JP7605777B2 - Distance measuring device and its measurement method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a range finder and its measurement method.

In the construction of architectural structures, positioning is often performed by measuring the distribution distance of equal positions from a reference center, and a distribution distance meter suitable for subsequent quality control is desired. The reference center is often a vertical line, in which case dimensional measurements are generally performed using a plumb bob or the like as the reference center. As described in Patent Document 1, a plumb bob position detection device is known as a technology that simplifies the plumb bob position detection process, which has traditionally been time-consuming and laborious, during construction work and other tasks in which the string of a plumb bob, a vertical line, is used as the reference center to measure the displacement of the object of measurement, such as a pillar or wall.

JP 2011-247862 A

The plumb bob position detection device described in Patent Document 1 is designed to measure objects such as pillars and wall surfaces, making it difficult to apply when the measurement objects are separated from the reference center, and it is not capable of simultaneously measuring the positions of the measurement objects placed on both sides of the reference center.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a range finder that can easily, stably, accurately and efficiently measure the distance from a reference center to a measurement target surface in both directions.

The present invention, which achieves the above object, is a distribution distance meter that measures the distribution distance to opposing measurement target surfaces in both directions based on a reference core, and is equipped with a reference core sensor that measures and outputs the deviation distance of the reference core from the center line of the capture area that captures the reference core, and a pair of distance sensors that detect and output the actual measured distance from the center line to the measurement target surface, and outputs the distribution distance by correcting the actual measured distance with the deviation distance.

The present invention provides a range finder that can easily, stably, accurately, and efficiently measure the distance from a reference center to a measurement target surface in both directions. Other issues, configurations, and effects will become clear from the description of the embodiments below.

FIG. 1 is a front view for explaining an overview of a distribution distance measurement method according to a prerequisite technology (hereinafter also referred to as the "method of the prerequisite technology"). 1 is a top view of a basic type of a dividing rangefinder according to the present invention (hereinafter, also referred to as "the dividing rangefinder"); FIG. 3 is a front view of the present distribution rangefinder of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the present distribution rangefinder shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining measurement by the present distribution rangefinder shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a front view of a distribution rangefinder according to a first modified example (also referred to as the “real distribution rangefinder”). FIG. 11 is a top view of a distribution rangefinder according to a second modified example (also referred to as the “real distribution rangefinder”). FIG. 8 is a front view of the present distribution rangefinder of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a beam compressor attached to the present distribution rangefinder shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The present distribution rangefinder will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and if there is a duplicate explanation, that explanation may be omitted. Furthermore, the various components of the present invention do not necessarily have to be independent of each other, and it is acceptable for one component to be made up of multiple parts, for multiple components to be made up of one part, for one component to be part of another component, or for part of one component to overlap with part of another component, etc.

[Based Technology]
Fig. 1 is a front view for explaining an outline of the method of the base technology. As shown in Fig. 1, an operator 6 brings a measuring device such as a ruler or a tape measure (hereinafter also referred to as "convex, etc.") 3 close to a plumb line that is a reference core 1 formed by hanging a plumb weight 2 from a plumb attachment surface 7 such as a ceiling or a beam, and visually measures the distance between a measurement target surface 5 of a structure 4 and the reference core 1.

When assembling a structure 4 or device, parts may be attached to a predetermined position on either side of a reference axis (often a center line) 1, which serves as a measurement reference. For example, the rails on which the steps of a circular escalator run, and the skirt guard panels installed on both sides of the steps, need to be precisely attached to a predetermined position on either side of the reference axis 1 in the center of the escalator, from the standpoint of safety and ride comfort.

Therefore, it is necessary to accurately measure the distribution distances W _L /W _R (FIG. 5) from the reference core 1 to the left and right measurement targets 5. According to the method of the base technology that does not use the distribution distance meter 10, the distance W _L from the reference core 1 to the right measurement target 5 and the distance W _R from the reference core 1 to the left measurement target 5, the measurement of which will be explained in FIG. 5 later, are measured by the operator 6 while paying considerable attention to both the left and right.

