CN1991642A - Generate a device with a resettable surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a resettable surface, comprising: a deformable elastic sheet; a first array of memory rods located beneath the deformable resilient sheet for delineating the contour of the deformable resilient sheet into a desired shape; a second array of control rods located below the array of memory rods for receiving the input profile data and moving in a proximal and distal direction with respect to the first array of memory rods; and a device for controlling the position of each control rod by using computer data. The invention also discloses a resettable surface comprising: a deformable elastic sheet; the control rod array is positioned below the deformable elastic sheet and is used for outlining the deformable elastic sheet into a required shape; a device for controlling the position of each rod using computer data. The invention can repeatedly modify the generated surface into other surfaces according to requirements. The present invention may be used in a wide variety of applications, including the generation of topographical maps, molds for casting surfaces, and three-dimensional variable maps.

Description

Generate a device with a resettable surface

technical field

The present invention relates to the shaping of solid surfaces using computer data.

Background technique

Solid surfaces can be generated in many ways. For example, a computer-controlled sander can be used to machine a surface described by digital input data. The surface can be ground in a variety of materials, such as metal, plastic or wood. Alternatively, stereo flatbed machines have been developed to use lasers to crosslink polymeric materials. The computer system uses the input data describing the desired surface to control the position of the laser beam corresponding to the polymerizing fluid.

Contents of the invention

A device for generating a three-dimensional surface from digital data is described in the present invention. Unlike existing installations, once the surface has been generated, it can be repeatedly refitted into other surfaces as needed. The invention can be used in a number of applications, including the generation of topographical maps, molds for casting surfaces, and volumetric variable mapping.

The present invention provides a device for manufacturing a three-dimensional surface shape by inputting digital data. The shape of the sheet of elastic material is determined by the position of the array of levers. The position of each rod is determined by a computer control system. Each bar is fitted (adjusted into position) by means of two locking devices, one for the X coordinate system and one for the Y coordinate system. When the lock for a particular rod is released, the rod is free to move to a new position determined by an elevator. Once all the rods have been adjusted, their locked positions represent the set surface shape. The position of the rods can then be transferred to a second set of rods that memorizes the position of the first set of rods, the second set of rods being adapted by the detent. The first set of rods can then be reassembled into a new style. In one application, the surface can be used as a mold for a cast replica, or in another application, as a screen for a video projection system.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 shows the basic composition of the resettable system when both the memory stick and the control stick are used;

Figure 2 shows the pneumatic locking device used to control the position of the control lever;

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the resettable system with the use of the lever;

Figure 4 shows the sequence of operations for forming a set surface using the joystick;

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the resettable system in the case where both the memory lever and the control lever are used;

Figure 6 shows the flow of operations for forming a set surface using the memory lever and the control lever;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the control system of the configurable surface.

Detailed ways

Figure 1 shows the preferred elements of the invention. The device is designed to generate a three-dimensional surface shape from a set of digital data. The surface can be reshaped iteratively according to other data as required. A deformable elastic sheet 12 is shown supported on an array of memory rods 14 and fixed to the housing 11 by its edges. The casing 11 is sealed and is equipped with an exhaust pump (not shown in the figure). The drop in pressure in the housing causes the sheet 12 to be attracted down to the ends of the set of memory rods 14, thereby creating the desired three-dimensional shape in the elastic sheet. The memory bars can be locked in place by the orthogonal combination of gas tubes 17 and 18 . The collection of levers 19 can be locked in place by the orthogonal combination of gas tubes 15 and 16 . An elevator 13 is fixed in the housing and can be moved up and down on command by a computer-controlled hydraulic or electronic drive system (not shown). The elevator moves the pneumatic pinch tubes 15 and 16 up and down. A pattern can be written in the levers 19 by selectively clamping them and moving the elevators. The pattern is transferred from the control lever to the memory lever by raising the elevator and releasing the latch of the memory lever. Each memory rod then drops down onto its corresponding control rod. The memory lock is then re-locked. The elevator is lowered and another pattern is written to the control lever 19 . The second pattern is then passed to the memory stick to update the pattern of the deformable sheet.

Figure 2 shows the optimum locking device for locking the lever. The lever 26 is defined in a bore 27 of the fixing device 24 . An inflation tube 25 of latex rubber or similar material is housed in the fixture 24 . A set of freely movable pressure plates 28 is provided between the gas tube and the control rod. When an inflatable tube is inflated, it expands and forces the pressure plate against the lever, which locks the lever in place. The memory lever uses a similar mechanism for locking and unlocking.

