A linear drive has at least one rack which is arranged along a longitudinal axis and has a plurality of teeth, a drive shaft arranged in a transverse axis transversely to the longitudinal axis, and at least two propulsion elements, each having at least one propulsion tooth. The at least two propulsion elements are linearly movable in a stroke axis which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis and transversely to the drive shaft. The at least two propulsion elements are drivingly coupled to the drive shaft in such a manner that the at least two propulsion elements perform at least one cyclical stroke movement in the course of one rotation of the drive shaft and enter and exit the at least one rack to generate a propulsion in the longitudinal axis. The at least two propulsion elements enter and exit the at least one rack with a phase shift.

A cam follower assembly for a can bodymaker includes a slider structured to be coupled to the proximal end of a ram body of the can bodymaker; and a plurality of cam follower members rotatably coupled to the slider. The cam follower members are structured to be operatively coupled to a cam of a ram drive assembly.

A force transmission mechanism for a surgical instrument includes a worm drive, a lever arm, and an actuation element. The lever arm may include a follower member at a first end of the lever arm. The follower member engages the worm drive and is configured to be driven by the worm drive. The actuation element is connected the lever arm. The actuation element is configured to transmit force to actuate an end effector of the surgical instrument. Rotational movement of the worm drive imparts translational movement to the actuation element via the lever arm.

A force transmission mechanism for a surgical instrument includes a worm drive, a lever arm, and an actuation element. The lever arm may include a follower member at a first end of the lever arm. The follower member engages the worm drive and is configured to be driven by the worm drive. The actuation element is connected the lever arm. The actuation element is configured to transmit force to actuate an end effector of the surgical instrument. Rotational movement of the worm drive imparts translational movement to the actuation element via the lever arm.

The present invention provides a lubrication device for coating a lubricant onto the outer circumferential surface of a bearing. A lubrication device comprises a housing and a lubrication member that is accommodated within the housing. A bearing crosses and passes through the lubrication member so that an outer circumferential surface of the bearing comes into contact with an inner surface of the lubrication member, and due to this configuration, it becomes possible for the lubricant to be coated onto the outer circumferential surface of the bearing.

A lever assembly (20) has a lever (24) mounted to a lever housing (22), a plunger (26), an auto-return housing (28) pivotable relative to the lever housing (22), a trigger mechanism (30) movable relative to the auto-return housing (28), and a yoke member (32) pivotable relative to the auto-return housing (22) independent of the auto-return housing. The trigger mechanism (30) is movable to an extended position in response to movement of the plunger (26) for engaging a cam element (12) of the steering column (10) for auto-return of the lever to a rest position. The yoke member (32) interacts with the plunger (26) when the plunger (26) pivots with the lever (24) to cause the yoke (32) to pivot toward an engaged position, and the yoke (32) interacts with the trigger mechanism (30) when the yoke (32) is pivoted to move the trigger mechanism (30) toward the extended position.

A lever assembly (20) has a lever (24) mounted to a lever housing (22), a plunger (26), an auto-return housing (28) pivotable relative to the lever housing (22), a trigger mechanism (30) movable relative to the auto-return housing (28), and a yoke member (32) pivotable relative to the auto-return housing (22) independent of the auto-return housing. The trigger mechanism (30) is movable to an extended position in response to movement of the plunger (26) for engaging a cam element (12) of the steering column (10) for auto-return of the lever to a rest position. The yoke member (32) interacts with the plunger (26) when the plunger (26) pivots with the lever (24) to cause the yoke (32) to pivot toward an engaged position, and the yoke (32) interacts with the trigger mechanism (30) when the yoke (32) is pivoted to move the trigger mechanism (30) toward the extended position.

A device for amplifying a force includes a prime mover configured to receive a first force, and a secondary mover configured to generate a second force that is greater than the first force in response to the prime mover receiving the first force. The prime mover includes an output that, in response to the first force, rotates about a first axis through a power stroke defined by an angular displacement that is less than ninety degrees. The prime mover's output includes a first end that revolves about the first axis during the power stroke. The secondary mover includes an input, an output, and a body. The input includes a second end that is coupled with the first end of the prime mover's output, and that, as the first end of the prime mover's output revolves about the first axis through the power stroke, the second end of the secondary mover's input also revolves about the first axis and moves relative to the secondary mover's body. The secondary's mover's output is configured to apply the second force to an object. The secondary mover's body is releasably and pivotally anchored at a position such that as the first end of the prime mover's output revolves about the first axis through the power stroke, the body of the secondary mover pivots about a second axis that passes through the position, and such that as the first end approaches the end of the power stroke, the first end of the prime mover's output accelerates, without an additional force applied to the prime mover's output.

A linear drive has at least one rack which is arranged along a longitudinal axis and has a plurality of teeth, a drive shaft arranged in a transverse axis transversely to the longitudinal axis, and at least two propulsion elements, each having at least one propulsion tooth. The at least two propulsion elements are linearly movable in a stroke axis which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis and transversely to the drive shaft. The at least two propulsion elements are drivingly coupled to the drive shaft in such a manner that the at least two propulsion elements perform at least one cyclical stroke movement in the course of one rotation of the drive shaft and enter and exit the at least one rack to generate a propulsion in the longitudinal axis. The at least two propulsion elements enter and exit the at least one rack with a phase shift.

A surgical instrument may comprise a chassis, a shaft coupled to the chassis at the proximal end of the shaft, an end effector coupled to the shaft at the distal end of the shaft, a force transmission mechanism coupled to the chassis, and an actuation element connected between a lever arm of the force transmission mechanism and the end effector. The force transmission mechanism includes a worm drive, and the lever arm comprising a first end and a follower member at the first end of the lever arm, wherein the follower member is engaged with the worm drive and is configured to be driven by the worm drive. Rotational movement of the worm drive imparts translational movement to the actuation element via the lever arm, and the lever arm slides along a generally linear direction relative to the chassis to impart the translational movement to the actuation element.