US 4,158,768 AGranted

Bi-axial scanning device for following the outline of a template

AssigneeS.G.T.C. Societe Generale Internationale de Recherches Techniques et de Consulence S.a.

InventorRiccardo Lavelli

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A bi-axial scanning device for guiding a template copier for machine tools comprises a shaft carrying a scanner with a pointer at one end and adapted to assume a zero position and follow the shape of a plane profile from the zero position. A flat disc spring supports the shaft at an intermediate point for resilient pivoting. An optical device comprises a source of a calibrated light beam and a photo-detector arranged to receive the beam. Either the calibrated light beam or the photo-detector is in a fixed position and the other is displaceable with the pivoting of the shaft in response to the pointer in contact with the template, the displacement being detected by the photo-detector and producing control signals emitted from the photo-detector. An amplifier is connected to the photo-detector to receive the control signals and an outlet transmits the amplified control signals to the machine tools.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A bi-axial scanning device for guiding template copying means for machine tools and the like, which comprises

(a) a shaft having two opposite ends and a point intermediate the ends,
(1) a scanner with a pointer at one of the shaft ends and adapted to assume a zero position and follow the shape of a plane profile from the zero position,
(b) a flat disc spring supporting the shaft at the interimediate point for resilient pivoting,
(c) an optical device comprising a calibrated light beam means and a photo-detector means arranged to receive a calibrated light beam from the calibrated light beam means,
(1) one of the optical device means being arranged in a fixed position and the other optical device means being connected to the other shaft end for displacement therewith upon pivoting of the shaft in response to the pointer in contact with the template, the displacement being detected by the photo-detector means and producing control signals emitted from the photo-detector means,
(d) an amplifier means connected to the photo-detector means to receive the control signals therefrom, and
(e) an outlet for transmitting the amplified control signals.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.