US 4,346,445 AGranted

Portable alphanumeric and symbol drafting device

AssigneeKoh-I-Noor Rapidograph, Inc.

InventorsJean P. Leuenberger, David J. Logan, Clifford A. Scorso, Jr.

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Abstract

A portable alphanumeric and symbol drafting device which essentially comprises a mechanically functioning keyboard unit, which is flexibly connected to an electronics package unit. Accordingly, the keyboard unit, which preferably weighs on the order of only two pounds, comprises a singularly useful device for a draftsman, since it allows a string of characters to be most accurately applied upon a drawing surface, by manipulation of only the keyboard unit. The keyboard unit may also include an attachment for mating with a standard parallel-arm drawing device. The keyboard unit comprises a first longitudinal edge, which is used to establish an origin or base line for the string of characters to be lettered and includes a carriage means for supporting a drafting pen in a manner to allow it to be operably controlled for a longitudinal (x-axis) and transverse (y-axis) movement proximate this first longitudinal edge of the housing. The x-axis travel is approximately eight inches, and the y-axis travel is approximately one inch, and the keyboard unit is capable of accurately producing a string of alphanumeric characters, or symbols, in a sequential manner within this size envelope. The electronics package has storing memory means for holding addressable, numerical instructions for vocabulary of characters, which are addressed by receiving character input signals from the keyboard. Scale means operate upon the digitized character instructions, whereby a character symbol can be accurately drawn, (up to approximately one inch in height,) without requiring any change of the digitized instructions in the vocabulary storing memory means.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A portable alphanumeric and symbol drafting device comprising a keyboard unit in functional interconnection to an electronics package unit, wherein;

(a) Said keyboard unit further comprises a portable housing with a first longitudinal edge, a lower surface adapted to be placed on a drafting surface, and an upper surface which comprises a keyboard means for inputting at least one character or symbol;
wherein further a carriage means for supporting a technical drafting pen is operably mounted for longitudinal (x) and transverse (y) movement proximate said first edge of said housing;
means to move said pen carriage in said x and y directions in response to a drawing control signal which comprises a planar member having an extending guideway parallel to said longitudinal housing edge, and an x-axis servo motor and encoder assembly mounted thereon which is operable to respond to one aspect of said control signal, and selectively move said drafting pen carriage, superposed upon said planar member, in the x-direction, parallel to said longitudinal edge;
wherein further said y-axis control comprises a y-axis dc servo motor and encoder assembly which is mounted to a base reference of said housing and is operable to respond to a second aspect of said control signal and move said entire planar member assembly in the y-direction, perpendicular to said longitudinal edge;
means for raising and lowering said pen carriage means, in a z direction, in further response to said control signal;
wherein further,
(b) Said electronics package unit further comprises storing memory means for holding addressable, numerical instructions for a vocabulary of characters, means for receiving a character input from said keyboard means and communicating said input to address means for recalling numerical instructions for each of said characters from said vocabulary, means for converting said recalled numerical instructions into a drawing control signal, said converting means communicating with scale means operable to selectively change the scale of a character representation to be executed by said pen, in response to said drawing control signal and means for conveying said drawing control signal through said functional interconnection and to said keyboard unit for controlling said carriage means in said x, y and z directions.

4 more elements

An alphanumeric and symbol character drafting device characterized by a portable keyboard unit and a separate electronics package unit, said units being interconnected by an electrical connection, wherein said keyboard unit further comprises a drafting element and servo control means to translate said element in a longitudinal (x) direction, proximate a reference longitudinal edge of said keyboard unit, and independently to translate said element in a transverse (y) direction, whereby said x and y motions function sequentially to trace each of a string of input characters or symbols in response to a control signal which is generated by said electronics package unit in response to a selective input from a keyboard mounted upon the keyboard unit, wherein said electronics package further comprises memory means for storing individual character or symbol instructions corresponding to a particular character style, said memory means further comprising a read-only memory which is replaceable with a vocabulary of a different style, wherein further a given character in a given vocabulary is stored as a plurality of bytes, said bytes comprising an argument and a multiplier for respectively determining the vector magnitude of portions of a trace which comprises said character, wherein further said electronics unit comprises addressing means for receiving said selective input addressing said memory and outputting instructions for drawing each character or symbol of said string, processing means for operating upon said instructions to generate said control signal comprising both character or symbol trace and intercharacter spacing instructions, wherein said control signal is output to said servo control means which in turn controls x and y-axis motors which translate said drafting element upon the drafting surface.

A portable, automated drafting device for applying symbols or alphanumeric characters to the surface of a drawing or the like, comprising:

a supporting base serving as a frame of the drafting device and being sized to be manually moved by a draftsman and positioned in stationary relationship at selected locations on a drawing surface where symbols or alphanumeric characters are desired;
reference means for positioning the supporting base at the selected locations and including a reference line fixed relative to the supporting base along which symbols or alphanumeric characters may be generated at separate stations;
a first carriage supported by the base and movable relative to the base in a direction perpendicular to the reference line of the reference means;
first controlled drive motor means on the supporting base connected in driving relationship with the first carriage for controllably moving the first carriage, relative to the base, in the perpendicular direction;
a second carriage supported by the base and movable relative to the base in a direction parallel to and along the reference line of the reference means;
second controlled drive motor means connected in driving relationship with the second carriage for controllably moving the second carriage relative to the base in the direction parallel to the reference line both at and between the separate stations;
one of the carriages being mounted on the other to enable its controlled movement both parallel and perpendicular to the reference line;
and
a drafting implement and implement holder connected with said one of the carriages for movement with said one of the carriages, in a manner both parallel and perpendicular to said reference line, wherein the holder projects from said one of the carriages to beyond the supporting base and the reference line, at separate stations along the line, and holds the drafting implement over the drawing surface, whereby the controlled motors are operable to cause the implement to trace a given string of symbols or alphanumeric characters upon the drawing surface at any of the separate stations, without movemennt of the supporting base.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.