EP0146697A1 — Head for checking linear dimensions

Claim 1

Independent Claim 259 words

Head for checking linear dimensions, such as dimensions of workpieces (4; 66), with a support (1; 57); an arm (2; 51) movable with respect to the support (1; 57); a feeler (3; 50) arranged at an end of the movable arm (2; 51); means, for connecting the arm to the support, comprising portions (5-7; 52-56) arranged substantially one over the other along a longitudinal geometric axis, the portions (5-7; 52-56) being elongated mainly along directions perpendicular to said longitudinal geometric axis, one (7; 56) of the portions (5-7; 52-56) being secured to the support (1; 57) and another (5; 52) being secured to the arm (2; 51), and fulcrum means (10,11,14,15,20,23; 58-61) for permitting mutual displacements of said portions (5-7; 52-56), said displacements essentially and only consisting of mutual rotations about at least one axis being transversal with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis; thrust means (16,17; 26) for defining a rest position of the movable arm (2; 51); and detecting means (18,19,24,25; 62-65) responsive to the displacements of the movable arm (2; 51) from the rest position, characterized in that said portions are defined by relevant, distinct members (5-7; 52-56), said fulcrum means comprise elements (10,11,20; 58-61) arranged between the members (5-7; 52-56) for defining said rotation axis, the rotation axis being offset with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis, and the thrust means (16,17,26) comprise thrust elements for applying to the elements (10,11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means and to the members (5-7; 52-56) forces such as guarantee the occurrence of said displacements as mutual rotations only.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 259 words

Head for checking linear dimensions, such as dimensions of workpieces (4; 66), with a support (1; 57); an arm (2; 51) movable with respect to the support (1; 57); a feeler (3; 50) arranged at an end of the movable arm (2; 51); means, for connecting the arm to the support, comprising portions (5-7; 52-56) arranged substantially one over the other along a longitudinal geometric axis, the portions (5-7; 52-56) being elongated mainly along directions perpendicular to said longitudinal geometric axis, one (7; 56) of the portions (5-7; 52-56) being secured to the support (1; 57) and another (5; 52) being secured to the arm (2; 51), and fulcrum means (10,11,14,15,20,23; 58-61) for permitting mutual displacements of said portions (5-7; 52-56), said displacements essentially and only consisting of mutual rotations about at least one axis being transversal with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis; thrust means (16,17; 26) for defining a rest position of the movable arm (2; 51); and detecting means (18,19,24,25; 62-65) responsive to the displacements of the movable arm (2; 51) from the rest position, characterized in that said portions are defined by relevant, distinct members (5-7; 52-56), said fulcrum means comprise elements (10,11,20; 58-61) arranged between the members (5-7; 52-56) for defining said rotation axis, the rotation axis being offset with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis, and the thrust means (16,17,26) comprise thrust elements for applying to the elements (10,11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means and to the members (5-7; 52-56) forces such as guarantee the occurrence of said displacements as mutual rotations only.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

A head according to claim 1, characterized in that said thrust elements comprise resilient elements (16,17) for keeping said elements (10,11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means into contact with the members (5-7; 52-56), both in said rest position and during said displacements.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

A head according to claim 2, characterized in that said elements (10,11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means have substantially spherical shapes.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

A head according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said members (5-7; 52-56) defines at least one seat (14,15,23) having substantially conical shape, for cooperating with a relevant element (10, 11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

A head according to claim 4, characterized in that said elements (10,11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means are fixed to one of the members (5-7; 52-56) between which they are arranged.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

A head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said thrust means (16,17,26) comprise a resilient device (26) cooperating with the arm (2) and the support (1) and permitting said'displacements.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

A head according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said detecting means comprise at least two separate elements (18,19,24,25; 62-65) associated with relevant ones of said members and define at least a switch with electrical contacts (18,19,24,25; 62-65) closed in rest position, each of said separate elements (18,19,24,25; 62-65) defining a relevant electrical contact.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

A head according to claim 7, characterized in that the elements (10,11,20; 58-61) of the fulcrum means arranged between two of said members (5-7; 52-56) are located at a side with respect to said longitudinal geometric axis and two of said electrical contacts (18,19,24,25; 62-65) are coupled to said two members (5-7; 52-56) and arranged at the opposite side with respect to said longitudinal geometric axis.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 95 words

A head according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises three (5-7) of said members, said fulcrum means (10,11,14,15,20,23) permitting mutual rotations about two transverse axes, said transverse axes being - in rest condition of the movable arm (2) - parallel to and equally spaced from said longitudinal axis, the detecting means comprising four separate elements (18,19,24,25), associated two by two to relevant ones of said members (5-7), for detecting axial displacements of said movable arm (2) and displacements of the movable arm (2) along two opposite transverse directions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 106 words

A head according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises five (52-56) of said members, said fulcrum means (58-61) permitting mutual rotations about four transverse axes, said transverse axes being - in rest condition of the movable arm (51) - equally spaced from said longitudinal axis and two by two parallel and two by two perpendicular to one another, the detecting means (62-65) comprising eight separate elements, associated two by two to relevant ones of said members (52-56), for detecting axial displacements of the movable arm (51), as well as displacements of the movable arm (51) along any transverse direction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

A head according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a limiting device having a plurality of stop surfaces (29-32) coupled to the support (1) and to the member (5) secured to the movable arm (2) for selectively cooperating with one another for limiting, respectively, said axial displacements and displacements along transverse directions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

A head according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the member or members (6,7; 53-56) different from the member (5; 52) secured to the movable arm (2; 51) have openings for the passage of the movable arm (2; 51).

Head for checking linear dimensions

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