STEPPING GEARING

An intermittent or stepping drive has a first rotatable member (20), which is driven by a driving shaft (12), in engaging relationship with a second rotatable member (30) from which a driven shaft (22) is driven whereby a continuous rotation of the first rotatable member (20) is converted into an intermittent rotation of the second rotatable member (30). One of the two rotatable members (20,30) is connected to the associated shaft (12,22) by a clutch (40) which is associated with a retaining member (50) that exerts thereon a retaining force (E) acting in an engagement sense. One of the shafts (12,22) is associated with a control device (60) which controls the retaining force (E) depending upon the angular position of rotation of the shaft. The control is suitable for the actual applications of the stepping drive of the type in which the clutch in each drive phase transmits a moment that is just as large as the sum of the acceleration moment, the useful moment and the friction moment, which occur in the respective driving phases when the drive is not disturbed. If this sum should be exceeded by a disturbing moment, the clutch permits a relative rotation of the rotatable member in question with respect to the associated shaft as well as when the disturbing moment is small in relation to said sum of the moments.