Automatic drawing machine

Claim 2

An automatic drawing machine having a drawing board and a photo-optical drawing head, the head and board being laterally movable relative to one another, control means for controlling said relative movement and the intensity of light emitted by said head and falling on the board, a light source, a diaphragm having opaque and transparent portions, means for projecting a beam of light from said light source through said diaphragm and onto the drawing board, said projection means including a projection lens system for projecting an image of at least a portion of the diaphragm on the drawing board, a first electro-optical or magneto-optical shutter means in the path of said beam of light for controlling the intensity thereof, a second shutter in the path of said beam of light, and electromagnetic means for operating the second shutter.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 having a first auxiliary condenser lens means in the light beam to create a first portion of the beam with parallel rays of light, said first shutter being located in the first portion of the beam.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 having a partially reflecting mirror disposed obliquely in the light beam between the first shutter and the diaphragm to direct the beam into two paths, one of the paths being directed toward the diaphragm, a photoelectric cell located in the other path and coupled to the portion of the control means which changes the molecular structure of the light-conductive element in the first shutter.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the partially reflecting mirror is an infrared mirror oriented to transmit shortwave portions of the light beam along the one path toward the diaphragm and to reflect longwave portions of the light beam along the other path toward the photoelectric cell.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 having a first auxiliary condenser lens means in the light beam to create a first portion of the beam with parallel rays of light, said first portion of the beam passing through the first shutter, and a second auxiliary condenseR lens means in the beam to produce a true image of the light source substantially in the plane of said second shutter.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 having an auxiliary condenser lens means in the beam to create a true image of the light source substantially in the plane of said second shutter.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for opening said second shutter prior to commencement of relative movement between the drawing head and the drawing board.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 having an auxiliary condenser lens means in the beam to create a true image of the light source substantially in the plane of said second shutter.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 having another auxiliary condenser lens means in the light beam to create a first portion of the beam with parallel rays of light, said first shutter being located in the first portion of the beam.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 having a partially reflecting mirror disposed obliquely in the light beam between the first shutter and the diaphragm to direct the beam into two paths, one of the paths being directed toward the diaphragm, a photoelectric cell located across the other path and coupled to the control means to vary the intensity of the field within the first shutter.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the partially reflecting mirror is an infrared mirror oriented to transmit shortwave portions of the light beam along the one path toward the diaphragm and to reflect longwave portions of the light beam along the other path toward the photoelectric cell.

Claim 13

An automatic drawing machine having a drawing board and a photo-optical drawing head, the head and board being laterally movable relative to one another, control means for controlling said relative movement and the intensity of light emitted by said head and falling on the board, a light source, a diaphragm having opaque and transparent portions, means for projecting a beam of light from said light source through said diaphragm and onto the drawing board, said projection means including a projection lens system for projecting an image of at least a portion of the diaphragm on the drawing board, a first shutter having light transmissability characteristics which vary according to the molecular structure within a light-conductive element thereof, means operatively connected to the control means for changing the molecular structure within the light-conductive element to vary the light transmissability of the first shutter, a second shutter for interrupting the beam of light, said second shutter having opaque portions movable to and from a position interrupting said beam, said control means including means for opening said second shutter prior to commencement of relative movement between the drawing head and the drawing board.

Claim 14

An automatic drawing machine having a drawing board and a photo-optical drawing head, the head and board being laterally movable relative to one another, control means for controlling said relative movement and the intensity of light emitted by said head and falling on the board, a light source, a diaphragm having opaque and transparent portions, means for projecting a beam of light from said light source through said diaphragm and onto the drawing board, said projection means including a projection lens system for projecting an image of at least a portion of the diaphragm on the drawing board, a first shutter having light transmissability characteristics which vary according to the molecular structure within a light-conductive element thereof, means operatively connected to the control means for changing the molecular structure within the light-conductive element to vary the light transmissability of the first shutter, a second shutter for interrupting the beam of light, said second shutter having opaque portions movable to and from a position interrupting said beam, said control means including means for opening said second shutter prior to commencement of relative movement between the drawing head and the drawing board.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first shutter is an electro-optical shutter.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first shutter is a magneto-optical shutter.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 12 having electromagnetic means for moving the opaque portions of the second shutter.