Drafting machine

Claim 2

a second rack gear mounted by, and substantially coextensive with one of said side rails,

Claim 3

said directional control switch means selects one of said brakes for disengagement, and

Claim 4

said directional control switch means selects one of said brakes for disengagement, and

Claim 5

timing sequence control means actuated by said directional control switch means to delay the application of said index command signal to said control network until after said selected one clutch has been engaged and said motor control network has received said directional control input signal.

Claim 6

timing sequence control means actuated by said directional control switch means to delay the application of said index command signal to said control network until after said selected one clutch has been engaged and said motor control network has received said directional control input signal.

Claim 7

a first clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said first pinion gear, and

Claim 8

a first clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said first pinion gear, and

Claim 9

A drafting machine comprising, in combination: A. a carriage having means for attaching it to a drafting head; B. an elongated main rail mounting the carriage for linear movement in either direction parallel to a first orthogonal axis over a drafting surface, said main rail having a first rack gear carried by and substantially coextensive with the rail; C. a pair of guide rails respectively supporting said main rail at its opposite extremities for lateral movement in either direction parallel to a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first, at least one of said guide rails having a second rack gear substantially coextensive with that guide rail; D. a first drive train for effecting movement of said carriage along said first axis, said first drive train comprising a first pinion gear secured to said carriage and engaging said first rack gear; E. a second drive train for effecting concurrent movement of the extremities of said main rail along said guide rails and comprising a second pinion gear secured to said main rail and engaging said second rack gear; F. a single motive means for driving both the first and second drive trains; and G. coupling means operable selectively to drive either said first or said second drive train from said motive means, said coupling means comprising

Claim 10

A drafting machine comprising, in combination: A. a carriage having means for attaching it to a drafting head; B. an elongated main rail mounting the carriage for linear movement in either direction parallel to a first orthogonal axis over a drafting surface, said main rail having a first rack gear carried by and substantially coextensive with the rail; C. a pair of guide rails respectively supporting said main rail at its opposite extremities for lateral movement in either direction parallel to a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first, at least one of said guide rails having a second rack gear substantially coextensive with that guide rail; D. a first drive train for effecting movement of said carriage along said first axis, said first drive train comprising a first pinion gear secured to said carriage and engaging said first rack gear; E. a second drive train for effecting concurrent movement of the extremities of said main rail along said guide rails and comprising a second pinion gear secured to said main rail and engaging said second rack gear; F. a single motive means for driving both the first and second drive trains; and G. coupling means operable selectively to drive either said first or said second drive train from said motive means, said coupling means comprising

Claim 11

A drafting machine comprising, in combination: A. a carriage having means for attaching it to a drafting head; B. an elongated main rail mounting the carriage for linear movement in either direction parallel to a first orthogonal axis over a drafting surface, said main rail having a first rack gear carried by and substantially coextensive with the rail; C. a pair of guide rails respectively supporting said main rail at its opposite extremities for lateral movement in either direction parallel to a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first, at least one of said guide rails having a second rack gear substantially coextensive with that guide rail; D. a first drive train for effecting movement of said carriage along said first axis, said first drive train comprising a first pinion gear secured to said carriage and engaging said first rack gear; E. a second drive train for effecting concurrent movement of the extremities of said main rail along said guide rails and comprising a second pinion gear secured to said main rail and engaging said second rack gear; F. a single motive means for driving both the first and second drive trains; and G. coupling means operable selectively to drive either said first or said second drive train from said motive means, said coupling means comprising 1. a first clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said first pinion gear, and 2. a second clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said second pinion gear alternatively to but not concurrently with its coupling to the first pinion gear.

Claim 12

A drafting machine comprising, in combination: A. a carriage having means for attaching it to a drafting head; B. an elongated main rail mounting the carriage for linear movement in either direction parallel to a first orthogonal axis over a drafting surface, said main rail having a first rack gear carried by and substantially coextensive with the rail; C. a pair of guide rails respectively supporting said main rail at its opposite extremities for lateral movement in either direction parallel to a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first, at least one of said guide rails having a second rack gear substantially coextensive with that guide rail; D. a first drive train for effecting movement of said carriage along said first axis, said first drive train comprising a first pinion gear secured to said carriage and engaging said first rack gear; E. a second drive train for effecting concurrent movement of the extremities of said main rail along said guide rails and comprising a second pinion gear secured to said main rail and engaging said second rack gear; F. a single motive means for driving both the first and second drive trains; and G. coupling means operable selectively to drive either said first or said second drive train from said motive means, said coupling means comprising 1. a first clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said first pinion gear, and 2. a second clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said second pinion gear alternatively to but not concurrently with its coupling to the first pinion gear.

Claim 13

The drafting machine defined in claim 1, which further comprises: A. a first handwheel supported by said carriage and drivingly coupled to said first pinion, said first handwheel being operable, when said first clutch is deenergized, to move said carriage in a direction parallel to said first axis, and a second handwheel supported by said carriage and drivingly coupled to said second pinion by way of an elongated shaft aligned with said main rail and fixedly supported thereon, said second handwheel being operable, when said second clutch is deenergized, to move said main rail laterally in a direction parallel to said second axis.

