JP6269517B2 - Round bar number counting device and number counting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a round bar number counting device and a number counting method for counting the number of round steel bars and the like.

In the round bar steel manufacturing process, the round bar steel produced is counted and bundled into a predetermined number of bundles. As a round bar steel counting method, there are a counting method using a light emitting / receiving sensor, a counting method using a distance meter, and the like.
As a counting method using a light emitting / receiving sensor, a method is known in which a light projector and a light receiver are provided across a conveying path of a round bar steel, and the number of round bar steels is counted from the detection result of light reception / non-light reception of the light receiver. . In addition, in the counting method using a distance meter, a number of round steel bars are placed horizontally on a skid with a distance meter on the upper side, and the surface profile of the round steel bar is rolled with the distance meter while rolling the round steel bars. Is known, and the number of round steel bars is counted by differentiating the created profile (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-157960 A

However, in the counting method using the light emitting / receiving sensor, when passing through the light emitting / receiving sensor while a plurality of round steel bars are in contact with each other, there is no gap between the round steel bars. Count as steel bars. For this reason, the number of round bars could not be counted with high accuracy.
In addition, in the counting method using the distance sensor described in Patent Document 1, a normal surface profile can be obtained when the round bar steel is bent or overlapped, or when the round bar steel is greatly bent or bent. There was a possibility that it could not be done. For this reason, the differential value becomes unstable depending on the behavior and shape of the round bar steel, and the number of round bar steels may not be counted with high accuracy.
Then, this invention is made paying attention to said subject, and provides the number counting apparatus and number counting method of a round bar which can count the number of round bars, such as round bar steel, with high precision. It is an object.

  In order to achieve the above object, a round bar number counting device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a round bar in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the round bar extends, and a transport unit. Two distance meters that measure the distance to the passing round bar, and the round bar that passes between the two distance meters based on the measurement result of the distance meter. And a control unit that counts the number of round bars to be transported based on the calculated thickness.

  In addition, in the method for counting the number of round bars according to one aspect of the present invention, the round bar is transported in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the round bar extends, and Using two distance meters provided across the transport path, measure the distance to the round bar that passes between the distance meters, and the circle that passes between the two distance meters from the distance meter results The thickness of the bar is calculated, and the number of round bars to be conveyed is counted based on the calculated thickness.

  According to the round bar number counting device and the number counting method according to the present invention, the number of round bars such as round bar steel can be counted with high accuracy.

It is a lineblock diagram showing the number counter of round bar steel concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the manufacturing equipment of a round bar steel. It is a top view which shows a part of number counter. It is a side view which shows a part of number counter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the measuring method by the 1st and 2nd distance meter. It is a side view which shows the state in which a some round bar steel contacts and is conveyed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the round bar steel which passes the 1st and 2nd distance meter. (A) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state through which one round bar steel passes. (B) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state through which two round bar steel passes without overlapping with respect to the measurement direction of a distance meter. (C) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state through which two round bar steel passes with a small overlap with respect to the measurement direction of a distance meter. (D) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state through which two round bar steel passes with a big overlap with respect to the measurement direction of a distance meter. It is a flowchart which shows the number counting method of the round bar steel which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the profile of the thickness in the passage state of Drawing 7 (A). It is a graph which shows the profile of the thickness after the moving average process of FIG. It is a graph which shows the profile of the thickness after a moving average process in the passage state of Drawing 7 (B). It is a graph which shows the profile of the thickness after a moving average process in the passage state of Drawing 7 (C). It is a graph which shows the profile of the thickness after the division | segmentation process of FIG. It is a graph which shows the profile of the thickness after a moving average process and a division process in the passage state of Drawing 7 (D). (A) It is a schematic diagram which shows the counting method using a light projection / reception type sensor. (B) It is a graph which shows the measurement result by the counting method using a light projection / reception type sensor. (A) It is a schematic diagram which shows the counting method using one distance meter. (B) It is a graph which shows the measurement result by the counting method using one distance meter. (C) It is a graph which shows the result of having differentiated the measured value of FIG. 16 (B).

