JP4858731B2 - Sensor head mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor head mounting structure for mounting a sensor head of a sensor to a support member, and more particularly to a sensor head mounting structure that facilitates angle adjustment around an axis.

  Conventionally, in the mounting structure of a sensor head (equivalent to a camera) in a sensor, particularly a visual sensor (also referred to as an image processing sensor), a through-hole penetrating in the horizontal direction is formed in the base of the sensor head, and the through-hole The sensor head is attached to the side surface of the support member using this, or a screw hole is made in the bottom surface of the base portion of the sensor head, and this is attached to the horizontal surface of the support member in the same manner as a camera tripod. Such a structure is known.

  Various conventional examples are known as attachments interposed between the camera and the tripod when the camera is fixed on the tripod (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

No. 7-54718

  However, in the conventional sensor head mounting structure described above, the sensor head base and the support member are fixed with screws, so that the angle adjustment around the optical axis of the sensor head is performed, There is a problem in that a complicated work is required such that an appropriate jig is manufactured on the spot between the sensor head base and the support member each time.

  In particular, assuming that an article flowing on the conveyor is inspected with a visual sensor, the direction of the article flowing on the conveyor (head up, head down, head to the right) Regardless of whether the head is turned to the left or the like, the angle on the optical axis of the sensor head needs to be adjusted according to the direction of the article in order to always display the image on the monitor screen in a certain direction. There was a result that caused trouble in the work.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to design a dedicated jig for the sensor head portion of the sensor in accordance with the site each time, It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor head mounting structure that can realize angle adjustment around the optical axis with a high degree of freedom without any detachment work.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensor head mounting structure that is easy to manufacture and can be realized at low cost.

  Other objects and operational effects of the present invention will be easily understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the description of the following specification.

  The sensor head portion mounting structure of the present invention is a structure for mounting the sensor head portion of the sensor to a support member. Here, the “sensor” typically includes a sensor having an important meaning for angle adjustment around the optical axis, such as a visual sensor (image processing sensor). The present invention can be widely applied to sensors having significance in angle adjustment around an axis, such as a displacement sensor that optically measures the distance to an object using a method, and other magnetic field type proximity sensors.

  This sensor head portion mounting structure includes a square tube case having a regular polygonal cross section that constitutes the sensor head portion, and a mounting jig interposed between the square tube case and the support member. That is, it is an indispensable requirement to make the sensor head case a square cylindrical case having a regular polygonal cross section. Here, the “cross-sectional regular polygon shape” includes various regular polygons such as a quadrangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, and the like.

  The mounting jig is formed by integrally molding a central portion, a left side plate portion, and a right side plate portion with a synthetic resin. The width of the central plate portion is substantially the same as the circumferential width of each surface of the rectangular tube case. The width of the left and right side plate portions is substantially the same as or narrower than the circumferential width of each surface of the rectangular tube-shaped case. The angle formed by the central plate portion and the left and right side plate portions is substantially the same as or narrower than the angle formed by the adjacent surfaces of the rectangular cylindrical case. The central plate portion is provided with an attachment portion used for attachment to the support member, and locking protrusions are formed on the inner surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side plate portions. Furthermore, locking grooves that engage with the locking protrusions of the left and right side plate portions of the mounting jig are formed on each surface in the circumferential direction of the rectangular cylindrical case, and the arrangement pattern of the locking grooves is It is the same for all surfaces in the circumferential direction.

  According to such a configuration, the mounting jig is mounted so that the central plate portion, the left side plate portion, and the right side plate portion of the mounting jig correspond to the three adjacent surfaces of the rectangular tube case. If pressed against the outer periphery of the rectangular cylindrical case, the engaging projections of the left and right side plate portions of the mounting jig engage with the engaging grooves formed on each of the three surfaces of the rectangular tubular case, With the so-called snap-fit structure, the mounting jig is firmly fixed to any surface of the rectangular tube case. Also when removing, since a fixed fastening means such as a screw is not used, the mounting jig can be easily removed from the rectangular tube case by using a snap-fit structure. Since the center plate part of the mounting jig is provided with a mounting part for mounting to the support member, if the mounting jig is attached to the support member using this mounting part, the orientation of the support member The angle around the axis of the rectangular cylindrical case can be arbitrarily adjusted while the is fixed.

