JP2014018885A - Tube cutter and cutting method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tube cutter capable of efficiently manufacturing a tube cut body formed by cutting a tube connection body by connecting a plurality of tubes to be made into one to predetermined dimensions and a cutting method thereof.SOLUTION: An optical sensor 110 of a state detection part 100 is used for detection of floating of a tube connection body 10 to be conveyed from a feed roller 101. A color sensor 120 detects a mark (paper tape 12) performed to a connection part of connecting a plurality of glass tubes by difference from a color of a tube body. Detection frequencies are counted by a counter to be considered as a guide of the number when a tube cut body including the mark is extracted from the manufactured tube cut bodies. An area sensor 130 is used for detection of twist and elongation of the tube connection body 10. A rotation amount of a measurement roller 140 which follows in accordance with conveyance of the tube connection body 10 is calculated by an encoder sensor 142 to inspect whether or not the tube connection body 10 is precisely fed by predetermined dimensions.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tube cutting device for cutting a tube into a predetermined dimension and a cutting method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cutting device that transports a tube-shaped material and cuts it into a predetermined dimension is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The cutting device described in Patent Document 1 detects the bending of the tube being conveyed using an optical sensor, and stops the conveyance and cutting of the tube when the bending is detected, so that a tube having a predetermined dimension is not cut. Like that. As described above, if the operation of the apparatus is stopped when an abnormality is detected in the tube before cutting, there is no possibility that a non-standard tube is mixed in the material after cutting.

  By the way, the tube connection body which connected the some tube and was made into one is used as a material, and the tube cut body cut | disconnected to the predetermined dimension may be obtained. Since the tube cut body including the connection site is difficult to use as a product, it is necessary to remove the connection site so that the tube cut body including the connection site is not mixed into the material after cutting. Therefore, if the connection part of the tube is detected, and the operation of the apparatus is stopped as in Patent Document 1 and the cutting is resumed after the connection part is excluded, the connection part is included in the material after cutting. There is no possibility of mixing the tube cut body.

JP 2000-176890 A

  However, when the operation of the apparatus is stopped each time a connection part of the tube is detected, there is a problem that it takes time to produce the tube cut body as the number of connection parts in the tube connection body increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is a tube cutting apparatus that can efficiently produce a tube cut body obtained by cutting a tube connecting body, which is formed by connecting a plurality of tubes into a single piece, to a predetermined size. And it aims at providing the cutting method.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a tube connection body in which a plurality of tubes are connected to form a single tube, a tube marked with a mark of a specific color different from the color of the tube is connected to the connection portion of the plurality of tubes. A tube cutting device for cutting a connecting body with a cutting machine to obtain a predetermined number of tube cutting bodies of a predetermined dimension, a conveying means for conveying the tube connecting body while pulling it toward the cutting machine, the conveying means, A passage detecting means for identifying the specific color located between the cutting machine and detecting the passage of the connecting portion by the mark of the tube connector conveyed by the conveying means; and the passage detecting means There is provided a tube cutting device comprising: count means for counting the number of times of passage of the connection site.

  Since the tube cutting device which concerns on a 1st aspect can count the mark marked on the tube connection body, the tube cut body containing a connection part is contained in the predetermined number of tube cut bodies cut | disconnected by the cutting machine. You can know the approximate number. Therefore, if a tube cut body including a mark is extracted from a predetermined number of tube cut bodies using the count number as a guide, a tube cut body that does not include the tube cut body including the connection portion can be easily obtained. Also, compared to removing the connection part by stopping the operation of the device each time the connection part is detected, the tube cutting body including the connection part is extracted after cutting the predetermined number of tube cutting bodies, thereby efficiently cutting the tube. The body can be made. Furthermore, it is possible to know the number of tube cut bodies including the connection site by using the count number as a guide. Therefore, when a tube cut body including a number of connection sites considering the count number can be quickly extracted from a predetermined number of tube cut bodies, it is possible to save the trouble of checking the remaining tube cut bodies. In addition, although a tube connection body may be cut | disconnected in the part of a mark, a mark remains in the edge part of a tube cut body in such a case. Therefore, if a tube cut body in which the mark is similarly left on the end portion is searched for, and these two tube cut bodies are equivalent to one count, the tube cut body including the connection sites, which is surely the number of counts as a guide, is surely obtained. Can be extracted.

  A 1st aspect is located between the said conveyance means and the said cutting machine, The measurement means which measures the outer diameter at the time of the passage of the said tube connection body conveyed by the said conveyance means, The said measurement means measured the said A first output means for outputting at least a first stop signal for stopping the conveyance of the tube connection body by the conveyance means when the outer diameter of the tube connection body is less than a predetermined diameter or exceeds a predetermined diameter; Also good.

  In the first aspect, the conveyance of the tube connection body can be stopped when the outer diameter of the tube connection body based on the measurement result of the measuring means is less than the predetermined diameter or exceeds the predetermined diameter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tube connection body from being cut into a predetermined dimension when the tube connection body is twisted or stretched, and when the twist or elongation is eliminated, the tube cut body becomes smaller than the predetermined dimension. Therefore, a tube cut body having a predetermined dimension can be produced with high accuracy, and the yield can be improved.

  A first aspect is a generator configured to generate a pulse corresponding to a rotational speed of a driven roller that is positioned between the transport unit and the cutting machine and is rotated by the tube connector transported by the transport unit. When the number of pulses generated by the generating means is different from a predetermined threshold value of the number of pulses corresponding to the predetermined dimension set in advance, at least the conveyance of the tube connector by the conveying means is stopped. And a second output means for outputting a second stop signal.

