A simple and precise indexing device

           The drawn cup roller clutch is a one-way clutch that is comprised of thin-walled drawn outer rings (with a series of ramps on the inside diameter), plastic cages, springs and needle rollers. It can transmit torque in one direction and is radially compact. The drawn cup roller clutch gives a very precise indexing motion, since individual spring retention of each needle roller ensures constant contact amongst the shaft, the needle rollers and the clamping surfaces. It allows high indexing frequencies due to its low mass. It also has a low free-wheeling frictional torque. The actuating device is usually a double action air cylinder or a reciprocating mechanism. The roller clutch is usually mounted between the indexing shaft and the indexing base. The indexing shaft has a built-in lever (when it has small dimensions). The built-in lever length and the cylinder stroke are controlling the indexing angle, so when selecting a larger stroke, the indexing angle is increased. The small sizes of the roller clutches are permitting the creation of very compact and small -in terms of size- designs, and the most important is that they are standard parts with high manufacturing quality.
The drawn cup roller clutches apart of indexing elements can be used as well in a wide variety of applications, for example as back-stopping clutches or overrunning clutches. The drawn cup roller clutch also fulfils the overrunning or holding function.