JP3108280B2 - Steel ball detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steel ball detecting device used for counting steel balls such as pachinko balls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to count steel balls such as pachinko balls,
Usually, a steel ball detecting device is used in which a large number of steel balls are continuously dropped naturally and the passage of the steel balls is detected in the fall area. Such a steel ball detection device is configured by disposing a steel ball sensor for detecting a steel ball passing through the steel ball passage hole in a holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which the steel ball passes.

[0003] The steel ball sensor is, for example, an optical type that transmits light into a steel ball passage hole and detects the steel ball in a non-contact manner by blocking the light by the steel ball. The proximity lever detects the steel ball in a non-contact manner based on the impedance change when the steel ball passes, and the contact lever passes through the steel ball so as to contact the steel ball passing through the steel ball passage hole. It is constituted by a mechanical type or the like having a limit switch arranged in the hole.

[0004]

A steel ball that continuously enters the steel ball passage hole contacts the holder,
Vibrations (ball hits) such as a bounce that moves linearly upward, a rotation that moves in the rotation direction, and a lateral shake that moves to the side occur. The steel ball sensor that detects the steel ball in the steel ball passage hole in a non-contact manner responds sensitively to the vibration of the steel ball that has entered the steel ball passage hole. There is a possibility that the state where the steel ball is not detected immediately, or conversely, the state where the steel ball is detected immediately after the state where the steel ball is not detected. Even in a contact-type steel ball sensor, if the steel ball is in a vibrating state, a chattering phenomenon in which the detection state and the non-detection state are repeated following the vibration of the steel ball may occur. With a proximity sensor that detects a steel ball based on a change in the magnetic field, if the steel ball passes through the steel ball passage hole at a high speed, it may not be possible to detect a change in impedance due to a change in the magnetic field and may not be able to detect the steel ball. .

As described above, if the steel ball detecting device cannot accurately detect the steel ball, the steel ball detecting device cannot accurately count the number of steel balls.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steel ball capable of accurately detecting a steel ball even if the steel ball passing through a steel ball passage hole vibrates. A detection device is provided.

[0007]

The steel ball detecting device according to the present invention comprises a holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which a naturally falling steel ball can pass, and a steel ball having entered the steel ball passage hole. A vibration damping member that contacts the steel ball and prevents vibration of the steel ball without hindering natural fall, and the steel ball whose vibration is prevented by the vibration damping member passes through the steel ball passage hole. And a steel ball sensor for detecting the operation.

The steel ball sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element and passing through the inside of the steel ball passage hole. It has a guide plate arranged to contact a steel ball passing through the hole, and a coil spring for urging the guide plate into the steel ball passage hole.

Further, the steel ball detecting device of the present invention has a holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which a naturally falling steel ball can pass, and the inside of the steel ball passage hole is orthogonal to the steel ball passage direction. In a state, and a pair of light passing through each at an appropriate interval in the steel ball passing direction, an optical steel ball sensor having a pair of light receiving elements to receive respectively, and each light receiving element of the steel ball sensor A calculation unit that outputs a detection signal or a non-detection signal of the steel ball when the detection states of the two light receiving elements change in order along the steel ball passing direction and match. This achieves the above object.

In the steel ball sensor, a distance between a pair of lights is
It is set larger than the amount of vibration of the steel ball in the steel ball passing direction.

The steel ball sensor has a pair of light emitting elements and a pair of light receiving elements corresponding to each light emitting element.

The steel ball sensor includes one light emitting element,
Optical means for splitting the light emitted from the light emitting element into two.

In the steel ball sensor, the light emission timing of light from each light emitting element is different so that the light receiving timing of each light receiving element is different.

The steel ball sensor is in a state where the wavelength or the amount of light emitted from each light emitting element is different.

Further, in the steel ball detecting device of the present invention, a holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which a naturally falling steel ball can pass, and the inside of the steel ball passage hole, which is orthogonal to the steel ball passage direction. An optical steel ball sensor having a light receiving element for receiving light passing therethrough, wherein the steel ball passes through the steel ball.
Vibrates when entering the hole and after passing through the steel ball passage hole,
The thickness of the holder is affected by the vibration when the steel ball enters the steel ball passage hole.
Formed thinner than the sum of the distance and the vibration distance after passing through the steel ball passage hole
The detection range of the steel ball sensor is
Younger than the value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the holder from the sum of the distances
Range not less than the wide width and not more than the thickness of the holder
And the above object is achieved.

