JP2001289626A - Position measuring instrument and fluid remaining amount detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink remaing amount detecting device for a printer which can measure a range from a short distance to a long distance by switching and using distance information from distance sensors having different distance measurement ranges. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a short-distance sensor 94 and a long-distance sensor 95 which come into contact with the bottom surface side of an ink bottle 82 to measure the position of a piston 90, and a selecting means which selects distance information from the sensor 94 or 95 by using information on the distance to the piston 90 obtained from the sensor 94 or 95. Therefore, the position of the piston 90 can be measured continuously from a short distance to a long distance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a position measuring device and a fluid remaining amount detecting device. 2. Description of the Related Art In a printing apparatus, an ink container including a container storing ink and a movable member movably provided in the container may be used. In such an ink container, a moving body moves in a predetermined direction in the container as ink comes out of the container. The present invention is effective in accurately grasping the remaining amount of ink in a container by continuously detecting the distance to a moving object from a short distance to a long distance in such an ink container of a printing apparatus. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the remaining amount of ink in an ink bottle loaded in a printing press is detected by triangulating that the piston inside the ink bottle, which follows the remaining amount of ink, has reached a predetermined position. This was detected using a photoelectric sensor of the type and displayed on a display device to inform the user of the printing press that the consumption of ink was progressing.

[0003]

However, by simply displaying that the ink is depleted as in the conventional display contents, it is possible to print the remaining amount of ink and the number of remaining inks. The user could not know the important information as to whether there was.

Further, a conventional linear output type ultrasonic sensor or triangulation type photoelectric sensor is required for detecting the remaining amount of ink.
If the sensor is used for measurement in the range of 0 to 400 (mm), it is difficult to detect a short distance position with a conventional sensor, and a space of 60 (mm) or more is obtained at a position where the piston to be detected is closest. I needed to empty. Spacing such a large space inside a small printing machine having a depth of about 650 (mm) where miniaturization is important was not a very practicable condition.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and continuously measures the position of a moving body of a fluid container from a short distance to a long distance in a small space, and determines the remaining amount of fluid in the fluid container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a position measuring device and a fluid remaining amount detecting device capable of displaying the same.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position measuring device for measuring a position of a target moving in a predetermined direction from a starting position. A plurality of distance sensors that are provided and have different measurement ranges for measuring the distance to the target; and a selection unit that selects at least one of the plurality of distance sensors according to distance information from the plurality of distance sensors. And characterized in that:

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for detecting a remaining amount of a fluid, wherein the container is provided with a fluid outlet and is filled in the fluid, and the inside of the container is provided as the fluid flows out of the outlet. A moving body moving in a predetermined direction from the departure position, a plurality of distance sensors provided in the vicinity of the container and having different measurement ranges for measuring a distance to the moving body, and a distance from the plurality of distance sensors. Selecting means for selecting at least one of the plurality of distance sensors in accordance with information; and calculating means for calculating the remaining amount of fluid in the container based on distance information from the distance sensor selected by the selecting means. It is characterized by having.

[0008] A fluid remaining amount detecting device according to claim 3
Is a fluid remaining amount detecting device according to claim 2, wherein
The distance sensor is the distance L to the moving object.₁(L_c≤L₁≤L_e)of
A short-range sensor that outputs a signal that weakens with the increase,
Distance L to moving object_Two(L_d≤L _Two≤L_f)
Including at least a long-distance sensor that outputs a weakening signal
Departure (L_c<L_d≤L_e<L_f), At least the distance
The separation sensor is L_cInstalled at a distance
The selection means moves the moving body from the departure position.
After starting the movement, first select the short distance sensor,
The distance is L_m(However, L_d≤L_m≤L_eBefore)
It is configured to select the long distance sensor.
It is a sign.

A fluid remaining amount detecting device according to claim 4.
Is a fluid remaining amount detecting device according to claim 2, wherein
The distance sensor is the distance L to the moving object.₁Is L_h≤L₁≤L_iRange of
A digital type for short distances that outputs an ON signal when in the surrounding area
Sensor and distance L to moving object _TwoIs L_iWhen it is more than
Release L_TwoSignal for a long distance that outputs a signal that weakens as the
At least the distance sensor
Is L from the mobile_hInstalled at a distance more than
The selecting means starts moving the moving body from the departure position.
After starting, first select the short distance sensor,
When the output of the distance sensor is turned off,
Characterized by being configured to select a sensor
You.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a position measuring device and a fluid remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a stencil printing apparatus provided with an ink remaining amount detecting device which is an embodiment of a position measuring device and a fluid remaining amount detecting device.

