JP2003311324A - Number counting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a number counting device 1 for correctly counting the number of passing bar steels 3 in any condition. <P>SOLUTION: The number counting device 1 comprises a base plate 5, a slide bar 7, a housing 9, a set collar 11, a rocking bar 13, a spiral spring 15, and a proximity switch 17. The slide bar 7 comprises a linear shaft 27, a plunger 29, a spherical body 31, and a hanging part 33. The set collar 11 holes the linear shaft 27, and the linear shaft 27 is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the set collar 11. When the bar steel 3 passes on the spherical body 31, the spherical body 31 is pressed downwardly by the weight of the bar steel 3, and the slide bar 7 slides downwardly. During the slide, the rocking bar 13 is turned counterclockwise with a hinge pin 41 as a fulcrum. A tip part 39 is brought close to the proximity switch 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for counting the number of continuously flowing bar materials such as steel bars and steel pipes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of rolling is widely known as a method of manufacturing steel bars (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-263602).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-42619). In this manufacturing method, first, the billet obtained through the steps of refining, ingot making, slab rolling, etc. is heated in a heating furnace. Next, this billet is subjected to multi-stage hot rolling. This hot rolling gradually reduces the diameter of the billet and lengthens it. In this way, a rolled material is obtained. The rolled material is cut into a predetermined size after cooling to obtain a steel bar. A large number (several to several hundreds) of steel bars are transported to a binding device, and the binding device bands the products to be shipped.

Prior to banding, the number of steel bars needs to be counted. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state of the conventional counting method. In this method, the rail 10
A large number of steel bars 103 are placed on top of 1. Steel bar 10
The cross-sectional shape of 3 is a circle. Although the rail 101 is inclined downward to the right, the steel bar is prevented from rolling by the stopper 105. When the stopper 105 is opened from the state shown in FIG. 5, the steel bar 103 rolls on the rail 101, moves to the right, and rolls down on the pillar 107.

A photoelectric tube 109 is arranged on the downstream side of the stopper 105. A laser beam 111 is emitted from the photoelectric tube 109. Laser beam 11
The distance between the focal point of 1 and the rail 101 substantially matches the diameter of the steel bar 103. The laser beam 111 counts the number of steel bars 103 passing directly under the photoelectric tube 109. The stopper 105 is closed when a predetermined number of steel bars 103 have passed. As a result, a predetermined number of steel bars 103 are stored in the pillar 107. These steel bars 103 are bound together.

A proximity switch may be provided in place of the photocell 109. The proximity switch grasps the passage of the steel bar 103 by the change of the magnetic field. As a result, the number of steel bars 103 passing immediately below the proximity switch can be counted.

The number of steel bars 103 may be counted by image processing. In the image processing, the highest point of each steel bar 103 is recognized as a "mountain" and the space between the steel bars 103 is recognized as a "valley". Then, the number of lines is derived from the number of repetitions of mountains and valleys.

[0007]

In the counting method using the photoelectric tube 109, the focal point of the laser beam 111 must be almost coincident with the uppermost portion of the steel bar 103 passing through.
Therefore, the position of the photoelectric tube 109 needs to be adjusted according to the diameter of the steel bar 103 flown through the line. This adjustment requires labor and time. Moreover, if the steel bar 103 vibrates during rolling, incorrect counting may occur. Further, when polishing steel bar (steel bar whose scale has been polished and removed) is flown, the laser beam 11
Since 1 is irregularly reflected, it is impossible to count the number accurately.

Even in the counting method using the proximity switch, its position needs to be adjusted according to the diameter of the steel bar 103 flowed through the line. This adjustment requires labor and time. Moreover, in the proximity switch, an erroneous count is likely to occur when a plurality of steel bars 103 pass closely to each other.
Further, when a strip made of a non-magnetic material is flowed, the proximity switch cannot count.

Even in the counting method by image processing, it is necessary to adjust the position of the camera according to the diameter of the steel bar 103 flown through the line. Moreover, when the polished steel bar is flowed, the light is diffusely reflected on the surface of the steel bar, and the accurate number cannot be counted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a device capable of accurately counting the number of passing strips regardless of the circumstances.

