JP7121389B2 - Liquid level detector - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a liquid level detector, and more particularly to a liquid level detector that is detachably attached to a container.

2. Description of the Related Art Pouring liquids such as hot water and water into containers such as cups, teacups, cups of cup noodles, and pots is widely performed in daily life. However, even with this kind of general work, it is difficult for visually impaired people to grasp the amount of liquid that has been poured, and there is a risk that the desired amount of liquid will not be poured or that the liquid will overflow from the container. be. For this reason, it is customary to pour the liquid while keeping your finger on the edge of the container so that you can feel the level of the liquid inside the container. may cause problems such as requiring cleaning.

There have been many conventional devices for detecting the liquid level in containers (for example, Patent Document 1), but all of them were developed for business use in production lines, etc., and can be used by visually impaired people in their daily lives. The current situation is that there is no suitable one.

JP-A-2006-47103

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive liquid level detector that can be easily used by a visually impaired person.

The above-described object of the present invention is a liquid level detector which is detachably attached to a container, and which is rotatably connected to each other via a rotation shaft, and has a clamping portion formed at each tip end side. a first clamping body and a second clamping body, a detection section provided on the tip side of the first clamping body for detecting the liquid level in the container, a sound output section for outputting sound information, and the detection section and a control unit for outputting sound information informing that the liquid surface is detected based on the detection of the first holding member and the second holding member are biased by a biasing member so as to close the gap between the holding portions. By operating a gripping portion formed on the proximal end side to open the clamping portion, the detection portion can be held in the container by clamping the edge of the container . Further provided is a color sensor disposed on the base end side and detecting the color of an object existing within a predetermined detection range, wherein the control section outputs sound information indicating the color detected by the color sensor from the sound output section. Accomplished by a liquid level detector.

Further, the controller further comprises a cap detachably attached to the first holding body and having a magnet, and an attachment detection section capable of detecting the magnetic force of the magnet and identifying the magnetic pole. Based on the magnetic pole of the magnet detected by the detection section, either liquid level detection by the detection section or color detection by the color sensor can be performed. Alternatively, the cap further includes a cap detachably attached to the first holding body and having a magnet, and an attachment detection unit for detecting the magnetic force of the magnet, and a plurality of caps having different inner colors are prepared. Thus, the control unit detects the color of the cap whose attachment is detected by the attachment detection unit by the color sensor, and when the liquid level is detected by the detection unit, the color of the cap corresponds to the color of the cap. Preset sound information can be output from the sound output unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive liquid level detector that can be easily used by a visually impaired person.

1 is a front view of a liquid level detector according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the liquid level detector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how to use the liquid level detector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the liquid level detector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part of a liquid level detector according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a main part of a liquid level detector according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a liquid level detector according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid level detector 1 includes a first clamping body 10 and a second clamping body 20 which are rotatably connected to each other via a rotating shaft 2 . The first clamping body 10 and the second clamping body 20 are made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene resin, and have clamping portions 11 and 21 on the distal end side and grasping portions 12 and 22 on the proximal end side, respectively. .

The first clamping body 10 and the second clamping body 20 are biased in a direction to close the clamping parts 11 and 21 by a biasing member 4 consisting of a torsion spring fitted around the rotating shaft 2 . A cushioning member 13 made of elastically deformable sponge or the like is interposed between the holding portions 11 and 21 . This cushioning member 13 is fixed to one holding portion 11 . The first clamping body 10 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, while the second clamping body 20 is formed in a curved strip-like shape. By bringing them close to each other, the gap between the clamping portions 11 and 21 can be widened.

The first clamping body 10 has a built-in detecting portion 31 on the side opposite to the cushioning material 13 on the tapered distal end side. The detection unit 31 is a liquid level sensor that detects the presence or absence of a liquid level. In the present embodiment, an inexpensive capacitance type sensor that can handle liquids in a wide temperature range is used. It is also possible to use sensors of other types, such as optical sensors.

A mounting detection unit 32 , a color sensor 33 and a sound output unit 34 are provided on the base end side of the first holding member 10 . The color sensor 33 is provided so as to protrude from the attachment detection portion 32 , and the cap 40 can be detachably attached so as to fit on the color sensor 33 .

