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US 7,296,979 B2Granted
Stable vacuum mounting plate adapter
AssigneeFaro Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSimon Raab, Marc M. Barber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum support includes a vacuum plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the vacuum plate having a mechanical stop extending from the bottom surface; an elastomeric seal extending along a periphery of the bottom surface, the vacuum plate and the elastomeric seal defining a vacuum space; and a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum space. Upon attaching the vacuum plate to a mounting surface by reducing pressure in the vacuum space, the stop is in engagement with the mounting surface.
Claims20
A vacuum support comprising:
- a vacuum plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface receptive to releasably mounting a separate operative device therewith;
- at least two rigid stops extending from the bottom surface;
- a seal extending along a periphery of said bottom surface, said vacuum plate and said seal defining a vacuum space;
- wherein upon attaching said vacuum plate to a mounting surface by reducing pressure in said vacuum space, said at least two stops are in engagement with said mounting surface preventing any further movement of any portion of said vacuum plate toward said mounting surface, therein providing a rigid fixed distance between said bottom surface and said mounting surface;
- a recess formed in the top surface of the vacuum plate, said recess being configured to contain a magnetic mount of a base of a coordinate measurement machine, and said top surface including a ferromagnetic material confgured to releasably associate said magnetic mount with the vacuum support.
2 more elements
A coordinate measurement system comprising:
- a vacuum support including a vacuum plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, at least two rigid stops extending from the bottom surface, and a seal extending along a periphery of said bottom surface, said vacuum plate and said seal defining a single vacuum space,
- wherein upon attaching said vacuum plate to a mounting surface by reduching pressure in said vacuum space, said at least two stops are in engagement with said mounting surface preventing any further movement of any portion of said vacuum plate toward said mounting surface, therein providing a rigid fixed distance between said bottom surface and said mounting surface, and rigidly supporting said coordinate measurement system relative to said mounting surface;
- and
- a operative portable coordinate measurement machine including a base having a magnet mount, an articulable arm extending from said base, and a measurement probe disposed at an end of said arm opposite said base,
- wherein said top surface of said vacuum plate is receptive to releasably mounting said magnet mount.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.