OPTICAL RULE FOR LINEAR MEASURES INCORPORATING A GUIDE FOR THE CARRIAGE OF THE OPTICAL READER

Abstract: Optical rule for linear measures, particularly for measuring the displacement of a movable part of a machine tool in respect of a fixed part thereof, of the type comprising, on one hand, a sheath in the form of a box-like body into which is housed and fixed a measure grating formed by a continuous sequence of parallel notches on a metal strip and, on the other hand, an optical reader apt to be mounted movable in respect of said measure grating. To the box-like body of said sheath there is rigidly associated a guide parallel to the measure grating, and said optical reader is mounted onto a carriage sliding with no slack along said guide. The sheath consists of a cut down size of metal section and the guide is formed in one piece with said metal section. To said sheath there are also associated means for the stiff anchorage to a first part of the machine tool, while to said carriage there are associated means for connection to a second part of the machine tool, movable in respect of the first part, said connection means having two degrees of freedom.

Description: "OPTICAL RULE FOR LINEAR MEASURES INCORPORATING A GUIDE FOR THE CARRIAGE, OF THE OPTICAL READER" ===o0o=== The present invention concerns an "optical rule" for measuring linear displacements. Rules of this type comprise - as described for example in EP-B-0.105- 119 and EP-B-0.247- 353 - a metal strip, carrying a continuous sequence of parallel notches forming a measure grating, and an optical reader movable along said measure grating to read said notches. The measure grating is mounted inside a sheath in the form of an elonga- ted box-like body, wherein it is kept perfectly aligned and tensioned through means which normally allow to compensate the elongations of the measure grating due to temperature changes. Optical precision rules of this type are particularly used in the conventional or numerically controlled machine tools, wherein the sheath housing the grating is fixed onto a part of the machine tool, generally the fixed part, while the optical reader is fixed onto the machine tool part which is movable in respect of the fixed part. Thanks to this type of assembly, when the optical reader is moved along the measure grating, it generates electric signals which are interpreted by the control unit of the machine tool as providing information on the position of one part of the machine tool in respect of the other part thereof. Since the box-like sheath housing the grating is rigidly mounted, parallel to the axis of displacement of the second part of the machine tool in respect of the first part, the optical reader - fixed onto the second part of the machine tool - performs a movement which is perfectly parallel to the measure grating. No problem normally arises as to mounting and guiding of the optical reader in respect of the grating. As a result of applying numerical control systems to synchronized forming presses, and of using optical rules on such machines, a problem has arisen as regards to guiding of the optical reader. It is known in fact that in such forming presses - due, on one hand, to the structure of the machine and, on the other hand, to the high bending efforts and thus to the stresses involved - at least one of the reciprocally moving parts is subject to notable deflections. Seen that the sheath of the measure grating is fixed on one part, while the optical reader is fixed on the other part, it is evident that such deflections end by preventing the correct working of the optical reader, which gets to interfere with the measure grating whereby, besides supplying wrong measurements, it is no doubt damaged thereby. To overcome these difficulties, the constructors of forming presses have adopted complicated solutions - thus difficult and expensive to carry out - generally providing for the sheath to be mounted directly on one part of the forming press, for instance the movable part, and for the optical reader to be mounted on the other part, for instance the fixed part, with the interposition of a support which, though being connected with the second fixed part, is apt to follow the deflections of the first movable par . Said support generally consists of a mechanical unit in the form of a frame comprising two columns (or guides), along which slide ball bushings (or carriages) which, reciprocally connected, cause the sliding, free from slacks, of the optical reader along the rule. The object of the present invention is to propose an optical rule structure which is apt to overcome the above difficulties and which, due to its easy assembly and to its low cost, can be generally applied on any type of machine tool and, in particular, on a forming press. Said object is reached with an optical rule having