JP3046262B2 - Safety device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safety device, for example, a safety device used for generating an alarm or stopping operation when a person approaches a mechanical operation unit carelessly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a device for performing a mechanical operation, for example, a wire forming device such as a spring manufacturing device, has a dangerous operating portion. Therefore, it is desirable that safety measures are taken for not only the user of the device but also visitors.

[0003] A typical safety measure in this type of device has been to provide a cover for covering the device.

[0004]

However, when the cover is provided, much more space is required than the space originally required by the apparatus, and when the maintenance or adjustment of the apparatus is performed, the space is required. It was very time-consuming.

[0005] In addition, it is conceivable to obtain safety in a smaller space by forming a cover in accordance with the shape of the device. It is necessary to manufacture an independent cover every time, and the problem remains in terms of cost.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and can easily detect the approach of a person or the like in a device having any external shape with a small installation space. An object of the present invention is to provide a safety device that can enhance human safety.

To solve this problem, the safety device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a safety device that outputs a detection result to a predetermined control device in order to alarm or / and emergency stop the operating part when a device having a mechanical operating part or the approach of a human or the like to the operating part is detected. And a sensor unit for detecting whether or not there is a human or the like within a predetermined spatial range, and
The sensor unit includes two connectors that electrically connect to the upstream and downstream sensor units, and a cable that connects the sensor units. When the sensor unit is connected by the cable, One of the connectors of the sensor unit at the end is connected to the control device.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wire forming apparatus (spring manufacturing apparatus) according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes a wire forming apparatus; and 300, a control box (having a display screen and keys for performing various settings) for controlling various processes of the apparatus. The control box 300 is provided with a buzzer and an alarm lamp 301 as described later. Reference numeral 2000 denotes a wire forming section for actually forming a wire.

A wire forming section 2000 mainly includes a disk-shaped table 201 and a forming tool section 2 disposed around the disk table 201 and performing a unique operation.
10. The center portion of the table 201 has a cavity (hole), and in FIG. 1, a guide 202 that guides the wire feed from the rear of the paper toward the front of the paper.
Is located. The feeding of the wire is performed by driving a feed roller (not shown) provided on the back surface of FIG.

Each of the forming tool sections 210 includes at least one drive motor (or two) 211,
Eccentric cam 2 fixed to the rotation shaft of this drive motor 211
12 and a slider 213 which comes into contact with the eccentric cam 212 and has a forming tool at the tip. Also,
As shown, a pair of poles 220 are provided at the rear end of the substrate of the forming tool portion 210, and a pair of protrusions 213 are provided on both side surfaces of the slider 213. By extending the extension spring between them, the slider 213 is maintained so as to be pressed against the eccentric cam 212. In the drawing, the extension spring is not shown. With the above configuration, each forming tool section 210 can reciprocate in the center direction of the table 201 of the tip forming tool according to the shape of the eccentric cam. It should be noted that, in the role of the forming tool, not only reciprocating along one side but also, for example, rotating the forming tool at the tip end thereof is required to further include another motor.

The control box 300 described above
By appropriately driving these motors and the motor for sending out a wire, the wire is formed, for example, a spring is manufactured.

Each forming tool section 210 can be moved to a free position along the circumference of the table 201 and can be fixed. Since this has already been proposed by the applicant of the present application, a detailed description thereof will not be given here, but in brief, a groove 230 is provided on the board surface of the table 201, and a groove 231 is further provided on the side surface of the table 210. This has been realized by having a locking portion that is fixed to a groove drawn at a corresponding position of each forming tool.

Next, a safety system according to an embodiment of the wire rod forming apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.

In the present embodiment, when a human approaches the wire rod forming apparatus, particularly the wire rod forming section 2000, it is detected, an alarm is issued (buzzer sounds and an alarm lamp is driven), and the wire rod forming apparatus is activated. Is stopped.

First, the means for detecting the approach of a human is realized in the embodiment by using an infrared sensor. Since the infrared sensor itself is publicly known, details of the infrared sensor itself are omitted, but the feature of the present embodiment is that the infrared sensor is connected in a daisy chain with a small number of signal lines, and a wire rod forming apparatus is used. Each infrared sensor is fixed to a crossbar stretched so as to surround the operating part of the camera.

A specific application example will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 400 in FIGS. 1 and 2 denotes an infrared sensor unit in the embodiment,
Is a cable for connecting the infrared sensor units. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of one infrared sensor unit, and FIG. 4 is a bottom view thereof.

The infrared sensor unit 400 is provided with a fixing portion 401 having a hole 401a through which the crossbars 103 to 105 pass (pressing and fixing by turning a screw provided in the fixing portion 401). Also, two connectors 400a, 4a for connecting the cable 401 are provided.
00b.