Inside the main body 14 of the stencil printing apparatus 12,
The printing drum 16 is rotatably arranged, and the printing drum 16
A clamp member 18 for holding the end of the master when the master is put on a plate is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the master. A squeegee roller 20 in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the printing drum 16 and a doctor roller 22 for uniformly supplying the printing ink to the squeegee roller 20 are disposed inside the printing drum 16. Is arranged. The press roller 24 is disposed at a position facing the squeegee roller 20 and is provided so as to be able to move up and down so as to contact and separate from the outer peripheral surface of the print drum 16.

On the left side of the main body 14 in FIG.
Is provided. Above the paper feed table 26, there are provided a scraper 28 for feeding out the printing paper P stacked on the paper feed table 26 one by one toward the printing drum 16, and a pickup roller 30. Further, a pair of upper and lower timing rollers 32 are provided adjacent to the pickup roller 30, and the timing roller 32 accurately feeds the printing paper P in conjunction with the operation of the printing drum 16 and the press roller 24. The scraper 28 and the pickup roller 30 include a one-way clutch, and when the printing paper P is transported by the timing roller 32, the printing paper P is driven to rotate.

On the right side of the printing drum 16 in FIG. 1, a peeling claw 34, a transport belt 36, and a suction unit 37 are provided. The printing paper P is peeled from the printing drum 16 by the peeling claw 34, and the peeled printing paper P is
After being attracted to the conveyor belt 36 by the suction unit 37, the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge table 10 by the conveyor belt 36.

On the upper part of the main body 14, a lid 38 is provided. A line image sensor 40 is attached to the back side of the lid 38, and a document separating roller 42 is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 14 facing the line image sensor 40, with the upper part thereof partially projecting from the main body 14. I have. Reference numeral 44 denotes a document table, and a document 46 is supplied between the document separating roller 42 and the line image sensor 40 from outside the lid 38 by using the document table 44.

A master roll around which a master 48 is wound is housed in the main body 14 in a rotatable state.
From there, a plate making section 50, a stencil stock box 52, a cutter 54 and the like are provided toward the printing drum 16.
Further, a plate discharging box 58 provided with a plate discharging claw 56 is provided on the opposite side of the cutter 54 across the printing drum 16. The plate making section 50 is composed of a thermal head 60 and a platen roller 62 disposed opposite to the thermal head.

The paper discharge tray 10 is provided with a collision wall 70 against which the discharged print paper P collides, a paper floor 72 on which the print paper P is stacked, and a pair of discharge papers which regulate the positions of both edges of the print paper P. It is composed of paper fences 74,74.

Inside the printing drum 16, there is an ink bottle 82 storing printing ink 80, a pipe 86 for transporting the ink 80 from the ink bottle 82 to the ink pump 84, and an ink pumped by the ink pump 84. Distributor 8 for distributing 80 to squeegee roller 20 all over
8 are provided. The ink 80 dropped from the distributor 88 onto the squeegee roller 20 is blocked by the doctor roller 22 and stays there. When the amount of stay increases, a sensor (not shown) for detecting an excessive amount of ink operates to stop the ink pump 84. This stagnant ink 8
Since 0 is transferred to the sheet P via the squeegee roller 20, the printing drum 16, and the master 48 as printing is performed, the staying amount gradually decreases. When the staying amount decreases, a sensor (not shown) for detecting an ink amount shortage operates to activate the ink pump 84 to increase the staying amount of ink. In this way, an appropriate amount of ink 80 is always retained.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an ink remaining amount detecting device for a printing apparatus according to the present invention. According to the drawing, an ink 80 is filled in an ink bottle 82 provided inside the print drum 16, and the ink 80 is sucked by an ink pump 84 (not shown). The freely arranged piston 90 is driven to the right in FIG. 2 according to the amount of ink used. At this time, the position L of the piston 90 is measured by the short distance sensor 94 and the long distance sensor 95 provided on the top plate or the maintenance door 92. When the ink bottle 82 is not yet used and is filled with the ink 80, the detection distance between the short-range sensor 94 and the long-range sensor 95 and the piston 90 with the piston 90 in contact with the tail cap 96. Is Lmin (mm). When the printing progresses and all the ink 80 is used, the piston 90 moves to the right end in FIG. 2 and the short distance sensor 94 and the long distance sensor 9 are moved.
5 reaches the position of Lmax (mm).