The detection area has a thickness of 6 m for the holder.
m, the vibration distance when the steel ball enters the steel ball passage hole is 5 mm, the steel ball
When the vibration distance after passing through the through hole is 2 mm, 2 mm or less
And within a range of 6 mm or less .

[0017]

According to the steel ball detecting device of the present invention, the steel ball entering the steel ball passage hole is detected by the steel ball sensor in a state where the vibration is prevented by the damping member. The vibration damping member constituted by the guide plate urged by the coil spring has a structure in which the guide plate is pressed against the steel ball which has entered the steel ball passage hole by the biasing force of the coil spring, and the natural force in the steel ball passage hole is increased. Vibration can be prevented without hindering the fall. And
An optical steel ball sensor, which is not in contact with the steel ball, accurately detects the steel ball whose vibration has been prevented.

Further, in the steel ball detecting device of the present invention, the light receiving elements for receiving a pair of lights arranged in the steel ball passing direction respectively change the light receiving state sequentially in the steel ball passing direction. The arithmetic unit outputs a detection signal or a non-detection signal of the steel ball only when the light receiving states of the two match.
That is, in the state where the lower or upper edge of the steel ball is located between a pair of lights, even if the state of each light receiving element changes due to the lower or upper edge, such a state is calculated by the arithmetic unit. Assuming that each light receiving element malfunctioned due to the vibration of the steel ball,
Does not output the detection signal or non-detection signal of the steel ball.

By setting the interval between the pair of lights to be larger than the amount of vibration in the direction of passage of the steel ball, malfunction of each light receiving element due to the vibration of the steel ball can be reliably prevented.

The pair of lights may be emitted from each of the pair of light emitting elements, or may be the light emitted from one light emitting element divided into two. In order for each light receiving element to accurately receive light emitted from the pair of light emitting elements, the light emission timing of each light emitting element may be changed. In addition, the light emitted from each light emitting element may be set in an optically different state such as a wavelength and a light amount, so that the light emitted from each light emitting element is surely received by each light receiving element.

Further, since the steel ball sensor has a detection area having an appropriate width in the steel ball passing direction, a slight change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element due to the vibration of the steel ball in the detection area is suppressed. By ignoring it, the effect of the vibration of the steel ball is prevented.

[0022]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an example of a steel ball detecting device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the steel ball detecting device, and FIG. FIG. This steel ball detection device is used, for example, for counting pachinko balls having a diameter of 11 mm, and has a flat plate-shaped holder 10 arranged in a horizontal state. This holder 10 has a rectangular plate shape with a thickness of about 6 mm,
A cylindrical steel ball passage hole 12 through which a steel ball 40 as a pachinko ball passes is provided near one side and penetrates vertically. The steel ball passage hole 12 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the steel ball to be detected, so that the steel ball 40 can pass through the inside by natural fall.

In the lower part of the holder 10, a steel ball passage hole 12 is provided.
An optical steel ball sensor 20 for detecting a steel ball 40 passing through the inside is provided. The steel ball sensor 20 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the holder 10 that is on the side of the steel ball passage hole 12 and is positioned laterally of the holder 10 with respect to the light receiving element 24 in the width direction. And a light emitting element 21. The light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 24 are arranged in the same horizontal level below the holder 10. The light emitting element 21 faces one end face of the light emitting side optical guide 22 extending in the tangential direction of the steel ball passage hole 12 along one side surface of the holder 10. The light emitting side optical guide 22 is made of, for example, a resin molded product or a glass fiber. Light emitted from the light emitting element 21 enters the light emitting side optical guide 22 and passes through the light emitting side optical guide 22. It is guided horizontally along the tangential direction of the steel ball passage hole 12.