  As a preferred embodiment, a visual sensor is employed as the sensor. As described above, in the case of a visual sensor, it is assumed that an article flowing on the conveyor is photographed from above and displayed as an image. If the angle around the optical axis of the sensor head can be adjusted according to the direction of the flowing article, the image display unit always has a fixed direction on the screen of the image display, without complicated rotation operations. The image of the article can be displayed toward the screen.

  In a preferred embodiment, the square cylindrical case constituting the sensor head portion can have a square cross-sectional shape. According to such a configuration, the angle formed between the central plate portion and the left and right side plate portions can be made to be a right angle or slightly narrower than that, and using the snap-fit structure, In addition to facilitating the strength design when engaging with the groove, there is an advantage that there is no unreasonableness in either operation of attachment or detachment.

  As a preferred embodiment, the attachment portion provided in the central plate portion of the attachment jig can be a tap hole. According to such a configuration, the attachment jig can be easily attached to an arbitrary support member using the screwing method in the same manner as the conventional attachment structure.

  In a preferred embodiment, the tap hole may be formed by insert molding of a female screw member. According to such a configuration, in the synthetic resin integrated molding operation of the mounting jig, the tap holes can be formed at the same time, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of manufacturing steps.

  According to the sensor head mounting structure of the present invention, it is easy to adjust the angle around the axis (for example, around the optical axis) when mounting the sensor head portion to the support member.

1 is an external perspective view of an entire visual sensor to which the present invention is applied. It is a front view of the sensor head part with a code | cord | chord with which the jig | tool for attachment was mounted | worn. It is a side view of the sensor head part with a code | cord | chord with which the jig | tool for attachment was mounted | worn. It is a top view of the sensor head part with a code | cord | chord with which the jig | tool for attachment was mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the structure of the jig | tool for attachment. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of the jig for attachment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the state before mounting | wearing with a sensor head part and the jig | tool for attachment. It is explanatory drawing which shows mounting | wearing operation | movement of the mounting jig with respect to a sensor head part. It is a perspective view of the sensor head part in which mounting of the mounting jig is completed.

  In the following, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of the entire visual sensor to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the visual sensor includes a sensor head unit 1 and an amplifier unit 2. As will be described in detail later, video captured by the camera constituting the sensor head unit 1 is sent to the amplifier unit 2 and displayed on the screen of an image display provided in the amplifier unit 2.

  The structure of the amplifier unit 2 will be briefly described. The amplifier unit 2 has a rectangular case 201. On the front surface of the case 201, an LED display 204 and an operation unit cover 205 constituting an image display are provided. As described above, the image captured by the sensor head unit 1 is displayed on the LED display 204. The operation unit cover 205 can be opened and closed. When the operation unit cover 205 is opened, various function keys, setting keys, and the like appear from below. Connection connector covers 206 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the case 201. The cover 206 can be slidably opened and closed. When the cover 206 is opened, a connector for continuous installation appears from below. An electric cord 202 is drawn from the lower part of the case 201. This electric cord 202 is connected to, for example, a PLC or the like, and is used for transmission and reception of input / output signals and the like. A receptacle 203 is provided on the upper surface of the case 201. As will be described later, the receptacle 203 is connected to a plug at the tip of the electric cord drawn out from the sensor head unit 1.

  Next, the structure of the sensor head unit 1 will be described. The sensor head portion 1 has a rectangular tube case having a substantially square cross section. The rectangular tube case is divided into a main body case 101 and a tip case 102. A photographing window 104 is drawn out at the axial front end of the rectangular tube case, and an electric cord 103 is drawn out from the rear end. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a plug 105 is provided at the tip of the electric cord 103, and the plug 105 is coupled to the receptacle 203 of the amplifier unit 2. As a result, various data can be transmitted and received between the sensor head unit 1 and the amplifier unit 2.

  Although not shown, the tip case 102 is provided with an optical system such as a light receiving lens and a plurality of LED illuminators. These LED indicators are arranged around the light receiving optical system.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the main body case 101 has four circumferential surfaces including a first surface S1, a second surface S2, a third surface S3, and a fourth surface S4. A right-side locking groove 106 and a left-side locking groove 107 that extend in the axial direction are formed in each of the surfaces S1 to S4. In these locking grooves, as shown in a slightly enlarged manner in FIG. 2, a front groove protrusion 108 and a rear groove protrusion 109 are provided. That is, in this example, the right side locking groove 106, the left side locking groove 107, the front groove inner protrusion 108, and the rear groove inner protrusion 109 have the same arrangement pattern on each of the four surfaces S1 to S4. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, in each of the front groove inner protrusion 108 and the rear groove inner protrusion 109, the front side surface is a vertical surface, while the rear side surfaces are tapered surfaces 108a and 109a. It is said that. This is to facilitate attachment / detachment of a mounting jig described later.