FIG. 3 shows a detection block diagram of the ink remaining amount detecting device of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. According to the figure, an ink remaining amount detecting device of a printing apparatus includes a short-distance sensor 94 and a long-distance sensor 95, an A / D 106 which reads output voltages of the respective sensors and converts them into digital signals, and outputs the digital signals. A CPU 108 serving as an information processing unit that can be read through a bus line or the like is provided. The CP
U selects a sensor for measuring the distance between the targets 101 according to the output value voltage value of the short distance sensor 94 and converts the output voltage of each sensor into the position information of the piston 90 and the remaining ink amount.

The CPU 108 is further connected to a RAM 110, which is a rewritable storage medium, and a storage medium ROM 112, in which programs and data are stored in advance, so that data can be read and written freely.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the distance L (mm) from the sensor for short distance and the sensor for long distance to the target, and the output voltage V (Volt) of each sensor. According to the output voltage characteristic Va of the short distance sensor shown in FIG.
When the distance to the target 101 is equal to or less than Lc (mm), the distance to the target cannot be used because the distance to the target cannot be uniquely determined with respect to the obtained sensor output voltage. When the sensor output voltage is lower than Ve, the curve of the output voltage characteristic becomes flat and the detection accuracy of the distance deteriorates.

The long distance sensor 95 is connected to the target 1
When the distance to 01 is equal to or less than Ld (mm), the distance to the target cannot be uniquely determined with respect to the obtained sensor output voltage.
If f (mm) or more (the sensor output voltage is Ve or less), the curve of the output voltage characteristic becomes flat and the detection accuracy of the distance deteriorates, so that it cannot be used.

Therefore, in the present invention, the target 101
Is set on the mechanism so that it is always equal to or greater than Lc (mm), and the CPU 108 first observes the output voltage of the short distance sensor 94. If the output voltage is Vd (Volt)
In this case, the output of the short distance sensor 94 is selected and the distance to the target 101 is calculated. When the output voltage is equal to or lower than Vd (Volt), the output of the long distance sensor 95 is selected and the distance to the target 101 is calculated.

In the above example, the short-distance sensor output voltage is switched between the short-distance sensor 94 and the long-distance sensor 95 at the boundary of the threshold Vd (Volt). If the value is between Ve, the object of the present invention is achieved. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the distance information of the short-distance sensor or the long-distance sensor is switched based on the distance information of the short-distance sensor, and the distance from the short distance to the long distance to the target 101 is continuously changed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if the distance information of the short-range sensor or the long-range sensor is switched based on the distance information of the long-range sensor, the present invention is not limited thereto. Can achieve the purpose. Further, the object of the present invention can be achieved by switching and using not only two types of sensors, a short distance sensor and a long distance sensor, but also three or more types of sensors including a middle distance sensor and a super long distance sensor. be able to.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain information as to how many prints can be made with the remaining ink. Therefore, when the amount of ink used in the ink bottle is still small and the amount of ink remaining is large, Need not accurately indicate the remaining amount of ink. Therefore, continuous distance information of the short distance sensor is not so important.

FIG. 5 shows the distance L (mm) from the digital output type short distance sensor and the long distance sensor to the target.
And the output voltage V (Volt) of each sensor.
Output voltage characteristics V of the digital output type short-range sensor shown in FIG.
According to c, the digital output type short distance sensor 98 is used when the distance to the target 101 is Lh (mm) or less, because the distance to the target is not uniquely determined with respect to the obtained sensor output voltage. Can not. When the distance is longer than the distance Lh (mm) and shorter than the distance Li (mm), the sensor output voltage becomes Vh, and the position information of the target can be obtained.

The long distance sensor 95 is connected to the target 1
When the distance to 01 is equal to or less than Li (mm), the distance to the target cannot be uniquely determined with respect to the obtained sensor output voltage, so that the sensor output voltage cannot be used.

