JP3097352B2 - Inspection method and inspection device for electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inspection method for inspecting characteristics of an electromagnetic relay at high speed and with high accuracy, and an apparatus configuration thereof.
In particular, by measuring the dimensions (mechanical dimensions in the following text) of the follow-up amount and contact gap of the make contact and break contact at high speed and with high precision, various characteristics as an electromagnetic relay can be efficiently detected to improve productivity. The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for inspecting an electromagnetic relay.

In general, when testing an electromagnetic relay (hereinafter referred to as a relay), an inspection step for checking mechanical dimensions as described above, which greatly affects characteristics as a relay, and a test step for testing the overall characteristics of the relay are provided. The present invention is intended to improve productivity in the former inspection process.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a conventional inspection method.
FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship between mechanical dimensions and operation of a relay. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a conventional amateur displacement unit, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an inspection apparatus.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the electromagnetic relay of FIG. 4 as an example, and therefore, the same target members and parts as in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same symbols. The relay 1 in a non-excited state shown in FIG. 4 is conceptually shown in FIG. 4 (1). The relay 1 is provided with a break contact 11 and a make contact 12 connected to external connection terminals (not shown) at both ends in the longitudinal direction. 13 and a contact spring set that pivots in a seesaw shape with respect to the main body 13 with a projection shaft provided in the center in the longitudinal direction along the width direction.
It consists of an armature 15 integrated with 14.

[0005] The armature 15 is rotated with respect to the relay body 13 by an attractive force generated when a current is applied to a coil wound around an iron core (not shown) in the relay body 13. In the contact spring set 14, the contacts 14a and 14b are implanted and fixed at respective positions corresponding to the break contact 11 and the make contact 12.

The relay 1 shown in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the coil is not energized, so that the break contact 11 and a contact 14a facing the break contact 11 have a predetermined bent contact side. In contact with contact pressure.

Therefore, at this time, the armature displacement line, in which the vertical axis Y is represented by the displacement at the end of the armature 15 on the make contact side, shows the displacement "0" and the break contact ON-, which indicates the operation of the break contact 11. OFF Display line is
In the ON state, the make contact ON-OFF display line indicating the operation of the make contact 12 is in the OFF state, and the excitation display line indicating the excitation state of the coil is in the OFF state.

[0008] Therefore when excited in the coil at time t ₀ in FIG., Namely the time when the rotation of the armature 15 is該撓only is eliminated because the rotation in the arrow A direction while eliminating the break contact side the deflection until t ₁ is connected between the contact 14a and the break contact 11 of the contact spring assembly 14 is sustained, but break contact as described above because the both who is separable immediately after this time point
The ON-OFF display line turns off.

[0009] Note that in which the Y-axis direction displacement y ₁ of armature displacement line is generally defined as a break contact follow in this case. Then the Y-axis direction displacement of the armature displacement line becomes y ₂ (3) point namely the make contact ON-OFF since at time t ₂ begins to contact the contact point 14b to be opposed thereto with the make contact 12 is
The display line turns ON, but the above break contact ON-OFF
The display line remains OFF.

[0010] Then, Y-axis direction displacement of the armature displacement line becomes y ₃ (4) When time ie the contact 14b of the contact spring assembly 14 is in contact with the make contact 12 of the (time of FIG time t ₃₎ Then, the rotation as the armature 15 stops.

In this case, the displacement amount of the armature displacement line in the Y-axis direction “y ₃ −y ₂ = y ₄ ” between times t _{2 and} t ₃ is defined as the make contact follow. Y of the other, the armature displacement line between time t ₁ ~t ₃
Axial displacement _{"y 3 -y 1 = y 5} " is Y axis direction displacement of the armature displacement line between is also time t ₀ ~t ₂ defined as break contact gap "y ₂ -0 = y _2" makeup Each is defined as a contact gap.

In this case, the break contact follow
Since y ₁ , make contact follow y ₄ , break contact gap y ₅ , and make contact gap y ₂ all greatly affect the characteristics of the relay, each of the above-described values y ₁ , y ₄ , y ₅ , y ₂ is mechanically measured to inspect the characteristics of the relay 1.

