Control apparatus for controlling positioning of a control member

Claim 2

Apparatus for adjusting the position of a control member relative to a hollow flexible tube, comprising: first and second members pivotally connected together to pivot about a pivot point; a control member mounted on said first member and disposed at a first distance from said pivot point; tube support means for supporting a hollow flexible tube on said second member relative to said control member so that said tube is adapted to be transversely compressed by said control member to vary the size of the opening of said tube and so that adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said tube provides a desired control of said tube by varying the distance between said control member and said tube support means; fine control means for finely adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member, said fine control means acting at an action point on one of said first and second members to pivot said first and second members relative to each other about said pivot point, said action point being a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said second member, the amount of change in position of said control member being less than said selected amount of movement; and coarse control means operatively associated with said control member for adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member between a first position in which said fine control means is operative to finely adjust the position of said control member relative to said tube to thereby effect a change in control of said tube, and a second position in which said fine control means is inoperative to effect a change in control of said tube.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coarse control means includes adjustment means for causing relative movement between said control member and said first member so as to vary the distance between said control member and said tube support means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said coarse control means further includes means for moving said tube support means relative to said second member so as to vary the distance between said control member and said tube support means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fine control means comprises screw means threadably connected to said member on which said fine control means acts and means for rotating said screw means to move said first and second members relative to each other to adjust the position of said control member relative to said tube support means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said screw means is supported on the member other than said member to which said screw means is connected.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said screw means is freely rotatable within said other member and further includes stop means on said screw means, and wherein said fine control means further includes biasing means for biasing said other member against said stop means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second member comprises a support member and a steering arm, said steering arm at one end being pivotally connected to said support member and at the other end being pivotally connected to said first member at said pivot point.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coarse control means comprises adjustment means for causing relative movement between said control member and said first member.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 further including biasing means for biasing at least one of said first and second members for relative pivotal movement in a first direction so that any play in the movement of said members is always taken up in the same direction.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring operatively disposed between said first and second members to pivot said first and second members in a direction away from one another.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fine control means includes means for incrementally adjusting the change in position of said control member in a range on the order of 0.05-0.1 mm.

Claim 13

Apparatus for controlling the positioning of a control element along a desired path including an operative portion in which said control element is operative to perform a control function comprising: a control element disposed in said path; coarse adjustment control means opeatively associated with said control element for coarsely controlling the positioning of of said control element along said path; an elongated fine adjustment control member operatively associated with said control element for finely controlling the positioning of said control element along said path; means pivotally mounting said elongated fine adjustment member for pivotal movement about a pivot point, said pivot point being located at first distance from said control element; fine adjustment control means acting on said elongated fine adjustment control member at an action point disposed a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in a change in position of said control element along said path, the amount of change in position of such control element being less than said selected amount of movement, said fine adjustment control means being operative to move said control element between first and second limits along said path; support means for supporting a hollow flexible tube adapted to be transversely compressed by said control element to vary the size of the opening of said tube, said support means being disposed in said path relative to said control element so that when said control element is positioned in said operative portion of said control path, movement of said elongated fine adjustment control member relative to said support means causes relative movement between said support means and said control element so as to vary the distance therebetween; and said coarse adjustment control means including moving means for moving said control element a distance greater than the distance between said first and second limits along said path so that said fine adjustment control means can be positioned to be inoperative to move said control element into said operative portion of said path.

Claim 14

Apparatus for controlling the positioning of a control element along a desired path including an operative portion in which said control element is operative to perform a control function comprising: a control element disposed in said path; coarse adjustment control means opeatively associated with said control element for coarsely controlling the positioning of of said control element along said path; an elongated fine adjustment control member operatively associated with said control element for finely controlling the positioning of said control element along said path; means pivotally mounting said elongated fine adjustment member for pivotal movement about a pivot point, said pivot point being located at first distance from said control element; fine adjustment control means acting on said elongated fine adjustment control member at an action point disposed a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in a change in position of said control element along said path, the amount of change in position of such control element being less than said selected amount of movement, said fine adjustment control means being operative to move said control element between first and second limits along said path; support means for supporting a hollow flexible tube adapted to be transversely compressed by said control element to vary the size of the opening of said tube, said support means being disposed in said path relative to said control element so that when said control element is positioned in said operative portion of said control path, movement of said elongated fine adjustment control member relative to said support means causes relative movement between said support means and said control element so as to vary the distance therebetween; and said coarse adjustment control means including moving means for moving said control element a distance greater than the distance between said first and second limits along said path so that said fine adjustment control means can be positioned to be inoperative to move said control element into said operative portion of said path.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said moving means is operative to move said control element in a direction away from said support means.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said support means comprises a support member and wherein said fine adjustment control means comprises screw means threadably connected to one of said members and means for rotating said screw means to move said elongated fine adjustment control member and said support member relative to each other to adjust the position of said control element relative to said support member.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 further including biasing means for biasing said elongated fine adjustment control member for pivotal movement in a first direction about said pivot point so that any play in the movement of said elongated fine adjustment control member is always taken up in the same direction.

Claim 18

Apparatus for adjusting the position of a control member relative to a workpiece, comprising: first and second members pivotally connected together to pivot about a pivot point; a control member having a longitudinal axis mounted on said first member and disposed at a first distance from said pivot point; support means for supporting a workpiece on said second member relative to said control member so that adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said workpiece provides a desired control of said workpiece by varying the distance between said control member and said support means; fine control means for finely adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member, said fine control means acting at an action point on one of said first and second members to pivot said first and second members relative to each other about said pivot point, said action point being a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said second member, the amount of change in position of said control member being less than said selected amount of movement; and coarse control means operatively associated with said control member for adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member between a first position in which said fine control means is operative to finely adjust the position of said control member relative to said workpiece to thereby effect a change in control of said workpiece, and a second position in which said fine control means is inoperative to effect a change in control of said workpiece, said coarse control means including a magnet for moving said control member relative to said first member in a direction along said longitudinal axis of said control member.

Claim 19

Apparatus for adjusting the position of a control member relative to a workpiece, comprising: first and second members pivotally connected together to pivot about a pivot point; a control member having a longitudinal axis mounted on said first member and disposed at a first distance from said pivot point; support means for supporting a workpiece on said second member relative to said control member so that adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said workpiece provides a desired control of said workpiece by varying the distance between said control member and said support means; fine control means for finely adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member, said fine control means acting at an action point on one of said first and second members to pivot said first and second members relative to each other about said pivot point, said action point being a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said second member, the amount of change in position of said control member being less than said selected amount of movement; and coarse control means operatively associated with said control member for adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member between a first position in which said fine control means is operative to finely adjust the position of said control member relative to said workpiece to thereby effect a change in control of said workpiece, and a second position in which said fine control means is inoperative to effect a change in control of said workpiece, said coarse control means including a magnet for moving said control member relative to said first member in a direction along said longitudinal axis of said control member.

Claim 20

Apparatus for adjusting the position of a control member relative to a workpiece, comprising: first and second members pivotally connected together to pivot about a pivot point; a control member mounted on said first member and disposed at a first distance from said pivot point; support means for supporting a workpiece on said second member relative to said control member so that adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said workpiece provides a desired control of said workpiece by varying the distance between said control member and said workpiece support means; fine control means for finely adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member, said fine control means acting at an action point on one of said first and second members to pivot said first and second members relative to each other about said pivot point, said action point being a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said second member, the amount of change in position of said control member being less than said selected amount of movement, said fine control means including screw means threadably connected to said member on which said fine control means acts and means for rotating said screw means to move said first and second members relative to each other to adjust the position of said control member relative to said second member; and coarse control means operatively associated with said control member for adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member between a first position in which said fine control means is operative to finely adjust the position of said control member relative to said workpiece to thereby effect a change in control of said workpiece, and a second position in which said fine control means is inoperative to effect a change in control of said workpiece.

Claim 21

Apparatus for adjusting the position of a control member relative to a workpiece, comprising: first and second members pivotally connected together to pivot about a pivot point; a control member mounted on said first member and disposed at a first distance from said pivot point; support means for supporting a workpiece on said second member relative to said control member so that adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said workpiece provides a desired control of said workpiece by varying the distance between said control member and said workpiece support means; fine control means for finely adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member, said fine control means acting at an action point on one of said first and second members to pivot said first and second members relative to each other about said pivot point, said action point being a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in adjustment of the position of said control member relative to said second member, the amount of change in position of said control member being less than said selected amount of movement, said fine control means including screw means threadably connected to said member on which said fine control means acts and means for rotating said screw means to move said first and second members relative to each other to adjust the position of said control member relative to said second member; and coarse control means operatively associated with said control member for adjusting the position of said control member relative to said second member between a first position in which said fine control means is operative to finely adjust the position of said control member relative to said workpiece to thereby effect a change in control of said workpiece, and a second position in which said fine control means is inoperative to effect a change in control of said workpiece.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for rotating said screw means comprises a motor.

Claim 23

Apparatus for controlling the positioning of a control element along a desired path including an operative portion in which said control element is operative to perform a control function comprising: a control element disposed in said path; coarse adjustment control means operatively associated with said control element for coarsely controlling the positioning of said control element along said path; an elongated fine adjustment control member operatively associated with said control element for finely controlling the positioning of said control element along said path; means pivotally mounting said elongated fine adjustment member for pivotal movement about a pivot point, said pivot point being located at a first distance from said control element; fine adjustment control means acting on said elongated fine adjustment control member at an action point disposed a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in a change in position of said control element along said path, the amount of change in position of such control element being less than said selected amount of movement, said fine adjustment control means being operative to move said control element between said first and second limits along said path, said fine adjustment control means including screw means threadably connected to said elongated fine adjustment control member and means for rotating said screw means to move said elongated fine adjustment control member to adjust the position of said control element along said path; and said coarse adjustment control means including moving means for moving said control element a distance greater than the distance between said first and second limits along said path so that said fine adjustment control means can be positioned to be inoperative to move said control element into said operative portion of said path.

Claim 24

Apparatus for controlling the positioning of a control element along a desired path including an operative portion in which said control element is operative to perform a control function comprising: a control element disposed in said path; coarse adjustment control means operatively associated with said control element for coarsely controlling the positioning of said control element along said path; an elongated fine adjustment control member operatively associated with said control element for finely controlling the positioning of said control element along said path; means pivotally mounting said elongated fine adjustment member for pivotal movement about a pivot point, said pivot point being located at a first distance from said control element; fine adjustment control means acting on said elongated fine adjustment control member at an action point disposed a second distance from said pivot point which is greater than said first distance such that a selected amount of movement of said action point results in a change in position of said control element along said path, the amount of change in position of such control element being less than said selected amount of movement, said fine adjustment control means being operative to move said control element between said first and second limits along said path, said fine adjustment control means including screw means threadably connected to said elongated fine adjustment control member and means for rotating said screw means to move said elongated fine adjustment control member to adjust the position of said control element along said path; and said coarse adjustment control means including moving means for moving said control element a distance greater than the distance between said first and second limits along said path so that said fine adjustment control means can be positioned to be inoperative to move said control element into said operative portion of said path.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for rotating said screw means comprises a motor.