Discussion of automatons (machines built to perform a sequence of actions automatically using mechanical) began in the Papercraft Automata topic on the CAD Library Forum.
Historically, automata were often built to imitate living things or to perform tasks like striking the hours on a clock. Advanced automata could be powered by wound springs or falling weights, but many simple automata also used hand-crank mechanisms.
The images below show a 3D Printed version of the papercraft automata presented in the prior topic. Like the papercraft model, this automata consists of an object being moved (the crane) and a mechanism that moves it. The mechanism is comprised of a box with built-in lever (in green), a cam that raises and lowers the lever (in red), and a shaft that turns the cam (in blue).
Assembled Automata
Automata Interior