JP2002094107A - Optical fiber sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber sensor device in which the quantity of optical fiber cord being used is reduced and a holder for holding the end part of an optical fiber cord on the side of an object to be inspected is made compact. SOLUTION: The optical fiber sensor 10 comprises a transmission optical fiber cord 11 for guiding light emitted from a light emitting diode 13, a receiving optical fiber code 12 for receiving and guiding the light from the transmission optical fiber cord 11 reflected on a sheet 17, and a photodiode 14 receiving the reflected light guided through the receiving optical fiber code 12. A photocoupler part 16 for bonding the transmission optical fiber cord 11 extended from the light emitting diode 13 and the receiving optical fiber code 12 extended from the photodiode 14 is provided in the way of an optical guide path. The optical guide path extending from the photocoupler part 16 to the sheet 17 serves as a transmitting/receiving optical fiber cord 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber sensor device using an optical fiber cord for detecting the presence or absence of paper in a copying machine or OA equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as an optical fiber sensor device for detecting the presence or absence of this type of paper, there is an optical fiber sensor device having a structure as shown in FIG. A light emitting diode 3 or the like as a light emitter is set at one end of the transmission optical fiber cord 1, and a photodiode 4 or the like as a light receiver is set at one end of the reception optical fiber cord 2.
The other end of each of the optical fiber cords 1 and 2 is fixedly held by a connector 5 as a fixing holder.

The light emitted from the light emitting diode 3 is guided to the other end held by the connector 5 through the transmission optical fiber cord 1, and is directed from one end to one side of the sheet 7 as an inspection object. Is emitted.

The emitted light is reflected by the one side of the paper 7, and the reflected light enters from the other end of the receiving optical fiber cord 2 and is guided to the photodiode 4 through the receiving optical fiber cord 2. , Photodiode 4
Is configured to receive the reflected light and detect the presence or absence of the sheet 7.

[0005]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional optical fiber sensor device, the two optical fiber cords 1 and 2 for transmission and reception are independently provided. As a result, an optical fiber cord having a long length is required as a whole, resulting in an increase in cost.

Further, it is necessary to fix and hold the ends of the optical fiber cords 1 and 2 to the connector 5, respectively, and there is a problem that it is difficult to make the housing of the connector 5 compact.

In view of the above problems, the present invention has been made to reduce the amount of optical fiber cord or optical fiber used,
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber sensor device in which a fixing holder for holding an end of an optical fiber cord on the inspection object side is made compact.

[0008]

A first technical means for achieving the above object is to provide a transmission optical fiber cord for guiding light emitted from a luminous body, and a transmission optical fiber cord emitted from the transmission optical fiber cord. A receiving optical fiber code for receiving and guiding the reflected light reflected by the inspection object, and an optical fiber sensor device including a photoreceptor for receiving the reflected light guided through the receiving optical fiber code, The transmission optical fiber cord arranged in a shape extending from the light emitter, and the optical coupler unit to be joined to each other in the middle of the light guide path of the reception optical fiber cord arranged in a shape extending from the light receiving body. The light guide path provided from the optical coupler section to the inspection object is provided as a transmission / reception optical fiber cord for both transmission and reception.

Further, the optical fiber sensor device includes a fixing holder for holding the end of the transmission / reception optical fiber cord on the side of the object to be inspected. A cylindrical housing body having a hole in an axial direction, and a detachably mounted housing retainer mounting recess formed in the housing body in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction to the insertion hole. And a fiber holding retainer that cuts into the coating layer of the transmitting / receiving optical fiber cord inserted into the insertion hole.

Further, a housing fixing portion which can be inserted into and removed from a mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket through elasticity which can be expanded and contracted, and which is locked in a state of being prevented from being removed from a peripheral portion of the mounting hole in an expanded state. May be provided in the housing body.

A second technical means for achieving the above object is a transmission optical fiber for guiding the light emitted from the illuminant, a transmission optical fiber emitted from the transmission optical fiber and reflected by the inspection object. An optical fiber sensor device comprising a receiving optical fiber for receiving and guiding the reflected light, and a photoreceptor for receiving the reflected light guided through the receiving optical fiber. An optical coupler unit is provided, which is joined to the transmission optical fiber disposed and the reception optical fiber disposed in an extended form from the photoreceptor, along the light guide path, and the inspection is performed from the optical coupler unit. The point is that the light guide route to the object is an optical fiber for transmission and reception which is also used for transmission and reception.