  In the first aspect, since the tube connection body can be stopped when the dimension of the tube connection body based on the number of pulses generated by the generating means is outside the allowable range of the predetermined dimension, the tube connection body is accurately It is possible to prevent cutting without being sent out by a predetermined dimension. Therefore, a tube cut body having a predetermined dimension can be produced with high accuracy, and the yield can be improved.

  A first aspect is provided in a transport path of the tube connector on the upstream side of the cutting machine, and a position detector that detects a deviation of a passing position of the tube connector with respect to a predetermined transport path, and the position detector detects And a third output means for outputting a third stop signal for stopping the transport of the tube connecting body by the transport means when the deviation of the passing position is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

  In the first aspect, the conveyance of the tube connector can be stopped when an abnormality occurs in the position where the tube connector passes during the conveyance based on the detection result of the position detection means. Therefore, a tube cut body having a predetermined dimension can be produced with high accuracy, and the yield can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a tube connection body in which a plurality of tubes are connected to form a single tube, a tube marked with a mark of a specific color different from the color of the tube with respect to the connection portion of the plurality of tubes. A tube cutting method in which a connecting body is cut by a cutting machine, and a predetermined number of tube cutting bodies of a predetermined size are obtained, and a conveying step in which the tube connecting body is pulled out by a conveying means toward the cutting machine. And a passage detection step in which the specific color is identified at a position between the transport unit and the cutting machine, and the passage of the connection portion by the mark of the tube connector transported in the transport step is detected. A counting step in which the number of passages of the connection site detected in the passage detection step is counted; and a predetermined number of the chips cut by the cutting machine. From the chromatography blanking cutting body, tube cutting method comprising a step sampling of the tube cutting member is withdrawn containing the mark in consideration of the number corresponding to the counted number of passes in the counting process is provided.

  By cutting the tube connection body according to the tube cutting method according to the second aspect, the user can obtain the same effect as that of the first aspect.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the cutting device. 1 is an external view of a tube connector 10. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a state detection unit 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the cutting device 1. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a tube cutting device embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of the cutting device 1 as an example is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. The cutting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that cuts a continuously extending glass tube into a predetermined dimension in order to produce a glass tube that covers and protects a plurality of lead wires that take out the output of a gas sensor (not shown). is there.

  In the present embodiment, as the glass tube to be cut by the cutting apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the ends of a plurality of glass tubes 11 having the same diameter and various lengths are connected by a paper tape 12 or the like. The tube connector 10 is used. The paper tape 12 has a specific color different from the color of the glass tube 11. As will be described later, the tube connector 10 is used by being wound around a supply unit 2 described later. Further, the paper tape 12 is used as a mark when the state detection unit 100 performs identification by color. In other words, the tube connection body 10 of the present embodiment is marked with a paper tape 12 having a specific color different from the color of the glass tube 11 as a mark.

  A cutting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a supply unit 2, a sending unit 3, a tone detection unit 4, a state detection unit 100, a cutting unit 5, a transport unit 6, a discharge unit 7, and a controller 8. The supply unit 2 is a device that holds the tube connection body 10 and supplies the tube connection body 10 to the delivery unit 3. The supply unit 2 includes a reel 21 that winds and holds the tube connector 10. The reel 21 is supported by a rotary shaft 22 orthogonal to the conveying direction of the tube connector 10 so as to be vertically rotatable. The tube connector 10 is wound and held on the reel 21 in a counterclockwise direction when the downstream side in the transport direction of the tube connector 10 is viewed as the right side. That is, when the tube connector 10 is pulled out and supplied from the reel 21, the reel 21 rotates forward with respect to the downstream side in the transport direction (clockwise when the cutting device 1 is viewed from the right side as described above).

  The supply unit 2 further includes an arm 23 that is pivotally supported in the vicinity of the rotation shaft 22 of the reel 21, the front end side extends toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and the front end side can swing up and down. A pressing roller 24 that is freely rotatable is provided at the tip of the arm 23. The tube connector 10 supplied by the supply unit 2 is supplied into the delivery unit 3 at a height substantially the same as the position of the upper end of the reel 21 of the supply unit 2. The arm 23 presses the tube connection body 10 downward by the pressing roller 24 by its own weight, and maintains the tube connection body 10 in a stretched state between the supply unit 2 and the delivery unit 3. A brake (not shown) that stops the rotation of the reel 21 in conjunction with the operation of the arm 23 is provided near the axis of the arm 23. The reel 21 is configured such that the brake is applied when the tip (pressing roller 24) of the arm 23 moves downward, and the brake is released when the reel 21 moves upward.

  Next, the delivery unit 3 is a device that sends out the tube connector 10 toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and is disposed adjacent to the supply unit 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the supply unit 2. The sending unit 3 includes an upper roller 31 and a lower roller 32 that feed the tube connector 10 up and down. The upper roller 31 is a roller driven by the lower roller 32 and is urged toward the lower roller 32. The lower roller 32 is rotated by a feed motor 37 (see FIG. 4), and is driven or stopped according to a detection result of a tone detection unit 4 described later. As described above, the feeding unit 3 is positioned on the base plate so that the nip (clamping position) between the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32 is positioned at a height substantially equal to the position of the upper end of the reel 21 of the supply unit 2. Is provided. Further, on the upstream side and the downstream side of the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32, auxiliary rollers 33 for assisting the conveyance of the tube connector 10 are provided. The sending unit 3 corresponds to “conveying means” in the present invention.

