Patent ID: 7581460

Claim:
A drive assembly comprising: reciprocating drive means which in one direction of its reciprocating movement from a rest position is in engagement with part of a rotational hub to drive the hub angularly in one direction to a position where latch means retain the hub against movement in a direction opposite to that in which the hub is driven, the drive means upon its reciprocating movement in the other direction returning to said rest position, whereupon when its reciprocating cycle repeats, the reciprocating drive means again drives the previously driven and latched hub angularly in said one direction to a position where the hub is retained by said latch, so that continuous such reciprocation of the drive means effects rotation of the hub and thus drive thereat, wherein the drive means includes two opposed, parallel drive ram assemblies which extend and retract in unison to effect drive of said hub angularly in said one direction and are connected to respective diametrically opposed portions of an outer drive plate, wherein the hub has rotatable therewith an inner drive plate around at least a portion of which is said outer drive plate, wherein the periphery of the inner drive plate is formed with a series of locations for engagement consecutively with said drive means to move the inner drive plate angularly upon each reciprocation of the drive means, wherein each location around the periphery of the inner drive plate is provided with a drive pin, and wherein each location provides an outer surface over which a drive arm of the drive means, released from its engagement with said drive pin, rides against its bias, when the outer drive plate is angularly moved by the drive means returning to its rest position.