The end opposite to the end of the light-emitting side optical guide 22 facing the light-emitting element 21 is exposed in the steel ball passage hole 12. A pair of first reflection surface 22a and second reflection surface 22b that reflect light passing through the side optical guide 22 is provided.
Light guided along the tangential direction of the steel ball passage hole 12 in the light emitting side optical guide 22 is reflected by the first reflection surface 22a at a substantially right angle toward the steel ball passage hole 12 side.
Further, the second reflecting surface 22b moves the portion from the portion exposed in the steel ball passage hole 12 toward the inside of the steel ball passage hole 12 by 90 degrees.
The light is reflected at an angle slightly larger than the degree.

The light reflected by the second reflecting surface 22b is transmitted to the light emitting side optical guide 22 exposed in the steel ball passage hole 12.
15 from the light emitting side optical guide 22 so as to be sequentially away from the light emitting side optical guide 22
It enters the steel ball passage hole 12 in a state of being inclined to the degree.

From the light emitting side optical guide 22 to the steel ball passage hole 12
The light applied to the inside moves in a horizontal direction at a position near the lower portion of the steel ball passage hole 12.

Light traveling straight through the steel ball passage hole 12 is received by the light receiving side optical guide 23.
The light receiving side optical guide 23 is made of, for example, a resin molded product or a glass fiber, and is substantially at the center of the holder 10 so that the entrance window 23a provided at one end surface in the steel ball passage hole 12 is exposed. It is arranged below the light receiving element 24 arranged in the section. Light incident on the light receiving side optical guide 23 from the entrance window 23a of the light receiving side optical guide 23 exposed in the steel ball passage hole 12 goes straight through the light receiving side optical guide 23 and is reflected upward. The light is received by the upper light receiving element 24.

The light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 24 are connected to a printed wiring board 25 held in the holder 10.

On the side of the holder 10 facing the light emitting element 21 with the steel ball passage hole 12 interposed therebetween, a vibration damping member 30 for preventing vibration of the steel ball 40 entering the steel ball passage hole 12 is provided. ing. The vibration damping member 30 has a coil spring 31 held in the holder 10 in a state where the axial direction is the diameter direction of the steel ball passage hole 12. The tip of the coil spring 31 is located in the steel ball passage hole 12, and the coil spring 3 that has entered the steel ball passage hole 10.
A guide plate 32 is attached to the front end of the steel plate 1 in a vertical state along the inner peripheral surface of the steel ball passage hole 12. Guide plate 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a guide portion 32a having a lower end connected to the coil spring 31 and an upper end bent upward toward the outer peripheral side of the steel ball passage hole 12. Guide part 32a
Are located in the upper end of the steel ball passage hole 12.

The coil spring 32 is provided in the steel ball passage hole 12.
When the steel ball 40 entering the inside contacts the guide plate 31, the steel ball 40 does not hinder the natural fall of the steel ball 40.
The elastic force is set so as to prevent the vibration of the motor.

As shown in FIG. 3, a steel ball 40 passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 of the holder 10 is located below the holder 10.
Is provided on the side of the guide 41.

In the steel ball detecting device having such a configuration, FIG.
As shown in (a), the steel balls 40 are sequentially supplied from above the holder 10 by natural fall. Then, the steel ball 40 is inserted into the passage hole 12 of the holder 10.
When the steel ball 40 is to enter the guide portion 3, the steel ball 40 is inclined at the upper end of the guide plate 32 of the vibration damping member 30.
Touch 2a. As a result, the guide plate 32 is
As shown in (b), it moves outward from the steel ball passage hole 12 against the elastic force of the coil spring 31. Steel ball 40
The guide plate 3 is driven by the urging force of the coil spring 31.
1 is pressed and pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the steel ball passage hole 12, and is prevented from vibrating upward, rotating, laterally oscillating, etc., and enters the steel ball passage hole 12.

The steel ball 40 that has entered the steel ball passage hole 12 is
In a state where the vibration is prevented, the steel ball naturally falls in the steel ball passage hole 12.

