Mounting mechanism for bubble level on balance

Abstract

Provided is a mechanism for attaching a bubble-type level to a balance, wherein the inclination of the level can be readjusted after attachment, and even when the balance is subjected to an impact or vibration after said adjustment, a larger perpendicular displacement of one portion of the level compared to other portions can be suppressed, thereby maintaining a level state. A level (11) having an air bubble chamber, which is formed by a container (14) in which a liquid is sealed together with an air bubble, is supported so as to be capable of tilting in every direction via a ring-shaped disc spring (41) on a convex supporting portion (33) of a securing base (31) provided in a balance, and is attached thereto in an inclination-adjustable manner by means of a plurality of male screws (42a) that are capable of being displaced in an axial direction in accordance with the rotation direction and rotation amount for adjustment of the inclination of the level (11).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting mechanism for mounting a bubble level (hereinafter simply referred to as a "level") on a balance. [Background technology]

[0002] A balance, which is a weighing device, detects the product of mass and gravity as a force when the direction of gravitational acceleration is constant, and detects mass based on the assumption that the same gravity acting on the reference weight is applied to the object being weighed, based on the mass of the reference weight. Therefore, to ensure accurate measurements, when installing a balance, it is necessary to perform level adjustment to align the gravity vector.

[0003] This level adjustment is performed, for example, by adjusting the height of an appropriate one of multiple feet provided on a case that houses the balance's mass sensor, by rotating a rotating body linked to the foot in a predetermined direction to raise or lower the foot.The rotation of the rotating body in a predetermined direction is performed while checking the deviation from the horizontal state indicated by a spirit level provided on the balance's case.For this reason, if the spirit level is not attached horizontally to the case, the balance cannot be installed horizontally.

[0004] Conventionally, spirit levels have generally been fixed to the balance case directly or indirectly via some other member in a horizontal position using adhesive or plaster, but once fixed, the horizontal position cannot be readjusted, which has the inconvenience of making it impossible to respond when the horizontal position needs to be readjusted.

[0005] To overcome this drawback, a mounting structure for a spirit level on a crane truck has been proposed, in which a base plate is supported on a convex support member of a mounting member so as to be swingable in all directions, the spirit level is fixed to the base plate, and the spirit level is fixed to the mounting member together with the base plate with three mounting bolts spaced equally apart so that the inclination angle is adjustable (Patent Document 1). Another proposed mechanism for mounting a level vial to an open-topped housing fixed to a box-shaped main body involves fixing two nuts to the bottom of the housing, placing coil springs corresponding to the nuts, and pressing a vial with screw holes onto the coil springs, inserting screws through the screw holes and threading the tips of the screws into the nuts, and then turning the screws to adjust the level of the vial (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-178415 [Patent Document 2] Registered Utility Model No. 3049294 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The level adjustment mechanism of Patent Document 1 has the disadvantage that when shocks or vibrations are applied to the level after adjustment due to the vibration of a crane truck, especially vertical shocks and vibrations, the shocks and vibrations are directly transmitted to the level, causing a portion of the level to displace more vertically than the other portions, thereby changing the horizontal state of the level. Furthermore, Patent Document 1 describes a mounting structure for a level on a crane truck, and even when applied to a balance, which requires high precision, it is difficult to achieve the desired effect. Next, the level adjustment mechanism of Patent Document 2 uses two coil springs to absorb vertical shocks and vibrations applied to the level after adjustment. However, it is difficult to obtain two coil springs with exactly the same spring force. Therefore, the spring forces of the coil springs differ from the beginning, and the spring forces of each coil spring also differ depending on the amount of tightening of the screws during adjustment. This results in variations in the absorption capacity of each coil spring against vertical shocks and vibrations. This causes a portion of the level to displace more vertically than the other portions, changing the horizontal state of the level.

