JP2680679B2 - Electrofusion joint fusing device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fusion device for an electrofusion joint, which is used for connecting plastic pipes and has a heating wire embedded in a contact surface with the pipes.

2. Description of the Related Art Electrofusion joints have been recently developed as joints for plastic pipes used for water and sewer pipes and gas pipes. There are various types of joints such as pipe joints, T joints, saddle joints, cap joints, etc. Each electrofusion joint is made of a molded product with a heating wire embedded in the contact surface with the pipe. Fusion is performed by inserting the pipe end into the joint or by heating the contact surface by energizing it with a constant voltage for a certain period of time with the joint pressed against the outer peripheral surface from the side of the pipe. However, the energizing time was changed according to the type and size of the joint.

Conventionally, the setting of the energization time has been performed by the judgment of the operator at the site, that is, by the judgment of the appearance of the joint at the time of fusion, but recently, it is given in advance according to the size and type of the joint. A method has been started to be adopted in which an energization time is set, and an operator determines the type of energization time by identifying the type of the joint from the appearance. Regarding pipe fittings recently, energization is performed by embedding a resistor with different resistance depending on the type of fitting separately from the heating wire and detecting its resistance value or by detecting the resistance value of the heating wire itself. A method of determining the time, a method of reading the pattern of a coding tab provided integrally with the joint to obtain the energization time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-175022), and the like have been proposed.

According to the method of detecting the resistance value of the resistor embedded in the joint or the heating wire, the type of joint can be identified only by inserting the connector connected to the controller into the joint insertion port. It is possible to energize for a predetermined time based on this. Also, when reading the pattern of the coding tab provided integrally with the joint, you can obtain data on the energization time simply by inserting the connector into the coding tab, but in either case you can insert the connector into the insertion port or When inserting into the tab, if the insertion is bad due to the inclination of the connector, adjustment of the insertion amount, etc., necessary and sufficient data will not be obtained from the joint, or part of the data will be duplicated.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to detect whether or not the insertion of a connector has been completed and to obtain accurate data regarding the energization time from the joint.

For this reason, the present invention provides a joint with data means relating to energization time and insertion detection means. That is, the present invention provides a joint with data means for obtaining data on the energization time required for fusion bonding, and means for detecting whether or not the connector is inserted into the insertion port or tab, while the connector is provided. Further, a sensor for obtaining data on the energization time from the data means and a sensor for detecting the detecting means when the insertion of the connector is completed are provided.

Examples of the data means include holes, grooves, irregularities, patterns represented by magnetic pieces, magnetic tapes, bar codes, and the like. Among them, those by holes, grooves, irregularities are preferable, and further, such It is more desirable to provide data means at the outlet. This is because it is economical because it can be integrally formed with the insertion port at the time of molding the joint, so that it is not necessary to newly provide a part for data means and a post-process is not necessary.

The detecting means is preferably incorporated in the data means, but different types may be provided separately.

The sensor can be a magnetic sensor when the data means is, for example, a magnetic tape or a magnetic piece, and can be an optical sensor when the data means is a bar code, a hole, etc., a hole, a groove, an unevenness, etc. Can employ limit switches, micro switches, or the like.

The sensor is also preferably provided on a connector which is inserted into the insertion opening of the fitting, but can also be provided on a connector which is inserted into a tab provided separately from the insertion opening.

Action Insert the connector into the insertion port or tab until the sensor detects the detection means. The energization time can be obtained from the data obtained by the data means when the sensor detects the detecting means.

Example Two annular insertion openings 2 are formed in the joint 1 on the left and right,
A connector 4 connected to the controller 3 is inserted into each insertion port 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 4 has a cross section in which one side has a semicircular shape and the other side has a rectangular shape, and the microswitch 5 is housed in a rectangular portion 4a in a four-tiered stack.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the insertion ports 2 has four zones on the outer peripheral surface which are divided into upper and lower parts corresponding to the microswitches 5, and other than the topmost zone corresponding to the microswitches 5D. Grooves 6 are formed in the zone to serve as a data function for identifying the joint 1.

The connector 4 shown in FIG.
Are placed side by side in four rows. On the other hand, outlet 2
Has a semi-circular shape on one side and a semi-square shape on the other side. On the side surface of the half-square shape, as shown in Fig. 6, four zones are divided into front and back, excluding the frontmost zone corresponding to the micro switch 5D. In the other zone, a vertical groove 17 for data function is formed at the same level as the flat groove 18 which extends from the upper end to the middle. In the zone where the vertical groove is not formed, there is a guide portion 19 that is inclined so that the insertion from the introduction portion 18 can be performed smoothly. In the former embodiment in which the groove 6 is formed vertically, when the connector 4 is inserted, the micro switch 5 may be caught in the step and the insertion 4 may not work smoothly, whereas in the latter embodiment, it may be caught. There is an advantage that it can be inserted smoothly.

In either case, when the connector 4 is inserted into the insertion port 2, the microswitches 5A, 5B, 5C detect the presence or absence of the groove 6 or the vertical groove 17 in each zone. If not, the output of 1 is transmitted to the controller 3. Therefore, depending on the presence or absence of a groove or a vertical groove in each zone, one type of insertion port 2 can obtain 8 types of combinations, and both types of insertion types can obtain 64 types of combinations. 4th
The figure shows an example of energization time set corresponding to each combination.
In any of these combinations, no groove is formed in the uppermost stage or the frontmost zone in FIG. Therefore, when the connector 4 is inserted into the insertion port 2, the micro switch 5D always outputs 1 output. In other words, the insertion is completed when the microswitch 5D outputs the output of 1, and when it is not completed, it is displayed on the CRT described later.