On the other hand, the light emitted from the light emitting element 21 of the steel ball sensor 20 and guided in the light emitting side optical guide 22 passes through the lower part in the steel ball passage hole 12 in a horizontal state. The light passes through the light receiving side optical guide 23 and is received by the light receiving element 24.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the steel ball 40 which naturally falls in the steel ball passage hole 12 with the guide plate 31 of the vibration damping member 31 pressed against the steel ball passage hole 12 is formed. When the light passing horizontally through is blocked, the light receiving element 24 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state, and the steel ball sensor 20
It is detected that the steel ball 40 passes through the steel ball passage hole 12.

The steel ball 40 falls naturally in a state where vibrations such as rebound, rotation, and lateral vibration are prevented by the vibration damping member 30, and is detected by the optical steel ball sensor 20. Therefore, there is no possibility that the light receiving element 24 malfunctions due to the vibration of the steel ball 40, and the steel ball sensor 20
Can accurately detect the steel ball 40.

The steel balls 40 successively supplied fall naturally in the steel ball passage holes 12 in a state where the vibration is prevented by the vibration damping member 30, and the steel balls 40 are accurately detected by the steel ball sensor 20. Is detected. Steel ball passage hole 1 of holder 10
The steel balls 40 passing through 2 are sequentially moved sideways by the guides 41.

In the above embodiment, the steel ball 40 passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 is detected by the optical steel ball sensor 20 having the light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 24. A proximity sensor that forms a magnetic field in a steel ball passage hole as a steel ball sensor and detects the steel ball by a change in the magnetic field due to the passage of the steel ball. The limit switch operates when the steel ball 40 contacts the contact lever. Alternatively, a mechanical sensor or the like may be used. When using the proximity type steel ball sensor, the speed of the steel ball 40 falling in the steel ball passage hole 12 can be suppressed. There is no possibility that the steel ball 40 cannot be detected, and the steel ball 40 can be reliably detected.

The damping member 30 is constituted by the coil spring 31 and the guide plate 32. However, the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and an elastic member such as sponge, rubber, resin, or the like is used for the entire steel ball passage hole 12. It may be configured to be attached to the circumference or to a part or a plurality of parts of the steel ball passage hole 12.

In the case of a mechanical steel ball sensor using a limit switch, the vibration damping member may be configured by appropriately adjusting the biasing force of the operation lever of the limit switch.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the steel ball detecting device of the present invention. This steel ball detection device has an optical upper steel ball sensor 50 and a lower steel ball sensor 60 disposed at the upper and lower portions in the holder 10 having the steel ball passage hole 12. Optical lower steel ball sensor 6
0 has a lower light-emitting element 61 and a lower light-receiving element 64 arranged at the same position as the light-emitting element 21 and the light-receiving element 24 of the optical steel ball sensor 20 of the above embodiment,
The upper light emitting element 51 and the upper light receiving element 54 of the upper steel ball sensor 50 are arranged above the lower light emitting element 61 and the lower light receiving element 64, respectively.

Light emitted from the upper light emitting element 51 and the lower light emitting element 61 of the upper steel ball sensor 50 and the lower steel ball sensor 60 is transmitted by the light emitting side optical guide 52 similar to the light emitting side optical guide 22 in the above embodiment. Each is guided linearly along the tangential direction of the steel ball passage hole 12, and is irradiated into the steel ball passage hole 12. The light that has passed through the steel ball passage hole 12 is directly radiated to the upper light receiving element 54 and the lower light receiving element 64.

Light passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 is reflected by the steel ball 4
In the passing direction of 0, the vibration amount is set to be larger than the vibration amount of the passing direction of the steel ball 40 in the steel ball passage hole 12. In the case of the steel ball 40 having a diameter of about 11 mm, the interval between each light is set to about 0.5 to 11 mm.

Outputs of the upper light receiving element 54 and the lower light receiving element 64 of the upper steel ball sensor 50 and the lower steel ball sensor 60 are input to a calculation unit 56 disposed on a printed wiring board 55, respectively. 56 is a high-level signal “H” indicating that the steel ball 40 has passed through the steel ball passage hole 12 based on the outputs “P1” and “P2” of the respective light receiving elements 54 and 64, and the steel ball 40 has passed through the steel ball. A low level signal “L” indicating that the light does not pass through the hole 12 is output.

