Abstract:
A vision measuring machine includes a workbench, a support mounted to the workbench, a moving member movably mounted to the support, two fixing portions and a lens respectively fixed to the moving member, a group of pulleys fixed to the support, two mounting members each including at least one pulley fixed to the workbench, a rail fixed between the fixing members, a sliding member for fixing a backlight module, and a cord for driving the sliding member. One end of the cord is fixed to one of the fixing portions. The opposite end of the cord rounds all of the corresponding pulleys, the rail, and the sliding member, and last is fixed to the other fixing portion. When the moving member with the lens is driven, the backlight module is driven together with the lens by the cord.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to synchronous apparatuses. The invention particularly relates to a synchronous apparatus for driving a lens and a backlight module of a vision measuring machine to move synchronously. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Vision measuring machines are often used during assembly to check parameters of workpieces, which can potentially save time and labor. However, a lens of the vision measuring machine and a backlight module cannot move synchronously, so the backlight module must be kept lit throughout the work process to ensure proper lighting during image capture, leading to energy waste. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is to provide a synchronous apparatus which drives a lens and a backlight module to move synchronously. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a synchronous apparatus, shown without a cord, the synchronous apparatus including a chain and a bracket. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial, exploded, isometric view of the synchronous apparatus of  FIG. 1 , but from a different aspect. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the synchronous apparatus of  FIG. 1  and partial members of a vision measuring machine shown with the cord, but without the chain and the bracket. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged view of synchronous apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view similar to  FIG. 3 , but shown with the chain and the bracket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a synchronous apparatus is used for driving a lens  23  and a backlight module  10  of a vision measuring machine to move synchronously. The vision measuring machine includes a workbench  20 , a support  22  mounted to the workbench  20 , and a moving member  21 . The support  22  includes two parallel poles perpendicularly mounted to the workbench  20 , and a crossbeam  24  parallel to the workbench  20  and connecting tops of the poles. The moving member  21  is slidably mounted to the crossbeam  24 . The lens  23  is fixed to the moving member  21  and facing the workbench  20 . A first fixing portion  240  and a second fixing portion  242  are fixed to the moving member  21 . The first and second fixing portions  240 ,  242  and the lens  23  are moved together with the moving member  21 . 
         [0012]    The synchronous apparatus includes a rigid chain  14 , a bracket  16  supporting the chain  14 , a rail  32 , a positioning member  202 , a sliding member  33  slidable along the rail  32 , a first mounting member  50 , a second mounting member  53 , a locking element  70 , a securing member  90 , a first pulley  244 , a second pulley  246 , a third pulley  248 , and a cord  100 . Two cylindrical sleeves  204 ,  206  extend from the positioning member  202 . 
         [0013]    The backlight module  10  is connected to a power supply by a wire. Two protrusions  12  extend from opposite sidewalls of the backlight module  10 . 
         [0014]    The rigid chain  14  defines a receiving rooms  142  configured for receiving the wire. One end of the rigid chain  14  defines two fixing holes  140 , and the other opposite end of the chain  14  forms a fixing end. The bracket  16  includes a first supporting potion  160  and a second supporting portion  162  perpendicularly extending from an edge of the first supporting portion  160 . Each end of the second supporting portion  162  defines a screw hole  164 . 
         [0015]    A cross section of the rail  32  is substantially U-shaped. The rail  32  includes a board  322  and two opposite guide portions  324  substantially perpendicularly extending from opposite edges of the board  322 . Each end of the board  322  defines a screw hole  320 . An inside wall of each guide portion  324  defines an arc-shaped slot  326 . 
         [0016]    The sliding member  33  includes a sliding element  34  and a connecting element  36  fixed to a top of the sliding element  34 . Three round sliding portions  342  are triangularly arranged on a bottom of the sliding element  34  and configured for sliding in the arc-shaped slots  326 . Two tabs  344  extend down from opposite ends of the sliding element  34  and configured for protecting the sliding portions  342 . A bottom of the connecting element  36  defines a longitudinal groove  360  through opposite end surfaces. One end surface of the connecting element  36  defines two screw holes  362  at a side of the groove  360 . A step portion  364  extends from a first side of the connecting element  36  such that a top of the step portion  364  is lower than a top of the connecting element  36 . A support board  366  extends from a side of the step portion  364  such that a top of the support board  366  is lower than a top of the step portion  364 . A second opposite side of the connecting element  36  defines two fixing holes  368 . 
         [0017]    Each of the first and second mounting members  50 ,  53  includes a mounting portion  54 , an arm  52  perpendicularly extending from a side at an end of the mounting portion  54 , and a connecting body  56  mounted to the side of the arm  52 , adjacent an opposite end of the mounting portion  54 . The arm  52  defines a screw hole  520  in an opposite end of the arm  52 . A connecting part  560  defining a fixing hole  562  in a top extends up from a top of the connecting body  56 . A fourth pulley  502  and a fifth pulley  504  are mounted to a top of the mounting portion  54  of the first mounting member  50 . A sixth pulley  530  is mounted to a top of the mounting portion  54  of the second mounting member  53 . 
         [0018]    Four fixing holes  702  are defined on a surface of the locking member  70 . 
