Abstract:
A external surface measuring apparatus includes a moving element, a securing element, and a measuring element. The securing element is mounted on the moving element, and includes a cylinder and a holding portion mounted on the cylinder, the holding portion holds a workpiece which has several buttons protruding from different external surfaces. The measuring element includes a plurality of measuring devices spaced on the moving element. The moving element drives the workpiece to pass in front of the measuring devices in a certain order, the measuring devices measure the height difference between the buttons and the external surfaces and the gap between sidewalls of the buttons and the external surfaces of the workpiece. The cylinder rotates the workpiece to different buttons for measurement.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to external surface measuring apparatuses, and particularly to a external surface measuring apparatus measuring physical characteristics. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A plurality of buttons can be found mounted on an external surface of an electronic device. When manufacturing the electronic device, the height difference between the buttons and the external surface and the gap between sidewalls of the buttons and the external surface need to be measured. However, different steps are required to carry out the abovementioned measuring, which reduces efficiency. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a measuring apparatus applied to the exterior of an electronic device mounted in a cabinet. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the external surface measuring apparatus. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the external surface measuring apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the external surface measuring apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  when measuring an electronic device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the external surface measuring apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  when measuring an electronic device in another state. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an operation method of the external surface measuring apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows sub-steps of one step of the operation method of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an external surface measuring apparatus  100  mounted in a cabinet  200 . Also referring to  FIG. 4 , the external surface measuring apparatus  100  is used to measure a workpiece such as an electronic device  300 . The electronic device  300  includes several buttons  320  mounted on different external surfaces. The external surface measuring apparatus  100  measures physical characteristics e.g. the height difference between the buttons and the external surface and the gap between sidewalls of the buttons and the external surface. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the external surface measuring apparatus  100 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the external surface measuring apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 2 . The external surface measuring apparatus  100  includes a base board  10 , a moving element  30 , a securing element  50 , and a measuring element  70 . The moving element  30  is mounted on the base board  10 . The securing element  50  and the measuring element  70  are mounted on the moving element  30 , the moving element  30  drives the securing element  50  and the measuring element  70 . 
         [0016]    The moving element  30  includes two columns  31 , a crossbeam  32 , a connecting board  33 , a guiding board  34 , a moving platform  35 , and a motor  36 . The two columns  31  are distanced and mounted vertically on the base board  10 , the crossbeam  32  is mounted horizontally between the two columns  31 . The connecting board  33  is slidably mounted on the crossbeam  32 . In the present embodiment, the connecting board  33  includes a group of sliding rails  332  at opposite ends, which are engaged with the edges of the crossbeam  32  so that the connecting board  33  can slide along the X-axis direction of the base board  10 . The guiding board  34  is mounted along the Y-axis direction on the base board  10 . The moving platform  35  is slidably mounted on the guiding board  34 , the moving platform  35  is located furthest from the columns  31  in a initial state. The motor  36  is attached to one end of the guiding board  34  and near to the columns  31 . The motor  36  drives the moving platform  35  along the Y-axis direction between the columns  31 . 
         [0017]    The securing element  50  is attached to the moving platform  35 , which secures the workpiece to be measured. The securing element  50  includes a stand board  52 , a cylinder  54 , and a holding portion  56 . The stand board  52  is mounted vertically on the moving platform  35 . The cylinder  54  is mounted on an upper end of the stand board  52 . In the present embodiment, the cylinder  54  is a rotating cylinder, including a rotating portion  542  trailing the stand board  52 . The holding portion  56  is mounted on the cylinder  54 , which holds the workpiece. The holding portion  56  includes a supporting board  562 , a stopper portion  564 , and a retaining portion  566 . The supporting board  562  supports a workpiece. One end of the supporting board  562  provides a connecting portion  5622  and a block  5624 , the connecting portion  5622  is connected to the rotating portion  542 , so that the supporting board  562  can be driven by the cylinder  54 . The stopper portion  564  is movably mounted on the opposite end of the supporting board  562  by two elastic pieces  5642 , and the stopper portion  564  can move forward or backward from the supporting board  562 . The retaining portion  566  is arranged on a central portion of the supporting board  562 , which retains the workpiece on the supporting board  562 . In the present embodiment, the retaining portion  566  is a lever. One end of the retaining portion  566  extends onto the supporting board  562 , and the other end of the retaining portion  566  extends outside the supporting board  562 , the supporting board  562  controls the retaining portion  566  to clamp or release the workpiece. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the external surface measuring apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 2  when measuring the electronic device  300 . The electronic device  300  includes several buttons  320  arranged on the different external surfaces. The electronic device  300  is held by the holding portion  56 . The measuring element  70  is mounted in the connecting board  33 , and measures some dimensions e.g. the height difference between the buttons  320  and the external surface and the gap between sidewalls of the buttons  320  and the external surface of the electronic device  300 . The measuring element  70  includes a first measuring device and a second measuring device. In the present embodiment, the first measuring device is a laser camera  72 , the second measuring device is a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera  74 . The laser camera  72  and the CCD camera  74  are mounted so as to be able to move along the Y-axis direction. With the connecting board  33 , the laser camera  72  and the CCD camera  74  can be moved together along the X-axis direction. The motor  36  drives the moving platform  35  to move between the columns  31 , meanwhile the electronic device  300  was held by the securing element  50  moves together with the moving platform  35 , and the electronic device  300  passes in front of the laser camera  72  then the CCD camera  74 . 