  Next, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the plane dimensions and the like are different from the actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings. Further, the embodiment described below exemplifies an apparatus and a method for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention is the material, shape, structure, The layout is not specified as follows. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the technical scope defined by the claims described in the claims.

<Configuration of number counting device>
First, the configuration of a round bar number counting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The number counting device 1 is a device that counts the number of round steel bars S that are round bars, and as shown in FIG. 1, a transport unit 10, a first distance meter 11 a, a second distance meter 11 b, and a control Unit 12 and storage unit 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the round bar steel S includes a rolling device 5 that rolls the material of the round bar steel S into a predetermined shape, an inspection device 6 that inspects the shape and the like of the rolled round bar steel S, and a transported round. Manufactured in a production facility having a number counting device 1 for counting the number of steel bars S and a bundling device 4 for bundling a predetermined number of round steel bars S into one bundle.

  The conveyance unit 10 is connected to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyance device 3 connected to the inspection device 6, and the round bar steel S conveyed from the inspection device 6 is extended in the direction in which the round bar steel S extends to the bundling device 4. It is a chain conveyor that conveys in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport unit 10 includes a first transport unit 10 a and a second transport unit 10 b that are provided side by side in the y-axis direction. The separation distance between the first transport unit 10a and the second transport unit 10b is shorter than the length of the round steel bar S to be transported.

  The first transport unit 10a includes a chain 100a, a pair of pulleys 101a, and a plurality of claw portions 102a. The chain 100a is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the pair of pulleys 101a, and is driven along the outer peripheral surface of the pair of pulleys 101a by the rotational operation of one of the pulleys 101a. A pair of pulleys 101a is provided at both ends of the first transport unit 10a in the x-axis direction, and either one of the pulleys 101a rotates by receiving a driving force from a driving unit such as a motor (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the direction in which the pair of pulleys 101a oppose each other is provided so as to have an inclination in the z-axis direction that is the vertical direction with respect to the x-axis direction that is the horizontal direction. The plurality of claw portions 102a are members provided to protrude to the outside of the chain 100a, and are provided on the chain 100a so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance so that the round steel bars S can be interposed therebetween.

  The second transport unit 10b has a structure similar to that of the first transport unit 10a, and includes a chain 100b, a pair of pulleys 101b, and a plurality of claw portions 102b. The chain 100b is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the pair of pulleys 101b, and is driven along the outer peripheral surface of the pair of pulleys 101b by the rotation of one of the pulleys 101b. A pair of pulleys 101b is provided at both ends in the x-axis direction of the second transport unit 10b, and either one of the pulleys 101b rotates by receiving a driving force from a driving unit such as a motor (not shown). The rotation of the pulley 101a of the first transport unit 10a and the rotation of the pulley 101b of the second transport unit 10b are performed in synchronization. In addition, the direction in which the pair of pulleys 101b are opposed to each other is provided so as to be inclined in the z-axis direction with respect to the x-axis direction, similarly to the first transport unit 10a. The plurality of claw portions 102b are provided to protrude to the outside of the chain 100b, similarly to the first transport unit 10a.

  In the transport unit 10 configured as described above, the pulleys 101a and 101b are rotated and the chains 100a and 100b are driven, so that the chains 100a and 100b are connected to both ends of the round steel bar S, respectively. In the supported state, it is conveyed to the x-axis positive direction side. At this time, since the direction in which the pair of pulleys 101a and 101b opposes is inclined with respect to the x-axis, the round steel bar S is located between the claw portions 102a and 102b, and is in the x-axis positive direction above the vertical direction. It is conveyed while rising in the direction side. By transporting the round steel bars S in this way, the round steel bars S are easily transported in a state where the round steel bars S are separated. In addition, the round bar steel S is transported to the end on the x-axis positive direction side, and then spontaneously falls as shown in FIG.

