Abstract:
Image measuring apparatus configured to measure dimensions of a work piece includes a base, a measuring stage, a supporting portion, an adjusting portion, and a microscope. The measuring stage is configured to place and secure the work piece on the base. The supporting portion is secured to the base. The adjusting portion and the microscope are assembled to the supporting portion. When the adjusting portion is rotated, the adjusting portion drives the supporting portion to slide along a longitudinal direction so that the microscope moves relative to the measuring stage.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosure generally relates to image measuring apparatuses, and particularly to an omnidirectional image measuring apparatus having a relative small volume. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    An image measuring apparatus is a kind of equipment which measures dimensions, assembly positions, and forms (i.e. contour or shape) error of work pieces by microscope measurement technology. The image measuring apparatus can display the measured work pieces, and can also quickly generate related measuring images of the measured work pieces by computers. 
         [0003]    To omnidirectionally measure the work pieces, the image measuring apparatus commonly employs a three-dimensional moving structure to drive a microscope to move relative to the work pieces in three-dimensional directions (for example X, Y, and Z directions). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the present disclosure 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 disclosure. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an image measuring apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a partial isometric view of the image measuring apparatus of  FIG. 1  without a first shield and a second shield. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a partially disassembled view of the image measuring apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view of the image measuring apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a support portion of the image measuring apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an image measuring apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Also referring to  FIG. 2 , the image measuring apparatus includes a base  1 , a computer  2 , a table  3 , a supporting portion  4 , an adjusting portion  5 , a measuring portion  6 , a first shield  7 , and a second shield  8 . 
         [0011]    The table  3  and the supporting portion  4  can be secured to the base  1 . The table  3  is configured to place and fasten a work piece. The adjusting portion  5  and the measuring portion  6  are assembled to the supporting portion  4 . The adjusting portion  5  is configured to adjust a distance between the measuring portion  6  and the table  3 . The second shield  8  covers the measuring portion  6 . The first shield  7  covers the supporting portion  4 , the adjusting portion  5 , and a portion of the second shield  8 . 
         [0012]    The base  1  includes a top surface  102  and a mounting surface  104 . The mounting surface  104  is connected to the top surface  102  and defines an inclined angle relative to the top surface  102 . A circuit board (not shown) is received inside the base  1 . A power switch (not shown) and a power interface (not shown) are positioned on a back surface of the base  1  opposite to the mounting surface  104 . The base  1  further includes a fixing frame  11  formed by two posts. The fixing frame  11  is positioned on one side of the top surface  102  opposite to the mounting surface  104 . 
         [0013]    The computer  2  is positioned on the mounting surface  104  and electronically connected to the circuit board inside the base  1 . The computer  2  is also electronically connected to the measuring portion  6  by the circuit board. 
         [0014]    The table  3  includes a measuring stage  31  and two latching members  32 . The measuring stage  31  is substantially a plate including a circular stage portion  311  adjacent to the mounting surface  104 . The stage portion  311  is rotatable relative to the measuring stage  31 . Each latching member  32  includes a fixing post  321  and an elastic clip  322 . The fixing post  321  protrudes from the measuring stage  31 . A first end of the elastic clip  322  is secured to the fixing post  321 . A second end of the elastic clip  322  is configured to press the work piece toward the stage portion  311 . 
         [0015]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate that the supporting portion  4  includes a mounting block  41 , a sliding block  42 , a supporting frame  43  (see  FIG. 5 ) and an extending board  44 . The mounting block  41  includes two opposite first side surfaces  410  and a second side surface  411  interconnecting the first side surfaces  410 . The first side surfaces  410  are fixed to the fixing frame  11 . A strip-shaped through slot  412  is longitudinally defined in the second side surface  411 . A bottom wall  414  and two opposite side walls  415  are formed in the mounting block  41  surrounding the through slot  412 . A sliding slot  416  is defined in each side wall  415 . A receiving slot  417  is defined in the bottom wall  414 . A mounting hole  418  is defined in each first side surface  410 . The mounting holes  418  communicate with the receiving slot  417 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates that the sliding block  42  is a substantially strip-shaped block having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section. The sliding block  42  includes a first surface  420  and a second surface  421  opposite to the first surface  420 . A sliding rail  422  is formed between the first surface  420  and the second surface  421 . A substantially strip-shaped groove  423  is longitudinally defined in a middle portion of the first surface  420 . The sliding block  42  is received in the through slot  412  with the sliding rails  422  assembled in the sliding slots  416 . 