Further, the optical fiber sensor device includes a fixing holder for holding an end of the transmitting and receiving optical fiber on the inspection object side, and the fixing holder has an insertion hole into which the transmitting and receiving optical fiber is inserted. A cylindrical housing body having an axial direction, and a detachably mounted retainer mounting recess formed in the housing body so as to communicate with the insertion hole in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and inserted in the mounted state. A structure may be provided that includes a fiber holding retainer that cuts into the coating layer of the transmitting / receiving optical fiber inserted into the hole.

[0013] A housing fixing portion which can be inserted into and removed from a mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket through elasticity which can be expanded and contracted, and which is locked in the expanded state in a peripheral portion of the mounting hole so as not to be pulled out. May be provided in the housing body.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS.
The optical fiber sensor device 10 includes a light emitting diode 13 as an example of a light emitter and a photodiode 14 as an example of a light receiver. The light emitting diode 13 has a transmission optical fiber cord for guiding emitted light. One end of the receiving optical fiber cord 11 is disposed in an extended manner, and the photodiode 14 has a receiving optical fiber cord 12 for guiding reflected light.
Are arranged in an extended shape.

An optical coupler section 16 is provided in the optical guide path between the transmission optical fiber cord 11 and the reception optical fiber cord 12 as an optical branch coupler for joining the optical guide paths to each other. . The optical coupler 16 is formed by, for example, ultrasonic fusion of an optical fiber.

The light guide path from the optical coupler section 16 to the vicinity of the sheet 17 as an example of the inspection object is a single transmission / reception optical fiber cord 1 for transmission and reception.
8.

Paper 17 for transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18
The end on the side is fixedly held by a mounting bracket 19 provided in a device such as a copying machine or an OA device via a connector 15 as a fixing holder.

The connector 15 has a rectangular cylindrical housing body 15b having an insertion hole 15a in the axial direction into which the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18 is loosely inserted. The housing body 15b is made of a flexible synthetic resin. A retainer mounting recess 15c communicating with the insertion hole 15a from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is formed on one side surface, that is, the upper surface side of the housing body 15b.

The fiber holding retainer 20 is fitted and detachably fitted into the retainer mounting recess 15c. The fiber holding retainer 20 has an optical fiber 18a of the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18 at the center. A bifurcated covering bite 20b having an escape groove 20a wider than the diameter is provided, and the light in the transmitting / receiving optical fiber cord 18 inserted into the insertion hole 15a when the fiber holding retainer 20 is mounted in the retainer mounting recess 15c. In the coating layer 18b on both sides of the fiber 18a,
0b is configured to bite.

The lower end of the avoidance groove 20a is connected to the optical fiber 18a of the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18 by the avoidance groove 20a.
In order to effectively guide to the position a, it is formed in a tapered shape that gradually expands toward the open end.

Further, on the lower surface side of the housing body 15b,
A rectangular mounting hole 19a formed in the mounting bracket 19
Further, a housing fixing portion 15d which is removably inserted through elasticity which can be expanded and contracted is integrally provided.

In other words, the housing fixing portion 15d extends from the lower surface of the housing body 15b to the central support piece 15e, and extends upward from both lower side surfaces of the support piece 15e. A pair of elastic locking pieces 1 provided
5f, and a locking step 15g is formed on the outer side of the upper end of each elastic locking piece 15f.

When the housing fixing portion 15d is pushed into the mounting hole 19a and inserted, the two elastic locking pieces 15f elastically deform in the direction of the support piece 15e, pass through the mounting hole 19a, and move to the position of the locking step 15g. Is passed through the mounting hole 19a, the elastic locking pieces 15f return to the expanded state, and as shown in FIG.
Each locking step 15g is configured to be locked in the peripheral portion of the mounting hole 19a in a retaining state.

At this time, the mounting hole 19 of the mounting bracket 19
a is a rectangular shape, and the housing fixing portion 15 d is fitted and locked in a detented state.

