JP5801573B2 - Meter reading machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a meter-reading machine that detects metals such as sewing needles mixed during the manufacturing process of, for example, sewing products, interior products, foodstuffs, and toys.

  The conventional meter-reading machine 20 has what is shown in FIG. 5, and detects a sewing needle etc. which were mixed by carrying to-be-detected objects, such as a sewing product, on the conveyance belt 11, and letting the detection head 14 pass. It is. This meter-reading machine 20 conveys the detected object placed on the end portion 11A of the conveyor belt 11 at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow, and when the sewing head is not detected by the detection head 14, the detected object is detected. It passes as it is and is conveyed to the end 11B of the conveyor belt 11. Further, when a sewing needle or the like is detected by the detection head 14, the conveyor belt 11 is stopped and driven in the opposite direction (hereinafter referred to as the reverse direction) with respect to the conveyance direction (the direction of the arrow) to detect the object to be detected. Is returned to the end 11 </ b> A of the conveyor belt 11. This operation is continuously performed, and the meter-reading machine 20 inspects whether or not metal sewing needles or the like are mixed in the detected objects that are successively conveyed.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the detection head 14 includes a detection sensor 12 including a lower detection sensor 12U and an upper detection sensor 12T. The principle by which the detection sensor 12 detects a sewing needle or the like will be briefly described. First, the DC magnetic field in the detection zone 13 between the lower detection sensor 12U and the upper detection sensor 12T is a metal mixed in the object to be detected. When a sewing needle of the same kind passes through, it changes as it is disturbed or blocked. And the detection sensor 12 can detect a sewing needle etc. by measuring the induced voltage induced by this change. In the present specification, the detection sensor may be a known sensor that detects a metal sewing needle or the like, and a detailed description of the principle and configuration of the detection sensor itself is omitted.

  As described above, when a sewing needle or the like is detected by the detection head 14, the meter-reading machine 20 stops the conveyance belt 11 and drives it in the reverse direction to return the detected object to the end portion 11 </ b> A of the conveyance belt 11. ing. This is because the detected object mixed with the sewing needle or the like is returned to the end 11A of the conveying belt 11 which is the original place where the conveyance is started, so that the user can easily collect the detected object and the convenience is improved. It is an improvement.

  Therefore, in order to improve the convenience, it is necessary to appropriately determine the “return amount” for returning the detected object to the end portion 11A of the conveyor belt 11. Therefore, the meter-reading machine 20 determines in advance the transport time required for the detection object placed on the transport belt 11 driven at a constant speed to be transported from the end 11A of the transport belt 11 to the detection head 14. Keep measuring. When the detection head 14 detects a sewing needle or the like, if the conveyor belt 11 is driven in the reverse direction at a constant speed for the conveyance time, the detection object whose sewing needle or the like has been detected by the detection head 14 is detected. Then, it returns to the end portion 11A of the conveyor belt 11. That is, this transport time is an optimum return amount.

  Here, each time an object to be detected is placed on the transport belt 11, the elapsed time from the time when the object is placed to the time when it is detected by the detection head 14 is measured. Driving in the reverse direction is also conceivable. However, if this is to be realized, a detector that detects that an object to be detected has been placed on the conveyor belt 11 and a timer that measures the elapsed time from the time of placement to the time of detection are required. As a result, extra cost is required and it is not practical.

  Further, the detection sensor 12 in the detection head 14 only determines whether or not the sewing needle is mixed, and cannot determine at which position of the detection head 14 the sewing needle is detected. However, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the detection head 14 is installed at a right angle to the conveyor belt 11, and any position in the longitudinal direction of the detection head 14 (the right end of the detection head 14, Even at the left end, the center, etc., the distance between the detection head 14 and the end 11A of the conveyor belt 11 is constant. Therefore, even if the sewing needle is detected at any position in the longitudinal direction of the detection head 14 (the right end, the left end, the center, etc.), it is detected as long as it is conveyed in the reverse direction by the same return amount (conveyance time). The object returns to the end 11 </ b> A of the conveyor belt 11.