         [0017]    The supporting frame  43  includes a mounting plate  431 , a fixing plate  432  and two supporting arms  433 . The mounting plate  431  and the fixing plate  432  are substantially rectangular and parallel to each other. Each supporting arm  433  is substantially a Z-shaped plate including two end portions  4331 . One end portion  4331  of each supporting arm  433  is secured to a first surface of the mounting plate  431 . The other one end portion  4331  of each supporting arm  433  is secured to a first surface of the fixing plate  4321 . Two latching rings  4311  can be spaced from each other and protrude from a second surface of the mounting plate  431  opposite to the supporting arms  433 . A second surface of the fixing plate  432  opposite to the supporting arms  433  is secured to the second surface  421  of the sliding block  42 . 
         [0018]    The extending plate  44  (see  FIG. 3 ) is secured to the mounting block  41  and positioned between the supporting frame  43  and the measuring stage  31 . A latching hole  441  is defined in the extending plate  44 . 
         [0019]    The adjusting portion  5  includes two handles  51 , a rotating shaft  52 , a gear  53 , and a rack  54  (see  FIG. 5 ). The gear  53  is received in the receiving slot  417 . Two bearings  521  are sleeved around the rotating shaft  52 . The bearings  521  are received in the mounting holes  418 . The rotating shaft  52  is extended through the mounting holes  418  and the receiving slot  417  with the gear  53  sleeved around the rotating shaft  52  and positioned between the bearings  521 . The handles  51  are positioned at two ends of the rotating shaft  52 . The rack  54  is received in the groove  423 . A plurality of evenly spaced teeth  541  protrude from the rack  54 . A distance between every two teeth  541  is about 1 mm. A distance between the two teeth  541  at two ends of the rack  54  is about 80 mm. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the measuring portion  6  includes an image sensor  61 , and a three-dimensional microscope  63 . The image sensor  61  can be a CCD image sensor. The image sensor  61  is secured to one end of the microscope  61  and is electronically connected to the circuit board by a cable  64 . The microscope  63  releaseably attached to the supporting portion  4 . The microscope  63  includes a drawtube  631  and a motor  632 . The motor  632  is positioned at one side of the drawtube  631  and configured to drive the drawtube  631  to rotate. The microscope  63  is latched in the latching rings  4311  (see  FIG. 5 ) facing the stage portion  311 . The microscope  63  is configured to capture images of the work piece. The image sensor  61  converts the images into digital information and transmits the digital information to the computer  2 . 
         [0021]    In assembly, the rack  54  is received in the groove  423 . The sliding block  42  is assembled to the mounting block  41  with the teeth  541  engaging with the gear  53  and the sliding rails  422  received in the sliding slots  416  respectively. The supporting frame  43  is secured to the sliding block  42  by fixing the fixing plate  432  to the sliding block  42 . The motor  62  is latched in the latching rings  4311 . 
         [0022]    To adjust the distance between the microscope  63  and the measuring stage  31 , the handles  51  are manually operated to rotate the rotating shaft  52  so that the gear  53  rotates and slides on the teeth  541 . The rack  54  is driven to shift in an up and/or down direction. The sliding block  42  slides along the sliding slots  416 . The microscope  63  is secured to the support frame  43  but also moves along an up and/or down direction (i.e. a longitudinal direction) relative to the base  1  until the microscope  63  reaches a desired position. The motor  62  relative to the work piece can rotate the microscope  63 . Therefore, the work piece can be omnidirectionally measured. 
         [0023]    The image measuring apparatus without a complex three-dimensional structure can adjust the distance between the microscope  63  and the measuring stage  31  by operating the adjusting portion  5 . Thus, the image measuring apparatus has a relative smaller volume. 
         [0024]    It is believed that the exemplary embodiments and their 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 disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.