Apparatus for quickly retaining and releasing parts to be optically measured

Apparatus for quickly retaining and releasing parts having a wide range of sizes and designs at an optical measurement station, the apparatus comprising:

• a rod having proximal and distal ends and a central axis;
• a part-engaging first tip attached to the distal end of the rod to move therewith;
• a part-engaging second tip;
• a support structure including a rod support for supporting the second tip and the rod;
• a guide mechanism supported by the support structure for guiding sliding movement of the rod between part-release and part-retaining positions;
• and
• a quick-release, clamping mechanism for adjustably and releasably clamping the rod to the support structure so that the rod can move the first tip between the part-release position in which a part held between the tips is released for removal from the station and the part-retaining position in which a part is firmly held between the tips wherein the clamping mechanism includes first and second friction release clamps adjustably mounted for movement along the central axis on the rod for adjustably and releasably clamping the rod to the rod support and wherein displacement of the first clamp in a first direction along the central axis allows the rod to move in a second direction along the central axis opposite the first direction towards the part-retaining position and wherein displacement of the second clamp in the second direction along the central axis allows the rod to move in the first direction towards the part-release position and wherein held parts having a wide range of sizes and designs can be optically measured at the station.