Depth measuring apparatus using reflected ultrasonic beams
AssigneeEuropean Rotogravure Association
InventorMamiliano Dini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Depth measuring apparatus especially useful for measuring the depth of cells formed in a material layer, such as a rotogravure printing cylinder. An ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is adjustably mounted to a coupling element which is adjacent a surface having cells therein whose depth is to be measured. The position of the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving unit is adjustable with respect to the coupling element so as to adjust the angle at which the ultrasonic beam is impinged upon the material layer with respect to the plane of the material layer. The coupling element itself also has adjustment means associated therewith for adjusting the angle at which the ultrasonic beam is impinged on the material layer with respect to the plane of wall portions of cells formed in the material layer.
Claims24
An apparatus for measuring the depth of cells formed in the surface of a material layer comprising:
- an ultrasonic sensing head;
- adjustable mounting means for adjustably mounting said ultrasonic sensing head comprising;
- means for displacing said ultrasonic sensing head at a desired acute angle of substantial magnitude with respect to a perpendicular from said surface of the material layer and
- said adjustable mounting means including a housing having means for maintaining the adjustable mounting means in contact with the surface, and
- said adjustable mounting means comprising a coupling element having a matched abutment surface contacting said material layer surface and including means rotatably mounted in said housing, and being adjustably mounted to said coupling element whereby said coupling element is moved transversely of said perpendicular upon rotation of said means, and
- said coupling element having an additional abutment surface of a predetermined geometric configuration, and including tensioning retainer elements for securing said ultrasonic sensing head to said additional surface of predetermined geometric configuration.
An apparatus for measuring the depth of cells formed in the surface of a material layer comprising:
- an ultrasonic sensing head,
- adjustable mounting means for mounting said ultrasonic sensing head at a desired angle with respect to said surface of the material layer,
- said adjustable mounting means including a housing having means for maintaining the adjustable mounting means in contact with said surface,
- said adjustable mounting means also including a coupling element having a matched abutment surface for contacting said material layer surface,
- said housing supporting a retainer rod means for biasing said coupling element toward said surface,
- said coupling element having an additional abutment surface of a predetermined geometric configuration, and including tensioning retainer elements for securing said ultrasonic sensing head to said additional surface of predetermined geometric configuration,
- compression spring means,
- said compression spring means abutting a portion of the housing and biasing said retainer rod means to maintain said coupling elements in contact against said material layer surface,
- said retainer rod means being pivotally mounted to said coupling element, said retainer rod having a lower portion in oblique and concentric relation to a perpendicular reference with the material layer surface at the point of impingement of the ultrasonic beam.
An apparatus for measuring the depth of cells formed in the surface of a material layer comprising:
- an ultrasonic sensing head,
- adjustable mounting means for adjustably mounting said ultrasonic sensing head for rotation to a desired acute angle of substantial amount with respect to a perpendicular from said surface of the material layer,
- said adjustable mounting means including a housing having means for maintaining the adjustable mounting means in contact with the surface,
- said adjustable mounting means also including further means for adjustably positioning said ultrasonic sensing head transversely of said perpendicular,
- a coupling element having a matched abutment surface contacting said material layer surface, said further means including a retainer rod means adjustably mounting said coupling element for movement transversely of said perpendicular,
- said coupling element having an additional abutment surface of a predetermined geometric configuration, and including tensioning retainer elements for securing said ultrasonic sensing head to said additional surface of predetermined geometric configuration,
- said maintaining means including compression spring means, said compression spring means abutting a portion of the housing and biasing said retainer rod means and hence said coupling element against said material layer surface,
- said retainer rod means having an offset portion, an upper portion rotatably mounted to said housing and a lower portion connected to said coupling element whereby the coupling element is moved transversely of said perpendicular by rotation of said upper portion.
Apparatus for measuring the depth of cells formed in a material layer by directing an incident ultrasonic beam therefrom using an ultrasonic beam towards said layer and by detecting a reflected ultrasonic beam therefrom using an ultrasonic sensor, said apparatus comprising:
- a mounting structure for positioning said ultrasonic sensor relative to said material layer with respect to at least two degrees of adjustable movement freedom,
- said mounting structure including angular adjustment means for moving said sensor into a desired angular position with respect to a perpendicular from said material layer at the point where said incident beam impinges upon said layer,
- said angular adjustment means including ultrasonic transmission members comprising a first member having an upper convex surface and a lower surface conformed to contact the surface of said material layer and a second member disposed between said upper convex surface and said sensor and adapted to slide along said upper convex surface and thus provide adjustable angular positioning of said sensor with respect to said perpendicular,
- a retainer rod means having a lower end engaging said first member and an upper end rotatably attached to said apparatus,
- said upper and lower ends of said retainer rod means being offset with respect to one another such that rotation of said upper end provides adjustable positioning of said first member and hence of said sensor in a direction substantially transverse to said perpendicular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.