Curve follower device
US4117324A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1977 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23Q35/128
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A curve follower device having an optical scanner head circularly scanning a guide region containing a guide line and a separate code region provided at least on one side of the guide region, the measurement point of the head being a predetermined distance from its pivot point in the direction towards the guide line, and the head being movable along the guide region at a speed considerably slower than the scanning speed and being connected to a control device which forms from the signals delivered by the scanner head, control signals for the movement of the scanner head along the guide line. In the code region marks associated with the guide line as detected by the scanner head are provided in order to initiate further control commands in the control device, the length of the marks being greater than the width of the guide line. After the end of a mark in the code region is detected the control device makes the scanner head continue to travel for a predetermined further distance which is shorter than or equal to the interval of the measurement point from the pivot point.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.