FIG. 5 conceptually shows a conventional inspection means.
The relay 1 is the one described in FIG. So the relay
1 ON-OFF judgment between external connection terminals not shown
After connecting the circuit, the end of the armature 15 on the make contact side
The upper part is vertically engaged with the motor 16 so that the amount of descent can be seen.
A pressure probe 17 that can be lowered to
Each time (1) to (4) explained in Fig. 4 while gradually descending
By detecting the amount of descent at a point,
Follow each contact described₁, y_Four And each contact gap y_Five, y _Two But it
Inspection of the characteristics of the relay 1
Can be.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the inspection apparatus.
Is a motor 16 on which the pressing probe 17 described in FIG. 5 is disposed, a displacement meter 21 connected to the motor 16, a motor driver
22, a control unit 24 for controlling the displacement meter 21 and the motor driver 22 and for controlling a drive power supply 23 for supplying necessary power to the test relay 1.

In this case, the control unit 24 comprises means for detecting the disconnection / connection of each contact in the relay 1 and the above-mentioned contact follow y ₁ , y ₄ and each contact gap based on the disconnection / connection signal of each contact. those that are configured and means for detecting detects the y _5, y _2. Then, after positioning and fixing the relay 1 described in FIG. 5 at a predetermined position, the above-described circuit is connected to the relay 1 while the position of the pressing probe 17 at each point of (1) to (4) described in FIG. The probe 17
Is transmitted to the control unit 24 via the displacement meter 21 so that each contact follow and each contact gap of the relay 1 can be known, and the relay 1 can be inspected.

[0016]

However, in the conventional inspection method, (1) it takes a long time to perform an inspection because the armature of the inspection relay is a method of detecting a measurement point at a low speed drop of a pressing probe by a motor (2) Since the inspection is performed by directly contacting the pressing probe with the relay, inspection accuracy varies due to vibration of the motor transmitted to the relay via the pressing probe, bending, deformation, and wear of the pressing probe. (3) There is a problem that improvement in productivity cannot be expected because the inspection device is likely to be complicated because a motor drive circuit is required.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to inspect the contact gap and follow amount of make and break contacts at both ends of a set of contact springs rotating in a seesaw shape together with the armature of an electromagnetic relay. An inspection method of an electromagnetic relay, wherein the electromagnetic relay is provided in a state where a non-contact displacement meter is arranged near an end of a make contact on an amateur surface of the electromagnetic relay so that an amount of displacement with respect to an initial position of the end can be detected. The rated drive power is applied to the relay, and the contact ON-OFF signal data from the application time obtained at that time to the end of operation as the electromagnetic relay and the amateur's displacement data from the displacement meter are continuously stored in the memory. After storing, ON-OF of each contact and each contact point stored in the memory
F is achieved by an inspection method of an electromagnetic relay that acquires the contact gap and the follow-up amount from the above-mentioned displacement amount data of the armature at each time of signal switching and operation end.

An inspection apparatus for an electromagnetic relay for inspecting a contact gap and a follow amount of a make contact and a break contact located at both ends of a contact spring set rotating in a seesaw shape together with an armature of an electromagnetic relay. A non-contact displacement meter arranged near the end of the armature side of the armature near the make contact so that the amount of displacement of the end relative to the initial position can be detected, and a rated drive power supply is continuously applied to the electromagnetic relay. The program power supply unit, each contact ON-OFF signal data of the electromagnetic relay and the displacement data with respect to the initial position of the make contact side end of the armature output from the non-contact displacement meter, the required contact gap and A measurement quantity search unit that searches for the follow-up quantity, and the non-contact displacement meter
This is achieved by an electromagnetic relay inspection apparatus configured to include at least a control unit that controls each of a program power supply unit and a measurement amount search unit.

[0019]

The problem described in the preceding section can be eliminated by replacing the displacement of the armature of the test relay with a mechanical means using a pressure probe when the coil is excited.

Therefore, in the present invention, a contact signal between the time when the drive power supply of the test relay is turned on and the relay is operated and the make contact is completely turned on when the relay is operated, and a signal such as a laser displacement meter. The displacement measurement value by a non-contact displacement meter is periodically sampled and stored in a memory, etc., and after the operation of the test relay is completed, it is compared and analyzed with the memory data to change the break contact from ON to OFF. The inspection method and the inspection device are configured such that the switching point and the switching point of the make contact from OFF to ON and the amount of amateur displacement at any other time are obtained.

