What Are Drive Mechanism Components?
Drive specifically refers to the motion of rotating a motor and transmitting it as power to rotate a conveyor.
In addition to rotation, it can also convert rotational motion into linear motion and vice versa. A familiar example is the automobile. The rotation of the engine of an automobile is transmitted to gears to rotate the tires and convert them into forward or backward motion, which is also driving.
In this article, the drive mechanism is referred to as the drive mechanism and the parts that drive it are referred to as the drive components.
Types of Driving Components
Since the nature of the drive mechanism varies greatly depending on the different drive components, we will first introduce some typical drive components.
1. Belt
A belt is a component that transmits power using frictional force. Types of belts include flat belts, which are often used for conveyors and other transportation, timing belts, which excel in positioning accuracy, and V-belts, which are suitable for high-speed rotation.
2. Gears
Gears are parts that transmit power by meshing teeth made up of peaks and troughs. Types of gears include spur gears with parallel teeth cut into a cylinder, racks with teeth cut into a bar-shaped object, and bevel gears with teeth cut at an angle like an umbrella.
3. Cam
There are plate cams, in which a disk with a mixture of curves is attached to a rotating shaft, and cylindrical cams, in which a groove is cut in a cylinder.
Types of Drive Mechanisms
The following types of drive mechanisms are available:
1. Belt Mechanism (Chain Mechanism)
This mechanism uses a belt (or chain) to transmit rotation and change the speed or torque to make another rotation. It is used to rotate a cutting tool or shaft, or to transport objects.
2. Gear Mechanism
This mechanism uses gears to transmit rotation, change the speed or torque by changing the gear ratio of the gears, change the direction of rotation by using bevel gears, or convert rotational motion to linear motion by using racks.
3. Cam Mechanism
A cam mechanism transmits rotation and converts it into reciprocating or oscillating motion, or conversely converts reciprocating motion into rotational motion.
In an automobile engine, the reciprocating motion of the piston caused by the explosion of gasoline is transmitted to the crankshaft, which is a cam shaft, and converted into rotational motion.