Rotary encoder
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsFinlay Jonathan EVANS, James Reynolds HENSHAW
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary scale apparatus for an encoder apparatus including a planar disc on which at least one track including scale features is provided, in which the planar disc includes a hole through its centre for receiving a cylindrical shaft, and in which the rotary scale member includes at least three cantilevered spring members which are provided substantially in plane with the planar disc and spaced around the edge of the hole, for engaging with, and radially locating the disc on, a cylindrical shaft inserted therethrough.
Claims19
A rotary scale apparatus for an encoder apparatus, the rotary scale apparatus comprising:
- at least one track of scale features for reading by a readhead;
- and
- a planar disc comprising (1) a through hole, which is for receiving a cylindrical shaft, and (2) at least three integral cantilevered spring members which are (i) provided substantially in plane with the planar disc, (ii) spaced around an edge of the through hole, and (iii) for engaging with, and radially locating the planar disc on, a cylindrical shaft insertable therethrough,
- wherein each cantilevered spring member is configured to be longer in a generally circumferential direction around the edge of the through hole than in a radial direction extending from a center of the through hole.
A rotary scale apparatus for an encoder apparatus, the rotary scale apparatus comprising:
- at least one track of scale features for reading by a readhead;
- and
- a planar disc comprising (1) a through hole, which is for receiving a cylindrical shaft, and (2) at least three pairs of integral cantilevered spring members which are (i) provided substantially in plane with the planar disc, (ii) spaced around an edge of the through hole, and (iii) for engaging with, and radially locating the planar disc on, a cylindrical shaft insertable therethrough, wherein:
- each cantilevered spring member is configured to be longer in a generally circumferential direction around the edge of the through hole than in a radial direction from a center of the through hole;
- one of the cantilevered spring members in a pair of the at least three pairs extends in a generally clockwise direction around the edge of the through hole and the other of the cantilevered spring members in the pair extends in a generally anti-clockwise direction around the edge of the through hole;
- the cantilevered spring members in a pair of the at least three pairs are configured such that their free ends are proximal each other and such that their fixed ends are distal each other;
- and
- the at least three pairs of integral cantilevered spring members and the planar disc are formed from a single sheet of material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.