Configured contour measuring apparatus

• US 4,255,862 A
• Filed: 10/16/1979
• Issued: 03/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Mfg. Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Mfg. Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Little, Willis
• Application Number:
  US06/085,272
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 33/174 L, 33/174 P, 33/174 Q, 33/169 R, 33/172 E, 33/143 L, 33/174 TA, 33/179.5 R, 33/179.50, 33/DIG. 2, 33/1 M, 33/174 R
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/005 coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/02 Air

Abstract

A configured contour measuring apparatus comprising: a table movably provided on a bed; a driving mechanism for moving said table; first detecting mechanisms for detecting a value of movement of said table relative to the bed as a digital signal; a mount base provided on said table and made movable in a direction perpendicular to movement of said table; a detecting head secured to a column erected on said bed; a sliding shaft slidably provided on said detecting head and having a stylus at the lower end thereof in opposed relationship with said mount base; a balancer weight connected through a hanging line to said sliding shaft and made slightly lighter in weight than said sliding shaft; pulleys for supporting the intermediate portion of said hanging line; and second detecting mechanisms for detecting a value of movement of said sliding shaft as a digital signal.

Claims

1. A configured contour measuring apparatus comprising:

a table 3 movably provided on a bed 1;

a driving mechanism 7 for moving said table;

first detecting mechanisms 10, 11 for detecting a movement value of said table relative to the bed as a digital value;

a mount base 14 provided on said table and made movable in a direction perpendicular to movement of said table;

a detecting head 21 secured to a column 19 erected on said bed;

a sliding shaft 36 slidably provided on said detecting head and having a stylus 49 at the lower end thereof in opposed relationship with said mount base;

a balancer weight 54 connected through a hanging line 51 to said sliding shaft and made slightly lighter in weight than said sliding shaft;

pulleys 52, 53 for supporting the intermediate portion of said hanging line; and

second detecting mechanisms 43, 44, 45 and 48 for detecting a movement value of said sliding shaft as a digital value.

2. A configured contour measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detecting head is secured to said column in a manner to be adjustable in height and position, and said second detecting mechanisms are adapted to detect the relative movement of said sliding shaft with said detecting head.

3. A configured contour measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second detecting mechanisms are digital reading means comprising:

light emitting elements 43 mounted on the side of a guide block 34 fixed in said detecting head;

an index scale 45 and light receiving elements 48; and

a linear scale 44 mounted on the side of the sliding shaft.

4. A configured contour measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1;

wherein said sliding shaft is a shaft being square in section and slidably coupled into a square hole 35 of a guide block 34 fixed in said detecting head, and means is provided for feeding compressed air in a space for sliding formed between said sliding shaft and said square hole to form a pneumatic bearing.

5. A configured contour measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pulleys 52, 53 are rotatably, pivotally supported by a hollow shaft 57 provided on said detecting head 21, compressed air is fed into said hollow shaft and blown out of air ejection ports 59 formed in said hollow shaft so as to form a pneumatic bearing on the bearing surface of said pulleys.

6. A configured contour measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sliding shaft 36 is vertically moved by an electric motor 65 mounted in said detecting head 21, and the upper and lower limits thereof is regulated by limit switches 74, 75.

7. A configured contour measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first detecting mechanisms comprises:

a scale 10 made of glass secured to said table; and

digital reading means 11 secured to said bed.

8. A configured contour measuring appratus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a microhead 16 for moving said mount base relative to the table 3, measuring the positions of said mount base.