Coordinate measurement machines with removable accessories
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
- a base;
a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
a measurement device coupled to the first end;
an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;
a probe end disposed between the measurement device and the first end, the probe end having a fastener and a first connector, the probe end further having a threaded portion disposed about a portion of the outer surface of a probe end housing and configured to engage the fastener, the fastener being movable between a first position and a second position; and
a device being configured to couple with the probe end by the fastener when in the second position, the device having a second connector arranged to engage the first connector when the fastener couples the device to the probe end.
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Abstract
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine is provided. The coordinate measuring machine includes a base with an arm portion. A probe end is coupled to an end of the arm portion distal from the base. The probe end has a fastener and a first connector. A device is removably coupled to the probe end by the fastener, the accessory having a second connector arranged to engage the first connector when the fastener couples the device to the probe end.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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a base; a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a measurement device coupled to the first end; an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device; a probe end disposed between the measurement device and the first end, the probe end having a fastener and a first connector, the probe end further having a threaded portion disposed about a portion of the outer surface of a probe end housing and configured to engage the fastener, the fastener being movable between a first position and a second position; and a device being configured to couple with the probe end by the fastener when in the second position, the device having a second connector arranged to engage the first connector when the fastener couples the device to the probe end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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a base; a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a measurement device coupled to the first end; an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device; a probe end disposed between the measurement device and the first end, the probe end having a fastener and a first connector, wherein the probe end includes a first actuator and a second actuator coupled to a first controller; a device removably coupled to the probe end by the fastener, the device having a second connector arranged to engage the first connector when the fastener couples the device to the probe end, wherein the device includes a handle portion and a third actuator and a fourth actuator electrically coupled to a second controller; wherein the device includes a planar portion disposed at an end of the handle portion and adjacent the fastener, the planar portion being positioned offset from the fastener to define a gap. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a measurement device coupled to the first end; an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device; a housing disposed between the first end and the measurement device; a first controller disposed within the housing; a first coupler arranged on one side of the housing, the first coupler including fastener movable along a length of the housing between a first position and a second position; and a device removably coupled to the housing and having a handle portion, the device having a second coupler on one end and having an angled surface arranged to engage the fastener when in the second position, thereby securing the device to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space comprising:
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a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a measurement device coupled to the first end; an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device; a housing disposed between the first end and the measurement device; a first controller disposed within the housing; a first coupler arranged on one side of the housing; a device removably coupled to the housing and having a handle portion, the device having a second coupler on one end arranged to engage the first coupler, thereby securing the device to the housing, wherein the device further comprises a first actuator operably coupled to the second controller, the first actuator disposed on the handle portion, wherein the device further comprises a second actuator operably coupled to the second controller, the second actuator disposed on the handle portion adjacent the first actuator; a first connector adjacent the first coupler and electrically coupled to the first controller; a second connector coupled to the device and electrically coupled to the first connector; a second controller disposed within the device and electrically coupled to the first controller via the first connector and the second connector, wherein the second controller is at least partially disposed within the handle portion; wherein the second coupler includes a first projection extending from the device adjacent the second connector, the first projection having an angled first surface on one side; and wherein the first coupler is a fastener movably coupled to the housing adjacent the first connector opposite the first projection, wherein the fastener is movable between a first position and a second position to engage the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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providing a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; providing a probe end for measuring the object, the probe end having a first controller, the probe end having a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the first controller and a fastener, the fastener being coaxially disposed on the probe end and movable between a first position and a second position along a length of the probe end, the probe end being coupled to the first end; providing a measurement device operably coupled to probe end; receiving at an electronic circuit the position signals from the transducers; determining data corresponding to a position of the measurement device with the electronic circuit; providing a device having a second controller, the device having a second electrical connector electrically coupled to the second controller and a coupler, the coupler having an angled surface; moving the fastener from the first position to the second position; engaging the angled surface with the fastener as the fastener moves from the first position to the second position; mechanically coupling the device to the probe end with the coupler and the fastener when the fastener is in the second position; electrically coupling the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector; and transmitting a first signal from the second controller to the first controller. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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a base; a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a probe end coupled to the first end; an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the probe end; and a first projector is removably coupled to the probe end, the first projector being operable to project a first information onto a first projection surface, the projected first information being indicative of a presence and location of one or more features associated with the first projection surface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A removable accessory for portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, the AACMM having a probe end coupled to a first end of the AACMM, the probe end having a first mechanical coupler having a fastener and a first electrical connector, the removable accessory comprising:
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a second mechanical coupler configured to be removably coupled to the first mechanical coupler, the second mechanical coupler including first projection on a second end, a second projection on an opposite third end and a pivot point positioned therebetween, the second projection being configured to engage the fastener; a handle portion operably coupled to the second mechanical coupler. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification