Abstract: An electro-optical level employs a bubble tube with opposite first and second ends. First and second light emitters are disposed respectively beyond the first and second axial ends of the tube and direct light toward the ends of the bubble in the tube. Electro-optical detectors are aligned substantially parallel to the axis of the tube and are spaced from the tube. First and second beams from the respective first and second light emitters scatter as the beams impinge upon the bubble. However, the scattered light from each light emitter will form a bright spot on the respective electro-optical detector at a point corresponding to the end of the bubble. The locations of the bright spots are detected by the electro-optical detectors and precisely determine the locations of the opposite ends of the bubble regardless of dimensional changes of the tube or the bubble due to temperature variations.

Abstract: An optical assembly is provided for use with a laser alignment system that has a laser emitter and at least one photosensitive target. The optical assembly includes a right angle prism disposed for receiving an input beam produced by the laser emitter and first and second 90° pentaprisms disposed receiving the output from the right angle prism. The first and second 90° pentaprisms are oriented to produce first and second reflected beams that are parallel to one another. The optical assembly further includes first and second beam diverters disposed and oriented to receive the reflected beams from the first and second 90° pentaprisms and to produce first and second output beams that are mutually perpendicular. The first and second 90° pentaprisms may be see-through pentaprisms to produce a third output beam that is colinear or parallel with the input beam and perpendicular to the first and second output beams.

Abstract: An optical assembly is provided for use with a laser alignment system that has a laser emitter and at least one photosensitive target. The optical assembly includes first and second 90° pentaprisms disposed for receiving an input beam produced by the laser emitter. The first and second 90° pentaprisms are oriented to produce first and second reflected beams that are parallel to one another. The optical assembly further includes first and second beam diverters disposed and oriented to receive the reflected beams from the first and second 90° pentaprisms and to produce first and second output beams that are mutually perpendicular. The first and second 90° pentaprisms may be see-through pentaprisms to produce a third output beam that is colinear with the input beam and perpendicular to the first and second output beams.

Abstract: A laser alignment system includes a laser emitter for producing at least one fan beam. The laser alignment system further includes a target assembly with at least one CCD linear array. The CCD linear array is disposed to be impinged upon by a portion of the fan beam to provide displacement data. Mirrors are disposed to redirect a portion of the fan beam to a second position on the CCD linear array to provide a second reading. The first and second readings are used to calculate angular alignment data.

Abstract: An electro-optical level includes a bubble level having a tube with a liquid therein and a bubble formed by the liquid in the tube. A substantially linear light source is directed toward and through the tube. A linear lens array focuses light passing through the bubble tube onto a linear lens array for producing an image of the bubble in the bubble level. The lens array employs the focused light to identify precisely end points of the bubble in the tube and then employs locational data for the end points to assess levelness. The electro-optical level further includes an out put display that is pivotally mounted into an optimal alignment for easy viewing by a user.

Abstract: A laser alignment system is provided. The system includes a plurality of lasers which are sequentially operative for producing first and second laser beams that are parallel to one another. The system further includes a target assembly. The target assembly includes lenses and mirrors disposed such that the first laser beam impinges directly on the target to provide displacement data. The second laser beam is focused and reflected so that the focal point of the reflected second beam impinges on the target. In a similar manner, a third parallel beam may be provided and may be focused to impinge on the target. Additionally, the plural laser beams may be substituted for by a single laser plane. The second and/or third beams provide alignment data, while the first beam provides displacement data.

Abstract: An electro-optical level includes a bubble level having a tube with a liquid therein and a bubble formed by the liquid in the tube. A substantially linear light source is directed toward and through the tube. A linear lens array focuses light passing through the bubble tube onto a linear lens array for producing an image of the bubble in the bubble level. The lens array employs the focused light to identify precisely end points of the bubble in the tube and then employs locational data for the end points to assess levelness. The electro-optical level further includes an out put display that is pivotally mounted into an optimal alignment for easy viewing by a user.

Abstract: A target assembly is provided for use with a laser alignment system. The target assembly includes three light-sensitive target cells arranged to define corners of a triangle. The light-sensitive target cells are mounted to a support plate such that the three light-sensitive target cells face substantially in the same direction, and such that one axis of each light-sensitive target cell is substantially parallel to the plane of the support plate. The support plate may further include mounting structures for mounting the target assembly to an object that must be checked or aligned. Differences between readings can be used to check misalignment about two perpendicular axes, and averages of the respective readings can be used to check position or displacement. The laser alignment system can be employed to align the parallel rotational axes of a driven and driving sheave of an industrial machine.