In the steel ball detecting device having such a configuration, the steel ball 40 which has entered the steel ball passage hole 12 of the holder 10 by natural fall falls on the upper light emitting element 51 of the upper steel ball sensor 50.
After blocking light passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 and passing through the steel ball passage hole 12, light emitted from the lower light emitting element 61 of the lower steel ball sensor 60 and passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 is blocked. The outputs P1 and P2 of the upper light receiving element 54 and the lower light receiving element 64 become low level signals "L" when light is received, and become high level "H" when light is not received.

Next, the operation contents of the operation unit 56 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The arithmetic unit 56 includes the upper light receiving element 54 and the lower light receiving element 6
The output V of the arithmetic unit 56 is inverted only when the outputs P1 and P2 of the fourth unit coincide with each other, but otherwise, the output V of the arithmetic unit 56 is held. Also, the output V is inverted only when the output P2 of the lower light receiving element 64 changes after the output P1 of the upper light receiving element 54 changes, and otherwise, the output V of the arithmetic unit 56 is held. It is supposed to.

[0048]

[Table 1]

When the steel ball 40 continuously passes through the steel ball passage hole 12, the upper light receiving element 54 and the lower light receiving element 64 output the light receiving elements 54 and 64 in the order of Table 1 Changes. That is, in a state where the steel ball 40 has entered the steel ball passage hole 12, both the light receiving portions 54 and 6
4 are in the state of low level “L” (the same applies to the following in Table 1), and the steel ball 40 is inserted into the steel ball passage hole 12.
When the light passes through the lower light receiving element 6 after the output P1 of the upper light receiving element 54 changes to the high level "H" ().
4 changes to a high level “H” (), and after the output P1 of the upper light receiving element 54 changes to a low level “L” (), the output P2 of the lower light receiving element 64 changes to a low level “L”. Changes to (). Similarly, when the next steel ball 40 passes through the steel ball passage hole 12, the upper light receiving element 5
4 changes to the high level "H" (), the output P2 of the lower light receiving element 64 changes to the high level "H" (), and the output P1 of the upper light receiving element 54 changes.
Changes to the low level "L" (), the output P2 of the lower light receiving element 64 changes to the low level "L".

When starting the detection of the steel ball 40, the calculating section 56 first sets the output V of the calculating section 56 to low level "L" (see S1 in FIG. 8, the same applies hereinafter). When the steel ball 40 does not fall into the steel ball passage hole 12 in such a state, the output P1 of the upper light receiving unit 54 becomes low level “L”.
Also, the output P2 of the lower light receiving unit 64 becomes low level “L”, and the output V of the arithmetic unit 56 holds the low level “L” (S2 to S4).

On the other hand, the steel ball 4 is inserted into the steel ball passage hole 12.
When 0 drops, the output P1 of the upper light receiving unit 54 and the output P2 of the lower light receiving element 64 become high level "H", and in this case, the output V of the calculation unit 56 becomes high level "H" (S5 to S5). S6).

In such a state, the arithmetic section 56 monitors whether the output P1 of the upper light receiving section 54 is equal to the output V of the arithmetic section 56, and determines whether the output P1 of the upper light receiving section 54 is equal to the output P of the arithmetic section 56. If it is not equal to (S7), it is checked whether the output P2 of the lower light receiving unit 64 is not equal to the output of the arithmetic unit 56 (S8). As described above, the outputs P1 and P1 of the upper light receiving unit 54 and the lower light receiving unit 64
2 are in a state different from the output V of the calculating unit 56, and if the output P2 of the lower light receiving unit 64 changes after the output P1 of the upper light receiving unit 54 changes, the calculating unit 56 sets the output V at that time to the inverted state (S
9). That is, the arithmetic unit 56 sets the high level “H” when the output V is the low level output, and sets the low level “L” when the output V is the high level.