  By the way, the detection head 14 of the meter-reading machine 20 is installed at a right angle to the transport belt 11, and the distance between the detection head 14 and the end 11A of the transport belt 11 is constant at any position in the longitudinal direction of the detection head 14. However, there are various other types of meter reading machines. For example, as in the meter reading machine 30 shown in FIG. 6, the detection head 24 is disposed obliquely with respect to the transport belt 21, and the distance between the detection head 24 and the end 21 </ b> A of the transport belt 21 is the longitudinal direction of the detection head 24. Some may vary depending on the location of the.

  In this meter reading machine 30, as in the meter reading machine 20, when the sewing needle enters the detection zone 23 in the detection head 24 and is detected, the conveyor belt 21 is stopped and driven in the reverse direction, A device is devised to return the detected object to the end 21 </ b> A of the conveyor belt 21. The detection head 24 has the same structure as that of the detection head 14, and it cannot be determined at which position of the detection head 24 the sewing needle is detected. Therefore, even if the sewing needle is detected at any position in the longitudinal direction of the detection head 24, it is always conveyed in the reverse direction by the same return amount (conveyance time).

  Then, when the conveyance belt 21 is driven in the reverse direction (the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 6) and the detection object is returned to the end 21 </ b> A of the conveyance belt 21, the detection object placed on the K side of the conveyance belt 21. Is returned to the end portion 21A, while the detected object placed on the J side falls past the end portion 21A, and conversely, the detected object placed on the J side of the conveyor belt 21 is the end portion 21A. On the other hand, there is a problem that the object to be detected placed on the K side is transported only to the near side from the end portion 21A and does not accurately return to the end portion 21A.

  This is because when the detection head 24 detects the sewing needle on the J side or the K side, the distances L1 and L2 between the respective detection positions and the end 21A of the conveyor belt 21 are always different. This is because the conveying belt 21 is driven in the reverse direction by the same return amount (conveying time).

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention recognizes the detection position of the contaminant and uses the return amount according to the detection position to reliably return the detection object to the end of the conveyor belt. The machine is provided.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the meter reading machine according to the present invention is a detection sensor that conveys a detected object containing a metal contaminant such as a metal needle by a conveyor belt and detects the contaminant in the detected object. Therefore, when a contaminant is detected, the metering machine drives the conveyor belt in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction, and the detection sensor has two or more different distances from its end on the conveyor belt. In this position, contaminants can be detected, and the conveying belt is driven in the opposite direction to the conveying direction by a return amount corresponding to the detected position.

  According to the above feature, the conveyance belt is provided with a detection sensor configured to be able to detect contaminants at two or more positions at different distances from the end portion thereof, and the conveyance belt is fed by a return amount corresponding to the detection position. Since the belt is driven in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, the detected object can be reliably returned to the end of the conveying belt.

  Specifically, the meter reading machine 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes five individual detection sensors 2A to 2E (not shown because they are built in the detection head 4A) in the detection head 4A. It arrange | positions continuously so that the distance from the edge part 1A may differ. Each of the detection sensors 2A to 2E has a structure capable of detecting a mixed needle or the like when the sewing needle passes through the detection zones 3A to 3E. For example, when a sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3E, the distance L1 between the detection position and the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 is shorter than the reference center L0, so that the return amount is smaller than the reference. The conveyor belt 1 is driven in the reverse direction. On the other hand, when a sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3A, the distance L2 between the detection position and the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 is longer than the reference center L0, so that the return amount is larger than the reference. The conveyor belt 1 is driven in the reverse direction.

  As described above, by providing the detection sensors 2A to 2E configured to be able to detect the contaminants at two or more positions on the conveyor belt 1 at different distances from the end 1A, the conveyor belt 1 is returned according to each detection position. The amount can be changed as appropriate, and the object to be detected can be reliably transported to the end 1A of the transport belt 1.

