This design uses a swinging red driver arm to engage the spring-loaded slots of a green Geneva wheel. Each time the arm passes across one of the wheel’s openings, the small driver pin enters the slot, turns the wheel a fixed angle, then cleanly withdraws while the locking pins hold the wheel still until the next stroke.

Components — The green Geneva wheel features four radial slots and two spring-loaded locking pins mounted on its outer surface. The red driver arm pivots on a fixed shaft and carries a rounded driver pin at its end. A beige block anchors the arm and provides precise alignment so the driver pin meets each slot at the correct moment. Small springs on the locking pins ensure the wheel stays firmly held between indexing intervals.

How it works — The motion follows a simple and reliable cycle. As the red arm swings forward, its pin lines up with an approaching slot in the Geneva wheel and enters smoothly. Continued arm motion forces the wheel to rotate through one indexed step. Near the end of the stroke, the pin exits the slot, and the spring-loaded locking pins snap into place to stop the wheel from drifting. When the arm swings back, its pin passes between slots without touching them, keeping the wheel locked until the next active engagement.

Applications — Spring-loaded Geneva systems appear in film projectors, indexing tables, packaging equipment, and devices needing precise intermittent rotation. Their clean separation between motion and dwell makes them ideal for timing-critical tasks.

Why it matters — By adding spring-loaded locks, the design ensures crisp stops and eliminates backlash, improving accuracy and repeatability. The result is a compact, dependable way to turn continuous or oscillating input into sharply defined rotational steps.