CA2572702A1

CA2572702A1 - Probe support

Info

Publication number: CA2572702A1
Application number: CA 2572702
Authority: CA
Inventors: Samantha Delbergue
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2006-12-29
Publication date: 2008-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-29
Also published as: CA2698387A1; CA2572702C; CA2698387C

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a probe device comprising a reference barrel, the reference barrel having a longitudinal axis, a support assembly mounted for travel relative to the reference barrel and along a path parallel with the longitudinal axis, the support assembly including a first support barrel slidably nested within the reference barrel and arranged for movement along the path and a second support barrel nested within the first support barrel for movement along the first support barrel between inner and outer limit positions along the path, a biasing portion for biasing the second support barrel toward an operative position, the second support barrel including an operative end portion, the operative end portion including a tip for probing a target site on a surface of a target article.

Claims

1. A marking device comprising a reference barrel, the reference barrel having a longitudinal axis, a marker support assembly mounted for travel relative to the reference barrel and along a path parallel with the longitudinal axis, the marker support assembly including a first support barrel slidably nested within the reference barrel and arranged for indexed movement along the path and a second support barrel nested within the first support barrel for movement along the first support barrel between inner and outer limit positions along the path, a biasing portion for biasing the second support barrel toward a central position between the inner and outer limit positions, the second support barrel having a distal end region which is configured to receive and hold a marker therein with an operable marker tip exposed therefrom.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, the reference barrel and/or the first support barrel having a number of index formations at spaced locations relative to the longitudinal axis.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, the first support barrel having a first cylindrical outer surface, the index formations being located on the first outer surface.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, each formation including a lateral recess.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, further comprising at least one detent portion anchored relative to the reference barrel for engaging a corresponding lateral recess according to the position of the first support barrel relative to the reference support barrel.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, the detent member including a spring biased detent ball.

7. A device as defined in claim 3, the first support barrel further including indicia formed on the first outer surface and adjacent one or more of the index formations.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, the indicia including one or more related reference characters and/or related coloured surface portions.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of planar surface portions formed on the first cylindrical outer surface, each surface portion adjacent a corresponding lateral recess and bearing one of the related reference characters and/or related surface portions.

10. A device as defined in claim 8, the indicia including consecutive numbers, each corresponding to a unit of displacement along the longitudinal axis.

11. A device as defined in claim 8, the indicia including consecutive numbers, each corresponding to a unit of displacement along the longitudinal axis, each consecutive number being formed on a surface portion with a related colour background.

12. A device as defined in claim 1, the distal end region having a number of longitudinally oriented slots to form a number of resilient prongs distributed about the longitudinal axis, the prongs dimensioned to flex outwardly when receiving the marker.

13. A device as defined in claim 1, the second support barrel having a length, the first support barrel having a first inner passage to receive the second support barrel, the first inner passage having a depth substantially equal with the length of the second support barrel.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, the first support barrel having a first proximal end region, a first inner passage terminating at an inner abutment surface, the first support barrel having a second inner passage extending between the inner abutment surface and the first proximal end region, the biasing portion including a spring located in the first and second inner passages.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, the second inner passage including a shoulder near the first proximal end region, the shoulder being dimensioned to engage one end of the spring.

16. A device as defined in claim 15, the second support barrel having a second proximal end region and a spring guide portion extending therefrom into the first inner passage and, the spring guide portion being dimensioned to extend into the spring.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, the second support barrel having a third inner passage to receive the marker, the second support barrel having a second proximal end region, the third inner passage terminating at an inner abutment surface.

18. A device as defined in claim 17, the spring guide portion including a body, a first guide element extending from the body into the first inner passage and a second guide element extending into the second proximal end region for securing the spring guide portion thereto.

19. A robot device comprising a robot arm, the robot arm carrying the device of claim 1.

20. A method of mounting a marker, comprising providing a reference barrel with a longitudinal axis, mounting a first support barrel in the reference barrel for indexed movement along a path parallel with the longitudinal axis, nesting a second support barrel within the first support barrel for movement along the first support barrel between inner and outer limit positions, biasing the second support barrel toward a central position between the inner and outer limit positions and mounting a marker in the second support barrel.

21. A probe support device comprising a reference body, a first support body mounted within the reference body for movement between a number of indexed positions therein, a second support body slidably mounted within the first support body between an inner limit position and an outer limit position, a biasing portion for biasing the second support body toward an operative position, the second support body having an inner cavity which is exposed in the outer limit position, the second support body further including a number of engagement formations for engaging a probe element.

22. A device as defined in claim 21, the first support body having an outer surface, each of the indexed positions including a formation positioned on the outer surface.

23. A device as defined in claim 21, the first support body having an outer surface, each of the indexed positions including a lateral formation extending around the outer surface.

24. A device as defined in claim 23, the formation being a recess.

25. A device as defined in claim 24, further comprising at least detent portion positioned on the reference body for engaging the recess.

26. A device as defined in claim 25, the detent portion including a spring loaded ball.

27. A device as defined in claim 21, the first support body including indicia adjacent each formation for identifying a relative position of the first support body relative to the reference body.

28. A device as defined in claim 21, the indicia including a set of related reference characters, each reference character adjacent a corresponding formation.

29. A device as defined in claim 27, the indicia including a set of related coloured surfaces, each coloured surfaces being adjacent a corresponding formation.

30. A device as defined in claim 21, the engagement formations formed by a plurality longitudinal slices in the second support body to form a plurality of resilient prongs for engaging the probe element.

