THE EFFECTS OF A COMPLIANT WORKPIECE ON THE INPUT-OUTPUT CHARACTERISTICS OF RIGID-LINK TOGGLE MECHANISMS

The introduction of compliance to the workpiece of rigid-link toggle mechanism results in interesting mechanism input/output characteristics. As a flexible workpiece deflects, when acted upon by the mechanism output force, there is a change in the orientation of the rigid links, causing a variation in the mechanism mechanical advantage and output force. Under such conditions, there exists a peak input force required to cause the mechanism to reach its toggle position. This peak force, termed the ''characteristic compliance peak force,'' occurs when the input link is positioned at its ''characteristic input angle.'' These phenomena are discussed and illustrated herein.