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:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1995
Craig E Pfarr, Issaquah, WA (US);
Norman A Rudy, Renton, WA (US);
Design Systems, Inc., Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for cutting workpieces (36) moving along a path relative to the apparatus, including a guide arm (20), a tool mount (24), and two rotation mechanisms (28), (30), is provided. The guide arm (20) includes mounted links (40), (46), and at least two intermediate links (42), (44), pivotably connected end-to-end to each other to define a multiple bar linkage arrangement. The tool mount (24) is attached to the guide arm (20) at a connection of two of the intermediate links. The rotation mechanisms (28), (30) are in communication with the links (40), (46), for pivoting the links (40), (46) to cause movement of the intermediate links (42), (44), further causing the desired movement of the tool mount (24) in the path of the moving workpiece (36). Additional components include a second guide arm (22) positioned on the opposite side of the workpiece (36). The tool mount (24) is elongated to hold multiple nozzles (58) and is pivotably connected between the two guide arms (20), (22). In a second embodiment, the apparatus includes a carriage (82), a pivot frame (80) with a longitudinal guideway (88) capable of engaging the carriage (82), a translation mechanism for moving the carriage (82) along the guideway (88), a tool mount (24) attached to the carriage (82), and a rotation mechanism for pivoting the pivot frame (80). The combined rotation of the pivot frame (80) and translation of the carriage (82) causes desired movement of the tool mount (24) in the path of the moving workpiece (36). Additional components include a second pivot frame (100) positioned on the opposite side of the workpiece (36). The tool mount (24) is elongated to hold multiple nozzles (58) or other tools, and is pivotably connected between the carriages (82) of the first and second pivot frames (80), (100). The apparatus of either embodiment has 2 degrees of freedom, permitting a variety of available cutting patterns.