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US 4,575,628 AGranted
Pattern scanner providing data to a computer which carries out lay planning
AssigneeCybrid Limited
InventorsAdrian E. Bankart, Clive N. Jenkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pattern scanner comprises a plurality of light-sensitive elements guided in X and Y co-ordinate directions to scan a screen on which one or more pattern pieces are laid. The scanner detects outer and inner boundaries of the pieces, and analyses the inner boundaries to identify information such as grain direction, piece identity and drill holes.
Claims25
A pattern scanner, for scanning pattern pieces, comprising:
- a plurality of radiation sensitive elements;
- means for guiding said elements in X and Y coordinate directions with said elements evenly spaced in the Y coordinate direction;
- control means for controlling the guiding means to cause said elements to make uninterrupted scans across a pattern piece in the X coordinate direction, such scans alternating with stepping in the Y coordinate direction by steps substantially equal to n times half of the spacing of said elements in the Y coordinate direction (where n is an odd integer), in order to scan a matrix of unitary areas encompassing the entire area of said pattern piece within its outer boundary;
- and means for the transmission of data sensed by said elements during said scans in both X directions.
1 more element
A scanner for scanning pattern pieces and comprising:
- a support for supporting at least one pattern piece to be scanned;
- scanning means comprising a plurality of radiation sensitive elements for scanning across said at least one pattern piece without interruption in an X-coordinate direction, such scans alternating with stepping in the Y coordinate direction to sense, during such scans in the X coordinate direction, radiation coming in a direction from the support so that said elements provide data which identify and locate areas of a first type, corresponding to material of a pattern piece, and areas of second type, a corresponding to (a) areas outside a pattern piece, (b) holes within a pattern piece, and (c) an area of a pattern piece having a property, as sensed by said elements, corresponding to a hole in said pattern piece;
- means for storing characteristics corresponding to different types of areas of the second type;
- and
- means for processing said data in comparison with said stored information to identify, locate and distinguish between the external boundary of at least one pattern piece and information conveyed by said at least one pattern piece and defined at least in part by areas of said second type detected within said external boundary.
2 more elements
A pattern scanner comprising:
- means for supporting a pattern piece to be scanned;
- a carriage movable in X and Y orthogonal directions relative to said supporting means;
- a plurality of radiation sensitive elements carried by said carriage for detecting radiation coming in a direction from said supporting means;
- means for guiding said carriage for movement in said X and Y orthogonal directions;
- control means for controlling the guiding means in order to cause said elements to scan a matrix of unitary areas of a pattern piece supported by the supporting means by scanning in the X direction, such scanning alternating with steps in the Y direction;
- means conveyed by the carriage for converting data from said elements into a serial stream of data;
- transmission means conveyed by the carriage for converting said serial stream into a modulated beam of radiation transmitted in a direction away from the carriage;
- and means for receiving said beam mounted to move with said carriage in said Y direction and being fixed relative to said supporting means in said X direction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.