A sample wheel for optical metrology verification

Abstract

The application discloses a sample wheel for optical metrological verification, which comprises a supporting mechanism, a rotating mechanism, a translation mechanism and a control unit; the supporting mechanism comprises a base, a sample wheel support and a sample wheel; the bottom of the sample wheel support is fixed on the base, and the sample wheel is arranged above the sample wheel support through a rotating shaft; a plurality of sample chambers are arranged on the outer edge of the sample wheel, and a sample fixing device is arranged in each sample chamber; the rotating mechanism comprises a stepping motor, and the stepping motor drives the sample wheel to rotate; the translation mechanism comprises a hydraulic device and a slide rail; one end of a hydraulic rod of the hydraulic device is hinged to the base, and the other end of the hydraulic rod is arranged on the rotating shaft through a sleeve, and the hydraulic rod is controlled to stretch and retract by the control unit; a bearing is arranged between the sleeve and the rotating shaft, and gears are arranged at the two ends of the bearing; the bottom of the slide rail is embedded into a horizontal sliding groove at the top of the sample wheel support, and a rack meshing with the gears is arranged on the top of the slide rail along the sliding direction. The application can avoid the influence of manual sample replacement on the measurement result, avoid the influence of the sample measurement position on the measurement result, has high working efficiency and accurate measurement data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of color calibration technology, specifically to a sample wheel for optical metrology calibration. Background Technology

[0002] A standard color chart is a measuring instrument used to measure color. It can calibrate color measuring instruments, serve as a standard for visually evaluating color samples, ensure proper color matching in the production of paints, plastics, glazed tiles, wallpaper, soft furnishings, and clothing, or coordinate the colors of products from different industrial enterprises to achieve harmonious matching.

[0003] Standard color charts can be made from different materials depending on their intended use. Reflective standard color charts are made by pressing powders such as barium sulfate, magnesium oxide, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); or by using materials such as ceramics, enamel, or milky glass; they can also be made from fabrics, cardboard, or plastics to create specialized reflective standard color charts. Transmissive standard color charts are generally made from colored glass or plastics with uniform color and good transparency.

[0004] As a standard instrument for transmitting values ​​to colorimetric instruments, the accuracy of the standard color chart directly determines the accuracy and reliability of the colorimetric instruments. The calibration method for standard color charts is as follows: multiply the value of a standard chart with a known spectral reflectance or spectral reflectance factor by the ratio of the spectral responsivity of the tested standard color chart to that of the standard chart. This yields the spectral reflectance or spectral reflectance factor of the tested standard color chart. The calibration process involves first placing the standard chart in the sample chamber and measuring its spectral responsivity, then sequentially placing each sample in and measuring the spectral responsivity of each sample. Traditionally, standard color chart calibration uses independent sample chambers, each capable of holding only a single sample, while each calibration process requires testing many samples. Therefore, manual sample replacement is necessary, significantly reducing work efficiency. To avoid stray light interference, the measuring device is often installed in a dark room, while the control computer is installed outside. Researchers must first install the samples in the dark room before operating the control program on the computer, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0005] The sample chamber for traditional standard color chart calibration consists of a measuring port and a sample clamp. The sample is placed vertically on the measuring port and then fixed in place by the sample clamp. The sample clamp is equipped with a spring, with one end fixed to the instrument and the other end able to move back and forth in the vertical direction.

[0006] Traditional sample chambers have the following disadvantages: 1. They require multiple replacements of standard plates and samples, which is slow; 2. They are prone to leaving fingerprints on the sample surface, affecting the accuracy of measurement data; 3. They cannot guarantee that the measurement hole is in the center of the sample; 4. They require that the sample is not too large, too thick, or too heavy, otherwise it is easy to fall; 5. They cannot meet the needs of automation of the entire calibration device. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a sample wheel for optical metrology verification, capable of simultaneously holding multiple samples, thus avoiding the impact of manual sample replacement on measurement results and the influence of sample measurement position on the results. This results in high work efficiency and accurate measurement data. The technical solution is as follows:

[0008] An optical metrology verification sample wheel includes a support mechanism, a rotation mechanism, a translation mechanism, and a control unit; the support mechanism includes a base, a sample wheel bracket, and a sample wheel; the bottom of the sample wheel bracket is fixed on the base, and the sample wheel is mounted above the sample wheel bracket via a rotating shaft; multiple sample chambers are provided on the outer edge of the sample wheel, and sample fixing devices are provided in the sample chambers.

