JP2011247842A - Hardness tester - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hardness tester which is capable of easily observing an indenter and a test piece from the side by utilizing a camera for photographing an indentation.SOLUTION: The hardness tester includes: an indenter lifting mechanism which lifts and lowers an indenter 21 to form an indentation on a surface of a test piece 100; an objective lens 20 for observing the indentation from above; a monitoring camera 17 for photographing the indentation; a revolver 20 which moves one of the indenter 21 and the objective lens 22 to a position facing the test piece 100; an observing lens 31 for observing the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 from the side; and an optical path switching mechanism which selectively forms a first optical path through which the monitoring camera 17 photographs the indentation from above via the objective lens 22 and a second optical path through which the monitoring camera 17 observes the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 from the side via the observing lens 31.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hardness tester for measuring the hardness of a test piece.

  As such a hardness tester, for example, a Vickers hardness tester for measuring the Vickers hardness or Knoop hardness of a test piece is known. In such a hardness tester, an indenter that applies a test force to the test piece to form an indentation on the surface thereof, a mounting table that is placed opposite to the indenter and places the test piece, and a plurality of measurements on the test piece An XY stage that sequentially moves the test piece to form an indentation at a point, a plurality of objective lenses of about 10 times or 50 times for observing the test piece, and any one of these objective lenses and indenters And a revolver that switches the two so as to face the measurement point. The indentation formed on the test piece is an eyepiece for the operator to observe the test piece image that has been enlarged through the objective lens, and a monitor for displaying the test piece image that has been enlarged by the objective lens. Observe using.

  In such a hardness tester, an indentation is formed on the test piece by the indenter, and the hardness of the test piece is measured by the depth of the indentation, so that the measurement point for forming the indentation by the indenter is set on the test piece. There is a need to. In this case, the revolver is rotated to switch between the indenter and the objective lens, and the operator observes the eyepiece and the enlarged monitor and moves the test piece by the moving mechanism while directly observing the whole image of the test piece. Measurement points are set.

  In Patent Document 1, a revolver is provided with a mirror for reflecting the image of the test piece to the side of the test piece, and a monitor camera is provided at a position where the reflected image of the test piece reflected by the mirror can be imaged. And a hardness meter that displays a reflection image of a test piece imaged by the monitor camera on a monitor is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-15128

