Opto-electronic measuring apparatus for checking linear dimensions

Claim 1

Opto-electronic measuring apparatus for checking geometric features of a workpiece (10; 10') according to the shadow casting technique, including a first support (1; 1'), defining a supporting location for the workpiece, a second support (4; 4'), coupled with the first support, with two portions (33,34; 33',34') oppositely arranged with respect to said supporting location, a first generating system for generating optical radiations (22,23; 22') for providing a first beam of light with a section directed towards the workpiece, a first photosensitive linear system (28,29; 26') coupled to one (34; 34') of the two oppositely arranged portions for receiving said first beam after it is intercepted by the workpiece, a second generating system for generating optical radiations (24,25; 22") for providing a second beam of light with a section directed towards the workpiece, a second photosensitive linear system (26,27; 26") for receiving said second beam after it is intercepted by the workpiece, and detecting and control circuits (20,21; 20',21') connected to the first and the second photosensitive linear system (26-29; 26',26") and adapted to receive the signals from the first and second photosensitive linear system and to combine said signals for achieving a measurement of the workpiece in a single cross-section, characterized in that the second system for generating optical radiations (24,25; 22") is adapted for providing the second beam of light with a section directed towards the workpiece (10;10'), in an opposite direction with respect to that of said section of the first beam of light, and in that there are foreseen two beam splitter devices (30,31; 30',31'), each of said devices being connected to one of said oppositely arranged portions (33,34; 33',34'), and being adapted to receive both one and the other of said first and second beams, and to partially divert one of the beams towards the relevant photosensitive linear system (26-29), the second photosensitive linear system (26,27; 26") being coupled to the other (33; 33') of said two oppositely arranged portions, said two beam splitter devices (30,31; 30',31') being located between the first and second photosensitive linear system (26-29; 26") and said supporting location.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4 for checking geometric features of a workpiece (10,10'), defining a geometric axis, wherein said second support (4;4') is movable with respect to the first support (1;1') in a longitudinal direction, parallel to the geometric axis of the workpiece (10;10').

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claims 1 to 4, wherein said first support (1;1') includes a live center (7;7') and a dead center (9;9'), for supporting and rotating the workpiece (10;10').

Claim 11

An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, including further generating systems (22-25; 22', 22") and further photosensitive linear systems (26-29; 26', 26").

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claims 12 or 13, for checking geometric features of the crankpins of a crankshaft, defining a rotation axis, wherein said first support includes a live center (7') and a dead center (9') for supporting and rotating the crankshaft (10').

Claim 16

An apparatus according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein said first, second and further generating systems comprise optical sources (22-25; 22',22") of the infrared diode type (22-25; 22', 22") and said first, second and further photosensitive linear systems (26-29; 26',26") are of the CCD type.