Three dimensional tactile seam tracing device
First Claim
1. A device, mountable on a working end of a fully automated and articulated robotic arm movable in six dimensions in a global dimensional reference, for three dimensional tactile tracing of a surface of a workpiece in an orthogonal coordinate system using a device local dimensional reference of an X axis, a Y axis and a Z axis, as the device is moved by the robotic arm and operably engages the workpiece, the device comprising:
- a base having a proximal end and a distal end oriented along the Z axis, attachable proximally to the working end of the robotic arm and having a first surface oriented parallel to the Z axis, proximal to distal;
a carriage rollably mounted to the first surface having a reversible operable motion confined to the Z axis, the carriage including a proximal arm aligned generally orthogonal to the Z axis and having a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a distal arm with a ball socket;
means, operably connected between the base and the proximal surface, for biasing the carriage motion in the distal direction;
a probe having a proximal portion, a mid portion, and a distal portion aligned along a longitudinal axis for engaging the workpiece, the proximal portion including a plate with a flat surface orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis defining a center point on the flat surface, the mid portion including a ball operably pivotally engaging the ball socket and defining a center pivot point on the longitudinal axis, the center point of the plate fixed a first distance proximal to the center pivot point, and the distal portion includes a distal tip for operably engaging the surface of the workpiece and is fixed a second distance distal to the center pivot point along the longitudinal axis, and when the ball operably engages the socket, the flat surface faces generally proximally toward the distal surface of the proximal arm;
Z axis measuring means, operably positionable between the base and the proximal surface of the proximal arm, for measuring distance of movement of the carriage parallel to the Z-axis and generating a measurement data stream; and
plate tilt measuring means, operably positionable between the flat surface of the plate and the distal surface of the proximal arm, for measuring the tilting of the flat surface of the plate in relation to the Z axis as a result of pivoting the ball in the ball socket and generating a measurement data stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The three dimensional probe device of the present invention is mountable on a working end of a fully automated and articulated robotic arm movable through at least five degrees of axial freedom in a global dimensional reference. The three dimensional probe device comprises a base, a carriage, a probe, a Z axis measuring apparatus and a tilt measuring apparatus. The probe tip contacts the work piece surface to be traced with deflections in the workpiece seam or path resulting in movement of the carriage and probe. The probe includes a plate and a ball which is pivotable in a ball socket portion of the carriage. Movement of the carriage in relation to the base provides measurement data for rotational change in the direction of the workpiece path or seam. Tilting of the probe provides measurement data for translational change in the direction of the workpiece path or seam.
10 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device, mountable on a working end of a fully automated and articulated robotic arm movable in six dimensions in a global dimensional reference, for three dimensional tactile tracing of a surface of a workpiece in an orthogonal coordinate system using a device local dimensional reference of an X axis, a Y axis and a Z axis, as the device is moved by the robotic arm and operably engages the workpiece, the device comprising:
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a base having a proximal end and a distal end oriented along the Z axis, attachable proximally to the working end of the robotic arm and having a first surface oriented parallel to the Z axis, proximal to distal; a carriage rollably mounted to the first surface having a reversible operable motion confined to the Z axis, the carriage including a proximal arm aligned generally orthogonal to the Z axis and having a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a distal arm with a ball socket; means, operably connected between the base and the proximal surface, for biasing the carriage motion in the distal direction; a probe having a proximal portion, a mid portion, and a distal portion aligned along a longitudinal axis for engaging the workpiece, the proximal portion including a plate with a flat surface orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis defining a center point on the flat surface, the mid portion including a ball operably pivotally engaging the ball socket and defining a center pivot point on the longitudinal axis, the center point of the plate fixed a first distance proximal to the center pivot point, and the distal portion includes a distal tip for operably engaging the surface of the workpiece and is fixed a second distance distal to the center pivot point along the longitudinal axis, and when the ball operably engages the socket, the flat surface faces generally proximally toward the distal surface of the proximal arm; Z axis measuring means, operably positionable between the base and the proximal surface of the proximal arm, for measuring distance of movement of the carriage parallel to the Z-axis and generating a measurement data stream; and plate tilt measuring means, operably positionable between the flat surface of the plate and the distal surface of the proximal arm, for measuring the tilting of the flat surface of the plate in relation to the Z axis as a result of pivoting the ball in the ball socket and generating a measurement data stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification