Renishaw Plc

Renishaw Transducer Systems Limited

James Reynolds Henshaw

David R McMurtry

Alexander David Scott Ellin

Finlay Jonathan Evans

Peter Geoffrey Holden

Richard John Hoodless

Stephen Lindsey Tocknell

Colin Keith Howley

Richard David James Gearing

Thomas I Mackintosh

Nicholas John Weston

Robert R Thomson

John Dardis

Marcus Ardron

Michael Homer

Matthew Donald Kidd

Thomas John Stickland

Matthew Damian Harrison

Alexander D Ellin

Alexander D S Ellin

Alexander David Scott Willowdene Ellin

A rotary scale apparatus for an encoder apparatus including a planar disc on which at least one track including scale features is provided, in which the planar disc includes a hole through its centre for receiving a cylindrical shaft, and in which the rotary scale member includes at least three cantilevered spring members which are provided substantially in plane with the planar disc and spaced around the edge of the hole, for engaging with, and radially locating the disc on, a cylindrical shaft inserted therethrough.

Rotary encoder

A sealed encoder module for mounting onto a machine so as to measure relative displacement of first and second parts of the machine. The sealed encoder module can comprise, a scale, a readhead comprising a scale signal receiver, and an integral protective housing which encapsulates at least the scale and said scale signal receiver. The sealed encoder module can be configured to determine and output diagnostic information regarding a scale signal detected by the readhead.

Encoder

The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner while there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.

Substrate treatment device and method and encoder scale treated by this method

An encoder apparatus comprising a scale and a readhead assembly comprising a scale signal receiver. The scale and the scale signal receiver are located within a protective housing which is configured to protect them from contamination located outside the protective housing and comprises a seal through which the scale signal receiver can be connected to a part outside the protective housing. The arrangement of the scale signal receiver inside the protective housing is independent of the scale and protective housing.

Encoder apparatus

A measurement scale device includes at least one scale marking, wherein the or each scale marking includes at least one periodic nanostructure that represents scale device information.

Measurement scale with periodic nanostructure

A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing precision marks for a metrological scale in the form of a stainless steel ribbon. A laser is used to produce ultra-short pulses which have a fluence at the ribbon such that ablation takes place. The laser light can be scanned via scanner and the pitch of the marks can be controlled. The ablative technique causes little thermal input and improves the accuracy of the scale.

Laser marking

A coordinate positioning apparatus is described. The coordinate positioning apparatus comprises a mounting surface, a motion guide mountable on the mounting surface, a first member comprising a sensor for sensing scale markings, the first member being mountable on the motion guide, and an encoder scale member comprising a first set of scale markings which are, in use, sensable by the sensor. At least part of the encoder scale member is retained between the mounting surface and the motion guide such that the encoder scale member is supported by the mounting surface at least in the vicinity of the first set of scale markings. The motion guide may be a guide rail or a bearing, for example. En encoder scale member for use with such a coordinate positioning apparatus is also described.

Encoder scale member and method for mounting

A method of making metrological scale for scale reading apparatus includes directing a laser beam onto a scale substrate (). The laser parameters are such that the local area of the scale substrate () on which the laser beam is incident is caused to be displaced, thus creating scale markings ().

Method and apparatus for scale manufacture without substantial removal of material

A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing precision marks () for a metrological scale in the form of a stainless steel ribbon (). A laser () is used to produce ultra-short pulses, which have a fluence at the ribbon such that ablation takes place. The laser light can be scanned via scanner () and the pitch of the marks () can be controlled. The ablative technique causes little thermal input and improves the accuracy of the scale.

A method of determining the eccentricity of an encoder scale member of a rotary encoder includes taking an encoder scale blank having a geometric center and mounting the encoder scale blank centered about a second center. A scale can then be produced on the encoder scale blank thereby forming an encoder scale member. The scale of the encoder scale member is centered about the second center. Any eccentricity between the geometric center and the second center is measured by, for example, measuring any change in the apparent radius of the encoder scale member. The encoder scale member may then be mounted in a working location wherein it is rotated about a third axis. The eccentricity when mounted in the working location may be matched to that measured during manufacture thereof and/or the eccentricity errors arising from both manufacture and mounting of the encoder scale member may be determined.

Method of producing a rotary encoder

The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner whilst there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.

Apparatus for measuring displacement between two members. A scale is provided on one member and has an incremental pattern with at least one reference mark embedded in it. A read head is provided on the other member and comprises a periodic diffraction means for interacting with a light pattern modulated by the incremental pattern on the scale to produce interference fringes having movement relative to said readhead responsive to said displacement, first detecting means for detecting the movement of the interference fringes, imaging means for imaging the reference mark and second detecting means for detecting the image of the reference mark.

Scale reading apparatus

A rotary ring system for use in scale reading apparatus comprises a rotary ring (), provided with scale marks on its surface and at least one intermediate member (). The at least one intermediate member () is fitted between the rotary ring () and the machine part () on which the rotary ring is to be mounted. Application of a force to the at least one intermediate member adjusts the effective radius of the rotary ring. The at least one intermediate member may be tangentially compliant.

A rotary ring for use in scale reading apparatus, comprises a flexible ring () which has scale markings () provided on a surface thereof. The rotary ring is mounted onto a machine part () by providing the machine part with a region of increased diameter () and stretching or shrinking the flexible rotary scale () over said region of increased diameter. The manufacturing tolerance of the rotary scale or differential e.g. thermal expansion is thus taken up by stretching or shrinking it into place. The region of increased diameter may comprise an annular protrusion or an O-ring, for example.

Growing community of inventors

Stroud, United Kingdom

James Reynolds Henshaw