Method and device of automatic measurement for use with a numerically-controlled lathe

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detector head includes a pair of oppositely arranged probes, and said head actuating step comprises locating said detector head at a measuring position in a manner such that a straight line connecting the probes at tips thereof crosses the axis of the spindle at right angles, actuating the detector head to travel toward a first predetermined point still found inside the object to an extent such that the tip of one of the probes may move as far as the first predetermined point but wherein its movement is interrupted by a first corresponding peripheral portion of the object by contacting a point on the first peripheral portion while the detector head programmatically continues travelling, thus obtaining a displacement of the probe relative to the detector head; then actuating the detector head to travel toward a second predetermined point still found inside the object oppositely of the first predetermined point to such an extent that the tip of the other probe may move as far as the second predetermined point but wherein the other probe has its movement interrupted by a second corresponding peripheral portion of the object by coming into contact with a point on the second peripheral portion while the detector head programmatically continues travelling, thus obtaining a displacement of the other probe relative to the detector head, and transducing the displacements into corresponding electric quantities.

Claim 4

An automatic measuring device for measuring an object which is adapted for use with a numerically-controlled lathe provided with a spindle for holding the object and having a program controlled tool for machining said object, comprising: numerical control means; cross sliding means adapted to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the spindle; driving means for moving said cross sliding means in response to commands from said numerical control means; a detector head provided on said cross sliding means, and including a pair of oppositely arranged probes, means for moving said detector head to a measuring position such that a straight line connecting said probes at the tips thereof crosses the axis of said spindle at right angles, said detector head functioning for detecting deviations of the actual dimension of the object from a programmed dimension; said detector head having means for transducing deviations thus detected into corresponding electric quantities; means electrically connected to said transducing means for producing an electrical output signal representative of the average value of said deviations; and means for inputting said output signal into the numerical control means of said lathe for correcting the tool position program thereof.

Claim 5

An automatic measuring device for measuring an object which is adapted for use with a numerically-controlled lathe provided with a spindle for holding the object and having a program controlled tool for machining said object, comprising: numerical control means; cross sliding means adapted to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the spindle; driving means for moving said cross sliding means in response to commands from said numerical control means; a detector head provided on said cross sliding means, and including a pair of oppositely arranged probes, means for moving said detector head to a measuring position such that a straight line connecting said probes at the tips thereof crosses the axis of said spindle at right angles, said detector head functioning for detecting deviations of the actual dimension of the object from a programmed dimension; said detector head having means for transducing deviations thus detected into corresponding electric quantities; means electrically connected to said transducing means for producing an electrical output signal representative of the average value of said deviations; and means for inputting said output signal into the numerical control means of said lathe for correcting the tool position program thereof.