However, with this method, workers may differ in how they place the ruler (horizontally and vertically) or how they read the scale on the swaying plumb line, resulting in inconsistent measurement results. Therefore, we will explain a basic example of the present distribution distance meter 10, which can improve this problem, using Figures 2 to 5.

[Basic example]
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the present distribution rangefinder 10, and Fig. 3 shows a front view. The present distribution rangefinder 10 is formed by attaching each component to a base plate 107, which is the base of the main body. The components are a reference center sensor 101, a distance sensor 102, an attitude detection unit 103, a control unit 104, a display unit 105, a power source 106, and a wireless communication unit 112.

The attitude detection unit 103 is a spirit level, tilt sensor, etc., and is intended to allow the user to check the longitudinal level of the base plate 107 in this distribution rangefinder 10. The attitude detection unit 103 is preferably a spirit level that uses the positional relationship between the liquid and bubbles filled in a transparent container with the center elevated by a gentle slope.

The base plate 107 has the reference core sensor 101, control unit 104, and display unit 105 arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction. The reference core sensor 101 is supported by a reference core sensor bracket 110. A pair of distance sensors 102 are extended on both sides of the reference core sensor 101. That is, the distance sensors 102 that detect the distance to the measurement target surface 5 are attached to both ends of the base plate 107 so as to face each other.

The present distribution rangefinders 10 (FIG. 5), 12 (FIG. 8) are used with their main body substrate, base plate 107, fixed to device support part (tripod with pan head) 108. Therefore, the lower part of the base plate 107 is structured so that it can be detached from device support part 108. The control part 104 calculates the distribution distances W _L /W _R to the left and right from the reference center 1 using equations (1) and (2) described below, and displays them on the display part 105.

The reference core sensor 101 is preferably a CCD transmissive laser sensor or the like, and detects the position where a laser beam is irradiated onto a measurement range (hereinafter also referred to as the "capture area") formed in a specified space in the center, and is blocked by the reference core 1, which is the capture target 5, and casts a shadow on the sensor's light receiving surface.

The pair of distance sensors 102 also have a measuring bar 109 that slides and expands and contracts. The ends of the measuring bars 109 that contact the measurement target surface 5 are flat surfaces that can contact the measurement target 5 in parallel. The flat surfaces are brought into close contact with the opposing measurement target surfaces 5, and the pair of distance sensors 102 are fixed to the measurement target surfaces 5. The distance sensors 102 measure the distance by bringing the ends of the measuring bar 109 into close contact with the left and right measurement target surfaces 5 and bringing the distance sensors 102 into contact perpendicularly with the measurement target surfaces 5.

Since the reference center 1 is often a vertical line, the user should hold the entire rangefinder 10 horizontally while referring to the attitude detection unit (level) 103 provided on the base plate 107. In other words, by holding the entire elongated rangefinder 10, including the base plate 107 and the pair of distance sensors 102 arranged on both ends of the base plate 107, horizontally, the measurement accuracy is improved.

The device support unit 108 can be a height-adjustable camera stand or tripod used to support a camera or the like. This device support unit 108 is easy to use if it is equipped with a posture adjustment mechanism 111, such as a camera platform with two or more degrees of freedom.

The above is the basic configuration of the present distribution rangefinder 10, and this alone is sufficient to demonstrate practicality. Furthermore, this present distribution rangefinder 10 is equipped with a wireless communication unit 112, so the measurement results can be wirelessly transmitted to a mobile terminal 113 such as a notebook PC, tablet, or smartphone, enhancing convenience, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing the system configuration of the present distribution rangefinder 10 shown in Figures 2 and 3. As briefly explained in Figure 3 and also shown in Figure 4, the present distribution rangefinder 10 includes a control unit 104 configured with a microcomputer or the like, and a power supply 106. The power supply 106 supplies power to the control unit 104, each sensor, and the wireless communication unit 112.

