DWELLING ON DESIGN.

Mechanisms in which continuous motion of the input link produces a periodic pause in the motion of the output link are called dwell mechanisms. Their applications in industry are numerous, especially in machine tools, packaging, textile machinery, process machines, and automation in general. Linkage-type dwell mechanisms provide approximate dwells. Exact dwells are not usually required and, because of manufacturing errors, backlash, and vibration, can rarely be attained. Compared with cams, linkages are less expensive to manufacture and maintain, and at high speeds they can be superior. A description is given of a Computer Program called Minn-Dwell which contains graphic building blocks from which designs for linkage-type dwell mechanisms can be assembled.