On the bottom surface, a slit plate 402 having a slit 403 for defining a range for detecting an object (actually, a human) by infrared rays is fixed by screws or the like. The shape of the slit 403 is such that the width with respect to the length is sufficiently small as shown in the figure (the reason will be described later). The reason why the slit plate 402 is screwed is to prepare several types of slit plates 402 having different sizes and shapes of the slits 403 so that they can be appropriately replaced. For example, by attaching an “L” -shaped slit, the range of the shape can be detected.

The infrared sensor unit 400 has an infrared sensor inside, which is known per se and will not be described in detail here. This is to detect whether or not there is. Therefore, for example, when a person enters the detection range from a state outside the detection range, a different temperature distribution can be detected, and it can be easily determined whether a person or the like has entered the detection range.

FIG. 5 shows only a part for constructing the safety sensor system in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in the figure, crossbars 103 and 105 and a crossbar 106 serving as an auxiliary role are fixed to the columns 101 and 102 via appropriate fixing tools.
Further, further crossbars 104 were fixed to the tips of the crossbars 1103 and 105. Then, on these crossbars 103 to 105 (including 106 in some cases),
The hole 401 of the infrared sensor unit 400 described above
Through a, fix at appropriate intervals. In order to keep the crossbars 103 to 106 horizontal, the columns 101, 1
Support members 107 and 108 were fixed to the upper end of 02, one ends of support bars 109 and 110 which did not expand and contract, and the other ends were fixed at predetermined positions on crossbars 103 and 105.

After the infrared units 400 are fixed on the crossbars, the infrared sensor units 400
Connectors 400a and 400b are connected to each other. Then, the connector 400a (or 400b) of one of the two infrared sensor units located at both ends (a unit close to the control box).
And the control box 300, and a vacant connector of the other end of the infrared sensor unit is connected to a terminator (described later), thereby forming a daisy chain by the infrared sensor unit.

As a result, as described above, the detection range is set on the bottom surface of each infrared sensor unit in the range defined by the slit 403, and
By fixing the infrared sensor units to the crossbar at appropriate intervals, detection ranges overlapping each other are formed as shown in FIG. 5, and a detectable “wall” having a relatively thin width W is provided in space. Is making it possible. Here, the width W is the slit 40 of the infrared sensor unit 400.
3. As shown in the figure, since the width W is in an appropriately narrow range, only the intended range can be detected as compared with the case where there is nothing.

FIG. 6 shows an equivalent circuit when the infrared sensor unit constructed as described above is connected.

The cable connecting the control box 300 to the infrared unit 400 and each infrared unit only includes three signal lines as shown in the figure, which also contributes to reducing the thickness of the cable. I have.

Two of them are a VCC and a ground GND signal for supplying drive power to each infrared sensor unit, and the remaining signal lines detect that the infrared sensor unit has entered the detection range of a human or the like. A signal DETECT_SIGNAL for notifying whether or not this is the case.

Further, in the infrared sensor unit 400, a sensor section 410 which receives the above driving power and detects a temperature change (change in temperature distribution) through the slit 403.
And a signal line DETECT_S in the connectors 400a and 400b according to the detection signal from the sensor unit 400.
A switch (for example, an analog switch) 420 for electrically connecting / disconnecting the IGNAL is provided.

In a normal state (when no temperature change is detected), the switch 420 is kept connected.

The infrared sensor unit 4 at the end
00, a terminator 450 is connected to the signal line GND and the signal line DETECT as shown in FIG.
_SIGNAL is short-circuited (short-circuited).

The signal line DETECT_SIGNAL in the connector on the control box 300 side is pulled up by an appropriate resistor as shown.

As a result of the above configuration, the control box 300 is connected to each infrared sensor unit 4 via a cable.
00, the driving power is continuously supplied to the signal line DETECT_SI.
Monitor the voltage level of GNAL.

In the normal state, each infrared sensor unit 400 has its own two connector signal lines DETECT.
_SIGNAL is connected, and the terminator 450 is connected to the terminal infrared sensor unit 400. Therefore, the voltage of the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL monitored by the control box 300 is equal to the signal line GN.
It has the same potential as D (0 volt, logic level "0").

Any of the infrared sensor units 4
When 00 detects the entry of a human (or a hand, foot, or the like) into its own detection range, the switch 420 of the infrared sensor unit shifts to the non-connection state. As a result, DETECT in control box 300
Since _SINGAL is disconnected from the signal line GND and is pulled up, the voltage is high, that is, the logic level is “1”.

Therefore, the control box 300
Determines whether the logic level of the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL has become “1”, and when it becomes “1”, the wire rod forming control that has been operating up to that point is immediately stopped, and the buzzer (non- (Not shown) and the warning lamp 301 may be driven.

In the embodiment, the example in which the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL is pulled up in the control box 300 has been described. However, regarding the cable connecting the infrared sensor unit and the control box, the other infrared sensor units are connected to each other. Unlike the cable, the signal line VCC and the signal line DETECT_SI
The GNAL may be connected via an appropriate resistor.

