The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1987
Richard A Murray, San Diego, CA (US);
Enter Computer, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention comprises a mechanism for incrementally rotating a plotter carousel holding a plurality of pens around its perimeter. The rotational increments of the carousel are spaced to present any of the plurality of pens to a drawing arm on the plotter, or other graphics. A non-servo, non-stepper electric motor, such as a DC motor commonly used in slot cars, provides the rotational power to rotate the carousel. A control device switches the motor on or off with an output connected to the base of a driver connected between the power supply and the motor. The motor, when on, rotates an incremental indexing mechanism that in turn rotates the carousel in increments, each increment being a fraction of one full rotation. A switch is provided which detects that the carousel has been rotated one increment. This switch is connected to the control device, and, depending upon whether or not the desired pen is at the transfer point, the control device accordingly either switches off the motor or advances the carousel to the desired increment. Thus, the present invention uses event feedback to control the carousel. The event that the carousel has rotated one increment is this feedback.