X-Y movement mechanism

An X-Y movement mechanism comprising:

• a fixed base having first surface means;
• a movable member having second surface means;
• said movable member being disposed for movement relative to said fixed base with said second surface means being parallel with and facing toward said first surface means;
• said fixed base having first groove means in said first surface means extending in an X direction;
• said movable member having second groove means in said second surface means extending in a Y direction;
• said X direction being different from and at an angle with respect to said Y direction;
• said X direction and said Y direction being parallel to said first surface means and to said second surface means;
• said first groove means and said second groove means respectively having overlying regions when said movable member is disposed for said movement relative to said fixed base;
• X-Y guide means having a first half and a second half;
• said first half being disposed in said first groove means for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in said X direction;
• said second half being disposed in said second groove means for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in said Y direction;
• said first half and said second half including portions thereof disposed within said overlying regions of said first and said second groove means;
• said first groove means including at least one first groove;
• said second groove means including at least one second groove;
• said X-Y guide means including at least one X-Y guide element;
• said at least one second groove having a second groove cross section which has a first width at said second surface means and a second width remote from said second surface;
• said second width being greater than said first width;
• said second half of said X-Y guide element having a guide cross section corresponding to said second groove cross section for retaining said second half within said second groove;
• and
• force applying means for selectively applying a force to said X-Y guide element in a direction toward said fixed base to cause said second surface means to be forced toward said first surface means to maintain said movable member at a fixed position relative to said fixed base;
• whereby, prior to said force applying means selectively applying said force to said X-Y guide element, said movable member is capable of movement in said X direction as said first half of said X-Y guide means moves in said X direction along said first groove means and in said Y direction as said second groove means moves in said Y direction on said second half of said X-Y guide means to allow movement of said movable member relative to said fixed base.

An X-Y movement mechanism comprising:

• a fixed base having first surface means;
• a movable member having second surface means;
• said movable member being disposed for movement relative to said fixed base with said second surface means being parallel with and facing toward said first surface means;
• said fixed base having a first groove in said first surface means extending in an X direction;
• said movable member having a second groove in said second surface means extending in a Y direction;
• said X direction being different from and at an angle with respect to said Y direction;
• said X direction and said Y direction being parallel to said first surface means and to said second surface means;
• said first groove and said second groove respectively having overlying regions when said movable member is disposed for said movement relative to said fixed base;
• an X-Y guide element having a first half and a second half;
• said first half being disposed in said first groove for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in said X direction;
• said second half being disposed in said second groove for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in said Y direction;
• said first half and said second half including portions thereof disposed within said overlying regions of said first and said second groove;
• said movable member being capable of movement in said X direction as said first half of said X-Y guide moves in said X direction along said first groove;
• said movable member being capable of movement in said Y direction as said second groove in said Y direction on said second half of said X-Y guide;
• first adjusting means mounted on said fixed base and operably connected to said X-Y guide element for selectively moving said X-Y guide element in said X direction within said first groove;
• and
• second adjusting means mounted on said movable member and operably connected to said X-Y guide element for selectively moving said second groove in said Y direction relative to said X-Y guide element.

An X-Y movement mechanism comprising:

• a fixed base having first surface means;
• a movable member having second surface means;
• said movable member being disposed for movement in an X direction and in a Y direction relative to said fixed base with said second surface means being parallel with and facing toward said first surface means;
• said X direction and said Y direction being parallel to said first surface means and to said second surface means;
• said X direction being different from and at an angle with respect to said Y direction;
• said fixed base having a first X groove in said first surface means extending in said X direction;
• said movable member having a first Y groove in said second surface means extending in said Y direction;
• said first X groove and said first Y groove respectively having first overlying regions when said movable member is disposed for said movement relative to said fixed base;
• a first X-Y guide element having a first X half and a first Y half;
• said first X half of said first X-Y guide element being disposed in said first X groove for sliding relative movement therebetween in said X direction;
• said first Y half of said first X-Y guide element being disposed in said first Y groove for sliding relative movement therebetween in said Y direction;
• said first X half and said first Y half of said first X-Y guide element including portions thereof disposed within said first overlying regions of said first X groove and said first Y groove;
• said fixed base having a second Y groove in said first surface means extending in said Y direction;
• said movable member having a second X groove in said second surface means extending in said X direction;
• said second Y groove and said second X groove respectively having second overlying regions when said movable member is disposed for said movement relative to said fixed base;
• a second X-Y guide element having a second Y half and a second X half;
• said second Y half of said second X-Y guide element being disposed in said second Y groove for sliding relative movement therebetween in said Y direction;
• said second X half of said second X-Y guide element being disposed in said second X groove for sliding relative movement therebetween in said X direction;
• and
• said second Y half and said second X half of said second X-Y guide element including portions thereof disposed within said second overlying regions of said second Y groove and said second X groove;
• whereby said movable member is capable of movement in said X direction, as said first X half of said first X-Y guide element moves in said X direction along said first X groove and said second X groove moves in said X direction on said second X half of said second X-Y guide element, and in said Y direction, as said first Y groove moves in said Y direction on said first Y half of said first X-Y guide element and said second Y half of said second X-Y guide element moves in said Y direction along said second Y groove.