  Here, the detection sensor configured to be able to detect the contaminants at two or more positions on the conveyor belt at different distances from the end portions thereof is a plurality of individual detection sensors 2A to 2E as shown in FIG. The detection sensor is not limited to the one that is configured using the sensor, but it has a resolution that can identify the position of the contaminant at two or more positions on the conveyor belt at different distances from the end of the sensor. There may be.

  Next, in the meter reading machine according to the present invention, the return amount may be a distance from the detection position to an end of the conveyor belt.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, for example, when a sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3E, the conveyor belt 1 is driven in the reverse direction by a distance L1 from the detected position to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1. The detected object is returned to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1. That is, the return amount is the distance from the detection position to the end of the conveyor belt.

  Thus, if the return amount is the distance from the detection position to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 (L0, L1, L2, etc.), the detected object is always placed on the conveyor belt 1 regardless of the conveyance speed of the conveyor belt 1. It can be accurately returned to the end 1A. That is, when the return amount is the transport time, if the speed of the transport belt 1 is changed, it is necessary to change the transport time accordingly, but the return amount is from the detection position to the end 1A of the transport belt 1. In the case of the distance, even if the transport speed of the transport belt 1 is changed, the distance (L0, L1, L2, etc.) does not change, so there is no need to change the return amount.

  Next, in the meter reading machine according to the present invention, the detection sensors are arranged upstream and downstream of the conveyor belt, respectively, and the one detection sensor and the other detection sensor are equal and symmetrical with each other. You may arrange | position diagonally with respect to a belt.

  The detection sensor has different detection sensitivities depending on the entry angle of a contaminant such as a sewing needle that enters the detection zone. Even if the upstream detection sensor cannot be detected because the sewing needle has entered at an approach angle with poor detection sensitivity, the downstream detection sensor arranged at the same angle symmetrical to the upstream detection sensor does not sew. A needle can be detected, and detection omission can be prevented.

  Since the conventional meter reading machine always drives the conveyor belt in the reverse direction with the same return amount regardless of the detection position where the contaminant is detected, the object to be detected can be reliably conveyed to the end of the conveyor belt. I could not do it. However, according to the present invention, the detection sensor is configured to be able to detect contaminants at two or more positions on the conveyor belt at different distances from the end thereof, and further, a return amount corresponding to the detection position. Since the transport belt is driven in the direction opposite to the transport direction, it is possible to reliably transport the detection object to the end of the transport belt.

(A) is a perspective view of the meter-reading machine of this invention, (b) is a top view of the meter-reading machine. (A) is an expansion perspective view of the meter-reading machine of this invention shown in FIG. 1, (b) is an enlarged plan view of the meter-reading machine. It is a top view which shows the whole meter-reading machine of this invention shown in FIG. (A) is a block diagram which shows the outline of the control system of the meter-reading machine of this invention, (b) is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the meter-reading machine. (A) is a perspective view of the meter-reading machine shown as an example of the background art of this invention, (b) is sectional drawing of the meter-reading machine. It is an expansion perspective view of the meter-reading machine shown as an example of the background art of this invention.

1 Conveying belt 2 Detection sensor 3 Detection zone 4 Detection head 10 Meter reading machine
Y sewing needle

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the meter reading machine 10 of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the meter reading machine 10.

  In the meter reading machine 10 shown in FIG. 1A, the detection head 4 </ b> A is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance belt 1, and the detection head 4 </ b> B is disposed obliquely with respect to the conveyance belt 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the detection head 4 </ b> A and the detection head 4 </ b> B are arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to the conveyor belt 1 at the same angle α. Naturally, the detection sensors 2A to 2E built in the detection heads 4A and 4B have the same arrangement. Note that the meter reading machine 10 has the same basic structure as the conventional meter reading machine 20 shown in FIG. 5B and is not shown, but each of the detection sensors 2A to 2E is located below the conveyor belt 1. It consists of a detection sensor 2U and an upper detection sensor 2T.