Therefore, in the present invention, the target 101
Is set on the mechanism so that it is always Lh (mm) or more, and the CPU 108 first observes the output voltage of the digital output type short distance sensor 98. If the output voltage is V
If h (Volt), the output of the digital output type short distance sensor 98 is selected, and the distance to the target 101 is calculated to be Li (mm) or less. When the output voltage is Vl (Volt), the output of the long distance sensor 95 is selected and the distance to the target 101 is calculated.

Therefore, according to the above means, the target 1
If the distance to 01 is Lh (mm) or more, the distance to the target can be grasped.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the distance to the target 101 which is a part of the piston 90 provided in the ink bottle 82 is measured by the ink remaining amount detecting device of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to other uses for measuring a distance.

[0031]

As described above, according to the position measuring device and the fluid remaining amount detecting device of the present invention, the position of the moving body moving in the container is measured for detecting the remaining amount of the fluid in the container. By using a plurality of distance sensors having different distance measurement ranges and selectively using distance information obtained from these sensors, it has become possible to continuously measure the position of the moving object from a short distance to a long distance. . Thereby, it is possible to realize a fluid remaining amount detecting device having a compact configuration capable of displaying the remaining amount of the fluid in the container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a stencil printing apparatus provided with an ink remaining amount detecting device of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink remaining amount detecting device of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detection block diagram of an ink remaining amount detection device of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a distance L (mm) from a sensor for short distance and a sensor for long distance to a target, and an output voltage V (V) of each sensor.
alt)

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a distance L (mm) from a digital output type short-range sensor and a long-range sensor to a target and an output voltage V (Volt) of each sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

12: stencil printing machine, 80: ink, 82: ink bottle, 90: piston, 94: short distance sensor, 95: long distance sensor, 98: digital output type short distance sensor,
101: target, 106: A / D, 108: CPU

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C250 DB08 DB14 DB24 DC04 EA22 EA23 EB17 2F013 AA05 BD02 CA30 2F014 FA01 FB01 2F069 AA02 AA06 AA15 AA99 BB05 BB32 BB40 CC02 CC06 DD20 DD27 DD30 GG04 GG06 GG06 GG05 GG06 GG07 GG07 GG05 GG07 GG07 GG07 GG07 GG09 NN09 QQ05

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A position measuring device for measuring a position of a target moving in a predetermined direction from a starting position, wherein a plurality of measuring ranges provided near the starting position and measuring distances to the target are different. A position measuring device comprising: a distance sensor; and selecting means for selecting at least one of the plurality of distance sensors according to distance information from the plurality of distance sensors. 2. A container filled with a fluid having a fluid outlet, and a movement provided in the container and moving in the container from the starting position in a predetermined direction as the fluid flows out of the outlet. A body, a plurality of distance sensors provided in the vicinity of the container and having different measurement ranges for measuring the distance to the moving body, and at least one of the plurality of distance sensors according to distance information from the plurality of distance sensors. Fluid remaining amount detection, comprising: selecting means for selecting one of them; and calculating means for calculating the remaining amount of fluid in the container based on distance information from the distance sensor selected by the selecting means. apparatus. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance sensor detects a distance L to a moving body.
₁ ( _Lc ≦ L ₁ ≦ L _e ), a short-range sensor that outputs a signal that weakens with an increase, and a distance L ₂ (L _d ≦ L ₂ ) to the moving object.
At least a long-distance sensor that outputs a signal that weakens with an increase in ≦ L _f is included (provided that L _c <L _d ≦ L _e <
_Lf ), at least the distance sensor is installed at a position at least _Lc or more away from the moving object, and the selecting means starts moving the short distance sensor after the moving object starts moving from the departure position. selected, the distance L _{m (where, L d ≦ L m ≦ L} e) and configured fluid remaining amount detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein to select the long-range sensor when it becomes. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance sensor detects a distance L to a moving body.
₁ is a digital type short range sensor of which outputs an ON signal when it is in the range of _{L h ≦ L 1 ≦ L i} , the distance L ₂ to the mobile
There contains at least the long range sensor for outputting a signal weakens with increasing distance L ₂ when it is more than L _i, is disposed on at least said distance sensor is located more than L _h from the vehicle location, the The selecting means selects the short-distance sensor first after the moving body starts moving from the departure position, and selects the long-distance sensor when the output of the short-distance sensor is turned off. 3. The fluid remaining amount detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the device is configured as follows.