The first and second distance meters 11a and 11b are laser distance meters, and the transport unit 10 is moved in the vertical direction on the x-axis positive direction side and the y-axis positive direction side, which are downstream in the transport direction of the transport unit 10. That is, it is provided so as to be sandwiched in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the round steel bar S and the extending direction of the round steel bar S. In addition, the first and second distance meters 11a and 11b are arranged such that the first distance meter 11a is on the lower side of the transport unit 10 and the second distance meter so that the mutual distance shown in FIG. 5 is L (mm). Distance meters 11b are respectively arranged on the upper side of the transport unit. Furthermore, the first and second rangefinders 11a and 11b are provided such that opposing directions are inclined in the x-axis direction that is the transport direction with respect to the z-axis direction that is the vertical direction. When the round steel bar S passes between the first and second distance meters 11a and 11b, the first and second distance meters 11a and 11b having the above-described configuration are separated from the first and second distance meters 11a and 11b. The distances L ₁ and L ₂ (mm) to the surface of the round steel bar S are measured. The first and second distance meters 11 a and 11 b continuously measure the distances L ₁ and L ₂ at regular intervals, and transmit the measurement results to the control unit 12.

The control unit 12 counts the number of the round steel bars S using a counting method to be described later based on the measurement results of the distances L ₁ and L ₂ acquired from the first and second distance meters 11a and 11b. Moreover, the control part 12 controls the conveyance operation of the conveyance part 10, and stops conveyance according to the count result of the round steel bar S. Further, the control unit 12 is connected to the host computer 2 and the storage unit 13, acquires product information such as the size of the round steel bar S and the target number to be conveyed to the bundling device 4 from the host computer 2, and the first and second Data acquired from the distance meters 11 a and 11 b and the host computer 2 and data such as a thickness profile created by the control unit 12 are transmitted to the storage unit 13.
The storage unit 13 stores the above data acquired from the control unit 12.

<Method for counting the number of round bars>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 14, a method for counting the number of round bars according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the conveyance part 10 of the said structure, although it is easy to be conveyed in the state where the round steel bars S are scattered, depending on the size, shape, etc. of the round steel bars S, the round bars S are not in a separated state but are in contact with each other. May be transported by For example, as shown in FIG. 6, among the round bar steels S1 to S5 to be transported, the three round bar steels S2 to S4 may be transported in contact with each other. In this case, it passes between the distance meters 11a and 11b in a state where the round steel bars S3 and S4 are in contact. When passing between the distance meters 11a and 11b with the two round steel bars S in contact with each other, a pattern in which the two round steel bars S pass without overlapping in the measuring direction of the distance meter (FIG. 7B )), A pattern that passes with a small overlap (FIG. 7C) and a pattern that passes with a large overlap (FIG. 7D) can be broadly divided into three patterns. On the other hand, according to the method for counting the number of round steel bars S according to the present embodiment, in addition to the above three patterns, one round steel bar S passes in any pattern (FIG. 7A). The number of the steel bars S can be counted with high accuracy.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 12 acquires product information from the host computer 2 (S100). The product information includes the group number of the product, the diameter and length of the round steel bar S, and the target number of round steel bars S to be conveyed to the binding device 4. In step S100, the control unit 12 sets first and second thickness threshold values d _t1 and d _{t2 to be} described later, or first and second time threshold values T _t1 and T _t2 , respectively, according to the acquired product information. And prepare for measurement.

Next, the control unit 12 issues a command to the driving unit, and starts conveying the round steel bar S by rotating the pulleys 101a and 101b of the conveying unit 10 (S102). The conveyance of the round steel bar S by the conveyance unit 10 is performed at a constant conveyance speed. In step S102, the distances L ₁ and L ₂ are measured by the distance meters 11a and 11b simultaneously with the start of conveyance. In the measurement of the distances L ₁ and L ₂ , if there is no round bar steel S between the distance meters 11 a and 11 b and no measurement value is output, the measurement result is transmitted to the control unit 12 as a missing value.

