JPH0431538Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a touch probe that detects contact between a contact and an object to be measured by detecting the displacement of the contact due to contact with the object.

Conventionally, a needle-shaped contact extending on the axis is movably supported in a housing, and when the contact makes a slight displacement with respect to the housing, a contact detection signal is generated and the object to be measured is detected. There is a sensor called a touch probe that detects the contact position of the object.Such a sensor is attached to the movable table of a measuring instrument or the main shaft of a machine tool, and is moved from a certain reference point toward the object to be measured. moving the detector, stopping the movement of the detector upon generation of a contact detection signal, and automatically measuring the relative position and length between the objects to be measured from the reference point using this moving distance. used.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, such a touch probe has problems with the object to be measured due to eccentricity of the tip ball 1'a attached to the tip of the contactor 1', assembly error of the detection mechanism built into the housing 2', etc. A dimensional error may occur due to a difference in the contact direction at the time of contact output (generation of a contact detection signal) to 100. Dimensional errors due to such differences in the contact direction are fatal in copying machining, and if the dimensional errors are not aligned before copying, the object displaced by the dimensional error will be copied. becomes.

Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the dimensional errors due to the difference in the contact direction in advance, but in the conventional technology, the entire touch probe is removed from the main shaft of the machine and a special jig is used to adjust the errors. was. However, removing each part from the machine and making corrections in this way not only takes time for alignment, but also has drawbacks such as the use of a special jig, which makes the alignment work troublesome and requires skill. was.

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a touch probe that can easily align the dimensional errors caused by the difference in the contact direction while still attached to the machine, and is particularly effective when performing copy processing. The purpose is to do.

The feature of the present invention is that, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the main body 3 has a holding part for attaching it to a machine.
and a housing 2 that movably holds the contactor 1, the touch probe is fixed to the main body 3 side and extends in the Y-axis or X-axis direction in a plane orthogonal to the main body axis C-C'. A fixing plate 1 with a pair of long holes 11 and 12 drilled therein.
0, and a pair of pin members 2 protruding from the back side of the casing 2 facing the main body 3 in parallel with the main body axis C-C'.
9 and 30 are engaged with the elongated holes 11 and 12, and the housing 2 is moved relative to the main body 3 through the pin members 29 and 30 in the Y axis or the A main body axis C is formed between a housing 2 that is disposed to be movable in the axial direction, and the back side of the housing 2 and the fixing plate 10.
An operation in which the pin members 29 and 30 are fitted into a pair of guide holes 21 and 22 that are rotatably interposed around the body axis C and that open in an arc shape around a position eccentric from the body axis C by a predetermined amount. This device is characterized by comprising a plate 20 and a lock nut 31 that can hold and release the pressure between the housing 2 and the fixed plate 10 via the operation plate 20.

To explain the operation of this device, for example, when there is a dimensional error in the Y-axis direction due to a difference in the direction of contact between the contactor 1 and the object to be measured, first loosen the lock nut 31 and tighten the operation plate 20. When the operation plate 20 is rotated after releasing the clamping pressure and making it rotatable, the guide hole 2 of the operation plate 20 is opened.
1 and 22, the pin members 29 and 30 fitted in the long holes 11 and 12 of the fixing plate 10 are inserted into the long holes 11 and 12, respectively.
12 in the Y-axis direction, and as a result, the housing 2 and the contact 1 moved following the movement of the pin members 29 and 30, and the contact 1 moved by the dimensional error. At this point, the rotation is stopped.

Finally, by tightening the lock nut 31, the housing 2 and the operation plate 20 are fixed to the fixed plate 10 side of the main body 3, and alignment is completed.

Note that the alignment mechanism consisting of the fixed plate, operation plate, and lock nut is not limited to only one, but an alignment mechanism in the X direction and an alignment mechanism in the Y axis direction may be stacked between the casing 2 and the main body 3. By arranging them, alignment in two axial directions becomes possible.

The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

2 to 5 show a touch probe according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the contact side, FIG. 4 to 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the shapes of the fixed plate and the operation plate shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

This embodiment is a touch probe that can be aligned in the Y-axis direction, and includes a main body 3 having a main shaft mounting part 4 to be attached to the machine main shaft, and a contactor 1 extending on the axis C-C'.
It consists of a casing 2 that displaceably holds the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5 that connects the two.

The main body 3 has a built-in battery and various control circuits (not shown), and has a cylindrical part 6 extending concentrically with the axis C-C' on the end surface opposite to the main shaft mounting part 4. A spring receiving hole 7 is bored on the end surface on the axis C-C', and the spring receiver 8 inserted into the mounting hole 7 is configured to be movable in the direction of the axis C-C' by a screw 8a. has been done.