  By the way, in such a hardness tester, the indenter and the test piece are arranged at a very close height immediately before the test. For this reason, in order to avoid interference with an indenter and a test piece, it is preferable to observe the state of an indenter and a test piece from the side. Also during the test, it is preferable to observe the positional relationship between the indenter and the test piece and the pressing state of the test piece by the indenter from the side. However, it is difficult to visually confirm the indenter and the test piece.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily observe an indenter and a test piece from the side by using a camera for photographing an indentation while having a simple configuration. An object is to provide a possible hardness tester.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting table for mounting the test piece, a moving mechanism for moving the mounting table, an indenter, and a test piece mounted on the mounting table by moving the indenter up and down. An indenter lifting mechanism for forming an indentation on the surface of the test piece, an objective lens for observing the indentation formed on the test piece from above, and the objective lens A test in which either the indenter or the objective lens is placed on the mounting table by rotating while supporting the indenter and the objective lens, and a camera for photographing the indentation via A rotating member to be moved to a position facing the piece, an observation lens for observing the indenter and the test piece placed on the mounting table from the side, and rotation of the rotating member, The camera passes through the objective lens A first optical path for photographing the indentation from above, and a second optical path for the camera to observe the indenter and the test piece from the side through the observation lens. And an optical path switching mechanism.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the optical path switching mechanism is configured such that the indenter faces the test piece placed on the mounting table as the rotating member rotates. The movable reflecting member that enters between the test piece and the camera, and the reflected light from the indenter and the test piece that has entered the observation lens are reflected toward the moving reflective member. A plurality of fixed reflecting members, and when the indenter moves to a position facing the test piece placed on the mounting table, the second reflecting path and the plurality of fixed reflecting members It is formed by a reflecting member.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the observation lens is formed when the objective lens moves to a position facing the test piece placed on the mounting table. The fixed reflecting member includes an optical axis in a direction orthogonal to a first optical path from the test piece to the camera through the objective lens, and the fixed reflecting member includes the test piece on the mounting table. A first fixed prism that reflects reflected light from the indenter and the test piece incident on the observation lens in a direction parallel to the first optical path when moved to an opposing position; The inflector reflected by the fixed prism and a second fixed prism that reflects light reflected from the test piece in a direction orthogonal to the first optical path, and the movable reflecting member includes the second reflecting prism By the fixed prism The reflected light from the reflected the indenter and the test piece, and a moving prism for reflecting in the direction to be incident on the camera along the first optical path.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the rotating member supports and rotates a plurality of objective lenses having different magnifications, thereby rotating one of the plurality of objective lenses. Is selectively moved to a position corresponding to the first optical path.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the indenter elevating mechanism has a solenoid, and the indenter is moved up and down by electromagnetic force to the test piece placed on the mounting table. Give test power.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, a simple configuration is achieved by the action of the optical path switching mechanism that selectively forms the first optical path for photographing the indentation and the second optical path for observing the test piece. However, it is possible to easily observe the indenter and the test piece from the side by using a camera for photographing the indentation.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily switch between the first optical path and the second optical path with the rotation of the rotating member by the action of the movable reflecting member and the plurality of fixed reflecting members. It becomes.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, after the reflected light from the test piece photographed by the observation lens is deflected by the first and second fixed prisms, it is applied to the camera along the first optical path by the moving prism. By making it enter, it becomes possible to make the image from the side of an indenter and a test piece enter into a camera with rotation of a rotating member.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to display indentations with different sizes by the action of a plurality of objective lenses having different magnifications as the rotating member rotates.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to raise and lower the indenter by the action of the solenoid and form an indentation with a desired pressing force.

1 is a schematic diagram of a hardness tester according to the present invention. It is an enlarged view of the revolver 20 vicinity. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the indenter 21 grade | etc., Supported by the revolver 20. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows typically an optical path switching mechanism etc. It is a schematic diagram which shows typically an optical path switching mechanism etc.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardness tester according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the revolver 20.

  The hardness tester includes a table 11 and an XY stage 12 as a mounting table that is placed on the table 11 and on which a test piece 100 is mounted. The XY stage 12 is for moving the test piece 100 in the X direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) and the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1). The XY stage 12 is provided with a micrometer 13 for moving the test piece 100 in the X direction and a micrometer 14 for moving the test piece 100 in the Y direction. The XY stage 12 is configured to move up and down by the action of the lifting handle 15.

  The hardness tester also includes an eyepiece 16 for observing the test piece 100, a monitor camera 17 for photographing the test piece 100, and the reflected light from the test piece 100 for the eyepiece 16 and the monitor camera. A display unit 18 for displaying a magnified image of the test piece 100, and a revolver 20 as a rotating member that rotates while supporting an indenter 21 and an objective lens 22 described later. Prepare. The revolver 20 rotates about an axis that faces in the vertical direction by operating the knob 26. Further, the hardness tester includes an illumination optical system (not shown) for illuminating the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of the indenter 21 and the like supported by the revolver 20.

  The revolver 20 includes an indenter 21 for forming an indentation on the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12, a 50 × objective lens 22, a 10 × objective lens 23, and the test piece 100. An objective lens 24 for magnifying and observing is provided. The indenter 21, the objective lens 22, the objective lens 23, and the objective lens 24 move to a position facing the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 as the revolver 20 rotates. In addition, instead of the objective lens 24 for observing the test piece 100 in its original size or enlarged, another indenter for forming an indentation having a shape different from the indentation by the indenter 21 may be arranged on the test piece 100. Good.

  Next, the configuration of the optical path switching mechanism and the like, which are features of the present invention, will be described. 4 and 5 are schematic views schematically showing the optical path switching mechanism and the like. 4 shows a state in which the indenter 21 is disposed to face the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12, and FIG. 5 shows the test piece 100 in which the objective lens 22 is placed on the XY stage 12. And shows a state of being opposed to each other.

