JP2005283223A - Optical sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical sensor capable of preventing dust by covering a light-emitting device and a light receiving device with cylindrical bodies, respectively, and arranging them inclining to a specific angle to the conveying passage. <P>SOLUTION: The light emitting device 40 of the optical sensor is covered with the cylindrical body 42 and a lid-shape luminous part guide 43 provided with a light axis hole 44 at a part which lets light pass in the cylindrical body 42 is provided. The light, emitted by the light emitted device 40, is radiated from the light axis hole 44. Similarly, the light-receiving device 50 is covered with the cylindrical body 52 and a lid-shape luminous part guide 53 provided with a light axis hole 54 at a part, which lets light pass in the cylindrical body 52 is provided. The light, introduced from the light axis hole 54, is received by the light receiver 50. In this case, the light-emitting device 40 and the light receiving device 50 are arranged so that the light axis L, connecting the light-emitting device 40 and the light-receiving device 50, inclines by a specific angle θ to the vertical direction V1, V2 of the detection position S. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical sensor that detects paper sheets in a conveyance path of a paper sheet processing apparatus that conveys and processes paper sheets.

  Conventionally, a plurality of optical sensors for detecting the paper sheets are arranged in the conveyance path of a paper sheet processing apparatus that conveys and processes paper sheets such as banknotes and postal items. Yes. This optical sensor is composed of a light emitter and a light receiver that are separately arranged so that the optical axis of the optical sensor is perpendicular to the paper sheet conveyed on the conveyance path. Therefore, when the transport state of the paper sheet is horizontal, the light emitter is disposed below the transport path, and the light receiver is disposed on the transport path.

  However, in the conveyance path of the paper sheet processing apparatus, paper dust is generated along with the conveyance of the paper sheet, and when the paper powder adheres to the light emitter or light receiver of the conventional optical sensor, the light emission amount or the light light amount is reduced. There has been a problem that the paper sheets cannot be detected. In order to solve this problem, various methods have been proposed.

  The first method is a method in which air is blown to an optical sensor that is easily affected by paper dust, and the paper dust is blown away. However, this first method requires an air supply facility such as piping for blowing air to each optical sensor. Furthermore, there is a problem that it is easy to affect the transport state of the paper sheet on which air is transported.

In the second method, the sensor is housed in a cylindrical body, a main passage corresponding to a linear optical axis portion, and an introduction passage for introducing gas into the main passage are provided, and gas is introduced from the introduction passage. A method of introducing and preventing dust, dirt and moisture from adhering to an optical member such as a sensor is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). However, this second method requires equipment such as piping for introducing gas, as in the first method, and a plurality of optical sensors are arranged in a limited arrangement space such as a conveyance path of the paper sheet processing apparatus. In the case of arrangement, there is a problem that the arrangement space becomes large and lacks simplicity.
JP 2002-328291 A (first page, FIG. 1)

  As described above, the conventional optical sensor has a problem in that it is inconvenient because it requires equipment such as air and gas in order to prevent dust.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is an optical sensor capable of protecting dust by covering a light emitting device and a light receiving device with a cylindrical body and inclining a predetermined angle with respect to a conveyance path. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical sensor of the present invention is disposed on one side of a conveying means for conveying a detected object, and emits light to the detected object, and the light emitter and the conveying means. The light emitting portion cylindrical body disposed between the light emitting portion and the optical axis of the light emitting device so as to pass therethrough, and the light emitting portion cylindrical body provided at the end of the light emitting portion cylindrical body on the conveying means side. A light emitting section guide having an optical axis hole through which the detected object that has been transported is inserted and an opening opening on the upstream side in the transport direction so that the detected object is inserted; and the light emitting section guide disposed on the other side of the transport means A light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light receiving unit, a light receiving unit tubular body that is disposed between the light receiving unit and the transport unit and covers the optical axis of the light emitting unit, and the light receiving unit tube An optical axis hole through which the optical axis of the light emitter passes through an end portion on the conveying means side of the state body, A light receiving unit guide having an opening opening on the upstream side in the transport direction so that the detection object is inserted, and in a vertical direction at an intersection point of the optical axis of the light emitter and the detected object to be transported The light emitter, the light emitter cylindrical body, the light receiver, and the light receiver cylindrical body are arranged so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle.

