EP0411889A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for measuring and inspecting articles of manufacture
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-07-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An inspection and measuring apparatus (10) comprises a housing (12), having a holder (16) for supporting a workpiece (18) for rotation about an orthogonal axis (22), a light beam (30) supported out from a second vertical axis (24) for positioning for selective interruption by the workpiece upon rotation of the light beam means for detecting the co-ordinate position of interruption of the beam by the workpiece and comparing same to a reference.
Inventors
- 👤 Homer L. Eaton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/0002; G01B11/00; G01B11/24; G01B11/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture comprising in combination: means for supporting an article for rotation about a vertical axis; means for establishing and positioning an energy beam for intersection by said article upon rotation thereof; and means for generating signals responsive to said intersection for establishing the configuration of said article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture comprising in combination: means for supporting an article for rotation about a vertical axis; means for establishing and positioning an energy beam for intersection by said article upon rotation thereof; and means for generating signals responsive to said intersection for establishing the configuration of said article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein: said means for establishing and positioning said energy beam comprises a shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of vertically spaced arms extending outward from said shaft, and means for generating and transmitting a light beam from the outer end of one of said arms and means for sensing the light beam at the outer end of the other of said arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 2 wherein: said means for generating said light beam comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 2 wherein: said means for generating said light beam comprises a laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein: said means for supporting said article comprises a vertical shaft, and clamp means of an upper end of said shaft for mounting said article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 5 wherein: said clamp means is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said clamp means about said horizontal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein: means responsive to rotation of said light beam to an inoperative position for activating said means for rotating said article about said horizontal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 2 wherein: said means for supporting said article comprises a vertical shaft, and clamp means on an upper end of said shaft for mounting said article.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 8 wherein: said clamp means is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said clamp means about said horizontal axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 9 wherein: means responsive to rotation of said light beam to an inoperative position to activate means for rotating said article about said horizontal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An inspection apparatus for comparing the configuration of an article to a known standard, comprising in combination: a support frame; means for supporting an article for at least 180 degree rotation about a first axis and limited rotation about a second axis; sensing means including a light beam and means for sensing an interruption in said light beam; means for selectively positioning said light beam for selected interruption by rotation of said workpiece about said first axis; and means for establishing a coordinate point of the interruption of said beam by said workpiece and comparing said coordinate to a reference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
An inspection apparatus for comparing the configuration of an article to a known standard, comprising in combination: a support frame; means for supporting an article for at least 180 degree rotation about a first axis and limited rotation about a second axis; sensing means including a light beam and means for sensing an interruption in said light beam; means for selectively positioning said light beam for selected interruption by rotation of said workpiece about said first axis; and means for establishing a coordinate point of the interruption of said beam by said workpiece and comparing said coordinate to a reference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
An inspection apparatus according to claim 11 wherein: said means for positioning said light beam comprises a shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of vertically spaced arms extending outward from said shaft, and means for generating and transmitting said light beam from the outer end of one of said arms and means for sensing said light beam at the outer end of the other of said arms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 12 wherein: said means for supporting said article comprises a vertical shaft, and clamp means of an upper end of said shaft for mounting said article.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 13 wherein: said clamp means is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said clamp means about said horizontal axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 14 wherein: means responsive to rotation of said light beam to an inoperative position to activate means for rotating said article about said horizontal axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inspection apparatus according to claim 15 wherein: said means for generating said light beam comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 15 wherein: said means for generating said light beam comprises a laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 16 wherein: said sensing means comprises means for compensating for ambient light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
A measuring apparatus comprising in combination: a base support frame; a first elongated shaft mounted for rotation about a first vertical axis on said support frame for supporting a workpiece for at least 180 degree rotation about a first axis and limited rotation about a second axis; a second shaft mounted for rotation about a second vertical axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis, a pair of vertically spaced arms extending outward from said second shaft; sensing means including means for generating a light beam on an outer end of one of said arms, and means for sensing said light beam at the outer end of the other of said arms; and means responsive to an interruption in said light beam for establishing a coordinate point of the interruption of said beam by said workpiece and comparing said coordinate to a reference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
144 words
A measuring apparatus comprising in combination: a base support frame; a first elongated shaft mounted for rotation about a first vertical axis on said support frame for supporting a workpiece for at least 180 degree rotation about a first axis and limited rotation about a second axis; a second shaft mounted for rotation about a second vertical axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis, a pair of vertically spaced arms extending outward from said second shaft; sensing means including means for generating a light beam on an outer end of one of said arms, and means for sensing said light beam at the outer end of the other of said arms; and means responsive to an interruption in said light beam for establishing a coordinate point of the interruption of said beam by said workpiece and comparing said coordinate to a reference.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein: said first vertical shaft comprising clamp means for holding a workpiece, said clamp means is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis; and means for rotating said clamp means about said horizontal axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein: means responsive to rotation of said second shaft to an inoperative position to activate said means for rotating said clamp means about said horizontal axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inspection apparatus according to claim 21 wherein: said means for generating said light beam comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 21 wherein: said means for generating said light beam comprises a laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for determining the configuration of an article of manufacture according to claim 22 wherein: said sensing means comprises means for compensating for ambient light.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of inspecting an article, comprising: simultaneously moving an article and a sensing beam about spaced apart parallel axes for intersecting said beam with said article along a length thereof, and generating signals collectively defining intersections of said beam and a boundary of said article.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of inspecting an article, comprising: simultaneously moving an article and a sensing beam about spaced apart parallel axes for intersecting said beam with said article along a length thereof, and generating signals collectively defining intersections of said beam and a boundary of said article.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 25, comprising: moving said article selectively to at least two positions about an axis orthogonal to its parallel axis.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of measuring the dimensions of an article, comprising: establishing an energy beam for rotation at a spaced radius about a first axis of rotation; mounting a workpiece for rotation about a second axis beyond said radius for extension of said workpiece into said energy beam; and simultaneously moving said beam and said workpiece for intersection at selected positions along said workpiece and generating signals collectively defining intersections of said beam with a boundary of said article.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of measuring the dimensions of an article, comprising: establishing an energy beam for rotation at a spaced radius about a first axis of rotation; mounting a workpiece for rotation about a second axis beyond said radius for extension of said workpiece into said energy beam; and simultaneously moving said beam and said workpiece for intersection at selected positions along said workpiece and generating signals collectively defining intersections of said beam with a boundary of said article.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 27 wherein: said step of establishing an energy beam includes generating a light beam by means of a light emitting diode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 27 wherein: said step of establishing an energy beam includes generating a light beam by means of a laser.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 28 wherein: said step of generating signals comprises compensating for ambient light.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 27 wherein: said step of mounting said workpiece includes selecting a first elongated shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on support frame for supporting said workpiece for at least 180 degree rotation about said second axis and said shaft having means for supporting said workpiece for limited rotation about an orthogonal axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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