[0008] The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has as its object to provide an attachment mechanism for a balance that allows a level to be attached to a balance, adjusts the level once, and then allows readjustment, and that, even if shock or vibration is applied to the balance or level after level adjustment, absorbs shock or vibration, particularly in the vertical direction, to prevent one part of the level from displacing more vertically than the other parts, thereby maintaining the level state of the level. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the mounting mechanism for the level in the balance of the present invention comprises a level having an air bubble chamber in which air bubbles are sealed together with a liquid, a fixed base having a convex support portion and attached to the balance, a ring-shaped elastic body supported by the convex support portion, and a rotating member that can be displaced in the axial direction depending on the direction and amount of rotation to adjust the inclination of the level, and the level is supported on the fixed base via the elastic body so that it can be tilted in all directions, and is attached at multiple locations, preferably 3 to 5 locations, so that the inclination can be adjusted by the rotating member.

[0010] The level can be readjusted to a horizontal position by rotating a desired one of the rotating members arranged in a desired direction by a desired amount, and even if the balance or level is subjected to impact or vibration after level adjustment, the ring-shaped elastic body absorbs the impact or vibration, particularly in the vertical direction, to prevent one part of the level from displacing more vertically than the other parts, thereby maintaining the horizontal state of the level. Furthermore, although horizontal impact or vibration applied to the balance or level has little effect on maintaining the horizontal state of the level, because the ring-shaped elastic body is supported by a convex support portion, horizontal displacement of the ring-shaped elastic body is also suppressed by the convex support portion.

[0011] It is also preferable to form the convex surface of the convex support part into a spherical shape, and to construct the ring-shaped elastic body from a disc spring, which is joined to the spherical surface of the convex support part on the inner periphery of one side, and to be joined to the bottom surface of the spirit level on the outer periphery of the other side.

[0012] According to this configuration, the level is supported by a single disc spring, so that the support state of the level is more stable and shocks and vibrations are absorbed reliably and without variation.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferable that the level is formed with a flange, and the rotary member is configured with a plurality of screws, preferably 3 to 5 screws, provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the flange.

[0014] With this configuration, the horizontal adjustment of the level can be performed by rotating an appropriate screw selected from among the multiple screws depending on the tilt state of the level, so that the adjustment can be performed easily and reliably. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, by attaching a spirit level to a balance, it is possible to adjust the level again even after it has been adjusted to be horizontal once, and even if the balance or spirit level is subjected to impact or vibration after being adjusted to be horizontal, it is possible to prevent a part of the spirit level from being displaced vertically and maintain the horizontal state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a balance to which the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the same container box with a portion cut away to omit the internal mechanism. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state in which the spirit level is attached to the fixed base. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing the spirit level attached to the fixed base with the cover plate removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the overall configuration of a balance to which the present invention is applied will be described.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the balance 1 has a case 2 that is open at the top and has a roughly rectangular planar shape, a weighing pan 3 that covers the top of the case 2, a storage box 4 that is fixed to one side of the case 2 and is integrated with the case 2, a pipe-shaped support arm 5 that extends parallel to one side of the case 2 and is swingably supported by a bent end portion on one end of the storage box 4, and a display control unit storage box 6 that is rotatably supported by a bent end portion on the other end of the support arm 5.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the case 2 is mounted on a surface such as a floor using feet 7a and 7b (only two are shown) provided at the four corners of the bottom surface. The amount of protrusion of each foot 7a and 7b from the bottom surface of the case 2 can be adjusted by rotating rotors 8a and 8b in a predetermined direction, allowing the case 2 to be leveled. The storage box 4 and the display control unit storage box 6 are located above and separate from the installation surface, without contacting the installation surface. The case 2 houses a mass sensor (not shown), such as an electromagnetic balance type or a load cell type, and the weighing pan 3, on which the object to be weighed is placed, is connected to the mass sensor. The case 2 also houses a calculation unit that calculates the mass based on data sent from the mass sensor.

