition of operation when rotation of the control sleeve is arrested, the spring is caused to release its grip on a clutch drum. The disengagement of the spring clutch assembly is achieved whichever clutch drum is the driving clutch drum.In another embodiment, the spring is so formed that, upon disengagement by arresting rotation of the control sleeve, a portion of the spring engages the control sleeve to stop the overrun of the driven clutch drum.

Abstract: A clutch assembly which provides selective output drive especially adapted for use in incrementally driving a platen and tape reader mechanism for use in printers. An output gear is freewheelingly mounted upon the clutch assembly driven shaft and is mechanically linked to a free wheeling cam through a helical spring wound tightly about the driven shaft. The free wheeling cam is provided with at least one notch for selective engagement by a pivotally mounted solenoid actuated latch. When the latch is disengaged from the free wheeling cam, the spring is rotated by the driven shaft and imparts its rotation to both the output gear and the cam. Upon actuation of the solenoid, the latch member engages the free wheeling cam member to restrain it from rotation, causing the helical spring to unwrap itself (i.e., loosen) about the shaft and stop the output gear from rotating.

Abstract: An armature winding machine having an indexing mechanism for indexing the armature. The indexing mechanism includes an indexing clutch driven by an electric motor. A gear drive connects the clutch to the holding structure for the armature. The indexing clutch has a control collar that is selectively engaged with a plurality of pawls operable to stop the control collar at predetermined precise rotational positions. The positions of the pawls relative to the control collar are individually adjustable on a support providing for selective adjustment of the indexing positions of the clutch.