JPH0949721A - Butting-type measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a butting-type measuring device which can measure with a small measuring force without worsening a using convenience. SOLUTION: A slider 2 is constituted of a first movable member 21 slidably set to a main scale 1 and a second movable member 31 slidably set to the first movable member 21 and having an outer measuring jaw 34. A coil spring 41 is inserted between the first and second movable members 21 and 31. A force to the main scale 1 when the slider 2 is moved is set by a sliding resistance of the main scale 1 and first movable member 21, while a measuring force is set by the coil spring 41. Since the forces can be set separately as above, measurements are carried out with a small measuring force without worsening convenience.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a main body and a slider having a measuring element slidably provided on the main body and abutting against an object to be measured. The present invention relates to a contact-type measuring instrument for measuring dimensions and the like.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART For a contact type measuring instrument (for example, a caliper, a height gauge, a depth gauge, a gap gauge, etc.) in which a slider having a measuring element is slidably provided with respect to a main body, the slider is moved to perform measurement. Since the dimensions of the measured object are measured from the amount of movement of the slider when the probe contacts the measured object, the measuring force when the probe contacts the measured object has a large effect on the measured value. Exert. In other words, if the measuring force becomes excessive, the stylus will bend, which not only causes an error based on the Abbe principle, but especially when the material to be measured is a soft material such as rubber or plastic. There is a problem that a measurement error occurs due to the deformation of the object to be measured.

Therefore, as a contact-type measuring device which prevents the measuring force from becoming excessive, the contact-type measuring device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-11688 is known. This is a structure in which a slider is provided slidably with respect to the main scale, and a finger rest is attached to the slider via an elastic member having a bending characteristic in the sliding direction of the slider. In the measurement, the slider is moved while pressing the finger rest, and the probe provided on the slider is brought into contact with the object to be measured. At this time, the pressing force applied to the finger rest is absorbed by the bending of the elastic member,
It is possible to prevent excessive measurement force.

Further, as a contact type measuring instrument capable of guaranteeing a measuring operation under a condition that the measuring force is constant, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
A digital display type measuring instrument disclosed in 1-219819 is known. This is because a slider and a finger-hanging member are slidably provided on the main scale, the slider and the finger-hanging member are connected to each other via an elastic member, and when the elastic member bends to a predetermined amount. The structure is such that a switch that operates and holds the measured value is provided on the slider side. In the measurement, the slider is moved while pressing the finger hanging member, and the main scale and a pair of measuring elements provided on the slider are brought into contact with the object to be measured. If the finger-holding member is further pressed from this state, the elastic member bends, and when the amount of bending reaches a predetermined amount, the measured value is held by the signal from the switch, so the measurement force is always constant. The measurement work can be guaranteed.

[0005]

However, in any of the measuring instruments described above, the bending characteristics of the elastic member must be set so that the elastic member does not bend when the slider is moved along the main scale. Therefore, it was difficult to make the measuring force smaller than the sliding resistance between the main scale and the slider. In addition, if the sliding resistance between the main scale and the slider is reduced in order to reduce the measuring force, the usability becomes poor. In addition, the structure and processing accuracy of the sliding portion between the main scale and the slider must be made stricter than the conventional product, and there is also a problem that it cannot be shared with the conventional product.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related art and to provide a contact type measuring instrument which can perform a measuring operation with a small measuring force without deteriorating the usability.

[0007]

An abutment type measuring instrument according to the present invention comprises a main body and a slider having a measuring element slidably provided on the main body and abutting against an object to be measured. In a contact-type measuring instrument for measuring the dimensions of an object to be measured from the amount of movement of the slider, the slider is provided on the first movable member slidably provided on the main body, and on the first movable member. The sliding direction of the first and second movable members includes a second movable member slidably provided in the same direction as the sliding direction of the first movable member and having the probe. In the above, an elastic member which is flexible and deformable in the sliding direction is interposed between the first movable member and the second movable member.

