US 4,899,456 AGranted

Surface contour measuring tracer

AssigneeMitutoyo Corporation

InventorsHideo Morita, Kenji Abiko, Katsuaki Anzawa

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a surface contour measuring tracer permitting a probe element to move in the directions of X-, Y- and Z-axes. A support structure includes a base supporting thereon an X-slider and a Y-slider which are movable in the directions of X- and Y-axes, respectively. A Z-slider is supported on the X-slider so to be movable in the direction of a Z-axis. Supported on the Z-slider is a probe element, the movements of which in the directions of X-, Y- and Z-axes are permitted by the movements of the X-, Y- and Z-sliders. The X- and Y-sliders are normally held at neutral positions by a wire spring extending in the direction of the Z-axis, and the Z-slider is permitted to move in the direction of the Z-axis against the action of a coil spring and normally held at a neutral position.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A surface contour measuring tracer comprising a probe element and support means, having a base member, for supporting said probe element for movement in three orthogonally related directions by means of X-, Y- and Z-sliders mounted on said base member, said probe element being adapted to engage and follow a surface of a work while in sliding contact therewith to thereby facilitate a detecting of a surface contour of said work as an electric signal, said Z-slider means including a multisided hollow portion defined by side surfaces extending in direction of a Z-axis, respective portions of said X-slider means and said Y-slider means being coupled to said hollow portion, said X-slider means including first bearing means for supporting said X-slider means directly on said base member so as to be movable in the direction of an X-axis and be immovable in the direction of said Z-axis, said Y-slider means including second bearing means for supporting said Y-slider means directly on said base member so as to be movable in the direction of a Y-axis and be immovable in the direction of said X-axis and be immovable in the direction of said Z-axis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.