Method and apparatus for checking or testing the profile of gear flanks, particularly of involute gears

A gear flank checking or testing apparatus, especially to check gear teeth having involute shape, having

• means (4, 5) for rotating the gear (2);
• a measuring and sensing head (6, 30, 50);
• means for moving said measuring and sensing head in a plane transverse to the axis of the gear (2) being tested, while maintaining the measuring and sensing head in engagement with a selected flank of a gear tooth;
• and
• means (C) for controlling said moving means and said gear rotating means for rolling off the measuring and sensing head against a selected flank of said gear tooth,
• wherein said moving means comprises
• a first moving means (7, 20) moving said measuring and sensing head in a direction tangential to at least approximately a base circle of the gear;
• and second moving means (10, 23) moving the measuring and sensing head in a direction radial with respect to the axis (3) of the gear,
• said controlling means (C) controlling movement of the measuring and sensing head in two paths (35, 36;
• 65, 66) which, when in respective engagement with a right gear tooth flank and a left gear tooth flank of a tooth, are inclined with respect to each other, intersect each other at an intersection point (43, 53) outside of at least approximately the base circle (32, 52) of the gear, and to place said measuring and sensing head at a tangential path portion when in engagement with the right flank and left flank of the gear teeth, respectively, which is located in the region of the intersecting point,
• said controlling means (C) additionally controlling the rotating means for rotation of the gear for roll-off of the respective right and left flanks of the gear teeth against said measuring and sensing head.