  The tone detection unit 4 is a device that detects the tension of the tube connector 10 that is sent out from the delivery unit 3 toward the state detection unit 100, and is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the delivery unit 3 and the delivery unit 3. It is arranged at a position between the state detection unit 100. Note that the portion where the tube connector 10 is drawn into the state detection unit 100 is located at substantially the same height as the nip portion between the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32 of the delivery unit 3 as described above. The tube connector 10 is conveyed between the delivery unit 3 and the state detection unit 100 in a state where it hangs downward near the position where the tone detection unit 4 is disposed. The tone detection unit 4 includes two support columns 41 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1) arranged in parallel and perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and a light emitting unit fixed to one support column 41, and the other support column. Are provided with four optical sensors 42 to 45 each having a light receiving portion fixed thereto. The optical sensors 42 to 45 are provided at predetermined positions in order from the top of the column 41. When the tube connection body 10 conveyed through the support columns 41 at a fixed height blocks the light between the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit, the optical sensors 42 to 45 are tubes at that height. The passage of the connection body 10 is detected.

  The state detection unit 100 is a part that detects an abnormality (twisting, floating, etc.) of the tube connector 10 before sending the tube connector 10 delivered from the delivery unit 3 to the cutting unit 5. In addition, on the upstream side of the portion where the tube connection body 10 is drawn into the state detection unit 100, the tube connection body 10 is passed between two bars, and the tube connection body 10 is moved in the lateral direction in the transport direction. A gate 49 is provided to restrict the movement. Details of the state detection unit 100 will be described later.

  Next, the cutting unit 5 is a device that cuts the tube connector 10 delivered from the state detection unit 100 into a predetermined size, and is disposed on the downstream side of the state detection unit 100 in the transport direction. The part where the tube connector 10 is drawn into the cutting part 5 is located at a height that is substantially the same as the part where the tube connector 10 is delivered from the state detector 100. The cutting unit 5 sandwiches the tube connecting body 10 up and down and feeds a predetermined size, and an upper belt 51 and a lower belt 52, a cutting blade 53 provided downstream thereof, and a tube cutting body 53 for cutting the tube connecting body 10, and an upper belt 51 And a control unit 56 for controlling the driving of the lower belt 52 and the cutting blade 53. The cutting unit 5 corresponds to the “cutting machine” in the present invention.

  The upper belt 51 is provided so as to be stretched between two rollers arranged side by side in the conveyance direction, and is urged toward the lower belt 52. The upper belt 51 rotates following the lower belt 52. Similarly, the lower belt 52 is provided so as to be stretched between two rollers arranged side by side in the conveyance direction. A feed motor 57 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the rollers of the lower belt 52. The feed motor 57 is a known pulse motor, and by inputting a pulse signal corresponding to a predetermined dimension, the tube connector 10 sandwiched between the upper belt 51 and the lower belt 52 can be accurately fed to a predetermined dimension. it can. A cutter driving motor 58 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the cutting blade 53. The cutting unit 5 drives the cutter drive motor 58 to cut the tube connecting body 10 that is fed to the upper belt 51 and the lower belt 52 with a predetermined size with the cutting blade 53, thereby sequentially producing the tube cut body 13 with a predetermined size.

  The transport unit 6 is a device that transports the tube cut body 13 that has been cut by the cutting unit 5 and has a predetermined size to the discharge unit 7, and is connected to the discharge port of the cutting unit 5 on the downstream side of the cutting unit 5. . The conveyance unit 6 arranges a plurality of conveyance rollers (not shown) in the conveyance direction, for example, a belt provided with a rib on the inner peripheral side is meshed with a gear provided on each conveyance roller, and drives a feed motor 67 (see FIG. 4). This enables simultaneous rotation in the same direction at the same time. Although not shown, the transport unit 6 is provided with a guide plate that regulates the movement of the tube cutting body 13 in the lateral direction with respect to the transport direction.

  On the downstream side of the transport unit 6, a discharge unit 7 that aligns the tube cut bodies 13 and discharges them to the tray 72 is provided. The discharge unit 7 includes an extrusion plate 71 that is provided at a side of a position where the tube cutting body 13 delivered from the conveyance unit 6 is placed on the discharge unit 7 and pushes the tube cutting body 13 in a lateral direction with respect to the conveyance direction. . Although not shown, the discharge unit 7 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers (not shown) that are connected to the conveyance unit 6 and arrange the tube cut body 13 fed from the conveyance unit 6 in front of the extrusion plate 71. The tray 72 is provided below the push-out plate 71, and receives the tube cut body 13 that is pushed out and falls from the transfer position, and holds the tube cut body 13 in an aligned state.

  The controller 8 is an apparatus that is disposed on the lower stage of the assembly on which the cutting unit 5, the conveyance unit 6, and the discharge unit 7 are placed, and controls the cutting device 1. A monitor 9 for operating the controller 8 is placed on the discharge unit 7. The monitor 9 is provided with a touch panel 92 (see FIG. 4) so as to overlap the display unit 91 (see FIG. 4). Although details will be described later, the count value obtained by counting the number of times that the mark (paper tape 12) has passed through the state detection unit 100 and the number of tube cut bodies 13 discharged from the discharge unit 7 (the number of tube cut bodies 13 produced) are as follows. The counted value is displayed on the display unit 91.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the state detection unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The state detection unit 100 arranges four types of sensors, that is, an optical sensor 110, a color sensor 120, an area sensor 130, and an encoder sensor 142, along the conveyance path of the tube connector 10, and each sensor detects abnormality of the tube connector 10. To detect. In the state detection unit 100, three feed rollers 101, 102, and 103 that assist the conveyance of the tube connector 10 are arranged in order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the tube connector 10. The tube connector 10 is conveyed on the feed rollers 101, 102, and 103.

