W.a. Whitney Co.

Michael A Tomlinson

Alfred Joseph Julian

Sidney B Schaaf

Steven A Tower

A machine tool loading apparatus is adapted to register the sheets being loaded directly in the workclamps of the machine tool. A four bar linkage is utilized to control the position of the sheet as the loader removes it from the supply stack and brings it into the workclamps. The four bar linkage is provided with a controlled amount of compliance which is released as the sheet is brought into the workclamps. The sheet is thus allowed a limited ability to be repositioned as the loading mechanism guides it into the workclamps, so that a registered position is achieved before the workclamps are closed. The preferred loader apparatus can be used to unload large parts from the machine tool. The loader apparatus may be adapted to the machine tool in conjunction with a material storage tower.

Machine tool loading apparatus

A cube corner laser beam retroreflector apparatus for a beam path external to a laser reduces the effect of small deviations in flatness of optical carriage mounting elements and/or linear ways that pitch, yaw and roll the carried retroreflector apparatus. Small changes in pitch, yaw and roll are converted to a small translation in position of the beam reflected from the apparatus. Since the reflected beam remains parallel to the incoming beam, the length of the beam path does not magnify such small deviations in position and system pointing stability is greatly improved. The cube corner retroreflector comprises a welded frame and three mirror holders, the welded frame consisting of plasma, laser or abrasive water jet cut tabbed and slotted flat plates welded together. Each mirror holder is adjustably attached to the welded frame and houses a removable mirror. Each mirror holder is preset to establish an orthogonal relationship between the mirrors, and adjusting devices are locked before installation of the cube corner retroreflector in a beam path.

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Roscoe, IL, United States of America

Michael A Tomlinson