Roller bearing for supporting a probing unit of a reality capture device with compensation for increase in preload

A reality capture device, comprising a probing unit configured to generate probing data for generating a digital representation of an environment, wherein the probing unit comprises a pivoting component configured to be pivoted relative to a base part of the reality capture device in order to generate the probing data, for which the pivoting component is mounted on the base part by a four-point roller bearing in the form of a pivot bearing with an outer race and inner race being under a preload against each other and which mutually support each other by rolling bodies arranged between them, wherein:

• the four-point roller bearing is configured as wire race bearing with the outer and inner race each hosting two raceway wires extending in a guide direction such that the rolling bodies can roll on the raceway wires to provide a pivoting of the inner race relative to the outer race about a pivot axis, each of the two raceway wires of a respective race being supported by a respective circumferential portion of the respective race, and
• at least one of the outer and inner race comprises recesses,
• wherein an arrangement and dimensions of the recesses are tuned to provide for an elasticity of at least one of the circumferential portions along a pressing direction onto the raceway wire supported by the at least one of the circumferential portions, such that in case of an increased pressure along the pressing direction due to a relative thermal size change between the outer and inner race within a predefined operating range, the preload is maintained within a predefined tolerance range around a nominal preload,
• wherein the at least one of the circumferential portions comprises along the guide direction several individually deformable segments supporting the respective raceway wire, each of the individually deformable segments being elastically deformable in radial direction independently of the other individually deformable segments, the radial direction being related to pivoting about the pivot axis,
• wherein the recesses are arranged at a plurality of locations in the guide direction and have an extent parallel to the pivot axis, wherein the recesses run parallel to the pivot axis, thereby providing lips spaced apart from one another in the guide direction, which lips can be elastically bent by forces applied thereto in the radial direction, thereby providing the individually deformable segments.

A reality capture device, comprising a probing unit configured to generate probing data for generating a digital representation of an environment, wherein the probing unit comprises a pivoting component configured to be pivoted relative to a base part of the reality capture device in order to generate the probing data, for which the pivoting component is mounted on the base part by a four-point roller bearing in the form of a pivot bearing with an outer race and inner race being under a preload against each other and which mutually support each other by rolling bodies arranged between them, wherein:

• the four-point roller bearing is configured as wire race bearing with the outer and inner race each hosting two raceway wires extending in the guide direction such that the rolling bodies can roll on the raceway wires to provide a pivoting of the inner race relative to the outer race about a pivot axis, each of the two raceway wires of a respective race being supported by a respective circumferential portion of the respective race, and
• at least one of the outer and inner race comprises recesses,
• wherein an arrangement and dimensions of the recesses are tuned to provide for an elasticity of at least one of the circumferential portions along a pressing direction onto the raceway wire supported by the at least one of the circumferential portions, such that in case of an increased pressure along the pressing direction due to a relative thermal size change between the outer and inner race within a predefined operating range, the preload is maintained within a predefined tolerance range around a nominal preload,
• wherein the at least one of the outer and inner race comprises a groove extending in a guide direction on the side of the one of the circumferential portions facing away from a contact surface of the one of the circumferential portions with the respective raceway wire, thereby providing freedom of movement of the lips in the radial direction.