Coordinate positioning apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of checking the accuracy of orthogonal coordinate positioning apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support, and continually operable measuring means for measuring the position of said head in terms of three orthogonal coordinates, said method comprising the steps ofproviding a test bar having a given fixed length;
- universally pivotally connecting one end of said bar to said support and the other end of said bar to said head;
automatically and sequentially moving said head through a plurality of stand-off locations situated about the connection of said bar to said support, said bar undergoing a corresponding angular movement by virtue of its connection to said head;
upon attainment of each said stand-off location moving said head relative to said one end of said bar into a test location; and
at each said test location measuring the coordinate position of said head as determined by the length of said bar between the ends thereof.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus which includes a support, a head and components for measuring the coordinate position of the head relative to the support. The device comprises a bar, a connecting member movably securable to the support, a first universal pivot for supporting the bar at one end on the connecting member, a second universal pivot adapted for establishing a universal pivotable connection between the other end of the bar and the head, and a switch for producing a signal responsive to the head attaining a predetermined location in a coordinate field of the apparatus.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of checking the accuracy of orthogonal coordinate positioning apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support, and continually operable measuring means for measuring the position of said head in terms of three orthogonal coordinates, said method comprising the steps of
providing a test bar having a given fixed length; -
universally pivotally connecting one end of said bar to said support and the other end of said bar to said head; automatically and sequentially moving said head through a plurality of stand-off locations situated about the connection of said bar to said support, said bar undergoing a corresponding angular movement by virtue of its connection to said head; upon attainment of each said stand-off location moving said head relative to said one end of said bar into a test location; and at each said test location measuring the coordinate position of said head as determined by the length of said bar between the ends thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support, and means for measuring the coordinate position of said head relative to said support, wherein said device comprises
a bar; -
a connecting member removably securable to said support; first universal pivot means for supporting said bar at one end thereof on said connecting member; second universal pivot means adapted for establishing a universal pivotal connection between the other end of said bar and said head; and switch means for producing a signal responsive to said head attaining a predetermined location in a coordinate field of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support, and means for measuring the coordinate position of said head relative to said support, said device comprising
a bar; -
a connecting member removably securable to said support; first universal pivot means for supporting said bar at one end thereof on said connecting member; second universal pivot means adapted for establishing a universal pivotal connection between said other end of the bar and said head; lost motion means provided on said bar for accommodating relative motion of said first and second pivot means between first and second positions spaced in the direction of the length of the bar; and switching means for producing a signal responsive to said first and second pivot means attaining one of said positions.
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17. A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus having a support, a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support, and means for measuring the coordinate position of said head relative to said support, said device comprising
a bar; -
a connecting member removably securable to said support; first universal pivot means for supporting the bar at one end thereof on said connecting member; second universal pivot means adapted for establishing a universal pivotal connection between the other end of said bar and said head; lost motion means provided between the second pivot means and said other end of the bar, said lost motion means including first and second relatively movable members adapted to accommodate relative motion of the first and second pivot means between first and second positions, and further including a stop provided at one of said members for engagement by the other member for limiting said relative motion; and a switch adapted for producing a signal responsive to said engagement.
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18. A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus having a support, a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support, and means for measuring the coordinate position of said head relative to said support, said device comprising
a bar; -
a first connecting member connectable to said support; first universal pivot means for connecting said one end of the bar to said first connecting member; a second connecting member connectable to said head; second universal pivot means for connecting the other end of said bar to said second connecting member; lost motion means provided on said bar for accommodating relative motion of said first and second pivot means between first and second positions spaced in the direction of the length of said bar; and switch means for producing a signal responsive to said first and second pivot means attaining one of said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, a head movable relative to said support, a stylus having an end connecting to said head and a free end portion, and means for generating a signal when a force is applied to said free end portion, said device comprising
a bar; -
first pivot means for supporting said bar at one end thereof on said support for universal pivotal motion relative thereto; means defining two guide surfaces provided at the other end of said bar and extending in the direction of the length thereof; and second pivot means permitting universal pivotal motion between said guide surfaces and said free end portion, said guide surfaces being engageable with said free end portion at opposite sides thereof so as to be slidable relative thereto in the direction of the length of the bar thereby allowing relative motion of said first and second pivot means between first and second positions; and a stop provided at an end of the guide surfaces for engagement by said free end portion thereby effecting said force. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A device for checking the accuracy of coordinate positioning apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, a head moveable relative to said support, a stylus having one end connected to said head and a spherical sensing element provided at the other end, and means for generating a signal when a force is applied to said sensing element, said device comprising
a bar; -
first pivot means for supporting the bar at one end thereof on said support for universal pivotal motion relative thereto; a pair of elongate guide members provided at the other end of said bar, said guide members being spaced apart so as to be engageable along guide surfaces thereof with said stylus at opposite sides thereof, second pivot means permitting universal pivotal motion between the guide surfaces and the spherical sensing element, the guide surfaces being also engageable with said spherical sensing element so as to be slidable thereon in the direction of their length thereby allowing relative motion of said first and second pivot means between first and second positions, said guide surfaces also being supportable on said spherical sensing element so as to allow said universal pivotal motion by virtue of the spherical shape of said sensing element; and a stop provided at an end of said guide surfaces for engagement by said sensing element thereby effecting said force. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. Coordinate positioning apparatus adapted for checking the accuracy thereof comprising
a head supported for three-dimensional movement relative to said support; -
means for measuring the coordinate position of said head relative to said support; a bar; first universal pivot means connected between one end of said bar and said support; second universal pivot means connected between the other end of said bar and said head; lost motion means for accommodating relative motion of said first and second universal pivot means between positions spaced in the direction of the length of said bar; and switch means for producing a signal responsive to said first and second pivot means attaining one of said positions.
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Specification