  According to the present invention, the light emitter and the light receiver of the optical sensor are each covered with a cylindrical body, and are disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the conveyance path, so that dust can be prevented.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a layout diagram in which an optical sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention is arranged in a conveyance path of a paper sheet processing apparatus. The transport path (transport means) 1 for the paper sheet P includes transport belts 10 and 11 that sandwich the paper sheet P, transport rollers 3a to 3d driven by a driving source (not shown), and the transport state is horizontal. The paper sheet P is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure.

  Further, the optical sensor includes a light emitting unit 4 and a light receiving unit 5. The light emitting unit 4 is disposed in the lower part of the transport path 1, and the light receiving unit 5 is disposed in the upper part of the transport path 1. Here, the reason why the light receiving unit 5 is arranged at the top is that when paper dust is generated, the light receiving unit 5 that is likely to cause output fluctuation due to the influence of paper dust is arranged at the upper side opposite to the direction of gravity. This is to make it less susceptible to the effects of. In the light emitting unit 4 and the light receiving unit 5, the optical axis L connecting the centers of the light receiving units 5 that receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit 4 is inclined by a predetermined angle θ with respect to the transport direction of the transport path 1. (Details will be described later).

  Next, the optical sensor will be described with reference to FIG. The light-emitting unit 4 includes a light-emitting device 40 composed of LEDs and the like, a support base 41 that supports the light-emitting device 40, and a cylindrical tube that covers the light-emitting device 40 without being in close contact with the support base 41 (light-emitting unit tube). And a light emitting portion guide 43 having an optical axis hole 44 penetrating the optical axis portion.

  The light receiving unit 5 includes a light receiver 50 composed of a photoelectric sensor, a support base 51 that supports the light receiver 50, and a cylindrical tube (light receiving unit) that covers the light receiver 50 without being in close contact with the support base 51. And a light receiving portion guide 53 having an optical axis hole 54 penetrating the optical axis portion.

  The inside of the cylindrical tube 52 of the light receiving unit 5 arranged here is composed of a material that absorbs this unnecessary light in order to prevent irregular reflection due to unnecessary light incident from the optical axis hole 54 of this cylindrical tube 52. Or painted in black.

  Next, the arrangement positions of the light emitting unit 4 and the light receiving unit 5 will be described. The paper sheet P is detected at a detection position S where the conveyance path 1 and the optical axis L connecting the light emitter 40 and the light receiver 50 intersect. Further, the light emitting unit 4 is disposed at a position where the optical axis L is inclined by a predetermined angle θ with respect to V1 which is the vertical direction of the detection position S. Similarly, the light-receiving unit 5 is disposed at a position where the optical axis L is inclined by a predetermined angle θ with respect to V2 that is the normal direction of the detection position S. FIG. 2 shows the moment when the leading edge of the paper sheet P reaches the detection position S, and the paper sheet P is detected by further transporting the paper sheet P.

  Next, the operation of the light receiving unit 5 will be described with reference to the timing chart of the light receiving unit 5 shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a timing chart when the paper sheet P is sandwiched by the transport belts 10 and 11 and the detection position S of the transport path 1 is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the drawing. FIG. 3 shows a timing chart, which is in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 3B is an output signal of the light receiver 50 corresponding to FIG. The signal “a” in FIG. 3 (2) is a state in which the signal is not soiled by the output signal in the initial state of the light receiver 50. The signal b in FIG. 3B is a state when the output signal of the light receiver 50 has been used for a while and the output signal of the light receiver 50 has dropped in the direction of the arrow B1 due to paper dust. The signal c in FIG. 3 (2) is a state when the output signal of the light receiver 50 is further lowered in the direction of the arrow B2 due to paper dust used more than the signal b in FIG. 3 (2).

  FIG. 3 (3) is a binarized signal obtained by binarizing (not shown) the signal a or the signal b which is the output signal of the light receiver 50 shown in FIG. 3 (2). The binarization process is a process in which a portion exceeding the threshold SL for binarizing the signal a or the signal b is set to “0”, and a portion not satisfying the threshold SL is converted to “1”. As a result of the binarization processing, the portion converted to “1” is the portion where the paper sheet P of the signal a or the signal b is detected.

  FIG. 3 (4) is a binarized signal obtained by binarizing the signal c, which is the output signal of the light receiver 50 shown in FIG. 3 (2). In this case, since the signal c does not exceed the threshold value SL for binarization, the state does not change from “1” as shown in the figure, and the paper sheet P is not detected.

