Accurate positioning apparatus
OwnerCharles Adamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The incremental very accurate positioning device is operable to control accurate positioning of a movable member such as a tool. The apparatus comprises a base with a mounting bar spaced from the base for mounting the member. The bar is movable along its elongate axis by a drive force applied to the proximal end thereof for moving the distal end forwardly and rearwardly along the axis. The bar is mounted on two parallel spaced elongated flat springs that extend transversely of the bar. The springs are fixed to the bar for maintaining an axial force on the bar and are mounted at each end to a block which is pivotally mounted on the base.
Claims19
An apparatus for controlling accurate positioning of a movable member comprising:
- a rigid base;
- member mounting means spaced from said base for mounting a movable member, said member mounting means having an axis along which said member mounting means can be reciprocally moved, a distal end, and a proximal end which is capable of being moved by a drive force applied thereto for moving said distal end forwardly and rearwardly along said axis;
- elongate flexure means extending transversely of said member mounting means, said flexure means being fixed to said member mounting means for maintaining a force on said member mounting means in a direction along the axis of said member mounting means;
- and flexure means mounting means at each end of said flexure means for mounting each end of said flexure means to said base in a manner permitting limited movement of said ends of said flexure means whereby a member mounted to said member mounting means can be accurately positioned by a drive force applied against said proximal end of said member mounting means and against said force of said flexure means, such as to an accuracy of 10 millionths of an inch.
A positioning apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- first and second flexure mounting blocks movably affixed to said base;
- flexure means mounted to said flexure mounting blocks, said flexure means being positioned adjacent to but spaced from said base;
- member mounting means coupled to said flexure means intermediate the ends thereof in a manner which allows essentially only one degree of freedom of movement to allow reciprocating movement of said member mounting means along an axis of said mounting means which passes through proximal and distal ends of said mounting means;
- and
- drive means operatively coupled to the proximal end of said member mounting means to apply a drive force along the axis of said member mounting means to displace said member mounting means along the axis.
A method for controlling accurate positioning of a movable member comprising the steps of:
- mounting the movable member on elongate flexure means in intermediate the ends thereof, said flexure means being capable of applying a spring force to the movable member;
- positioning the flexure means adjacent to but spaced from a base;
- mounting each end of the elongate flexure means to the base in a manner permitting limited pivoted movement of the ends of the elongate flexure means to allow movement of the movable member mounted on said elongate flexure means adjacent to and in a straight line parallel to the base;
- and applying a drive force to a proximal end of the movable member to move same forwardly or rearwardly a precise distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.