the characteristics specified in claim 1. Further characteristics and advantages of the optical rule according to the present invention will anyhow be more evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example and illustrated on the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical rule according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section view of the same rule; and Fig. 3 is a section of the rule along the line III-III of fig. 2. As clearly shown on the drawings , the optical rule according to the invention consists of a sheath ] produced from a cut down size of metal section, for example an extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy section, split lengthwise into two chambers and, precisely, a chamber la to house a measure grating R and a chamber lb to house a carriage C. According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the second chamber lb includes a precision guide formed by a pair of rails 2, 3, longitudinally extending along opposite walls of said chamber. More exactly, since the sheath 1 is produced by extrusion, the rails 2, 3 ar in the form of ribs obtained in one piece with the walls of the sheath during the extrusion step. In figs. 1 and 2, said ribs have a convex semicircle profile. It is evident, however, that the rails could have any other profile, or even be formed as grooves, instead of ribs. As shown in fig. 3, on the guide formed by the rails 2, 3, there are slidably mounted two pairs of wheels 4 , 4b and, respectively, 5a, 5b, the axles of which are fixed onto a plate 6 of the carriage C. Said wheels have a bearing profile complementary to that of the rails. Thus, when the rails are in the form of ribs (as shown), said wheels have a bearing surface in the form of a semicircle profiled groove; whereas, when the rails are formed as grooves, said wheels have a bearing profile complementary to that of the grooves. Preferably, one of the two pairs of wheels - for instance, the pair 4a, 4b - is mounted with the axles fixed onto the plate 6, while the axles of the other pair of wheels 5a, 5b, are mounted, adjustable in posi- tion, perpendicularly to the rails 2, 3- This assembly allows to control the slack of the wheels bearing onto the rails 2, 3, so that the carriage C may move along said rails with no slack, but also without any effort. According to an alternative embodiment (not shown on the drawings), the pair of wheels 5a, 5b, could be replaced by a single wheel mounted in an intermediate position in respect of the wheels 4 and 4b; likewise, and alternatively, the wheels 4 , 4b, could be replaced by a single wheel mounted in an intermediate position in respect of the wheels 5 and 5b. The first chamber la of the sheath 1 is instead meant to house the optical rule, essentially comprising a measure grating R, which - according to known technique, and as described for example in EP-B-0.105- 119 and EP-B-0.247- 353 - i formed by a continuous sequence of parallel notches, arranged at a very short mutual distance (for example, of the order of microns) on a supporting metal strip, which is mounted perfectly tensioned inside the chamber la. As clearly shown in fig. 2, an optical reader 7 slides - always in known manner - along the measure grating R, in strict proximity thereto. For this purpose, the optical reader 7 i mounted on a thin arm 8, projecting from a sliding head 9 and penetrating into the chamber la through a longitudinal opening thereof. Said opening is provided with flexible sealing lips 10a, 10b, through which the thin arm 8 can freely slide with a minimum friction. The sliding head 9 is in turn mounted on the plate 6 of the carriage C and thus moves jointly therewith. The arrangement is such that the sliding surface of the carriage C along the rails 2, 3, is perfectly parallel to the surface of the measure grating R, so as to ensure a movement of the optical reader 7 which is in turn perfectly parallel to the grating R. To use the aforedescribed optical rule according to the present invention, one provides: - on one hand, to fix the sheath 1 on one part of the machine tool, which may be either the fixed structure or the movable unit thereof; in particular, for what concerns the application to a synchronized forming press, the sheath 1 is for example fixed onto the movable part of the machine; - on the other hand, to simply anchor the sliding head 9, mounted on the carriage C, to the other part of the machine tool, through connection means having two degrees of freedom. Connection means of this type can consist for example - in a simple embodiment shown in fig. 3 - of a stiff arm 10 connected, through a pivot joint or a ball joint 11, on one side to the sliding head 9 and on the other side to the other part of the machine tool (not shown). Thanks to said connection means, when one part of the machine tool moves in respect of the other part, the carriage C and the sliding head 9, mutually connected, move parallel to the sheath 1, without said movement being in the least subject to the bending stresses which the two machine parts undergo one in respect of the other. It is anyhow understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment and variants described heretofore, which merely form a non limiting example of its scope, but that various modifications can be introduced, all within reach of a person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the protection field of the present invention. - i -