Further, the cylindrical portion 6 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the casing 2 so that the outer diameter of the front side 6a, into which the inner wall surface of the casing 2 is inserted, is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the casing 2, so that the cylindrical portion 6 has a clearance that allows the casing 2 to align. Float against.

and the cylindrical portion 6 between the main body 3 and the housing 2
A fixing plate 10 fixed to the main body 3 and an operating plate 20 for performing alignment are provided with a rod on b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing plate 10 is formed of a ring-shaped disk having the same inner diameter as the outer diameter D of the cylindrical part, and has a pair of rings on the Y axis corresponding to pin members 29 and 30, which will be described later. Oval long holes 11, 12
are formed symmetrically. The long holes 11 and 12 are Y
It is formed in an elliptical shape extending in the axial direction, and its minor axis width is formed to be the same as the diameter of the pin members 29 and 30. As described above, the fixing plate 10 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 6 and fixed to the main body 3 via the screw member 13. Note that the fixing plate 10 may be formed integrally with the main body 3.

The operating plate 20 is formed of a ring-shaped disk having the same inner diameter as the outer diameter D of the cylindrical portion 6, like the fixed plate 10, and includes operating protrusions 23 and 24 protruding from the outer peripheral surface in the X-axis direction in the figure. , X from the center C of the inner diameter of the operation plate 20
Centered at a position d' that is eccentric by a predetermined amount in the axial direction,
It has guide holes 21 and 22 formed in arc shapes at positions corresponding to the pin members 29 and 30. The short width of the arcuate guide holes 21 and 22 also corresponds to the pin member 2.
9.30 Form the same width as the diameter. The operation plate 20 is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 6.

The pin members 29 and 30 are fixed to the casing 2 and protrude parallel to the axis C-C' from the casing 2 end surface on the Y-axis line of the casing 2 end surface that comes into contact with the operation plate 20, The pin members 29, 30 extend through the guide holes 21, 22 of the operating member to the elongated holes 11, 12 of the fixing member. A lock nut 31 is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the end of the housing 2 via the flange 2a, and the lock nut 31 is threadedly engaged with a screw formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fixing plate 10. The operation projections 23 and 2 of the operation plate 20 of the lock nut 31
A guide groove 31a extending in the rotational direction is bored in the circumferential surface corresponding to 4, and the lock nut 31 can be tightened and loosened without rotating the operating protrusions 23 and 24. I can do things.

Inside the housing 2, there is a movable body 32 connected to the contactor 1.
is disposed so as to be displaceable about an annular fulcrum 32a, and the movable body 32 has a flange plate 33, which also serves as a spring receiver, fixed to the end face on the side of the main body 3, and the flange plate 33 and the spring receiver 8 on the main body 3 side are fixed to the movable body 32. An elastic force is applied to the movable body 32 toward the contact 1 by a spring member 34 disposed therebetween, and the movable body 32 is positioned in contact with the annular fulcrum 32a. The spring member 34 can align the measuring pressure of the contact 1 by moving the spring receiver 8 via the screw 8a.
A space 32a is formed in the center of the movable body 32, and a bridge portion 35 is inserted into the space 32a in a direction perpendicular to the axis C-C' and has both ends fixed to the housing 2.
is installed. A fixed contact 36 is disposed at the center of the bridge portion 35, and a movable contact 37 is disposed at the center of the flange plate 33 of the movable body 32 so as to be in contact with each other. It is configured to generate a contact detection signal from a control circuit electrically connected via a lead wire.

As a result, the contact 1 receives displacement caused by contact with the object to be measured or the copying template, and the movable body 32 and flange plate 33 connected to the contact 1 rotate about the annular fulcrum 32a. The movable contact 37 and the fixed contact 36 are moved apart, and a contact detection signal can be generated through the control circuit. Since the mechanisms and functions of these parts inside the housing 2 are not the gist of the present invention, detailed explanations will be omitted.

Next, the alignment method of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, in the case where there is a dimensional error in the Y-axis direction due to a difference in the contact direction between the contactor 1 and the object to be measured, first loosen the lock nut 31 and make the operation plate 20 rotatable. , the operation panel 20
When the operating protrusions 23 and 24 are rotated, the pin members 29 and 3 fitted into the long holes 11 and 12 of the fixed plate 10 are moved from the arc-shaped guide holes 21 and 22 of the operation plate 20.
0 is forcibly moved in the Y-axis direction along the elongated holes 11 and 12 of the fixing plate 10, and as a result, the pin members 29,
The housing 2 and the contact 1 move following the movement of the contact 30, and the rotation is stopped when the contact 1 has moved by the dimensional error. Finally, by tightening the lock nut 31 , the housing 2 and the operation plate 2 are
0 is fixed to the main body 3 side, and alignment is completed.

Further, to explain the alignment method in detail, the inner diameter of the housing 2 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer circumference on the tip side of the corresponding cylindrical portion 6, and the housing 2 is placed in a floating state,
The position of the housing 2 is restricted by the long holes 11 and 12 of the fixing plate 10 via pin members 29 and 30 so that it can move only in the Y-axis direction, while the operation plate 20
The guide holes 21 and 22 are formed in an arc shape centered on a position offset by a predetermined amount from the inner diameter center C of the operation plate 20, so when the operation plate 20 is rotated about the inner diameter, the guide holes 21 , 22, the pin members 29, 30 fitted on the fixing plate 10
It is possible to align the housing 2 and the contact 1 in the Y-axis direction by moving along the elongated holes 11 and 12 and connecting the pin members 29 and 30 in the Y-axis direction.

