ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18 -- United States Patent no. 12,473,963, issued on Nov. 18, was assigned to MURATA MANUFACTURING Co. LTD. (Nagaokakyo, Japan).
"Drive mechanism in particular for maytagging operation" was invented by Jaakko Ruohio (Helsinki).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A device includes multiple circular drive wheels rotationally connected, with two featuring drive pins. A drive motor, attached to one of these wheels, continuously rotates it, thereby rotating all connected wheels. The device has a driven wheel with two opposing radial slots that enable intermittent rotation around its axis as drive pins engage alternately, changing rotation direction in consecutive phases. The device...