  Above the feed roller 101, there is provided an optical sensor 110 in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged so as to sandwich the position where the tube connector 10 is conveyed on the feed roller 101 from the left and right. The optical sensor 110 is disposed at least above the diameter of the tube connector 10. As described above, the tube connector 10 delivered from the delivery unit 3 is drawn into the state detection unit 100 after passing through the state where the tube connection body 10 hangs downward therebetween. Is done. The optical sensor 110 detects that the tube connector 10 is lifted from the feed roller 101 and conveyed when the tube connector 10 blocks light between the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit. The optical sensor 110 corresponds to the “position detecting means” in the present invention.

  Between the feed roller 101 and the feed roller 102, a color sensor 120 is disposed on the side of the conveyance path of the tube connector 10. For example, the color sensor 120 irradiates the tube connector 10 with light emitted from a light source, decomposes the reflected light through a red, green, and blue filter, and detects the intensity of each color component with a photodiode. 10 colors are detected. In the present embodiment, the color of the tube connector 10 is different from the color (specific color) of the paper tape 12 as a mark, and the mark is used in the process of transporting the tube connector 10 based on the detection result of the color sensor 120. Is counted. The color sensor 120 corresponds to “passage detecting means” in the present invention.

  An area sensor 130 is disposed between the feed roller 102 and the feed roller 103 on the side of the conveyance path of the tube connector 10. The area sensor 130 is, for example, a sensor in which a plurality of CCD elements are arranged vertically and horizontally, and can detect an area occupied by a detection target located in the detection range in the detection range. In the present embodiment, the area sensor 130 detects the region occupied by the tube connector 10 being transported within the detection range (specifically, the number of CCD elements that have detected the tube connector 10) based on the result of detection. A state in which the thickness of the connection body 10 is thinner or thicker than the standard, and thus a state in which the tube connection body 10 is twisted, stretched, contracted, or the like is detected. The area sensor 130 corresponds to “measuring means” in the present invention.

  On the downstream side of the feed roller 103, a measuring roller 140 and a pressing roller 143 are provided that sandwich the transported tube connecting body 10 up and down and are rotated by the transport of the tube connecting body 10. The measuring roller 140 has a rotary encoder 141 assembled to a rotating shaft. The pressing roller 143 is disposed above the measuring roller 140 and is urged toward the pressing roller 143. For example, the rotary encoder 141 is provided with an encoder sensor 142 having a light emitting part and a light receiving part with a disk provided with a slit on the outer periphery, and a rotating shaft based on detection of light passing intermittently between the slits. It is a sensor which detects the amount of rotations. The encoder sensor 142 outputs a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed of the rotating shaft (that is, the rotation speed of the measuring roller 140). The encoder sensor 142 corresponds to the “generating unit” in the present invention.

  When the rotary encoder 141 is used, the number of pulses corresponding to the circumferential length of the measuring roller 140 that is driven and rotated by the tube connector 10 that is sent out by a predetermined size in the cutting unit 5 is obtained in advance. The number of pulses corresponding to the desired length of the tube cut body 13 produced by cutting the tube connecting body 10 is also obtained in advance based on the number of pulses corresponding to the circumferential length of the measuring roller 140. . Then, in the control unit 82 of the controller 8 which will be described later, the range of error allowed for accurately producing the tube cut body 13 having a desired length is set as a predetermined threshold value (lower limit value and upper limit value) of the number of pulses. It is set in advance. When the tube connection body 10 is cut at the cutting portion 5, the tube connection body 10 is fed out by a predetermined dimension by the upper belt 51 and the lower belt 52. The rotary encoder 141 counts the number of pulses output from the control unit 82 as to whether the tube connector 10 has been accurately fed to the upper belt 51 and the lower belt 52 by a predetermined size (that is, whether the tube connector 10 has not been stretched or compressed). Is provided for checking by comparing with a predetermined threshold.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the cutting apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 8 of the cutting apparatus 1 includes a control unit 82. The control unit 82 includes a known CPU, ROM, and RAM, and controls the entire cutting apparatus 1. The controller 8 includes an input interface 81. Output signals of the optical sensor 110, the area sensor 130, the encoder sensor 142, and the optical sensors 42 to 45 included in the tone detection unit 4 included in the state detection unit 100 are input to the control unit 82 via the input interface 81.

  The controller 8 includes a counter 88, and an output signal of the color sensor 120 is input to the counter 88. As described above, the color sensor 120 outputs an H signal when it detects a specific color (specifically, the color of the paper tape 12 as a mark) that is different from the color of the tube connector 10 in the process of transporting the tube connector 10. Output. The counter 88 increments the count value by 1 when the output signal of the color sensor 120 rises from L to H. That is, the count value of the counter 88 is the number of times that the mark (paper tape 12) has passed in front of the color sensor 120 in the process of transporting the tube connector 10 (in other words, the number of connection parts where a plurality of glass tubes 11 are connected by the paper tape 12). ). The count value of the counter 88 is transmitted to the control unit 82. Further, the control unit 82 transmits a reset signal to the counter 88. When the counter 88 receives a reset signal from the control unit 82, the counter 88 resets the count value (returns to zero). The counter 88 corresponds to “counting means” in the present invention.