The arithmetic unit 56 is thus provided with the upper light receiving unit 5
4 changes after the output P1 of the lower light receiving section 64 changes.
, The output V is inverted when the outputs P1 and P2 of both the upper light receiving unit 54 and the lower light receiving unit 64 match. Therefore, for example, as shown in Table 1, after the upper light receiving unit 54 detects the steel ball 40 and its output P1 once becomes a high level “H”, the upper light receiving unit 54 detects the steel ball 40 and vibrates such as the steel ball 40 jumping up. If the output P2 of the lower light receiving unit 64 is at the low level "L" when the output P2 of the lower light receiving unit 64 is at the low level "L" without the light receiving unit 54 detecting the steel ball 40, the upper light receiving unit 54 and the lower The outputs P1 and P2 of the light receiving unit 64 are both at the low level "L". In this case, the output of the upper light receiving unit 54 is inverted after the output of the lower light receiving unit 64 is inverted. , The output V of the arithmetic unit 56 is maintained at a low level “L” without being inverted.

Similarly, as shown in Table 1, the upper light receiving section 5
4 and the lower light receiving portion 64 detect the steel ball 40, and after both outputs P1 and P2 once become a high level "H", the lower light receiving portion 64 causes the steel ball 40 to vibrate, such as jumping up. If the output P2 becomes low level "L" without detecting the ball 40, the outputs of the two do not match,
The output V of the arithmetic unit 56 holds a high level “H”.

Further, as shown in Table 1, the upper light receiving section 5
4 passes through the steel ball 40, and the output P1 of the upper light receiving unit 54
However, once the low level “L” is reached, the upper light receiving unit 54 causes the steel ball 40
Is detected and the output becomes high level "H", the outputs P1 and P2 of the upper light receiving unit 54 and the lower light receiving unit 64 both become low level. However, in this case, the output P2 of the upper light receiving unit 64 is low level “L”.
Since the output P1 of the upper light receiving unit 54 has been inverted to the high level “H” after the change, the output V of the arithmetic unit 56 is not inverted and is maintained at the high level “H”.

Further, as shown in Table 1, the upper light receiving section 54
And the steel ball 40 passes through the light receiving area of the lower light receiving portion 64,
Once both outputs P1 and P2 are low level "L"
After that, when the lower light receiving section 64 detects the steel ball 40 due to vibrations such as the bouncing of the steel ball 40 and the output goes to a high level "H", both outputs P1 and P2 match. Instead, the output V of the arithmetic unit 56 holds the low level “L”.

As described above, even if the upper and lower light receiving units 54 and 64 malfunction due to the vibration of the steel ball 40 passing through the steel ball passage hole 12, the calculating unit 56 causes the steel ball 4 to operate.
0 can be accurately detected.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the light-emitting timing of the light-emitting elements 51 and 61 is shifted so that the light-receiving timing of the light-receiving elements 54 and 64 is shifted. The discriminability may be improved.

Also, as described above, the light emitting elements 51 and 61
Not only the configuration in which the light emission timing is shifted, but also a configuration in which the wavelength and the light amount emitted from each of the light emitting elements 51 and 61 are different from each other.

In the above embodiment, a pair of the optical steel ball sensors 50 and 60 in which the light emitting element 51 and the light receiving element 60 are paired is used. A steel ball sensor having a light emitting element may be used. FIG. 10 shows one light emitting element 7
FIG. 10A shows a steel ball detecting device using a steel ball sensor 70 having a light emitting unit 1 and FIG.
0 (b) is a perspective view of the light receiving section.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the light emitting element 71
The light emitted from the light-emitting optical guide 72 enters the light-emitting-side optical guide 72 and is split into two upper and lower beams.
Go straight inside. Then, the light is reflected by a pair of reflecting surfaces 72a and 72b arranged above and below the light emitting side optical guide 72, and enters the light receiving side optical guide 73 as shown in FIG. Each light that has entered the light-receiving side optical guide 73 is reflected upward by each of the reflection surfaces 73a and 73b of the light-receiving side optical guide while being shifted in the traveling direction of each light. The light is received by the light receiving elements 74 and 75 disposed at the same position.

