Geometrical instruments – Scriber
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-10
2001-04-10
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Scriber
C033S0010MP
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212784
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of measuring apparatus, and more particularly to a novel coordinate measuring equipment employing a programmable position and actuating means for locating a scribe with respect to critically and strategically placing the scribe in a particular angular or in-dash line position with respect to a work surface.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been the conventional practice to scribe layout lines on a work surface for either whole location or for trimming purposes. Sometimes the work surface is of a three-dimensional, volummetric configuration such as a sphere, cube or cone, as well as a flat surface. In either measuring across the work surface or for whole location purposes, a scribe is normally trained across the work surface in accordance with optical viewing equipment in order to obtain accuracy of location and measurement. Sometimes the location is determined by operator eye coordination which is less efficient and inaccurate. When employing electronic positioning equipment, it is not always possible to arrange for angular or special positioning of the scribe so that a variety of work curved surfaces can be accommodated. Also, difficulties have been encountered when using conventional machines which stem largely from the fact that small incremented steps or joggles are difficult if not impossible for conventional measuring machines to achieve accurate measurement. The difficulties are derived from the fact that the small steps are point-to-point measurements and it is difficult to measure or locate specific points on irregular surfaces.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a coordinated measuring equipment which is programmable and which is a time-saving process not requiring manual inspection or manual location of scribe points. Such equipment should incorporate the advantages of employing a fully articulated scribe which makes optically measurement or remanufacture possible of component parts so that accuracy of attachment areas in the aerospace and automotive fields are achieved. Thus, assembly time will be increased while adding structural integrity as well as accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the novel three-dimensional robotic scribing system of the present invention avoids the above-noted problems by providing a programmable system that employs a driver computer control that is programmed via a personal computer having a keyboard input. The contoller sends programmed signals to a three-dimensional coordinator circuit which generates X, Y and Z drive signals representing left, right and height positions of a scribe which is in alignment with the surface of a workpiece. Between the three-dimensional coordinate circuit and the scribe is an electronic to mechanical conversion means taking the form of a machine piston which converts the electrical X, Y and Z programmed instructions to a servo and trigger network interfaced with the scribe. Also, an angle position driver directly couples, in parallel, the driver computer control and the three-dimensional coordinating circuit with the servo and trigger network. Therefore, by programming the instructions into the system, the scribe can follow or coordinate with the workpiece surface whether it is flat, curved or irregular.
In one form, the scribe itself may include a housing with a reciprocating shaft having a conical pointed end. The shaft is spring-loaded within the housing so as to normally outwardly project from one end of the housing into contact with the workpiece surface. Also, the housing may be clamped by one of several means to the machine ram or piston taking its instructions from the three-dimensional coordinating circuit via the servo and trigger network. Means are employed on the housing, in one version of the scribe, for articulating the scribe shaft into an angular position so as to be more definitely related to the workpiece surface.
Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel coordinated measuring apparatus for use in measurement scribing which eliminates time-consuming manual inspection processes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a measuring apparatus which is adapted to measure or follow patterns on a work surface whether it is irregular or regular even if the pattern is represented by small steps or joggles or is a continuous linear line or the like whereby accuracy of measurement is increased so as to result in a decrease in assembly time in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Still a further object resides in providing a measuring apparatus which employs a fully articulated scribe for measuring a pattern on a workpiece surface whether the surface is a sphere, a cube, a cone or other irregular surface.
A further object resides in providing a novel scribe in a fully programmable measuring system whereby the scribe may a straight scribe, a heavy duty, manually adjustable scribe by means of an electric trigger, a heavy duty, manually adjustable scribe without trigger or may be a light duty scribe for use on an indexable trigger device.
Also, the present invention resides in providing a variety of mounting means for detachably connecting the scribe to an actuating ram which is programmably operated through computer and converting circuits whereby the means may take the form of a clamp, a squeeze collet, a lock screw and bolt arrangement, a cam lever or the like.
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IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, “X-Y Coordinate Transcription System”, vol. 7, #10, Mar. 1965.*
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, “Step and Repeat Camera”, vol. , #4, Sep. 1964.
Fernandez Maria
Fulton Christopher W.
Marrs Roger A.
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