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US 7,478,597 B2Granted
Multi-axis gantry system
AssigneePacific Bearing Company
InventorsRobert Schroeder, Glen Michalske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple axis gantry for providing movement along multiple axis is provided. The multiple axis gantry includes a pair of horizontal tracks and a vertical track to which a work piece carriage is attached. One drive motor provides an input for horizontal movement of the vertical track and a second drive motor provides an input for vertical movement of the work piece carriage. The vertical track of the gantry is driven proximate both ends to prevent cocking or binding during horizontal movement. Furthermore, the multiple axis gantry is configured such that manufacture of a gantry having custom dimensions for the horizontal tracks and vertical track is simple and cost effective.
Claims20
A multi-axis gantry comprising:
- first and second spaced apart tracks, the first and second tracks extending in generally parallel relation to one another and a first axis;
- a third track extending along a second axis different than the first axis;
- a first carriage and a roller guide attached proximate opposite ends of the third track, the first carriage and the roller guide movable along the first and second tracks, respectively for movement along the first axis;
- a second carriage attached to the third track for movement about the third track along the second axis;
- a first drive motor operably connected to the first carriage and the roller guide to simultaneously drive the first carriage and the roller guide in coordinated movement parallel to the first axis by a first drive loop operably interconnecting the first carriage, the roller guide and the first drive motor;
- and
- a second drive motor operably coupled to the second carriage by a second drive loop to operably drive the second carriage generally along the second axis, the second drive motor being mounted for coordinated movement relative to the first and second tracks along the first axis with the first carriage and roller guide when the first drive motor drives the first carriage and the roller guide in coordiniated movement parallel to the first axis.
4 more elements
A multi-axis gantry comprising:
- first and second spaced apart tracks, the first and second tracks extending in generally parallel relation to one another and a first axis;
- a third track extending along a second axis different than the first axis;
- a first carriage and a roller guide attached proximate opposite ends of the third track, the first carriage and the roller guide movable along the first and second tracks, respectively for movement long the first axis;
- a second carriage attached to the third track for movement about the third track along the second axis;
- a first drive motor operably connected to the first carriage and the roller guide to simultaneously drive the first carriage and the roller guide in coordinated movement parallel to the first axis by a first drive loop operably interconnecting the first carriage, the roller guide and the first drive motor;
- a second drive motor operably coupled to the second carriage by a second drive loop to operably drive the second carriage generally along the second axis;
- and
- wherein the first drive loop includes two drive loop segments wherein a first end of each drive loop segment is connected to the first carriage and a second opposite end of each drive loop segment is connected to the roller guide thereby defining a continuous drive loop and the second drive loop is defined by a third drive loop segment, the third drive loop segment having third and fourth opposite ends secured to the second carriage.
5 more elements
A multi-axis gantry comprising:
- first and second tracks extending in generally parallel spaced apart relation in a first direction;
- a third track extending in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction, the third track engaging, the first and second tracks and movable in the first direction along the first and second tracks;
- a first carrier along with a first drive loop supported by the third track and movable along the third track in the second direction;
- the first drive motor operably connected to the first carrier with a first drive loop for actuating the first carrier;
- and
- a second drive motor operably connected to the third track with a second drive loop, the second drive loop attached to the third track proximate opposite ends of the third track, the second drive motor operable to simultaneously actuate the opposite ends of the third track relative to the first and second tracks in the first direction via the second drive loop;
- and
- wherein the first and second tracks are formed from independent pieces such that the first and second tracks are independently mountable to a support irrespective of the mounting of the other one of the tracks to the support.
5 more elements
A. multi-axis gantry comprising:
- first and second tracks extending in generally parallel spaced apart relation in a first direction;
- a third track extending in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction, the third track engaging, the first and second tracks and movable in the first direction along the first and second tracks;
- a first carrier supported by the third track and movable along the third track in the second direction;
- a first drive motor operably connected to the first carrier with a first drive loop for actuating the first carrier;
- and
- a second drive motor operably connected to the third track with a second drive loop, the second drive loop attached to the third track proximate opposite ends of the third track the second drive motor operable to simultaneously actuate the opposite ends of the third track relative to the first and second tracks in the first direction via the second drive loop;
- and
- wherein the first drive loop includes two drive loop segments wherein a first end of each drive loop segment is operably connected proximate to a first end of the third track, and a second opposite end of each drive loop segment is operably connected proximate to a second opposite end of the third track thereby defining a continuous drive loop and the second drive loop is defined by a third drive loop segment, third drive loop segment having third and fourth opposite ends secured to the second carriage.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.