JP2008039732A - Measuring tape - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a measuring tape having high reliability and long life by generating stable biasing force of a brake over a long period of time since a steel material of a plate spring deteriorates due to dust or contaminant in air and moisture such as rainwater and resilient force of the plate spring deteriorates due to influence of the deterioration not to hold the measuring tape in a stop state concerning the plate spring used for a biasing means of a brake mechanism in the conventional automatic lock type. <P>SOLUTION: The measuring tape comprises: rotatably supporting a rotating drum 4 biased in a winding direction of the tape 5 on a shaft 3 by a winding spring 6; always braking the tape 5 by a roller 9a connected to an arm 7a of a brake releasing button 7; and using a compressed coil spring 10a for a means for biasing the roller 9a in the measuring tape composed so as to be released by operation of the brake releasing button 7 in an always braking direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape measure provided with an auto-locking brake mechanism in which a measuring tape drawn out from a case automatically stops at that position, and more specifically, the auto-locking brake mechanism is stable over a long period of time. The present invention relates to a tape measure that can maintain a braking force.

  The tape measure is generally equipped with a mechanism that automatically winds the drawn tape after use. At the time of measurement, it is necessary to prevent the tape from being unintentionally wound. A brake mechanism for stopping is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, in contrast to the operation mode in which the brake operation (brake ON) is performed in order to prevent the measurement tape pulled out from being wound in the case as described above, the operation tape is pulled out from the case, contrary to the operation mode. There is also a brake mechanism of an operation form in which the measuring tape automatically stops at that position (brake ON), and a brake operation (brake OFF) is performed to release this stop state. That is, it is an auto lock system.

  As shown in FIG. 7, this auto-lock type brake mechanism always presses the brake shoe (wedge 9b) against the measuring tape 5 to be taken up in the case 2 by the leaf spring 10a as the urging means. By setting the brake (brake ON) state, the measuring tape 5 drawn out from the case 2 is automatically stopped at the drawn-out position.

  The leaf spring 10a, which is an urging means in the above-described auto-lock type brake mechanism, is disposed in the vicinity of the entrance / exit 2a of the measuring tape 5 due to space problems. The steel material of the leaf spring 10a deteriorates due to the influence of contaminants, moisture such as rain water, etc., and as this deterioration proceeds, the elastic force of the leaf spring 10a gradually decreases and the brake shoe (wedge 9b) is measured with the measuring tape 5 In some cases, the measuring tape 5 cannot be held in the stopped state.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case where the inverted V-shaped leaf spring 10 a is used, when the bent portion 10 b that generates the resilient force of the leaf spring 10 a is deteriorated, the reduction of the resilient force is progressed. Was very fast.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-295002 (pages 1 to 5, FIGS. 1 to 3)

  According to the present invention, the urging means for pressing the brake shoe against the measuring tape can generate a stable urging force over a long period of time, and can provide a tape measure with a long life.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the tape measure according to the present invention is such that a rotating drum having a biasing means for winding a measurement tape around the inside of the case and biasing the measurement tape in the winding direction is rotatable. A tape measure that is supported and configured so that the measuring tape is constantly braked by a braking means connected to a brake operating means operable from outside the case, and the braking is released by operation of the brake operating means. The biasing means for constantly biasing the braking means in the braking direction is configured using a compression coil spring.

  Further, the compression coil spring is disposed between the transmission arm of the brake operating means and the case inner wall, and one end of the compression coil spring is engaged with an engagement portion formed on the transmission arm or the case inner wall, The compression coil spring is arranged in a compressed state.

  Further, the engaging portion is formed in a protruding shape, and one end of the compression coil spring is fitted into the protruding portion.

  Furthermore, the compression coil spring is disposed between the transmission arm in the vicinity of the braking means and the inner wall of the case.

  Further, the brake shoe in the braking means is configured to be wedged between the measuring tape surface wound around the rotating drum and the measuring tape surface fed out from the rotating drum so as to brake the measuring tape.

  Further, the brake shoe in the braking means is wedged between the measuring tape surface fed out from the rotating drum and a guide member formed to guide the brake shoe to the measuring tape surface so as to brake the measuring tape. It is configured as

  Further, the brake shoe is constituted by a roller member that is rotatably supported in the advancing / retreating direction of the measuring tape.

  According to the tape measure of the present invention, since the compression coil spring is used as the biasing means for pressing the brake shoe in the braking means against the measurement tape, the brake shoe in the braking means is used as the measurement tape like a conventional leaf spring. Compared with the one in which the elastic force for pressing is generated from one bent portion of the leaf spring, the one using the compression coil spring as the biasing means is compressed by the compression coil spring. The repulsive force generated from each coil cooperates to press a brake shoe disposed on the braking means against the measuring tape.