[0009] The rotating mechanism includes a stepper motor, which receives pulse signals sent by the control unit and converts the pulse signals into angular displacement, which drives the sample wheel to rotate through a synchronous wheel, a reducer and a rotating shaft;

[0010] The translation mechanism includes a hydraulic device and a slide rail; one end of the hydraulic rod of the hydraulic device is hinged to the base, and the other end is fitted onto the rotating shaft through a sleeve, and its extension and retraction are controlled by the control unit to push the sample wheel forward and backward; a bearing is installed between the sleeve and the rotating shaft, and gears are installed at both ends of the rotating shaft; the bottom of the slide rail is embedded in the horizontal sliding groove at the top of the sample wheel bracket, and the top is provided with a rack that meshes with the gear along the sliding direction;

[0011] It also includes a rangefinder installed at the measuring port for measuring sample thickness, and a control unit that calculates the displacement of the sample wheel based on the sample thickness.

[0012] Furthermore, the sample fixing device includes a pair of clamping arms, which are L-shaped. One end with a crossbar is a free end for clamping the sample, and the other end is fixed to the rim of the sample wheel by the tail end of a semi-threaded screw passing through the adjustment hole. A spring bracket is also provided on the screw at one end of the semi-threaded screw nut. A long spring is provided between the spring brackets at the two clamping arms, and a short spring is provided between the spring bracket and the nut.

[0013] Furthermore, the inner wall of the clamping arm and the outer surface of the sample wheel between the two clamping arms are provided with anti-slip pads.

[0014] Furthermore, the rim of the sample wheel in the sample chamber is provided with an elongated adjustment hole along the circumference direction. The semi-threaded screw is set in the adjustment hole and is used to adjust the distance between the two clamping arms according to the width of the sample. The short spring is set on the semi-threaded screw and is used to adjust the distance between the cross ends of the two clamping arms and the outer surface of the sample wheel according to the thickness of the sample.

[0015] Furthermore, washers that fit onto the semi-threaded screws are provided on both sides of the adjustment hole.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] 1. The sample wheel of this invention can hold multiple samples at a time, which greatly improves work efficiency;

[0018] 2. The sample wheel of this invention avoids the influence of manual sample replacement on the measurement results, thus improving the accuracy of the measurement data;

[0019] 3. The sample wheel of this invention avoids the influence of the sample measurement position on the measurement results, thus improving the accuracy of the measurement data;

[0020] 4. The sample wheel of the present invention meets the automation requirements of the calibration device. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the sample wheel used for optical metrology verification in this invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the sample fixing device in the sample wheel for optical metrology verification of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a top view of the sample fixing device in the sample wheel for optical metrology verification of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the sample fixing device in the sample wheel for optical metrology verification of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the hydraulic device in the translation mechanism of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the slide rail in the translation mechanism of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the gear and rack meshing of the present invention.

[0028] In the diagram: 1-Base; 2-Protective housing for the support; 3-Sample wheel support; 301-Slide groove; 4-Sample wheel; 5-Sample chamber; 501-Clamping arm; 502-Washer; 503-Adjusting hole; 504-Half-threaded screw; 505-Spring support; 506-Long spring; 507-Short spring; 508-Anti-slip pad; 6-Stepper motor; 7-Hydraulic device; 701-Hydraulic rod; 702-Bearing; 703-Sleeve; 8-Shaft; 9-Slide rail; 901-Rack; 10-Gear. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, a sample wheel for optical metrology verification includes a support mechanism, a rotation mechanism, a translation mechanism, and a control unit. The support mechanism includes a base 1, a sample wheel bracket 3, and a sample wheel 4. The base 1 is located at the bottom, the bottom of the sample wheel bracket 3 is fixed to the base 1, and the sample wheel 4 is mounted on the top of the sample wheel bracket 3 via a rotating shaft 8. Multiple sample chambers 5 are provided on the outer edge of the sample wheel 4, and a sample fixing device is provided in each sample chamber 5.

[0031] The rotating mechanism includes a stepper motor 6, which receives pulse signals from the control unit and converts the pulse signals into angular displacement, which drives the sample wheel 4 to rotate through a synchronous wheel, a reducer and a rotating shaft 8.