Figure 3 shows one embodiment of the means used to form patterns in the control rod when the memory rod is not in use. A latex rubber sheet 31 is attached to the edge of the housing 32 which allows air to escape through port 33 . The lever 34 is defined in place by the holes of the plate 35 and the holes of the fixture 36 . The fixture 36 comprises two sets of orthogonal gas-filled tubes. One set of gas tubes 37 is shown in cross-section and the other set is arranged orthogonally below the recessed portion of the fixture 36 . A mechanical device 38 is able to raise and lower the fixing device 36 . The mechanism is hydraulically or electronically driven.

FIG. 4 shows the movement sequence of writing two consecutive write operations, demonstrating the operation process of the present invention. The control sequence of the locking and unlocking of the lever and the controlled movement of the lift form the desired shape on the deformable elastic sheet.

To form the shaped surface, all the air in the inflation tubes is first evacuated, all control levers are unlocked, and the lift is moved to the lowest starting position, as shown in Figure 4a. The pressure in the housing is then reduced by pumping out some air, the next inflation tube expands to lock the lever in place, the lift moves to a higher position, the locked lever moves up with the lift and pushes the latex rubber sheet into a higher position, which is shown in Figure 4b. At this time, the selected inflatable tube releases air to unlock the selected control rod, and under the combined action of gravity and rubber sheet pressure, the unlocked control rod descends to the base of the shell, and then all the control rods are locked again. The stages are shown in Figure 4c. The elevator then moves further up to the position shown in Figure 4d. The selected lever is released and lowered to the base of the housing as shown in Figure 4e. The process of locking, raising and releasing the selected rods is repeated until the desired pattern is achieved.

By releasing the pressure in all tubes and releasing all rods, a new shape is written into the sheet. The elevator then moves down to the starting position and a new operating sequence is initiated.

Figure 5 shows another configuration of the invention in which both control rods and memory rods are used. In this embodiment, one pattern can be learned while the second pattern is written. The deformable sheet 59 is attached to the suction box 55 . The control rod 53 is defined in a locking device 54 and an orthogonal locking device 56 . Via the lifting device 58 the locking device can be raised or lowered. A group of memory rods 52 are arranged on it, and are arranged in line with the control rod 53 . The memory lever is held in place by orthogonal locking means 50 and 51 .

When a pattern is written to the lower lever, the pattern can be transferred to the upper memory lever by raising the elevator and releasing the memory lever at once. The memory stick falls onto the control stick and assumes the same shape. The memory lever is then locked in place and the lever is lowered ready for another write cycle.

Figure 6 shows a sequence of events for writing two consecutive shapes. Figure 6a shows the position of the lower control lever and the upper memory lever when all levers are unlocked. By selectively locking and unlocking the lever and stepping up the hoist, patterns can be written to the lever in the sequence shown in FIG. 4 . At this stage, the position of the rod is shown in Figure 6b. The control lever then rises as a combination, contacts and pushes the unlocked memory lever. The memory rod pushes the deformable rubber sheet to form a desired shape, and then the memory rod is locked again. This process is shown in Figure 6c. The lever is then unlocked and lowered to the bottom, as shown in Figure 6d. Then, a new pattern is written to the joystick as shown in Figure 6e. The latches of the upper memory bars are released, allowing them to assume their lowest position, as shown in Figure 6f. Next, the elevator goes up and the new pattern is passed to the memory rod, as shown in Figure 6g. The lever is then released and falls back to the bottom, as shown in Figure 6h. In this case, another pattern is written to the lever, and the cycle repeats.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the control system of the device capable of forming a three-dimensional surface.

The data describing the surface, ie the ascent data in the case where the profile is written, is loaded into the computer 72 . The data includes an orthochromatic image that can be projected on the surface to be formed by a projector 71 and can be viewed by a monitor 73 . After the data has been processed, it is passed to the system controller 74 . The system controller sends appropriate signals to the air compressor 77, vacuum pump 76 and elevator control 75. Signals are also sent to vacuum line 78 to control the passage of compressed air from the compressor through charge line 70 via branch line 79 . These lines connect to the rubber tubing that is part of the latches in the two orthogonal latch sets that position the lever and memory lever. A setup similar to the present case is used when only the joystick is used.

Although a pneumatic lock is described herein to perform the lever locking function, it should be appreciated that there are many alternatives to accomplish this function, such as a mechanical lock or a magnetic lock.

Although the control rods and memory rods are arranged vertically in the preferred embodiment, other arrangements are possible. For example, the device can be loaded horizontally and hung on a wall while the rubber sheet forming the contoured surface remains in relative relation to the rod.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in some applications, only part of the rod array needs to be updated to save rewriting time, or to obtain special effects, such as changing one image to the next.

