JP2015210253A - Measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a weight scale achieving a low manufacturing cost and excellent assembling property.SOLUTION: A weight scale includes: a placing table where an object to be weighed can be placed; a supporting member which can be detachably attached to the placing table; and a sensor assembly disposed between the supporting member and a floor surface and for detecting weight of the object to be weighed placed on the placing table, where the placing table includes a position fixation part for defining a contour shape of the supporting member.

Description

  The present invention relates to a measuring instrument.

  For example, in a weighing machine such as a weight scale, a top board on which an object to be weighed such as a human body is placed, and the top board is supported on the floor, and a load due to the weight of the object to be weighed is converted into an electric signal. In general, the configuration includes a load cell.

  As an apparatus similar to such a measuring instrument, for example, a weight scale described in Patent Document 1 is known. This weight scale is sandwiched between a footrest on which a user rests, an upper plate supporting the footrest, and a lower plate, and an upper plate and a lower plate, and the load due to the weight of the user is an electrical signal. And a load cell for conversion into

JP 2008-216155 A

By the way, in recent years, as a result of pursuing the measurement accuracy of the scale, the design of the appearance, and the like, various types of scales are provided to the market by the same supplier. Such a trend brings various advantages for consumers, but also contributes to an increase in production costs for suppliers.
For example, in order to improve the measurement accuracy of a scale, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of types of load cells having different ratings and shapes.
However, in the weight scale described in Patent Document 1, when the load cell is fixed between the upper plate and the lower plate, it is necessary to perform fastening and fixing with screws. That is, after aligning the positions of the holes provided in the upper plate and the load cell, the upper plate, the lower plate and the load cell are fixed to each other by inserting a screw into the hole. Thus, the assembly process of the weight scale becomes complicated, which increases production costs and may cause difficulty in assembly.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and provides a measuring instrument that realizes low production costs and good assemblability.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, the weighing instrument is disposed between a platform on which an object to be weighed is placed, a support member that is detachably attached to the platform, and the support member and the floor surface. And a sensor assembly that detects a load caused by an object to be weighed placed on the platform, and the platform includes a position fixing unit that defines a contour shape of the support member.

  In such a measuring instrument, the position fixing unit that determines the contour shape of the support member is provided on the mounting base, so that if the supporting member has an equivalent contour shape, it can be easily determined on the position fixing section of the mounting base. . Therefore, when adopting a plurality of types of sensor assemblies having different shapes and dimensions, it is only necessary to change the shape and dimensions of the support member other than the contour shape defined in the position fixing portion. In other words, when changing only the sensor assembly (for example, load cell) when changing the product specifications, etc., the mounting stand remains the same without newly producing a mold for the production, and Work is facilitated when the support member is attached to the platform.

  Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a retaining portion that restricts movement of the support member in the direction of the upper surface plate at a predetermined position may be provided between the position fixing portion and the support member.

  According to such a configuration, when the measuring instrument is assembled, it is possible to restrict the support member and the sensor from falling off from the hole of the housing in the direction of the upper surface plate.

  Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the position fixing portion is formed by a hole, and the support member includes a retaining portion having a hole width dimension larger than a hole width dimension of the position fixing section. It may be.

  According to such a configuration, a structure for restricting the support member and the sensor from falling off from the hole in the direction of the upper surface plate is simply provided by engaging the retaining portion with the hole. Can do.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to assemble easily, the measuring instrument which can be produced economically can be provided.

1 is an overall view of a measuring instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the II-II line | wire state of the state which assembled the measuring device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the III-III line of the state which assembled the measuring device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the II-II line of the modification of a supporting member. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the III-III line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the II-II line of the other modification of a supporting member and a housing | casing. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the III-III line of FIG.

Hereinafter, a measuring instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The weighing instrument 1 extends substantially on a horizontal plane, and includes a platform 10 on which an object to be weighed is placed, a support member 4 that is detachably attached to the platform 10, and a support member 4 and a floor surface. And a sensor assembly 5 disposed therebetween.
As the measuring instrument 1, for example, a weight scale for measuring the weight of a user, a body fat scale or body composition meter provided with an electrode for measuring bioimpedance on the top plate 2 of the weight scale, an article, A scale for measuring the weight of food or the like can be considered.

  The platform 10 includes an upper surface plate 2 and a housing 3 connected to the lower surface of the upper surface plate 2. In the present embodiment, the upper surface plate 2 is formed of a glass plate having a certain degree of translucency for the purpose of improving the design of the product. A pattern or the like is added to the upper surface or the lower surface of the upper surface plate 2 by, for example, silk screen printing. This causes a visual aesthetic for the user.

  When using the measuring instrument 1 as a weight scale, it is desirable to form the upper surface plate 2 with tempered glass or the like so that it can endure the load due to the weight of the user.