[0032] The translation mechanism includes a hydraulic device 7 and a slide rail 9; the hydraulic rod 701 of the hydraulic device 7 is hinged at one end to the base 1, and the other end is set on the rotating shaft 8 through the sleeve 703. The extension and retraction of the rod is controlled by the control unit to push the sample wheel 4 forward and backward; a bearing 702 is installed between the sleeve 703 and the rotating shaft 8, and gears are installed at both ends of the rotating shaft 8; the bottom of the slide rail 9 is embedded in the horizontal sliding groove 301 at the top of the sample wheel bracket 3, and the top is provided with a rack 901 that meshes with the gear along the sliding direction.

[0033] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the sample fixing device in this embodiment consists of a clamping arm 501, a washer 502, an adjusting hole 503, a semi-threaded screw 504, a spring bracket 505, a long spring 506, and a short spring 507. The clamping arm 501 is L-shaped to prevent the sample from falling when the sample wheel 4 rotates. The end with the horizontal bar is the free end for clamping the sample, and the fixed end of the other end is fixed to the rim of the sample wheel 4 by the tail end of the semi-threaded screw 504. A spring bracket 505 is also provided on the screw at one end of the nut of the semi-threaded screw 504. A long spring 506 is provided between the spring brackets 505 at the two clamping arms 501, and a short spring 507 is provided between the spring bracket 505 and the nut. The sample wheel 4 in the sample chamber 5 has an elongated adjustment hole 503 along its circumference. The semi-threaded screw 504 is located in the adjustment hole 503 and is used to adjust the distance between the two clamping arms 501 according to the width of the sample. The short spring 507 is located on the semi-threaded screw 504 and is used to adjust the distance between the horizontal end of the two clamping arms 501 and the outer surface of the sample wheel according to the thickness of the sample.

[0034] In this embodiment, the outer edge of the sample wheel 4 is equipped with 20 sample chambers 5. Each sample chamber has two clamping arms 501, and each clamping arm 501 can move left and right, and back and forth. The sample chamber can hold samples with a width of 3 to 10 cm. Washers 502 are installed between the clamping arms 501 and the sample wheel 4 to facilitate the left and right adjustment of the clamping arms 501. The clamping arms 501 are fixed to the sample wheel 4 by two hexagonal head semi-threaded screws. The screws are equipped with springs to adjust the height of the clamping arms. The sample chamber can hold samples with a thickness of 1 to 10 cm. Spring brackets 505 are also installed on the screws. The spring brackets 505 are connected by a long spring 506 so that the clamping arms 501 can clamp the sample. Washers 502 are installed between the spring brackets 505 and the sample wheel 4 to facilitate the left and right adjustment of the clamping arms 501. Anti-slip pads 508 are attached to the inner side of the clamping arms 501 and the sample placement area on the sample wheel 4. On the one hand, it prevents the sample from slipping when the sample wheel 4 rotates; on the other hand, it prevents the clamping arm 501 from scratching the sample.

[0035] Each sample chamber 5 has two clamping arms 501, with a long spring 506 installed between them. The long spring 506 is fixed by a spring bracket 505. Washers 502 are installed between the clamping arms 501 and the front surface of the sample wheel 4, and washers 502 are also installed between the spring bracket 505 and the rear surface of the sample wheel, facilitating adjustment of the clamping arms 501. The clamping arms 501, washers 502, and spring bracket 505 are all fixed to the sample wheel 4 by a long, semi-threaded screw 504. The screw head is hexagonal, and the tail of the screw is fixed to the clamping arm by threads. A short spring 507 is installed between the screw head and the spring bracket. When measuring thicker samples, the clamping arms can be pulled outwards. The sample chamber 5 can hold samples with a maximum thickness of 10 cm.

[0036] The two clamping arms 501 of the sample chamber 5 are adjustable left and right. The sample wheel 4 has adjustment holes 503, which are rectangular in the middle and semi-circular at both ends. When the long spring 506 is in its initial position, the sample chamber 5 can hold a sample with a width of 3 cm. When the tension is at its maximum, the sample chamber 5 can hold a sample with a width of 10 cm. Each clamping arm 501 is fixed to the outer ring of the sample wheel through the two adjustment holes 503.

[0037] The sample wheel rotation is controlled by a control unit. Specifically, after the pulse signal sent by the computer is received by the driver, the stepper motor 6 converts the electrical pulse into angular displacement. The stepper motor 6 drives the sample wheel 4 to rotate via a synchronous pulley and a reducer. The rotation angle is the central angle with the distance between two adjacent sample chambers 5 on the sample wheel 4 as the arc length and the sample wheel axis as the center. The sample chamber 5 perpendicular to the horizontal plane is the initial zero position. The standard plate is installed in the initial zero position sample chamber. After measuring the standard plate, the sample wheel automatically rotates to the first sample position. After measuring the first sample, it rotates to the second sample position, and so on.