Further, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the round steel bar S is detected from the measurement results of the distances L ₁ and L ₂ acquired from the distance meters 11a and 11b (S104). In step S104, whether or not the round bar steel S is detected is determined based on whether or not the acquired distances L ₁ and L ₂ are missing values, and it is judged that the round bar steel S is detected when the distances L ₁ and L ₂ are not missing values. To do.
When the round bar steel S is not detected in the determination in step S104, the control unit 12 repeats the determination in step S104.

On the other hand, when the round bar steel S is detected in the determination in step S104, the control unit 12 calculates the thickness d (mm) from the acquired distances L ₁ and L ₂ (S106). The calculation of the thickness d is performed for each measurement time from the distances L ₁ and L ₂ obtained continuously at regular time intervals using the following equation (1). The thickness d calculated by the equation (1) indicates the length occupied by the round bar steel S between the distance meters 11a and 11b, as shown in FIG. The thickness d is calculated for all the distances L ₁ and L ₂ acquired from the time when the round steel bar S is detected until the next missing value is detected.
d = L− (L ₁ + L ₂ ) (1)

Then, the control part 12 produces the profile of thickness d by carrying out the moving average process of thickness d (S108). As shown in FIG. 9, the profile of the thickness d is indicated by the time T when the distances L ₁ and L ₂ are measured on the horizontal axis and the thickness d calculated on the vertical axis. However, the profile obtained from the distances L ₁ and L ₂ may include an abnormal value due to the influence of high frequency components as in the example of FIG. For this reason, in step S108, the influence of a high frequency component is excluded by carrying out the moving average process of the profile. In the moving average process, the average value is calculated from the value of the thickness d from the time T for calculating the moving average to the predetermined number of measurements in the past direction. At this time, if the thickness d at the time T for calculating the moving average is larger than the average value by a predetermined amount, it is determined to be an abnormal value and excluded so that it is not included in the profile. In the above moving average processing, appropriate values are appropriately set according to the detection accuracy of the distance meters 11a and 11b, the diameter of the round bar steel S, and the like for the predetermined number of measurement times and the predetermined thickness d. By performing the moving average process, a profile of thickness d shown in FIG. 10 is obtained.

After step S108, the control unit 12 determines whether there is a sudden change point from the calculated profile (S110). The sudden change portion is a region where the amount of change in the thickness d with respect to time T exceeds the reference, and the thickness d is equal to or greater than the first thickness threshold value _dt1 . The reference for the amount of change in the thickness d varies depending on the diameter of the round bar steel S, the conveyance speed, and the measurement intervals of the distance meters 11a and 11b, but is set to a value that can reliably detect the end of the round bar steel S. Further, the first reference value d _t1 is a value smaller than the diameter of the round bar steel S, and is a length (mm) that is approximately 80% of the diameter of the round bar steel S.

When it is determined in step S110 that there is no sudden change portion, the control unit 12 extracts a time Ta that is _a region where the thickness d is equal to or greater than the first thickness threshold value d _t1 from the profile of the thickness d (S112). ). For example, in the passage patterns shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is determined in step S110 that there is no sudden change portion. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, when the round bar steel S passes only one, the region from time T ₁ to time T ₂ is extracted as a time T _a. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, two in the case of round bar steel S passes in contact are of the region from time T ₃ to the region, and the time T ₅ and time T ₆ to time T ₄ 2 One region is extracted as a time T _a.

