Patent ID: 12194499

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS.1and2, a vibrating apparatus10includes a housing for containing a mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The housing includes a cover60for covering a base62to provide a space for containing the mechanism. The cover60is movable up and down relative to the base62.

The mechanism includes a motor11, two axles17and20, and four rods30. The motor11and the axles17and20are supported on the base62. Each of the rods30includes a lower end pivotally connected to the axle17or20and an upper end pivotally connected to the cover60. The motor11is operable to rotate the axles17and20to move the rods30to move the cover60up and down relative to the base62.

The axles17and20are parallel to each other. The axle17is supported on the base62by two bearings18. The axle20is supported on the base62by two bearings16. The bearings16are like the bearings18.

The axles17and20are identical to each other. Referring toFIG.3, only the axle20will be described in detail. The axle20includes two borne sections22and27respectively supported by bearings16so that the axle20is allowed to spin relative to the base62.

The motor11includes a mandrel12. A pulley13is connected to the mandrel12. A pulley14is connected to the axle20. A belt15extends around the pulleys13and14. Thus, the motor11is operable to rotate the axle20. Preferably, the motor11is located between the axles20and17. However, in another embodiment, the motor11can be in another location relative to the axles20and17.

To prevent rotation of the pulley14relative to the axle20, a keyed joint is used. The keyed joint includes a key52formed with a portion fitted in a slit23in the axle20(FIG.3) and another portion fitted in a slit (not numbered) in the pulley14.

To prevent translation of the pulley14along the axle20, two clips (not shown) can be located on two opposite sides of the pulley14. Each of the clips includes an internal portion fitted in a groove24(FIG.3) in the axle20and an external portion in contact with the pulley14.

A composite wheel40is connected to the axle20. A composite wheel50is connected to the axle17. A timing belt46and a multi-ridged belt48extend around the composite wheels40and50to allow synchronous rotation of the axles17and20.

Referring toFIG.4, the composite wheel40includes a timing pulley41, a multi-ridged pulley44and a separating element43formed between the timing pulley41and the multi-ridged pulley44. The timing pulley41includes valleys42in the periphery. The multi-ridged pulley44includes annular ridges45in the periphery.

The composite wheel50includes a timing pulley51and a multi-ridged pulley53and a separating element (not numbered) formed between the timing pulley51and the multi-ridged pulley53. The timing pulley51includes valleys (not numbered) in the periphery. The multi-ridged pulley53includes annular ridges (not numbered) in the periphery. That is, the composite wheel50is identical to the composite wheel40.

The timing belt46includes teeth47for insertion in the valleys of the timing pulleys41and51when the timing belt46is wound around the timing pulleys41and51. Referring toFIG.6, there is preferably a tension-adjusting unit54located on the base62to adjust the tension in the timing belt46. The tension-adjusting unit54includes an idle pulley55in contact with the timing belt46.

The multi-ridged belt48includes ridges49in contact with the annular ridges of the multi-ridged pulleys44and53when the multi-ridged belt48is wound around the multi-ridged pulleys44and53. Referring toFIG.7, there is preferably a tension-adjusting unit56located on the base62to adjust the tension in the multi-ridged belt48. The tension-adjusting unit56includes an idle pulley57in contact with the multi-ridged belt48.

To prevent rotation of the composite wheel40relative to the axle20, a portion of a key52is fitted in a slit26in the axle20(FIG.3) and another portion of the key52is fitted in a slit (not numbered) in the composite wheel40.

Similarly, the composite wheel50is prevented from rotation relative to the axle17.

To prevent translation of the composite wheel40along the axle20, two clips33are located on two opposite sides of the composite wheel40. Each of the clips33includes an internal portion fitted in a groove25(FIG.3) in the axle20and an external portion in contact with the composite wheel40.

Similarly, the composite wheel50is prevented from translation along to the axle17.

Referring toFIGS.2,3and8through10, the axle20further includes two eccentric sections21and28respectively extending from the borne sections22and27. The axle20extends about a primary axis63except for that the eccentric sections21and28extend about a secondary axis64parallel to the primary axis63.

Similarly, the axle17includes two eccentric sections.

Each of the rods30includes a collar31at a lower end and a pivot34at an upper end. The collar31of each of the rods30receives one of the eccentric sections of one of the axles17and20via a bearing32. The collars31are kept in position axially by clips33. Each of the pivots34is inserted in one of the bearings61.

The motor11is operable to rotate the axle20via the pulleys13and14and the driving belt15. The axle20rotates the axle17via the wheels40and50and the timing belts46and the multi-ridged belts48. The eccentric sections of the axles20and17move the collar31of the rods30up and down so that the rods30move the cover60up and down relative to the base62.

Referring toFIG.8, there is an angle θ1between a vertical line and a line passing the primary axis63and the secondary axis64. The axles20and17are lifting the rods30. A load W is working against the torque provided by the motor11for the rotation of the axles20and17.

Referring toFIG.9, the vertical line coincides with the line that passes the primary axis63and the secondary axis64. The rods30are at their apex.

Referring toFIG.10, there is an angle θ2between the vertical line and the line that passes the primary axis63and the secondary axis64. The axles20and17are lowering the rods30. The load W is working with the torque provided by the motor11for the rotation of the axles20and17.

Obviously, the upward movement of the cover60relative to the base62is slower the downward movement of the cover60relative to the base62. The difference in the speed of the movement of the cover60relative to the base62makes a user feel uncomfortable. Advantageously, the friction between the annular ridges of the multi-ridged pulleys44and53and the ridges of the multi-ridged belts48minimizes the difference in the speed of the movement of the cover60relative to the base62. Thus, the uncomfortable feeling of the user is suppressed. Moreover, the contact of the annular ridges of the multi-ridged pulleys44and53with the ridges of the multi-ridged belts48suppresses undesirable movement of the wheels40and50along the axles20and17, thereby reducing resultant nose.

The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.