XYθ precision alignment platform

A xyθ precision alignment platform is provided. The alignment platform includes three power units and three moving platform. Two of the power units can drive a third moving platform moving in X or Y direction. The other power unit has a worm which can drive an arcuate teeth arrangement disposed between the second moving platform and the third moving platform to drive the third moving platform rotating. Whereby, since the worm is arranged to drive the arcuate teeth arrangement laterally, the alignment platform is thin and the rotative movement of the third moving platform can be precisely controlled. Additionally, each power unit may be electrically connected to a controller for respectively driving and controlling each power unit. When only the rotation of the third moving platform is required, only one of the power units needs to be driven, thus simplifying the operation of the alignment platform and improving the work efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Description of the Prior Art

In a conventional alignment platform such as the ultrahigh load alignment device is disclosed in TW200912688. In TW200912688, the device uses three sets of driving devices to drive three sets of moving devices moving linearly so as to drive the moving plateform moving or rotating. When the rotation of the moving plateform is required, the three sets of driving devices must cooperate synchronously, which is uneasy to make the moving plateform move along a circular path precisely. As a result, as a controller or a computer drives the driving devices operating, the controller or the computer have to processing a great quantity of calculation, thus increasing the processing and response time and affecting the work efficiency.

To improve the defects like that in TW200912688, the inventor had invented an alignment stage applied for a TW patent application with application No. 099118614 which had been granted as TWI390144. The alignment stage includes three power units and three moving units. Two of the power units can drive a third moving unit moving in either of two different directions. The other power units can drive the third moving unit rotating individually. Each power unit is electrically connected to a controller for respectively driving and controlling each power unit. When only the rotation of the third moving platform is required, only one of the power units needs to be driven, thus simplifying the operation of the alignment platform and improving the work efficiency.

However, the inventor has been seeking a better alignment platform, and a xyθ precision alignment platform is provided in this application, to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a xyθ precision alignment platform which can accurately and precisely control and adjust the rotation angle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a xyθ precision alignment platform which can easily drive workpiece moving and rotating and simplify the operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a xyθ precision alignment platform which is thin.

To achieve the above and other objects, a xyθ precision alignment platform includes a base, at least one Y-axis guideway unit, a first moving platform, a first power unit, at least one X-axis guideway unit, a second moving platform, a second power unit, a third moving platform, a rotating unit and a third power unit. The at least one Y-axis guideway unit is mounted to the base. The first moving platform is movably coupled with each Y-axis guideway unit, the first moving platform and the base being parallel. The first power unit includes a first motor and a first rod member driven by the first motor, and the first motor is mounted to the base, wherein the first motor drives the first rod member moving to move the first moving platform along each Y-axis guideway unit move. The at least one X-axis guideway unit is co-movable with the first moving platform, and the X-axis guideway unit and the Y-axis guideway unit are nonparallel. The second moving platform is movably coupled with each X-axis guideway unit, and the second moving platform and the base are parallel. The second power unit includes a second motor and a second rod member driven by the second motor, and the second motor is mounted to one of the first moving platform, the first rod member and each X-axis guideway unit, wherein the second motor drives the second rod member to move the second moving platform along each X-axis guideway unit. The third moving platform is rotatably disposed correspondingly above the second moving platform, the third moving platform and the base parallel. The rotating unit is disposed between the second moving platform and the third moving platform and has a circumferential arcuate teeth arrangement. The third power unit is disposed by a lateral side of the second moving platform and includes a third motor and a worm driven by the third motor and engaged with the arcuate teeth arrangement, wherein the third motor drives the worm rotating to drive the arcuate teeth arrangement to move the third moving platform to rotate relative to the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4show a xyθ precision alignment platform according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The xyθ precision alignment platform includes a base1, four Y-axis guideway units2, a first moving platform3, a first power unit4, four X-axis guideway units5, a second moving platform6, a second power unit7, four θ-angle guideway units8, a third moving platform9, a rotating unit10and a third power unit11.