  The revolver 20 described above rotates about the rotation shaft 25. A moving prism 32 as a moving reflecting member is fixed to the rotating shaft 25. The moving prism 32 moves in synchronization with the rotation of the revolver 20 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 25. The moving prism 32 is moved between the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 shown in FIG. 4 and the monitor camera 17 as the revolver 20 rotates, and as shown in FIG. The test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 can move between a position retracted from the monitor camera 17 and the monitor camera 17.

  An observation lens 31 for observing the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 from the side is disposed on the side of the revolver 20. The observation lens 31 has its optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the optical path from the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 toward the monitor camera 17. A first fixed prism 33 is disposed at one end of the observation lens 31. A second fixed prism 34 is disposed at a position facing the first fixed prism 33 and the moving prism 32.

  A support member 50 is fixed above the revolver 20 in the outer peripheral portion of the shaft 25 described above. A tubular member 43 is disposed at a position between the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 and the monitor camera 17 in the support member 50. The tubular member 43 is coupled to a load mechanism 41 having a solenoid 42 connected to a current supply device (not shown). For this reason, the tubular member 43 moves up and down by controlling the power supplied to the solenoid 42.

  When the revolver 20 rotates and the indenter 21 is disposed at a position facing the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12, the load transmission shaft 44 provided above the indenter 21 is connected to the tubular member 43. It is arranged below. For this reason, the indenter 21 is moved up and down by the action of the load mechanism 41 and the test force applied to the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 is controlled by controlling the power supplied to the solenoid 42.

  Next, a measurement operation for measuring the hardness of the test piece 100 using the above-described hardness tester will be described.

  When performing measurement, the test piece 100 is placed on the XY stage 12. Then, the micrometers 13 and 14 are operated to adjust the measurement region in the test piece 100. At this time, by rotating the revolver 20 by operating the knob 26 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the objective lens 24 for observing the original size or enlarged is arranged at a position facing the test piece 100, and the eyepiece lens. The measurement area in the test piece 100 may be adjusted by operating the micrometers 13 and 14 while observing the surface of the test piece 100 with the display 16 or the display unit 18.

  Next, by operating the knob 26 again to rotate the revolver 20, the indenter 21 is disposed at a position facing the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 as shown in FIG. 4.

  In this state, a second optical path is formed by the moving prism 32 and the first and second fixed prisms 33 and 34. That is, reflected light from the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 that has entered the observation lens 31 travels from the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 to the monitor camera 17 by the action of the first fixed prism 33. Reflected in a direction parallel to the optical path. Then, the reflected light is reflected in a direction orthogonal to the optical path from the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 to the monitor camera 17 by the action of the second fixed prism 34 and enters the moving prism 32. To do. Thereafter, the reflected light enters the monitoring camera 17 along the optical path from the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 toward the monitoring camera 17. For this reason, it is possible to display an image of the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 in a side view on the eyepiece 16 and the display unit 18.

  In this state, the XY stage 12 is raised to a height suitable for hardness measurement by the action of the lifting handle 15. At this time, images viewed from the side surfaces of the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 are displayed on the eyepiece 16 and the display unit 18. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a collision between the indenter 21 and the test piece 100.

  In this state, power is supplied to the solenoid 42 in the load mechanism 41 to press the indenter 21 toward the test piece 100 through the tubular member 43. The test force at this time is controlled by controlling the power supplied to the solenoid 42.

  Also at this time, the image viewed from the side surface of the indenter 21 and the test piece 100 can be observed using the eyepiece 16 and is displayed on the display unit 18. It becomes possible to recognize. For this reason, for example, it becomes possible to observe the test force and the compression state (the depth of the dent when the test force is loaded) by the indenter 21. For this reason, it is also possible to obtain data other than the size of the indentation in the test of a test piece having elasticity.

