apparatus for positioning, completely mechanical, multi-directional movement, controlled by cams with or without controlling movement of pitch.roll and / or yaw of the head of a machine tool, or the like

摘要

A low cost multi-directional movement cam controlled mechanical positioning apparatus is described for automatically tracing out the path of movement for the working head of a machine tool or the like. The apparatus may be embodied in a single machine providing for three- dimensional movement of the working head with or without additional controlled movement of the working head in either pitch, roll or yaw. Alternatively, the apparatus can be employed to provide additional degrees of movement either along a z-axis and/or in either pitch, roll or yaw to the working head of a two-dimensional automatic machine tool or conventional construction. The apparatus comprises a set of at least three relatively large diameter, disk-type, control-drive cams rotatably supported on a base member for controlling movement of the working head of a machine tool or the like within a plane defined by complementary axes of movement (such as the x-y axes) and along at least one additional degree of movement. A motor is provided for rotating the control-drive cams at a predetermined speed of rotation and cam follower means engage respective movement inducing cam surfaces formed on respective ones of the control- drive cams. Cam follower linkages coupled to respective ones of the cam followers directly drive a differentially operable transport mechanism that is supported on low friction wheels and tracks. The working head of the machine tool is secured to the transport mechanism and is moved thereby over a predetermined planar path of movement. A transport mechanism follower is coupled to the transport mechanism for freely following movement of the transport mechanism in its plane of movement without interference. Additional mechanical movement motion transmission means responsive to the additional cam follower and supported by the transport mechanism follower are provided for transmitting additional degrees of movement to the working head.