The base1is a plate body which can be adapted to dispose on a plane. The base1defines a longitudinal direction and a width direction, and may be formed with one or more recesses12.

The Y-axis guideway units2are mounted to the base1, and each Y-axis guideway unit2is engaged in each recess12. The Y-axis guideway units2are parallel. Alternatively, only one Y-axis guideway unit2is mounted to the base1.

The first moving platform3is movably coupled with the Y-axis guideway units2so that the first moving platform3is movable along the Y-axis guideway units2. The first moving platform3and the base1are parallel. The first moving platform3may include a plate body31and at least one sliding block32. Each sliding block32of each first moving platform3is mounted to the plate body31of the first moving platform3so that each sliding block32of each first moving platform3and the plate body31of the first moving platform3are in a cooperative relationship. The sliding blocks32of the first moving platform3are movably coupled with the Y-axis guideway unit2, respectively. The plate body31of the first moving platform3is formed with at least one recess311.

The first power unit4includes a first motor41and a first rod member42driven by the first motor41. The first motor41is mounted to the base1. The first motor41can drive the first rod member42moving, and the moving first rod member42can move the first moving platform3along the Y-axis guideway units2.

The X-axis guideway units5are mounted to the first moving platform3, or each X-axis guideway unit5can be engaged in each recess311so that each X-axis guideway unit5and first moving platform3are co-movable. Each X-axis guideway unit5and each Y-axis guideway unit2are nonparallel. Alternatively, only one X-axis guideway unit5is mounted to the first moving platform3.

The second moving platform6is movably coupled with the X-axis guideway units5so that the second moving platform6is movable along the X-axis guideway units5. The second moving platform6is preferably parallel to the base1. The second moving platform6may include a plate body61and at least one sliding block62. Each sliding block62of each second moving platform6is mounted to the plate body61of the second moving platform so that each sliding block62of the second moving platform6and the plate body61of the second moving platform are in a cooperative relationship. The sliding blocks62of the second moving platform6are movably coupled with the X-axis guideway units5, respectively. The plate body61of the second moving platform6may further be formed with at least one groove611.

The second power unit7includes a second motor71and a second rod member72driven by the second motor71. The second motor71is mounted to the first moving platform3. Specifically, the second motor71may be mounted to the plate body31of the first moving platform3. In other embodiments, the second motor71may be mounted to the first rod member42or one of the X-axis guideway units5so that the first moving platform3can drive the second motor71moving synchronously. The second motor71can drive the second rod member72moving, and the moving second rod member72can move the second moving platform6along the X-axis guideway units5. The second power unit7and the first power unit4, respectively, drive the second moving platform6and the first moving platform3moving in different directions. The second rod member72and the first rod member42extend in different directions. As shown inFIG. 5, the first power unit4may include plural sets of first motor41and first rod member42. The second power unit7may include plural sets of second motor71and second rod member72. The first motors41and second motors71are disposed respectively by lateral sides of the base1and the first moving platform3.

The θ-angle guideway units8are mounted to the second moving platform6, or each θ-angle guideway unit8may be engaged in each groove611so that each θ-angle guideway unit8and the second moving platform6are in a cooperative relationship. The θ-angle guideway unit8is formed as an arced guiding track. Optionally, only one θ-angle guideway unit8is mounted to the second moving platform6, or the θ-angle guideway unit may extend to form a circular member.

The third moving platform9is disposed correspondingly above the second moving platform6and coupled with the θ-angle guideway units8in such a manner that the third moving platform9is rotatable along the θ-angle guideway units8. The third moving platform9and the base1are parallel. In this embodiment, the third moving platform9includes a plate body91and at least one sliding block92. Each sliding block92of the third moving platform9is mounted to the plate body91of the third moving platform9. The sliding blocks92of the third moving platform9are movably coupled with the θ-angle guideway units8, respectively.