  In order to explain that the meter reading leakage can be prevented by adopting such an arrangement, in FIG. 1B, the sewing needle Y is conveyed in a state parallel to the detection head 4A. Is assumed. Each detection sensor 2 in the detection head 4A has a characteristic that the detection sensitivity decreases when the sewing needle Y enters the detection zone 3 in parallel, and the sewing needle Y passes through the detection head 4A. There is also a risk of detection omission. However, since the detection head 4B on the downstream side is arranged symmetrically with the same angle α with respect to the detection head 4A on the upstream side, the sewing needle Y is parallel to the detection zone 3 in the detection head 4B. It will not enter, and will enter with the highest detection sensitivity. Therefore, the sewing needle Y is detected by the detection sensor 2 in the detection head 4B, and detection omission can be prevented.

  Next, (a) of FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the meter reading machine 10, and (b) is an enlarged plan view of the meter reading machine 10. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, five detection sensors 2A to 2E having different distances from the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 are provided in the upstream detection head 4A. The detection zones 3A to 3E of the sensors 2A to 2E allow the sewing needle to be detected regardless of the position on the conveyor belt 1 where the object to be detected is conveyed. The downstream detection head 4B has the same structure. Note that the number of detection sensors can be appropriately changed according to the specifications.

  Here, the operation of the meter-reading machine 10 when the sewing needle is detected by the detection head 4A will be described. First, when the sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3E, the detection position and the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 are detected. Since the distance L1 is shorter than the reference center L0, the return amount is smaller than the reference return amount. For example, if the return amount is a transport time for driving the transport belt 1 in the reverse direction and transporting the detected object to the end 1A of the transport belt 1, the transport time is set shorter than the reference. If the return amount is the distance L1 from the detection position to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1, the conveyor belt is driven in the reverse direction by L1.

  Next, when a sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3A, the distance L2 between the detection position and the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 is longer than the reference center L0. In comparison, the return amount becomes large. For example, if the return amount is the transport time, the transport time is set longer than the reference. If the return amount is the distance L2 from the detection position to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1, the conveyor belt is driven in the reverse direction by L2. Similarly, the return amount is set according to each of the other detection sensors.

  As described above, by providing the detection sensors 2A to 2E configured to be able to detect the contaminants at two or more positions on the transport belt 1 at different distances from the end 1A, the return according to each detection position is provided. The amount can be set as appropriate, and the object to be detected can be reliably conveyed to the end 1A of the conveyance belt 1.

  In the overlapping portion T between the adjacent detection zones 3A and 3B, the sewing needle is detected by both the detection zones 3A and 3B. However, if the intensity distribution of each detection sensitivity is analyzed, the detection zone 3A is detected. Alternatively, it can be determined which side of 3B is closer to the sewing needle, and the detection position can be specified more accurately.

  Next, in FIG. 3, the operation of the meter-reading machine 10 when the sewing needle cannot be detected by the upstream detection head 4A and the sewing needle is detected by the downstream detection head 4B will be described. First, when a sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3E, the distance L4 between the detected position and the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 is longer than the reference center L3. Thus, the return amount becomes large. For example, if the return amount is the transport time, the transport time is set longer than the reference. If the return amount is the distance L4 from the detection position to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1, the conveyor belt 1 is driven in the reverse direction by L4.

  Further, when the sewing needle is detected in the detection zone 3A, the distance L5 between the detection position and the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 is shorter than the reference center L3. Thus, the return amount becomes smaller. For example, if the return amount is the transport time, the transport time is set shorter than the reference. If the return amount is a distance L5 from the detection position to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1, the conveyor belt is driven in the reverse direction by L5. Similarly, the return amount is set according to each of the other detection sensors.

  Next, (a) of FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the control system of the meter reading machine of the present invention, and (b) is a flowchart showing the operation of the meter reading machine.