  The controller 8 further includes a counter 89. An output signal from the control unit 76 included in the discharge unit 7 is input to the counter 89. Although the electrical configuration of the discharge unit 7 will be described later, when the counter 89 receives an output signal from the control unit 76, the counter 89 increments the count value by one. As described above, the count value of the counter 89 is transmitted to the control unit 82 of the controller 8. The control unit 82 also transmits a reset signal to the counter 89, and the counter 89 resets the count value based on the reception of the reset signal.

  The controller 8 includes a display control unit 86. The display control unit 86 performs drawing processing for displaying the operation screen on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 based on the image data of the operation screen (not shown) of the cutting device 1 output from the control unit 82. A signal indicating the input position (contact position of a finger or the like on the screen) detected by the touch panel 92 of the monitor 9 is input to the control unit 82.

  The sending unit 3 includes a control unit 36 that controls driving of a feed motor 37 that rotates the lower roller 32. The control unit 36 receives an instruction signal transmitted from the control unit 82 of the controller 8 and drives or stops the feed motor 37 based on the instruction signal. The cutting unit 5 includes a control unit 56 that controls driving of a feed motor 57 that drives the lower belt 52 and a cutter drive motor 58 that drives the cutting blade 53. Similarly, the control unit 56 receives the instruction signal transmitted from the control unit 82 of the controller 8 and drives or stops the feed motor 57 and the cutter drive motor 58 based on the instruction signal.

  The transport unit 6 includes a control unit 66 that controls driving of a feed motor 67 provided with a gear for operating a belt that synchronously rotates a plurality of transport rollers (not shown). As described above, the control unit 66 receives the instruction signal transmitted from the control unit 82 of the controller 8 and drives or stops the feed motor 67 based on the instruction signal. The discharge unit 7 includes a feed motor 77 that rotates a conveyance roller (not shown) and a control unit 76 that controls driving of an extrusion motor 78 that moves the extrusion plate 71 out and out. Similarly, the control unit 76 receives the instruction signal transmitted from the control unit 82 of the controller 8 and drives or stops the feed motor 77 and the extrusion motor 78 based on the instruction signal.

  The cutting device 1 configured as described above operates as follows. An operator operates the touch panel 92 on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 to drive the cutting device 1. The control unit 36 of the sending unit 3 receives the instruction signal from the control unit 82 of the controller 8 and drives the feed motor 37, so that the lower roller 32 rotates. The tube connector 10 sandwiched between the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32 is sent out downstream in the transport direction [transport step]. When the tube connector 10 hangs between the supply unit 2 and the delivery unit 3, the distal end side of the arm 23 is lowered downward, and the reel 21 is braked. When the tube connector 10 is sent out in this state, the length of the tube connector 10 gradually decreases between the supply unit 2 and the delivery unit 3. When the tube connector 10 is stretched and the distal end side of the arm 23 is pushed upward, the brake of the reel 21 is released. When the tube connection body 10 is supplied between the supply section 2 and the delivery section 3, the tension is loosened, so that the pressing roller 24 of the arm 23 presses the tube connection body 10 downward. As a result, the tip end side of the arm 23 is lowered downward, and the reel 21 is braked again.

  Between the delivery part 3 and the state detection part 100, the tube connection body 10 will be in the state hung down with dead weight. When the tube connecting body 10 is sent out between the two by the sending unit 3, the tube connecting body 10 is more drooped and passes between the two support columns 41 in the tone detecting unit 4 at a lower position. When the degree of sag of the tube connection body 10 increases and the optical sensor 44 arranged at the second position from the bottom detects the passage of the tube connection body 10, the control unit 82 of the controller 8 controls the control unit 36 of the sending unit 3. An instruction signal is transmitted to, and the drive of the feed motor 37 is stopped. The sagging degree of the tube connector 10 does not increase any more.

  Meanwhile, the lower roller 32 of the cutting unit 5 is driven and the tube connection body 10 is pulled into the state detection unit 100, whereby the length of the tube connection body 10 is gradually shortened between the delivery unit 3 and the state detection unit 100. Become. The hanging state of the tube connection body 10 between the delivery unit 3 and the state detection unit 100 gradually decreases, and the tube connection body 10 passes between the two support columns 41 at a higher position. When the degree of sag of the tube connector 10 is reduced and the optical sensor 43 arranged at the second position from the top detects the passage of the tube connector 10, the controller 82 of the controller 8 controls the controller 36 of the sending unit 3. An instruction signal is transmitted to the drive motor 37 to resume driving of the feed motor 37. By newly supplying the tube connector 10 between the delivery unit 3 and the state detector 100, the length of the tube connector 10 between the two gradually increases. Thus, the tension load (tension) applied to the tube connector 10 toward the cutting unit 5 is within a predetermined range by adjusting the degree of sag of the tube connector 10 between the delivery unit 3 and the state detector 100. Adjusted to

  By the way, if the hanging state of the tube connector 10 becomes too large, the optical sensor 45 arranged at the lowest position detects the passage of the tube connector 10. In this case, the control unit 82 of the controller 8 transmits an instruction signal to each of the control units 36, 56, 66, and 76 of the sending unit 3, the cutting unit 5, the transport unit 6, and the discharge unit 7, and stops the driving of each unit. . The control unit 82 displays an error on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 and prompts the operator to check for an abnormality in conveyance of the tube connector 10. On the other hand, when the tube connector 10 is stretched and the sag is too small, the optical sensor 42 disposed at the highest position detects the passage of the tube connector 10. In this case as well, the control unit 82 of the controller 8 transmits instruction signals to the control units 36, 56, 66, and 76 of the delivery unit 3, the cutting unit 5, the transport unit 6, and the discharge unit 7 to drive each unit. Stop. The control unit 82 displays an error on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 and prompts the operator to check the conveyance abnormality of the tube connector 10. When the abnormality is resolved by the operator's inspection, the touch panel 92 of the monitor 9 is operated, and the control unit 82 resumes driving of the cutting device 1.