[0020] Although not shown, the storage box 4 accommodates a rotation mechanism that rotates relative to the storage box 4 in order to swing the support arm 5. The support arm 5 can be swung within a range of 90 degrees from the horizontal state shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the vertical state, and this swing is performed manually. Although not shown, when the support arm 5 is in the vertical state, the display control unit storage box 6 is located at the top. Also, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the storage box 4 is provided with an earth connection part 9 for connecting an earth wire, a fixed handle 10 for preventing the operation of the rotation mechanism and fixing the support arm 5, and a round spirit level 11 for checking the horizontal state of the case 2 that is integrated with the storage box 4.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the level 11 is attached to the bottom of a cylindrical fixed base 31 that is integral with the storage box 4. The peripheral wall of the fixed base 31 is thick at the top, and this thick portion is integrated with the storage box 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the level 11 seals liquid and air bubbles (neither of which is shown) in a container 14 that forms an air bubble chamber 18 and to which a transparent lid 13 with a center circle 12 is fixed. The level 11 indicates the direction and amount of inclination of the case 2, which is integrated with the storage box 4, relative to the horizontal state based on the position of the air bubble moving in the liquid. When the air bubble on the level 11 corresponds to the center circle 12, it indicates that the case 2, i.e., the balance 1, is in a horizontal state. As shown in FIG. 1, the center circle 12 can be seen through a transparent lid plate 32 that is detachably attached to the fixed base 31.

[0022] 1, a display unit 21 is provided on the top surface of the display control unit housing box 6, and the top surface of this display unit 21 is provided with a display panel 22 equipped with an LCD that displays the mass of the object to be weighed on the weighing pan 3 and seven operation buttons 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f, and 23g for inputting various operations. A connection terminal 24 for connecting an external device such as a personal computer is provided on the side of the display control unit housing box 6. The display control unit housing box 6 also houses, although not shown, a display control unit that controls the LCD display of the display panel 22, an external signal output unit that outputs appropriate output signals to the outside, a rotation mechanism that rotates the support arm 5 relative to the display control unit housing box 6, and the like.

[0023] In addition, the calculation unit in the case 2 and the display control unit in the display control unit storage box 6 are electrically connected by wiring that passes through the storage box 4 and the support arm 5, and in response to the signal output from the calculation unit, the display control unit outputs a control signal to the display panel 22, and the mass of the object to be weighed on the weighing pan 3 is displayed on the display panel 22.

[0024] Next, the mechanism for attaching the level 11 to the fixed base 31 will be described. As can be best seen in FIG. 3, a convex support portion 33 having a spherical convex surface is formed on the inner bottom surface of the fixed base 31. A disc spring 41, which is a ring-shaped elastic body, is supported on this convex support portion 33 by joining the inner periphery of one surface in the thickness direction to the spherical surface of the convex support portion 33. The other surface in the thickness direction of the disc spring 41 is joined at its outer periphery to the outer surface of the container bottom 15 of the level 11. As a result, the level 11 is supported on the convex support portion 33 via the disc spring 41 so as to be tiltable in all directions. The fixed base 31, the disc spring 41, and the container 14 of the level 11 are arranged so that their respective axes X coincide.

[0025] 3 and 4, the container bottom 15 has a flange 16 that is approximately triangular in plan view, and this flange 16 is provided with three insertion holes 17 (only one of which is shown) that are equally spaced around the circumference. Male screws 42a, 42b, and 42c, which serve as rotating members, are inserted into each insertion hole 17, and the tip of each male screw 42a, 42b, and 42c is threadedly engaged with a female screw hole 34 (only one of which is shown) formed in three cylindrical protrusions 35a and 35b (only two of which are shown) provided on the bottom of the fixed base 31. In this way, the level 11 is attached to the fixed base 31 so that the inclination in a predetermined direction can be adjusted by selecting one of the three male screws 42a, 42b, and 42c and rotating it in a predetermined direction. That is, when the selected male screw 42a, 42b, 42c is rotated clockwise, the side of the level 11 that is the same as the male screw 42a, 42b, 42c descends around the axis X, and when the selected male screw 42a, 42b, 42c is rotated counterclockwise, the side of the level 11 that is the same as the male screw 42 ascends around the axis X.