[0011]

The number counting device of the present invention comprises: (1) a guide on which a strip member moves while rolling, (2) an upper end of which protrudes from the upper face of the guide, and A slide bar that slides from the upper position to the lower position when the upper end is pushed by the passage of material,
(3) An urging member that urges the slide bar upward, and (4) a sensor that detects the movement of the slide bar to the lower position.

[0012] Preferably, the slide bar has a sphere located at the upper end thereof. This sphere is rollable.
The spheres prevent the strip from being damaged.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings,
The present invention will be explained in detail based on the preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a number counting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a steel bar 3, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the device 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the device 1 of FIG. The device 1 includes a substrate 5, a slide bar 7, a housing 9, a set collar 11, a swing bar 13, a helical spring 15, and a proximity switch 17.

The substrate 5 stands upright in the vertical direction. The upper part of the substrate 5 constitutes a guide 19. The upper surface of the guide 19 has a slope 2 that is inclined to the right in FIG.
1, a horizontal portion 23, and a downhill portion 2 inclined downward to the right
5 and. The steel bar 3 rolls from left to right in FIG. 1 while contacting the upper surface of the guide 19.

The slide bar 7 has a linear shaft 27.
A plunger 29, a sphere 31, and a hanging portion 33. The linear shaft 27 is arranged so that its axial direction is vertical. The plunger 29 is fixed to the upper end of the linear shaft 27 and projects upward. The sphere 31 is attached to the upper end of the plunger 29. More than half of the sphere 31 is buried in the plunger 29, which prevents the sphere 31 from coming off the plunger 29. The sphere 31 is rotatable with respect to the plunger 29. The hanging portion 33 is fixed to the lower end of the linear shaft 27 and hangs downward.

The housing 9 has a bolt 35 (see FIG. 2).
It is fixed to the substrate 5 by. Set color 11
Are stored in the housing 9. Set color 11
Has a cylindrical shape, and the linear shaft 27 is inserted into the set collar 11. The set collar 11 holds a linear shaft 27, and the linear shaft 27 is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the set collar 11.

The swing bar 13 includes a body portion 37 and the body portion 3
And a tip portion 39 having a diameter smaller than 7. The rear end of the body portion 37 is rotatably supported by a hinge pin 41. The hinge pin 41 is fixed to the substrate 5.
The vicinity of the center of the body portion 37 and the hanging portion 33 are provided with a bearing 43.
Are linked by. The angle between the body portion 37 and the hanging portion 33 is variable. The tip portion 39 is made of a magnetic material (for example, stainless steel).

The upper end of the spiral spring 15 is hooked on a hanging body 45 fixed to the substrate 5. The lower end of the spiral spring 15 is fixed to the tip portion 39. The spiral spring 15 is a so-called tension spring, and a force acts in the contracting direction. As a result, the tip 39 is biased upward, and the slide bar 7 is also biased upward. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the slide bar 7 is in the upper position. As is clear from FIG. 3, when the slide bar 7 is in the upper position, the spherical body 31 projects upward from the horizontal portion 23 of the guide 19. The upper end of the plunger 29 has a horizontal portion 23.
It is almost the same height as.

The proximity switch 17 is fixed to the substrate 5 via a metal fitting 47 and a bolt 49. Proximity switch 1
The length direction of 7 is a horizontal direction. Proximity switch 17
Detects the proximity of the magnetic material to its tip.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a count line in which the number counting device 1 of FIG. 1 is used. In this figure, a rail 51, a stopper 53, a pillar 55 and a steel bar 3 are shown together with the number counting device 1.
The rail 51 is inclined downward to the right. Stopper 5
On the left side of 3, there are many steel bars 3 waiting.

When the stopper 53 is opened, the rail 51
The steel bar 3 rolls and moves to the right due to the inclination. The steel bar 3 advances to the horizontal part 23 while being decelerated by the climbing part 21. In the horizontal portion 23, the steel bar 3 passes over the sphere 31. At this time, the spherical body 31 is caused by the weight of the steel bar 3.
Is pushed downward, and the slide bar 7 slides to the lower position. When sliding, the swing bar 13 rotates counterclockwise around the hinge pin 41 as a fulcrum. As a result, the tip portion 39 comes close to the proximity switch 17. This proximity is detected by the proximity switch 17, and a signal is emitted from the proximity switch 17 to a calculation unit (not shown). Based on this signal, the arithmetic unit adds one. The deceleration at the climbing section 21 makes the counting more accurate.

