JP2011112065A - Device and method for determining connection of joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection determining device capable of determining whether connection of a joint is appropriate or not. <P>SOLUTION: This connection determining device 1 is used for a fluid transference system, in which whether connection of a joint 2 is appropriate or not is determined by attaching a bar code label 11 to each transferring member of a connection side 2b and a reception side 2a of a joint 2 structured of transferring members and used for a transference passage transferring a fluid and by reading each bar code label 11 with a reading device. This connection determining device 1 includes a detecting device 3 for detecting looseness of the joint 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection discriminating apparatus and a connection discriminating method for discriminating the suitability of a joint used for piping such as pipes, tubes and hoses made of metal or resin.

  The fluid transfer path is configured by combining various pipes such as tubes made of metal or resin, tubes, hoses and the like. These pipes are appropriately provided with joints, and the transfer path can be changed by attaching and detaching. In order to prevent erroneous connection of the joint, a device that attaches an identification code to each of the receiving side and the connecting side of the joint to determine whether the connection is appropriate (see Patent Document 1), or a detection that is read by a reader with a barcode label attached A method (see Patent Document 2) is known.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-108934 JP-A-6-313500

  Even if the joint is properly connected, the joint may come loose as the fluid is transferred. If the loose joint is left unattended, liquid may squirt or leak.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection determination device and a connection determination method that can determine whether or not a joint is properly connected.

  The joint connection discriminating apparatus of the present invention is constituted by a transfer member, and a bar code is provided on each of the transfer member on the connection side (2b) and the receiving side (2a) of the joint (2) used in the transfer path for transferring fluid. A connection discriminator (1) applied to a fluid transfer system to which a label (11) is attached and each bar code label is read by a reader to discriminate whether or not the joint is connected. By providing the looseness detection means (3) for detecting looseness, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

  According to the joint connection determination device of the present invention, at the time of connection of a joint, it is determined whether or not the connection is appropriate by reading a bar code label provided on each joint to be connected. After the joint is properly connected, the connection is constantly monitored by the looseness detecting means, and it is detected when the joint is loosened. Accordingly, it is possible to detect looseness of the joint due to use after connecting the joint while preventing erroneous connection. Therefore, it is possible to manage an appropriate transfer path in the entire fluid transfer system.

  In one form of the connection determination device of the present invention, the looseness detection means is provided with a striker (5c) fixed to the receiving side of the joint and a detection means (6) for detecting the movement of the striker. It may be determined whether or not the joint is connected by reading the bar code label while causing the detection means to detect the striker when the joint is connected. According to this aspect, at the time of connecting the joint, the bar code label provided on each of the receiving side and the connecting side of the joint is read while detecting the striker by the detecting means to determine whether or not the connection of the joint is appropriate. . And when a joint loosens, a striker moves according to looseness. The detection means can detect the movement of the striker and detect the looseness of the joint.

  In a configuration in which a striker is fixed to the receiving side of the joint, a guide plate (4) for guiding the striker to be positioned is fixed to the receiving side, and the striker can be fixed to the guide plate. Also good. According to this aspect, the guide plate fixed to the receiving side of the joint can guide the striker and fix it at an appropriate position. When a plurality of different joints are used as the connection side of the joint, the guide plate can fix the striker at an appropriate position even if the joint on the receiving side connected according to the replacement rotates. The striker can be adjusted according to the position.

  In the embodiment in which the striker is fixed to the receiving side of the joint, the detection means may be a proximity sensor (6). According to this aspect, by using the proximity sensor, the movement of the striker according to the looseness of the joint can be reliably detected.

  The joint connection determining method according to the present invention includes a striker (5c) fixed to a receiving side (2a) of a joint (2), which is formed of a transfer member and used in a transfer path for transferring a fluid, as a detection means (6). An appropriateness determination step of determining the appropriateness of connection of the joint by reading the bar code label (11) attached to each of the transfer member on the receiving side and the connection side (2b) of the joint while detecting, the striker; The above-described problem is solved by providing a looseness detecting step of detecting looseness of the joint by detecting the movement of the joint.