  Next, the tube connector 10 drawn into the state detection unit 100 through the gate 49 by driving the lower roller 32 of the cutting unit 5 is conveyed on the feed roller 101. Here, when an abnormality occurs in the conveyance of the tube connector 10 and the tube connector 10 is lifted from the feed roller 101, the tube connector 10 passes through the detection position of the optical sensor 110. The optical sensor 110 outputs a signal to the control unit 82 of the controller 8 when the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are blocked and the floating of the tube connector 10 is detected. The control unit 82 transmits an instruction signal to the control units 36, 56, 66, and 76 of the sending unit 3, the cutting unit 5, the transport unit 6, and the discharge unit 7, and stops the driving of each unit. The control unit 82 displays an error on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 and prompts the operator to check for an abnormality in conveyance of the tube connector 10. When the abnormality is resolved by the operator's inspection, the touch panel 92 of the monitor 9 is operated, and the control unit 82 resumes driving of the cutting device 1. On the other hand, if the floating of the tube connector 10 is not detected by the optical sensor 110, the conveyance of the tube connector 10 is continued. The control unit 82 that outputs an instruction signal (third stop signal) for stopping driving of each unit based on the detection result of the optical sensor 110 corresponds to the “third output unit” in the present invention.

  When the tube connector 10 passes between the feed roller 101 and the feed roller 102, color detection is performed by the color sensor 120. The color sensor 120 stores the surface color (for example, black) of the tube connector 10 registered in advance in, for example, a flash memory. The color sensor 120 compares the detected color of the tube connector 10 with the registered surface color, and outputs an L signal if they are the same, and outputs an H signal if they are different [passage detection step]. The output of the color sensor 120 is input to the counter 88. When the counter 88 rises from the L signal to the H signal, the count value is incremented by one. In other words, the counter 88 counts the number of times the mark (paper tape 12) provided on the tube connector 10 has passed in front of the color sensor 120 [counting step]. Note that the count value of the counter 88 is input to the control unit 82 and displayed on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 as the number of detections of the mark (the number of times the mark has passed the state detection unit 100).

  When the tube connector 10 passes between the feed roller 102 and the feed roller 103, the area occupied by the area sensor 130 is detected by the area sensor 130. If the tube connector 10 is not twisted, stretched or contracted, the tube connector 10 occupies a predetermined range within the detection range. In the control unit 82, the range of the region occupied by the tube connector 10 in the detection range when no twisting, stretching, shrinkage, or the like has been registered in advance. More specifically, the number of CCD elements that can detect the tube connector 10 when the tube sensor 10 in a reference state is detected by the area sensor 130 is registered. When the area occupied by the detected tube connecting body 10 is smaller or larger than the registered predetermined range area, and the thickness of the tube connecting body 10 is thinner or thicker than specified, the control unit 82 It is determined that the tube connector 10 is twisted, stretched or contracted. Similarly to the above, an instruction signal is transmitted to the control units 36, 56, 66, and 76 of the sending unit 3, the cutting unit 5, the transport unit 6, and the discharge unit 7, and the driving of each unit is stopped. The control unit 82 displays an error on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 and prompts the operator to check for an abnormality in conveyance of the tube connector 10. When the abnormality is resolved by the operator's inspection, the touch panel 92 of the monitor 9 is operated, and the control unit 82 resumes driving of the cutting device 1. On the other hand, when the area occupied by the tube connector 10 is substantially the same as the registered area of the predetermined range, the transport of the tube connector 10 is continued. The control unit 82 that outputs an instruction signal (first stop signal) for stopping driving of each unit based on the detection result of the area sensor 130 corresponds to the “first output unit” in the present invention.

  The tube connector 10 that has passed through the feed roller 103 passes through the nip portion (pinching position) between the measurement roller 140 and the pressing roller 143. The dimension in which the tube connector 10 that is fed to the upper belt 51 and the lower belt 52 by the predetermined dimension is actually fed is measured by a rotary encoder 141 that is assembled to the rotating shaft of the measuring roller 140. The control unit 82 compares the number of pulses output from the encoder sensor 142 as the rotation amount of the measuring roller 140 with a predetermined threshold value. When the number of pulses output from the encoder sensor 142 does not fall within the predetermined threshold value and exceeds the upper limit value or falls below the lower limit value, the tube connector 10 is in a state of being stretched or compressed, for example. . Even if the control section 82 cuts the tube connecting body 10 as it is to obtain the tube cut body 13, the dimensions change when the expansion or compression generated in the tube returns, so that the tube cut body 13 having an accurate predetermined dimension is obtained. Judge that you can not get. In this case, similarly to the above, the control unit 82 transmits an instruction signal to the control units 36, 56, 66, and 76 of the sending unit 3, the cutting unit 5, the transport unit 6, and the discharge unit 7, and stops the driving of each unit. . The control unit 82 displays an error on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 and prompts the operator to check for an abnormality in conveyance of the tube connector 10. When the abnormality is resolved by the operator's inspection, the touch panel 92 of the monitor 9 is operated, and the control unit 82 resumes driving of the cutting device 1. On the other hand, when the dimension in which the tube connector 10 is actually sent out is substantially the same as the predetermined dimension, the conveyance of the tube connector 10 is continued. The control unit 82 that outputs an instruction signal (second stop signal) for stopping driving of each unit based on the number of pulses output from the encoder sensor 142 corresponds to the “second output unit” in the present invention. The measuring roller 140 corresponds to the “driven roller” in the present invention.