When detecting the presence or absence of the paper 17, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 13 passes through the transmission optical fiber cord 11, the optical coupler section 16, and the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18 to transmit and receive the optical fiber cord 1.
The light is guided to the other end of the sheet 8 and is emitted from the other end toward one side of the sheet 17.

The emitted light is reflected by one side surface of the paper 17 and the reflected light is similarly incident from the other end surface of the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18, and the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18, the optical coupler unit 16 and the reception Is guided to one end of the receiving optical fiber cord 12 through the receiving optical fiber cord 12, and the photodiode 14 receives the reflected light and detects the presence or absence of the paper 17.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the optical coupler unit 1 is provided by the optical coupler unit 16 as an optical branching coupler.
A single optical fiber cord 18 for transmission and reception is used for both a transmission optical guide path and a reception optical guide path from 6 to the connector 15, and the optical fiber cord used as a whole is used. The amount can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The light guide path from the optical coupler section 16 to the connector 15 is a single transmission / reception optical fiber cord 1.
8, the insertion hole 15a of the connector 15 for holding the transmission / reception optical fiber cord 18 may be single, and the shape of the housing body 15b in the connector 5 can be made compact. Due to the downsizing, there is an advantage that it can be easily installed even in a place where the installation space is limited, and the versatility is excellent.

Further, the connector 15 can be mounted on the mounting bracket 19 only by pushing the housing fixing portion 15d into the mounting hole 19a and inserting the same. The housing fixing portion 15d has an advantage that the connector 15 can be easily mounted on the mounting bracket 19.

In the above embodiment, the optical fiber cords 11, 12, and 18 have a single-core structure. However, the transmission optical fiber cord 11 and the reception optical fiber cord 12 are connected to the transmission optical fiber. A two-core optical fiber cord having a fiber and a receiving optical fiber may be a two-core optical fiber cord, and the transmitting / receiving optical fiber cord 18 may be a single-core optical fiber cord having a transmitting / receiving optical fiber for transmitting and receiving. Has the same effect as described above.

[0031]

As described above, according to the optical fiber sensor device of the present invention, the transmitting optical fiber cord arranged to extend from the light emitter and the receiving optical fiber cord arranged to extend from the light receiver. An optical coupler unit is provided that is joined to each other in the middle of the light guide path with the optical fiber code, and the light guide path from the optical coupler unit to the inspection object is a transmission / reception transmission / reception optical fiber code, The transmission light guide path and the reception light guide path are shared by a single transmission / reception optical fiber cord, reducing the amount of optical fiber cord used as a whole and reducing manufacturing costs. There is an advantage that reduction can be achieved.

Further, the optical fiber sensor device includes a fixed holder for holding the end of the optical fiber cord for transmission / reception on the inspection object side, and the fixed holder has an insertion hole into which the optical fiber cord for transmission / reception is inserted. A cylindrical housing body having a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing body, and a detachably mounted retainer mounting recess formed in the housing body so as to communicate with the insertion hole. With a structure comprising a fiber holding retainer that cuts into the coating layer of the transmitting and receiving optical fiber cord inserted into the
Since the light guide path from the optical coupler section to the fixed holder is composed of a single transmission / reception optical fiber cord, the housing shape of the fixed holder can be made compact, and the fixed holder is made compact here. Accordingly, there is an advantage that it can be easily installed even in a portion where the installation space is limited, and the versatility is excellent.

Further, a housing fixing portion which can be inserted into and removed from a mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket through elasticity which can be expanded and contracted, and which is locked in the expanded state in a state of being prevented from being removed from a peripheral edge of the mounting hole. Is provided in the housing body, there is an advantage that mounting to the mounting bracket can be easily performed.

Further, an optical coupler unit is provided on the optical guide path between the transmitting optical fiber arranged from the light emitting body and the receiving optical fiber extending from the light receiving body. In the same manner as described above, the light guide path for transmission and the light guide path for reception are also provided by the optical fiber sensor device in which the light guide path from the optical coupler unit to the inspection object is a transmission / reception optical fiber for both transmission and reception. And a single transmission / reception optical fiber, which is advantageous in that the amount of optical fiber used as a whole can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, the optical fiber sensor device has a fixed holder for holding the end of the transmission / reception optical fiber on the inspection object side, and the fixed holder has an insertion hole into which the transmission / reception optical fiber is inserted in the axial direction. A cylindrical housing body having the housing body is detachably mounted in a retainer mounting recess formed in the housing body in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof so as to communicate with the insertion hole, and is inserted into the insertion hole in the mounted state. And a retainer for holding the fiber that penetrates the coating layer of the transmitting and receiving optical fiber, the light guide path from the optical coupler section to the fixing holder is composed of a single-core transmitting and receiving optical fiber. The housing shape of the fixing holder can be made compact, and the fixing holder can be made more compact, so that it can be easily installed even in places where installation space is limited. There is an advantage that it is excellent in versatility.

