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:
Dec. 17, 2002
Filed:
May. 02, 2000
Victor G Stimpson, Avening, GB;
Jonathan P Fuge, Stonehouse, GB;
Benjamin J Merrifield, Newport, GB;
David R McMurtry, Wotton-under-Edge, GB;
Renishaw PLC, Gloucestershire, GB;
Abstract
Described is a device which enables toolsetting on a machine tool. The device includes a light emitting unit ( ) and a light detecting unit ( ). A light source ( ) causes a light beam ( ) to propagate from the emitting unit ( ) to the detecting unit ( ). A light detector ( ) detects the presence or absence of the beam. A trigger signal is produced when occlusion occurs and so the position of an object can be determined by reference to the machine's coordinate readings. The beam ( ) may be uncollimated and thus provide a device with an easier set-up and a greater resistance to vibration in use. The light detector ( ) and/or light source may be protected from contamination by windows ( ) or a protector having an aperture therein. The light emitting and detecting units each have an aperture for the light beam. The apertures may be oblique conduits ( ) for pressurised air flow, thereby keeping the conduits free from contamination, while minimising turbulence in the path of the beam which could cause noise in the resulting signal.