JP2816702B2 - measuring device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a measuring device for optically measuring the size of an object.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in the case of sorting luggage of various sizes for each size, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit are provided. When the luggage is caused to pass between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, part of the light is shielded by the luggage. Since the amount of light blocked at that time corresponds to the size of the baggage, the size of the baggage can be detected from a change in the amount of light.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, since the conventional measuring device uses a light receiving portion in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in a straight line, not only the configuration including the wiring becomes complicated but also the cost becomes high.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive measuring device having a simple configuration.

[Means for solving the problem]

The measuring device of the present invention is at least in one direction, a light source that emits light having a predetermined width, and a test object can be arranged between the light source, separated from the light source by a predetermined distance, And, emitted from the light source, so that light that is not shielded by the test object is incident, a fluorescent optical fiber disposed substantially parallel to the one direction, at least one of the fluorescent optical fiber A light-receiving element that is disposed at an end and receives fluorescence transmitted inside the light-receiving element, extends between the light source and the fluorescent optical fiber, and moves the test object in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. Transport means for transporting, and a determination circuit for determining a size of the test object based on an output of the light receiving element, wherein the determination circuit detects a level of an output of the light receiving element Means, timing means, and said level From said output to a level detected in the means and the clock means counting time by and a means for determining respective dimensions of the the one direction along the transporting direction of the object.

[Action]

For example, a light source composed of a linear fluorescent lamp or the like and a fluorescent optical fiber are arranged substantially in parallel, and the test object is moved between them. The fluorescent optical fiber contains a fluorescent substance mixed therein and absorbs incident light to generate new fluorescent light. This fluorescent light is transmitted through the inside of the fluorescent optical fiber, and is detected by a light receiving element arranged at the end.

Part of the light incident on the fluorescent optical fiber is shielded by the test object. Accordingly, the height of the test object corresponds to the amount of light incident on the fluorescent optical fiber, and the width corresponds to the shielding time if the moving speed of the test object is constant. Therefore, the size of the test object can be inspected from the rate of change of the output of the light receiving element and the time.

Therefore, an inexpensive measuring device having a simple configuration can be realized.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an optical system of a measuring apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a light source, for example, a linear fluorescent lamp can be used. 2 is parallel to light source 1 and light source 1
And a fluorescent optical fiber arranged at a predetermined distance from the optical fiber. Reference numeral 3 denotes a light receiving element arranged at at least one end (both ends in the embodiment) of the fluorescent optical fiber 2, and reference numeral 4 denotes a signal processing circuit for processing the output of the light receiving element 3.

5 is disposed between the light source 1 and the fluorescent optical fiber 2,
It is a test object such as luggage, and is moved by the belt 6 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. Of course, the test object 5 is stopped and the light source 1
The fluorescent optical fiber 2 can be moved by a moving means such as a belt.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the signal processing circuit 4. 11 is 2
This is an addition circuit for adding the outputs of the two light receiving elements 3, and is unnecessary when the number of the light receiving elements 3 is one. 12 is a filter,
Components other than the frequencies of 100 Hz when the fluorescent lamp as the light source 1 is driven by the power supply of 50 Hz, and 120 Hz when the power supply of 60 Hz is used are removed from the output of the adder circuit 11. 13
Is a detection circuit for detecting the level of the signal output from the filter 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a measurement circuit, which measures the time during which the output of the detection circuit 13 is at a predetermined level by counting the clock output from the generation circuit 15. Reference numeral 16 denotes a judgment circuit which stores the outputs of the detection circuit 13 and the measurement circuit 14 in a memory.
The size of the test object 5 is determined by comparing with the reference value stored in 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a display, which displays information on the determined size.

Light emitted from the light source 1 is emitted toward the fluorescent fiber 2. When there is no test object 5 between the light source 1 and the fluorescent optical fiber 2, most of the light emitted from the light source 1 toward the fluorescent optical fiber 2 is incident on the fluorescent optical fiber 2. When the test object 5 is present between the two, at least part of the light is blocked by the test object 5 and does not enter the fluorescent optical fiber 2.

The fluorescent optical fiber 2 is configured as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.

In these figures, reference numeral 21 denotes a member made of, for example, glass, resin, or the like. In this embodiment, the member 21 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Reference numeral 22 denotes a member also formed of glass, resin, or the like, which is formed inside the member 21. The member 22 is set so that its refractive index is higher than the refractive index of the member 21. The member 22 is uniformly mixed with a fluorescent substance that absorbs incident light.

The light that has entered the fluorescent optical fiber 2 passes through the member 21 and enters the member 22. Since the member 22 contains a fluorescent substance, the incident light is absorbed by the fluorescent substance, and the fluorescent substance generates fluorescence.

