Mitutoyo Corporation

Shunsaku Tachibana

Kenji Okabe

Seiji Shimokawa

Sadayuki Matsumiya

Yukiji Yoda

An illuminating apparatus for image processing type measuring machines that is capable of coping with a wide diversity of objects to be measured to enable accurate imaging the object and rarely unable to meet any space restrictions is provided. This illuminating apparatus the light to the object to be measured so as to enable determination of the size and shape of the object on the basis of an image of the same thereby obtained, and includes light sources; a plurality of optical fibers receiving the light sent out from the light sources at one of their ends, outputting the light from their output ends toward the object and divided at their incident ends into at least three groups; and, red, green and blue color filters inserted between the incident ends of the optical fiber groups and the light sources.

Illuminating apparatus for image processing type measuring machines

Illumination angle adjuster ( ) for condensing illumination light from a light generator ( ) toward a workpiece ( ) includes a simple-structured optical member of condenser lens ( ). With the simple arrangement, illumination angle of the illumination light to the workpiece ( ) can be easily changed by moving the condenser lens ( ) along an optical axis of an optical system ( ).

Illuminator for optical measuring instrument

In an auto-focus apparatus having an object lens 14 which condenses light on an object surface to be measured, a CCD camera 24 observing the object's image based on emitting light from the object lens 14, and an actuator 15 which displaces the object lens 14 along the optical axis based on the contrast of the object image obtained with the CCD camera 24, the auto-focus apparatus includes an illuminator 25, a projection lens 21 and a liquid crystal panel 22 on which a designated pattern is displayed and further includes a pattern projection means 20 which projects the designated pattern on the object surface to be measured.

Auto-focus device

In an optical gauge according to the invention, a mirror holder ring 21 is fitted to the outer periphery of the objective lens 12 and an light path bending mirror 22 is rotatably secured at the upper end thereof to the mirror holder ring 21. With such an arrangement, the light downwardly emitted from an optical system 3 irradiates the top plane of an object of measurement when the light path bending mirror 22 is held in parallel with the optical axis of the optical system 3. On the other hand, the light emitted from the optical system 3 is rectangularly turned to irradiate a lateral plane of the object of measurement when the light path bending mirror 22 is turned around its upper end to a position where it is inclined by 45.degree. relative to the optical axis of the optical system 3. Thus, an optical gauge according to the invention can observe one or more than one lateral sides of the object of measurement for dimensional measurement without modifying its attitude.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Shunsaku Tachibana