  In this embodiment, by dust-proofing the optical sensor, the state from the state of the signal a which is the output signal of the light receiver 50 shown in FIG. 3B to the state of the threshold SL through the state of the signal b is reached. The time can be delayed and the time during which the paper sheet P can be normally detected can be lengthened.

  Next, this dustproof method will be specifically described with reference to FIG. When the paper sheet P is nipped and transported between the transport belts 10 and 11 of the transport path 1, the paper dust is discharged from the paper sheet P and is generated around the transport belt. Since this paper dust is continuously released until all the processing of the plurality of paper sheets P is completed, a substantially uniform paper dust region space is formed.

  The light emitting unit 4 prevents most paper dust from entering by the cylindrical tube 42 and the light emitting unit guide 43 in the paper powder space. However, since there is a possibility that paper dust may enter from the optical axis hole 44 provided in the light emitting unit guide 43, the optical axis L is inclined by a predetermined angle θ with respect to V1 which is the vertical direction of the detection position S as shown in the figure. The light emitting device 40 is not included in the paper dust passage region HDL, which is a passage of paper dust that has fallen freely from the optical axis hole 44.

  The light receiving unit 5 prevents most paper dust from entering by the cylindrical tube 52 and the light receiving unit guide 53 in the paper powder space. However, the light receiver 50 is arranged on the top of the paper sheet P and is not easily affected by the free fall of the paper powder. However, since the paper powder soars, the paper dust passes through the optical axis hole 54 provided in the light receiving section guide 53. There is a possibility of entering. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the optical axis L is inclined by a predetermined angle θ with respect to V <b> 2, which is the normal direction of the detection position S, and is perpendicular to the periphery of the optical axis hole 54, which becomes a paper dust passage entering the optical axis hole 54. The light receiver 50 is not included in the paper dust passage area HDU surrounded by a straight line segment.

  However, since the light emitter 40 is not completely sealed, the paper powder floating in the free space may adhere to the inner walls of the light emitter 40 and the cylindrical tube 42. Accordingly, the support base 41 and the cylindrical tube for supporting the light emitter 40 so that the inner wall of the light emitter 40 and the cylindrical tube 42 can be easily cleaned in accordance with the periodic inspection of the paper sheet processing apparatus. A gap is provided between 42 so that the light emitter 40 does not have to be removed when the cylindrical tube 42 is cleaned. By adopting such a structure, the cleaning can be performed without removing the light emitter 40, and the optical axis L can be prevented from changing due to the cleaning.

  Similarly, paper dust floating in free space may adhere to the inner walls of the light receiver 50 and the cylindrical tube 52. For this purpose, a support base 51 and a cylindrical shape that support the light receiver 50 so that the inner walls of the light receiver 50 and the cylindrical tube 52 can be easily cleaned in accordance with the periodic inspection of the paper sheet processing apparatus. A gap is provided between the cylinders 52 so that the light receiver 50 does not have to be removed when the cylindrical cylinder 52 is cleaned. By adopting such a structure, cleaning can be performed without removing the light receiver 50, and the optical axis L can be prevented from changing due to cleaning.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion constituting the optical sensor are provided with a dustproof cover including a cylindrical tube and a guide, and the optical axis connecting the light emitter and the light receiver is set at a predetermined angle θ. The optical sensor can be protected from dust by a simple configuration that is tilted only.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a layout diagram in which the optical sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention is arranged in the conveyance path of the paper sheet processing apparatus. The second embodiment has a paper dust discharge hole 45 in the cylindrical tube 42 constituting the light emitting section 4 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Since other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the description of the same parts is omitted, and different parts are described.

  In the paper dust discharge hole 45, a paper dust passage area HDL, which is a passage of paper dust that has entered the cylindrical tube 42 from the optical axis hole 44 provided in the light emitting portion guide 43 of the cylindrical tube 42, intersects the cylindrical tube 42. It is arranged in the area to be. By disposing at this position, the paper dust that has entered the cylindrical tube 42 from the optical axis hole 44 provided in the light emitting section guide 43 falls freely in the paper dust passage area HDL and intersects with the paper dust passage area HDL. Is discharged to the outside of the cylindrical tube 42 through a paper dust discharge hole 45 provided in the cylindrical tube 42 in the area to be processed.