In such a structure, in the measurement, the first movable member is moved with respect to the main body, and the probe provided on the second movable member is brought into contact with the object to be measured. At this time, if the first movable member is further moved with respect to the main body, the second movable member cannot move any more, the elastic member bends, and the bending of the elastic member gives a measuring force. . In this state, if the amount of movement of the second movable member is read (for example, from a scale or other displacement detecting means), the dimensions of the object to be measured can be measured. Therefore, the force for moving the slider with respect to the main scale can be set to an appropriate force by the sliding resistance between the main scale and the first movable member, and the measuring force can be set by the bending of the elastic member. That is, since the force for moving the slider with respect to the main scale and the measuring force can be set separately, the measuring force can be reduced while ensuring an appropriate sliding force. Therefore, the measurement work can be performed with a small measuring force without deteriorating the usability.

In the contact type measuring device having the above structure,
One of the first movable member and the second movable member is provided with a pair of guide grooves having a cross section of a substantially semicircular shape, a substantially triangular shape, or a substantially rectangular shape on the surfaces facing each other with the main body interposed therebetween. The second movable member is formed along the sliding direction, and the other of the first movable member and the second movable member has a substantially semicircular cross section that slidably engages with the pair of guide groove lines. , The pair of guide ridges having a substantially triangular shape or a substantially rectangular shape is the second
It is characterized in that it is formed along the sliding direction of the movable member.

In such a structure, one of the first movable member and the second movable member has a substantially semicircular cross section,
A pair of guide grooves having a substantially triangular shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed, and the other of the first movable member and the second movable member has a substantially semicircular cross section that slidably engages with the pair of guide grooves. Since the pair of guide ridges having a substantially triangular shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed, the sliding resistance between the first movable member and the second movable member can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to perform a measuring operation with a smaller measuring force.

In the contact type measuring device having the above structure,
A bearing is provided between the first movable member and the second movable member. In such a configuration, since the bearing is provided between the first movable member and the second movable member, it is possible to perform measurement work with a smaller measuring force than the contact type measuring device having the above structure. You can

In the contact type measuring device having the above structure,
The elastic member is composed of a spring. In such a configuration, since the elastic member is composed of a spring, the measuring force can be arbitrarily set by the spring constant of the spring, and the measuring device can be easily and inexpensively incorporated.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a caliper will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a caliper of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider. The caliper 101 includes a main scale 1 as a main body and a slider 2 slidably provided on the main scale 1.

The main scale 1 has a guide portion 11 on which the slider 2 slides, and an outer measuring jaw 12 as a probe provided at one end of the guide portion 11. Although not shown, the guide portion 11 is provided with a scale in which a plurality of electrodes are formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction.

The slider 2 is provided with a first movable member 21 slidably provided on the guide portion 11 of the main scale 1, and the first movable member 21 is slid on the first movable member 21. Second movable member 3 slidably provided in the same direction
And 1. A coil spring 41 is interposed between the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 31 as an elastic member that can be flexibly deformed in the sliding direction of these members.

The first movable member 21 has a C-shaped cross-section having an open groove on the surface of the main scale 1 on which the scale is provided, and the surfaces facing each other with the main scale 1 interposed therebetween (here, the width direction). A pair of guide groove strips 22 each having a semi-circular cross section on both outer end faces,
23 is formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member 31. In addition, the other end side of the first movable member 21 (the side opposite to the outer measurement jaw 12 of the main scale 1) is provided with the finger hook portion 2.
4 is provided, and a fine movement feed roller 26 that can be brought into contact with and separated from one end face in the width direction (lower side in FIG. 1) of the main scale 1 via a support arm 25 is rotatably provided. Reference numeral 27 is a spring locking pin that locks the other end of the coil spring 41.

The second movable member 31 has a pair of guide groove lines 2 of the first movable member 21 on both widthwise end surfaces thereof.
A pair of guide ridges 32 and 33 having a substantially semicircular cross section that slidably engages with the second movable member 31 are integrally formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member 31, and have a widthwise direction. An outer measuring jaw 34 as a measuring element to be brought into contact with an object to be measured is provided on the end surface together with the outer measuring jaw 12 of the main scale 1, and a digital display 35 is provided on the front surface. Although not shown, the lower surface side of the digital display 35 is provided with an electrode that forms an electrostatic capacitance with an arbitrary electrode that constitutes the scale of the main scale 1, and that corresponds to the movement of the second movable member 31. There is provided a detection circuit that detects the moving displacement amount of the second movable member 31 by an electric signal from the electrostatic capacitance that changes with the electric signal and digitally displays it on the digital display 35. Here, an electrostatic capacitance type displacement detection means is configured including the electrodes provided on the main scale 1 and the second movable member 31 and the detection circuit. Incidentally, 36 is a spring locking pin that locks one end of the coil spring 41.