  According to the joint connection determination method of the present invention, when the joint is connected, the bar code label provided on each of the receiving side and the connection side of the joint is read while detecting the striker by the detecting means. Is determined. After the joint is properly connected, the connection of the joint is constantly monitored, and when the joint is loosened, the striker is separated from the detection means to become a non-detection state, thereby detecting the looseness of the joint. Accordingly, it is possible to detect looseness of the joint due to use after connecting the joint while preventing erroneous connection. Therefore, it is possible to manage an appropriate transfer path in the entire fluid transfer system.

  In one form of the connection determination method of this invention, when the looseness of the said joint is detected, you may further provide the stop process which stops the transfer of a fluid. According to this embodiment, if the joint is left loose, the fluid may be ejected or leaked. Therefore, by stopping the fluid transfer after detecting the joint looseness, the fluid can be ejected and leaked. It can be prevented in advance.

  In addition, in the above description, in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, the reference sign of the accompanying drawing was attached in parenthesis, but this invention is not limited to the form of illustration by it.

  As described above, in the joint connection determination device and method according to the present invention, when connecting a joint, it is determined whether or not the connection is appropriate by reading the barcode label provided on each joint to be connected. Is done. After the joint is properly connected, the connection is constantly monitored by the looseness detecting means, and it is detected when the joint is loosened. Accordingly, it is possible to detect looseness of the joint due to use after connecting the joint while preventing erroneous connection. Therefore, it is possible to manage an appropriate transfer path in the entire fluid transfer system.

The side view of the joint with which the connection discrimination device concerning one form of the present invention was applied. The top view of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of a suitability determination process. The perspective view which shows the example of installation of the coupling to which the connection determination apparatus was applied. The flowchart which shows the looseness detection process which a control apparatus performs.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of a joint to which a connection determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a top view thereof. The connection determination device 1 is a device that detects looseness of the joint 2. The joint 2 is used for a fluid transfer path. The transfer path is configured by combining transfer members such as pipes, hoses, tanks, and the like, and a joint 2 is installed at an appropriate location, and the transfer path can be changed and switched. The whole transfer path is referred to as a fluid transfer system.

  The connection determination device 1 includes a detection device 3 as a looseness detection unit that detects the looseness of the joint 2. The detection device 3 includes a guide plate 4 fixed to the receiving side 2 a of the joint 2, a detection member 5 fixed to the guide plate 4, and a proximity sensor as detection means for detecting movement of the detection member 5. 6 is provided. The receiving side 2 a of the joint 2 is supported by the partition wall 7. The partition wall 7 supports the receiving sides 2a of the plurality of joints 2, and centrally manages the transfer path. The connection side 2b which is the other side of the joint 2 is attached to the hose 8, and a fluid transfer path is formed by connecting the receiving side 2a and the connection side 2b of the joint 2. The guide plate 4 is provided with a ring-shaped fixed portion 4a attached to the joint 2 and a fan-shaped plate-shaped plate portion 4b protruding from the fixed portion 4a to the outside in the radial direction. The guide plate 4 is formed of metal, and the fixing portion 4a is welded to the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 and fixed. The plate portion 4b is provided with a guide hole 4c along the circumferential direction of the fixed portion 4a.

  The detected member 5 includes a ring-shaped attachment portion 5a that is attached to the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 so as to be rotatable about the axis AX direction of the joint 2, and an adjustment portion 5b that protrudes radially outward from the attachment portion 5a. And a striker 5c that is provided at a position facing the adjustment portion 5b of the attachment portion 5a and protrudes outward in the radial direction of the attachment portion 5a. The attachment portion 5 a of the detected member 5 is attached adjacent to the fixing portion 4 a of the guide plate 4. An adjustment knob 5d that can be positioned and adjusted with respect to the guide plate 4 is provided at the tip of the adjustment portion 5b. The adjustment knob 5d includes a knob 5e, a screw 5f extending from the knob 5e and penetrating the adjustment portion 5b, and nuts 5g and 5h attached to the screw 5f. The screw 5f is inserted into the guide hole 4c of the guide plate 4, and is fixed to the guide plate 4 by tightening the nut 5g. A nut 5h is spot-welded to the lower end of the screw 5f in order to prevent the adjustment knob 5d from falling off the adjustment portion 5b and the guide hole 4c. Therefore, the adjustment knob 5d can be moved along the guide hole 4c, and the member to be detected 5 can be fixed to the guide plate 4 by closing the nut 5g at an arbitrary position. The striker 5c is made of metal and is provided so as to maintain a predetermined distance from the proximity sensor 6. The proximity sensor 6 is fixed to the partition wall 7 at a position adjacent to the joint 2 capable of detecting the striker 5c. Various known proximity sensors can be used as the proximity sensor 6.