[0026] Next, we will explain how to readjust the level of the spirit level 11. First, place the balance 1 on a previously confirmed, level installation surface. If the level of the spirit level 11 is maintained, the air bubble will be positioned corresponding to the center circle 12. However, if the level is not maintained, the air bubble will be positioned away from the center circle 12. Remove the cover 32 of the fixed base 31 to return to the state shown in Figure 4. Select the male screws 42a, 42b, or 42c depending on the direction in which the air bubble is off the center circle 12, and rotate the screw clockwise or counterclockwise a predetermined amount depending on the distance of the deviation to move the bubble. Repeat this operation as necessary to move the air bubble back to the center circle 12. When the air bubble is positioned corresponding to the center circle 12, the spirit level 11 is in a horizontal state.

[0027] In this horizontal state of the spirit level 11, as described above, the axes X of the fixed base 31, the disc spring 41, and the container 14 of the spirit level 11 are aligned, so the spirit level 11 is stably supported by the convex support portion 33 of the fixed base 31 via the disc spring 41. Even if an impact is applied to the balance 1, the disc spring 41 absorbs the applied vertical force, thereby preventing a portion of the spirit level 11 from being displaced in the vertical direction, and the horizontality of the spirit level 11 is maintained.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the fixed base 31 may be provided separately from the storage box 4 rather than integrally with it. Furthermore, the fixed base 31 may be provided directly on the case 2, either integrally or separately, by extending horizontally from the side of the case 2. If the display unit 21 is provided integrally with the case 2, the fixed base 31 may be provided integrally or separately from the display unit 21. Furthermore, the ring-shaped elastic body may be a coil spring or elastic rubber in addition to the disc spring 41. Furthermore, the rotating members are not limited to the male screws 42a, 42b, and 42c, and the number of male screws is not limited to three. Furthermore, the balance 1 to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above-described configuration, and can be applied to balances with various configurations, such as those equipped with a windshield. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1 balance 2 cases 3 weighing pan 4 Storage Box 5 Support Arm 6 Display control unit housing box 7a,7b Footwork 11 Level 12 Center Circle 13 Lid 14 Container 15 Bottom of container 16 Tsuba section 17 Insertion hole 18 Bubble chamber 21 Display section 22 Display panel 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f, 23g Operation buttons 31 Fixed base 32 Lid plate 33 Convex support part 34 female screw hole 35a, 35b Cylindrical convex portion 41 Disc spring 42a, 42b, 42c male thread

Claims

1. A mounting mechanism for mounting a bubble level on a balance so that the level can be adjusted, comprising: a bubble level having an air bubble chamber in which air bubbles are sealed together with a liquid; a fixed base having a convex support portion; a ring-shaped elastic body supported by the convex support portion; a rotating member that is displaceable in an axial direction according to a rotation direction and a rotation amount for adjusting the inclination of the bubble level; Equipped with The bubble level is supported on the fixed base via the elastic body so as to be tiltable in all directions, and is attached at a plurality of points by the rotating members so that the tilt can be adjusted. Mounting mechanism for attaching to a balance.

2. The convex support portion has a spherical convex surface, The elastic body is a disc spring, and the disc spring is joined to the spherical surface of the convex support part on the inner circumferential side of one side, and is joined to the bottom surface of the bubble level on the outer circumferential side of the other side.

2. A mounting mechanism for mounting on a balance according to claim 1.

3. The bubble level has a flange, and the rotating member is a plurality of screws provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the flange.

3. A mounting mechanism for mounting on the balance according to claim 1 or 2.

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