Abstract: A laser alignment system is provided. The system includes a plurality of lasers which are sequentially operative for producing first and second laser beams that are parallel to one another. The system further includes a target assembly. The target assembly includes lenses and mirrors disposed such that the first laser beam impinges directly on the target to provide displacement data. The second laser beam is focused and reflected so that the focal point of the reflected second beam impinges on the target. In a similar manner, a third parallel beam may be provided and may be focused to impinge on the target. Additionally, the plural laser beams may be substituted for by a single laser plane. The second and/or third beams provide alignment data, while the first beam provides displacement data.

Abstract: A laser apparatus is provided for producing a plurality of mutually perpendicular laser beams, the apparatus includes a laser generated for producing a diverging laser beam. At least one beam splitter is disposed to be impinged upon by the diverging input laser beam. The beam splitter reflects a portion of the diverging input laser beam 90° and permits passage of the remainder of the diverging laser beam. Collimating lenses are disposed to be impinged upon by the diverging laser beams leaving the beam splitter. The collimating lenses are fixed at right angles to one another. As a result, the collimating lenses will produce collimated output laser beams that are perpendicular to one another despite any angular shifting of the diverging beams impinging upon the collimating lenses.

Abstract: A laser generator is provided having a rotating scanner head within which a target is mounted. The target is a position sensitive cell which is used to buck the laser generator into a pre-determined reference plane. The laser generator is used in conjunction with passive reflectors which do not need any circuitry to be operated. In operation, the laser generator scans a generated laser beam to define a laser plane. The reflectors are disposed to define the reference plane. As the generated laser beam impinges upon a reflector, the laser is re-directed back to the scanning head where it impinges upon the target. The impingement upon the target indicates the relative position and angular orientation relative to the reflector. In response to acquired data, the position and angular orientation of the laser generator may be adjusted to be aligned with all of the reflectors, resulting in the scanned laser plane being bucked into the reference plane.

Abstract: A laser system is provided for precisely locating points in space relative to a reference plane. The system includes at least one laser generator capable of sweeping a plurality of mutually perpendicular laser planes and/or one laser plane and one laser beam perpendicular thereto. The system further includes a plurality of laser sensitive targets. Three laser sensitive targets are positioned to lie in the first plane swept by the laser generator. These targets then define a reference plane. The laser generator may be moved periodically and bucked into the previously established reference plane. The second laser plane or the laser beam will be perpendicular to the reference plane at each optional position of the laser generator. Thus, each second laser plane or each second laser beam will be parallel to one another. The system may further include position sensors for precisely defining distances between the parallel laser planes or parallel laser beams.

Abstract: A laser apparatus is provided for sensing rotational orientation or the degree of levelness. The apparatus includes a photosensitive cell and a diode laser directing a laser beam toward the photosensitive cell. Both the diode laser and the photosensitive cell may be mounted in a rigid housing. A ball lens is rotatably mounted between the diode laser and the photosensitive cell such that the laser beam must pass through the ball lens to impinge upon the position sensitive cell. The ball lens is subject to limited movement within the housing. The control for limiting movement of the ball lens may be a circular raceway or a negative lens. Movement of the ball lens within the circular raceway or on the negative lens causes the laser beam to shift on the target. The position of the laser beam on the target is a function of the position of the ball lens and can be correlated to either the rotational orientation of the housing or the degree of levelness of the housing.

Abstract: A device for aligning and measuring a hollow, rotatable bore includes a laser beam source within a housing having an aperture in its front face for passing the beam. The housing is mounted at one end of the extruder bore to project the beam through the bore to be detected by a target at the opposite end. The diameters of the aperture and bore are concentric and the laser beam defines an axis that is alignable with the axis of rotation of the rotatable member, using target signals, by vertical and horizontal displacement with micrometers disposed on the rear face of the laser housing. Various arrangements for mounting the housing on the extruder are disclosed. The target includes a sensing cell in a housing mounted in an adapter with four balls disposed on its periphery 90.degree. apart.

Abstract: A laser alignment control system is provided for aligning a rotational portion of a machine tool to a master part. The system includes a laser emitter that is mountable to one of the components being aligned and a photosensitive target mountable to the other components. The system further includes a data acquisition subsystem for receiving signals from the target and calculating alignment errors and required corrections for the system. The alignment procedure requires rotating the target for the laser emitter in the rotating tool holder or the master part. The target and/or the laser emitter are provided with a rotational orientation sensor operatively connected to the data acquisition subsystem and operative to produce signals identifying the rotational orientation of the target and/or laser emitter.