[0038] When the measurement begins, the control unit activates the rangefinder installed on the measurement port to measure the sample thickness and calculates the forward displacement of the sample wheel based on the sample thickness.

[0039] like Figures 5-7 As shown, one end of the hydraulic rod 701 is fixed to the base 1, and the other end is fixed to the rotating shaft 8 via a sleeve 703. A bearing 702 is installed between the sleeve 703 and the rotating shaft 8. The stepper motor 6 controls the rotation of the bearing 702. Gears are installed at both ends of the rotating shaft 8, which are connected to the gears on the slide rail 9. The sample wheel bracket 3 has a trapezoidal design, with a wedge-shaped groove 301 on the upper surface of the bracket. The lower part of the slide rail 9 is placed in the wedge-shaped groove 301, and the upper part has a transverse rack 901.

[0040] When the sample wheel 4 rotates, the shaft 8 drives the gear 10 to rotate, causing the rack 901 to slide in the horizontal groove 301 while the slide rail 9 slides in the horizontal groove 301. The sample wheel 4 and the shaft 8 do not produce horizontal displacement relative to the horizontal groove 301.

[0041] When the sample wheel 4 needs to be moved forward, the control unit controls the hydraulic rod 701 to extend, which drives the rotating shaft 8 to move forward through the sleeve 703. At the same time, the gear 10 at the end of the rotating shaft 8 drives the slide rail 9 to slide in the horizontal slide groove 301 through the rack 901, thereby moving the sample wheel 4 forward.

Claims

1. A sample wheel for optical metrological verification, characterized in that, It includes a support mechanism, a rotating mechanism, a translation mechanism, and a control unit; The support mechanism includes a base (1), a sample wheel bracket (3) and a sample wheel (4); the bottom of the sample wheel bracket (3) is fixed on the base (1), and the sample wheel (4) is set above the sample wheel bracket (3) through a rotating shaft (8); multiple sample chambers (5) are provided on the outer edge of the sample wheel (4), and a sample fixing device is provided in the sample chamber (5); The rotating mechanism includes a stepper motor (6), which receives pulse signals sent by the control unit and converts the pulse signals into angular displacement, which drives the sample wheel (4) to rotate through the synchronous wheel, reducer and rotating shaft (8); The translation mechanism includes a hydraulic device (7) and a slide rail (9); the hydraulic rod (701) of the hydraulic device (7) is hinged at one end to the base (1), and the other end is fitted onto the rotating shaft (8) through a sleeve (703), and its extension and retraction are controlled by the control unit to push the sample wheel (4) forward and backward; a bearing (702) is installed between the sleeve (703) and the rotating shaft (8), and gears (10) are installed at both ends of the rotating shaft (8); the bottom of the slide rail (9) is embedded in the horizontal slide groove (301) at the top of the sample wheel bracket (3), and a rack (901) that meshes with the gear (10) is provided at the top along the sliding direction. It also includes a rangefinder set at the measuring port for measuring the sample thickness, and the control unit calculates the displacement of the sample wheel (4) according to the sample thickness; The sample fixing device includes a pair of clamping arms (501). The clamping arms (501) are L-shaped, with one end with a crossbar being the free end for clamping the sample, and the other end being fixed to the rim of the sample wheel (4) by the tail end of a semi-threaded screw (504). A spring bracket (505) is also provided on the screw at one end of the nut of the semi-threaded screw (504). A long spring (506) is provided between the spring brackets (505) at the two clamping arms (501), and a short spring (507) is provided between the spring brackets (505) and the nut.

2. The sample wheel for optical metrology verification according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the clamping arm (501) and the outer surface of the sample wheel (4) between the two clamping arms are provided with anti-slip pads (508).

3. The sample wheel for optical metrology verification according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sample wheel (4) in the sample chamber (5) has a long strip-shaped adjustment hole (503) along the circumference direction. The semi-threaded screw (504) is set in the adjustment hole (503) and is used to adjust the distance between the two clamping arms (501) according to the width of the sample. The short spring (507) is set on the semi-threaded screw (504) and is used to adjust the distance between the cross end of the two clamping arms (501) and the outer surface of the sample wheel according to the thickness of the sample.

4. The sample wheel for optical metrological verification according to claim 3, characterized in that, Both sides of the adjustment hole (503) are provided with washers (502) that are fitted onto the semi-threaded screw (504).

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