A Hybrid Orbitless gearbox combines the high speed capabilities of an Orbitless first stage with the high ratio of a Coupled Orbitless second stage. The two stages share a common set of carriers and offset members for high compactness and simplicity. A Coupled Orbitless second stage may also function on its own. Its all-pinion design supports a variety of engaging members that include gears, chains, sprockets, belts, cables and pulleys, among others. Stepped engaging members further amplify the reduction ratio and variable pitch diameter engaging members provide an infinitely variable transmission ratio.

A Hybrid Orbitless gearbox combines the high speed capabilities of an Orbitless first stage with the high ratio of a Coupled Orbitless second stage. The two stages share a common set of carriers and offset members for high compactness and simplicity. A Coupled Orbitless second stage may also function on its own. Its all-pinion design supports a variety of engaging members that include gears, chains, sprockets, belts, cables and pulleys, among others. Stepped engaging members further amplify the reduction ratio and variable pitch diameter engaging members provide an infinitely variable transmission ratio.

An example braking system is described including a support structure which is pivotable about a first axis and a braking mechanism including a gear engagement mechanism which is fixed with respect to the first axis. The gear engagement mechanism may have a first and a second toothed portion, a first gear wheel rotatable about a second axis, and a second gear wheel rotatable about a third axis. The first gear may be connected to a first damping mechanism to damp pivoting of the support structure in a first direction when the first gear wheel is engaged with the first toothed portion. The second gear wheel may be connected to a second damping mechanism to damp pivoting of the support structure in a second direction when the second gear wheel is engaged with the second toothed portion. A print target holder system and a printer system are also described.

Methods and apparatus, comprising a housing, a first plurality of gears positioned within the housing, a second plurality of gears positioned within the housing, and a plurality of wheels positioned externally of the housing, are usable for rotating cylindrical objects. Each gear of the second plurality of gears is engaged with two gears of the first plurality of gears, and the housing is adapted to contain gear lubricating fluid therein. The plurality of wheels is connected with the first plurality of gears, and each wheel, of the plurality of wheels, has a diameter that is larger than a height of the housing. The plurality of wheels rotates one or more cylindrical objects positioned thereon.

Methods and apparatus, comprising a housing, a first plurality of gears positioned within the housing, a second plurality of gears positioned within the housing, and a plurality of wheels positioned externally of the housing, are usable for rotating cylindrical objects. Each gear of the second plurality of gears is engaged with two gears of the first plurality of gears, and the housing is adapted to contain gear lubricating fluid therein. The plurality of wheels is connected with the first plurality of gears, and each wheel, of the plurality of wheels, has a diameter that is larger than a height of the housing. The plurality of wheels rotates one or more cylindrical objects positioned thereon.

A motor actuator includes a housing, and a plurality of output mechanisms accommodated in the housing. The housing includes a fastening unit that fastens a first case and a second case. Each of the plurality of output mechanisms includes a motor and a plurality of deceleration gears. The motor is supported by the housing. A final state deceleration gear is rotatably supported by the housing. The fastening unit is arranged in a first fastening unit formation range. The first fastening unit formation range is a range formed by connecting contours of a plurality of motors and contours of a plurality of final state deceleration gears, and is a range that surrounds the plurality of motors and the plurality of final stage deceleration gears.

A motor actuator includes a housing, and a plurality of output mechanisms accommodated in the housing. The housing includes a fastening unit that fastens a first case and a second case. Each of the plurality of output mechanisms includes a motor and a plurality of deceleration gears. The motor is supported by the housing. A final state deceleration gear is rotatably supported by the housing. The fastening unit is arranged in a first fastening unit formation range. The first fastening unit formation range is a range formed by connecting contours of a plurality of motors and contours of a plurality of final state deceleration gears, and is a range that surrounds the plurality of motors and the plurality of final stage deceleration gears.

A gardening tool includes a motor, a working assembly for performing a function of the gardening tool, and a transmission system for causing the motor to drive the working assembly. The transmission system includes a first clutch member, a movable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position, a bias member for biasing the movable member to the first position, and a second clutch member configured to rotate with the first clutch member when the movable member is biased to the first position and to rotate relative to the first clutch member when the movable member is located at the second position.

A gardening tool includes a motor, a working assembly for performing a function of the gardening tool, and a transmission system for causing the motor to drive the working assembly. The transmission system includes a first clutch member, a movable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position, a bias member for biasing the movable member to the first position, and a second clutch member configured to rotate with the first clutch member when the movable member is biased to the first position and to rotate relative to the first clutch member when the movable member is located at the second position.

For a gear train GL including a drive gear 33 and an idler gear 34 engaged with each other and a lock gear 35, provided are a first drive means 3A configured to linearly drive the lock gear 35 in forward and backward directions, a second drive means 3B configured to rotationally drive the drive gear 33 in normal and reverse directions, and a controller C configured to control the both drive means 3A and 3B. The controller C starts driving the lock gear 35 at the time of an unlocking operation, from an engagement position toward the disengagement position through the first drive means 3A, and when the drive is started, the controller C drives the drive gear 33 into one of normal and reverse directions and into the other direction through the second drive means 3B with a polarity reversal in a predetermined cycles T1 and T2.