The steel bar 3 which has passed through the sphere 31 is lowered 25
And then falls down to the pillar 55. As described above, since the spiral spring 15 biases the slide bar 7 upward, after the steel bar 3 has passed the sphere 31,
The swing bar 13 pivots clockwise with the hinge pin 41 as a fulcrum, and the tip 39 separates from the proximity switch 17. At the same time, the slide bar 7 returns to the upper position. Thus, the number of steel bars 3 stored in the pillar 55 is accurately counted. If the helical spring 15 having the optimum spring constant is selected, the responsiveness of the slide bar 7 is improved.

In this device 1, due to the weight of the steel bar 3,
In other words, the number of steel bars 3 is counted by the mechanical action. Therefore, the counting accuracy is not affected by the surface condition of the steel bar 3. In this device 1, the number of the polished steel bars 3, which was difficult to count in the conventional device using the phototube or the image processing, can be accurately counted.

In this device 1, since the number of strips is counted by the mechanical action as described above, the counting accuracy is not affected by the strip material. In this device 1,
Even the number of strips made of a non-magnetic material, which cannot be counted by the conventional device in which the proximity of the strips is detected by the proximity switch 17, can be accurately counted.

Since the passage of the lowest point of the steel bar 3 is detected in this device 1, it is not necessary to change the position of the sensor according to the diameter of the steel bar 3. In the line where the device 1 is used, the steel bars 3 having various thicknesses are efficiently counted.

In this device 1, even when a plurality of steel bars 3 flow closely, or when the steel bars 3 flow while vibrating, the number can be accurately counted.

The sphere 31 rolls by contact with the steel bar 3. Thereby, the friction between the spherical body 31 and the steel bar 3 is suppressed, and the steel bar 3 is prevented from being scratched. Moreover, damage to the sphere 31 itself is suppressed. This device 1 has excellent durability. Further, by adopting the spherical body 31, the number of steel bars 3 having a relatively small diameter can be accurately counted. Specifically, if a sphere 31 with a diameter of 5 mm is adopted, the diameter will be 10
Even with a steel bar 3 of mm, the number can be counted.

The above description is only one example of the present invention.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the guide 19 does not necessarily have to include the uphill road 21. The slide bar 7 does not have to include the sphere 31. As a biasing member, a leaf spring, an air spring, or the like may be used instead of the spiral spring 15.
As the sensor, a photoelectric tube, a contact sensor, or the like may be used instead of the proximity switch 17.

[0030]

As described above, if the number counting device of the present invention is used, regardless of the situation,
The number of passing strips can be accurately counted. With this device, troubles such as insufficient number of bundles of shipped strips can be prevented. This device is compact,
It is inexpensive and easy to attach to the line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a number counting device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a steel bar.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the number counting device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the number counting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a count line in which the number counting device of FIG. 1 is used.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state of a conventional counting method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Counting device 3 ... bar steel 5 ... Substrate 7 ... Slide bar 13 ... rocking bar 15 ... Spring spring 17 ... Proximity switch 19 ... Guide 21 ... climbing section 23 ... Horizontal part 25: Downhill section 27: Linear shaft 29 ... Plunger 31 ... Sphere 33 ... hanging part 41 ... Hinge pin 43 ... Bearing 51 ... Rail 53 ... Stopper 55 ... Piler

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A guide in which a strip moves while rolling on its upper surface, and its upper end projects from the upper surface of the guide, and the upper end is pushed by passage of the strip to slide from an upper position to a lower position. A number counting device including a slide bar, a biasing member that biases the slide bar upward, and a sensor that detects movement of the slide bar to a lower position. 2. The number counting device according to claim 1, wherein the slide bar includes a sphere located at an upper end thereof, and the sphere is rotatably attached.