Fluid applicating device

Claim 2

An improved fluid applicating device for an automated plotter of the type wherein fluid from a reservoir is applied to a plotting surface through a tip whose position is controlled by a programmed source wherein the improvement comprises means for receiving separate signals Vx and Vy representative of the tip velocity in orthogonal X and Y directions, respectively, means for vectorially summing the signals to produce a vector sum output signal Vz whose magnitude is proportional to the square root of the sum of the squares of the signals Vx and Vy, voltageto-frequency convertor means responsive to the vector sum output signal Vz for generating a digital pulse train driving signal whose frequency is proportional to the magnitude of the output signal Vz, means responsive to digital pulse train driving signal for producing stepper motor driving signals, and motor driven pump means responsive to the stepper motor driving signals for positively supplying fluid from the reservoir to the tip at a flow rate substantially in a fixed relationship to the vector velocity of the movement of the tip over the plotting surface.

Claim 3

An improved fluid applicating device as recited in claim 1 wherein the motor driven pump means comprises a self-locking stepper motor driven by the stepper motor driving signal, a rotary squeeze pump driven by the stepper motor, and a flexible conduit which passes through the squeeze pump and connects the tip to the reservoir.

Claim 4

An improved fluid applicating device as recited in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of rotary squeeze pumps driven by the stepper motor, a plurality of pen tips of different sizes and valve means for selectively connecting each pump with a corresponding separate pen tip.

Claim 5

An improved fluid applicating device for an automated plotter of the type wherein fluid from a reservoir is applied to a plotting surface through a tip whose position is controlled by a programmed source wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of tips of varying sizes, means for receiving separate signals Vx and Vy representative of the velocity of a selected tip in orthogonal X and Y directions, respectively, means for vectorially summing the signals to produce a vector sum output signal Vz whose magnitude is proportional to the Square root of the sum of the squares of the signals Vx and Vy, means responsive to the vector sum output signal Vz for positively supplying fluid from the reservoir at a flow rate substantially in a fixed relationship to the vector velocity of the movement of the selected tip over the plotting surface, and means for mounting the tips and selectively connecting the means responsive to the vector sum signal for supplying fluid from the reservoir to a separate, selected tip.

Claim 6

An improved fluid applicating device for an automated plotter of the type wherein fluid from a reservoir is applied to a plotting surface through a tip whose position is controlled by a programmed source wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of tips of varying sizes, means for receiving separate signals Vx and Vy representative of the velocity of a selected tip in orthogonal X and Y directions, respectively, means for vectorially summing the signals to produce a vector sum output signal Vz whose magnitude is proportional to the Square root of the sum of the squares of the signals Vx and Vy, means responsive to the vector sum output signal Vz for positively supplying fluid from the reservoir at a flow rate substantially in a fixed relationship to the vector velocity of the movement of the selected tip over the plotting surface, and means for mounting the tips and selectively connecting the means responsive to the vector sum signal for supplying fluid from the reservoir to a separate, selected tip.

Claim 7

An improved fluid applicating device for an automated plotter of the type wherein fluid from a reservoir is applied to a plotting surface through a tip whose position is controlled by means of separate digital pulse trains, whose frequencies are separately proportional to the tip velocity over the plotting surface in the X and Y directions, from a programmed source wherein the improvement comprises separate frequency-to-voltage convertors for receiving and converting the separate digital pulse trains into separate output signals Vx and Vy whose magnitudes are each proportional to the frequency of a separate one of the pulse trains, means for vectorially summing the Vx and Vy signals to produce a vector sum output signal Vz whose magnitude is representative of the square root of the sum of the squares of the signals Vx and Vy, voltage-to-frequency converter means responsive to the vector sum output signal for generating a digital pulse train driving signal whose frequency is proportional to the magnitude of the output signal Vz, means responsive to digital pulse train driving signals for producing stepper motor driving signals, and motor driven pump means for positively supplying fluid from the reservoir to the tip at a flow rate substantially in proportion to the vector velocity of the movement of the tip over the plotting surface, the motor driven pump means including a self-locking stepper motor driven by the stepper motor driving signal, a rotary squeeze pump driven by the stepper motor, and a flexible conduit which passes through the squeeze pump and connects the tip to the reservoir.

Claim 8

An improved fluid applicating device for an automated plotter of the type wherein fluid from a reservoir is applied to a plotting surface through a tip whose position is controlled by means of separate digital pulse trains, whose frequencies are separately proportional to the tip velocity over the plotting surface in the X and Y directions, from a programmed source wherein the improvement comprises separate frequency-to-voltage convertors for receiving and converting the separate digital pulse trains into separate output signals Vx and Vy whose magnitudes are each proportional to the frequency of a separate one of the pulse trains, means for vectorially summing the Vx and Vy signals to produce a vector sum output signal Vz whose magnitude is representative of the square root of the sum of the squares of the signals Vx and Vy, voltage-to-frequency converter means responsive to the vector sum output signal for generating a digital pulse train driving signal whose frequency is proportional to the magnitude of the output signal Vz, means responsive to digital pulse train driving signals for producing stepper motor driving signals, and motor driven pump means for positively supplying fluid from the reservoir to the tip at a flow rate substantially in proportion to the vector velocity of the movement of the tip over the plotting surface, the motor driven pump means including a self-locking stepper motor driven by the stepper motor driving signal, a rotary squeeze pump driven by the stepper motor, and a flexible conduit which passes through the squeeze pump and connects the tip to the reservoir.