31. A device as defined in claim 21, the probe element including a marker, pencil and/or pen.

32. A probe device comprising a reference barrel, the reference barrel having a longitudinal axis, a support assembly mounted for travel relative to the reference barrel and along a path parallel with the longitudinal axis, the support assembly including a first support barrel slidably nested within the reference barrel and arranged for movement along the path and a second support barrel nested within the first support barrel for movement along the first support barrel between inner and outer limit positions along the path, a biasing portion for biasing the second support barrel toward an operative position, the second support barrel including an operative end portion, the operative end portion including a tip for probing a target site on a surface of a target article.

33. A device as defined in claim 32, the operative position being a central position between the inner and outer limit positions.

34. A device as defined in claim 32, the operative end portion being integrally formed with the second support barrel.

35. A device as defined in claim 34, the operative end portion including a probe element held within the second support barrel.

36. A device as defined in claim 35, the probe element including a marker.

37. A device as defined in claim 36, further comprising a cap or retainer for removably securing the marker to the second support barrel.

38. A robotic installation, comprising a robot arm, the arm having an operative wrist portion, the wrist portion including a reference barrel, the reference barrel having a longitudinal axis, a support assembly mounted for travel relative to the reference barrel and along a path parallel with the longitudinal axis, the support assembly including a first support barrel slidably nested within the reference barrel and arranged for movement along the path and a second support barrel nested within the first support barrel for movement along the first support barrel between inner and outer limit positions along the path, a biasing portion for biasing the second support barrel toward an operative position, the second support barrel including an operative end portion, the operative end portion including a tip for probing a target site on a surface of a target article.

39. A method for training a robotic installation, comprising providing a robot arm with an operative wrist portion, installing a reference barrel on the wrist portion, the reference barrel having a longitudinal axis, positioning a support assembly on the wrist portion for travel relative to the reference barrel along a path parallel with the longitudinal axis, providing the support assembly with a first support barrel, arranging the first support barrel for movement along the path and a second support barrel nested within the first support barrel for movement along the first support barrel between inner and outer limit positions along the path, providing for a bias of the second support barrel toward an operative position, providing the second support barrel with an operative end portion for probing a target site on a surface of a target article.

40. A method for training a robotic installation, comprising providing a robot arm with an operative wrist portion, providing a carrier body on the wrist portion for movement relative thereto, installing a reference probe in the carrier body for movement relative thereto, providing the reference probe with a first range of travel between a first inner limit position and a first outer limit position relative to a carrier body, providing the carrier body with a second range of travel between a second inner limit position and a second outer limit position relative to the wrist portion, and providing a plurality of colour and/or reference formations on the reference probe, the carrier body and/or the wrist portion to denote changes in the position of the reference probe.

41. A robotic installation, comprising a robot arm with an operative wrist portion, a carrier body installed on the wrist portion for movement relative thereto, a reference probe supported in the carrier body for movement relative thereto, the reference probe being movable with a first range of travel between a first inner limit position and a first outer limit position relative to a carrier body, the carrier body being movable with a second range of travel between a second inner limit position and a second outer limit position relative to the wrist portion, and a plurality of colour and/or reference formations on the reference probe, the carrier body and/or the wrist portion for identifying changes in the position of the reference probe.

42. A method for training a robotic installation, comprising a step for providing a robot arm with an operative wrist portion, a step for providing a carrier body on the wrist portion for movement relative thereto, a step for installing a reference probe in the carrier body for movement relative thereto, a step for providing the reference probe with a first range of travel between a first inner limit position and a first outer limit position relative to a carrier body, a step for providing the carrier body with a second range of travel between a second inner limit position and a second outer limit position relative to the wrist portion, and a step for providing a plurality of colour and/or reference formations on the reference probe, the carrier body and/or the wrist portion to denote changes in the position of the reference probe.

43. A robotic installation, comprising a robot means with an operative wrist means, carrier means installed on the wrist means for movement relative thereto, reference probe means supported in the carrier means for movement relative thereto, the reference probe means being movable with a first range of travel between a first inner limit position and a first outer limit position relative to a carrier means, the carrier means being movable with a second range of travel between a second inner limit position and a second outer limit position relative to the wrist means, and a plurality of colour and/or reference formations on the reference probe means, the carrier means and/or the wrist means for identifying changes in the position of the reference probe means.

44. A probe support device comprising a reference member, the reference member having a longitudinal axis and providing at least one path along the longitudinal axis between a proximal location and a distal location, a probe support assembly mounted for travel relative to the reference member, the probe support assembly including a support barrel slidably engaged with the reference member and including at least one guide formation for extending into the path to limit travel of the guide formation to between the proximal and distal locations, a positioning portion mounted on the support barrel for supporting a probe with an operable remote exposed therefrom, and a biasing portion for biasing the support barrel toward the distal location.

45. A device as defined in claim 44, the reference member being nested within the support barrel.

46. A device as defined in claim 45, the reference member further including a central passage, the biasing portion including a spring located within the central passage.

47. A device as defined in claim 46, the at least one guide formation including a pair of opposed pin members extending inwardly from the support barrel.

48. A device as defined in claim 45, the reference member further including a central passage, the biasing portion including a spring located within the central passage, the support barrel further comprising a housing to receive the probe, the housing being arranged to extend into the central passage.

49. A device as defined in claim 47, the reference member including a pair of elongate slots, each to receive a corresponding pin member.

50. A method for training a robotic installation, comprising a step for providing a robot arm with an operative wrist portion, a step for providing a carrier on the wrist portion for movement relative thereto, a step for installing a reference probe in the carrier body for movement relative thereto, a step for providing the reference probe with a range of travel between a first inner limit position and a first outer limit position relative to the carrier body and a step for providing a plurality of colour and/or reference formations on the reference probe, the carrier body and/or the wrist portion to denote changes in the position of the reference probe.