By the way, in practical alignment, the contact 1 is brought into contact with the reference position using a reference block with clear dimensions in advance (at this time, the contact 1 is displaced by the dimensional error). (The movable contact 37 and the fixed contact 36 are separated from each other), the movable contact 37 and the fixed contact 36 of the contact 1
All you have to do is rotate the operation plate 20 until it makes contact, capture the signal at that time of contact, and perform alignment.
Alignment is extremely easy.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment in which alignment in two-dimensional directions of the X-axis and Y-axis is possible, and the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained.

A housing 2 that holds the contactor in a movable manner and a main body 3 that has a main shaft mounting portion are equipped with an
The shaft adjustment mechanism 5 is connected to the shaft adjustment mechanism 5.

Each member of the X-axis adjustment mechanism 50 and the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5 is fitted into a cylindrical portion base side 6b extending concentrically with the axis C-C' on the end surface of the main body 3.

The Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5 has a fixed plate 10 and an operation plate 20 that are the same as those in the above embodiment, and pin members 29 and 30 that protrude and are located on the Y-axis line of the end face of the casing. It is fixed to the connecting plate 53 of the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 50.

The X-axis adjustment mechanism 50 includes a fixed plate 51 fixed to the main body 3, an operation plate 52 for alignment, and a connecting plate 53 fixed to the fixed plate 10 of the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5.

The fixing plate 51 and the operating plate 52 are arranged by angularly displacing the fixing plate 10 and the operating plate 20 of the first embodiment by 90°, and the fixing plate 51 is arranged with the connecting plate 53
X corresponding to a pair of pin members 54 that protrude more
A pair of oval elongated holes 55 are provided at positions on the axis, and the operation plate 52 also has a pair of operation protrusions 56 protruding from the outer peripheral surface in the X-axis direction, and a predetermined amount in the Y-axis direction from the center of the inner diameter of the operation plate 52. Arc-shaped guide holes 56 are formed symmetrically at positions corresponding to the pin members 54 with respect to the eccentric position d'.

The connecting plate 53 has the same inner diameter as the outer diameter D of the cylindrical portion 6, and is located at a position on the X-axis on the end face side of the casing 2 that contacts the operation plate 52 with the axis C-C' from the end face of the casing 2. A pin member 54 is protruded in parallel and extends through a guide hole 56 of the operation plate 52 to a long hole 55 of the fixed plate 51. Also, the connecting plate 53
As in the first embodiment, a lock nut 57 is engaged with a threaded portion on the outer peripheral surface of the fixing plate 51. A fixing plate 10 of the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5 is fixed to the other end surface of the connecting plate 53.

According to this embodiment, since the connecting plate 53 of the X-axis adjustment mechanism 50 and the fixed plate 10 of the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5 are integrally fixed, the connection caused by the rotation of the operation plate 52 of the X-axis adjustment mechanism 50 can be prevented. The movement of the plate 53 in the X-axis direction is transmitted to the contactor 1 via the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5 and the housing 2, and alignment of the contactor 1 in the X-axis direction becomes possible. Therefore, in conjunction with the alignment in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 5, alignment in the two-dimensional direction becomes possible.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention,
Dimensional errors due to differences in contact direction or other misalignment can be easily aligned while the touch probe is attached to the machine, making alignment work simple and easy without requiring any skill. Not only can the machining process be easily performed, but also special jigs such as block gauges are not required, which is extremely effective especially when copying machining is to be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the drawbacks of the prior art. 2 to 5 show a touch probe according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the contact side, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part taken along line A-A' in FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the shapes of the fixing plate and the operating plate shown in FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Contact, 2... Housing, 10, 51... Fixed plate, 11, 12, 55... Long hole, 3... Main body,
20...Operation plate, 29, 30, 54...Pin member, 21, 22, 56...Guide hole, 31...Lock nut.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] A main body having a holding part for attaching it to a machine,
In a touch probe consisting of a housing that movably holds a contact, a pair of elongated holes are fixed to the main body side and extend in the Y-axis or X-axis direction in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the main body. A fixing plate and a pair of pin members protruding parallel to the axis of the main body from the rear side of the casing facing the main body are engaged with the elongated holes, and the casing is fixed to the main body through the pin members. a casing disposed so as to be movable in the Y-axis or X-axis direction while being positionally regulated by the elongated hole;
The pin member is interposed between the back side of the casing and the fixing plate so as to be rotatable about the axis of the main body, and the pin member is inserted into a pair of guide holes opening in an arc shape about a position offset from the axis of the main body by a predetermined amount. A touch probe comprising: an operation plate fitted with the above, and a lock nut capable of holding and releasing pressure between a housing and a fixed plate via the operation plate.