Claim 14

a second clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said second pinion gear alternatively to but not concurrently with its coupling to the first pinion gear.

Claim 15

a second clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said second pinion gear alternatively to but not concurrently with its coupling to the first pinion gear.

Claim 16

a second clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said second drive train alternatively to but not concurrently with its coupling to the first drive train means.

Claim 17

a second clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said second drive train alternatively to but not concurrently with its coupling to the first drive train means.

Claim 18

a second pinion gear rotatably secured to one of said secondary carriage means and adapted for meshing engagement with said second rack gear,

Claim 19

a second pinion gear rotatably secured to one of said secondary carriage means and adapted for meshing engagement with said second rack gear,

Claim 20

said timing sequence control means delays the release of said one brake until immediately prior to the application of said index command signal.

Claim 21

said timing sequence control means delays the release of said one brake until immediately prior to the application of said index command signal.

Claim 22

a second shaft rotatably supported on said main rail and extending lengthwise of that rail, said second shaft being drivingly coupled to said second pinion, and 4 a second clutch for selectively coupling said motor output shaft to said second shaft.

Claim 23

a second shaft rotatably supported on said main rail and extending lengthwise of that rail, said second shaft being drivingly coupled to said second pinion, and 4 a second clutch for selectively coupling said motor output shaft to said second shaft.

Claim 24

A drafting machine comprising, in combination: A. a carriage having means for attaching it to a drafting head capable of being moved by the carriage; B. an elongated structure mounting said carriage for linear movement thereon in either direction parallel to a first orthogonal axis over a drafting surface; C. means supporting said elongated structure at its opposite ends for linear movement on said supporting means in either direction parallel to a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first; D. a first drive train for effecting movement of said carriage along said first axis and a second drive train for effecting movement of said elongated structure along said second axis, whereby to position a drafting head attached to the carriage at any desired point over the drafting surface; E. a single motive means for driving both the first and second drive trains, and F. coupling means operable selectively to connect said motive means to drive either said first or said second drive train, said coupling means comprising 1 a first clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said first drive train, and

Claim 25

A drafting machine comprising, in combination: A. a carriage having means for attaching it to a drafting head capable of being moved by the carriage; B. an elongated structure mounting said carriage for linear movement thereon in either direction parallel to a first orthogonal axis over a drafting surface; C. means supporting said elongated structure at its opposite ends for linear movement on said supporting means in either direction parallel to a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first; D. a first drive train for effecting movement of said carriage along said first axis and a second drive train for effecting movement of said elongated structure along said second axis, whereby to position a drafting head attached to the carriage at any desired point over the drafting surface; E. a single motive means for driving both the first and second drive trains, and F. coupling means operable selectively to connect said motive means to drive either said first or said second drive train, said coupling means comprising 1 a first clutch energizable to couple the driving output of said motive means to said first drive train, and

Claim 26

A drafting machine according to claim 3 in which said motive means is a stepping motor and in which there is provided A. a numerical input unit for expressing alternatively the distance said carriage is to move in either direction on said elongated structure or the distance said elongated structure is to move on said supporting means in either direction along said second axis; and B. a motor control network for translating the distance expressed at said numerical input unit into corresponding numbers of energizing pulses for application to said stepping motor to index said stepping motor accordingly.

Claim 27

The drafting machine defined in claim 4, which further includes: A. a control circuit including directional control switch means for selecting one of said first and second clutches for engagement, deriving a directional control input signal to said control network to indicate the appropriate rotational direction for said stepping motor output shaft, and initiating the application of an index command signal to said motor control network to execute an indexing function along one of said axes.

Claim 28

The drafting machine defined in claim 5, wherein said control circuit further includes:

Claim 29

The drafting machine defined in claim 6, wherein said first drive input means includes a first brake and said second drive input means includes a second brake, and

Claim 30

The drafting machine defined in claim 7, wherein said timing sequence control means further operates to re-engage said one brake upon conclusion of an indexing function and then to disengage said one clutch in preparation for the initiation of the next indexing function.

Claim 31

The drafting machine defined in claim 8, wherein said control circuit further includes a double index switch operating in conjunction with said timing sequence control means, immediately upon the conclusion of a first indexing function, to apply a second index command signal to said control network and thereby produce a second indexing function moving said drafting head in the same direction and over the same distance as was achieved during said first indexing function.

Claim 32

The drafting machine defined in claim 7, wherein said control circuit further includes a brake release switch for each said first and second brakes, thereby permitting individual and selective releases of said brakes independently of said directional control switch means and said timing sequence control means.

Claim 33

The drafting machine defined in claim 4, wherein each of said drive trains further includes at least one interchangeable gear set for establishing a predetermined relationship between the distance expressed by said numerical input unit and the lengths of movements of said drafting head parallel to said axes, whereby to automatically convert to a predetermined drawing scale.