Positioning Device For A Positioning System

Abstract

The invention relates to a positioning device for a positioning system for positioning a first object in relation to a second object in a XY-reference system. The positioning device comprises a spring arrangement (130) comprising at least one first spring portion (132) serially coupled to at least one second spring portion (134), and the first spring portion (132) is configured to deflect in a positive Z-direction (+Z) in operation and the second spring portion (134) is configured to deflect in a negative Z-direction (−Z) in operation to compensating for the deflection of the first spring portion (132) in the positive Z-direction. Thereby, improved accuracy in positioning the first object in relation to the second object is provided.

Claims

1. A positioning device (100) for a system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the positioning device (100) comprising: a first XY-reference means (102) configured to be fixed to the first object (302), and a second XY-reference means (104) configured to be fixed to the second object (304); wherein the first XY-reference means (102) comprises a spring arrangement (130) configured to abut against the second XY-reference means (104) in operation for positioning the first object (302) in relation to the second object (304) in XY-directions, the spring arrangement (130) comprising at least one first spring portion (132) serially coupled to at least one second spring portion (134), and the first spring portion (132) is configured to deflect in a positive Z-direction (+Z) in operation and the second spring portion (134) is configured to deflect in a negative Z-direction (−Z) in operation to compensating for the deflection of the first spring portion (132) in the positive Z-direction.

2. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first spring portion (132) is configured to deflect in the positive Z-direction (+Z) with a first amount, and the second spring portion (134) is configured to deflect in the negative Z-direction (−Z) with a second amount, wherein the first amount is substantially the same as the second amount.

3. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first XY-reference means (102) has a in a Z-direction conical inner surface; and the second XY-reference means (104) has a in a Z-direction conical outer surface.

4. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring arrangement (130) has an annular disc shape; and the second XY-reference means (104) comprises a taper.

5. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second XY-reference means (104) is configured to be fixed to the second object (304) via a spacer (110).

6. The positioning device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the spring arrangement (130) comprises a rim portion (136) serially coupled to the first spring portion (132) and being configured to press against the taper of the second XY-reference means (104) in operation.

7. The positioning device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the spring arrangement (130) comprises a press fit guiding means (138) serially coupled to the second spring portion (134) and configured to press against the first object (302) in operation.

8. The positioning device (100) according to claim 7, wherein the rim portion (136) is arranged at an inner circumference of the spring arrangement (130), and the press fit guiding means (138) is arranged at an outer circumference of the spring arrangement (130).

9. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring arrangement (130) comprises a spring coupling portion (140) configured to serially couple the first spring portion (132) and the second spring portion (134).

10. The positioning device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the spring coupling portion (140) comprises a groove.

11. The positioning device (100) according to claim 10, wherein the groove is a punched groove.

12. The positioning device (100) according to claim 10, wherein the groove is circularly arranged with a constant radius around a center axis (A) of the positioning device (100).

13. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring arrangement (130) is formed from a single sheet metal piece with constant thickness.

14. The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second object (304) is configured to support the first object (302) in the positive Z-direction in operation.

15. A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 1.

16. The positioning device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the spring arrangement (130) comprises a rim portion (136) serially coupled to the first spring portion (132) and being configured to press against the taper of the second XY-reference means (104) in operation.

17. The positioning device (100) according to claim 11, wherein the groove is circularly arranged with a constant radius around a center axis (A) of the positioning device (100).

18. A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 2.

19. A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 3.

20. A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 4.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The appended drawings are intended to clarify and explain different embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows in a cross sectional view a positioning system according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows in a cross sectional view a positioning device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a spring arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention in a cross sectional view and in a view from above, respectively;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows in a cross sectional view a section of a spring arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary measurements of an exemplary spring arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows in a cross sectional view a positioning system 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. The positioning system 200 may comprise any number of positioning devices 100 and in the exemplary case of FIG. 1 two positioning devices 100 are shown in its mounted operating position. Each positioning device 100 may act as a zero-reference in the system 200 for high accuracy. Further, the system 200 also comprises a first object 302 and a second object 304 to be positioned in relation to each other in the XY-reference system or the XY-plane. The positive Z-direction +Z and the negative Z-direction −Z are also illustrated hence a Cartesian coordinate system is illustrated. However, in embodiments of the invention when cylindrical symmetry is at hand cylindrical coordinates may also be used with an axis A and a radial extension R as also illustrated in the Figs.