  The tube connection body 10 that has passed through the state detection unit 100 is accurately fed out with a predetermined size by driving the lower roller 32 based on the control of the control unit 56 of the cutting unit 5. 13 is cut. The tube cutting body 13 is transported to a transport roller (not shown) driven by a feed motor 67 controlled by the control unit 66 of the transport unit 6 and heads toward the discharge unit 7. In the discharge unit 7, the tube cut body 13 is further transported to a transport roller (not shown) driven by a feed motor 77 controlled by the control unit 76. The distal end of the tube cutting body 13 in the conveying direction comes into contact with a stopper (not shown). The push-out plate 71 is operated by the push-out motor 78 driven based on the control of the control unit 76, and the push-out plate 71 pushes the tube cut body 13 onto the tray 72 from the transport position. The tube cutting bodies 13 are aligned in a state where the tips in the transport direction are aligned in the tray 72.

  The control unit 76 outputs a signal to the counter 89 each time the pusher plate 71 is operated once, and the count value of the counter 89 is incremented by 1 based on this output signal. In other words, the counter 89 counts the number of manufactured tube cut bodies 13. Note that the count value of the counter 89 is input to the control unit 82 and displayed on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 as the number of manufactured tube cut bodies 13.

  When the count value of the counter 89 reaches a predetermined value (for example, 100), the control unit 82 of the controller 8 controls the control units 36, 56, 66, 76 of the sending unit 3, the cutting unit 5, the conveying unit 6, and the discharging unit 7. An instruction signal is transmitted to, and driving of each part is stopped. The control unit 82 displays on the display unit 91 of the monitor 9 a report indicating that the number of tube cut bodies 13 in the tray 72 has reached a predetermined number (for example, 100), and notifies the operator of the tube cut bodies 13 from the tray 72. Prompt to take out.

  The tray 72 accommodates 100 tube cut bodies 13. Among these, the number of tube cut bodies 13 corresponding to the number of times of detection of the mark includes a connection portion between the glass tubes 11, that is, a portion around which the paper tape 12 is wound. Here, when the tube connection body 10 is cut at the cutting part 5, when the portion around which the paper tape 12 is wound is cut, two tube cut bodies 13 with the paper tape 12 remaining at the end are produced. become. Therefore, the operator can surely extract the remaining tube cut body 13 of the paper tape 12 from the 100 tube cut bodies 13 accommodated in the tray 72 by considering the number of detections of the mark [sampling step. ].

  For example, when the operator pulls out the tube cut body 13 with the paper tape 12 remaining from the tray 72, it is assumed that one tube cut body 13 with the paper tape 12 remaining at the end is included. In this case, the operator can search the inside of the tray 72 on the assumption that another tube cutting body 13 in which the paper tape 12 remains at the end is present in the tray 72. For example, assuming that the number of mark detections is 5, the operator regards two of the tube cut bodies 13 where the paper tape 12 remains at the end as one, and the remaining four paper tapes 12 remain. The tube cut body 13 may be searched from the tray 72. In this way, if the number of tube cut bodies 13 in consideration of the number of detections of the mark is extracted from the tray 72, the tube cut bodies 13 remaining on the tray 72 can be regarded as not including the connection portion between the glass tubes 11, The trouble of inspecting all the tube cut bodies 13 can be saved.

  When the operator removes the tube cut body 13 from the tray 72 and further operates the touch panel 92 of the monitor 9 to instruct the resumption of production of the tube cut body 13, the control unit 82 counts the counters 88 and 89. After resetting, the driving of the cutting device 1 is resumed. The cutting device 1 starts producing the next predetermined number of tube cut bodies 13.

  As described above, the cutting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can count the number of detections of the mark (paper tape 12) marked on the tube connecting body 10, and therefore a predetermined number of tubes cut at the cutting unit 5. It is possible to know the number of the cut bodies 13 that serves as a standard for including the tube cut bodies 13 including the connection sites. Therefore, if the tube cut body 13 including the mark is extracted from the predetermined number of tube cut bodies 13 using the count number as a guide, the tube cut body 13 that does not include the tube cut body including the connection site can be easily obtained. Moreover, by extracting the tube cut body 13 including the connection portion after cutting the predetermined number of tube cut bodies 13 as compared with the case of stopping the operation of the cutting device 1 every time the connection portion is detected and removing the connection portion, The tube cut body 13 can be produced efficiently. Furthermore, the number of the tube cut bodies 13 including the connection site can be known using the count number as a guide. Therefore, when all of the tube cut bodies 13 including the number of connection sites in consideration of the number of counts can be extracted from the predetermined number of tube cut bodies 13 at an early stage, the remaining tube cut bodies The trouble of checking 13 can be saved. In addition, although the tube connecting body 10 may be cut | disconnected in the part of a mark, a mark remains in the edge part of the tube cut body 13 in such a case. Therefore, if a tube cut body 13 in which a mark is similarly left at the end portion is searched for, and the two tube cut bodies 13 are equivalent to one count, the tube including the connection site is surely made with the count number as a guide. It is possible to extract the cut body 13.

  Further, when the outer diameter of the tube connector 10 based on the measurement result of the area sensor 130 is less than the predetermined diameter or exceeds the predetermined diameter, the conveyance of the tube connector 10 can be stopped. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tube connection body 10 from being cut into a predetermined size while being twisted or stretched, and when the twist or elongation is eliminated, the tube cut body 13 is smaller than the predetermined size. Therefore, the tube cutting body 13 having a predetermined dimension can be produced with high accuracy, and the yield can be improved.