Next, the operation will be described. In the measurement, the first movable member 21 is moved along the guide portion 11 of the main scale 1 while placing a finger on the finger-holding portion 24 of the first movable member 21, and the pair of outer measurement jaws 12 and 34 is used for measurement. Insert the measurement site of the object. When the first movable member 21 is further moved in the same direction after the pair of outer measuring jaws 12 and 34 sandwiches the object to be measured, the second movable member 31 may move further in the same direction. Therefore, the first movable member 21 slightly moves while the coil spring 41 bends. In this state, the measuring force is applied by the spring force of the coil spring 41, and the digital display 35 is moved by the moving amount of the second movable member 31 (that is, the pair of outer measuring jaws 1).
Since the distance between 2 and 34 is displayed, the dimensions of the object to be measured can be obtained by reading the value on the digital display 35.

According to this embodiment, the slider 2 slidable with respect to the main scale 1, the first movable member 21 provided slidably with respect to the main scale 1, and the first movable member 21 are provided. A second movable member 31 slidably provided on the member 21 and having an outer measuring jaw 34, and a coil spring 41 between the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 31.
The force for moving the slider 2 with respect to the main scale 1 and the measuring force can be set separately because of the interposition.

That is, the force for moving the slider 2 with respect to the main scale 1 can be set to an appropriate force by the sliding resistance between the main scale 1 and the first movable member 21, and the measuring force is Since it can be set by the spring force of the coil spring 41, the measuring force can be made slight while securing an appropriate sliding force. Therefore, the measurement work can be performed with a small measuring force without deteriorating the usability.

The first movable member 21 with respect to the main scale 1
Regarding the structure for sliding, the conventional vernier caliper structure and the processing accuracy may be used, so that the structure of the sliding portion and the processing accuracy need not be made stricter than the conventional product, and the conventional structure can be used.
Moreover, even if the measuring force is reduced, the first movable member 21
Since only the sliding portion between the first movable member 31 and the second movable member 31 needs to be finished with high accuracy, the cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional product. That is, in order to reduce the measuring force, in the case of the conventional product, it is necessary to finish the slider and the main scale with high accuracy over the entire length, but in the present embodiment, the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 21 are used. Since only the sliding portion with the movable member 31 requires a short portion for high-precision processing, the cost can be reduced.

A pair of guide groove strips 22 and 23 having a substantially semicircular cross section are formed on both end surfaces of the first movable member 21 in the width direction, and the pair of guide grooves is formed on the second movable member 31. A pair of guide ridges 32 and 33 having a substantially semicircular cross section which slidably engages the ridges 22 and 23 are formed, and the fitting of these guide ridges 32 and 33 causes the second movable member 31 to move relative to the first movable member 21. Since the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 31 are in contact with each other over the entire surface, sliding between the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 31 is possible. The resistance can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to perform the measurement work with a smaller measuring force.

Further, since the coil spring 41 is used as the elastic member, the measuring force can be arbitrarily and appropriately set only by selecting the spring constant of the coil spring 41.
Moreover, it can be easily incorporated into the caliper 101 at low cost.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The structure for sliding the second movable member 31 with respect to the first movable member 21 is not limited to the structure described in the above embodiment, and may be, for example, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG.
Alternatively, the structure shown in FIG. 6 may be used.

In the structure shown in FIG. 3, the guide groove provided on the first movable member 21 is a guide groove 2 having a substantially triangular cross section.
2A and 23A, and guide ridges 32A and 33A having a substantially triangular cross-section for slidably engaging the guide ridges provided on the second movable member 31 with the guide groove ridges 22A and 23A. is there. In the structure shown in FIG. 4, the guide groove provided on the first movable member 21 is a guide groove 2 having a substantially rectangular cross section.
2B and 23B, and guide ridges 32B and 33B having a substantially rectangular cross-section for slidably engaging the guide ridges provided on the second movable member 31 with the guide groove ridges 22B and 23B. is there.