[0051] Furthermore, the first object 302 may e.g. be a working table, a base plate, a fixture, a pallet, a tool, etc., and the second object 304 may e.g. be a machine table, a machine base, etc. but are not limited thereto. The first object 302 may comprise a downward directed cavity in which cavity the first XY-reference means 102 may be fixed to as shown in FIG. 1 against the side walls of the cavity. Therefore, the first XY-reference means 102 may be arranged to be fixed against an inner wall of the cavity by a press-fit, e.g. if the first XY-reference means 102 comprises a spring arrangement, and may be mounted non-removably therein, e.g. by pressing it therein using a mandrel. The second XY-reference means 104 may be configured to be fixed to the second object 304 with or without a spacer 110. The second XY-reference means 104 may be made of hard metal in order to withstand wear.

[0052] In embodiments of the invention, the second object 304 is configured to support the first object 302 in the positive Z-direction in operation as shown in FIG. 1.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows in a cross sectional view a positioning device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The positioning device 100 comprises a first XY-reference means 102 configured to be fixed to the first object 302, and a second XY-reference means 104 configured to be fixed to the second object 304. The first XY-reference means 102 comprises a spring arrangement 130 configured to abut or press against the second XY-reference means 104 in operation for positioning the first object 302 in relation to the second object 304 in XY-directions or in the XY-plane. Further, the spring arrangement 130 comprises at least one first spring portion 132 which is serially coupled to at least one second spring portion 134. In operation, the first spring portion 132 is configured to deflect or deform in a positive Z-direction +Z and the second spring portion 134 is configured to deflect or deform in a negative Z-direction −Z so as to compensating for the deflection or the deformation of the first spring portion 132 in the positive Z-direction.

[0054] In embodiments of the invention, the first spring portion 132 is configured to deflect in the positive Z-direction +Z with a first amount, and the second spring portion 134 is configured to deflect in the negative Z-direction −Z with a second amount. The first amount is substantially the same as the second amount for balancing the deflection of the first spring portion 132 and the second spring portion, respectively, for controlled total deflection of the spring arrangement 130 of the positioning device 100.

[0055] When the first XY-reference means 102 is mounted, e.g. by press fit in which a high radial force will act on the first XY-reference means 102, the first XY-reference means 102 may deform in a non-controlled manner so that the positioning of the first object in relation to the second object is not accurate enough for precision applications. However, by having a spring arrangement 130 according to embodiments of the invention the deformation or deflection of the spring arrangement 130 may be controlled. This means improved accuracy.

[0056] Furthermore, the positioning device 100 may comprise means for attaching/fastening the positioning device 100 to the first object 302 and the second object 304, respectively. In the disclosed embodiment, the positioning device 100 comprises first attachment means 120 for attaching to the first object 302 and second attachment means 118 for attaching to the second object 306. The first attachment means 120 and the second attachment means 118 may e.g. be first h1 and second h2 through holes of different diameters arranged inside a body 106, the latter having an axial extension and e.g. having cylindrical symmetry and further a section that is encircled by a taper of the second XY-reference means 104. The body may be made of a suitable material such as a metal. The first h1 and second h2 through holes may comprise inner threads configured to receive outer threads of bolts (not shown) of the first 302 and second objects 304, respectively. Thereby, a secure attachment or fastening of the positioning device 100 to the first 302 and second objects 304, respectively, may be achieved. As also illustrated herein, the positioning device 100 may comprises a clearance 116 also in the form of a through hole h3 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the through holes of the first 120 and second 118 attachment means. Thereby, the risk of the positioning device 100 being misaligned due to radial forces acting on the positioning device 100 so as to distort the positioning accuracy in the XY-plane is reduced or minimized. This is especially the case when the positioning device 100 is to be mounted in the system 200.