Accordingly, the means for detecting the amount of mechanical armature displacement caused by the contact of the pressing probe can be replaced with the means for detecting the amount of armature displacement contactlessly, so that accurate contact follow and contact gap can be efficiently obtained. Can be.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing an inspection method of the present invention together with its apparatus configuration, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a measurement sequence of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a measurement quantity search unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data flow of FIG.

In the drawings, the case where the relay 1 described with reference to FIG. 4 is inspected is taken as an example. Therefore, the same symbols are given to the same target members and parts as in FIG. Omit it.

In FIG. 1, an inspection apparatus 3 for realizing the present invention comprises a program power supply unit 31 for supplying required power to the relay 1.
Normally, the end of the armature 15 that rotates by the power supply from the power supply unit 31 is irradiated with the laser beam L from above to detect the amount of displacement of the armature 15 from the reference position (initial position). A laser displacement meter 32, a measurement amount search unit 33 for searching a measurement value at a time point corresponding to each contact signal from the contact signal output from the relay 1 and the displacement data of the amateur 15 acquired by the displacement meter 32, and The control unit 34 controls, calculates, and determines these devices.

Then, after the relay 1 described with reference to FIG. 4 is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position, the laser light L from the laser displacement meter 32 is supplied to the armature 15 while the required drive power is supplied to the relay 1 from the program power supply unit 31. By irradiating the end of the armature on the side of the make contact, the displacement of the armature 15 that rotates in response to the operation as the relay 1 can be detected every moment.

Therefore, the ON-state of each contact coming out of the relay 1
Each contact follow y ₁ described in FIG. 4 of該継collector 1 by causing calculation and determine the changeover time of the OFF signal and amateur displacement of the momentarily measured retrieval unit 33 retrieves a further control unit 34, thereby judge the acceptability of該継Electric 1 can be a y ₄ acquires each contact gap y _5, y _2.

FIG. 2 shows ON-OFF of each contact of the relay 1 described above.
FIG. 4 shows a measurement sequence for explaining a means for detecting a signal switching time. FIG. That is, the armature displacement line and the break contact ON-OFF display line similar to FIG.
FIG. 2 illustrates a measurement sequence in which a make contact ON-OFF display line and an excitation display line are described together. In FIG. 2, a signal for detecting a time address at each measurement time point t ₀ , t ₁ , t ₂ , and t _{3 in} the amateur displacement line. This is a display line.

In particular, in this case, the signal display line is one in which one pulse is set as a continuous signal of 25 μs, for example, and the time of each of the measurement time points t ₀ , t ₁ , t ₂ , and t ₃ is set.
It is detected with an accuracy of 25 μs.

Therefore, by searching for the amount of amateur displacement at each measurement point in the above-described amateur displacement line and the time at each measurement point detected by the signal display line, a search is made for each contact point described with reference to FIG. The follow and the contact gap can be efficiently obtained.

FIG. 3 exemplifies the flow of data in the measured quantity search section 33 (FIG. 1) for searching for required data from the amount of amateur displacement and the time at each measurement time point described in FIG. , (3-1) shows the flow at the time of data fetch, and (3-2) shows the flow at the time of data fetch.

In FIG. 3, the measured value search unit 33 includes two buffers.
I / O buffer 33 for 33a, 33b and central processing unit 33c
d, 33e, a counter 33f for clocking a strobe signal from the displacement meter, and a selector 33i for selecting addresses of the two memories 33g, 33h.

Here, the flow of data in the measured quantity search unit 33 when inspecting the test relay 1 will be described. First, the measurement quantity search unit 33 is set to the data capture state shown in (3-1).

Then, at the same time as the start signal, a rated voltage is applied from the program power supply unit 31 shown in FIG. 1 to a coil (not shown) of the test relay 1 to operate the armature,
The contact signal is written to the memory 33g via the buffer 33a, and the output data from the laser displacement meter 32 is written to the memory 33h via the buffer 33b.

The output data from the laser displacement meter 32 when the rated voltage is applied (time t _{3 in} FIG. 2) and the output data from the laser displacement meter 32 when the rated voltage is OFF (time t _{0 in} FIG. 2). Is also stored in the memory 33h.

