The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 30, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2000
Mitutoyo Corporation, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A slider holding a measuring tool moves along an approximately reverse U-shaped guide rail provided in parallel with a moving direction of the measuring tool without being rotated. Accordingly, a cross section of the guide rail can be enlarged without increasing the size of the entirety of a drive unit. As a result, high rigidity can be obtained while reducing the size and weight of the drive unit as compared to a conventional arrangement having two shafts. Further, linearity of the slider and the measuring tool moving along a reference surface of the guide rail can be attained with high accuracy. Further, since a pre-load means for biasing the slider toward a guide rail is provided, a position or orientation of the slider and the measuring tool can be stabilized, thus securely repeating movement of the measuring tool.