Abstract: A ball screw assembly includes a guider, an open nut, open shields, a first circulator, a second circulator, and ball circulating assemblies. The open nut is slidably fitted over the guider and includes an axial cylinder having an axial opening. Inner spiral channels of the axial cylinder and spiral channels of the guider form inner ball races. The open shields are coaxially fitted over the axial cylinder. An inner peripheral wall of each of the open shields and an outer annular wall of the axial cylinder form an outer ball race. The first circulator and the second circulator are disposed on the axial cylinder corresponding to the open shields. The inner ball races, first curves of the first circulator, the outer ball races, and second curves of the second circulator form ball circulating races, and the ball circulating assemblies roll in the ball circulating races.

Abstract: A robot includes a gear device that has a first surface and a second surface which are in a tubular shape around an axis, are disposed inside and outside of each other, and repeatedly come into contact with and separate away from each other with operation of the gear device. The first surface has a first recessed portion and a first projection portion, which extend in a direction having a circumferential direction component around the axis and configure a first uneven pattern, by being alternately arranged in a direction along the axis. The second surface has a second recessed portion and a second projection portion, which extend in the direction having the circumferential direction component around the axis and configure a second uneven pattern that is different from the first uneven pattern, by being alternately arranged in the direction along the axis.

Abstract: Transmission, in particular for converting a rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the transmission into a linear movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis or vice versa, having a rod having a gearing, a gear tooth carrier, in which gear teeth are accommodated so they are radially movable for an engagement with the gearing, the rod and the gear tooth carrier being mounted rotationally fixed relative to one another.

Abstract: Rolling screw (1) comprising a first threaded male member (6), a second threaded member (3), means (5) that permit said second threaded member (3) to rotate freely in relation to the housing (2), as well as means (7) that permit to maintain fixed and constant the position of the axis of said first threaded member (6) in relation to the housing (2). Means of synchronization are also foreseen for the relative rotation between said first member (6) and said second member (3). Said screw is characterized in that at least one of the two threaded members presents a threading conformation such to permit the transmission of the rotation motion to another element without relative tangential sliding action.

Abstract: Rotational motion of a male screw member is converted to linear motion of a female screw member that is screw engaged with the male screw member, thereby causing movement of a rod member for clamping an object. When a load from the object becomes larger than a predetermined value, and exceeds the frictional force of a viscous material and a friction plate, the female screw member is gradually turned and clamping continues while movement of the rod member is decelerated.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically aligning the threads of a lead screw with the threads of a screw drive mechanism, the screw drive mechanism operating to translate the rotational motion of the lead screw into linear motion to expel the contents of a mounted syringe. The system comprises a driver position sensor for determining the position of the screw drive mechanism along the lead screw and a processor for receiving position signals from the driver position sensor, for determining a requisite rotation of the lead screw to ensure alignment of the two sets of threads, and for effectuating the requisite rotation of the lead screw to achieve that alignment. An automatic calibration routine is included that checks for variances in calibration of the system and if found, updates a conversion factor to restore accuracy. Various sensors are used to monitor the operation of components.

Abstract: Rolling screw (1) comprising a first threaded male member (6), a second threaded member (3), means (5) that permit said second threaded member (3) to rotate freely in relation to the housing (2), as well as means (7) that permit to maintain fixed and constant the position of the axis of said first threaded member (6) in relation to the housing (2). Means of synchronisation are also foreseen for the relative rotation between said first member (6) and said second member (3). Said screw is characterised in that at least one of the two threaded members presents a threading conformation such to permit the transmission of the rotation motion to another element without relative tangential sliding action.

Abstract: A mechanism for transforming a rotational movement into a linear movement, comprising a non-deformable nut, that is prevented from rotating but not from axially moving, a radially deformable tubular screw, having freedom of rotation but not of axial movement and having a pitch equal to that of the nut but of a slightly external smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the nut. A pushing device inside the screw, with the ability to rotate and to push against the internal wall surface of the screw at least at three circumferentially equidistant points so as to radially deform the screw wall outwards, until bringing the screw wall to rest against and screw into the nut at an equal number of points. The pushing device may be constituted of independent rolling elements like rolling bearings on a core on a support or may be a cam in contact with the screw or through rolling elements.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimally engineering a toroidal transmission having a desired input/output ratio to implement the desired ratio of the transmission while meeting the torque and efficiency requirements of the design. Nanoparticle technology is used to manufacture the stator walls to replace the cutting and milling procedures now in use. A novel Mitchell bearing sleeve and its particular hydrodynamic lubrication and cooling method are proposed herein, as well as the introduction of a novel, ultra smooth, amorphous non-oxidizing contact sleeve material used to form the contact sleeve of the drive rollers. A novel self-lubricating system is further provided that includes an oil reservoir disposed within an output shaft of the transmission.