  For example, if one coil of a compression coil spring has deteriorated due to the influence of dust, contaminants, moisture such as rainwater in the atmosphere, even if the repulsive force of one coil at this deteriorated part is missing, it remains. Because the repulsive force of each coil of the coil cooperates and presses the brake shoe against the measuring tape, this is like a leaf spring that generates a resilient force that presses the brake shoe against the measuring tape from one bent portion in the past. Immediate resilience does not decrease due to deterioration of the generation part of one repulsive force, and even if the repulsive force of one coil in the deteriorated part is missing, the repulsive force of each remaining coil Cooperate to press the brake shoe against the measuring tape and maintain the resilience of pressing the brake shoe against the measuring tape.

  Therefore, by using a compression coil spring as the urging means for pressing the brake shoe in the braking means against the measuring tape, the urging force in the auto-lock type brake mechanism can be stably generated over a long period of time. A long and reliable tape measure can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a tape measure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a semi-case of a tape measure according to the present invention is removed. The rotating drum 4 around which the measuring tape 5 is wound around the shaft 3 is rotatably supported.

  Further, a winding spring 6 for biasing the measuring tape 5 wound around the rotating drum 4 in the winding direction, that is, the direction in which the measuring tape 5 is wound in the case 2 is provided inside the rotating drum 4. One end of the take-up spring 6 is engaged with the shaft 3, and the other end of the take-up spring 6 is attached to a winding drum (not shown) of the rotating drum 4 around which the measuring tape 5 is wound. It is attached.

  Then, the urging force is accumulated in the take-up spring 6 by the rotation of the rotating drum 4 when the measuring tape 5 is pulled out from the case 2, and the used measuring tape 5 is placed in the case 2 by the accumulated urging force. It can be wound and accommodated.

A hook 5a is disposed at the tip of the measuring tape 5 so that it can be hooked to the measurement base end of the member to be measured during the measurement operation.
Furthermore, when the measuring tape 5 is wound into the case 2, the hook 5 a is locked to the entrance / exit 2 a portion of the measuring tape 5 in the case 2 so that the measuring tape 5 is not drawn into the case 2. .

  Although not shown in each drawing of the embodiment, when an impact buffer member is disposed in the entrance / exit 2a of the measuring tape 5 and the hook 5a of the measuring tape 5 is locked to the entrance / exit 2a portion, the entrance / exit 2a portion In some cases, the impact of the hook 5a of the measuring tape 5 that collides with the head may be reduced.

  The automatic lock type brake mechanism in the tape measure 1 is connected to the brake release button 7 which can be operated from the outside of the case 2 rotatably supported by the shaft 8 and the release button. A transmission arm 7a that can be pivoted to the rear, and a roller shoe brake shoe 9a provided on the free end side of the transmission arm.

  The roller 9a-shaped brake shoe is made of a flexible material, and as shown in FIG. 6, the side surface shape in the axial direction has substantially the same curvature as the short-side curvature of the measuring tape 5, The transmission arm 7a connecting the brake shoe is always urged by a compression coil spring 10 disposed in a biased state between the transmission arm 7a and the inner wall of the case 2.

  The transmission arm 7a maintains a state of rotating around the shaft 8 in the direction of the rotating drum 4 (measurement direction of the measuring tape 5) by the spring force of the compression coil spring 10, and has a roller 9a shape connected to the transmission arm 7a. The brake shoe is wedged between the surface of the measuring tape 5 wound around the rotating drum 4 and the surface of the measuring tape 5 advanced from the rotating drum 4.

  The compression coil spring 10 is fitted with a projection 2c formed at one end of the compression coil spring 10 on the inner wall of the case 2. In this fitting, the compression coil spring 10 is connected to the transmission arm 7a and the inner wall of the case 2. Between the coil opening of the compression coil spring 10 and the projection 2c when the projection length of the projection 2c is increased. However, when the protrusion length of the protrusion 2c is reduced, the fitting state between the coil opening of the compression coil spring 10 and the protrusion 2c is set to be a press-fit in consideration of the dropout of the compression coil spring 10. Is good.

  Further, the compression coil spring may have a shape that has the same diameter over the entire length of the compression coil spring or a shape that tapers toward one end, depending on the setting of the urging force of the roller shoe of the roller 9a at the design stage. . Note that it is preferable to use a material for the compression coil spring that has a very low risk of rusting and is excellent in corrosion resistance. For example, a stainless steel material is preferably used.

  The roller 9a-like brake shoe is wedged between the surface of the measuring tape 5 wound around the rotating drum 4 and the surface of the measuring tape 5 fed out of the rotating drum 4, so that the winding spring 6 Braking is applied to the movement of the measuring tape 5 that is about to be wound into the case 2 by the urging force in the direction in which the measuring tape 5 is about to be wound.

  At this time, the measuring tape 5 that has advanced from the rotating drum 4 bites between the surface of the measuring tape 5 around which the roller 9a-shaped brake shoe is wound around the rotating drum 4 and the surface of the measuring tape 5 fed out of the rotating drum 4. In this case, the downward escape is stopped by the receiving portion 2 b provided below the measurement tape 5, so that the brake shoe in the form of the roller 9 a is wound around the rotary drum 4. Can be wedged between the surface and the surface of the measuring tape 5 advanced from the rotary drum 4, and the measuring tape 5 is automatically pulled out from the case 2 against the urging force of the winding spring 6. Locked to.

