A programmable system employs a driver computer control programmed via a personal computer having a keyboard input. The controller sends programmed signals via the keyboard input to a three-dimensional coordinator circuit which generates X, Y and Z drive signals representing left, right and height positions of a scribe which is in alignment with the surface of a workpiece. Positioned between the three-dimensional coordinate circuit and the scribe is an electronic-to-mechanical conversion means in the form of a machine piston which converts the electrical X, Y and Z programmed instructions to a servo and trigger network interfaced with the scribe. An angle position driver directly couples, in parallel, the driver computer control and the three-dimensional coordinating circuit with the servo and trigger network. By programming the instructions into the system, the scribe can follow or coordinate with the workpiece surface whether it is flat, curved or irregular.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to the field of measuring apparatus, and more
 particularly to a novel coordinate measuring equipment employing a
 programmable position and actuating means for locating a scribe with
 respect to critically and strategically placing the scribe in a particular
 angular or in-dash line position with respect to a work surface.
 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
 In the past, it has been the conventional practice to scribe layout lines
 on a work surface for either whole location or for trimming purposes.
 Sometimes the work surface is of a three-dimensional, volummetric
 configuration such as a sphere, cube or cone, as well as a flat surface.
 In either measuring across the work surface or for whole location
 purposes, a scribe is normally trained across the work surface in
 accordance with optical viewing equipment in order to obtain accuracy of
 location and measurement. Sometimes the location is determined by operator
 eye coordination which is less efficient and inaccurate. When employing
 electronic positioning equipment, it is not always possible to arrange for
 angular or special positioning of the scribe so that a variety of work
 curved surfaces can be accommodated. Also, difficulties have been
 encountered when using conventional machines which stem largely from the
 fact that small incremented steps or joggles are difficult if not
 impossible for conventional measuring machines to achieve accurate
 measurement. The difficulties are derived from the fact that the small
 steps are point-to-point measurements and it is difficult to measure or
 locate specific points on irregular surfaces.
 Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a coordinated
 measuring equipment which is programmable and which is a time-saving
 process not requiring manual inspection or manual location of scribe
 points. Such equipment should incorporate the advantages of employing a
 fully articulated scribe which makes optically measurement or
 remanufacture possible of component parts so that accuracy of attachment
 areas in the aerospace and automotive fields are achieved. Thus, assembly
 time will be increased while adding structural integrity as well as
 accuracy.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Accordingly, the novel three-dimensional robotic scribing system of the
 present invention avoids the above-noted problems by providing a
 programmable system that employs a driver computer control that is
 programmed via a personal computer having a keyboard input. The contoller
 sends programmed signals to a three-dimensional coordinator circuit which
 generates X, Y and Z drive signals representing left, right and height
 positions of a scribe which is in alignment with the surface of a
 workpiece. Between the three-dimensional coordinate circuit and the scribe
 is an electronic to mechanical conversion means taking the form of a
 machine piston which converts the electrical X, Y and Z programmed
 instructions to a servo and trigger network interfaced with the scribe.
 Also, an angle position driver directly couples, in parallel, the driver
 computer control and the three-dimensional coordinating circuit with the
 servo and trigger network. Therefore, by programming the instructions into
 the system, the scribe can follow or coordinate with the workpiece surface
 whether it is flat, curved or irregular.
 In one form, the scribe itself may include a housing with a reciprocating
 shaft having a conical pointed end. The shaft is spring-loaded within the
 housing so as to normally outwardly project from one end of the housing
 into contact with the workpiece surface. Also, the housing may be clamped
 by one of several means to the machine ram or piston taking its
 instructions from the three-dimensional coordinating circuit via the servo
 and trigger network. Means are employed on the housing, in one version of
 the scribe, for articulating the scribe shaft into an angular position so
 as to be more definitely related to the workpiece surface.
 Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to
 provide a novel coordinated measuring apparatus for use in measurement
 scribing which eliminates time-consuming manual inspection processes.
 Another object of the present invention is to provide a measuring apparatus
 which is adapted to measure or follow patterns on a work surface whether
 it is irregular or regular even if the pattern is represented by small
 steps or joggles or is a continuous linear line or the like whereby
 accuracy of measurement is increased so as to result in a decrease in
 assembly time in the aerospace and automotive industries.
 Still a further object resides in providing a measuring apparatus which
 employs a fully articulated scribe for measuring a pattern on a workpiece
 surface whether the surface is a sphere, a cube, a cone or other irregular
 surface.
 A further object resides in providing a novel scribe in a fully
 programmable measuring system whereby the scribe may a straight scribe, a
 heavy duty, manually adjustable scribe by means of an electric trigger, a
 heavy duty, manually adjustable scribe without trigger or may be a light
 duty scribe for use on an indexable trigger device.
