# US 9,518,811 B2 · Form measuring machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,811 B2 - Document ID: US9518811B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/669,667 - Filed: 2015-03-26 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-09 - Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation - Applicants: Mitutoyo Corporation - Inventors: Takeshi Yamamoto; Sadayuki Matsumiya; Atsushi Shimaoka; Kazuhiko Hidaka; Tomoyuki Miyazaki; Yasunori Mori - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518811B2 ## CPC - G01B 3/008: {Arrangements for controlling the measuring force} - G01B 5/20: for measuring contours or curvatures - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract A measuring force includes a stem, an arm, a detector, a rotation fulcrum, and a measuring force adjuster. A probe which makes contact with a workpiece is provided on the stem. An end portion of the arm is joined to the stem. The rotation fulcrum acts as a fulcrum for a rotating motion of the stem and the arm. The detector detects a displacement amount of the rotating motion of the arm. A crossed spring of the rotation fulcrum imparts on the stem and the arm a torque around an axis of the rotating motion in accordance with the displacement amount of the rotating motion. The measuring force adjuster imparts on the arm and the stem a torque, in a reverse direction of the torque generated by the crossed spring, by an attraction force generated by a magnetic force between at least two magnetic members mutually arranged at opposite ends. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A form measuring machine, comprising: a stem having a probe configured to make contact with a workpiece; a arm having one end portion joined to an end portion of the stem; a rotation fulcrum which acts as a fulcrum for a rotating motion of the stem and the arm; a detector configured to detect a displacement amount of the rotating motion of the arm; a biaser configured to impart on the stem and the arm a torque around an axis of the rotating motion in accordance with the displacement amount of the rotating motion; and a measuring force adjuster configured to impart on the stem and the arm a torque, in a reverse direction of the torque generated by the biaser, by an attraction force generated by a magnetic force between at least two magnets mutually arranged at opposite ends of the measuring force adjuster. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The form measuring machine according to claim 1, wherein: the biaser is a crossed spring incorporated into the rotation fulcrum, and in a state where the crossed spring does not impart torque on the stem and the arm, the measuring force adjuster imparts on the stem and the arm a torque in a first direction such that the probe is pressed against the workpiece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The form measuring machine according to claim 2, wherein: in a case where the crossed spring imparts on the stem and the arm the torque in the first direction, the torque generated by the crossed spring is larger than the torque generated by the measuring force adjuster, and in a case where the crossed spring imparts on the stem and the arm a torque in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, the torque generated by the crossed spring is smaller than the torque generated by the measuring force adjuster. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The form measuring machine according to claim 3, wherein: the measuring force adjuster comprises: a first stabilizer joined to the arm; a second stabilizer whose relative position with respect to the rotation fulcrum is fixated; a first magnet fixed to the first stabilizer; a second magnet fixed to the second stabilizer such that an attraction force in a circumferential direction of the rotating motion is generated between the first magnet and the second magnet; a third magnet fixed to the first stabilizer; and a fourth magnet fixed to the second stabilizer such that an attraction force in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion is generated between the third magnet and the fourth magnet, and the third magnet is arranged so as to face the first magnet in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion via the first stabilizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The form measuring machine according to claim 4, wherein: at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet has a tapered shape having a cross section which becomes smaller toward the other of the at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet, and at least one of the third magnet and the fourth magnet has a tapered shape having a cross section which becomes smaller toward the other of the at least one of the third magnet and the fourth magnet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The form measuring machine according to claim 4, wherein: at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet is a permanent magnet, and at least one of the third magnet and the fourth magnet is a permanent magnet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The form measuring machine according to claim 4, wherein at least one of a distance between the first magnet and the second magnet and a distance between the third magnet and the fourth magnet is changeable in accordance with measurement conditions and is constant when measuring the workpiece. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The form measuring machine according to claim 3, wherein: the measuring force adjuster comprises: a fifth magnet joined to the arm, and a sixth magnet separated from the fifth magnet and arranged such that an attraction force in a direction intersecting with the circumferential direction of the rotating motion is generated between the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet, and whose relative position with respect to the rotation fulcrum is fixated, a distance between the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet is largest when a center portion of the sixth magnet in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion faces the fifth magnet, and the distance between the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet is smallest when a position of the sixth magnet facing the fifth magnet moves away from the fifth magnet in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The form measuring machine according to claim 8, further comprising magnetic fluid inserted between the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The form measuring machine according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet is a permanent magnet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The form measuring machine according to claim 8, wherein the distance between the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet is changeable in accordance with measurement conditions and is constant when measuring the workpiece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The form measuring machine according to claim 8, further comprising: a seventh magnet separated from the fifth magnet and arranged such that an attraction force in a direction intersecting with the circumferential direction of the rotating motion is generated between the fifth magnet and the seventh magnet, and whose relative position with respect to the rotation fulcrum is fixated, wherein: a distance between the fifth magnet and the seventh magnet is largest when the center portion of the seventh magnet in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion faces the fifth magnet, the distance between the fifth magnet and the seventh magnet is smallest when a position of the seventh magnet facing the fifth magnet moves away from the fifth magnet in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion, and the sixth magnet and the seventh magnet are mutually arranged on opposite ends of the measuring force adjuster with the fifth magnet therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The form measuring machine according to claim 12, further comprising magnetic fluid inserted between the fifth magnet and the seventh magnet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The form measuring machine according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the fifth magnet and the seventh magnet is a permanent magnet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The form measuring machine according to claim 12, wherein the distance between the fifth magnet and the seventh magnet is changeable in accordance with measurement conditions and is constant when measuring the workpiece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The form measuring machine according to claim 3, wherein: one end of the biaser is fixed to the arm and a relative position of another end of the biaser with respect to the rotation fulcrum is fixated, and the biaser imparts on the arm a torque in a direction with which the probe is pushed against the workpiece, and the measuring force adjuster comprises: a third stabilizer joined to the arm; a fourth stabilizer whose relative position with respect to the rotation fulcrum is fixated; an eighth magnet fixed to the third stabilizer; and a ninth magnet fixed to the fourth stabilizer such that an attraction force in the circumferential direction of the rotating motion is generated between the eighth magnet and the ninth magnet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The form measuring machine according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the eighth magnet and the ninth magnet has a tapered shape having cross section which becomes smaller toward the other of the at least one of the eighth magnet and the ninth magnet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The form measuring machine according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the eighth magnet and the ninth magnet is a permanent magnet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The form measuring machine according to claim 16, wherein a distance between the eighth magnet and the ninth magnet is changeable in accordance with measurement conditions and is constant when measuring the workpiece.