Claims: CLAIMS 1 Optical rule for linear measures, particularly for measuring the displacement of a movable part of a machine tool in respect of a fixed part thereof - of the type comprising, on one hand, a sheath in the form of a box-like body into which is housed and fixed a measure grating formed by a continuous sequence of parallel notches on a metal strip and, on the other hand, an optical reader apt to be mounted movable in respect of said measure grating - characterized in that, to the box-like body of said sheath there is rigidly associated a guide parallel to the measure grating, in that said optical reader is mounted onto a carriage sliding with no slack along said guide, and in that, to said sheath there are also associated means for the stiff anchorage to a first part of the machine tool, while to said carriage there are associated means for connection to a second part of the machine tool, movable in respect of the first part, said connection means having two degrees of freedom. 2) Optical rule as in claim l), wherein said sheath consists of a cut down size of metal section, and said guide is formed in one piece with said metal section. 3) Optical rule as in claim 1), wherein said sheath is split lengthwise into two chambers, each having at least one longitudinal open side, the first chamber housing the measure grating, while the carriage is slidably mounted into the second chamber, said carriage being equipped with an arm to support the optical reader. 4) Optical rule as in claim 3) wherein, on said carriage there is mounted a sliding head, from which projects said arm supporting the optical reader. 5) Optical rule as in claim 4) , wherein said arm supporting the optical reader is a thin arm which projects into the first chamber through at least one pair of longitudinal sealing lips, fixed in correspondence of the open side of said first chamber. 6) Optical rule as in claim l), wherein said guide consists of at least two rails in the form of ribs, longitudinally extending along the inner surface of the chamber housing the carriage. 7) Optical rule as in claim 6), wherein said two ribs are formed on the inner surface of two opposite walls of said chamber housing the carriage. 8) Optical rule as in claim l), wherein said carriage comprises a plate to support the optical reading unit, and at least one pair of wheels and a third wheel, all with parallel axles, the pair of wheels bearing on one wall of the guide, while the third wheel bears on the opposite wall thereof. 9) Optical rule as in claim 8), wherein said carriage comprises a plate to support the optical reading unit and two pairs of wheels with parallel axles, one pair of wheels replacing said third wheel. 10) Optical rule as in claim 8), wherein at least the axle of one wheel, or the axles of one pair of wheels, can be adjusted in position in respect of the axles of the other pair. 11) Optical rule as in claim 8), wherein said guide is formed by two opposed ribs, said wheels having a bearing profile complementary to that of the ribs. 12) Optical rule as in claim 11), wherein said ribs have a convex semicircle profile and said wheels have a bearing surface in the form of a semicircle profiled groove. 13) Optical rule as in claim 8), wherein said guide is formed by two opposed grooves, said wheels having a bearing profile complementary to that of the grooves. 14) Optical rule as in claim l), wherein said connection means associated to the carriage consist of a stiff arm, extending substantially parallel to the sheath and connected to the carriage and to the second part of the machine tool through a pivot joint provided on at least one of the two ends of the stiff arm. 15) Optical rule as in claim 1), wherein said connection means associated to the carriage consist of a stiff arm, extending substantially parallel to the sheath and connected to the carriage and to the second part of the machine tool through a ball joint provided on at least one of_ the two ends of the stiff arm.

Inventors: BRAMBILLA STEFANO, BRAMBILLA, STEFANO
Applicants: BRAMBILLA STEFANO, GIVI MISURE S R L, BRAMBILLA, STEFANO, GIVI MISURE S.R.L.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G01D5
IPC codes: G01D5