The present distribution rangefinder 10 preferably includes a reference center sensor 101 and a wireless communication unit 102a that transmits data on the distribution distances W _L /W _R (FIG. 5) acquired by the distance sensor 102 to the outside. The present distribution rangefinder 10 is connected to a mobile terminal 113 so as to be able to communicate with it via a wireless communication unit 102b (collectively 102) located away from the wireless communication unit 102a.

The microcomputer or the like that constitutes the control unit 104 may be of a one-chip type, and executes a program stored in a non-volatile memory to form a calculation function. The control unit 104 aggregates the data acquired by the reference center sensor 101 and the distance sensor 102, and performs calculation processing.

The control unit 104 displays the processed data as the measurement result on the display unit 105, and also transmits the same data to the wireless communication unit 112a. The wirelessly transmitted data is received by the wireless communication unit 112b on the recording equipment side and recorded on the mobile terminal 113. The data may also be used to automate or semi-automate the creation of the inspection report, which will be described later.

By receiving the data of the distribution distances W _L /W _R , the mobile terminal 113 can display the progress of the inspection work for remote monitoring, and is also convenient in terms of data management. For example, the wireless communication unit 112 (a collective term for 112a and 112b) is a communication function using Wi-Fi, and simply sending the measured data from the distribution distance meter 10 to the mobile terminal 113 such as a notebook computer via such an interface saves the worker the trouble of writing the data by hand on paper.

More specifically, when used as a measuring jig for escalators, the present distribution distance meter 10 may include the results measured by the measuring jig in a predefined inspection report format. In this manner, the received data on the distribution distances W _L /W _R is automatically entered into a predefined box on the mobile terminal 113 running an inspection report creation application, and an attractive inspection report to be submitted to a quality assurance department or the like is created. Note that the term "inspection report" is used for convenience of explanation, and also includes the corresponding electronic data.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the measurement by the present distribution distance meter 10 shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the control unit 104 acquires the distance _XC between the device center and the reference center acquired by the reference center sensor 101, and the data _XL and _XR detected by the left and right distance sensors 102. Furthermore, the control unit 104 has a function to display the total width W and the distribution distances _WL and _WR on the display unit 105, as well as a function to record these data.

In the control unit 104, the distribution distances W _L and W _R from the reference center 1 are calculated as the following formulas (1) and (2) for the left and right, respectively. Here, _XB is the length of the base plate 107 (the distance between the left and right distance sensors 102) and is therefore known.
Left side separation distance: W _L = X _L + X _B /2 + X _C ... (1)
Right side split distance: W _R = X _R + X _B /2 - X _C ... (2)

In this way, the present distribution distance meter 10 uses a reference core sensor 101 and a pair of distance sensors 102 to measure the distribution distances W _L /W _R from the reference core 1 to the measurement target surfaces 5 facing each other in both directions. The reference core sensor 101 has a capture area (see also reference numeral 32 in Figs. 2, 3 and 9) that captures the reference core 1, and measures and outputs the deviation distance X _C of the reference core 1 from the center line of the capture area.

Meanwhile, the pair of distance sensors 102 detect and output the actual distance X _L /X _R from the center line of the capture area to the measurement target surface 5. The present distribution rangefinder 10 outputs the distribution distance W _L /W _R by correcting the actual distance X _L /X _R thus obtained with the deviation distance X _C. The calculation formula for the correction is as shown in the above formulas (1) and (2).

This method for measuring the distribution distances W _L /W _R from the reference core 1 to the measurement target surfaces 5 facing in both directions is performed in the following procedure. First, an operator or the like captures the reference core 1 in the capture area of the reference core sensor 101. Next, the reference core sensor 101 measures and outputs the deviation distance X _C by which the reference core 1 deviates from the center line of the capture area. Next, the pair of distance sensors 102 detect and output the actual distances X _L /X _R from the center line to the measurement target surface 5. Finally, the distribution distances W _L /W _R are output by correcting the actual distances X _L /X _R by the deviation distance X _C.

