Engraving system
AssigneeAxxess Technologies, Inc.
InventorMichael A. Mueller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engraving system for positioning a workpiece to be engraved. The workpiece is held in a workpiece carrier having a positioning structure that engages a complementary positioning structure on an engraving table. The workpiece is centered in the workpiece carrier so that when the workpiece carrier is in position on the engraving table, the center of the workpiece is known to the engraving system. This engraving system allows for an unskilled operator to engrave workpieces of different configurations in a reliable manner.
Claims26
An inscribing system, comprising:
- a support table having a first positioning structure;
- a plurality of workpiece carriers for positioning a plurality of workpieces having different configurations, each workpiece carrier having a relief configured to receive and hold a workpiece with a selected configuration and having a second positioning structure, the second positioning structure engagable with the first positioning structure to position the workpiece in a predetermined inscribing position on the support table;
- and
- an inscriber mounted on a support structure such that the inscriber is operable to inscribe the workpiece positioned on the support table.
An inscribing system, comprising:
- a plurality of workpiece carriers for positioning a plurality of workpieces having different configurations, each workpiece carrier having a relief configured to receive and hold a workpiece with a selected configuration and having a first positioning means for establishing a reference point on the workpiece carrier;
- support means for supporting the workpiece carrier, the support means including a second positioning means for engaging the first positioning means, whereby engagement of the first and second positioning means positions the workpiece carrier into a predetermined inscribing position;
- and
- means for inscribing the workpiece when the workpiece is in the predetermined inscribing position.
A method of positioning a workpiece in an inscribing system in a predetermined manner, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of workpiece carriers, each workpiece carrier having a relief configured to receive and hold a workpiece with a selected configuration and having a first positioning structure;
- securing the workpiece to be inscribed into the workpiece carrier;
- engaging the first positioning structure of the workpiece carrier with a second positioning structure on a support table to position the workpiece carrier in a predetermined inscribing position on the inscribing table.
An inscribing system, comprising:
- an inscriber for inscribing a workpiece;
- a support having a first positioning structure;
- and
- a workpiece carrier configured to receive the workpiece, the workpiece carrier having a second positioning structure engagable with the first positioning structure to substantially align the center of the workpiece carrier with the first positioning structure and position the workpiece in a predetermined inscribing position on the support.
An inscribing system, comprising:
- a support table having an opening;
- a workpiece carrier having a boss engageable with the opening to position a workpiece in a predetermined engraving position, the boss including an indentation;
- a spring pin disposed in the opening and configured to engage the indentation of the boss to secure the workpiece carrier to the support table;
- and
- an inscriber mounted on a support structure such that the engraver is operable to inscribe the workpiece positioned on the support table.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.