Actuator mechanism for a pencil carriage
AssigneeCalComp Inc.
InventorPatrick Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator mechanism for a pencil carriage in which a motor is coupled to a lead holder to move the lead holder relative to a drawing media surface, a pusher mechanism moves a lead carried by an internal of the lead holder relative to the position of the lead holder and the drawing media surface independently of the movement of the lead holder and a plotter control and sensors coupled thereto are provided for synchronizing the operation of the motor and the pusher mechanism to control the position of the lead relative to the lead holder and the drawing media surface. In a particular embodiment, the pusher mechanism includes a pusher rod for engaging the lead, a movable rack and a pinion gear engaged therewith, the movable rack being coupled to the pusher rod to move the lead, and a motor for driving the pinion gear.
Claims16
Actuator mechanism for a pencil carriage comprising:
- a lead holder;
- first means coupled to said lead holder for moving said lead holder toward and away from a drawing media surface, whereby said lead holder is able to assume one or more selected positions relative to said drawing media surface;
- second means for moving a lead carried by and internal of said lead holder toward said drawing media surface during a plotting cycle independently of the movement of said lead holder, whereby said lead is able to assume one or more selected positions relative to said drawing media surface and said positions of said lead holder;
- and
- synchronizing means coupled to said first and said second means for synchronizing said first and said second means during said plotting cycle to control during said plotting cycle said positions of said lead relative to said positions of said lead holder and said drawing media surface.
Actuator mechanism for a pencil carriage comprising:
- a lead holder;
- first means coupled to said lead holder for moving said lead holder toward and away from a drawing media surface, whereby said lead holder is able to assume one or more selected positions relative to said drawing media surface;
- second means for moving a lead carried by and internal of said lead holder toward said drawing media surface, whereby said lead is able to assume one or more selected positions relative to said drawing media surface and said positions of said lead holder, said second means including a pusher mechanism engaging said lead, a movable rack and a pinion gear engaged therewith, said movable rack being coupled to said pusher mechanism to move said lead, and driving means for driving said pinion gear;
- and
- synchronizing means for synchronizing said and first and second means to control said positions of said lead relative to said positions of said lead holder and said drawing media surface.
A pusher mechanism for lead in a lead holder in a pencil carriage comprising:
- a pusher rod engaging said lead;
- a movable rack and a pinion gear engaged therewith, said movable rack being coupled to said pusher rod to push said lead toward a drawing media surface;
- spring means for urging said movable rack into intimate engagement with said pinion gear to provide increased stability to said pusher mechanism;
- and
- driving means for driving said pinion gear.
Actuator mechanism for a pencil carriage having a lead holder having lead therein comprising:
- a pusher rod engaging said lead;
- a movable rack and a pinion gear engaged therewith, said movable rack being coupled to said pusher rod to push said lead toward a drawing media surface;
- driving means for driving said pinion gear, said driving means including measuring means for measuring wear on said lead as said lead plots on said drawing media surface;
- and
- means responsive to said measuring means and coupled to said driving means for controlling the position of said movable rack.
A pusher mechanism for lead in a lead holder in a pencil carriage comprising:
- a pusher rod engaging said lead;
- a movable rack and a pinion gear engaged therewith, said movable rack being coupled to said pusher rod to push said lead toward a drawing media surface;
- sensor means for sensing a position of said movable rack relative to said drawing media surface;
- and
- driving means for driving said pinion gear.
Actuator mechanism for a pencil carriage having a lead holder having lead therein comprising:
- a pusher rod engaging said lead;
- a movable rack and a pinion gear engaged therewith, said movable rack being coupled to said pusher rod to push said lead toward a drawing media surface;
- driving means for driving said pinion gear;
- and
- means for causing said driving means to provide a constant down force on said lead toward said drawing media surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.