Photoelectric scanning device for flame cutting machines

Claim 1

In a torch cutting machine having cutting means and motor means for causing the movement of the cutting means and a photoelectric scanning device, the improvement comprising said photoelectric scanning device including a scanning shaft, an optical system at one end of said scanning shaft, light receivers in said scanning shaft remote from said optical system, light source means for said optical system, a disc rotor drive motor, a disc rotor generator, a drive shaft, said disc rotor drive motor and said disc rotor generator being coaxially mounted on said drive shaft displaced from said optical system and said light source means and out of the path of light from said light source means, a resolver, means connecting said resolver to said motor means whereby said motor means causes the movement of said cutting means in respons to said resolver, said resolver being displaced from said drive shaft and said scanning shaft, circuit means interconnecting said generator and said light receivers for causing said generator to respond to said light receivers, and common gear means interconnecting said scanning shaft and said drive shaft and said resolver whereby said disc rotor drive motor is actuated in accordance with the light sensed by said optical system when said optical system scans a pattern to thereby cause said cutting means to follow the pattern scanned by said optical system.