Abstract: A gauge for checking linear dimensions of mechanical parts (41) comprises a support casing (4) substantially arranged along a longitudinal direction, and housing a transducer unit (5). The transducer unit (5) includes an axially movable rod (12). A ball-shaped element (23), moveable depending on the dimension of the mechanical part, is fixed at an end of an elongate element (22), having a second end coupled to the moveable rod (12) and a flexible cylindrical section (30). An abutment member (25) defines an inclined surface portion (26), having a Vee cross-section, for housing and guiding the ball shaped element (23).

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting elongated mechanical pieces, in particular connecting rods (B), comprising supporting bars (15, 15') for supporting the larger ends (T) of the connecting rods (B), the latter being arranged side by side along a longitudinal feed direction, and a displacement means (20-38) for the step by step feed of the connecting rods (B). In order to prevent undesired displacements that could cause the pieces (B) to fall from the supporting bars (15, 15'), the latter have sawtooth profile resting surfaces (16, 16') for constraining the position of the big ends (T) of the connecting rods (B) on the bars (15, 15'). Lateral displacements of the connecting rods (B) are prevented by a Vee guide surface for the resting of the small ends (P) of the connecting rods (B).

Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a rotating body, in particular the grinding wheel of a grinding machine, comprises an assembly secured to the grinding wheel and rotating with it, with masses having an adjustable arrangement, electrical motors for controlling adjusting movements of the masses, and electrical circuits with a microprocessor unit. A transceiver terminal between a control unit and the rotating assembly provides a first contactless transmission channel for inductively coupling a fixed power source to the rotating parts, and a second contactless transmission channel for transmitting information in both directions. The second transmission channel may comprise optoelectronic devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking the outer surface of conical parts is presented. The apparatus comprises two substantially cylindrical feeding rollers adapted to support a plurality of the parts arranged in a row. The feeding rollers define convergent geometrical axes about which the rollers rotate in the same direction and have external surfaces made of materials with a different coefficient of friction. The rotation of the feeding rollers causes the parts to rotate about their own geometrical axes and the row of parts to perform a continuous advance motion. The parts are dynamically checked by a non-contacting probe arranged substantially in correspondence with a determined cross-section of the feeding rollers. The distance of the probe from the surface of the parts passing through the cross-section has a value lying within a determined range.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking the surface condition of rollers for bearings, in particular barrel rollers, in which the pieces are conveyed and lined up in a row towards a checking station. In order to ensure the correct positioning of each piece during the checking operations, a compression force is applied to a section of the row, and in particular a thrust and a resisting action are applied at the ends of the section, urging the pieces of the section against one another in the course of their translation along a feed direction. Checking operations, for example through eddy current rotating heads, are carried out on pieces of the section.

Abstract: A probe comprises a support casing, a movable arm-set with an arm carrying a feeler and a detection device providing a signal further to contact occurring between the feeler and the workpiece. In order to enable the feeler to perform translation displacements along a longitudinal geometrical axis and rotations about transversal axes, the matching between the support casing and the arm-set is obtained by means of a cone-shaped surface, a spherical surface and a spring urging these surfaces into contact. An annular reference surface of the movable arm-set enters into contact with an annular plane surface of the support casing when a first eccentricity value of the feeler, with respect to the longitudinal geometrical axis, is reached, and when a second eccentricity value is reached the signal of the detection takes a determined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic and simultaneous checking of holes comprises plug gauge devices (11-16) with gauging heads (70, 71) and elements for coupling to a support. The coupling elements are substantially constituted by parallel shafts (29-32) displacing the gauging heads (70, 71) from a rest position to a measurement position, and vice versa, through rotational displacements automatically controlled by relevant actuation devices (60-65). The angular position of the shafts is detected by transducers (52-55), which are connected to a processing unit (58) also receiving the signals of the gauging heads (70, 71). The plug gauge devices comprise further heads (86-89) coupled to rotatable rods (82, 83) for simultaneously gauging diametral dimensions of a hole (10) communicating with the other holes (4-9) and transversal to them. The apparatus is particularly adapted for checking the holes of a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for checking dimensions of parts foresees the use of a gauging head (2) with at least a movable feeler (14) that contacts the surface (6) of the part (4) to be checked and a transducer (20) that provides a signal responsive to the position of the feeler (14). The checking, that is performed dynamically in correspondence with one or more checking locations, involves mutual movements between the head (2) and the part (4) and a sliding between the movable feeler (14) and the surface (6).In order to eliminate malfunctions introduced by frictional forces arising during the sliding, the method includes performing two scanning motions in correspondence with each checking location, according to two opposite directions, detecting values of the signal of the transducer (20) for each scanning motion, and averaging the detected values to obtain a value representative of the dimension to be checked, or of its deviation from a nominal value.

Abstract: Device comprising a support (21-23) with a seat (27, 27') housing a measuring cell (24, 24') having a feeler (6, 6') adapted to contact the part to be checked and with a strain gauge transducer (12-17) for detecting the feeler position. In order to obtain a device with very small overall dimensions and high accuracy and repeatability, the measuring cell (24, 24') comprises an integral element (1) having a support portion (2) fixed in the seat (27, 27'), a free portion (4, 4') carrying the feeler (6, 6') and an intermediate resiliently deformable portion (3, 3'), whereto there is fixed a strain gauge (13) of the transducer (12-17).

