Surface Shape Measurement Device with Dynamic Skid Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable surface shape measurement devices can only measure surface roughness and fail to accurately measure shapes such as steps or notches, and undulations, and may damage the sensing pin when attempting to measure these features due to their design limitations.

Innovation Solution

A surface shape measurement device with a detector that includes a stylus and a skid, where the stylus is supported by an urging member to protrude from the skid, allowing for skidless measurement with automatic switching to skidded measurement when encountering large steps or notches, ensuring the sensing pin is protected from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If skidless measurement is used to measure surface shapes other than roughness, then measurement capability is improved, but the sensing pin may be caught by steps or notches and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidsensing pin durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device dynamically switches between skidless measurement mode (for general surface shapes) and skidded measurement mode (for surfaces with steps or notches). The skid is detachably provided to the detector, allowing the measurement mode to be changed based on the surface characteristics being measured, thus preventing sensing pin damage while maintaining measurement versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The skid serves as an intermediary element between the sensing pin and the measurement target surface. When the skid is attached, it acts as a protective mediator that prevents the sensing pin from直接接触ting with steps or notches on the surface, thereby protecting the sensing pin from damage while still enabling measurement of surface shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If portable type measurement device is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision for surface shapes other than roughness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidsurface shape measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The portable measurement device is designed to perform multiple measurement functions by switching between skidless mode (for measuring surface shapes like steps and notches) and skidded mode (for measuring surface roughness). This multi-functionality allows a single portable device to achieve measurement capabilities previously requiring different specialized devices, maintaining both portability and measurement precision across various surface features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables simultaneous measurement of surface roughness and other surface shapes without damaging the sensing pin, providing accurate and cost-effective measurements by switching between skidless and skidded modes as needed.

Implementation Method 1

an urging member configured to urge the stylus toward a first rotation direction which is one of rotation directions of the stylus around the swing fulcrum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a first elastic support member configured to support the detector swingably in the first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic support: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3736527B1Surface shape measurement device
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 TOKYO SEIMITSU CO LTD
  • EP3736527B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3736527B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3736527B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a surface shape measurement device which can simultaneously measure a surface roughness of a measurement target surface and surface shapes other than the surface roughness of the measurement target surface, and prevent a sensing pin from being damaged. The present invention comprises: a detector; a first elastic support member which supports the detector swingably in a first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction; a drive part which moves the first elastic support member along a driving direction which is orthogonal to an axis direction of a swing fulcrum and parallel to the measurement target surface; a detector guide which has a linear shape and guides the detector driven by the drive part via the first elastic support member along the measurement target surface; a guide support member which has one or multiple first contact points in contact with the measurement target surface and supports the detector guide at a position facing a surface of the detector opposite to a surface of the detector facing the measurement target surface; and a detector support member which is provided to the detector and causes the detector guide to support the detector movably along the detector guide.