After step S112, the control unit 12, extracts the time T _a is counting the number of regions to be the first time threshold T _t1 or more, the number of the counted area, as the number of round bar steel S which has passed, the number (S114). The first time threshold value T _t1 is appropriately set based on the balance between the diameter and conveying speed of the round steel bar S and a second time threshold value T _t2 described later. For example, when the diameter of the round steel bar S is D (mm) and the conveyance speed is V (mm / s), the first time threshold value T _t1 may be set to satisfy the following expression (2). . Here, α is a coefficient set in consideration of the first thickness threshold d _t1 .
T _t1 ≧ α × D / V (2)

As described above, when the round steel bar S passing through the distance meters 11a and 11b has the pattern shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the number of the round steel bars S passing through the steps up to step S114 is obtained. It is possible to count accurately. In addition, even when the two round bars S have a smaller overlap in the measuring direction of the distance meter than that in FIG. 7C and there is no sudden change in the determination in step S110, the two round bars S corresponding to the two round bars S because One region is extracted as a time T _a, 2 pieces of round bar steel S is counted accurately.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that there is a sudden change location, the control unit 12 divides the thickness d profile (S116). For example, in the passage patterns shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, it is determined that there is a sudden change in the determination in step S110. In the dividing process, the thickness d is divided into two continuous profiles by deleting the value of the thickness d of the sudden change location from the profile of the thickness d. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the region from time T ₈ to time T ₉ as sudden change point is detected. Thereafter, the region shown in FIG. 12 is divided into two consecutive profiles shown in FIG. 13 by deleting the region from time T ₈ to time T ₉ . For example, also in the passage pattern shown in FIG. 7D, the dividing process is performed in step S116, and the profile divided into two continuous regions shown in FIG. 14 is obtained.

After step S116, the control unit 12 extracts a time Ta that is _a region where the thickness d is _{equal to} or greater than the first thickness threshold value d _t1 from the region before the division position among the two regions subjected to the division process. (S118). The process of step S118 is performed similarly to the process of step S112.
Thereafter, the control unit 12, the time _{T a} which has been extracted at step S118, it is determined whether the first time threshold _{T t1} or more (S120). In step S120, the determination using the first time threshold value _Tt1 is performed, so that it is determined whether the round steel bar S has passed in the region before the division position. Incidentally, if not extracted time T _a in step S118, the time T _a is processed as if it is determined that less than the first time threshold T _t1 are performed.

In the determination at step S120, if the time T _a is the first time threshold T _t1 or more, the control unit 12 determines in the region before the division position a round steel bar S has passed one, the sum of the number 1 is added to the number (S122). For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 13, since the time _Ta is _{equal to} or greater than the first time threshold value T _t1, it is determined that one round steel bar S has passed before the division position. On the other hand, if the time T _a is determined at step S120 is the first time less than the threshold value T _t1, in the region before the division position is determined round bar steel S has not passed, the region before the division position The round bar steel S is not counted in For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 14, since the time T _a is less than the first time threshold T _t1, round bar steel S is judged not yet passed.

If the time T _a is determined at step S120 is the first time less than the threshold value T _t1, or after step S122, the control unit 12, of the two divided areas treated, the area later than the dividing position, A time T _b which is a region where the thickness d is _{equal to} or greater than the second thickness threshold value d _t2 is extracted (S124). For example, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, as the time _{T b,} the time period from time _{T 9} to time _{T 10,} and from the time _{T 13} until the _{T 14} are extracted, respectively. Here, the second thickness threshold d _t2 is a value larger than the diameter of the round bar steel S, and is a length (mm) that is approximately 120% of the diameter of the round bar steel S.

Then, the control unit 12, the extracted time _{T b} to determine whether the second time threshold _{T t2} or more (S126). The second time threshold value T _t2 is appropriately set based on the balance between the diameter and conveying speed of the round steel bar S and the first time threshold value T _t1 . For example, the second time threshold value T _t2 may be set so as to satisfy the following expression (3). Here, β is a coefficient set in consideration of the second thickness threshold value _dt2 .
T _t2 ≧ β × D / V (3)

