I get what you're saying but I still don't see how that would work.
I'm thinking swingarm eccentric as a comparison where the axle is the steering stem and the swingarm is the triple. In that scenario, the triple (swingarm) moves sideways and back and forward in relation to the steering stem (axle).
This is busting my head!

Maybe I'm just having a stupid day!!!
I've attached the parts pic, hopefully somebody can make sense of it!