In order to wind the tape into the case 2 after the tape 5 is used, the brake release button 7 is pushed in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG.
As a result, the brake release button 7 is pushed inward in the case 2 around the shaft 8, and the transmission arm 7 a following the brake release button 7 rotates around the shaft 8 against the repulsive force of the compression coil spring 10. The compression coil spring 10 is compressed.

  The compression of the compression coil spring 10 releases the wedged state between the surface of the measuring tape 5 wound around the rotating drum 4 and the surface of the measuring tape 5 fed out from the rotating drum 4 in the roller 9a brake shoe. Therefore, the braking state of the measuring tape 5 by the roller 9a-like brake shoe is released, and the measuring tape 5 is wound around the rotating drum 4 by the urging force of the winding spring 6 built in the rotating drum 4, Housed in a case. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the braking state of the measuring tape 5 by the roller 9a-like brake shoe is released.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing another embodiment of the tape measure according to the present invention. This tape measure 1 is a brake shoe having a roller 9a shape for biasing to be connected to the transmission arm 7a as shown in FIGS. Is biased (pushed) in a direction to be wedged between the surface of the measuring tape 5 wound around the rotating drum 4 and the surface of the measuring tape 5 fed out of the rotating drum 4, and the inner wall of the case 2 and the transmission arm 7a. In the compression coil spring 10 disposed in a biased state, a projection that fits into a coil opening near one end of the compression coil spring 10 is disposed on the transmission arm 7a. Reference numeral 7 b in FIG. 3 is a protrusion disposed on the transmission arm 7 a that fits into a coil opening near one end of the compression coil spring 10.

  Further, the tape measure 1 shown in FIG. 3 has a measuring tape 5 fed out from the rotating drum 4 on one side of each member to which the roller 9a-shaped brake shoe is wedged and the other measuring tape 5 fed out from the rotating drum 4. The engaging member 2d is formed on the inner wall of the upper case 2.

  The engaging member 2d is disposed so that the gap between the engaging member 2d and the surface of the measuring tape 5 is gradually narrowed in the winding direction of the tape 5, and therefore the compression coil spring 10 causes the tape 5 to The roller 9a-shaped brake shoe pressed in the winding direction moves so as to be pressed against the surface of the measuring tape 5 fed out of the rotating drum 4 by the engaging member 2d, and the surface of the measuring tape 5 fed out of the rotating drum 4; It wedges between the engaging members 2d and securely locks the measuring tape.

The side view which shows the Example of the tape measure which concerns on this invention in the state which removed the half case. The side view which shows the state which cancelled | released the braking in the tape measure of FIG. The side view which shows the other form of the tape measure which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view showing the vicinity of a measurement tape doorway in the tape measure of FIG. 3. The partially expanded front view which shows the case inside seen from AA of FIG. The front view which shows a roller-shaped brake shoe. The side view which shows an example of the conventional tape measure in the state which removed the half case.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape measure 2 Case 2a Entrance / exit 2b Receiving part 2c Protrusion 2d Engaging member 3 Shaft 4 Rotating drum 5 Measuring tape 5a Hook 6 Take-up spring 7 Brake release button 7a Transmission arm 7b Protrusion 8 Shaft 9 Arm 9a Roller 9b Wedge 10 Compression coil spring

Claims (7)

  A rotating drum having a biasing means for winding the measuring tape around the casing and biasing the measuring tape in the winding direction is rotatably supported in the case, and the measuring tape can be operated from the outside of the case. A tape measure configured to be constantly braked by a braking means connected to a brake operating means, and to release the braking by an operation of the brake operating means, for constantly urging the braking means in a braking direction. A tape measure that uses a compression coil spring as the biasing means.   The compression coil spring is disposed between the transmission arm of the brake operating means and the inner wall of the case, and one end of the compression coil spring is engaged with an engagement portion formed on the transmission arm or the inner wall of the case; and 2. The tape measure according to claim 1, wherein the compression coil spring is disposed in a compressed state.   The tape measure according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is formed in a protrusion shape, and one end of the compression coil spring is fitted into the protrusion.   The tape measure according to claim 2, wherein the compression coil spring is disposed between a transmission arm near the braking means and the inner wall of the case.   The brake shoe in the braking means is configured to be wedged between a measuring tape surface wound around the rotating drum and a measuring tape surface fed out of the rotating drum to brake the measuring tape. Tape measure as described in   The brake shoe in the braking means is wedged between the measurement tape surface fed out from the rotating drum and a guide member formed to guide the brake shoe to the measurement tape surface to brake the measurement tape. The tape measure of Claim 1 comprised.   The tape measure of Claim 5 or Claim 6 comprised by the roller member which supported the said brake shoe rotatably in the advancing / retreating direction of the measuring tape.

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