 Also, the present invention resides in providing a variety of mounting
 means for detachably connecting the scribe to an actuating ram which is
 programmably operated through computer and converting circuits whereby the
 means may take the form of a clamp, a squeeze collet, a lock screw and
 bolt arrangement, a cam lever or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring to FIG. 1, a three-dimensional robotic scribing system is
 illustrated in the general direction of arrow 10 which includes a
 coordinate driver computer controller 11 which is set by a PC computer 12
 through a program input such as a keyboard 13. A power supply 14 is
 employed to supply operating current to the system 10. The pre-programmed
 coordinate controller 11 receives instructions from the PC and instructs a
 three-dimensional coordinate circuit 15 as to three-dimensional positions
 or paths representing X, Y and Z positions. The X and Y positions are
 indicated on a workpiece 16 having a surface with a pattern or design
 intended to be measured. The X, Y positions represent right and left
 movements of a scribe device 17 while the Z position is representative of
 height. The position coordinate signals from the circuit 15 are received
 by a mechanical device such as a machine piston or ram 18, such as
 solenoid operated, which then operates a scribe 20 carried within a
 housing 21 of the scribe unit 17. The coupling or connection between the
 machine piston 18 and the scribe unit 17 is indicated in broken lines
 while an alternate operation of another scribe is indicated in solid lines
 wherein operation of the scribe is through a trigger and servo 22 to a
 scribe of a different variation, indicated by numeral 23. Also, it can be
 seen that for an articulated or angular scribe, an angle position driver
 24 is coupled between the coordinate driver controller 11 and the trigger
 or servo 22.
 Thus, depending on the input program from the keyboard 13 through the
 computer 12 and into the controller 11, instructions are provided for
 positioning the scribe 20 via the coordinate network 15 and the angle
 position driver 24 and/or the machine piston 18. It is to be understood
 that the workpiece 16 includes a surface which may be curved, such as on a
 sphere, a cone, or an irregular surface as the case may appear.
 Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, another version of scribe is illustrated
 in the direction of arrow 23 which includes a housing 25 having a
 reciprocating shaft as a scribe, indicated by numeral 26. The scribe 26
 includes a planted or conical tip 27 that engages the surface of the
 workpiece 16. The housing 25 includes an open-ended bore occupied by the
 shaft of the scribe 26. A spring 28 forcibly urges the scribe outward so
 that the conical tip extends from one end of the housing 25. The resilient
 means includes a collar 30 having an upper surface against which one end
 of the expansion spring 28 bears while the opposite end of the expansion
 spring bears against a washer or shoulder 31 terminating the bore of the
 housing 25.
 It can also be seen that the machine piston 18 which may include a ram is
 connected to the housing 25 by means of a squeeze collet, a squeeze clamp,
 a lockscrew and collar arrangement or by a cam lever. As illustrated, a
 clamp 32 is employed with a tightening or locknut 33. It is manually
 adjusted to angle, locked and held in position by means of a capscrew 35.
 The position and means for driving the scribe 26 into the angular position
 is under the control of the angle position driver 24 when instructed by
 the program introduced through the computer 20 and the coordinate driver
 controller 11.
 Referring now in detail to FIG. 3, another version of scribe is illustrated
 wherein the end of a housing 34 terminates in a pivot connection 35 with a
 scribe holder 36 from which the scribe 37 outwardly projects to engage the
 workpiece. By means of the capscrew 35, the scribe 37 may be placed in
 angular positions, as represented by the solid line position or a dotted
 line position.
 Referring now in detail to FIG. 4, still another version of the scribe is
 illustrated in which a housing 40 carries a scribe 41 having a pointed tip
 which extends beyond one end of the housing. With reciprocating motion,
 trigger switch 42 allows measuring or qualifying switch 43 to turn off
 switch 42 when it is not desired to send a trigger signal.
 It can be seen that any one of the alternate scribe versions can be used
 with the positioning system 10, as previously described. Therefore, when
 it is intended to measure a pattern or design on the surface of workpiece
 16 or to coordinate a variety of critical locations thereon, the setting
 for the scribe is introduced via the input program, such as keyboard 13
 where the computer 12 then instructs the controller 11 so that the
 coordinate network 15 provides proper instructions and locating
 instructions to the machine piston 18, such as solenoid operated, for
 moving the scribe 20. Alternately, if an angular position is needed as
 shown by the scribe in FIG. 3, the instructions from the controller are
 augmented by the angle position driver 24 and through the trigger and
 servo circuit 22 adjust the scribe 27 similar to the depiction of 37, as
 shown in FIG. 3 which is manually adjusted. FIGS. 2-4 inclusive illustrate
 a variety of scribe constructions and mounting means with respect to the
 housing which are available for the operator.
 While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and
 described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and
 modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its
 broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover
 all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and
 scope of this invention.