Coordinate measurement machine with improved joint
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
- an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween;
at least one ball and socket joint connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said ball and socket joint comprising a ball member and a socket member, wherein the ball member comprises at least one graphical pattern and the socket member comprises at least one optical reader device configured to read said graphical pattern; and
a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a coordinate measurement apparatus includes an articulated arm having a first end and a second end with at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween. Further, the apparatus can comprise at least one ball and socket joint connecting the first arm segment to the second arm segment, with the ball and socket joint including a ball member and a socket member, and a measurement probe attached to the first end of said articulated arm.
207 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
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an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween; at least one ball and socket joint connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said ball and socket joint comprising a ball member and a socket member, wherein the ball member comprises at least one graphical pattern and the socket member comprises at least one optical reader device configured to read said graphical pattern; and a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
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an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween; at least one joint connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said joint configured to allow said first arm segment to pivot and rotate relative to said second arm segment, wherein the joint connects the arm segments by an attractive force; and a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, wherein the joint comprises a joint body rotatably coupled to the first arm segment to define a first axis of rotation of the joint and rotatably coupled to the second arm segment to define a second axis of rotation of the joint. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
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an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween; at least one joint connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said joint comprising a first joint member and a second joint member; a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm; and a single rotational sensor between the first and second arm segments, wherein either of said first joint member or second joint member comprises a generally convex surface and the other of either said first joint member or said second joint member comprises a rounded surface configured to generally mate with said convex surface of said first joint member so that said first arm segment is configured to pivot and rotate relative to said second arm segment, said pivots and rotations being measurable by the single rotational sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of operating a coordinate measurement apparatus to acquire coordinate data regarding a target surface comprising the steps of:
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moving a first arm segment relative to a second arm segment using a first joint, said first joint configured to permit said first arm segment to pivot and rotate relative to said second arm segment; acquiring position data of the pivotal and rotational position of the first arm segment relative to the second arm segment from a data surface of the first joint; and moving a probe member connected to said first arm segment relative to said target surface. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
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an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween; at least one joint connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said joint comprising a first joint member and a second joint member; and a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, wherein said joint is capable of movement in two or more degrees of freedom, and measurement of both degrees of freedom is performed by measuring a single coded surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
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an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween; at least one joint connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said joint configured to allow said first arm segment to pivot and rotate relative to said second arm segment, wherein the joint connects the arm segments by an attractive force; and a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm having at least one degree of free movement relative to both the first and second arm segments. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification