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US 6,157,157 AGranted
Positioning system
AssigneeSpeedline Technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positioning system for moving a device over an xy-plane has a drive mechanism with pivotable arms for moving a carriage over the xy-plane by driving it from one side. This drive mechanism allows the system to be made narrow along the other side.
Claims19
A system for positioning an instrument for performing a task, the system comprising:
- a frame;
- a first plate coupled to the frame and movable along a first axis;
- a second plate to mount the instrument, the second plate being coupled to the first plate and movable with respect to the first plate along a second axis;
- a first block and a second block, each coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame along the first axis;
- a first arm coupled to the first block and coupled to the second plate;
- a second arm coupled to the second block and coupled to the second plate;
- means for moving the first block and second block along the first axis to move the second plate over a plane defined by the first axis and the second axis.
4 more elements
A method for positioning an instrument over a plane defined by a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis, the method comprising steps of:
- coupling the instrument to a second plate that is coupled to a first block and to a second block and movably coupled to a first plate such that the second plate is movable with respect to the first plate along the second axis, the first plate being movable along the first axis;
- moving the first block and second block along the first axis to move the second plate and the instrument over the plane defined by the first and second axes.
A dispensing system for dispensing material onto an object:
- a frame;
- a first plate coupled to the frame and movable along a first axis;
- a second plate coupled to the first plate and movable with respect to the first plate along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- a pump for dispensing materials coupled to the second plate and movable along a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and to the second axis;
- a first block and a second block, each coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame along the first axis;
- a first arm coupled to the first block and coupled to the second plate;
- a second arm coupled to the second block and coupled to the second plate;
- a control system operatively coupled to the first block and the second block to control movement of the first block and the second block along the first axis to move the second plate over a plane defined by the first and second axes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.