[0057] As further disclosed in FIG. 2, the first XY-reference means 102 may have a in a Z-direction conical inner surface which in operation abuts or presses against a in a Z-direction conical outer surface of the second XY-reference means 104. Moreover, in embodiments of the invention, the spring arrangement 130 has an annular disc shape and the second XY-reference means 104 comprises a taper. Therefore, in such cases, the disc may comprise the conical inner surface whilst the taper comprises the conical outer surface abutting each other as shown in FIG. 2. It may also be noted that the second XY-reference means 104 may be configured to be fixed to the second object 304 via a spacer (also known as a spacing device or a distance peace) 110 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The spacer 110 supports the first object in the Z-direction and depending on application the thickness and shape of the spacer 110 may vary.

[0058] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a spring arrangement 130 according to an embodiment of the invention in a cross sectional view and in a view from above, respectively. Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows in a cross sectional view a section of the spring arrangement 130. With reference to mentioned FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4 more details and aspects of the spring arrangement 130 will now be described.

[0059] As disclosed, in embodiments of the invention, the spring arrangement 130 comprises a rim portion 136 which is serially coupled to the first spring portion 132. The rim portion 136 may be of the type stiff rim and being configured to press against the taper of the second XY-reference means 104 in operation as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the spring arrangement 130 may comprise a press fit guiding means 138 serially coupled to the second spring portion 134. The press fit guiding means 138 is configured to press or abut against the first object 302 in operation as also shown in FIG. 2. The press fit guiding means 138 may in this respect comprise a beak portion 138′ so as to lock and secure the spring arrangement 130 against the first object 302 in operation after mounting. In embodiments of the invention, the rim portion 136 is arranged at an inner circumference of the spring arrangement 130, whilst the press fit guiding means 138 is arranged at an outer circumference of the spring arrangement 130.

[0060] As previously mentioned, the first spring portion 132 is serially coupled to the second spring portion 134, or vice versa. This may be achieved by the use of a spring coupling portion 140 that is configured to serially couple the first spring portion 132 and the second spring portion 134 to each other. The spring coupling portion 140 may be considered as a spring hinge mechanically coupling independent springs but also demark different spring portions from each other. It is noted that the spring arrangement 130 herein may comprise any number of spring coupling portions coupling any number of first 132 and second 134 spring portions which means that the invention is not limited to a single spring coupling portion coupling a single first spring portion and a single second spring portion.

[0061] In further embodiments of the invention, the spring coupling portion 140 comprises of a groove which may be circularly arranged with a constant radius around a center axis A of the positioning device 100 as shown in 3a, 3b and 4. It has been noted that a groove works perfectly well in acting as a spring coupling portion 140 for many applications. However, the spring coupling portion 140 may be realized with other means having the same function as previously described.

[0062] When the spring coupling portion 140 comprises of a groove economic advantages is achievable when manufacturing the spring arrangement 130 herein. For example, the groove may be a punched groove which is inexpensive to produce. In embodiments of the invention, the spring arrangement 130 is formed from a single sheet metal piece with constant thickness, and the single sheet metal piece may be punched or stamped in a single manufacturing step using a dedicated tool so as to produce the spring arrangement 130. In this way both high accuracy in positioning and low cost at production of the positioning device 100 is possible.

[0063] For providing even deeper understanding of embodiments of the invention in respect of the spring arrangement 130, some numbers are given which are exemplary only and are dependent on the application of the positioning device 100 and positioning system 200. With reference to FIG. 5, the spring arrangement 130 may have a symmetrical disc shape with a smaller outer diameter d2 of 36 mm, a larger outer diameter d1 of 36.12 mm, and an inner diameter d3 at the stiffed rim of 17.50 mm. The thickness of such a disc may e.g. be formed from a 0.9 mm thick sheet metal with a punched groove acting as the spring coupling portion 140. Generally, the different parts of the positioning device 100 may be made from any suitable material having the properties needed for its functioning such as different types of metal, plastics, etc.

[0064] Finally, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope of the appended independent claims.