As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 3 includes a CPU 7 and
A timer 11 is provided in a basic configuration including a ROM 8 and a RAM 9, each of the above microswitches 5A and 5D, a switch means 12, and
CRT13 is connected to CPU7.

The ROM 8 stores a fusion program, and the RAM 9 stores various data such as energizing time corresponding to the type of joint, a normal value of the connector, and a complete insertion value of the connector 4. That is, before the insertion, when all the output signals from the respective microswitches 5A to 5D become 0, it is normal, otherwise it is abnormal, and when there is an abnormality, it is displayed on the CRT 8.

The timer 11 starts timing by an output signal from the CPU 7, and outputs an output signal to the switch means 12 after the energization time set by the identification of the joint has elapsed to stop energization.

At the time of insertion, firstly, each connector 4 is inspected, and if one output signal is input to the CPU 7 from one of all the microswitches 5A to 5D of each connector, the connector 4 is connected to the connector 4. It is displayed on CRT13 as abnormal.

If there is no abnormality in the connector 4, it is inserted into the insertion port 2 of the joint 1, and the insertion condition is checked and the data is organized. Checking the insertion condition is judged by the output signal from the micro switch 5D, and the output signal is 0
When the output signal is 1, the display is abnormal, and the process is continued when the output signal is 1. On the other hand, the energization time corresponding to the data is selected from the RAM 9 by organizing the data. For example, in the table shown in FIG. 4, the data of 1001 from connector 4 on the left (L) side is
When the data of 0111 is respectively input from the connector 4 on the side, the energizing time of 300 seconds is selected. When the energization time is selected, the switch 14 is turned on and the timer 11 starts counting time, and the signal is input to the power supply relay 15 constituting the switch means 12. This allows the power supply to connect to each connector 4
When the joint 1 is energized through the power supply, the power supply relay 15 is demagnetized and the energization is stopped at the selected time, which is 300 seconds in the above example.

Next, an example of a control method by the controller 3 will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Microswitches 5A-5D as described above before plugging
The connector 4 is inspected by the output signal from (step 21). If there is an abnormality, the CRT 13 is displayed as having an abnormality and is displayed together with the uncompleted insertion (step 22). in this case,
The connector 4 is repaired or replaced (step 23), or the controller itself is replaced. If there is no abnormality in the connector 4, check it with the CTR 13 and then insert the connector 4 into the insertion port 2 of the joint 1 (step 24). Micro switch when plugged
The insertion condition is checked by the output signal from the 5D (step 25), and when the unfinished display is left on the CRT 13 (step 26), the insertion is performed or the insertion is redone until the unfinished display disappears. . When the unfinished display disappears, the data obtained from the joint is sorted by each of the micro switches 5A to 5C (step 27), and the energization time is selected (step 28). Then switch 14
Is turned on (step 29), and the timer 11 is activated (step 30). At the same time, an output signal is transmitted to the switch means 12, and the power supply relay 15 is turned on (step 31).
Energization is started (step 32). Then, fusion is performed. When the selection time elapses and the time is up (step
33), the output signal is transmitted to the switch means, the power supply relay 15 is turned off (step 34), and the energization is stopped.

Effects of the Invention The present invention is configured as described above and has the following effects.

According to the fusion bonding apparatus of claim 1, the insertion of the connector is checked by detecting the detecting means with the sensor, and the accurate data regarding the energization time is obtained from the data means by detecting the insertion. Can be done.

In the apparatus according to the second aspect, by incorporating the detecting means into the data means, both means can be easily manufactured and the cost can be reduced.

In the device according to the third aspect of the present invention, by inserting the connector into the insertion port, it is possible to obtain data regarding the completion of the insertion and the energization time.

According to the data and detection means of the fourth aspect, the joint can be integrally molded at the time of molding, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

In the device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the insertion of the connector will not be hindered by a catch or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a fusing device according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a cross-sectional view when the connector is inserted, and Fig. 3 is the second
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 4, Fig. 4 is a table showing the energizing time, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another connector.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the fusing device, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart. 1 ... Fitting, 2 ... Insertion port, 3 ... Controller, 4
...... Connector, 5 ...... Micro switch, 6 ...... Groove,
7 ... CPU, 8 ... ROM, 9 ... RAM, 11 ... Timer, 1
2 …… Switch means, 13 …… CRT, 14 …… Switch, 15…
… Power relay, 17… Vertical groove

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector is provided with a data means for obtaining data on an energization time required for fusion bonding and a detection means for detecting the presence / absence of insertion of a connector into an insertion port or tab. A fusion device for an electrofusion joint, in which a sensor for obtaining data on energization time from the data means and a sensor for detecting the detection means when the insertion of the connector is completed are provided. 2. A fusion device for an electrofusion joint according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is incorporated into the data means. 3. The fusion device for an electrofusion joint according to claim 1, wherein the data means and the detection means are provided in the insertion port. 4. The fusion device for an electrofusion joint according to claim 3, wherein the data means and the detecting means are holes, grooves or irregularities, and the sensor is a limit switch or a microswitch. 5. The fusion device for an electrofusion joint according to claim 4, wherein the pattern of holes, grooves or concavities and convexities is formed in a line in front and back.