The rotating unit10is mounted between the second moving platform6and the third moving platform9and has a circumferential arcuate teeth arrangement101. Specifically, the arcuate teeth arrangement101is formed as a circular teeth arrangement, and the arcuate teeth arrangement101is preferably disposed within the outermost edge of the third moving platform9so that the lateral dimension of the alignment platform is reduced. Corresponding to the base1, a top surface of the rotating unit10is preferably not higher than a top surface of the third moving platform9, and more preferably, lower than a bottom surface of the third moving platform9so that the base1and the third moving platform9are close to each other and the alignment platform is therefore thin. In addition, the rotating unit10may be disposed between the second moving platform6and the third moving platform9so that the rotating unit10can be well protected and is not easy to be interfered, accidentally contacted or damaged.

The third power unit11is disposed by a lateral side of the second moving platform6and includes a third motor111and a worm112driven by the third motor111and engaged with the arcuate teeth arrangement101. The second moving platform6can drive the third motor111, and the moving third motor111can drive the worm112rotating to drive the arcuate teeth arrangement101to move the third moving platform9along each θ-angle guideway unit8to rotate relative to the base1.

Please refer further toFIG. 6, as the first motor41rotates, the first moving platform3moves along the Y-axis guideway unit2and drives the X-axis guideway units5moving so as to move the second moving platform6and third moving platform9along Y-axis guideway unit2. Please refer further toFIG. 7, as the second motor71rotates, the second moving platform6moves along the X-axis guideway unit5and drives the θ-angle guideway units8moving so as to move the third moving platform9along the X-axis guideway unit5. Please refer further toFIG. 8, as the third motor111rotates, the worm112is driven to move the arcuate teeth arrangement101so that the third moving platform9can be driven to rotate along the θ-angle guideway units8. Whereby, the third moving platform9is able to move along the Y-axis guideway unit2, the X-axis guideway unit5or the θ-angle guideway units8. When the third moving platform9is required to rotate, the first motor41and second motor71need not to be driven, thus resulting a simple operation and easing the work load of the controller and reducing response time of the controller.

It is noted that, the alignment platform may be alternatively configured in a structure such as that shown inFIG. 9. As shown inFIG. 9, a rotating unit may include a bearing102, wherein an arcuate teeth arrangement101′ of the rotating unit is formed as a circular teeth arrangement and around the bearing102. The circular teeth arrangement and a third moving platform9′ are cooperative with each other, and the circular teeth arrangement is rotatable around the bearing102. In aforementioned embodiment, each plate body is a quadrilateral hollow plate body; however, each plate body may be a quadrilateral solid plate body (for example, the third moving platform9′ arranged as the top plate). Optionally, as shown inFIG. 10, an arcuate teeth arrangement101″ is noncircular and a part of a circular teeth arrangement, wherein the extent of the arcuate teeth arrangement101″ may be designed according various requirements or may be constructed by plural arcuate tooth parts separately arranged. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 10, a bearing102′ is disposed between the second moving platform6and the third moving platform9.

It is noted that, an optical ruler may be equipped to the alignment platform, which can improve the control of rotation angle and the precision of measurement and digitalize the rotation angle with small scale for reference. As a result, the user can accurately and precisely control and adjust the rotation angle accordingly, and the alignment platform can be applied to tasks requiring high precision such as to assemble miniature parts or to machine processing or etching.

In the present invention, through the cooperation of the worm and the arcuate teeth arrangement, every circle of rotation of the worm can cause the arcuate teeth arrange rotatively travel with only for a tooth-wide distance, thus avoiding the unenablement of fine adjustment of the third moving platform due to the fast rotation speed of the third motor, and achieving accurate and precise control and adjustment of the rotation angle of the alignment platform.

Furthermore, in the present invention, since each motor is disposed by the lateral side of the first moving platform or the second moving platform, each motor and each moving platform are stacked so that the alignment platform is thin.