Measuring Tool Feeding Mechanism With Separate Feed Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional measuring tools with a rack and pinion feeding mechanism face difficulties in assembling adjustments due to challenging positioning of the rack and pinion, leading to time-consuming and labor-intensive processes, and suffer from poor operability during forward and reverse feed operations due to varying biasing forces affecting the feed roller's movement.
Innovation Solution
A measuring tool design featuring a U-shaped body frame with a feeding mechanism that includes separate forward and reverse feed rollers, each biased by a spring mechanism, allowing for consistent biasing force direction regardless of feed direction, ensuring smooth movement and improved operability by using a power transmitter to connect the outer roller to these rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rack and pinion feeding mechanism is used, then the spindle can be moved with a specific measuring force and locked when the user releases it, but the assembling adjustment becomes time-consuming and labor-consuming due to difficult positioning of the rack and pinion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the feed roller from the traditional rack and pinion mechanism, creating a standalone rolling contact system. The feed roller directly contacts the spindle and is biased by a spring, eliminating the need for precise rack-pinion positioning and backlash adjustment while maintaining the ability to move and lock the spindle.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roller acts as an intermediary between the outer roller and the spindle. Instead of directly meshing gears (rack and pinion), the system uses the feed roller to transmit motion through rolling contact, simplified by the spring bias that maintains consistent contact pressure without requiring precise positioning.
2Device complexity
If a common feed roller is used for both forward and reverse feed, then the structure is simplified, but the biasing force varies during operation causing poor operability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single feed roller into two separate rollers: a forward feed roller for forward motion and a reverse feed roller for reverse motion. Each roller is independently biased by its own spring, ensuring consistent biasing force in each direction and eliminating the operability issues caused by varying forces in a single-roller system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry by providing different feed rollers for forward and reverse directions, each optimized for its specific direction of operation. This asymmetric design allows each roller to maintain optimal contact and biasing force for its designated direction, improving overall operability despite increased component count.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables smooth forward and reverse movement of the movable member with consistent biasing force, facilitating easy operation and preventing idle running, thus enhancing the tool's usability and precision in measuring workpiece dimensions or profiles.
Implementation Method 1
a spring mechanism, allowing for consistent biasing force direction regardless of feed direction
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring tool has a slider (3) supported to a body frame (1) and a feeding mechanism (4) for moving the slider in axial direction. The feeding mechanism includes: an outer roller (41) rotatably supported to the body frame (1); a forward feed roller (42) disposed between the outer roller (41) and the slider (3) at a position closer to a forward side of the slider (3) relative to the outer roller (41); a reverse feed roller (43) disposed at a position on a reverse side; a roller holder (45) supporting these feed rollers to allow them to move along the circumference around the axis of the outer roller; a first leaf spring (44) that biases these feed rollers toward the slider side; and a power transmitter (46) connecting the outer roller (41) to these feed rollers to transmit the rotation of the outer roller to the feed rollers.