Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Collocating
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-09
2004-11-23
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Collocating
C033S645000, C033S706000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06820348
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting tool for attaching a measuring device to a machine tool. In particular, the present invention regards a mounting tool for attaching a linear encoder to a machine tool.
2. Discussion of Related Art
It is well known to retrofit one or more axes of existing, manually operated machine tools with linear encoders. The linear encoders generate position dependent output signals so that the machine tools can be operated as numerically controlled machines.
An example of a system for retrofitting manually operated machine tools with linear encoders is the bracket kit sold by Acu-Rite of Jamestown, N.Y. under Model No. 385072-17. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the system
100
includes a linear encoder
102
for attachment to the longitudinal axis
104
of the machine tool
106
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, a reading head
108
is placed adjacent to the bottom of the scale case
110
that contains the linear encoder
102
. The reading head
108
is moved so that an alignment mark
112
is aligned with an alignment mark
114
positioned on the scale case
110
. Once alignment is achieved, a reading head bracket
116
is attached to the reading head
108
via screws
118
as shown in FIG.
3
.
Once the reading head bracket
116
is attached to the reading head
108
, the table
120
of the machine tool
106
is positioned at its center of travel. In addition, the linear encoder
102
is centered against the table
120
and the reading head bracket
116
is centered against the saddle
122
of the machine tool
106
as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
.
At this stage, one of the mounting holes
124
of the linear encoder
102
is marked to the back side of the table
120
as shown in FIG.
5
. The linear encoder
102
is removed and a hole is drilled at the marked location. After the hole has been drilled, one end of the linear encoder
102
is attached to the table
120
by inserting a screw into both a mounting hole
124
and the drilled hole. The linear encoder
102
is realigned and the other mounting hole
124
is marked. Again, the linear encoder
102
is moved and a hole is drilled at the marked location. The linear encoder
102
is realigned and a screw is inserted through the other mounting hole and the recently drilled hole resulting in the attachment of the linear encoder
102
to the table
120
.
At this stage, a center support
121
is attached to the table
120
. This attachment is accomplished by placing the center support
121
on top of the scale case
138
at the center of the linear encoder
102
. After the scale case
138
is centered, the location of the center support
121
is marked via a transfer punch. The center support
121
is removed and the scale case
138
is covered so that the marked location of the center support is drilled to form a hole. The center support
121
is then replaced and a screw is inserted into the center support
121
and the drilled hole to attach the center support to the table as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
. At this stage, the reading bracket is attached to the saddle
122
via screws
119
.
The process for attaching a second linear encoder
126
to the cross-feed installation of the machine tool
106
is even more complicated than that discussed above for linear encoder
102
. The end result of the process is for the linear encoder
126
to be attached to the knee
146
of the machine tool
106
via a spar
130
that is attached to the knee
146
via screws as shown in FIG.
6
.
The initial part of the attachment process involves moving the reading head
136
along the bottom portion of a scale case
138
that contains the linear encoder
126
until alignment marks
139
and
140
are aligned with one another. An L-shaped reading head bracket
134
with attached mounting block
132
is later attached to the reading head
136
via screws
142
as shown in
FIGS. 8 and 10
. Once the reading head bracket
134
is attached to the reading head
136
, the saddle
144
and attached gib
128
are moved to their center of travel. At this position, the linear encoder
126
is centered against the knee
146
of the machine tool
106
and the mounting block
132
is positioned to the side of the gib
128
. Next, both of the mounting holes
148
of the mounting block
132
are marked to the side of the gib
128
as shown in FIG.
8
. After marking is complete, the linear encoder
126
, mounting block
132
and reading head bracket
136
are removed so that holes are formed at the marked positions.
After the holes are formed, the linear encoder
126
is inserted into the spar
130
as shown in FIG.
9
. The mounting block
132
is then attached to the gib
128
by inserting screws through the mounting holes
148
and the holes formed in the gib
128
as shown in FIG.
10
. At this stage, a pair of lines is scribed on the knee
146
marking the top and end of the spar
130
. The mounting block
132
and the linear encoder
126
are then removed from the saddle.
The spar
130
is then removed from the linear encoder
126
and positioned adjacent to the scribed lines on the knee
146
. At this position, the mounting hole
150
nearest the scribed lines is marked to the knee
146
. The spar
130
is removed and a hole is drilled at the marked location.
After the hole has been drilled, one end of the spar
130
is attached to the knee
146
by inserting a screw into both a mounting hole
150
and the drilled hole. The spar
130
is attached with a pair,of leveling blocks
151
to the knee
146
via set screws. The spar
130
is then realigned and the other mounting hole
150
is marked. Again, the spar
130
is moved and a hole is drilled at the marked location. The spar
130
is realigned and a screw is inserted through the other mounting hole
150
and the recently drilled hole resulting in the attachment of the spar
130
to the knee
146
.
After the spar
130
is attached to the knee
146
, the linear encoder
126
, without mounting block
132
attached thereto, is inserted into the spar
130
and attached thereto via set screws as shown in FIG.
11
. The mounting block
132
, with reading head bracket
136
attached thereto, is then attached to the gib
128
via screws and is not attached to the linear encoder
126
.
In each of the above-described processes, it is necessary to attach and remove the linear encoder and the linear encoder components a number of times to mark and form holes for attachment of the linear encoder. Accordingly, the process of attaching linear encoders to one or more of the machine axes can be a time consuming process.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the mounting procedure for linear encoders that are used to retrofit one or more axes of a manually operated machine tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention regards a mounting tool that includes a base extending along a first direction that is parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the base and a height gage attached to the base. The height gage includes a first leg attached to the base and extending along a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction and a second leg attached to the first leg and comprising a support portion extending along a third direction that is not parallel to the second direction.
A second aspect of the present invention regards a method of mounting a position measuring device to a machine tool that includes positioning a template adjacent to the machine tool, wherein the template has a plurality of holes that correspond to mounting holes of a position measuring device and the template is distinct from the position measuring device. The method further includes forming holes in the machine tool based on positions of the plurality of holes, aligning the mounting holes of the position measuring device with the holes formed in the machine tool and attaching the position measuring device to the machine tool.
Each aspect of the present invention provides the advantage of improving the mounting procedure for measurement
Acu-Rite Inc.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Cohen Amy R
Fulton Christopher W.
LandOfFree
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