Claims (37)

1. A resettable surface comprising: a deformable elastic piece; a first array of memory rods positioned below said deformable elastic sheet for contouring said deformable elastic sheet to a desired shape; a second array of control rods positioned below said array of memory rods for receiving input profile data and moving near and far relative to said first array of memory rods; and A means for controlling the position of each of said levers using computer data. 2. The resettable surface according to claim 1, wherein the deformable elastic piece is supported by the top of the memory rod and is in contact with the top of the memory rod. 3. The resettable surface according to claim 1, wherein each of said memory rods is movable in a vertical direction directed to said deformable elastic piece, and is pushed to a predetermined position by a corresponding lever. locked in place. 4. The resettable surface of claim 1, wherein each of said control rods is movable in a vertical direction from a starting position to a corresponding one of said memory rods, and when moved to said memory rods It is locked in place when it is in the predetermined position mentioned above. 5. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control rod is lowered away from each memory rod to return to the starting position. 6. The resettable surface of claim 3, wherein the predetermined position is controlled by the computer. 7. A resettable surface according to claim 3, wherein each of said levers is accommodated by two pneumatically controlled detents capable of releasing a particular lever by overlapping positioning make it move freely. 8. The resettable surface of claim 7, wherein said pneumatically controlled lock comprises an X coordinate first lock and a Y coordinate second lock for said control rod and said memory rod stopper. 9. The resettable surface according to claim 2, wherein the deformable elastic piece is attached to the top of the memory rod. 10. The resettable surface according to claim 9, further comprising a cavity for accommodating the memory rod and the control rod, and expelling air to generate suction force to make the deformable elastic sheet adhere to the memory rod top of the . 11. A resettable surface according to claim 10, further comprising a lift attached to a locking device capable of locking and unlocking said lever and capable of raising and lowering said lever . 12. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elevator is lowered in its lowest position with all lever locks released after the input profile data has been transferred from the lever to the memory lever. reset. 13. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coincidentally positioned lever is locked when the elevator is raised and is released when the elevator is lowered. 14. The resettable surface of claim 3, further comprising an inflation tube which, when inflated, acts as a detent to lock the memory lever and the control lever in place. 15. The reconfigurable surface of claim 14, wherein the inflatable tubes are aligned in two dimensions for coincident positioning. 16. The reconfigurable surface of claim 15, wherein the inflatable tubes are aligned in two orthogonal directions. 17. The resettable surface of claim 14, further comprising a freely movable pressure plate between each inflation tube and each of said levers. 18. The reconfigurable surface of claim 17, further comprising: A first frame having holes for orienting said control rod and said memory rod and having horizontal recesses accommodating said inflation tube and freely movable pressure plates of said control rod and memory rod. 19. The resettable surface of claim 1, wherein each of said memory rods is accommodated by two pneumatically controlled latches that release a particular memory rod to move freely by coincident positioning . 20. The resettable surface of claim 1, wherein said deformable elastic piece is absent, and the surface is formed by the tip of said memory rod. 21. A resettable surface comprising: a deformable elastic piece; an array of control rods located below the deformable elastic sheet for contouring the deformable elastic sheet to a desired shape; A means for controlling the position of each of said rods using computer data. 22. The resettable surface of claim 21, wherein the deformable elastic piece is supported by and contacts the lever tip. 23. The resettable surface according to claim 21, wherein each of said levers is movable in a vertical direction directed to said deformable elastic piece, and is locked when moved to a predetermined position in the right place. 24. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 21, wherein each control lever is capable of being lowered away from the deformable elastic piece to return to its original position. 25. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 21, wherein each lever is accommodated by two pneumatically controlled latches which, by coincident positioning, release a particular lever to move freely. 26. The resettable surface of claim 21, wherein the predetermined position is controlled by a computer. 27. The resettable surface of claim 23, wherein each of said pneumatically controlled latches includes an X-coordinate first latch and a Y-coordinate second latch. 28. The resettable surface of claim 22, wherein the deformable elastic piece is attached to the top end of the lever. 29. The resettable surface according to claim 28, further comprising a cavity for accommodating the control rod and the control rod locking device, and exhausting air to generate suction force for the deformable elastic sheet to adhere to the the top of the control lever. 30. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a lift attached to a locking device capable of locking and unlocking said lever and capable of raising and lowering said lever . 31. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 30, wherein the elevator is reset in the lowest position when all detents are released and the lever is lowered to the lowest position. 32. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 31, wherein the coincidentally positioned lever is locked when the elevator is raised and is released when the elevator is lowered. 33. A resettable surface as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an inflation tube and a pressure plate which act as a detent to lock the lever in place when inflated. 34. A reconfigurable surface as claimed in claim 33, wherein said inflatable tubes are aligned in two orthogonal directions. 35. The resettable surface of claim 33, further comprising a frame having apertures for orienting said levers and having levels accommodating said inflation tubes and pressure plates of said levers groove. 36. The resettable surface of claim 33, further comprising a freely movable pressure plate between each inflation tube and each lever. 37. The resettable surface of claim 21, wherein said deformable elastic piece is absent, the resettable surface being formed by the top end of said lever.

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