  A barcode label 11 (FIG. 3) indicating that the partition 7 is the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 is attached. The barcode information of the barcode label 11 includes individual identification information of the joint 2 and the like. A similar barcode label 11 (not shown) is also attached to the hose 8 on the connection side 2b of the joint 2. By connecting the bar code label 11 of the partition wall 7 indicating the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 and the bar code label 11 of the hose 8 indicating the connecting side 2b with a reading device (not shown), the connected joint 2 Information is managed and misconnection of the joint 2 is prevented. The barcode label 11 may be attached so that the receiving side 2a and the connection side 2b of the joint 2 can be identified, and the attachment position is not limited to the partition wall 7 or the hose 8. You may attach to the components attached to the receiving side 2a or the connection side 2b of the coupling 2, or you may attach to the hose 8 etc. in the way of hanging a bill. The reader may use various known techniques.

  The connection determination device 1 includes a control device 10 connected to the proximity sensor 6. The control device 10 is configured as a kind of computer unit including a microprocessing unit. Furthermore, the control device 10 is connected to a valve (not shown) provided on the transfer path. When the control device 10 detects the looseness of the joint 2 based on the output signal of the proximity sensor 6, the control device 10 controls to stop the fluid transfer by closing the valve on the transfer path of the joint 2 where the looseness has occurred. To do. In addition, the above-described reading device may be connected to the control device 10, and the control device 10 stops the fluid transfer by closing the valve or the like, as in the case where loosening occurs when an erroneous connection occurs. You may control. Alternatively, the control device 10 may be connected to a notification device that notifies the operator of an abnormality, and control may be performed so that a notification to that effect is made when looseness or incorrect connection occurs.

  The suitability determination process for determining the suitability of the connection of the joint 2 in the connection determination device 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the suitability determination process. In the suitability determination step, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the proximity sensor 6 detects the striker 5c. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an installation example of the joint 2 to which the connection determination device 1 is applied. When connecting the joint 2, the position of the striker 5 c is adjusted such that the striker 5 c is detected by the proximity sensor 6 while the receiving side 2 a and the connection side 2 b of the joint 2 are normally connected. To adjust the position of the striker 5c, the adjustment knob 5d may be moved along the guide hole 4c of the guide plate 4 and fixed at an appropriate position. Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the connected joint 2 is erroneously connected by reading the barcode labels 11 on the receiving side 2a and the connecting side 2b of the joint 2 with a reading device. When it is confirmed that the barcode labels 11 attached to the receiving side 2a and the connecting side 2b of the connected joint 2 match and are properly connected, the current process is terminated. On the other hand, if an erroneous connection has occurred, the joint 2 is reconnected to form an appropriate transfer path, and the current process ends. Therefore, by detecting the striker 5c with the proximity sensor 6 and confirming the connection of the joint 2, the barcode label 11 attached to the receiving side 2a and the connection side 2b of the connected joint 2 is read, respectively. It is possible to manage whether or not the transfer route being used is appropriate.

  Next, a looseness detection process for detecting looseness of the joint 2 performed by the control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The looseness detection process is a process executed on the appropriately connected joint 2 after the suitability determination step. In step S11, the control device 10 determines whether or not the proximity sensor 6 has detected the striker 5c. If loosening occurs in the joint 2 due to continuous use, the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 rotates. As the receiving side 2a rotates, the striker 5c also moves, and the proximity sensor 6 enters a non-detection state. Thereby, the looseness of the joint 2 can be detected. When the proximity sensor 6 is in the detection state in step S11, the control device 10 proceeds to step S12 and continues the fluid transfer. Specifically, the state of the valve provided on the transfer path is maintained and the current liquid supply state is continued. And the control apparatus 10 complete | finishes this process. On the other hand, when the proximity sensor 6 is in a non-detection state in step S11, the control device 10 proceeds to step S13 and stops the fluid transfer. Based on the non-detection state of the proximity sensor 6, that is, when the detection signal is turned off, the control device 10 performs control so as to stop the fluid transfer by closing an appropriate valve on the transfer path. Alternatively, the notification device may be operated to notify the operator of the abnormality. And the control apparatus 10 complete | finishes this process. According to the looseness detection processing, the ejection and leakage of fluid due to the looseness of the joint 2 can be prevented. Further, when the joint 2 that should not be removed by the operator is removed, the proximity sensor 6 of the joint 2 is in a non-detection state, so that the control device 10 controls to stop the fluid transfer as in the process of step S13. You may let them. The entire transfer path can be managed by providing the detection device 3 in each joint 2. Step S11 corresponds to the looseness detection process, and step S13 corresponds to the stop process.

