APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF THE SURFACE OF A SOLID OBJECT

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the location of a surface of a solid object such as that being machined by a machine tool includes a stylus (21) having an electrically conductive end (21) that is supported by two support members (23, 25), which are disposed in pressure contact with each other by means of a spring (28) or other bias one (25) of the two support members is formed having a cylindrical contact surface that is a portion of an imaginary cylinder the axis of which passes through the contact electrode (21). Either alternatively or in addition to the detection of an electrically conductive surface with the contact electrode, the support members may be provided with electrically conductive surfaces so that upon the contact of the electrode contact with a workpiece the electrically conductive surfaces are moved out of electrical contact, thereby providing an additional indication of the position of the surface to be determined.

Description: The present invention relates in general to a position detecting device and, more specifically, relates to an improved position detecting device having a stylus with a sensing contact at one end and an improved means for supporting the stylus. In the use of numerically controlled (NC) machine tools, such as milling machines, grinders, drill presses and lathes, it is more and more desirable and, in fact, necessary to effect quickly and accurately position measurements of the workpieces while in place on the machine tool, both before and after performing the specified work operation. To accomplish this, there are presently known position detecting devices that effect detection of surface positions in relation to the workpiece, as well as to actual working positions of the tool with respect to a location surface on the workpiece. An example of a known prior art detecting device is shown in Figs. 1 (a) and (b) and 2 (a) and (b). Referring then to Figs. 1 (a) and (b) and 2 (a) and (b), electrode contact 11 formed as a conductive sphere is mounted at one end of elongate feeler or stylus 12. The structure for supporting stylus 12 includes housing 1, wherein the movable elements of the detecting device are contained. Specifically, three balls 2 are mounted on three thrust screws 3 having cupped ends that are arranged through the bottom of housing 1. These three thrust screws are equally spaced around a suitable diameter bolt circle. Affixed to the end of stylus 12 located inside housing 1 is a disc 4 to which is attached a ring or plate 5 formed of insulating material. Attached to the insulating plate 5 are receivers 6, 7, and 8, which interact with the three balls 2 mounted on supporting bolts 3. Contact is maintained between receivers 6, 7, and 8 and the respective ball 2 by means of compression spring 10, which at one end abuts the inside of the upper element of housing 1 and at the other end abuts a retaining ring 9 formed of insulating material and affixed at the center of disc 4. The extent to which ball 2 are thrust into engagement with the receivers is adjustable by turning threaded screws 3. Once the proper adjustment has been reached the position of each screw 3, in relation to housing 1, is locked by means of three locking set screws 14. The position detecting device shown in Figs. 1 (a) and (b) and 2 (a) and (b) is held in a position to make position detecting measurements by means of circular shank 13, which may be held in a chuck or other tool holding device of the numerically controlled machine tool. Operation of the position detecting device of Figs. 1 (a) and (b) and 2 (a) and (b), is represented schematically in Fig. 3, wherein the shank 13 is secured in the appropriate machine tool 17, and electrode contact 11 of stylus 12 is brought into physical contact with an electrically conductive workpiece 18 that is supported by work table 15. The contact position of the stylus 12 and electrode contact sphere 11 is sensed electrically by a detection circuit 16 to provide the indication of the relative location of the particular surface of workpiece 18. In the known device, as shown in Figs. 1 (a) and (b), 2 (a) and (b), and 3, receivers 6, 7, and 8 that interact with balls 2 are physically constructed to be different from one another so that each one will have only a single, three-dimensional stable position. For example, receiver 6 has an internally conical surface to receive ball 2, receiver 7 has a V-shaped groove formed therein to receive ball 2, and receiver 8 has a planar surface against which ball 2 abuts. The known construction as described above suffers numerous drawbacks, not the least of which is the difficulty encountered when aligning or calibrating the three different kinds of receivers, in order to produce a meaningful output signal and also of the numerous parts that are involved in manufacturing and assembling this previously proposed position detecting device. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for detecting positions or locations, which has a simple construction utilizing a reduced number of elements compared to known devices. It is another object of the present invention to provide a two-dimension position detecting device in which the sensing contact stylus is always accurately positioned in two dimensions, despite variations of its mounting position to a support. The device will provide accurate position detection of a workpiece, even when cutting fluid is used during working of the workpiece to be measured. DE-A-3 125 737 discloses contact sensing apparatus as referred to in the prior art portion of claim 1. This suffers from the disadvantage previously discussed of the difficulty in accurately locating the tip of the stylus, especially where the apparatus is to be manufactured in a simple and economic manner. The present invention, as defined in claim 1, provides for the centre of the tip of the stylus to be at the axis of a cylindrical support surface so that regardless of where that support surface is engaged the tip will be accurately positioned in two dimensions, relative to the apparatus housing. Thus, with repeated use, the stylus being contacted by a workpiece each time, it can still be ensured that the stylus tip is accurately positioned for each subsequent sensing operation. In the preferred construction, the stylus contact is an electrode adapted immediately to sense contact with a workpiece of electrically conductive material by completion of an electric circuit through the workpiece without movement of the stylus relative to its mounting. The present invention will be further apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments that is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals identify the corresponding elements and parts in the several views. Figures 1(a) and 1(b) are a side elevation in cross section and a bottom plan view, respectively, of a prior art position detecting device; Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are cross-sectional plan views as taken through cross-section lines 2(a) and 2(b) in Figure 1(a), respectively; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an operational prior art position detecting device; Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are a side elevation in cross section and a bottom plan view, respectively, of a device as claimed in the parent application EP-A-0 088 596 from which the present application is divided; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an operational embodiment of the device of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a measuring element useful in a position sensing apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of measuring element useful in apparatus embodying the present invention; Figures 4(a) and (b) show a three dimensional sensor in accordance with the invention of the parent application and are included to explain that construction which was modified to give the two-dimensional sensor of the present invention. As shown a contact electrode 21 is arranged at one end of stylus 22, and the other end of stylus 22 is secured to first support member 23 that is formed as a flat disc. Disc 23 is resting upon or abutting three equally spaced balls 24 that are in turn located upon second support member 25. The arrangement of the three balls 24 in relation to disc 23 is shown in Figure 4(b), wherein it is seen that balls 24 are arranged on a bolt circle of diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of disc 23 and are evenly spaced therearound. Both support members 23 and 25, with balls 24 interposed therebetween, are arranged inside cylindrical housing 26 having cover member 27. First support member 23 is urged into contact with balls 24, and thus balls 24 are urged into contact with second support member 25, by means of spring 28 arranged between first support member 23 and the inside surface of cover member 27. The outer surface of second support member 25 has a spherical surface, which is part of an imaginary sphere that is concentric with the centre of electrode contact 21. The radius of the imaginary sphere is shown at r₂ in Figure 4(a). In order to utilise the device of Figures 4(a) and (b), shank 29, which is attached to housing cover 27, is fastened to the machine tool. This may be accomplished by inserting shank 29 into the chuck or other tool receiving device of the machine tool, and the arrangement of the measuring device in the machine tool is represented in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows one aspect of the contact position detecting circuit wherein housing 26, which carries stylus 22 with contact element 21, is attached to machine tool 42 by means of shank 29. Connector 30 connects two electrical conductors 31 and 32 to the input of amplifier 37. The connection of the other ends of wires 31 and 32 will be set forth in detail hereinbelow. The other input to amplifier 37 is electrical conductor 36, which is connected to table 35 upon which a suitable workpiece 33 is supported. The output of amplifier 37 is connected to excitation coil 38′ of relay 38. Amplifier 37 is powered by voltage source 39 that is also is connected to power alarm device 40 and counter 41 through the relay contacts 38. Alarm device 40 may comprise a lamp, buzzer, bell or the like. In operation of the arrangement of Fig. 5 then when there is mutual movement, as shown for example by the arrows in Fig. 5, between the worktable 35 and stylus 22, so that a face of workpiece 33 and electrode contact 21 approach and contact one another, an input circuit to amplifier 37 is completed. Upon completing an input circuit to amplifier 37 an output voltage is fed to excitation coil 38′ that actuates relay 38 and energizes alarm device 40. Therefore, the location of the point of