The structure shown in FIG. 5 is a structure in which bearings 32C and 33C are provided in place of the guide ridges 32 and 33 integrally provided on the second movable member 31. According to this, since the bearings 32C and 33C are provided between the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 31, a smaller measuring force can be set as compared with each of the above embodiments.
In the structure shown in FIG. 6 , the guide ridge 3 is provided on the second movable member 31.
Instead of integrally forming 2, 33, for example, a guide strip 32D, 33D having a circular cross section made of a piano wire or the like is embedded in and bonded to the second movable member 31. According to this, compared with the case where the guide ridges 32 and 33 are integrally formed, it can be easily processed.

The elastic member is not limited to the coil spring 41 described in the above embodiment, but may be another spring (for example, a leaf spring) or rubber. The point is that a material that can be deformed when a compressive force larger than the sliding resistance between the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 31 is applied and can be restored to the original state when the external force is removed Either is fine.

In the above embodiment, the moving amount of the second movable member 31 is determined by the capacitance between the scale (a plurality of electrodes) provided on the main scale 1 and the electrodes provided on the second movable member 31. Although a method of detecting and obtaining a change is used, other than this, a photoelectric type or electromagnetic type displacement detecting means may be used. Further, while forming a main scale graduation along the longitudinal direction of the main scale 1,
A vernier scale may be provided on the second movable member 31, and the amount of movement of the second movable member 31 may be read from both scales.

Further, in the above embodiment, the caliper 101 is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applied to a contact type measuring instrument in which a slider is slidably provided on the main body. it can. For example, it can be applied to a height gauge 102, a depth gauge 103, and the like as shown in FIGS.

[0030]

According to the contact type measuring device of the present invention, it is possible to perform measurement with a small measuring force without deteriorating the usability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a caliper.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment (triangular shape) of the sliding structure of the first movable member and the second movable member.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment (rectangular shape) of the sliding structure of the first movable member and the second movable member.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment (bearing) of the sliding structure of the first movable member and the second movable member.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment (guide strip) of the sliding structure of the first movable member and the second movable member.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example (height gauge, depth gauge) of another contact-type measuring instrument to which the present invention is applicable.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 main scale (main body) 2 slider 21 first movable member 22,23 guide groove strip (substantially semicircular shape) 22A, 23A guide groove strip (substantially triangular shape) 22B, 23B guide groove strip (substantially rectangular shape) 31 2 movable members 32, 33 guide ridges (substantially semicircular) 32A, 33A guide ridges (substantially triangular) 32B, 33B guide ridges (substantially rectangular) 32C, 33C bearings 32D, 33D guide strips 34 outside Measuring jaw (stylus) 41 Coil spring (elastic member)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A main body and a slider having a measuring element slidably provided on the main body and abutting against an object to be measured, and the dimensions of the object to be measured are measured from the amount of movement of the slider. In the contact-type measuring instrument, the slider is provided with a first member slidably provided on the main body.
And a second movable member which is provided on the first movable member so as to be slidable in the same direction as the sliding direction of the first movable member and has the probe, and In the sliding direction of the first and second movable members, an elastic member which is flexible and deformable in the sliding direction is interposed between the first movable member and the second movable member. Contact type measuring instrument. 2. The contact type measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein a cross section of one of the first movable member and the second movable member is a semicircle on a surface facing the main body. A pair of shaped guide grooves are formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member, and the other of the first movable member and the second movable member is slidable on the pair of guide grooves. A contact-type measuring instrument, characterized in that a pair of guide ridges having a substantially semicircular cross section that engages with are formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member. 3. The contact-type measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein one of the first movable member and the second movable member has a substantially triangular cross section on a surface facing the main body. A pair of guide grooves are formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member, and the other of the first movable member and the second movable member is slidable in the pair of guide grooves. A contact-type measuring instrument, wherein a pair of guide ridges having a substantially triangular cross section to be engaged are formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member. 4. The contact-type measuring device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first movable member and the second movable member has a substantially rectangular cross section on a surface facing the main body. A pair of guide grooves are formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member, and the other of the first movable member and the second movable member is slidable in the pair of guide grooves. A contact-type measuring instrument, wherein a pair of guide ridges having a substantially rectangular cross section to be engaged are formed along the sliding direction of the second movable member. 5. The contact-type measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein a bearing is provided between the first movable member and the second movable member. vessel. 6. The contact-type measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is formed of a spring.