Patent ID: 6935043
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
1. A scale device comprising: a scale member having position signals provided thereon; a case member for housing the scale member therein and including a guide opening formed therein having opposing walls; a pair of seal lip members formed from a flexible sheet material, wherein end portions of the pair of seal lip members are in elastic contact with each other along the opposing walls of the guide opening, thus closing the guide opening along a full length of the guide opening; a detector unit disposed inside the case member for detecting the position signals of the scale member; a carrier unit which slides relative to the case member as a moving part of a machine on which the scale device is to be used; a coupling member penetrating through the guide opening in the case member to provide a coupling between the detector unit and the carrier unit and which slides in the guide opening while spreading out the pair of seal lip members as the case member and the carrier unit slide relative to each other; and a pair of seal lip pressing members provided on opposing sides of the carrier unit, respectively, of the pair of seal lip members and opposite ends, respectively, of the coupling member to press outer lateral sides of the pair of seal lip members, thereby keeping the guide opening closed.