Method and apparatus for engraving using a magnetostrictive actuator
AssigneeOhio Electronic Engravers, Inc.
InventorLester W. Buechler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engraving head apparatus and method for engraving a gravure cylinder. The engraving head apparatus including a magnetostrictive actuator formed from TERFENOL-D.TM. which elongatably drives a diamond-tipped stylus arm in a reciprocal manner in response to a varying magnetic field created by a bias coil and a drive coil. The bias coil establishes a DC biasing magnetic field which causes an initial expansion of the actuator to approximately one-half the total linear expansion limit of the actuator. The drive coil is concentrically interposed between the actuator and the bias coil and modulates the magnetic field intensity established by the bias coil to cause additional expansion and contraction of the actuator about the initial expansion point.
Claims53
An engraving device for engraving a workpiece comprising:
- an actuator;
- and
- an engraving stylus for engraving the workpiece;
- an energizer coupled to said actuator for energizing said actuator within a substantially linear range of operation and for causing said engraving stylus to oscillate to engrave a predetermined pattern on a surface of the workpiece,
- wherein said actuator comprises a magnetostrictive member for oscillating said engraving stylus in the linear range at frequencies in excess of 5 Khz.
An engraving device for engraving a workpiece comprising:
- an actuator having a line of actuation;
- an engraving stylus for engraving the workpiece;
- and
- an energizer coupled to said actuator for causing said engraving stylus to oscillate to engrave a predetermined pattern on a surface of the workpiece,
- wherein said actuator comprises a magnetostrictive member having a plurality of harmonic frequencies, said energizer energizing said actuator such that said actuator operates on at least its third harmonic frequency.
An engraving device for engraving a workpiece comprising:
- an actuator having a line of actuation;
- an engraving stylus for engraving the workpiece;
- and
- an energizer for causing said engraving stylus to magnetostrictively oscillate in a substantially linear range to engrave a predetermined pattern on a surface of the workpiece,
- wherein said actuator is generally cylindrical and said stylus is integrally coupled to an end thereof.
A stylus driver for driving a stylus in an engraver comprising:
- an actuator coupled to the stylus;
- a driver for driving the actuator to cause said stylus to oscillate to engrave a predetermined pattern on a surface of a workpiece positioned at an engraving station in the engraver,
- wherein said stylus is situated on an arm having a resonant frequency;
- said resonant frequency being in excess of a frequency at which said driver oscillates said stylus.
A stylus driver for driving a stylus in an engraver comprising:
- an actuator coupled directly to the stylus;
- a driver for driving the actuator to cause said stylus to oscillate to engrave a predetermined pattern on a surface of a workpiece positioned at an engraving station in the engraver;
- wherein said actuator comprises a magnetostrictive member having a plurality of strain curves, said stylus driver further comprising:
- a compressor for compressing said magnetostrictive member to achieve at least one of said plurality of strain curves.
A method for engraving a predetermined pattern in a cylinder rotatably mounted on an engraver comprising the steps of:
- coupling a stylus to an actuator;
- said actuator comprising a magnetostrictive member;
- and
- magnetostrictively displacing said stylus in a substantially linear operating range such that it oscillates to engrave the predetermined pattern of cells on the cylinder.
A method for engraving a cylinder comprising:
- rotatably mounting a gravure cylinder at an engraving station of an engraver;
- providing an engraving device comprising an actuator having a stylus;
- energizing said engraving device to oscillate the stylus during rotation of the cylinder in order to engrave a predetermined pattern of engraved areas on a surface of the cylinder,
- wherein said actuator comprises a plurality of strain curves, said method further comprising the step of:
- compressing said actuator to achieve one of said plurality of strain curves.
A method for engraving a cylinder comprising:
- rotatably mounting a gravure cylinder at an engraving station of an engraver;
- providing an engraving device comprising an actuator having a stylus;
- energizing said engraving device to oscillate the stylus during rotation of the cylinder in order to engrave a predetermined pattern of engraved areas on a surface of the cylinder,
- wherein said actuator comprises a magnetostrictive member, said method further comprising the step of:
- biasing said magnetostrictive member to a biased condition.
An engraver comprising:
- an engraving head having a headstock and a tailstock for rotatably supporting a cylinder;
- an engraving head having a housing and an actuator situated in the housing;
- said engraving head comprising an energizer for energizing said actuator to cause a stylus associated with said actuator to oscillate in order to engrave a pattern on a surface of said cylinder;
- said driver energizing said actuator to at least a third harmonic of said actuator.
A method for engraving a cylinder comprising:
- rotatably mounting a gravure cylinder at an engraving station of an engraver;
- providing a magnetostrictive member in an engraving head situated at said engraving station, said magnetostrictive material having a stylus coupled thereto;
- energizing said magnetostrictive material to cause said stylus to be displaced in a substantially linear operation range of modulation for said magnetostrictive material during rotation of the cylinder in order to engrave a predetermined pattern of engraved areas on a surface of the cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.