The measurement method using this distribution distance meter 10 makes it possible to easily, stably, accurately and efficiently measure the distance from the reference center to the measurement target surface in both directions, which contributes to shortening the lead time for dimensional measurement. In addition, since it does not rely on visual measurement, there is no variation in measurements made by operators, which also improves the repeatability of measurements.

This distribution distance meter 10 is suitable as a measuring tool for quality control during installation of an escalator or during regular inspections after installation. In each application, this distribution distance meter 10 has a reference core 1 as the center of distribution, and the measurement target surfaces 5 face each other on both sides of the reference core 1.

Depending on the difference in the measurement object 5, this distribution distance meter 10 can measure the distribution distance of at least one of frame distribution, rail distribution, panel support distribution, and skirt guard distribution. This distribution distance meter 10, specialized for such applications, is a measuring tool for quality control that is highly effective in improving work efficiency.

As an example of the application of this distribution distance meter 10, in the case of a standard-length escalator that spans one floor of a general building, there are approximately 40 points above and below which the uniform distribution distance is measured relative to the reference center (2 x 20 = 40 points). For this purpose, even if this distribution distance meter 10 is not used, an accuracy of 0.5 mm is required using a tape measure with a minimum scale of 1 mm. Therefore, by using this distribution distance meter 10, the burden on workers and errors can be significantly reduced.

The distribution distance meter 10, which has been perfected as a measuring tool, is used as follows during installation of an escalator or during regular inspections after installation. For example, an escalator maintenance worker holds the distribution distance meter 10, which is a rod-shaped tool, horizontally, stops at a measurement point, temporarily fixes it, measures, and then moves forward after the measurement, walking intermittently. The maintenance worker only needs to perform this intermittent walking once in one direction of the escalator, and an inspection report (equivalent electronic data) to be submitted to the quality assurance department will be created on the notebook PC (mobile terminal) 113.

[Modification 1]
In the basic example, the device support part 108 of the distribution rangefinder 10 was designed to be a tripod for use with a camera, etc., but depending on the measurement environment, it may be narrow and unable to secure a flat footing within a specified range, making it difficult to set up a tripod.

Figure 6 is a front view of the present distribution rangefinder 11 relating to variant example 1. The present distribution rangefinder 11 in Figure 6 is equipped with an attitude adjustment mechanism 111 as the device support part 108, and by changing it to an extension rod 114 that expands and contracts horizontally, a fixing means can be obtained in place of a tripod. The present distribution rangefinder 11 is structured to support the weight of the distribution rangefinder 10 by pushing the extension rod 114 against the opposing wall or structure surface during measurement.

[Modification 2]
In the basic example of the distribution rangefinder 10, a plumb bob is assumed to be the reference center 1, but depending on the measurement environment, it may be difficult to install a plumb bob. Therefore, a modified example using a laser beam instead of a plumb bob will be described. Figures 7 and 8 show the distribution rangefinder 10 when the laser beam 8 is the reference center 1.

Figure 7 is a top view of the present distribution rangefinder 12 relating to the second modification, and Figure 8 is a front view of the same. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the laser light 8 emitted vertically from the laser plumbing device 9 installed on the floor surface serves as the reference center.

As an alternative to this reference center sensor, a laser receiving type reference center sensor 115 may be used to detect the position of the laser light 8. With this type of distribution rangefinder 12 according to variant example 2 in FIG. 7, the same measurement principle as the distribution rangefinder 10 according to the basic example in FIGS. 2 to 6 can be realized more simply and accurately.

In the present distribution rangefinder 12 in FIG. 7, a spot light position detection element using the surface resistance of a photodiode is assumed as the laser light receiving reference center sensor 115, but the type of sensor is not important as long as it can detect the position of the laser light. Also, since the laser plumb gauge 9 is also available in upward and downward illumination types, if it is the downward illumination type, the laser plumb gauge 9 may be installed above the distribution rangefinder 10, such as on the ceiling.