Abstract: A leadscrew mechanical drive includes a leadscrew having a leadscrew axis and a leadscrew thread with a nonzero leadscrew thread pitch, and a leadscrew follower structure engaged to the leadscrew. The leadscrew follower structure includes a threaded insert having an insert thread with a nonzero insert thread pitch different from the leadscrew thread pitch, which is threadably engaged to the leadscrew. The leadscrew follower structure further includes a bearing in which the threaded insert is received and which permits the threaded insert to rotate about the insert axis, a bearing support in which the bearing is received, and a preload structure which biases the insert thread against the leadscrew thread.

Abstract: A leadscrew mechanical drive includes a leadscrew having a leadscrew axis and a leadscrew thread with a nonzero leadscrew thread pitch. A leadscrew follower structure is engaged to the leadscrew. The leadscrew follower structure includes a first leadscrew follower and, desirably, a second leadscrew follower. The first leadscrew follower and the second leadscrew follower are substantially identical, and each leadscrew follower includes a threaded insert having an insert thread with a nonzero insert thread pitch different from the leadscrew thread pitch. The insert thread is engaged to the leadscrew thread over a circumferential distance of less than one-half turn of the insert thread.

Abstract: A docking apparatus for printed circuit boards including a cassette housing defining a housing cavity for containing a printed circuit board (PCB) and a linkage mechanism associated with the cassette housing. The linkage mechanism includes a linkage arm pivotally connected to the cassette housing via a pivot and has a first arm pivotally connected to the PCB, a traveler having a threaded bore therethrough connected to a second arm extending from the first arm, a shaft threadedly engaged in the left handed threaded bore through the traveler at a first end defining the shaft, the first end configured to operably transfer axial translation of the shaft to the traveler, and an opposite second end defining the shaft threaded engaged in a right handed threaded bore through a split nut operably secured to the cassette housing.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimally engineering a toroidal transmission having a desired input/output ratio to implement the desired ratio of the transmission while meeting the torque and efficiency requirements of the design. Nanoparticle technology is used to manufacture the stator walls to replace the cutting and milling procedures now in use. A novel Mitchell bearing sleeve and its particular hydrodynamic lubrication and cooling method are proposed herein, as well as the introduction of a novel, ultra smooth, amorphous non-oxidizing contact sleeve material used to form the contact sleeve of the drive rollers. A novel self-lubricating system is further provided that includes an oil reservoir disposed within an output shaft of the transmission.

Abstract: A leadscrew mechanical drive includes a leadscrew having a leadscrew axis and a leadscrew thread with a nonzero leadscrew thread pitch. A leadscrew follower structure preferably having two leadscrew followers is engaged to the leadscrew. Each leadscrew follower includes a threaded insert having an insert thread with a nonzero insert thread pitch different front the leadscrew thread pitch. The insert thread is engaged to the leadscrew thread over a circumferential distance of less than one-half turn of the insert thread. Each leadscrew follower further includes a bearing in which the threaded insert is received and which permits the threaded insert to rotate about an insert axis that is inclined to the leadscrew axis by an angle ? for the first leadscrew follower and ?? for the second leadscrew follower, and a bearing support in which the bearing is received. A preload structure biases each of the leadscrew followers against the leadscrew.

Abstract: A displacement unit for at least one element to be displaced is provided comprising a drive unit, a transfer element that is caused to move by the drive unit and that comprises a thread or a tooth set, and an engagement element, which engages into the thread or tooth set of the transfer element and is thus driven by the motion of the transfer element, and by whose motion the displaced element is moved. The engagement element is configured elastically, in such a way that it deforms elastically upon contact by the displaced element against a stop or obstacle.

Abstract: An anti-backlash nut is assembled on a reinforced lead screw for bilateral motion lengthwise of the lead screw as the screw is rotated. A hollow, elongate reinforcing rail extends lengthwise of and surrounds the lead screw. A slot in the rail extends lengthwise of the central axis of the lead screw. The anti-backlash nut comprises two separate portions, each portion having a tongue which extends radially through the slot and has threads engageable with the threads of the lead screw for moving both nut portions in reciprocating motion lengthwise of the rail when the screw is rotated. Spring means are employed for forcing the nut portions apart to urge the flanges of their threads into forcible engagement with the threads of the lead screw to prevent backlash, while the anti-backlash nut translates laterally along the reinforcing rail.