  The connection determination device 1 of the present invention can be applied to a joint 2 of a type that is relatively rotated and coupled. For example, the present invention can be applied to a one-touch joint (for example, Twin Star (registered trademark) manufactured by Ryogo Co., Ltd.) or a nut-type joint. In the case of a nut-type joint, the nut may be configured as a receiving side of the joint, the guide plate 4 is fixed to the nut by welding or the like, and the proximity sensor 6 provided on the partition wall 7 may be configured to detect the striker 5c. . By providing the guide plate 4, the position of the striker 5c can be adjusted. This is because, when the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 connects the joints 2 of a plurality of different connection sides 2b, the positional relationship of the striker 5c as used. Because will change. In this case, the position of the striker 5c can be adjusted each time it is connected by moving the adjusting portion 5b along the guide hole 4c of the guide plate 4 and fixing it at an appropriate position. If the receiving side 2a and the connecting side 2b of the joint 2 are in a one-to-one relationship, the positional relationship of the striker 5c is not changed, so that the striker 5c is fixed directly to the receiving side 2a of the joint 2. It may be.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described form and can be implemented in various forms. For example, in this embodiment, the striker 5c is detected using the proximity sensor 6, but the type of sensor is not limited. For example, when the striker 5c is not made of metal, a non-metal detection type proximity sensor may be used. In addition, the movement of the striker 5c may be detected by a photoelectric sensor. Further, although the proximity sensor 6 is installed on the partition wall 7, if there is no partition wall 7, the proximity sensor 6 fixed at an appropriate location may be installed so that the rotation of the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 can be detected. In the joint 2 described above, the detection device 3 is provided on the receiving side 2 a, but the detection device 3 may be provided on either one of the joints 2. By providing the detection device 3 on the loose side of the joint 2, the looseness of the joint 2 can be detected. The detection target is not limited to the striker 5c, and a mark or the like provided on the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 may be detected by an appropriate sensor. Any configuration that detects the rotation of the receiving side 2a of the joint 2 may be used, and various known techniques may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connection discrimination device 2 Joint 2a Joint receiving side 2b Joint connection side 3 Detection device (loosening detection means)
11 Barcode label

Claims (6)

A bar code label is attached to each of the connection side and receiving side transfer members of the joint, which is composed of a transfer member and is used in a transfer path for transferring fluid, and the bar code label is read by a reading device to read the joint. A connection determination device applied to a fluid transfer system for determining the suitability of the connection,
A joint connection determination device comprising a looseness detecting means for detecting looseness of the joint. The looseness detection means is provided with a striker fixed to the receiving side of the joint, and a detection means for detecting movement of the striker,
The connection determination device according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the joint is connected is determined by reading the bar code label while causing the detection unit to detect the striker when the joint is connected.   The connection determination device according to claim 2, wherein a guide plate that guides the striker so that the striker can be positioned is fixed to the receiving side, and the striker can be fixed to the guide plate.   The connection determination device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit is a proximity sensor. The detection unit is configured to detect a striker composed of a transfer member and used for a transfer path for transferring a fluid, and attached to each of the transfer member on the receiving side and the connection side of the joint. Appropriateness determination step of determining the appropriateness of connection of the joint by reading a barcode label;
And a looseness detecting step of detecting looseness of the joint by detecting the movement of the striker.   The connection determination method according to claim 5, further comprising a stopping step of stopping fluid transfer when loosening of the joint is detected.

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