In such a steel ball detecting device, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, based on the light receiving state of each of the light receiving elements 74 and 75, the arithmetic unit 56 detects that the steel ball has been detected. A signal and a low-level signal in which no steel ball is detected are output.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the steel ball inspection apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view thereof.
The steel ball inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment detects the steel ball 40 passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 at the lower part of the holder 10, similarly to the steel ball optical type steel ball inspection apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. An optical steel ball sensor 80 is provided. The steel ball sensor 80 includes a light receiving element 84 disposed substantially at the center of the holder 10 on the side of the steel ball passage hole 12 and a light receiving element 8.
The light emitting element 81 positioned on the side of the holder 10 in the width direction with respect to the light guide 4 and the light emitted from the light emitting element 81 are guided along the tangential direction of the steel ball passage hole 12 so that the steel ball passes through the exit window 82c. A light-emitting-side optical guide 82 that exits into the passage hole 12;
A light receiving side optical guide 83 that reflects light emitted from the light emitting side optical guide 82 into the steel ball passage hole 12 and passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 in a horizontal state after being incident from the entrance window 83a and upward. have. Light receiving side optical guide 83
The light emitted upward from is received by the light receiving element 84.

The holder 10 has a steel ball 40 having a diameter of 11 mm.
In contrast, a guide 41 is provided below the steel ball passage hole 12 to guide the steel ball 40 passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 in the lateral direction.

In the steel ball inspection apparatus of this embodiment, the light emitting element 8
The light emitted from 1 and emitted into the steel ball passage hole 12 by the light-emitting side optical guide 82 is not affected by the vibration of the steel ball 40 in the steel ball passage hole 12. It has a detection area with a width of 2 to 6 mm in the passing direction.

The steel ball 40 that has entered the steel ball passage hole 12 is:
The vibration in the steel ball passage hole 12 is vibrating within a distance of about 5 mm or less from the upper end surface of the steel ball passage hole 12,
When 5 mm or more elapses, the steel ball 40 is not vibrated. Therefore, light passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 preferably passes below the upper surface of the holder 10 by 5 mm or more. On the other hand, the steel ball 12 that has passed through the steel ball passage hole 12 may collide with the guide 41 and vibrate for about 2 mm. Therefore, it is preferable to allow the holder 10 to pass above the lower surface of the holder 10 by 2 mm or more. However, the thickness of the holder 10 (length in the steel ball passing direction)
Is usually about 6 mm, so that the light detection area is set to 2 mm or more and 6 mm or less with respect to the steel ball passing direction, so that the steel ball 40 vibrates in the steel ball passage hole 12. There is no risk that the steel ball 40 will deviate from the light detection area, and there is no risk that the light receiving element 84 will erroneously detect the steel ball 40.

The detection area of the light passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 is set by the length of the exit window 82c of the light emitting side optical guide 82 and the length of the entrance window 83a of the light receiving side optical guide 83 in the steel ball passing direction.

As described above, the light passing through the steel ball passage hole 12 has a light detection area having a width of 2 mm to 6 mm in the steel ball passing direction, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element 84 falls below a predetermined value. As a result, a predetermined signal is output assuming that the steel ball 40 is passing through the steel ball passage hole 12. Therefore, even when the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 84 slightly changes due to the vibration of the steel ball 40, the light receiving element 84 does not have a possibility of erroneously detecting the steel ball 40.

[0069]

As described above, the steel ball detecting device according to the present invention has the following features.
Since the steel ball entering the steel ball passage hole is detected by the steel ball sensor in a state where the vibration is prevented by the vibration damping member, the vibration of the steel ball in the steel ball passage hole is performed. Therefore, there is no possibility that the steel ball is erroneously detected. Further, the steel ball is detected based on a steel ball sensor having a pair of light receiving elements that respectively receive a pair of light passing through the steel ball passage hole at an appropriate interval in the steel ball passing direction. Also, erroneous detection of the light receiving element based on the vibration of the steel ball can be prevented, and the steel ball can be accurately detected. further,
The steel ball can also be accurately detected by detecting the steel ball with light having a detection area capable of absorbing the vibration of the steel ball in the steel ball passing direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing an example of a steel ball detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the steel ball detecting device.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part showing another example of the steel ball detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the light emission timing of each light emitting element and the light reception timing of each light receiving element of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 10 (a) is a perspective view of a light emitting portion of still another example of the steel ball detecting device of the present invention, and FIG. 10 (b) is a perspective view of a light receiving portion of the steel ball detecting device.