  In addition, since the transport of the tube connector 10 can be stopped when the dimension of the tube connector 10 based on the number of pulses generated by the encoder sensor 142 is outside the permissible range of the predetermined dimension, the tube connector 10 is accurate. It is possible to prevent cutting without being sent out to a predetermined dimension. Therefore, the tube cutting body 13 having a predetermined dimension can be produced with high accuracy, and the yield can be improved.

  Moreover, when abnormality occurs in the position through which the tube connector 10 passes during transport based on the detection result of the optical sensor 110, the transport of the tube connector 10 can be stopped. Therefore, the tube cutting body 13 having a predetermined dimension can be produced with high accuracy, and the yield can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, You may add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, in this embodiment, the color sensor 120 registers the color of the tube connector 10 in advance, and outputs an H signal when a color different from the color of the tube connector 10 is detected. For example, a specific color different from the color of the tube connector 10 (the color of the paper tape 12 as a mark) may be registered in advance, and an H signal may be output when the specific color is detected. Alternatively, the color sensor 120 outputs the detected color information to the control unit 82, and the control unit 82 compares the color information of the tube connector 10 registered in advance with the received color information to determine a specific color (that is, It may be determined whether or not the color is different from the color of the tube connector 10.

  In addition, the control unit 82, based on the detection result of the area sensor 130, does not fit in the registered predetermined range area, and when the detected area of the tube connector 10 is small or large, the tube connector 10 It was judged that twisting, elongation, shrinkage, etc. occurred in Not limited to this, even if it is determined that the area occupied by the detected tube connecting body 10 is smaller than the registered predetermined range area, even if it is determined that the tube connecting body 10 is twisted or stretched. Good. Of course, similarly, only the case where the area occupied by the detected tube connector 10 is larger than the registered area of the predetermined range may be targeted.

  The control unit 82 stops the operation of the cutting device 1 according to the detection results of the optical sensor 110, the area sensor 130, and the encoder sensor 142, but does not stop all the parts and stops driving the partial parts. You may pause. For example, when based on the detection result of the optical sensor 110, the driving of the sending unit 3 is temporarily stopped, and when the output signal of the optical sensor 110 returns to a normal signal, the driving of the sending unit 3 is resumed. It may be.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the glass tube used for a gas sensor was mentioned as an example of the tube cutting body 13 which the cutting device 1 produces. Not only the gas sensor but also a tube manufactured by the tube cutting device according to the present invention, as long as it is a device that can use a tube cutting body manufactured by connecting a plurality of tubes and cutting a single tube connecting body. A cut body may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting device 3 Sending part 5 Cutting part 10 Tube connection body 11 Glass tube 12 Paper tape 13 Tube cutting body 82 Control part 88 Counter 110 Optical sensor 120 Color sensor 130 Area sensor 140 Measurement roller 142 Encoder sensor

Claims (5)

In a tube connection body in which a plurality of tubes are connected to form a single tube, a tube connection body marked with a mark of a specific color different from the color of the tube is cut with a cutting machine with respect to a connection portion of the plurality of tubes, A tube cutting device for obtaining a predetermined number of tube cutting bodies having dimensions,
Conveying means for conveying the tube connector while pulling it toward the cutting machine;
A passage detection means for identifying the specific color located between the transport means and the cutting machine, and detecting the passage of the connection site by the mark of the tube connector transported by the transport means;
Counting means for counting the number of passages of the connection site detected by the passage detection means;
A tube cutting device comprising: Measuring means for measuring an outer diameter at the time of passage of the tube connecting body, which is located between the conveying means and the cutting machine and is conveyed by the conveying means;
When the outer diameter of the tube connecting body measured by the measuring means is less than a predetermined diameter or exceeds a predetermined diameter, at least a first output for outputting a first stop signal for stopping the conveying of the tube connecting body by the conveying means Means,
The tube cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising: Generating means for generating a pulse corresponding to a rotational speed of a driven roller that is positioned between the conveying means and the cutting machine and that is rotated by the tube connector conveyed by the conveying means;
When the number of pulses generated by the generating unit becomes a number of pulses different from a predetermined threshold value of the number of pulses corresponding to the predetermined dimension set in advance, at least the transporting of the tube connector by the transporting unit is stopped. Second output means for outputting two stop signals;
The tube cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising: A position detecting means provided in a transport path of the tube connecting body on the upstream side of the cutting machine, and detecting a deviation of a passing position of the tube connecting body with respect to a predetermined transport path;
A third output means for outputting a third stop signal for stopping the transport of the tube connecting body by the transport means when the deviation of the passing position detected by the position detection means is a predetermined threshold value or more;
The tube cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: In a tube connection body in which a plurality of tubes are connected to form a single tube connection body, the tube connection body marked with a mark of a specific color different from the color of the tube is cut with a cutting machine with respect to the connection portion of the plurality of tubes, A tube cutting method for obtaining a predetermined number of tube cutting bodies having dimensions,
A transport process in which the tube connector is transported while being pulled out by the transport means toward the cutting machine,
A passage detection step in which the specific color is identified at a position between the transport means and the cutting machine, and the passage of the connection portion by the mark of the tube connector transported in the transport step is detected;
A counting step in which the number of passages of the connection site detected in the passage detection step is counted;
From the predetermined number of the tube cut bodies cut by the cutting machine, taking out the tube cut body including the mark in consideration of the number according to the number of passages counted in the counting step,
Including tube cutting method.

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