         [0019]    The laser camera  72  and the CCD camera  74  are electrically connected to a computer  92  and a monitor  94  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The laser camera  72  emits a laser onto the buttons  320  and the surrounding area. The computer  92  calculates the height difference between the buttons  320  and the external surface of the electronic device  300  according to the laser reflection time. Then the monitor  94  displays the measurement. The CCD camera  74  capture images of a profile of the external surface of the electronic device  300 . The computer  92  calculates the gap between the sidewalls of the buttons  320  and the external surface, the monitor  94  then displays the measurement. The computer  92  can further compares the measurement against a preset allowable error range, and determines whether the assembly of the buttons  320  meets a parameter or standard, and then displays the result of comparison. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the external surface measuring apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 2 , when measuring an electronic device  300  in another state. In relation to the operation in  FIG. 4 , the external surface measuring apparatus  100  is measuring another surface of the electronic device  300  in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , an operation method of the external surface measuring apparatus  100  includes the following steps: 
         [0021]    Step 1, holding an electronic device  300  in the holding portion  56 . 
         [0022]    Step 1 further includes the following sub-steps: step  11 , pulling the stopper portion  564  away from the supporting board  562 , and pressing the outer end of the retaining portion  566 . Step 12, placing the electronic device  300  onto the supporting board  562 , and abutting one end of the electronic device  300  against the block  5624 . Step  13 , loosening the stopper portion  564  to allow the stopper portion  564  to move towards the supporting board  562  and abut the other end of the electronic device  300 . 
         [0023]    Step 2, driving the moving platform  35  to move along the X-axis direction between the columns  31  by the motor  36 , and driving the electronic device  300  passing the below of the laser camera  72  and the CCD camera  74  orderly. 
         [0024]    Step 3, the laser camera  72  and the CCD camera  74  capture images of the buttons  320  and of the surrounding area, the computer  92  calculates the measurements from the images, and determines whether the assembly of the buttons  320  meets a preset standard, and then the monitor  94  displays the results of comparison. 
         [0025]    Step 4, the cylinder  54  drives the supporting board  562  to rotate the electronic device  300 , so that another external surface with buttons  320  is presented to the laser camera  72  and the CCD camera  74 . 
         [0026]    Step 5, the motor  36  drives the moving platform  35  to move backwards, or in the reverse direction, and drives the electronic device  300  to pass in front of the CCD camera  74  and the laser camera  72  in the reverse order. 
         [0027]    Step 6, the CCD camera  74  and the laser camera  72  capture images of the buttons  320  and the surrounding area, the computer  92  calculates the measurements from the images, and determines whether the assembly of the buttons  320  meets the preset standard, and then the monitor  94  displays the results of comparison. 
         [0028]    The external surface measuring apparatus  100  can, at the same time, take measurements, e.g., of the height difference between the buttons  320  and the external surface and of the gap between sidewalls of the buttons  320  and the external surface of the electronic device  300 , and can also take similar measurement of buttons  320  on different external surfaces after rotating the electronic device  300 , which is far more efficient. The operation method of the external surface measuring apparatus  100  is automatic and convenient. 
         [0029]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.