Coordinate measurement machine with improved joint
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
- an articulated arm comprising a first end, a second end configured to mount a coordinate measuring probe, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween;
at least one joint body connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said joint body supporting both pivots and rotations between the first and second arm segments, wherein the joint body comprises at least one rounded pattern and at least one reader device configured to read said at least one pattern, the at least one reader configured to detect both of said pivots and rotations.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
138 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
-
an articulated arm comprising a first end, a second end configured to mount a coordinate measuring probe, at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween; at least one joint body connecting said first arm segment to said second arm segment, said joint body supporting both pivots and rotations between the first and second arm segments, wherein the joint body comprises at least one rounded pattern and at least one reader device configured to read said at least one pattern, the at least one reader configured to detect both of said pivots and rotations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
-
an articulated arm comprising a first end, a second end configured to mount a coordinate measuring probe, at least a first arm segment, a second arm segment, and a third arm segment therebetween, the arm segments being rotatably connected in sequence; and 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 and further configured to measure said pivots and rotations, wherein the joint connects the arm segments by an attractive force. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
-
an articulated arm having a first end, a second end configured to mount a coordinate measuring probe, 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, a second joint member, at least one sensor, and at least one graphical pattern defining a multitude of unique geometric shapes; wherein said first arm segment is configured to pivot and rotate relative to said second arm segment via the first and second joint members, said pivots and rotations being measurable by the at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. A coordinate measurement apparatus comprising:
-
an articulated arm having a first end, a second end configured to mount a coordinate measuring probe, 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.
-
Specification