  The housing 3 is stacked on the lower side in the thickness direction of the upper surface plate 2 and accommodates an electronic circuit (not shown) or the like therein, thereby forming the main part of the measuring instrument 1. The housing 3 is formed mainly by injection molding of a resin material.

  Further, the housing 3 is provided with a plurality of holes H (position fixing portions) for inserting and fixing a support member 4 described later. The hole H is a through hole that penetrates the casing 3 in the thickness direction.

  More specifically, the hole H has a large hole portion 33 extending upward from the lower surface of the housing 3 to a midway position in the thickness direction, and a small hole width dimension smaller than that of the large hole portion 33. And a hole 34. A small hole peripheral portion 30 is formed around the small hole 34. A lower surface of the small hole peripheral portion 30 is a step surface 32.

  The shape of the hole H when viewed from above is circular in the present embodiment. In addition, the shape of the hole H when viewed from below is an octagon outside the circular shape when viewed from above in this embodiment. Note that the shape of the hole H is not limited to these shapes. For example, it may be formed in a square shape or an oval shape according to the contour shape of the support member 4 described later. Further, the hole H (position fixing portion) may define the outline shape of the support member 4A over the entire circumference, or may define a part of the outline shape of the support member.

  The support member 4 (support member 4A) is a member composed of a base portion 40A formed in a thin plate shape and a protrusion 45 extending upward from the upper surface of the base portion 40A.

  The base portion 40A is a plate-like member that extends generally on a horizontal plane and has an octagonal shape in plan view. The dimension in the thickness direction of the base portion 40A is generally uniform throughout.

  Further, on the base portion upper surface 44 that is the upper surface of the base portion 40A, a protrusion 45 having substantially the same dimensions as the small hole portion 34 of the hole H and extending upward is formed. In other words, the protruding portion 45 is a columnar convex portion having a dimension substantially the same as the hole width dimension of the small hole portion 34 in the hole H. The support member upper surface 43, which is the upper surface of the protrusion 45, is formed smoothly.

  The support member 4A thus formed is detachably attached to the housing 3 through the hole H. On the other hand, the support member upper surface 43 and the lower surface 21 of the upper surface plate 2 are connected to each other by, for example, a double-sided tape.

  Further, the vertical dimension of the protrusion 45 is set to be larger than the vertical dimension of the small hole peripheral part 30 in the hole H. In other words, a gap having a constant vertical dimension is formed between the step surface 32 in the hole H and the base portion upper surface 44 of the support member 4.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the support member 4 as seen from a direction in which locking claws 40B, 40B described later are arranged (hereinafter referred to as II-II direction). As shown in FIG. 2, when the dimension in the vertical direction of the protrusion 45 is L1, and the dimension in the vertical direction of the small hole peripheral part 30 is L2, the respective dimensions are set so that L1> L2. ing.

Further, in the cross section viewed from the II-II direction, a plurality of (two) locking claws 40B and 40B each projecting downward are provided on two opposite sides of the peripheral portion of the base portion 40A. It is provided one by one. The dimension in the vertical direction of the locking claws 40B, 40B is set larger than the dimension in the thickness direction of the housing 3. That is, when the support member 4 </ b> A is assembled to the housing 3, the locking claws 40 </ b> B and 40 </ b> B slightly protrude from the lower surface of the housing 3.
Further, a gap is formed between the large hole portion 33 and the locking claw 40B.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support member 4 viewed from a direction orthogonal to the above-described II-II direction (hereinafter referred to as III-III direction) in a horizontal plane.

In the cross section viewed from the III-III direction, one rising piece 40E, 40D protruding downward is provided on each of the two sides facing each other in the peripheral portion of the base portion 40A. Each of the rising pieces 40E and 40D is set so as to correspond to the size in the vertical direction of a locking claw 35 (described later) and a locking projection 36 (described later) provided in the housing 3. As long as this is the case, the vertical dimensions of the rising pieces 40E and 40D may be different from each other or may be substantially the same.
Further, the separation dimension between the rising pieces 40E and 40D on the surface parallel to the upper surface plate 2 is formed larger than the separation dimension between the above-described locking claws 40B.

  In addition, a locking claw 35 that protrudes toward the hole side is formed on the peripheral edge portion of the large hole portion 33 in the housing 3 when viewed from the III-III direction. Since the entire locking claw 35 is formed in a thin shape, if a force is applied from the hole side, it can be elastically deformed toward the outside of the hole H according to this force.

Similarly, a locking projection 36 that protrudes toward the hole side is provided at a position on the periphery of the large hole 33 and facing the locking claw 35.
The support member 4 is fixed to the housing 3 by the locking claws 35 and the locking projections 36. More specifically, first, the rising piece 40D in the base portion 40A of the support member 4 is engaged by being inserted obliquely toward the space above the locking projection 36.