  The size of the hole at this time is a region where the paper powder passage region HDL and the cylindrical tube 42 intersect with each other. Moreover, it is preferable to arrange | position so that the light-emitting device 40 may become a position away from the light-emitting device paper powder passage area | region HDL in the possible range. Therefore, in consideration of these conditions, the size of the hole is set from the arrangement interval of the light emitter 40 and the light receiver 50, the angle θ, the sizes of the light emitter 40 and the light receiver 50, and the like.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device constituting the optical sensor are provided with a dust-proof cover including a cylindrical tube and a guide, and the optical axis connecting the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device is set at a predetermined angle θ. The optical sensor can be protected from dust with a simple configuration in which the hole is disposed at an inclination and a hole for discharging paper dust is provided in the cylindrical tube.

The figure which has arrange | positioned the optical sensor which has a dust-proof cover by Example 1 of this invention in the conveyance path of the paper sheet processing apparatus. Sectional drawing of the optical sensor of this invention. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the light receiving unit 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the paper-powder channel | path area | region by Example 1 of this invention. The figure explaining the hole for paper dust discharge | release by Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

P Paper sheet S Detection position L Optical axis 1 Conveying path 10, 11 Conveying belts 3 a to 3 d Conveying roller 4 Light emitting part 40 Light emitter 41, 51 Support base 42 Cylindrical cylinder 43 Light emitting part guide 44 Optical axis hole 45 Paper dust discharge Hole 5 Light receiving portion 50 Light receiver 52 Cylindrical tube 53 Light receiving portion guide 54 Optical axis hole

Claims (5)

A light emitter that is disposed on one side of a transport means for transporting the detected object, and that emits light to the detected object;
A light emitting unit tubular body disposed between the light emitter and the transport means, and covering the optical axis of the light emitter;
An optical axis hole that is provided at an end of the light emitting unit cylindrical body on the conveying means side and that passes through the optical axis of the light emitter, and opens upstream in the conveying direction so that the detected object that has been conveyed is inserted. A light-emitting unit guide having an opened opening;
A light receiver disposed on the other side of the transport means and receiving light emitted from the light emitter;
A light receiving portion cylindrical body disposed between the light receiving device and the conveying means and covering the optical axis of the light emitting device;
An optical axis hole through which the optical axis of the light emitter passes at the end of the light receiving section cylindrical body on the transport means side, and an opening that opens on the upstream side in the transport direction so that the detected object that has been transported is inserted A light-receiving unit guide having a mouth, and the light-emitting unit and the light-emitting unit cylindrical shape so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction at an intersection where the optical axis of the light-emitting device and the detected object to be conveyed intersect. An optical sensor comprising: a body, the light receiver, and the light receiving portion cylindrical body. A light emitter that is disposed on one side of a transport means for transporting the detected object, and that emits light to the detected object;
A light emitting unit tubular body disposed between the light emitter and the transport means, and covering the optical axis of the light emitter;
An optical axis hole that is provided at an end of the light emitting unit cylindrical body on the conveying means side and that passes through the optical axis of the light emitter, and opens upstream in the conveying direction so that the detected object that has been conveyed is inserted. A light-emitting unit guide having an opened opening;
A light receiver disposed on the other side of the conveying means and receiving light emitted from the light emitter;
A light receiving portion cylindrical body disposed between the light receiving device and the conveying means and covering the optical axis of the light emitting device;
An optical axis hole through which the optical axis of the light emitter passes at the end of the light receiving section cylindrical body on the transport means side, and an opening that opens on the upstream side in the transport direction so that the detected object that has been transported is inserted A light-receiving unit guide having a mouth, and the light-emitting unit and the light-emitting unit cylindrical shape so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction at an intersection where the optical axis of the light-emitting device and the detected object to be conveyed intersect. A body, the light receiver, and the light receiving portion cylindrical body, and discharge paper dust to the light emitting portion cylindrical body where the line segments drawn in the vertical direction from the periphery of the optical axis hole of the light emitting portion guide intersect. An optical sensor comprising a hole. The light emitting unit guide and the light receiving unit guide are:
It is arranged opposite to the conveying means for conveying the paper sheet, and is provided so that the light emitting unit guide and the light receiving unit guide opening are opened on the paper sheet inlet side. The optical sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The light emitting device, the light emitting portion cylindrical body, and the light emitting portion guide are arranged so that a line segment drawn in a vertical direction from the light emitting device is not included in an optical axis hole of the light emitting portion guide. Item 3. The optical sensor according to item 1 or 2.   The light receiver, the light receiving portion cylindrical body, and the light receiving portion guide are arranged so that a line segment vertically drawn from around the optical axis hole of the light receiving guide is not included in the light receiving device. Item 3. The optical sensor according to item 1 or 2.

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