  If the pressing process of the indenter 21 against the test piece 100 is completed, the size of the indentation is then measured. In this case, by operating the knob 26 to rotate the revolver 20, the 50 × objective lens 22 (or 10 × objective lens 23) is placed on the XY stage 12, as shown in FIG. The test piece 100 is disposed at a position facing the test piece 100. In this state, the moving prism 32 is moved to a position retracted from between the test piece 100 placed on the XY stage 12 and the monitor camera 17, and the monitor camera 17 is moved to the objective lens 22 and the tubular member. A first optical path is formed for photographing the impression formed on the test piece 100 through the hollow portion 43 from above.

  At this time, the reflected light from the surface of the test piece 100 enters the eyepiece lens 16 and the monitor camera 17 via the objective lens 22 and the half mirror 35. Therefore, an enlarged image of the test piece 100 can be observed by the eyepiece 16 and the enlarged image can be displayed on the display unit 18. Then, the hardness of the test piece 100 is determined by measuring the shape of the impression by, for example, performing image processing on an image captured by the monitor camera 17 and calculating the size of the impression from the shape and the shape of the indenter 21. Can be measured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Table 12 XY stage 13 Micrometer 14 Micrometer 15 Lifting handle 16 Eyepiece lens 17 Monitor camera 18 Display part 20 Revolver 21 Indenter 22 Objective lens 23 Objective lens 24 Objective lens 25 Rotating shaft 26 Knob 31 Observation lens 32 Moving prism 33 First fixed prism 34 Second fixed prism 35 Half mirror 41 Load mechanism 42 Solenoid 43 Tubular member 50 Support member 100 Test piece

Claims (5)

A mounting table for mounting the test piece;
A moving mechanism for moving the mounting table,
With an indenter,
An indenter lifting mechanism for applying a test force to the test piece placed on the mounting table to form an indentation on the surface of the test piece, by raising and lowering the indenter;
An objective lens for observing the indentation formed on the test piece from above;
A camera for photographing the indentation through the objective lens;
A rotating member that supports and rotates the indenter and the objective lens to move either the indenter or the objective lens to a position facing the test piece placed on the mounting table;
An observation lens for observing the indenter and the test piece placed on the mounting table from the side;
A first optical path for the camera to photograph the indentation from above through the objective lens as the rotating member rotates, and the indenter and the test piece through the observation lens. An optical path switching mechanism that selectively forms a second optical path for observing the light from the side,
A hardness tester characterized by comprising: In the hardness tester according to claim 1,
The optical path switching mechanism is
A moving reflecting member that enters between the test piece and the camera when the indenter moves to a position facing the test piece placed on the mounting table as the rotating member rotates.
A plurality of fixed reflecting members for reflecting reflected light from the indenter and the test piece incident on the observation lens toward the movable reflecting member;
The second optical path is a hardness tester formed by the moving reflecting member and the plurality of fixed reflecting members when the indenter moves to a position facing the test piece placed on the mounting table. The hardness tester according to claim 2, wherein
The observation lens is formed when the objective lens is moved to a position opposite to the test piece placed on the mounting table, from the test piece to the camera via the objective lens. Has an optical axis in the direction perpendicular to the optical path,
The fixed reflecting member receives reflected light from the indenter and the test piece incident on the observation lens when the indenter moves to a position facing the test piece placed on the mounting table. A first fixed prism that reflects in a direction parallel to the first optical path, and reflected light from the indenter and the test piece reflected by the first fixed prism in a direction perpendicular to the first optical path. And two fixed prisms,
The moving reflection member is configured by a moving prism that reflects the reflected light from the indenter and the test piece reflected by the second fixed prism in a direction to be incident on the camera along the first optical path. Hardness tester. In the hardness tester according to claim 3,
The rotating member supports and rotates a plurality of objective lenses having different magnifications, thereby selectively moving one of the plurality of objective lenses to a position corresponding to the first optical path. Machine. In the hardness tester according to claim 3,
The indenter raising / lowering mechanism has a solenoid, and raises and lowers the indenter by electromagnetic force to apply a test force to the test piece placed on the mounting table.

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