contact between contact electrode 21 and workpiece 33 that completed the input circuit to amplifier 39 is immediately and precisely detected. It must be noted that machine tool 42 is typically of the numerically controlled kind and, thus, a read out in one form or another is always provided as to the location of the operating head of the machine tool in relation to a reference on worktable 35. Thus, while alarm 40 provides some indication of the point of contact between electrode contact 21 and workpiece 33 a more realistic and useful output would be a digital retention in a memory or a punched paper tape of these specific coordinats of such contact. Exemplary of apparatus to produce such quantative recorded information is counter 41, which may be arranged to be reset to zero by actuation of switch contacts 38, thereby to start counting to place a numerical value on how far worktable 35 or stylus 22 has moved establishing contact. Although stylus 22 with electrode contact 21 is intended to be operative in all three dimensions according to the invention of the parent application EP-A-0 088 596, it is also possible, by following the present invention, to make the stylus 22 operative in only two dimensions. This can be accomplished by limiting motion in one of the three dimensions, which in this example may be thought of as the Y-axis direction. Reference is now made to Figures 6 and 7, wherein the structure forming the second support member is formed as part of a cylindrical surface, instead of being a part of a spherical surface. As shown in Figure 6 in place of spherical surface 25, shown in Figure 4, the second support member 25 is formed with a cylindrical surface and the portions of the first support member that contact the second support member 25a are formed as tubular contact elements 24d, of circular cross-section. Note again that this embodiment is intended for operation in two dimensions only, in the X-axis and the Z-axis direction and thus tubes 24d provide a linear bearing surface against cylindrical surface 25a. In the embodiment of Figure 7, again only two degrees of freedom are provided by use of box-like retainer elements 23a that act to prevent two spheres 24e forming the contact part of first contact member 23 from rotating about the axis of stylus 22, that supports electrode contact 21. In the embodiment of Figure 7, the spheres 24e could be replaced by oblique cones, which would not be capable of rotating about the axis of stylus 22. In keeping with the embodiments of Figure 6 and 7, it is noted that the housing is not in a cylindrical form and all that is required is that it restore electrode contact 21 to its original position at all times when electrode contact 21 is not in contact with workpiece 33. It may be seen that the present invention keeps the amount of movement of the stylus constant. The extent of motion is held constant in the horizontal direction in which the stylus operates, because the two support members of the electrode are in line contact with each other and, thus, provide a larger contact area. This line contact resulting in the larger contact area also provides good recovery, high accuracy, and excellent durability of the working interfaces. Furthermore, the relatively simplified construction facilitates the manufacturing process and thereby provides benefits associated therewith.

Claims: An apparatus for sensing contact with a surface of a solid object in respect of which a machine element (42) is relatively movable, comprising a housing (26) for attachment to the machine element (42), a stylus (22) mounted to the housing by two support members (23,25) resiliently biased into mutual contact, a contact piece (21) at one end of the stylus for sensing contact with the surface, and a detection circuit (30-32, 37-41) responsive to the contact piece (21) touching the object for producing a detection output upon such contact whereby the relative positions of the surface and the machine element (42) can be discerned; characterised in that one (25) of the two support members (23; 25) has a surface formed as a portion of a cylinder the axis of which passes through the centre of the contact piece (21) and the other (23) of the two support members is so formed that contact (at 24d; 24e) thereof with said one support member (25) occurs at said cylindrical surface. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the contact piece (21) is an electrode contact adapted to complete a circuit through said solid object upon contact with said surface thereof. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the other (23) of the two support members has two rotatable ball elements (24e) confined (at 23a) so as to be movable with only two degrees of freedom and biased into contact with the cylindrical surface. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the other (23) of the two support members is so formed that linear contact is provided between the said other support member and the cylindrical surface of said one support member (25). An apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the other (23) of the two support members (23,25) is provided with contact elements (24d) of circular cross-section contacting said one support member (25).

Inventors: NARIMATSU, AKIHISA, SUZUKI, NOBUYUKI, YONEMOTO, HIROSHI
Applicants: SONY MAGNESCALE INCORPORATION
Application year: 1983
Main classification: G01B7
IPC codes: B23Q35, G01B7