Mechanisms

Reciprocating Rectilinear Motion

How it works:  Reciprocating motion is a repetitive motion including gears that convert rotational motion to linear motion.  A pin is connected to a revolving disk in an "arm."  While the disk rotates, the pin rotates the arm which in turn is connected to a gear.  The gear is aligned with more teeth on a bar.  The rotating disk and arm produces a repetitive motion fostering the reciprocating motion.

Every time I see this mechanism in motion, I am awed by the rotation of the disk and how that translates to the bar at the bottom.  Rotational motion is converted to linear motion through a pin and an arm slot.  No matter how many times the disk rotates and the bar moves, the height from the center of the disk to the gear does not change.