The reference center 1 is often a laser beam 8 that is irradiated vertically from the ceiling or floor. In this case, the reference center sensor may be a one-dimensional or two-dimensional laser-receiving optical position sensor (PSD: Position Sensitive Detector) 115 that can detect the position of the laser beam 8 and identify the positional relationship with the laser beam 8.

The following describes the beam compressor 20 that can be optionally installed in the present distribution rangefinder 12 according to the modified example 2 of Figures 7 and 8 to improve the detection accuracy of the laser light and to increase the detection range. Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the beam compressor 20 that is optionally installed in the present distribution rangefinder 12 according to the modified example 2.

As shown in Figure 9, if the capture area 32 of the PSD sensor 31, which is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional position detection element, is too narrow and initial alignment to capture the laser light is difficult, this can be improved by installing the optional beam compressor 20. In other words, when the beam compressor 20 is combined with a convex lens 21 mounted on the lens barrel 24 and other components, its focusing effect makes it easier to attract laser light from multiple directions even in the narrow capture area 32.

Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram of the main components of the present distribution rangefinder 12 of variant 2, combining the telescope tube 24 and the PSD sensor 31. As shown in Figure 9, the present distribution rangefinder 12 uses the same measurement principle as the present distribution rangefinders 10 and 11 of the basic example and variant 1 of Figures 2 to 8, but is even easier to use.

The laser receiving device 30 comprises a lens barrel 24, an objective lens 21, an image side lens 22, a laser receiving type reference center sensor 31, and an optical filter 23. The lens barrel 24 is cylindrical or has an equivalent function, and is attached to a base plate 107. The objective lens 21 is provided at the lower opening of the lens barrel 24, and may be a convex lens having at least a focal point. The image side lens 22 is disposed within the lens barrel 24, and is located above (rear of) the objective lens 21, and guides the laser light 8a from the objective lens 21 to the laser receiving type reference center sensor 31.

The laser receiving type reference center sensor 31 is disposed within the lens barrel 24, located above (rear of) the image side lens 22, and receives the focused laser light 8b from the image side lens 22. The optical filter 23 is disposed below (in front of) the objective lens 21, forms an external light suppression means, and suppresses the transmission of external light other than the laser light 8a.

The beam compressor 20 constitutes a laser light converging means by the objective lens 21 and the image side lens 22. When the vertical laser 8a is installed at a distance and emits light, this laser light converging means re-converges the laser light 8a that spreads over a long distance. Therefore, by being equipped with the beam compressor 20, the sorting rangefinder 12 according to the second modification of FIG. 9 can improve the detection accuracy and range of the laser light 8a.

[supplement]
In measuring dimensions using a plumb bob as a reference axis, it was not easy for the worker to hold the measuring device such as a convex 3 by hand and keep it horizontal, while aligning the measuring reference with the reference axis 1 and reading the scale of the measuring device with high accuracy in a short time. Furthermore, in the measurement of the distribution distance, which is an advanced version of this, the worker was forced to face the following difficulties.

In other words, this work entails a lot of hardships, including the wasted time and stress of waiting for the vibration to stop, the burden of keeping an eye on the stationary thread to measure the dimensions of two locations, one on each side of the measurement target, the unnatural working posture required to achieve this, and the effort required to record the acquired measurement data. Therefore, for the workers, repeating this work over and over was hard work that required concentration.

In addition, it is thought that the tendency for various factors such as variation among workers, difficulty in securing skilled workers, and even among skilled workers, declining eyesight and concentration due to aging, to worsen will continue to be unavoidable. In contrast, the plumb bob position detection device in Reference 1 only solves the problem of detecting the plumb bob position, but does not completely reduce the above-mentioned heavy labor. The present distribution distance meters 10 to 12 can solve these problems.

