Abstract: The detection unit includes a first contact member, which comes into contact with a first surface of a recording material and a second contact member, which comes into contact with a second surface of the recording material, the first contact member and the second contact member being disposed so as to oppose each other thus being capable of nipping the recording material, and the first contact member and the second contact member are movable in a direction in which the first contact member and the second contact member nip the recording material, and is rotatable about an axis line extending in a predetermined direction, the predetermined direction being orthogonal to the direction in which the first contact member and the second contact member are movable and being orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording material.

Abstract: Provided is a feeler for workpieces being machined, including a rocking arm configured to feel the workpiece, a first sensor configured to measure the position of the rocking arm and at least one additional sensor operatively connected to the rocking arm and configured to detect external perturbations acting on the feeler.

Abstract: A sensor positioning device includes an inter-sensor distance measurement jig that measures a distance between two sensors, and is a reference when setting the distance between the two sensors to a target distance, and reference-setting jigs of sensor height position, each including a weight and a weight suspension member, a lengthwise direction of which is in a vertical direction when the weight is suspended, and each performing setting of a distance which is a total of a vertical direction dimension of the weight, a length of the weight suspension member, and a distance from an upper end of the weight suspension member to the sensor such that the distance coincides with a target height of the sensor, when the weight is in contact with a reference surface, in a state where the weight is attached to a sensor holding jig by the weight suspension member.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device, in particular a toothbrush, has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement with respect to the handle against a spring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising an electrically powered coil, a coil core element, and a control circuit for determining a parameter indicative of the inductance of the coil, wherein the coil core element is arranged to be moved with respect to the coil when the treatment head is moved.

Abstract: A device for determining a thickness or thickness variation of a flat object (5), in particular of a voucher, is proposed, having at least one first guide element (1), and having a plurality of second guide elements (2) arranged next to each other in a row and opposite the first guide element (1), wherein the flat object (5) can be transported between the first guide element (1) on the one side and the second guide element (2) on the other side, and having a displaceable arrangement of the second guide elements (2) relative to the first guide element (1) in order to bring about a displacement of one or more of the second guide elements (2) in the event of a thickness variation of the flat object (5) passing between the guide elements (1, 2), and having several coils (10, 11) fixed in location, wherein each second guide element is associated with at least one coil (2), and having at least one coil core (9) rigidly connected to a second guide element (2) and displaceably guided in the coil associated with the s

Abstract: The device claimed by the invention is characterized essentially in that during the transport of a flat object, in particular, a banknote, through guide elements the deflection of one or two second guide elements from a first guide element is detected via an electrically conductive element by one or more flat air core coils. In the process a magnetic alternating field is generated which is influenced by a change of position of the electrically conductive element. The alternating field causes eddy currents in the electrically conductive element. These eddy currents in turn influence the alternating field. When the flat coils are each a part of an LC oscillating circuit, for example, the resonance frequency and the attenuation of this oscillating circuit are influenced. At a constant excitation frequency the amplitude of the oscillations varies.

