The document discusses a quick return mechanism, which converts rotary motion into reciprocating motion at different rates for the working and return strokes. It is commonly used in machine tools to improve productivity by making the return stroke faster than the working stroke. The mechanism consists of a driving crank and driven slider crank, where the fixed pivot of the driven crank is located outside the circle traced by the driving crank, resulting in alternating motion of the slider crank. Joseph Whitworth developed an early version of this mechanism around 1840 to increase the speed of shaping machines. It allows the return stroke of the cutting tool to be faster than the working stroke to reduce idle time.