FIG. 11 is a plan sectional view showing still another example of the steel ball detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the steel ball detecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Holder 12 Steel ball passage hole 20 Steel ball sensor 21 Light emitting element 22 Light emitting side optical guide 23 Light receiving side optical guide 24 Light receiving element 30 Damping member 31 Coil spring 32 Guide plate 40 Steel ball 50 Upper steel ball sensor 51 Upper light emitting element 54 Upper light receiving element 56 Calculation unit 60 Lower steel ball sensor 61 Lower light emitting element 64 Lower light receiving element 71 Light emitting element 72 Light emitting side optical guide 73 Light receiving side optical guide 74 Light receiving element 80 Steel ball sensor 81 Light emitting element 82 Light emitting side optical guide 83 Light receiving side Optical guide 84 Light receiving element

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-92187 (JP, A) JP-A-1-288551 (JP, A) JP-A-3-7183 (JP, A) JP-A-3-24183 (JP) , U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 55-100182 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-146259 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 61-94075 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) G06M 7/00-11/04 A63F 7/02 G01V 8/20 G01V 9/04

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which a naturally falling steel ball can pass, and a steel ball that has entered the steel ball passage hole does not impede the natural fall of the steel ball. A vibration damping member that prevents vibration of the steel ball by contacting the steel ball, and a steel ball sensor that detects that the steel ball, whose vibration has been prevented by the vibration damping member, passes through the steel ball passage hole. A steel ball detector characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The steel ball sensor includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that receives light emitted from the light-emitting element and passing through a steel ball passage hole. 2. The steel ball according to claim 1, comprising a guide plate arranged to contact a steel ball passing through the ball passage hole, and a coil spring for urging the guide plate into the steel ball passage hole. Detection device. 3. A holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which a naturally falling steel ball can pass, and a direction perpendicular to the steel ball passage direction and in the steel ball passage direction in the steel ball passage hole. An optical steel ball sensor having a pair of light receiving elements that respectively receive a pair of light passing therethrough at appropriate intervals, and each light receiving element of the steel ball sensor is arranged along the steel ball passing direction. And a calculating unit that outputs a detection signal or a non-detection signal of the steel ball when the detection states of both light receiving elements change in order and match. 4. The steel ball detecting device according to claim 3, wherein in the steel ball sensor, a distance between the pair of lights is set to be larger than a vibration amount of the steel ball in a direction in which the steel ball passes. 5. The steel ball detection device according to claim 3, wherein the steel ball sensor has a pair of light emitting elements and a pair of light receiving elements corresponding to each light emitting element. 6. The steel ball detecting device according to claim 3, wherein the steel ball sensor has one light emitting element and optical means for splitting light emitted from the light emitting element into two. 7. The steel ball detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the steel ball sensors have different light emission timings from the respective light emitting elements such that the light reception timings of the respective light receiving elements are different. 8. The steel ball detection device according to claim 6, wherein the steel ball sensor is in a state where the wavelength or the amount of light emitted from each light emitting element is different. 9. A holder provided with a steel ball passage hole through which a naturally falling steel ball can pass, and a light receiving device for receiving light passing through the steel ball passage hole in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the steel ball passes. An optical steel ball sensor having an element, wherein the steel ball is inserted into the steel ball passage hole and through the steel ball passage hole.
While vibrating afterwards, the thickness of the holder is
Vibration distance of steel when entering steel ball passage hole and vibration after steel ball passage hole
It is formed thinner than the sum of the dynamic distance, and the detection range of the steel ball sensor is calculated from the sum of the two vibration distances.
At least slightly wider than the value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the holder
A steel ball detecting device , wherein the thickness is within a range not more than the thickness of the holder . 10. The detection area has a thickness of the holder.
6mm, the vibration distance when entering the steel ball passage hole of the steel ball is 5mm,
2m when the vibration distance after passing through the steel ball passage hole is 2mm
The steel ball detecting device according to claim 9, wherein the steel ball detecting device is set within a range of not less than m and not more than 6 mm .