Patent ID: 8079459

Claim:
A transporter for moving a payload along a linear path, comprising: a stationary base; a first arm assembly including a first gear coupled to the stationary base, an idler gear that meshes with the first gear, and a second gear that meshes with the idler gear, the first and second gear including parallel axes and a gear ratio of the first gear to the second gear being 2:1; a driver for rotating the first arm assembly around the axis of the first gear; a second arm assembly rigidly coupled to the second gear such that rotation of the second gear rotates the second arm assembly around the axis of the second gear, the second arm assembly including a third axis that is parallel to the axes of the first and second gears wherein a distance between the first gear axis and the second gear axis is a same distance as a distance between the second gear axis and the third axis; and a payload engager disposed at the third axis, for engaging and disengaging the payload.