Patent ID: 7283886

Claim:
A practical measurement system for a manufacturing process for accurate numeric digital control for automating travel for following distance travel commands using real numbers input to a control panel, the system comprising, means for mounting stationary parts on a frame, a carriage and a means for providing motorized, bi-directional, multi-speed, power to cause travel of said carriage against a positive stop mounted to said frame, and to cause travel fast, then slow, then creep, then relax as a selected lock rack segment having teeth engages with teeth on a precision rack for mating therewith, and means to transfer motive power to said carriage from a drive motor having a drive means, means for mating tooth to tooth with said precision rack, that includes an actuator, a stationary bar, to provide solid positive lock-up at a selected command location, means for mounting a lock rack segment, to the carriage with a pivotal means to engage tooth-to-tooth with a stationary precision rack for final carriage travel lock-up, means for sensing the travel location as said carriage moves by sending multiple feedback signals to a control system for operation of precision lock-up at the end of command travel, and means to generate one of multiple feedback location signals from said mating teeth surface and signal travel location of said moving carriage, means for reading the travel location of said carriage by cam operating sensor switches that control power to said motor, means for operating limit switches, corresponding to predetermined travel locations of said carriage, operationally linked to said means for reading and controlling change and travel of said carriage, means for sensing travel of said carriage with contact and operational proximity switches located along the path of carriage travel, means for supplying direct dial-in-digital-numeric-command information to said practical measurement system by remote electrical signal source or by operator push buttons and rotary switches, means for powering said lock rack into said precision rack at the end of the travel command coupled to said means for sensing a specific travel location, to relax said drive and to power said actuator, and engage at a predetermined lock-up location of said carriage, and means for directing commands for: SET, WAIT, GO, ON, OFF, and sequential commands for system operation, and for providing a control panel to input carriage travel commands to said system, and means for generating travel location information, from carriage motion and position, as a number value capable of being directly-encoded-and-decoded numerically in inches or millimeters of travel distances.