# US 12,761,009 B2 · Measuring device and method for measuring workpiece using the measuring device

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- Number: US 12,761,009 B2
- Document ID: US12761009B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/498,417
- Filed: 2023-10-31
- Published: 2024-05-02
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-11-01
- Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation
- Applicants: Mitutoyo Corporation
- Inventors: Takumi Makino; Mao Kikuchi; Tomoharu Kurata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761009B2

## CPC

- G01B 5/28: for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces
- G01B 5/201: {for measuring roundness}
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

## Abstract

There is provided a measuring device that is inexpensive and easy to use, yet provides sufficient accuracy and resolution in continuous scanning measurement to measure workpiece surfaces. A dial gauge includes a spindle provided to be movable reciprocatively in an axial direction through a main body case. The main body case includes a stem provided to protrude from a side face of the main body case. A ball bearing that bears the spindle is provided inside the stem. A workpiece and the dial gage are relatively moved while a contact point at the tip of the spindle is in contact with the surface of the workpiece, and continuous scanning measurement is performed to measure irregularities of the surface of the workpiece or the amount of runout of the rotating workpiece.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A measuring device comprising:
a spindle provided to be movable reciprocatively in an axial direction through a housing part, wherein
the housing part includes a bearing part configured to guide the spindle to move linearly, and
the bearing part is a ball bearing,
further comprising:
a lever-type contact point to be attachable to a tip of the spindle and including a contact point at a tip of a lever part extending in a direction intersecting an axis of the spindle,
wherein the lever-type contact point includes a base that can be attached to, or detached from, the tip of the spindle, and
the lever part is a shaft supported by the base to freely rotate and be fixed at a desired angle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a bearing cylinder part provided to protrude from a side face of the housing part and including a cylindrical hole through which the spindle is inserted, wherein
the bearing cylinder part includes one bearing cylinder part that supports the tip end side of the spindle, and another bearing cylinder part that supports the base end side of the spindle, wherein
the ball bearing is provided between an inner surface of the one bearing cylinder part and an outer surface of the spindle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a bearing cylinder part provided to protrude from a side face of the housing part and including a cylindrical hole through which the spindle is inserted, wherein
the bearing cylinder part includes one bearing cylinder part that supports the tip end side of the spindle, and another bearing cylinder part that supports the base end side of the spindle, wherein
the ball bearing is provided between an inner surface of the one bearing cylinder part and an outer surface of the spindle, and also between an inner surface of the another bearing cylinder part and the outer surface of the spindle.

### Claim 4

A method for measuring a workpiece using a measuring device including a spindle provided to be movable reciprocatively in an axial direction through a housing part and a lever-type contact point to be attachable to a tip of the spindle and including a contact point at a tip of a lever part extending in a direction intersecting an axis of the spindle, wherein the housing part includes a bearing part configured to guide the spindle to move linearly, and the bearing part is a ball bearing, and the lever-type contact point includes a base that is attachable to or detachable from the tip of the spindle, and the lever part is a shaft supported by the base to freely rotate and be fixed at a desired angle, the method comprising:
fixing the angle of the lever part at a desired angle;
relatively moving the workpiece and the measuring device while the contact point of the lever-type contact point is in contact with a surface of the workpiece; and
performing continuous scanning measurement to measure irregularities of the surface of the workpiece or an amount of runout of the workpiece.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The measuring method according to claim 4, where the measuring device further includes a bearing cylinder part provided to protrude from a side face of the housing part and including a cylindrical hole through which the spindle is inserted,
wherein the bearing cylinder part includes one bearing cylinder part that supports the tip end side of the spindle, and another bearing cylinder part that supports the base end side of the spindle, and
wherein the ball bearing is provided between an inner surface of the one bearing cylinder part and an outer surface of the spindle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The measuring method according to claim 4, where the measuring device further includes a bearing cylinder part provided to protrude from a side face of the housing part and including a cylindrical hole through which the spindle is inserted,
wherein the bearing cylinder part includes one bearing cylinder part that supports the tip end side of the spindle, and another bearing cylinder part that supports the base end side of the spindle, and
wherein the ball bearing is provided between an inner surface of the one bearing cylinder part and an outer surface of the spindle, and also between an inner surface of the another bearing cylinder part and an outer surface of the spindle.