The attachment detection unit 32 is a sensor that detects that the cap 40 is attached. In this embodiment, a magnetic proximity sensor capable of detecting the magnetic force of the magnet 41 provided on the cap 40 and identifying the magnetic pole is used. ing. The attachment detector 32 can also use other sensors such as limit switches and optical sensors. The cap 40 is attached to the first holder 10 via a chain 42 for preventing loss or dropping. The attachment detector 32 further includes a reed switch that is turned on and off by the approach or separation of the magnet 41 of the cap 40. While the cap 40 is not attached, it is connected to a battery (not shown) for power saving. is blocked.

The color sensor 33 detects the color of an object present within a predetermined detection range from the base end of the first holding member 10 . The color sensor 33 has an LED for lighting and a proximity sensor, and as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4(b), when a cylindrical cap 40' with both ends open and no canopy is fitted, an object within a predetermined detection range in the extension direction of the cap 40 is fitted. detect the color of Whether or not the cap 40 has the canopy 40a is determined by, for example, changing the direction of the magnet 41 provided in the cap 40 depending on the presence or absence of the canopy 40a, and by identifying the magnetic pole of the approaching magnet 41 by the attachment detection unit 32. can be done. The sound output unit 34 is composed of a speaker that outputs various sound information to the visually impaired.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the first holding member 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the first clamping member 10 includes the above-described detection unit 31, attachment detection unit 32, color sensor 33, and sound output unit 34, as well as a control unit 35 made up of a microcomputer or the like, and a time measurement unit. A timer section 36 and a storage section 37 such as a memory are provided. In addition to various sound information, the storage unit 37 can store control patterns of the control unit 35 corresponding to the colors of the objects detected by the color sensor 33 in advance. These constituent elements, including the battery, are housed inside a cylindrical first clamping body 10, and can be made waterproof by injecting a sealing resin.

After attaching the cap 40 with the canopy 40a shown in FIG. 4(a), the liquid level detector 1 having the above-described configuration can be grasped with the fingertips or the like as shown in FIG. 3(a). Then, the holding portions 11 and 21 are opened, and the edge portion 52 of the container 50 is held. At this time, by arranging the first clamping body 10 on the inner surface 51 side of the container 50, as shown in FIG. A detector 31 is held inside the container 50 . When the liquid is poured into the container 50 in this state, the liquid level L rises and the liquid level L is detected by the detection unit 31 .

The control unit 35 (see FIG. 2) enters a standby state when the mounting detection unit 32 detects that the cap 40 with the canopy 40a is mounted. Sound information (for example, voice information or a specific melody) to notify is output from the sound output unit 34 . In this way, a visually handicapped person can easily grasp that a predetermined amount of liquid such as hot water or cold water has been poured into various containers such as a tea cup, a cup such as instant noodles, a pot, a shampoo container, and a cosmetic container.

The control unit 35 starts time measurement by the timer unit 36 at the same time as outputting the sound information informing the detection of the liquid level, and every time a predetermined time elapses (for example, every 1 minute or 3 minutes), the sound output unit 34 Output the time by voice, etc. As a result, a visually impaired person can accurately grasp the time after the liquid has been poured, and can cook or the like. Time measurement may be started when the cap 40 is attached instead of when the liquid level is detected.

On the other hand, when the cap 40′ without a canopy shown in FIG. 4B is attached to the color sensor 33, the control unit 35 outputs sound information (for example, , voice information or a specific melody) is output from the sound output unit 34 . As a result, a visually impaired person can distinguish the container 50 into which the liquid is to be poured by the color, and the convenience can be improved. Color discrimination of objects by the color sensor 33 is not limited to specifying the container 50, but can be used to specify objects (for example, clothes, foodstuffs, etc.) that are difficult to discriminate by touch in various situations in daily life. can also

The color sensor 33 can detect the color of the inner surface of the canopy 40a by operating it also when the cap 40 having the canopy 40a shown in FIG. Different types of caps 40 can be prepared in advance, and the controller 35 can be configured to output different sound information for each cap 40 . For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), a cap 40 having a display portion 40b with "1" displayed on the outer surface of the canopy 40a and "3" displayed on the outer surface of the canopy 40a as shown in FIG. By attaching the cap 40 having the displayed display portion 40b to the chain 42 (see FIG. 1) in advance and making the inner surface of each canopy 40a different colors (for example, one is red and the other is blue), When the cap 40 labeled "1" is used, one minute after the liquid level is detected, sound information is output to notify that one minute has passed. After 3 minutes have passed, it is possible to output sound information informing that 3 minutes have passed. By forming the display portion 40b by embossing or the like, a visually handicapped person can recognize the display on the cap by tactile sensation, and can wear and use a desired cap 40 .

