JP2004279320A - Tape measure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape measure which makes setting of the size of its case more flexible, by using appropriate special steel for a tape-winding spring, and reducing the size of the spring. <P>SOLUTION: For a winding spring 4, equipped in a rotating drum 3 fixed to a shaft 23 which is provided erect in the case 2 of the tape measure 1, a spring having a hardness by quenching of HV700 is used. Consequently, since the torque necessary for winding can be ensured, even if the size of the winding spring 4 is reduced, accordingly, the space for a housing section 33 for the winding spring 4 in the rotating drum 3 is reduced, and the rotating drum 3 also becomes smaller; thus the case 2 can be made smaller also, and the size of the case 2 can be set more flexibly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a tape measure, and more particularly, to a self-winding tape measure that automatically winds a tape.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems]
Conventionally, a self-winding tape measure that automatically winds a tape is such that a tape is wound around a case serving as a main body of the tape measure and a shaft erected on an inner wall of the case, and the tape is attached in a winding direction. A rotary drum having a biasing means for biasing is rotatably supported by a shaft.
For the tape measure, the size of the case, that is, the size of the tape measure is determined by the size of the rotating drum accommodated in the case, and is also related to the weight.
[0003]
The rotating drum is, from the lamination dimension of the tape wound around the rotating drum, up to the outermost edge of the accommodating space around the axis of the accommodating space of the spring serving as the urging means for tape winding provided in the rotating drum. The distance dimension in the centrifugal direction is much longer.
This is because the spring moves like a mainspring, and a space that does not hinder the movement must be secured.
[0004]
It was common sense that the spring was formed in a belt shape with an appropriate width, and quenched to form a spring, and the quenched hardness was HV600 or less.
This hardness is widely known and used by those skilled in the art as the most suitable for the take-up spring of the tape measure, and is therefore a technical condition in the development of the tape measure. The size is determined by the spring and the size of the tape measure is determined by the rotating drum. Therefore, the tape measure can be reduced in size only to a certain level.
[0005]
Therefore, when using a tape measure of the same specification (tape length / tape width, etc.), a worker with a large hand can use the tape measure without difficulty because it can securely hold the case. However, workers with small hands felt that the case was difficult to hold and difficult to use because the size of the case could only be reduced to a certain level.
In particular, in the case of work at a high place, there is a danger of the case dropping, and the difficulty of use is extremely felt, and the safety at the time of use is extremely low.
[0006]
From this, the applicant has doubts about the spring which has been used without any doubt conventionally, the contradiction that the size of the tape measure manufactured by those skilled in the art is almost determined by the spring provided from the outside, Sought to break through the situation that has also threatened the safety of the measurement work described above.
As a result, it has been found that the problem can be solved by using an appropriate special steel material which is not conventionally used as a spring.
[0007]
【Purpose】
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a tape measure that can reduce the size of a spring by using an appropriate special steel material for a tape winding spring and more freely set the size of a case. It is intended to provide.
[0008]
[Means to solve the problem]
The gist of the present invention is to provide a tape measure that pivotally supports a rotary drum having a built-in biasing means that winds a tape around the shaft and urges the tape in a winding direction on a shaft that stands in the case, A tape measure characterized in that a belt-like spring made of a high-hardness steel material is used as the urging means.
[0009]
To explain the present invention in more detail, the tape measure to which the present invention is applied is an automatic winding tape measure having a resin and / or metal material case appropriately formed in a desired shape. The self-winding tape measure has a rotating drum that is supported by a shaft erected in a case, and a coil-shaped spring is provided inside the rotating drum for urging and mounting the tape. The winding force is accumulated in the winding spring together with the drawer, and when the tape is wound, the tape is released to wind the tape into the case by the force of the spring.
[0010]
The spring is provided in a housing space for the spring in the rotating drum, one end of which is engaged with the rotating drum and connected to the tape, and the other end is engaged with a shaft erected in the case. I have. Then, by pulling out the tape, the spring is wound around the shaft, whereby the winding force is accumulated. When winding the tape, the wound spring is returned, that is, spreads in the centrifugal direction around the shaft, thereby rotating the rotating drum and winding the tape around the drum.
[0011]
The tape enters and exits through the tape entrance below the front wall of the case, and the tape is prevented from being drawn into the case by a locking hook provided at the tip of the tape.
Depending on the tape measure, a cushioning member for reducing the impact of the locking hook at the leading end of the tape when winding the tape is provided facing the tape entrance or exit, or a lock mechanism for temporarily stopping the drawn tape. In some cases, a brake piece of the unit and an operation lever of the brake piece are provided. In some cases, a portable member such as a strap or a belt hook for carrying a tape measure is provided.
[0012]
An appropriate special steel material is used for a tape winding spring of a tape measure having such a structure.
The special steel material refers to a steel material having a higher hardness of quenching, and it is preferable to perform quenching so that the hardness is within a range of HV600 or more.
[0013]
Further, the width of the spring is not particularly limited, and may be substantially the same as the width of the tape, but may be appropriately smaller than the width of the tape.
