NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED ENGRAVING MACHINE SYSTEM

• US 3,827,334 A
• Filed: 06/15/1973
• Issued: 08/06/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clark B. Workman, Edward W. Yetter, Laurence Goodstal, Myrle H. English, Robert J. Sanzo, Robert L. Turner, Wayne E. Leek
• Original Assignee: Clark B. Workman, Edward W. Yetter, Laurence Goodstal, Myrle H. English, Robert J. Sanzo, Robert L. Turner, Wayne E. Leek
• Inventors: English, Myrle H., Goodstal, Laurence, Leek, Wayne E., Sanzo, Robert J., Turner, Robert L., Workman, Clark B., Yetter, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidenfeld, Gil
• Application Number:
  US05/370,542
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 90/24R,24.3,34,35,36,37,13C,17 174/43 125/6,7
• US Class Current: 409/80
• CPC Class Codes: B44B 3/00 Artist's machines or apparatus equipped with tools or work holders moving or able to be controlled substantially two- dimensionally for carving, engraving, or guilloching shallow ornamenting or markings marking or engraving metal by the action of a high concentration of electric current B23H9/06; forme engraving B41C, B41D; engraving by photomechanical reproduction G03F
• CPC Class Codes: B44B 3/005 characterised by the power drive
• CPC Class Codes: B44B 3/009 using a computer control means
• CPC Class Codes: B44B 3/061 Tool heads
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34155 Third degree
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35554 Mirror, other conversions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41326 Step motor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45212 Etching, engraving, sculpturing, carving
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/300896 with sensing of numerical information and regulation without mechanical connection between sensing means and regulated means [i.e., numerical control]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/308512 Compound angular adjustment

Abstract

A system for automatic simulation by computerized machinery of a hand-engraved pattern in a workpiece. The present system, while concerned primarily in the simulation of engraving patterns by a machine process, nonetheless is applicable to the generation or regeneration of a variety of intricate patterns. In such respect, the process may be useful in copying decorative patterns for printed cards, reproducing of contour maps, and a myriad of other purposes involving the simulation of contours or of a pattern of lines existing in multi-dimensional space. The invention introduces several novel aspects to the art of computerized machinery, and particularly to numerically controlled machinery having multi-axis operation, with one of the major objectives being a reduction of volume of control tape and operation time. The present system usually involves two computers: (1) a digital computer for generating a control tape numerically representative of the pattern to be reproduced; and (2) a digital control computer for controlling a multi-axis machine to regenerate the pattern stored on the control tape.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cutting an engraving line on the surface of a workpiece, comprising:

a. a base;

b. a powered reciprocating engraving device supported by the base, said engraving device having a cutting tool received therein and said cutting tool having a chisel cutting face with a cutting tip;

c. means supported by the base for relatively positioning the cutting face of said tool adjacent to said work surface;

d. means supported by the base for relatively positioning the cutting tip of said tool into said work surface;

e. means supported by the base for angularly positioning said cutting face in a direction relative to said engraving line; and

f. means supported by the base for angularly positioning the cutting face of said tool relative to said work surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for angularly positioning said cutting face in a cutting direction, and said means for angularly positioning the cutting face of said tool produce rotation about said cutting tip.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for relatively positioning the tool cutting face produces substantially planar motion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for relatively positioning the tool cutting face comprises linear positioning means and rotary positioning means.

5. A machine for engraving a workpiece, comprising:

a base;

a workpiece support table movably attached to said base along the horizontal axes X and Y, wherein the X axis is defined as one horizontal coordinate, and the Y axis is defined as the horizontal coordinate normal to said X axis;

means attached to the base and said table for moving the table horizontally with respect to the base;

a power driven reciprocating engraving tool supported by the base;

means attached to the base and said tool for moving the tool relative to the table along the Z axis, wherein the Z axis is defined as the depth coordinate that is perpendicular to the X and Y axes;

means attached to the base and said tool for angularly positioning said tool relative to the table about the Z and Y axes; and

means attached to the base and said table for rotating the table about the Z axis.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the power-driven engraving tool comprises an engraving chisel with an air-hammer drive.

7. The machine of claim 5, wherein the means for moving the tool along the Z axis comprises a vertical slide connected between the tool and the base.

8. The machine of claim 5, wherein all the relative motions of the tool about the workpiece are powered by stepper motors.

9. The machine of claim 5, further comprising means connected to the worKpiece and said table for rotating the workpiece about the Y axis.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising means connected to the workpiece and said table for rotating the workpiece about the X axis.

11. The machine of claim 5, wherein the means for tilting the tool relative to the table comprises an overhead arm to which the tool is attached, and a worm gear arrangement connected between said arm and the base.

12. The machine of claim 5, wherein the means to move the table comprises two cross slides connected between the table and the base, and arranged to provide the horizontal motion for the table along the X and Y axes.

13. The machine of claim 5, wherein the table comprises two cross slides connected between the table and the base, and arranged to provide the horizontal motion for the table along the X and Y axes, and further wherein said cross slides are mounted upon bearings and arranged to turn as a unit about the Z axis through a worm gear drive.

14. A machine for engraving a workpiece, comprising:

a base;

a workpiece support table movably attached to said base along the horizontal axes X and Y, wherein the X axis is defined as one horizontal coordinate, and the Y axis is defined as the horizontal coordinate normal to said X axis;

means attached to the base and said table for moving the table horizontally with respect to the base;

a power driven reciprocating engraving tool supported by the base;

means attached to the base and said tool for moving the tool relative to the table along the Z axis, wherein the Z axis is defined as the depth coordinate that is perpendicular to the X and Y axes;

means attached to the base and said tool for angularly positioning said tool relative to the table about the Z and Y axes; and

means attached to the tool and said base for rotating the tool about the Z axis.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the power-driven engraving tool comprises an engraving chisel with an air-hammer drive.

16. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means to move the table comprises two cross slides connected between the table and the base, and arranged to provide the horizontal motion for the table along the X and Y axes.

17. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means for moving the tool along the Z axis comprises a vertical slide connected between the tool and the base.

18. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means to rotate the tool about the Z axis comprises a rotatable spindle connected to the tool and the base and driven through drive means.

19. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means to rotate the tool about the Z axis comprises a rotatable spindle connected to the tool and the base and driven through a chain and sprocket drive.

20. The machine of claim 14, wherein all the relative motions of the tool about the workpiece are powered by stepper motors.

21. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means for angularly positioning the tool relative to the table comprises a spiral bevel pinion and gear sector connected between the tool and the base.

22. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means for angularly positioning the tool relative to the table comprises a pair of arcuate guide rails supporting said tool.

23. The machine of claim 14, further comprising means connected to the workpiece and said table for rotating the workpiece about the Y axis.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising means connected to the workpiece and said table for rotating the workpiece about the X axis.