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US 2026/0298607 A1Published application
Break beam caliper
OwnerWilliam R. VILLANIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital caliper and a method of use is disclosed. The digital caliper is useful for measuring softer and easily deformed items. The digital caliper includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw including a mounted break beam system. When the jaws close around a measurement target, a signal is generated when the measurement target interrupts the beam, prompting the reversal of the movable jaw. Measurement is automatically taken when the beam is again uninterrupted.
Claims8
A digital caliper, comprising:
- a main scale having a longitudinal axis;
- a primary body slidably coupled to the main scale;
- a static jaw fixed relative to the main scale and having an internal facing surface configured to engage a measuring target;
- a movable jaw orthogonal to the main scale, and coupled to the primary body and movable relative to the static jaw, the movable jaw having an internal facing surface facing the internal facing surface of the static jaw;
- means for emitting a beam of light across a measurement region between the internal facing surfaces of the static jaw and the movable jaw;
- means for detecting the beam of light;
- and
- means for determining whether a measuring target is present between the static jaw and the movable jaw based on interruption of the beam of light,
- wherein the beam of light extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main scale.
6 more elements
A digital caliper, comprising:
- a main scale having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;
- a primary body slidably coupled to the main scale;
- a static jaw projecting from the first end of the main scale in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- the static jaw having an internal facing surface configured to contact a measuring target;
- and
- a movable jaw projecting from the primary body and movable relative to the static jaw;
- the movable jaw having an internal facing surface facing the internal facing surface of the static jaw;
- wherein the movable jaw further comprises a top projection and a bottom projection, each extending from the internal facing surface of the movable jaw and oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main scale;
- wherein the top projection comprises a first component of a break-beam system and the bottom projection comprises a second component of the break-beam system;
- wherein the break-beam system comprises a light beam emitter module and a light beam sensor module;
- and
- wherein the first component and the second component are aligned such that a beam of light emitted by the light beam emitter module extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main scale and is detectable by the light beam sensor module when the beam is not interrupted.
9 more elements
A method for using a digital caliper comprising a break-beam system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a digital caliper having a main scale, a static jaw fixed relative to the main scale, a movable jaw movable relative to the static jaw, and a break-beam system configured to project a beam of light across a measurement region between internal facing surfaces of the static jaw and the movable jaw;
- moving the movable jaw relative to the static jaw toward a measuring target;
- emitting, with an emitter component of the break-beam system, a beam of light extending across the measurement region in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main scale;
- detecting, with a detector component of the break-beam system, the beam of light when the beam is uninterrupted;
- interrupting the beam of light with the measuring target positioned between the static jaw and the movable jaw;
- in response to interruption of the beam of light, generating a first signal indicating the presence of the measuring target between the jaws;
- opening the jaws by moving the movable jaw away from the static jaw while tracking a position of the movable jaw relative to the static jaw;
- detecting re-establishment of the beam of light as the measuring target exits the measurement region;
- and
- recording a dimensional measurement corresponding to the position of the movable jaw at the time the beam of light is re-established.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.