  The meter-reading machine 10 of the present invention can be broadly classified as shown in FIG. 4A, a drive system comprising a motor M for driving the conveyor belt 1 and a motor controller 5 for controlling the motor M, and The control system is composed of a detection sensor 2, a memory 7 in which return amounts are stored, and a main controller 6 that integrates these.

  The main controller 6 is connected to all the detection sensors 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> E and receives a detection signal transmitted from each detection sensor 2. The memory 7 stores a return amount corresponding to the detection position of each detection sensor. For example, if the return amount is the conveyance time of the conveyance belt, the optimum conveyance time (see paragraphs [0031] to [0036]) corresponding to the detection position of each detection sensor is stored. Similarly, if the return amount is the distance from the detection position to the end of the conveyor belt, the optimum distance according to the detection position of each detection sensor (distances such as L1 and L2 in FIG. 2, L4 and L5 in FIG. 3). (See paragraphs [0031] to [0036]).

  Further, the main controller 6 reads out the optimum return amount (conveyance time, distance) according to the detection position from the memory 7 based on the signal from each detection sensor 2, and sends the return amount to the motor controller 5. The motor controller 5 controls the motor based on the return amount. The motor M and the conveyor belt 1 of the meter reading machine 10 of the present invention have the same structure as that of the conventional meter reading machine 20 shown in FIG. 5B, and the motor M stretches the conveyor belt 11 in the horizontal direction. Connected to the driving roller R, the object to be detected on the conveyor belt can be conveyed in any direction.

  Next, a series of operations of the meter-reading machine 10 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, the object to be detected is placed on the conveyor belt 1 and the meter reading machine 10 is operated (step 1). The motor controller 5 controls the motor M so that the transport belt 1 transports the detection object at a constant speed in the transport direction (step 2).

  Next, the main controller 6 determines whether or not each detection sensor 2 has detected a contaminant (step 3). When it is determined that all the detection sensors 2 have not detected the contaminants (No), the main controller 6 instructs the motor controller 5 so that the conveyor belt 1 continues to convey the detected object in the conveyance direction. The motor controller 5 controls the motor M so as to drive it at a constant speed in the transport direction (step 2).

  If any of the detection sensors 2 determines that the contaminant has been detected (Yes), the main controller 6 sends a command to the motor controller 5 to stop the conveyor belt 1, and the motor controller 5 turns off the motor M. Stop (step 4). Then, the main controller 6 reads the return amount corresponding to the detection position of the detection sensor 2 that has detected the contamination from the memory 7 and sends it to the motor controller 5 (step 5).

  Next, the motor controller 5 controls the motor M based on the received return amount (conveying time, distance), and drives the conveying belt 1 in the reverse direction (step 6). If the conveyor belt 1 is driven and stopped by the return amount, the object to be detected is returned to the end 1A of the conveyor belt 1 and the operation of the meter reading machine 10 is completed (step 7).

  The meter-reading machine of the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and various modifications and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims and the scope of the embodiments. Combinations are also included in the scope of their rights.

Claims (3)

The object to be detected containing metal contaminants is conveyed by a conveyor belt,
When a contaminant is detected by a detection sensor that detects the contaminant in the detection object,
A meter-reading machine that drives the conveyor belt in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction,
The detection sensor is configured to be able to detect contaminants at two or more positions at different distances from the end in the conveyance direction on the conveyance belt ,
In addition, a memory that stores in advance a return amount corresponding to the detection position of the detection sensor,
When the contaminant is detected by the detection sensor , the metering belt is driven in the direction opposite to the transport direction by the return amount stored in the memory according to the detection position. Machine. The meter reading machine according to claim 1, wherein the return amount is a distance from the detection position to an end portion in the transport direction on the transport belt. The detection sensors are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the conveyor belt,
So that one detection sensor and the other detection sensor are equal and symmetrical to each other,
The meter-reading machine according to claim 1, wherein the meter-reading machine is disposed obliquely with respect to the conveyor belt.

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