When the width of the spring is made smaller than the width of the tape, in the form in which the spring is provided inside the rotary drum, the spring is provided so as to be biased in one of the axial directions of the shaft that supports the rotary drum erected on the inner wall of the case. Is also good. At this time, the space for accommodating the spring formed in the rotating drum may be reduced in accordance with the width of the spring.
[0014]
The thickness of the spring is not particularly limited as long as it is selected in consideration of the tape length, the tape width, and the like. An example of a specific relationship is, for example, a tape width of 19 mm / a tape length of 5.5 m. In such a case, the thickness of the spring is preferably about 0.1 mm.
Further, the whole area of the spring band may have substantially the same width, but the spring may have a tapered shape with a taper extending from the direction of the connection with the tape to the direction of the engagement with the shaft.
[0015]
The space for accommodating the spring in the rotary drum may be appropriately secured according to the winding performance of the spring. In other words, the spring may move like a mainspring, so long as the space does not hinder the movement.
[0016]
[Action]
As described above, the tape measure of the present invention uses a spring made of a high-hardness steel material for the tape winding spring, so that the return force or torque when the winding force is accumulated in the spring by pulling out the tape is reduced. The torque required for winding is secured even with a small spring.
Thereby, even if the take-up spring is small, the torque required for take-up is ensured, so that the space for accommodating the take-up spring in the rotary drum is reduced, and the size of the casing can be reduced accordingly. The size of the case can be set more freely.
[0017]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the inside of a case of a tape measure according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a tape measure, 1 is a tape measure, 2 is a case, 21 is a tape entrance through which a tape enters and exits, and 22 is a case 2. Reference numeral 23 denotes a shaft standing on the inner wall 22.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a rotating drum, 31 denotes a winding drum portion around which the tape 5 is wound, 33 denotes a spring accommodating portion serving as an accommodating space for a winding spring, and 4 denotes a winding spring, which is formed of a high-hardness steel material. You. 5 is a tape, 51 is a locking piece.
[0018]
As an example, when the tape width is set to 19 mm / the tape length is set to 5.5 m, when numerically comparing the case formed from the HV660 steel material and the case formed from the HV580 steel material,
HV580: 0.12 × 16 × 4000
HV660: 0.10 × 16 × 4000
, And the spring thickness is reduced by 0.12-0.10 = 0.02, and the difference is increased by being wound around the shaft. And the rotating drum can be reduced.
[0019]
2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the rotary drum showing a state in which the springs are housed. FIG. 2 shows the winding spring 4 arranged at the center of a spring housing 33 of the rotary drum 3.
FIG. 3 shows an arrangement in which the winding spring 4 is biased to one of the spring accommodating portions 33 of the rotary drum 3.
2 is a case, 23 is a shaft, 3 is a rotating drum, 31 is a winding drum, 32 is a guide for preventing the tape 5 erected on both edges of the winding drum 31 from coming off, 33 is a spring accommodating portion, and 4 is a winding drum. It is a spring.
[0020]
FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views of the spring. FIG. 4 shows a spring function portion of the winding spring 4 having the same width.
FIG. 5 shows a configuration in which the spring function portion of the winding spring 4 is tapered (tapered portion 44).
[0021]
FIG. 6 is a side view of the spring in a state where the winding force is accumulated. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the tape 5 is completely pulled out, and the winding spring 4 is wound around the shaft 23 by winding. The effort accumulates. That is, the winding force is accumulated in the winding spring 4 by pulling out the tape 5.
[0022]
FIG. 7 is a side view of the spring in a normal state, showing a state in which the winding spring 4 has spread from the periphery of the shaft 23 by winding the tape 5, and a state in which the winding force has been released to some extent.
[0023]
【effect】
As described above, the tape measure of the present invention uses a spring made of high-hardness steel for the tape take-up spring, so that the take-up spring can be reduced in size.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the case of the tape measure as well as to reduce the size of the case of the tape measure, as well as to reduce the space for accommodating the housing portion of the take-up spring in the rotary drum. Not only the case that fits the operator, but also the operator with a small hand, the tape measure becomes more ergonomic from the standpoint of the worker.
In addition, even when working at a high place, a tape measure having the same specifications can be safely used regardless of whether the operator has a large hand or a small hand.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the inside of a case of a tape measure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary drum showing a housed state of a spring. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary drum showing a housed state of a spring. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the spring. FIG. 6 is a side view of the spring in a state where the winding force is accumulated. FIG. 7 is a side view of the spring in a normal state.
1-tape measure, 2-case, 21-tape entrance, 22-inner wall, 23-shaft, 3-rotating drum, 31-winding drum, 32-guide, 33-spring housing, 4-winding spring, 41- Tape connecting portion, 42-winding portion engaging portion, 43-shaft engaging portion, 44-taper portion, 5-tape, 51-locking piece

Claims (5)

In a tape measure which supports a rotary drum in which a tape is wound around a shaft which is erected in a case and a biasing means for biasing the tape in a winding direction is provided, the biasing means has a high hardness. A tape measure characterized by using a strip spring made of steel material The tape measure according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the steel material is HV600 or more. The tape measure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the spring is smaller than the width of the tape. The tape measure according to claim 4, wherein the spring is provided to be biased in one of the axial directions. The tape measure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the spring is tapered.

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