Gear cutting – milling – or planing – Milling – Process
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-03
2001-02-13
Howell, Daniel W. (Department: 3722)
Gear cutting, milling, or planing
Milling
Process
C269S292000, C269S294000, C269S309000, C408S087000, C409S174000, C409S212000, C409S225000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186711
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of engraving. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for positioning a workpiece to be engraved in an engraving apparatus.
A problem in the field of engraving is the lack of skilled engravers available to perform engraving operations. This is particularly apparent in jewelry and variety stores, where customers often desire to purchase personally engraved items. To engrave an item with the currently available engraving equipment, the stores must have an employee available who is skilled in the art of engraving, including positioning the item for engraving and performing the actual engraving.
Positioning the item for engraving requires skill to ensure that the workpiece is aligned correctly under the engraver and that the workpiece is firmly clamped into place so that the workpiece will not move while it is being engraved. If the workpiece shifts during the engraving operation, the workpiece will likely be ruined and the operator would be forced to start over with a new workpiece. The experience required to gain workpiece positioning skill was typically learned by trial and error. Thus, experienced people are hard to find, and training new people is time-consuming and expensive.
There are vending machines that can automatically position and engrave a selected workpiece. Such vending machines require no engraving experience to operate. However, these machines have a large footprint, taking up much floor space and making them impractical to operate in small jewelry and variety stores. An engraving machine that is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and compact enough to fit on a table top would best fit the needs of the smaller stores.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for an engraving system that reduces the skill needed by an operator to engrave a workpiece and that is compact in size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an engraving system that substantially obviates one of more of the limitations and disadvantages of prior art engraving systems. The advantages and purposes of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages and purposes of the invention will be realized and attained by the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention is directed to an engraving system to position selected workpieces for engraving. The engraving system comprises an engraving table having a first positioning structure. A workpiece carrier is provided for each respective workpiece of a different configuration. Each workpiece carrier includes a second positioning structure that is engagable with the first positioning structure to position the workpiece in a predetermined position. An engraver is provided to engrave the workpiece positioned on the engraving table.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method of positioning a workpiece in an engraving system. The method includes the steps of securing the workpiece to be engraved into a workpiece carrier having a first positioning structure and then centering the workpiece in the engraving system by engaging the first positioning structure of the workpiece carrier with a second positioning structure in an engraving table.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
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Axxess Technologies, Inc.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Howell Daniel W.
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