Automatic probe feeding, setting and withdrawing apparatus

摘要

An automatic probe feeding, setting and withdrawing apparatus includes a probe container case provided with a probe dispensing mechanism for dispensing individual probes to a probe transfer mechanism. The probe transfer mechanism has a motor-driven probe push member provided at one end of a carriage board formed with a V-shaped channel in its surface. The probes are transferred to a probe setting mechanism which has a movable block capable of making sliding movement through a given stroke by the operation a cylinder on a support board mounted for pivotal movement by the operation of a cylinder. The probes are moved from a horizontal to a vertical orientation by this probe-setting mechanism. The probes are so positioned that they can be grasped by a probe holding rod and can be appropriately inserted into a furnace for measurement of conditions therein. Thereafter, with the probes removed from the furnace, they are transferred to a probe withdrawing and recovering mechanism. The mechanism comprises a probe grasping mechanism having a pair of probe grasping pawls pivotally secured to two interengaged gears and arranged to be opened and closed by the operation of a cylinder. The grasping mechanism is pivotally supported so as to be movable back and forth on the track of the movement of the probe holding rod. Finally, a probe cutting mechanism is provided with a pair of probe grasping pawls which can be opened and closed by a cylinder, and a motor-driven cutter is supported for pivotal movement by the operation of a cylinder, the cutting mechanism being pivotally supported so as to be movable back and forth on the track of movement of the probe holding rod.