A housing fixing portion which can be inserted into and removed from the mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket through elasticity which can be expanded and contracted, and which is locked in the expanded state in a state of being prevented from being removed from the peripheral edge of the mounting hole. With the structure provided in the housing body, there is an advantage that attachment to the mounting bracket can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector portion.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the assembled state.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an overall schematic diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical fiber sensor apparatus 11 Transmission optical fiber cord 12 Reception optical fiber cord 13 Light emitting diode 14 Photodiode 15 Connector 15a Insertion hole 15b Housing body 15c Retainer mounting recessed part 15d Housing fixing part 15e Support piece part 15f Elastic locking piece 15g Stop section 16 Optical coupler section 17 Paper 18 Optical fiber cord for transmission and reception 19 Mounting bracket 20 Retainer for fiber holding

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A transmission optical fiber cord for guiding light emitted from a light emitter, and a reception optical fiber for receiving and guiding reflected light emitted from the transmission optical fiber code and reflected by an inspection object. An optical fiber sensor device comprising a code and a photoreceptor for receiving the reflected light guided through the receiving optical fiber cord, wherein the transmitting optical fiber cord arranged in a form extending from the light emitting body; An optical coupler unit is provided in the middle of a light guide path extending from the photoreceptor to the receiving optical fiber cord arranged in an extended manner, and a light guide path from the optical coupler unit to the inspection object is transmitted. An optical fiber sensor device comprising an optical fiber cord for both reception and transmission. 2. The optical fiber sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixing holder for holding an end of the transmission / reception optical fiber cord on the side of the inspection object, wherein the fixing holder is configured to receive the transmission / reception optical fiber cord. A cylindrical housing body having a hole in an axial direction, and a detachably mounted housing retainer mounting recess formed in the housing body in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction to the insertion hole. 2. The optical fiber sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fiber holding retainer that bites into a coating layer of the transmitting / receiving optical fiber cord inserted into the insertion hole. 3. A mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket,
The housing body is provided with a housing fixing portion which is insertable / removable through elasticity which can be expanded / contracted and which is locked in the expanded state in a peripheral portion of the mounting hole in a retaining state. 3. The optical fiber sensor device according to 2. 4. A transmitting optical fiber for guiding light emitted from the light emitter, a receiving optical fiber for receiving and guiding reflected light emitted from the transmitting optical fiber and reflected by the inspection object, An optical fiber sensor device comprising: a photoreceptor that receives reflected light guided through the receiving optical fiber; wherein the transmitting optical fiber and the photoreceptor extend from the light emitting body. An optical coupler unit is provided, which is joined to the receiving optical fiber arranged in the shape of the receiving optical fiber, in the middle of the optical guiding path, and the optical guiding path from the optical coupler unit to the inspection object is a transmitting / receiving light for transmitting and receiving. An optical fiber sensor device comprising a fiber. 5. The optical fiber sensor device includes a fixing holder for holding an end of the transmitting and receiving optical fiber on the inspection object side, and the fixing holder has an insertion hole into which the transmitting and receiving optical fiber is inserted. A cylindrical housing body having an axial direction, and a detachably mounted retainer mounting recess formed in the housing body so as to communicate with the insertion hole in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and inserted in the mounted state. 5. The optical fiber sensor device according to claim 4, further comprising: a fiber holding retainer that bites into a coating layer of the transmitting / receiving optical fiber inserted into the hole. 6. A mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket,
The housing body is provided with a housing fixing portion which is insertable / removable through elasticity which can be expanded / contracted and which is locked in the expanded state in a peripheral portion of the mounting hole in a retaining state. 6. The optical fiber sensor device according to 5.