Subsequently, the peripheral claw 35 and the rising piece 40E in the base portion 40A are engaged by pressing the peripheral portion of the base portion 40A on the side facing the locking projection 36 from this state. As described above, the locking claw 35 can be elastically deformed toward the outside of the hole H. That is, by pressing the peripheral edge portion of the base portion 40A, the locking claw 35 is slightly elastically deformed radially outward. Further, by pressing the peripheral portion of the base portion 40A, the base portion 40A (the rising piece 40E) gets over the locking claw 35 and returns to the original shape by the elastic restoring force. Thereby, the latching claw 35 and the peripheral portion of the base portion 40A are engaged with each other.
With the configuration as described above, the support member 4 is fixed to the housing 3.
A gap is formed between the lower surface 37 of the small hole peripheral portion 30 and the upper surface 44 of the base surface.

According to such a configuration, as described above, the locking claws 40B, 40B are directly above (between the step surface 32 and the base surface upper surface 44) and between the locking claws 40B, 40B and the large hole portion 33. A gap is formed in Therefore, the downward load applied to the upper surface plate 2 when the measuring instrument 1 is used does not act on the locking claws 40B and 40B. Thereby, the latching claws 40B and 40B can clamp and fix the sensor assembly 5A (5) while keeping the fixed state constant. That is, it is possible to suppress deterioration in measurement accuracy of the measuring instrument 1 that occurs when the fixing state between the locking claws 40B and 40B and the sensor assembly 5A (5) changes.
It is possible to carry out without providing a gap immediately above the locking claws 40B, 40B (between the step surface 32 and the base surface upper surface 44) and between the locking claws 40B, 40B and the large hole portion 33. It is.
Further, it is possible to implement the operation directly above the locking claws 40E and 40D (between the lower surface 37 of the small hole peripheral portion 30 and the base surface upper surface 44) without providing a gap.

  Although illustration of a detailed structure is omitted, the sensor assembly 5 (sensor assembly 5A) includes a load cell and a leg that is combined with the load cell and contacts the installation surface. The load cell includes a strain body that undergoes deformation corresponding to the load when it receives a load, and a strain gauge that is attached to the strain body and detects strain due to deformation of the strain body. The load received by the load cell (sensor assembly 5A) is converted into a numerical value by transmitting the output signal from the strain gauge to a computing device (not shown) and performing computation. The measuring instrument 1 further includes a display device (not shown) for displaying this numerical value. Thereby, the measuring instrument 1 can digitize the weight of a to-be-measured object, and can notify a user. Here, in this example, a load cell having a substantially cylindrical shape is used, but the load cell may have any shape.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor assembly 5A is sandwiched between the locking claws 40B and 40B on the lower surface of the base portion 40A of the support member 4A.

More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the locking claws 40B and 40B are provided at two arbitrary positions facing each other on the peripheral edge portion of the base portion 40A of the support member 4A. Further, folded portions 40C and 40C that slightly protrude toward the axis AZ are formed at the lower ends of the locking claws 40B and 40B, respectively.
In the present embodiment, the sensor assembly 5A is provided with a step or a recess for engaging the locking claws 40B and 40B. In this case, the vertical dimension from the folded parts 40C, 40C to the base part 40A is set to be approximately the same as the vertical dimension from the upper surface of the sensor assembly 5A to the step, the recess, and the like.
According to such a configuration, the folded portions 40C and 40C of the locking claws 40B and 40B can be held by engaging with the step of the sensor assembly 5A.
In addition, in the sensor assembly 5A, when the above-mentioned level | step difference, a recessed part, etc. are not provided, it is good also as a structure which fixes 4 A of support members and sensor assembly 5A with the screw | thread etc. which are not illustrated.

  If it is the above structures, sensor assembly 5A will be hold | maintained by 4 A of support members, without dropping off below.

  Furthermore, in the measuring instrument 1 according to the present embodiment, a support member 4B as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be used as the support member 4 instead of the above-described support member 4A. The support member 4B shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a sensor assembly having a form (columnar shape without a step) different from the form (columnar shape having a step) of the sensor assembly 5A shown in the examples of FIGS. 5B is fastened and fixed to the base portion 40A surrounded by the two wide rising pieces 40F and 40F and the two rising pieces 40D and 40E by screws or the like.

  By the way, there are a plurality of types of load cells as the sensor assemblies 5A and 5B depending on applications and ratings. And the shape and dimensions of the load cell differ depending on the rating. Specifically, there are those having a minimum measurement unit (resolution) of, for example, 50 g and 100 g. As long as the load cell is used, the measurement accuracy of the measuring instrument 1 partially depends on the resolution of the load cell.