  Next, the structure of the mounting jig 3 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the mounting jig 3 is formed by integrally molding a central plate portion 301, a left side plate portion 302, a right side plate portion 303, and a back side protruding portion 304 with a synthetic resin. The width of the center plate portion 301 is substantially the same as the circumferential width of each surface (S1 to S4) of the rectangular tube case. The widths of the left and right side plate portions 302 and 303 are approximately half the circumferential width of each surface (S1 to S4) of the rectangular tube case. The angle formed by the central plate portion 301 and the left and right side plate portions 302 and 303 is 90 °, which is an angle formed by adjacent surfaces (for example, the surface S1 and the surface S2) of the rectangular cylindrical case. The central plate 302 is provided with a central mounting hole 305, a front mounting hole 306, and a rear mounting hole 307, which are mounting parts used for mounting to the support member. Further, a central locking projection 308, a front locking projection 309, and a rear locking projection 310, which are locking projections, are formed on the inner surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side plate portions 302 and 303. Has been.

  Next, details of the center mounting hole 305, the front mounting hole 306, and the rear mounting hole 307 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting holes 305 to 307 are manufactured by embedding female thread members 305 a, 306 a, and 307 a in the back side protruding portion 304 by insert molding. Therefore, in the resin molding process for manufacturing the mounting jig, not only the outer diameter of the mounting jig but also the tap hole which is the mounting hole for the support member can be formed simultaneously.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, a method of mounting the sensor head unit 1 and the mounting jig 3 will be described.

  As described above, the sensor head portion 1 and the mounting jig 3 are joined using a snap-fit structure using the elasticity of synthetic resin. In addition, the coupling between the two is made by the right side locking groove 106 and the left side locking groove 107 provided on each surface (S1 to S4) of the sensor head part 1, and the left and right side plate parts 302 of the mounting jig 3. This is performed using a center locking projection 308, a front locking projection 309, and a rear locking projection 310 provided on each of 303. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 110 denotes a light receiving lens, and 111 denotes an illuminator composed of LEDs.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8, three locking projections 308 to 310 provided at the tip of one of the left and right side plate portions (in this example, the side plate portion 303) are formed in a rectangular tube shape. The right engagement groove 106 provided on the first surface (S1) of the case is firmly engaged. At that time, the front groove protrusion 108 and the rear groove protrusion 109 described above are used for positioning both in the axial direction. Thereafter, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 8, by utilizing the elasticity of the synthetic resin, the mounting jig 3 is rotated while being expanded, and the central plate portion 301 is rotated to the fourth surface (S4) of the rectangular tube case. ) So that it is parallel to Then, the locking protrusions 308 to 310 provided at the tip of the other side plate portion (in this example, the right side plate portion 302) are left locking grooves 107 provided on the third surface (S3) of the rectangular tubular case. By being engaged with each other, both are firmly fixed by a so-called snap-fit structure. After that, if the screw through which the support member (not shown) is penetrated is screwed into all or selected one of the center mounting hole 305, the front mounting hole 306, and the rear mounting hole 307, the mounting jig 3 becomes the supporting member. (See FIG. 9). On the other hand, when detaching, if the main body case 101 is slightly displaced forward in the axial direction, the coupling between the two is loosened by the action of the taper surfaces 108a and 109a. In this state, the elasticity of the synthetic resin is utilized. The main body case 101 and the mounting jig 3 can be removed.