Next, the measurement quantity search section 33 is set to the data fetching state shown in (3-2). So read contact signal data memory 33 g, at the time the address and make contact at the time the break contact is switched to OFF from ON (t ₁ point in FIG. 2) is switched to ON from OFF (t ₂ time in FIG. 2) Search for each address.

Then, based on the address obtained here, the displacement such as the delay of the measurement time is corrected, and the amateur displacement position data corresponding to the corrected address is stored in the memory.
By reading from 33h, the break contact turns from ON to OFF
Can armature displacement position and make contact at the time of switching (t ₁ point in FIG. 2) to acquires the armature displacement position at the time switched to ON from OFF (t ₂ time in Figure 2).

Therefore, the output data from the laser displacement meter 32 when the rated voltage is applied, the output data from the laser displacement meter 32 when the rated voltage is OFF, and the two amateur displacement position data shown in FIG. Each point corresponding to t _{0 to} t ₃ can be plotted, and consequently each contact follow y ₁ , y ₄ and each contact gap of the relay 1 described in FIG.
The contact follow and the contact gap corresponding to y ₅ and y ₂ can be obtained.

In such a method for inspecting a relay, mechanical dimensions such as contact follow and contact gap can be obtained only by operating the test relay at a rated voltage, so that the number of inspection steps can be reduced, and measurement by abrasion or deformation of a pressure probe can be performed. Since there is no variation in values, a great improvement in productivity can be expected.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the characteristics of the electromagnetic relay can be efficiently detected by measuring the follow-up amount of the make contact and the break contact and the dimensions of the contact gap with high speed and high accuracy. An improved method and apparatus for inspecting an electromagnetic relay can be provided.

In the description of the present invention, a case where a laser displacement meter is used as a non-contact displacement meter is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this laser displacement meter, and other non-contact type displacement meters may be used. Obviously, the same effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing an inspection method of the present invention together with its apparatus configuration.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a measurement sequence according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view exemplifying a data flow in a measurement amount search unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conventional inspection method.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional amateur displacement unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an inspection device in its configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Inspection device 31 Program power supply unit 32 Non-contact displacement meter (laser displacement meter) 33 Measurement amount search unit 33a, 33b Buffer 33c Central processing unit 33d, 33e Input / output buffer 33f Counter 33g, 33h Memory 33i Selector

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-223015 (JP, A) JP-A-3-165275 (JP, A) JP-A-63-228544 (JP, A) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01R 31/00 H01H 49/00 H01H 50/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A make contact located at both ends of a contact spring set that rotates in a seesaw shape together with an armature of an electromagnetic relay.
An electromagnetic relay inspection method for inspecting a contact gap and a follow amount of a break contact with respect to a fixed contact, wherein an amount of displacement of the end of the electromagnetic relay (1) with respect to an initial position near an end of the amateur contact surface near the make contact. The electromagnetic relay (1) with the non-contact displacement meter (32) arranged so that it can be detected
The rated drive power is applied to each of the contacts O from the application time obtained to the end of operation as the electromagnetic relay.
The amateur (1) using the N-OFF signal data and the displacement meter (32)
After the displacement amount data of 5) is continuously stored in the memory, the application time and ON-OF of each contact stored in the memory are applied.
F. A method for inspecting an electromagnetic relay, comprising acquiring the contact gap and the follow amount from the displacement data of the armature at each time of signal switching and operation end. 2. A make contact located at both ends of a contact spring set which rotates in a seesaw shape together with an armature of an electromagnetic relay.
An electromagnetic relay inspection device for inspecting a contact gap and a follow amount of a break contact with respect to a fixed contact, wherein an amount of displacement of the amateur surface of the electromagnetic relay (1) with respect to an initial position near an end on a make contact side is reduced. A non-contact displacement meter (32) arranged so that it can be detected, and a program power supply (3) for continuously applying rated drive power to the electromagnetic relay (1)
1), the contact ON-OFF signal data of the electromagnetic relay (1) and the displacement data with respect to the initial position of the make contact side end of the armature (15) output from the non-contact displacement meter (32) are calculated. The control unit controls each of the non-contact displacement meter (32), the program power supply unit (31), and the measurement amount search unit (33) for searching for the required contact gap and follow amount. An inspection apparatus for an electromagnetic relay, comprising at least a control unit (34).