Further, the terminator 450 is connected to the signal line G
ND and the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL were connected, but instead the signal line VCC and the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL were connected.
SIGNAL may be connected. In this case, in the cable connected to the control box 300 or the control box, the signal line DETECT is used.
_SIGNAL is pulled down to ground. As a result, the meaning of the logic level of the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL is reversed.

Now, in the embodiment, the signal line DETECT
When _SIGNAL becomes “1”, the signal acts as an interrupt signal for a CPU (not shown) in the control box 300.

FIG. 7 shows C when receiving this signal.
3 shows an interrupt process of a PU. Note that the CPU also executes the wire forming process, but since it is not directly related to the present invention, the interrupt process will be described here.

When the signal line DETECT_SIGNAL becomes "1" and the CPU is interrupted, first,
In step S1, all the driving systems for wire forming are stopped urgently. Then, the process proceeds to steps S2 and S3, where the buzzer is driven and the warning lamp 301 is driven. Then, in step S4, the alarm continues to be issued until the input of a predetermined key (for example, a reset key or an alarm stop key) provided in the control box 300 is detected.

According to the present embodiment as described above,
When a device, in particular, a human or a human hand approaches a mechanically operating part, safety can be enhanced by detecting it by a chain of infrared sensor units.

Therefore, unlike the related art, there is no need to provide a cover, and no substantial problem occurs in the installation space.

Further, in the embodiment, the example in which the wire rod forming apparatus is provided with two columns has been described. However, if there is no portion where the columns are provided in the apparatus, a stand for setting the columns on the floor is connected. Since the present invention can be realized, the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments. Also, the number of pillars,
You may make it change suitably.

Further, in the embodiment, the infrared sensor unit is connected to three crossbars (103, 104, 10).
5) When fixed on top and viewed from above as a whole,
Although the example of setting the sensor range to the “U” shape has been described,
It is easily understood from the above description that the present invention can be applied to any shape without being limited to this, and can cope with any size by connecting a large number of infrared sensor units. In other words, any shape or range can be set as the detection target depending on the combination of the support and the crossbar, particularly the combination of the crossbars having different lengths, and furthermore, the number of the infrared sensor units installed.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to detect the entry of a person or the like and to disconnect (or incorrectly disconnect) any one of the cables between the infrared sensor units or between the infrared sensor unit and the control box. (Not connected) can also detect it. This is because the state is equivalent to a human approach. Therefore, when the operation of the apparatus is stopped and an alarm is issued even when a person is not approaching, it is possible to determine that some abnormality has occurred around the cable.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the wire rod forming apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is because a safety system of a device which operates a machine against a general enemy can be constructed. In this case, if it is sufficient to simply issue an alarm, supply power to the infrared sensor unit at one end and DETECT.
Although it can be realized by providing a device for detecting the _SIGNAL signal, it is desirable to connect to a controller that stops the operation of the machine as described in the embodiment.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily detect the approach of a person or the like in a small installation space and improve the safety of the person, regardless of the appearance of the device. Will be possible.

[0050]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wire rod forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the wire forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the infrared sensor unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the infrared sensor unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of an application example of the safety device for the infrared sensor unit in the embodiment.

6 is a diagram showing an electrical equivalent circuit of a connection relation of the infrared sensor unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation process of a controller in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102 Prop 103-106 Crossbar 300 Control box 301 Alarm lamp 400 Infrared sensor unit 401 Cable 1000 Wire rod forming device

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device having a mechanically operating part or a safety device which outputs a detection result to a predetermined control device in order to stop the operating part when an approach of a human to the operating part is detected. An apparatus, comprising: an infrared sensor; and at least one sensor unit having an elongated slit defining a detection range of the infrared sensor; and a cable connecting the sensor units to each other, the sensor unit comprising: Further, a fixing portion for fixing to a device having the mechanical operating portion or a rod-shaped support member installed to surround the operating portion, and other sensor units located upstream and downstream and the cable And two connectors for electrical connection via the cable, and the detection ranges overlap with each other with the cable. In this manner, one of the connectors of the sensor unit located at the end where the beads are connected is connected to the predetermined control device, and the device having the mechanical working part or the working part is surrounded, and the elongated shape is used. A safety device characterized in that a range having a small depth is set as the detection range by the action of the slit. 2. A terminal for three signal lines of a VCC signal line, a GND signal line, and a detection result output signal line is provided in each of the two connectors of the sensor unit. Depending on the detection,
The electrical connection of the detection result output signal line between the two connectors is controlled, and the detection result output signal line between the control device and the sensor unit connected to the control device is pulled up using a predetermined resistor. Or, pull-down, a terminator for connecting the detection result signal line to the VCC or the GND signal line is connected to one connector of the sensor unit at the end opposite to the side connected to the control device. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the safety device is connected. 3. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor unit operates by receiving power supply from the VCC signal line and the GND line. 4. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the device having the mechanical operation part is a wire rod forming device.