| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090010740 | COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE GRIP - A portable coordinate measuring machine (PCMM) can have one or more rotatable grip assemblies to provide a locations for an operator to grasp the PCMM. A rotatable grip assembly can include a rotatable sleeve, a grip portion disposed over the sleeve, and one or more retaining rings to prevent the rotatable grip from axially sliding along one or more members of an articulated arm PCMM. A PCMM can include two rotatable grips to allow an operator to grasp the PCMM with both hands for positioning and repositioning operations. One rotatable grip can be positioned on an arm member most distant the PCMM base, and another rotatable grip can be positioned on a housing at least partially encasing an articulating joint assembly coupled to the arm member most distant the PCMM base. Other numbers of and locations of rotatable grip assemblies can be used in PCMMs. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090013547 | JOINT FOR COORDINATE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - An articulating joint for a coordinate measurement machine can include an improved optical encoder. The optical encoder can have an encoder hub and a read head that are rotatable with respect to each other based on movement of the articulating joint about an axis of rotation of the joint. The encoder hub has a read surface. The read surface can be an outer surface of a generally cylindrical segment. The read head can be positioned such that a read direction defined by the read surface is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the articulating joint. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090013548 | JOINT AXIS FOR COORDINATE MEASUREMENT MACHINE - One aspect of the present invention comprises a coordinate measurement apparatus that includes an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, and plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween, each arm segment including at least one position transducer. A measurement probe assembly is coupled to the second end of the arm. The measurement probe assembly comprises a first joint providing a first axis of rotation between the second end of the arm and a body of the measurement probe assembly. An encoder includes an encoder housing and an encoder shaft. The encoder housing is configured to rotate about a second axis with respect to the encoder shaft, which is rigidly coupled to the body. A probe is rigidly coupled to the encoder shaft. A measurement device is coupled to the encoder housing such that the measurement device rotates about a second axis with respect to the probe. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090271996 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING A PORTABLE COORDINATE MEASUREMENT MACHINE - An articulated arm portable coordinate measurement machine (PCMM) can be calibrated or recalibrated using a coordinate measurement machine (CMM). In one method for PCMM calibration, the CMM can be moved to one position, and the PCMM moved to a contact position where a probe head of the PCMM contacts a probe head of the PCMM. The PCMM and the CMM can be operatively coupled, for example, by a synchronizing cable such that position data from the PCMM and the CMM can be obtained at the contact position. The PCMM can be repositioned one or more times to obtain position data at multiple PCMM positions. The CMM can be repositioned as desired and additional contact position data sets obtained by subsequent positioning and repositioning of the PCMM. Various probe head types such as touch trigger probes, hard probes, and contact probes can be used in the calibration systems and methods. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090296105 | JOINT FOR COORDINATE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - An articulating joint for a coordinate measurement machine can include an improved optical encoder. The optical encoder can have an encoder hub and a read head that are rotatable with respect to each other based on movement of the articulating joint about an axis of rotation of the joint. The encoder hub has a read surface. The read surface can be an outer surface of a generally cylindrical segment. The read head can be positioned such that a read direction defined by the read surface is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the articulating joint. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100095542 | ARTICULATING MEASURING ARM WITH LASER SCANNER - A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween. Each arm segment defines at least one axis of rotation. A laser scanner assembly is coupled to the second end of the arm and is rotatable about a last axis of rotation of the articulated arm. The laser scanner assembly comprises a laser and an image sensor. The laser is positioned on an opposite side of the last axis of rotation from the image sensor. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100281706 | COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE GRIP - A portable coordinate measuring machine (PCMM) can have one or more rotatable grip assemblies to provide a locations for an operator to grasp the PCMM. A rotatable grip assembly can include a rotatable sleeve, a grip portion disposed over the sleeve, and one or more retaining rings to prevent the rotatable grip from axially sliding along one or more members of an articulated arm PCMM. A PCMM can include two rotatable grips to allow an operator to grasp the PCMM with both hands for positioning and repositioning operations. One rotatable grip can be positioned on an arm member most distant the PCMM base, and another rotatable grip can be positioned on a housing at least partially encasing an articulating joint assembly coupled to the arm member most distant the PCMM base. Other numbers of and locations of rotatable grip assemblies can be used in PCMMs. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110107612 | ARTICULATED ARM - An articulated arm CMM comprises a plurality of transfer members, a plurality of articulation members connecting at least two transfer members to each other, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end. At least two of the articulation members can include at least one encoder and the at least two encoders can both be enclosed within a single monoblock housing. | 05-12-2011 |