  When designing the measuring instrument 1, it is uneconomical to prepare a plurality of types of housings 3 in accordance with the shapes of the plurality of types of load cells (sensor assemblies 5A, 5B). In particular, when the housing 3 is formed by injection molding of a resin material, it is necessary to design and manufacture a new mold, so that the influence on the production cost is great.

  However, the measuring instrument 1 according to the present embodiment uses different types of support members 4 (4A, 4B) according to the shapes and dimensions of the sensor assemblies 5A, 5B as described above when changing product specifications. It is possible. In such a configuration, when the support member 4B is used instead of the support member 4A, it is easy to attach the support member 4B to the platform, and the shape and dimensions of the top plate 2 and the housing 3 are changed. The sensor assemblies 5A and 5B having different shapes and dimensions can be applied to the measuring instrument 1 without doing so.

  In other words, the measuring instrument 1 having different resolution and rating can be provided only by properly using one of the support members 4A and 4B according to the shape and size of the sensor assemblies 5A and 5B. Since the overall dimensions of the housing 3 are smaller than those of the support members 4A and 4B, the influence on the manufacturing cost can be reduced even when a mold is newly manufactured.

Further, in the above-described configuration, the stepped surface 32 in the hole H of the housing 3 and the base portion upper surface 44 of the support member 4 constitute a retaining portion R.
In the hole H in the housing 3, a step surface 32 is formed at a midway position in the vertical direction. The step surface 32 faces the base portion upper surface 44 of the support member 4 with a gap therebetween.

Here, when the measuring instrument 1 is assembled, the support member 4 is inserted into the hole H from below. At this time, when the retaining portion R is not provided, the support member 4 may drop off in the direction of the upper surface plate 2, that is, upward. However, as described above, since the measuring instrument 1 has the retaining portion R, when the support member 4 is continuously inserted upward, the base portion upper surface 44 of the support member 4 and the step surface 32 are separated from each other. Abut.
Thereby, the movement of the support member 4 in the direction of the upper surface plate 2 is restricted at a predetermined position. Therefore, when the support member 4 is assembled to the housing 3, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the support member 4 falls off and dissipates without specially fixing temporarily. Thereby, the assembly property of the measuring instrument 1 is improved.

  Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the retaining portion R having a hole width dimension larger than the hole width dimension of the hole H is formed.

  According to such a configuration, the retaining member R is engaged with the hole H, so that the support member 4 and the sensor assembly 5 are prevented from dropping from the hole H toward the upper surface plate 2. The structure can be easily provided.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the top plate 2 is formed of a material having translucency such as tempered glass. However, the material of the upper surface plate 2 is not limited to this, and may be formed of, for example, a transparent or translucent resin material.
Further, the shape and dimensions of the upper surface plate 2 may be formed in any way as long as the weight of the object to be weighed assumed by the measuring instrument 1 can be withstood or according to a design requirement.

  Furthermore, the structure for fixing the upper surface plate 2 and the housing 3 is not limited by the above-described embodiments and drawings, and may take any form as long as the measurement accuracy of the measuring instrument 1 can be ensured. .

Further, in the above-described embodiment, both the support members 4A and 4B have the protrusions 45 that protrude upward from the base portion 40A. Further, the housing 3 is configured to have a position fixing portion (hole H) determined by the contour shape of the protruding portion 45.
However, the shape of these members is not limited to the above, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the support member 4 </ b> C may be used without providing the protrusions 45 on the base portion 40 </ b> A. In this case, the base portion upper surface 44 of the support member 4C is formed as a uniformly flat surface. Correspondingly, the lower surface of the housing 3 has a protrusion 38 that has a shape corresponding to the contour shape of the support member 4C as viewed from the top and bottom and slightly protrudes downward. The position fixing unit H is provided. The support member 4 </ b> C is fitted to a region surrounded by the protruding portion 38. Even with such a configuration, the assembling property of the measuring instrument 1 can be kept good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Measuring instrument 2 Upper surface board 3 Case 4 Support member 4A Support member 4B Support member 5 Sensor 5A Sensor 5B Sensor H Hole (position fixing part)

Claims (3)

A platform on which objects to be weighed are placed;
A support member detachably attached to the platform;
A sensor assembly for detecting a load caused by an object to be weighed placed between the support member and the floor and placed on the platform;
With
The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a position fixing unit that defines a contour shape of the support member.   The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein a retaining portion is provided between the position fixing portion and the support member so as to restrict movement of the support member in the direction of the upper surface plate at a predetermined position.   The position fixing portion is formed by a hole, and the support member has a retaining portion having a hole width dimension larger than a hole width dimension of the position fixing portion. Meter.

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