  As described above, the mounting structure of the sensor head portion of the present invention includes the square tube case 107 having a square cross section constituting the sensor head portion 1, and the square tube case and a support member (not shown). And a mounting jig 3 interposed therebetween. The mounting jig 3 is formed by integrally molding a central plate portion 301, a left side plate portion 302, and a right side plate portion 303 with a synthetic resin. The width of the center plate portion 301 is substantially the same as the circumferential width of each surface (S1 to S4) of the rectangular tube case 104. The widths of the left and right side plate portions 302 and 303 are about half of the circumferential width of each surface (S1 to S4) of the rectangular tubular case 101. The angle formed by the central plate portion 301 and the left and right side plate portions 302 and 303 is 90 °, which is substantially the same as the angle formed by adjacent surfaces of the rectangular tubular case 101. The central plate 301 is provided with a central mounting hole 305, a front mounting hole 306, and a rear mounting hole 307 that are provided for mounting to a support member (not shown), as well as left and right side plate sections 302, 303. A central portion locking projection 308, a front portion locking projection 309, and a rear portion locking projection 310 are formed on the inner surface of the front end portion. Furthermore, each surface (S1 to S4) of the square cylindrical case (main body case 101) is engaged with the engagement protrusions 308 to 310 of the left and right side plate portions 302 and 303 of the mounting jig 3. The grooves 106 and 107 are locked, and the arrangement pattern of the locking grooves 106 and 107 is the same for all surfaces (S1 to S4).

  For this reason, according to the present invention, both the engagement grooves 106 and 107 on the case side and the engagement protrusions 308 to 310 on the attachment jig side are engaged with each other, and the snap fit structure using resin elasticity is used. Can be easily attached and detached. Moreover, since the locking grooves 106 and 107 are formed in the same pattern on each surface (S1 to S4) of the case, the angle around the axis can be arbitrarily adjusted in units of 90 °. Furthermore, since the mounting holes 305 to 306 on the mounting jig side are tapped holes in which metal female screw members are embedded, the fixing of the support member (not shown) and the mounting jig 3 is stable and stable. Will be. Further, since the in-groove protrusions 108 and 109 of the locking grooves 106 and 107 are formed with tapered surfaces 108a and 109a, the work of removing the jig 3 from the main body case 101 is facilitated.

  In the above description, the present invention is applied to a visual sensor. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and rotation around an axis such as other displacement sensors, proximity sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and the like. It can be applied to sensor heads of various sensors that require adjustment.

  Moreover, in the above example, although the attachment part was made into the tap hole, it cannot be overemphasized that the structure for attaching the jig | tool 3 for attachment to a supporting member is not limited to this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor head part 2 Amplifier part 3 Attachment jig | tool 101 Main body part case 102 Tip part case 103 Electric cord 104 Image | photographing window 105 Plug 106 Right side locking groove 107 Left side locking groove 108 Projection part in front groove 108a Tapered surface 109 Rear groove protrusion 109a Tapered surface 110 Lens 111 LED illuminator 201 Case 202 Electrical cord 203 Receptacle 204 LED indicator 205 Operation unit cover 206 Cover for connector for connection 301 Central plate part 302 Left side plate part 303 Right side plate part 304 Rear side Projection 305 Center mounting hole 306 Front mounting hole 307 Rear mounting hole 308 Center locking projection 309 Front locking projection 310 Rear locking projection

Claims (2)

A structure for attaching a sensor head portion of a sensor to a support member,
Including a square cylindrical case having a regular polygonal cross section constituting the sensor head portion, and a mounting jig interposed between the square cylindrical case and the support member,
The mounting jig is formed by integrally molding the central plate portion, the left side plate portion, and the right side plate portion with a synthetic resin,
The width of the central plate portion is substantially the same width as the circumferential width of each surface of the rectangular tube case,
The width of the left and right side plate portions is substantially the same width as the circumferential width of each surface of the rectangular tube-shaped case or narrower than that,
The angle formed by the center plate portion and the left and right side plate portions is substantially the same as or slightly narrower than the angle formed by the adjacent surfaces of the rectangular cylindrical case,
The central plate portion is provided with an attachment portion provided for attachment to the support member, and a plurality of (308 to 310) locking protrusions are formed on the inner surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side plate portions. Locking grooves that engage with the locking protrusions of the left and right side plate portions of the mounting jig are formed on each surface in the circumferential direction of the rectangular cylindrical case, and the arrangement pattern of the locking grooves is in the circumferential direction. The front groove inner protrusion and the rear groove inner protrusion are provided in the locking groove, and the front groove inner protrusion and the rear groove inner protrusion are respectively provided in the locking groove. One of the front side and the rear side is a vertical surface, and the other surface is a tapered surface.   2. The sensor head mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality (106, 107) of the locking grooves are formed on each circumferential surface of the rectangular tubular case.

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