Multi-axis spindle head

• US 7,475,613 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin Nippon Koki Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shin Nippon Koki Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Bailey, Ralph-Peter Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi; Robert A
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US10/432,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,636 Days
• Field of Search: 744/900.1, 744/900.3, 744/900.5, 744/900.6, 744/900.7, 744/901, 248/181.1, 248/663
• US Class Current: 74/490.05
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/5412 followed perpendicularly by a single rotating pair
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/308512 Compound angular adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19502 Pivotally supported
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20329 Joint between elements

Abstract

A powered mechanism able to articulate about two orthogonal tilt axes, the powered mechanism having a sphere pivotally mounted in a ring or band and driven by a first pivotally mounted motor to articulate the sphere about the first axis, and a second pivotally mounted motor mounted to a fixed reference to drive the sphere about the second axis through ring or band.

Claims

1. A mechanism comprising a motor providing rotation about a first axis mounted in a sphere which in turn is mounted in an arcuate member providing for rotation of the sphere about a second axis coaxial with that of the arcuate member, the arcuate member being mounted to be pivotable about a third axis orthogonal to said second axis and first and second drive means being provided for, respectively, effecting movement of said sphere relative to said arcuate member and effecting movement of said arcuate member about said third axis,

wherein said first drive means is pivotally mounted on said arcuate member and rotates a first screw shaft acting against a first nut that is pivotally mounted on the sphere, and wherein said second drive means is pivotally mounted in relation to a fixed reference and rotates a second screw shaft acting against a second nut that is pivotally mounted on said arcuate member.

2. A powered mechanism able to articulate about first and second orthogonal tilt axes, comprising:

an arcuate member;

an element constrained by the arcuate member, the element being constrained such that it can only rotate relative to the arcuate member about the first axis; and

a first motive source to displace one of the arcuate member and the element with respect to the other, wherein the arcuate member is also able to pivot about the second axis when a second motive source is applied from a fixed reference position, wherein the mechanism provides an output orthogonal to and intersecting the first and second tilt axes,

wherein the first motive source to displace the element relative to the arcuate member is derived from a first motor that is pivotally mounted on the arcuate member and that rotates a first screw shaft acting against a first nut that is pivotally mounted on the element, and

wherein the second motive source to articulate the arcuate member about said second axis is derived from a second motor that is pivotally mounted to a fixed reference position and that rotates a second screw shaft acting against a second nut that is pivotally mounted on the arcuate member.

3. A powered mechanism able to articulate about two orthogonal tilt axes where a ball is retained by at least one of a ring and band and constrained such that it can only rotate about their common axis and with a first motive source to displace one with respect to the other, and where the at least one of a ring and band is also able to pivot about an orthogonal intersecting axis when a second motive source is applied from a fixed reference position and such that the center line of a linkage output is significantly orthogonal to and intersecting the other two tilt axes, wherein the first motive source to displace the ball retained relative to the at least one of a ring and band is derives from a first motor that is pivotally mounted in the at least one of a ring and band and that rotates a first screw shaft acting a first nut that is pivotally mounted on the ball, and

wherein the second motive source to articulate the at least one of a ring and band about said orthogonal intersecting axis is derived from a second motor that is pivotally mounted in relation to a fixed reference and that rotates a second screw shaft acting against a second nut that is pivotally mounted on the at least one of a ring and band.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, where the at least one of a ring and band is employed to hold the ball into an annular socket.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 where the at least one of a ring and band is preloaded against the ball and allowed to self center to axis support bearings.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, where an encoder scale is provided on the ball adjacent the at least one of a ring and band and means to read said scale is mounted on the at least one of a ring and band.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, where an encoder scale is supported in an arc around the at least one of a ring and band pivot axis and a means to read said scale is mounted against a fixed reference.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, where a motor is housed within the ball and the output employed as a cutting spindle.