As described above, since the refractive index of the member 22 is larger than the refractive index of the member 21, the fluorescence generated by the member 22 is reflected on the inner surface of the member 21 and cannot pass through the member 21. Thereby, the fluorescent light is transmitted in the direction of the left and right end faces. This fluorescent light is detected by the light receiving elements 3 arranged on the left and right end surfaces of the member 22.

The amount of fluorescence generated in the member 22 corresponds to the amount of incident light. The incident light amount increases as the height of the test object 5 increases (first
The longer the length in the vertical direction in the figure, the smaller the number. In FIG. 1, the longer the width of the test object 5 (the length in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) moved by the belt 6 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, the longer the time for blocking incident light. become longer. The light receiving element 3 receives the fluorescent light transmitted inside the member 22 of the fluorescent optical fiber 2 and converts the fluorescent light into an electric signal. The output of the light receiving element 3 includes information on the height and width of the test object 5.

The outputs of the two light receiving elements 3 are input to the addition circuit 11 and added. This addition output is input to the filter 12. The fluorescent lamp used as the light source 1 turns on and off at twice the frequency of the power supply. Accordingly, for example, the components of the respective frequencies of 100 Hz when the frequency of the driving power supply is 50 Hz and 120 Hz when the frequency of the driving power supply is 60 Hz are included in the output of the adding circuit 11. Since frequency components other than 100 Hz or 120 Hz do not occur due to the light source 1, they are removed by the filter 12.

The output of the filter 12 is input to the detection circuit 13. The detection circuit 13 detects the level of the input signal. Also, the measuring circuit 14 counts the number of clocks input from the generating circuit 15 during a period when the detecting circuit 13 is detecting a signal of a predetermined level, and measures the length of the period. The level detected by the detection circuit 13 and the length (the number of clocks) measured by the measurement circuit 14 are input to the determination circuit 16.

The memory 17 stores in advance data on the height of the test object corresponding to the detection level and data on the width of the test object corresponding to the measured clock number. The determination circuit 16 compares the data input from the detection circuit 13 and the data input from the measurement circuit 14 with the data stored in the memory 17, reads out the data on the corresponding height and width, and causes the display 18 to display the data.

Alternatively, when the test object 5 is to be lowered from the belt 6 at a predetermined position corresponding to the size of the test object, a descending machine (not shown) provided at each position applies the judgment of the judgment circuit 16. The result is output, and each descending machine descends from the belt 6 as the specimen 5 of the size under its control passes.

In the above description, the fluorescent optical fiber 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the fluorescent optical fiber 2 may be formed in a substantially rectangular cross section so as to have a substantially rectangular cross section.

Further, in order to prevent malfunction due to light reflected from a surrounding wall or the like, a slit or the like may be provided behind the light source 1, in front of the fluorescent optical fiber 2, or both.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the measuring apparatus of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is caused to be incident on the fluorescent optical fiber, and the test object is arranged therebetween, thereby simplifying the configuration. And cost can be reduced. In addition, since a longer light source and a fluorescent optical fiber can be easily secured, it is possible to measure a relatively large test object.

Further, in the present invention, the determination circuit includes a level detecting means for detecting the level of the output of the light receiving element, a timing means, and a test object based on the level detected by the level detecting means and the time measured by the timing means. Means for determining the respective dimensions along the one direction and the transport direction.
The height dimension and the width dimension of the test object can be measured simultaneously, and the size of the load, which is the test object, can be more accurately recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an optical system of a measuring apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a signal processing circuit of the measuring apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluorescent optical fiber of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fluorescent optical fiber of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the fluorescent optical fiber of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light source 2 ... Fluorescent optical fiber 3 ... Light receiving element 4 ... Signal processing circuit 5 ... Test object 6 ... Belt 11 ... Addition circuit 12 ... Filter 13 ... Detection circuit 14 ... Measurement Circuit 15 Clock generation circuit 16 Judgment circuit 17 Memory 18 Display unit 21, 22 Member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A light source that emits light having a predetermined width in at least one direction; and a light source that is spaced apart from the light source by a predetermined distance so that a test object can be arranged between the light source and the light source. A fluorescent optical fiber disposed substantially in parallel with the one direction so that light emitted from the light source and not blocked by the test object is incident, and at least one end of the fluorescent optical fiber A light-receiving element that receives fluorescence transmitted through the inside thereof, and is provided between the light source and the fluorescent optical fiber, and conveys the test object in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. Transport means, and a judgment circuit for judging the size of the test object based on the output of the light receiving element, wherein the judgment circuit detects a level of the output of the light receiving element; And detected by the level detecting means. Bell and measuring device, characterized in that it comprises means for determining the respective dimensions of the the one direction along the transporting direction of the test object from the measured time and in the clock means.