Abstract: A low-cost sheet thickness detection device has high sheet follow-up capability, has no influence on the conveyance of a sheet of paper, receives no influence of vibration and the like when mounted in a central position of the sheet in the width direction thereof, and allows complicated operations to be avoided when the conveying path is to be opened, and provides a sheet conveying device and an image forming apparatus. The sheet thickness detection device is provided in a sheet conveying path formed by a pair of conveyance guides opposite to each other to detect the thickness of a sheet conveyed in the sheet conveying path. It includes a pair of levers which are mounted on the pair of conveyance guides, respectively, and each of which is swingably pivoted at one end thereof to allow opening and closing motions of another end thereof about the end serving as a base point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining dimensions for threaded fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes an apparatus that determines a dimension of a fastener using a probe that senses a linear displacement of the fastener. A probe tip is rotatably disposed on the probe that contacts the fastener. A controller is coupled to the apparatus for receiving the dimensional characteristic. In another embodiment, a measurement apparatus includes a rotating spindle that supports the fastener and a probe that detects a dimension and having a portion that rotatably engages the fastener. A scale is coupled to the probe to determine a displacement. In another embodiment, a method includes positioning a fastener in a spindle that rotates the fastener, engaging the fastener with a probe to sense a dimension of the fastener, the probe having a terminal portion that rotatably conforms to the fastener, and processing the dimension.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an analogue probe (10) having a stylus (12) with a workpiece-contacting tip (14) or a non-contact probe (26). A calibration artefact such as a calibration sphere (16) is mounted on a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) (18). The probe (10,26) is mounted on an arm (8) of the CMM and the probe is moved along a path whilst continually scanning the surface of the calibration artefact such that the probe is exercised throughout its working range. For an analogue probe (10) having a workpiece-contacting stylus (12), the path is such that the deflection of the stylus varies along the path. For a non-contact probe (26) the path is such that there is variation of the radial distance between the path and the calibration artefact. The probe path may comprise a path parallel to a chord of the calibration sphere or a curved, e.g. a sinusoidal, path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device, which allows the thickness of an elongated, panel-type workpiece, lying on a reference plane and traveling along the reference plane, to be continuously recorded. The measuring device is provided with a guide shoe, which is bath-shaped and open at the top and is pivotally mounted in a machine frame on parallelogram-shaped steering elements. A measuring roller, which projects slightly out of a cavity in a base section that runs parallel to the reference plane, is located inside the guide shoe. The measuring roller is supported in the interior of the guide shoe by rollers on both sides of the recess. The measuring roller is in contact with the reference plane and after a deflection of the guide shoe, comes into contact with the measuring surface of the workpiece, a measured value that represents the thickness being derived from the deflection.

Abstract: A sensor measurement of an article having an article surface shape is performed using a hand-held senor probe having a probe housing, a sensor support rotatably mounted in the probe housing and having an orienting structure defined thereon. The orienting structure is preferably an orienting face with substantially the article surface shape. A sensor, such as a eddy current sensor, is affixed to the sensor support and is operable through the orienting face of the sensor support. The orienting face of the sensor support is pressed against the article surface to orient the sensor support and thence the sensor relative to the article surface, and the sensor measurement is performed. The sensor is preferably a ball having the orienting face thereon, and mounted to the probe housing in a ball-and-socket relationship.

Abstract: A caliper for measuring the thickness of collated printed products and which has a lever arm which is pressed into engagement with each of a plurality of printed products as they are serially conveyed past a measurement station. The lever arm is actuated by a servo motor which includes an encoder, and when the lever arm is pressed into engagement with each product, the position of the lever arm is sensed by the encoder which then delivers a signal to a controller where the thickness is calculated and compared with a predetermined correct value. A method of calibrating the caliper is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surface-tracking measuring machine is provided, in which measurement range is enlarged while keeping a measuring force, responsivity, resolution thereof. For the object, the surface-tracking measuring machine has a frame (10), a probe (11) swingably supported by the frame (10) and having a tracer (15) at an end thereof, a measuring force controller (21) for controlling the measuring force applied to the probe, a displacement detector (31) for detecting a displacement of the probe, a measuring force detector (41) for detecting the measuring force applied to the probe, and a controller (51) for comparing a measuring force detected value detected by the measuring force detector and a previously commanded measuring force command value and to control the measuring force controller so that the measuring force detected value is equal to the measuring force command value.

Abstract: A flow rate measuring system for conveyed material includes a conveyor including a frame and a material supporting surface moveably supported by the frame. The flow rate measuring system utilizes height measurement devices which are responsive to the height of the material supported on the material supporting surface of the conveyor for taking material height measurements. A signal generating device provides an output signal in response to the height measurement device. The height of the material on a conveyor of known width and known speed allows the calculation of volume or mass flow rates. The height measurement device typically comprises a deflection impact surface which is a finger or paddle assembly. The flow rate measuring system for conveyed material additionally may include a signal processing device such as computer for taking and recording height measurements as specific intervals.