Abstract: Checking apparatus comprising a support (1); sensing means (19; 71) adapted to provide signals depending on the features of the checked parts (3) with reference means (41, 42; 70) adapted to cooperate with the parts; and connection means (30; 66; 93) with resiliently deformable portions (34, 35; 69, 69' . . . ; 94, 94', . . . ) for connecting the sensing means to the support and enabling the reference means to properly cooperate with the parts through substantially rotary displacements about parallel geometric axes. In order to diminish the influence of plays and frictions and enable checkings--possibly combined checkings--featuring high accuracy and repeatability, the connection means comprise an element (30; 66; 93) having two legs (31, 33; 67, 68; 93), the element being substantially rigid, apart from a plurality of integral zones having reduced thickness, that define said resiliently deformable portions.

Abstract: A reference master part for linear dimensions and/or geometrical and/or shape features of determined workpieces (30) comprises precision-machined surfaces having mutual spatial arrangements such as to provide known references for said dimensions, etc. For simplifying the manufacturing processes and reducing the costs, the master part is made of a support body (1; 31) of ordinary material, reference elements (7, 8; 41-46, 50, 51, 54-57, 63, 64, 70, 71), of special material for master parts, fixed in corresponding seats (4; 33-38, 58-60) of the support body, and supporting and guiding elements (63, 64, 70, 71), made of special material, fixed to the support body. During the master part manufacturing, the reference elements are adjusted and then fixed in the relevant seats.

Abstract: The geometrical features of a part (6) having center seats are electronically checked by processing signals of gauging heads (14-17) that relate to linear dimensions of the part together with signals of other gauging heads (30, 31) adapted to define a reference geometrical axis. In order to obtain checkings of high accuracy, the reference geometrical axis is defined by means of two gauging heads (30, 31), each of which has a feeler (67, 72) movable along the three directions that is adapted to cooperate with a respective center seat.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking features of workpieces with rotational symmetry defining a geometrical axis, which includes a base, rest devices fixed to the base for supporting the workpiece with the geometrical axis horizontally arranged, and a support structure coupled to the base for rotation about a horizontal axis. A counterweight and sensor are coupled to the support structure and movable with the support structure from a rest position, allowing loading of the workpiece to be checked onto the rest devices to a working position where the sensor is brought into cooperation with the workpiece. The axis of rotation of the support structure is arranged below the axis of the workpiece, in correspondence to a vertical geometrical plane passing through the workpiece geometric axis when the workpiece is positioned on the rest devices.

Abstract: Device comprising a support (50) with a seat (51) housing a measuring cell (53) with a movable armset (54) having a feeler (61) adapted to contact the part to be checked. In order to reduce the overall dimensions of the device, while guaranteeing the seat sealing and the stiffness of the movable armset, the seat (51) is closed by a metal lamina (62) coupled to the support (50) and a resilient seal (64) coupled to the metal lamina (62) and the feeler (61).

Abstract: An apparatus for checking linear dimensions and other features of workpieces (42) comprises a support structure (2) carrying reference and support devices (40) adapted for supporting the workpiece to be checked (42). A linear support frame (210) carrying measuring heads (230) is connected to the support structure (2) through a coupling device (88) directly coupled to the support frame (210), substantially in a single limited zone for preventing deformations of the support frame (210).

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a frame (1) and two slides (3, 7, 42; 4, 8, 42'), parallel and arranged side by side, each of which operated by a relevant motor (36, 36'). Coupled to each slide are a linear transducer (72; 72'), that detects the slide position, and a measuring head (15; 16) with a movable arm (18; 19) having a feeler (20; 21) adapted to contact the part (17). For making an apparatus featuring high accuracy and repeatability, but limited overall dimensions, and being adapted for checkings during machining, each slide comprises a linear guide rod (3; 4), movable with respect to the frame (1); a first support structure (7; 8) secured to the rod (3; 4) and arranged at a side of it for supporting the measuring head (15; 16); and a second support structure (42; 42') secured to the rod (3; 4).

Abstract: A frame for supporting operative means includes two first, parallel metal beams arranged side by side and having the ends coupled to two second, parallel metal beams arranged perpendicularly to the first beams. In order to provide a rigid frame structure easy to manufacture depending on the features of the relevant apparatus and permitting quick coupling of the operative means in desired positions, the first beams are arranged to define a through slot for the passage of coupling elements coupling the operative means to the frame and for providing a guide for positioning the operative means in desired positions with respect to the frame. The second beams are welded at relevant ends of the first beams. The invention can also be applied for manufacturing frames including two pairs of parallel bars defining two guides, in particular frames of gauges for checking linear dimensions of parts.

Abstract: Gauge for checking linear dimensions of mechanical pieces comprising a support, two arms movable with respect to the support, two feelers respectively fixed to the arms for contacting the piece to be checked and a position transducer having two mutually movable elements respectively fixed to the movable arms. At least one of the two elements of the transducer is fixed to the relevant movable arm by screw, nut-screw coupling and between the screw and the nut-screw there is arranged a thread insert, having at least one polygonal coil, which permits adjustment of the mutual position of the elements of the transducer, while assuring a stable adjustment.

Abstract: Probe for use in apparatus for checking linear dimensions of mechanical pieces including a support, an arm-set carried by the support and having a movable arm carying a feeler for contacting the piece to be checked, and a protective diaphragm coupled to the support and the movable arm; the protective diaphragm includes a cloth core and a rubber coating.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking diametral dimensions comprises a resilient protection element, with a substantially tubular shape, for protecting an internal arm-set by preventing any foreign matter, like chips, from entering inside. In order to obtain a protection element that occupies little space and is particularly resistant to wear, blows, chemical etching etc., the element, substantially cylindrical, is made of a lamina of metal--preferably steel for springs, or nickel, or chromium--, or other materials with similar characteristics. Two feelers are placed at diametrically opposite points of the cylindrical element and as a consequence of the lamina flexions move in a diametral direction. The displacement of the feelers is transmitted to a position transducer. The invention mainly applies to plug gauges used in transfer lines for checking small diameter holes.