QUICK RELEASE PLATE

A mounting system having a plate with a tail portion and a base with a socket portion. The socket includes a dropping gate which recedes into a compartment in the base when the plate is vertically inserted on the base. The base includes a stop which engages a catch on the plate to prevent the plate from being laterally removed from the base. 1. A mounting system comprising:a plate having a tail;a base having a socket, said socket defined by a first tapered side and a second tapered side, said first tapered side defined as a dropping gate which is movable between an extended position and a recessed position, said recessed position defined as said dropping gate nested within a compartment formed in said base, said tail forming a dovetailed-fit in said socket; anda tab extending from one end of said dropping gate, said tab for facilitating movement of said dropping gate to said recessed position.2. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein depressing said tab moves said dropping gate laterally relative said base as said dropping gate moves to said recessed position.3. The mounting system of claim 1 , and a clamp arm extending from said base claim 1 , said clamp arm movable between an opened and a closed position.4. The mounting system of claim 3 , wherein said clamp arm shields said tab when said clamp arm is in said closed position.5. The mounting system of claim 1 , and a bore formed in said base claim 1 ,a fastener having a head extending from said dropping gate, said head carried in said bore, wherein contact between said head and said bore prevents said dropping gate from advancing away from said base beyond said extended position.6. The mounting system of claim 1 , and a channel formed in a top surface of said base.7. The mounting system of claim 6 , and a boss extending from a bottom surface of said plate.8. The mounting system of claim 7 , wherein contact between said boss and said channel limits the distance of lateral travel of said plate relative said base. ...

MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM

A motion control system is provided where a rotatable driven gear is held by bearings. The bearings are held inside a rotatable cam, where the cam has eccentricity between the outside and inside diameter. The outside diameter is held in a case that contains a driving gear. The backlash of the system is controlled by rotating the cam, which adjusts the center to center distance between the driving and driven gear. 1. A motion control system for precise and repeatable rotation of an external device , comprising: a rotatable driven gear having driven gear teeth around an outside diameter, a central axis about which said driven gear may rotate, said driven gear teeth affixed to said gear,', 'a rotatable cam, having an inside diameter with a first axis, an outside diameter with a second axis, said driven gear being rotatably held within said inside diameter of said rotatable cam so that said driven gear is rotatable with respect to said rotatable cam, said first axis coaxial with said central axis of said gear, said first axis eccentrically offset from said second axis;, 'a gearset, having;'} a gearset bore with a central axis, said gearset bore rotatably engaging said outside diameter of said cam so that said cam may rotate with respect to said case along its second axis;', 'a driving gear, said driving gear having a central axis and gear teeth adapted to interface said driven gear teeth, said driving gear being rotatable with respect to said case about its central axis, and said driving gear fixed from lateral movement with respect to said case, whereby rotating said cam with respect to said case shifts a relative distance between said central axis of said driving gear and said central axis of said gearset bore., 'a case, having;'}2. The motion control system of claim 1 , said driven gear having an upper portion of said outside diameter and a lower portion of said outside diameter claim 1 , said upper portion of said outer diameter being separated from said lower ...

PANNING SLIDER

A rotating and sliding device is provided with a linear rail and a guide rail. A carriage with a rotating table travels along the linear rail. A second pivot point on the table is attached to an arm that travels along the guide rail. When the guide rail is askew from the linear rail, the linkage between the arm and the table causes the table to rotate as the device slides along the linear rail. 1. A panning slider comprising:a set of parallel rails, a carriage slidably affixed to said rails;a table, rotatable with respect to said carriage about a first pivot point on said carriage;an elongate guide member separately located from said rails and selectively fixed from movement with respect to said rails, said guide member having a first position substantially parallel to said rails and movable to a second position skewed with respect to said rails; anda linkage, slidably affixed to said elongate guide member and pivotally affixed to said table at a second pivot point, said first and second pivot points being spaced apart on said table, whereby lateral movement of said carriage along said rails causes said linkage to rotate said table with respect to said carriage when said elongate guide member is held in its skewed position with respect to said rails.2. The panning slider according to claim 1 , a drive pulley claim 1 , a slave pulley claim 1 , and a belt claim 1 , said belt wrapped around said drive pulley and slave pulley claim 1 , said carriage affixed to a portion of said belt located between said drive pulley and said slave pulley such that when said drive pulley is rotated claim 1 , said carriage moves laterally along said rails.3. The panning slider according to claim 2 , said slave pulley including a brake.4. The panning slider according to claim 3 , said linkage comprising a linear bearing slidingly engaged with said guide member and an arm affixed to and extending from said linear bearing.5. The panning slider according to claim 1 , said elongate guide ...

Panning slider

A rotating and sliding device is provided with a linear rail and a guide rail. A carriage with a rotating table travels along the linear rail. A second pivot point on the table is attached to an arm that travels along the guide rail. When the guide rail is askew from the linear rail, the linkage between the arm and the table causes the table to rotate as the device slides along the linear rail.

Quick-release plate

A mounting system (10) having a plate (12) with a tail portion (36) and a base (14) with a socket portion (18). The socket includes a dropping gate (70) which recedes into a compartment (72) in the base when the plate is vertically inserted on the base. The base includes a stop (158) which engages a catch (50) on the plate to prevent the plate from being laterally removed from the base.

Camera mount