Device ensuring the automatic stoppage of a guided moving body at desired positions not defined by exterior reference or guide marks

Claim 2

In a system for stopping a guided movable body at desired positions within stop zones along a path and including a comparator for comparing signals denoting the actual and desired positions and a drive mechanism under the control of the comparator, an encoding arrangement for providing the signals denoting the actual position, the said encoding arrangement comprising: a first angular encoder means arranged to make a plurality of revolutions while said body moves along said path and adapted with sensible information carried thereon at least identifying each of a number of the smallest possible steps in the longest stop zone to indicate the position of the body unambiguously within any one of a plurality of said stop zones including said longest stop zone, spaced apart along the said path, and a second separate angular encoder means arranged to make not more than one revolution for a complete traversal of the body along said path and having a set of sensible information tracks arranged thereon in sectors to define a plurality of respectively associated binary signals in parallel, each parallel binary signal being associated with one of said sectors on said second encoder means and embracing an arc thereon corresponding to and unambiguously identifying one of the stop zones.

Claim 3

A System according to claim 1 in which the second separate angular encoder means has at least one further track thereon having discrete sensible segments each angularly embraced by a respectively corresponding one of the said sectors and denoting more coarsely than the first encoder means proximity to a stopping position.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2 in which the second separate angular encoder means has a track thereon having sensible segments whose angular extents precisely correspond to respectively corresponding stop zones and another track whose segments each angularly extend on each side of an arc corresponding to a respectively corresponding stop zone.

Claim 5

In a system for stopping a guided movable body at desired positions along a path and including a comparator for comparing signals denoting actual and desired positions of the body respectively and a drive mechanism, coupled to the comparator, for driving the body under the control of the comparator, an encoding arrangement for providing signals denoting the actual position of the said body, the said encoding arrangement comprising: a. a first angular encoder including index means for indicating the position of the body precisely within any one of a plurality of zones spaced apart along the said path; b. means for reading out from said first angular encoder the position indicated by said index means; c. a second angular encoder having a first track for defining a plurality of respective binary signals each unambiguously denoting a respective one of said zones, said track having discontinuities delimiting on said second angular encoder a plurality of successive sectors each embracing an arc corresponding to a respective one of said zones; said second angular encoder also having a second track composed of discrete segments each angularly embraced by the said sectors and each having an angular extent corresponding to the length of the respective zone; d. means for reading out signals from said tracks of said second angular encoder; and e. means for driving said encoders such that said second encoder executes not more than one revolution for a complete traversal of the body along its path and said first encoder executes a plurality of revolutions for a complete traversal of the body along its path.

Claim 6

In a system for stopping a guided movable body at desired positions along a path and including a comparator for comparing signals denoting actual and desired positions of the body respectively and a drive mechanism, coupled to the comparator, for driving the body under the control of the comparator, an encoding arrangement for providing signals denoting the actual position of the said body, the said encoding arrangement comprising: a. a first angular encoder including index means for indicating the position of the body precisely within any one of a plurality of zones spaced apart along the said path; b. means for reading out from said first angular encoder the position indicated by said index means; c. a second angular encoder having a first track for defining a plurality of respective binary signals each unambiguously denoting a respective one of said zones, said track having discontinuities delimiting on said second angular encoder a plurality of successive sectors each embracing an arc corresponding to a respective one of said zones; said second angular encoder also having a second track composed of discrete segments each angularly embraced by the said sectors and each having an angular extent corresponding to the length of the respective zone; d. means for reading out signals from said tracks of said second angular encoder; and e. means for driving said encoders such that said second encoder executes not more than one revolution for a complete traversal of the body along its path and said first encoder executes a plurality of revolutions for a complete traversal of the body along its path.

Claim 7

The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said second angular encoder carries a third track composed of spaced apart segments each of which extends angularly on each side of a respective segment of said second track.