Simple three-dimensional measuring machine

• US 5,291,662 A
• Filed: 09/28/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Yoda, Yukiji, Kawabe, Takao, Matsumiya, Sadayuki, Arai, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULTON, CHRISTOPHER W
• Application Number:
  US07/952,054
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 33/503, 33/1 M, 206/523
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/012 Portals
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/626 followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/74 Auxiliary tables
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0017 compensating the weight of vertically moving elements, e.g. by balancing liftable machine parts B23B47/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines

Abstract

A simple three-dimensional measuring machine 1 having a simple structure which enables the assembly thereof by the end users, and a packing case 100 for facilitating a transport of the machine 1. A pair of columns used when necessity arises and the X axis member 5 are assembled and disassembled and the X slider 6 and the Y slider 7 are also assembled and disassembled through a first means 20 for adjusting the angles therebetween. The Y axis member 8 and the Z slider 9 which has a Z axis member 11 are connected through a second means 30 for adjusting the angles therebetween. The packing case 100 for transfer has a first packing case to house the column 3 and the height adjustment pedestal 2, a second packing case to house the X axis member 5 and the X slider 6, a third packing case to house the Y axis member 8 with the Y slider 7 and the Z slider 9 with the Z axis member 11 connected through the second means 30 for adjusting the angle and a Y-Z axis cover 17, and an exterior packing case.

Claims

1. A simple three-dimensional measuring machine, comprising:

a X axis member;

a X slider supported to slide freely in a horizontal X axis direction along said X axis member;

a Y slider;

a Y axis member supported to slide freely in a horizontal Y axis direction relative to said Y slider;

first means for angularly adjustably connecting said X slider and said Y slider;

a Z slider;

a Z axis member supported to slide freely relative to said Z slider in a vertical Z axis direction and has support means for supporting a measuring element at a lower end thereof;

second means for angularly adjustably connecting said Z slider and said Y axis member;

a counterbalance mechanism mounted on said Z slider and having a sufficient balance power corresponding to a weight of said Z axis member, said counterbalance mechanism including means connected to said Z axis member so as to counter balance the weight of said Z axis member.

2. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 1, wherein said X axis member is assembled to and disassembled from a support member with means being provided for facilitating an establishment of the X axis direction.

3. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 2, wherein the support member consists of a pair of columns.

4. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes a X-Y axis adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting at least right angles between said X axis member and said Y axis member, wherein said second means includes a Y-Z axis adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting at least right angles between said Y axis member and said Z axis member, and wherein at least one of said first means and said second means includes a Z-X axis adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting at least right angles between said Z axis member and said X axis member.

5. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 1, wherein said first means and said second means include two datum levels provided at predetermined intervals, on one of a pair of members adjacent to one another and whose angular relationship is to be adjusted, a securing pin provided on the other of the pair of members and contacting one of the two datum levels, and a rotatable eccentric pin contacting the other datum level, whereby the angle between the pair of members can be adjusted by rotation of the eccentric pin.

6. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 1, wherein said Y axis member and said Z slider connected to and disconnected from one another at said second means.

7. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 3, wherein said support member includes height adjustment pedestals attached to or removed from a lower portion of said columns.

8. The simple three-dimensional measuring machine according to claim 1, wherein said X slider, Y slider, Y axis member, Z slider, Z axis member and counterbalance mechanism are assembled to define a slide unit.

9. A packing case for facilitating a transport of a simple three-dimensional measuring machine, comprising:

a first packing case for housing a X axis member and a X slider related to the X axis member apart from other members;

a second packing case for housing a Y axis member, a Y slider related to the Y axis member, a Z slider attached to the Y axis member through second means for angularly adjustably connecting said Z slider and said Y axis member, a Z axis member slidably related to a Z slider, all of which are assembled together into an L-shape, said second packing case having a pair of opposed L-shaped protective recesses therein outlining a rectangle, the assembled components, as aforesaid, including an L-shaped covering for the L-shaped assembly, both of said L-shaped assembly and said L-shaped covering therefor being received in an associated one of said L-shaped recesses; and

an exterior packing case to house said first and second packing cases one on top of the other.

10. A packing case for facilitating a transport of a simple three-dimensional measuring machine, comprising:

a first packing case for housing only a pair of columns or a pair of columns and a height adjustment pedestal as first members of an assembly separated from other members;

a second packing case for housing a X axis member and a X slider related to the X axis member as second members of the assembly separated from the other member;

a third packing case for housing a Y axis member, a Y slider related to the Y axis member, a Z slider attached to the Y axis member through second means angularly adjustably, connecting said Z slider and said Y axis member, a Z axis member slidably related to the Z slider, all of which are assembled together into an L-shape, said second packing case having a pair of opposed L-shaped protective recesses therein outlining a rectangle, the assembled components, as aforesaid, including an L-shaped covering for the L-shaped assembly, both of said L-shaped assembly and said L-shaped covering therefor being received in an associated one of said L-shaped recesses; and

an exterior packing case to house said first, second and third packing cases one on top of the other.