         [0019]    The securing member  90  defines a through hole  902  extending through opposite sides of the securing member  90 , and two screw holes  904  adjacent to the through hole  902 . A top of the securing member  90  defines a fixing hole  906  communicating with the through hole  902 . 
         [0020]    Referring also to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sliding portions  342  of the sliding member  34  are mounted to the rail  32 , and corresponding edges of the sliding portions  342  are slidably received in the slots  326 . The first and second pulleys  244 ,  246  are fixed to a first end of the crossbeam  24 , and the third pulley  248  is fixed to a second end of the crossbeam  24 . The positioning member  202  is mounted to the workbench  20  below the first end of the crossbeam  24 , and adjacent to one of the poles of the support  22 , with the sleeves  204 ,  206  facing the pole. The first mounting member  50  is mounted on the workbench  20  at a side of the positioning member  202 , with the mounting portion  54  adjacent to the positioning member  202 . The second mounting member  53  is mounted on the workbench  20  adjacent to the other pole of the support  22 . The first and second mounting member arms  52  are aligned facing each other. A screw  328  is extended through the screw hole  320  of one end of the rail  32 , and threadedly engaged in the screw hole  520  of the first fixing member  50  to fix the end of the rail  32  to the first mounting member arm  52 . The sixth pulley  530  of the second mounting member  53  is in alignment with the fourth pulley  502  of the first mounting member  50 . A screw  329  is inserted through the screw hole  320  of the other end of the rail  32 , and threadedly engaged in the screw hole  520  of the second fixing member  53  to fix the other end of the rail  32  to the second mounting member arm  52 . Two screws  92  are passed through the screw holes  904  of the securing member  90 , and screwed into the screw holes  362  to fix the securing member  90  to the connecting element  36 . The through hole  902  of the securing member  90  is defined above the support board  366 . 
         [0021]    One end of the cord  100  is fixed to the first fixing portion  240 . The cord  100  runs in the order described, through a side of the first pulley  244 , a bottom of the cylinder sleeve  206 , a top of the cylinder sleeve  204 , a side of the fourth pulley  502 , the rail  32 , the groove  360 , a side of the sixth pulley  530 , the through hole  902 , a side of the fifth pulley  504 , the top of the cylinder sleeve  204 , the bottom of the cylinder sleeve  206 , sides of the second and third pulleys  246 ,  248 . The other end of the cord  100  is fixed to the second fixing portion  242 . A screw  94  is screwed into the fixing hole  906  to abut against the cord  100  firmly, such that the cord  100  may be fixed to the securing member  90 . The protrusions  12  of the backlight module  10  are fixed to the top surface of the connecting element  36  adjacent to the step portion  364  via screws (not shown). 
         [0022]    Two screws  28  are screwed into the screw holes  164  of the bracket  16  and the fixing holes  562  of the first and second mounting members  50 ,  53 , so that two ends of the bracket  16  are fixed to the first and second mounting members  50 ,  53 . Accordingly, the support board  366  and the corresponding end of the securing member  90  are below the second supporting portion  162  of the bracket  16 . The corresponding sidewall of the backlight module  10  resists against a distal edge of the second supporting portion  162 . The wire of the backlight module  10  is received in and passed through the receiving room  142  of the rigid chain  14 . The rigid chain  14  is located on the second supporting portion  162  and between a side of the backlight module  10  and the first supporting portion  160 . The fixing end of the rigid chain  14  is fixed to an end of the first supporting portion  160 . The other end of the rigid chain  14  is bent to an opposite side of the backlight module  10 , and is located on a top of a corresponding guide portion  324 . Two screws are screwed into two of the fixing holes  702  and the fixing holes  140  to fix the rigid chain  14  to the locking member  70 . Two screws are screwed into the fixing holes  368  and the other two fixing holes  702  of the fixing element  70  to fix the locking member  70  to the connecting element  36 . 
         [0023]    In use, the screw  94  is rotated to disengage from the fixing hole  906  of the securing member  90 , so that the cord  100  can pass freely in the groove  360  of the connecting element  36 . The connecting element  36  is adjustably moved with the backlight module  10  to align the backlight module  10  with the lens  23  mounted to the moving member  21 . The screw  94  is then rotated to engage in the fixing hole  906  to firmly abut against the cord  100 , thereby fixing the cord  100  to the securing member  90 . A circuit connected to the backlight module  10  may be turned on to light the backlight module  10 . 
         [0024]    The moving member  21  may be moved with the lens  23 , the first and second fixing portions  240 ,  242 , and the cord  100 . Accordingly, the securing member  90  is moved together with the cord  100 . The backlight module  10 , the sliding member  33 , and the securing member  90  are fixed together, so that the backlight module  10  moves with the cord  100  and movement of the backlight module  10  is synchronized with movement of the lens  23 . 
         [0025]    In other embodiments of the invention, the securing member  90  may be omitted and the connecting element  36  defines a through hole neighboring the groove  360 . The cord  100  may be passed through the through hole directly. A top of the connecting element  36  defines a fixing hole communicating with the through hole. A screw may be screwed into the through hole to abut against the cord  100 , and firmly fix the cord  100  to the connecting element  36 . 
         [0026]    It is believed that the present embodiments and theirs advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments.