Non-contact positioning apparatus

Abstract

Non-contact apparatus for positioning a surface working, testing or inspection device (1) relative to a surface to be worked, tested or inspected (2) at a desired position and orientation relative thereto (3b) including a baseplate (4) locatable at a distance away from the surface (2), means (5) for mounting the surface working, testing or inspection device on the baseplate (4), three or more range finder units (6a, 6b, 6c) removably mounted in spaced array (6d) on the baseplate (4), each of-which three or more range finder units (6a, 6b, 6c) includes a source (7) for impinging a beam (8) of ultra violet, visible light or infra red radiation on the surface (12), a detector (9) for imaging the impinging radiation (12) and for calculating a distance measurement (10a) from a datum location on the respective source (11a) the apparatus also including. transformation means for translating each of the range finder distance measurements (10a, 10b, 10c) into a common baseplate coordinate frame of reference (14), a processor (15) for receiving and processing the distance measurements (10a, 10b, 10c) to establish therefrom a first orientation and position (3a) of the surface (2) relative to the baseplate (4), and thus to the surface working, testing or inspection device (1) when mounted thereon, and indexing means (16). in operative association with the processor (15) for positioning the baseplate (4) and surface working, testing or inspection device (1) when mounted thereon at the desired position and orientation (3b) relative to the surface (2).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.