In this embodiment, the case of using two types of cap 40 for liquid level detection shown in FIG. 4A and the cap 40′ for color detection shown in FIG. It is also possible to achieve the function with a single cap. For example, the cap 140 shown in FIG. 6(a) has a cylindrical cap body 141 with both ends opened, and a first magnet 142 and a second magnet 143 are attached to both ends 141a and 141b of the cap body 141 at both ends. The magnetic poles are arranged to be different from each other. When the one end 141a on the side of the first magnet 142 is attached, the attachment detection unit 32 (see FIG. 1) identifies this by the magnetic pole and enters a state in which the liquid level can be detected. When the other end 141b on the side is attached, it is identified by the magnetic poles and becomes a state in which color detection is possible. In this manner, both ends 141a and 141b of the cap 140 are configured to be attachable to the first clamping body 10, and the attached end is detected by the attachment detector 32, whereby a single cap is detected. Cap 140 allows both liquid level sensing and color sensing.

The second magnet 143 for color detection may be fixed to the other end 141b of the cap main body 141, but as shown in FIG. A second magnet 143 may be attached to the other end of the rod 144 to support the second magnet 143 movably along the cap body 141 . A support portion 145 through which the rod 144 is inserted is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cap main body 141 , and one end side of the rod 144 is pushed into the cap main body 141 by the biasing force of a coil spring (not shown) incorporated in the support portion 145 . maintained to protrude from According to the configuration shown in FIG. 6B, by attaching the other end 141b of the cap main body 141 to the first clamping body 10 and pressing the projecting portion of the rod 144 against an object whose color is to be detected, The rod 144 and the second magnet 143 are moved to the state shown in FIG. 6(a), and the mounting detection unit 32 can detect the magnetic force of the second magnet 143 to detect the color of the object.

1 Liquid Level Detector 10 First Clamping Body 20 Second Clamping Body 31 Detecting Part 32 Mounting Detection Part 33 Color Sensor 34 Sound Output Part 35 Control Part 36 Timer Part 40 Cap

Claims (3)

A liquid level detector detachably attached to a container,
a first clamping body and a second clamping body which are rotatably connected to each other via a rotation shaft and which have clamping portions formed on their distal end sides;
a detection unit that is provided on the tip side of the first clamping body and detects the liquid level in the container;
a sound output unit that outputs sound information;
A control unit that outputs sound information that informs the detection of the liquid surface based on the detection of the detection unit,
The first clamping body and the second clamping body are biased by a biasing member so as to close the space between the clamping parts, and the gripping part formed on the proximal end side is operated to open the clamping part. , the detection unit can be held in the container by pinching the edge of the container ,
Further comprising a color sensor arranged on the base end side of the first clamping body and detecting the color of an object existing within a predetermined detection range,
The control unit is a liquid level detector that outputs sound information indicating the color detected by the color sensor from the sound output unit . a cap detachably attached to the first holding body and having a magnet;
A mounting detection unit that detects the magnetic force of the magnet and can identify the magnetic pole,
2. The liquid level detector according to claim 1 , wherein the control section performs either liquid level detection by the detection section or color detection by the color sensor based on the magnetic pole of the magnet detected by the mounting detection section. . a cap detachably attached to the first holding body and having a magnet;
Further comprising a mounting detection unit that detects the magnetic force of the magnet,
A plurality of caps with different inner colors are prepared,
The control unit detects, by the color sensor, the color of the cap whose attachment is detected by the attachment detection unit. 2. The liquid level detector according to claim 1 , wherein said sound information is output from said sound output section.

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