Apparatus and method for aligning machine platens

An apparatus for accurately aligning a surface of a fixed platen in parallel relationship with the surface of a movable platen of a machine comprising:

• a laser emitter for projecting a narrow collimated laser beam, said emitter having a control surface which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of said laser emitter;
• a first adapter for mounting said laser emitter on a surface of a fixed platen of a machine, said first adapter having a member mounted for rotation in said first adapter, said rotatable member having a control surface which is substantially parallel to said control surface of said laser emitter;
• a means for tightly pulling together said control surfaces of said laser emitter and said first adapter by threadably engaging said emitter with said first adapter;
• a target for producing a voltage when struck by said laser beam which is indicative of a position of said laser beam with respect to said target, said target having a control surface which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of said target;
• a second adapter for mounting said target on a surface of a movable platen of a machine which is to be aligned in parallel relationship to said surface of said fixed platen of said machine, said second adapter having a member mounted for rotation in said second adapter, said rotatable member having a control surface which is substantially parallel to said control surface of said target;
• and a means for threadably engaging said target and said second adapter to tightly pull together said control surfaces of said target and said second adapter.

In combination with a machine of the type wherein a planar surface of a movable platen is moved toward and away from an opposing planar surface of a fixed platen, a method for improving the accuracy of said machine by accurately aligning in parallel relationship said opposing planar surfaces of said platens comprising the steps of:

• mounting a first adapter on said planar surface of said fixed platen, said first adapter having a planar control surface which is in spaced apart relationship with said planar surface of said fixed platen;
• mounting for rotation a laser emitter in said first adapter, said laser emitter having a planar control surface which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of said laser emitter;
• pulling together said planar control surfaces of said laser emitter and said first adapter such that an axis of rotation of said laser emitter is directed toward said planar surface of said movable platen;
• mounting a second adapter on said planar surface of said movable platen, said second adapter having a planar control surface which is in spaced apart relationship with said planar surface of said movable platen;
• mounting for rotation a photocell target in said second adapter, said photocell target having a planar control surface which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of said photocell target;
• pulling together said control surfaces of said photocell target and said second adapter such that said axis of rotation of said target is directed toward said planar surface of said fixed platen;
• projecting a laser beam along said axis of said laser emitter toward said target;
• and aligning said laser beam with said axis of said target.

In combination with a machine of the type wherein a planar surface of a movable platen is moved toward and away from an opposing planar surface of a fixed platen, a method for improving the accuracy of said machine by accurately aligning in parallel relationship said opposing planar surfaces of said platens comprising the steps of:

• mounting at least one adapter on one of said platens of said machine, said adapter having a planar control surface spaced apart from said planar surface of said platen;
• mounting for rotation a laser emitter in said adapter, said laser emitter having a planar control surface which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of said laser emitter;
• pulling together said planar control surfaces of said laser emitter and said adapter such that said axis of rotation of said laser emitter is directed toward said opposing planar surface of said other platen;
• mounting a second adapter on said opposing planar surface of said other platen, said second adapter having a planar control surface in spaced apart relationship with said opposing planar surface of said other platen;
• mounting for rotation a photocell target in said second adapter, said target having a planar control surface which is substantially orthogonal to said axis of said target;
• pulling together said planar control surfaces of said target and said second adapter such that said axis of rotation of said target is directed toward said other of said platens;
• projecting a laser beam along said axis of said laser emitter toward said target;
• and aligning said beam of said laser emitter with said axis of said target.