1...reference center (plumb bob), 2...plumb weight, 3...convex, 4...structure, 5...surface to be measured, 6...worker, 7...plumb bob mounting surface, 8...laser light, 9...laser plumb gauge, 10-12...distribution range finder, 20...beam compressor, 21...convex lens (objective lens), 22...image side lens, 23...optical filter, 24...lens barrel, 30...laser receiving device, 31, 115...laser receiving type reference center sensor (PSD ), 32...capture area, 101...reference center sensor, 102...distance sensor, 103...attitude detection unit (level), 104...control unit, 105...display unit, 106...power supply, 107...base plate, 108...device support unit (such as a tripod equipped with an attitude adjustment mechanism (platform) 111), 109...measurement bar, 110...reference sensor bracket, 111...attitude adjustment mechanism (platform), 112...wireless communication unit, 113...portable terminal, 114...extension rod

Claims (12)

A distribution distance meter that measures distribution distances to measurement target surfaces facing each other in both directions based on a reference center,
a reference core sensor that measures and outputs a deviation distance of the reference core from a center line of a capture area that captures the reference core;
a pair of distance sensors that detect and output an actual distance from the center line to the measurement target surface;
Equipped with
outputting the allocated distance by correcting the actual measured distance with the deviation distance;
Distance measuring device. The pair of distance sensors each include a measuring bar that slides and expands and contracts, and an end of the measuring bar that contacts the measurement target surface has a flat surface that can be in contact with the measurement target in parallel, and the flat surfaces are brought into close contact with the opposing measurement target surfaces, respectively, to fix the pair of distance sensors to the measurement target surface.
2. The rangefinder according to claim 1. a base plate including the reference center sensor disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction, the pair of distance sensors extending in both directions, a control unit, and a display unit, the base plate being fixed to an apparatus support unit;
The control unit calculates the distribution distance and displays it on the display unit.
3. The rangefinder according to claim 2. The device support part is provided with an attitude adjustment mechanism.
4. The rangefinder according to claim 3. The reference axis is a vertical line,
The base plate includes an attitude detection unit that assists in maintaining the entire horizontal position including the pair of distance sensors disposed at both ends.
4. The rangefinder according to claim 3. a wireless communication unit that transmits data of the reference center sensor and the sorting distance acquired by the distance sensor to an external device;
2. The rangefinder according to claim 1. The device support part has an extensible rod that expands and contracts in the horizontal direction, and is held in a state in which the opposing measurement target surface or a corresponding wall surface is elastically pressed by the extensible rod.
4. The rangefinder according to claim 3. The reference center is a laser beam that is irradiated vertically from a ceiling or a floor,
The reference center sensor is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional laser receiving type optical position sensor capable of detecting the position of the laser light and specifying a positional relationship with the laser light.
2. The rangefinder according to claim 1. the optical position sensor is fitted with a beam compressor in a capture region;
The beam compressor includes at least an objective lens having a focal point disposed in a lens barrel.
9. The rangefinder according to claim 8. As a measuring tool for quality control during installation of an escalator or during periodic inspections after installation,
The reference core is the center of distribution, and the measurement target surfaces face each other on both sides of the reference core,
Depending on the difference in the measurement target surface, it is possible to measure at least any one of the distribution distances of the frame distribution, the rail distribution, the panel support distribution, and the skirt guard distribution.
The sorting rangefinder according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The results measured by the measuring tool are formed into a predetermined inspection report format.
11. The rangefinder according to claim 10. A method for measuring a distribution distance to a measurement target surface facing in both directions based on a reference center, comprising:
Capturing the reference core in a capture area of a reference core sensor;
the reference center sensor measures and outputs a deviation distance of the reference center from a center line of the capture area;
A pair of distance sensors detects and outputs an actual distance from the center line to the measurement target surface;
outputting the allocated distance by correcting the actual measured distance with the deviation distance;
Distance measurement method.

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