In the determination at step S126, if the time T _b is the second time threshold T _t2 above, the control unit 12 determines in the region subsequent to the dividing position a round steel bar S has passed two, the sum of the number Add 2 to the number (S128). On the other hand, in the determination at step S126, if the time T _b is the second time less than the threshold T _t2, the control unit 12 determines that the round steel bar S has passed one in the region after the dividing position, the number 1 is added to the total number (S130). For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 13, time T _b is shorter than the second time threshold T _t2, round bar steel S is judged to have passed one in the region subsequent to the dividing position. In the example shown in FIG. 13, since one round bar S has already been counted in the region before the dividing position, a total of two round bars S are counted from the entire profile in FIG. Furthermore, also, in the example illustrated in FIG. 14, time T _b is longer than the second time threshold T _t2, round bar steel S is judged to have passed two in the region subsequent to the dividing position. In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, since the round steel bars S are not counted in the region before the division position, a total of two round steel bars S are counted from the entire profile in FIG. 14.

After steps S114, S128, and S130, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the total number of round steel bars S is equal to or greater than the target number (S132).
If it is determined in step S132 that the total number is less than the target number, the processes in and after step S104 are repeated, and the counting operation is performed until the total number exceeds the target number. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S132 that the total number is equal to or greater than the target number, the control unit 12 stops the conveying operation of the conveying unit 10 (S134), and the number counting operation of the round bar S is completed.

<Modification>
As described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should not be understood that the descriptions and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. . From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
For example, in the above embodiment, the round bar counted by the number counting device 1 is round bar steel, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, as long as the outer shape of the round bar is a cylindrical shape, the round bar may be made of another material such as another metal or resin, or may be cylindrical.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the conveyance part 10 conveyed the round steel bar S with the inclination upward with respect to a horizontal surface, this invention is not limited to this example. For example, the transport unit 10 may transport the round steel bar S in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the round steel bar S and parallel to the horizontal plane. In addition, when the conveyance direction of the round bar steel S has an inclination as described above, it is possible to make it difficult to transport a plurality of round bar steels S in contact with each other.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the direction where distance meter 11a, 11b opposes was the direction with the inclination with respect to the perpendicular direction, this invention is not limited to this example. For example, the direction in which the distance meters 11a and 11b face each other may be the vertical direction. In addition, by providing the distance meters 11a and 11b side by side in a direction having an inclination with respect to the vertical direction and providing the distance meter 11a on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit 10, the conveyance direction of the round steel bar S has an inclination in the horizontal plane. In some cases, the round steel bars S conveyed in contact with each other are easily detected.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the distance meters 11a and 11b measure the distances L ₁ and L ₂ continuously at regular intervals, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the distance meters 11a and 11b may measure the distances L ₁ and L ₂ continuously for every fixed transport distance (drive distance of the transport unit 10). At this time, the conveyance speed is not necessarily performed at a constant speed. Moreover, the control part 12 creates the profile of the thickness d with respect to the conveyance distance of the round steel bar S plotted with the conveyance distance on the horizontal axis, and the thickness d on the vertical axis, and is the same as that of the said embodiment based on the obtained profile. Alternatively, the number of round steel bars S may be counted. At this time, in step S110, a portion where the change amount of the thickness d with respect to the transport distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount is determined as a sudden change portion. Further, in steps S112, S118, and S124, as the lengths of the regions corresponding to the profile times T _a and T _b , the thickness d is equal to or greater than the first and second thickness threshold values d _t1 and d _t2 . distance _L a, _{L b} is used. Further, similarly to the first and second time threshold values T _t1 and T _t2 , the same determination as in steps S120 and S126 is performed for the distances L _a and L _b , respectively.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second thickness threshold values d _t1 and d _t2 are 80% and 120%, but the measurement accuracy of the distance meters 11a and 11b and the measurement conditions of the distances L ₁ and L ₂ Other values may be used accordingly.
Furthermore, in the said embodiment, when creating the profile of the round steel bar S in step S106, it was said that a moving average process was performed, However, This invention is not limited to this example. For example, depending on the accuracy of the measurement results of the distances L ₁ and L ₂ , the moving average process may not be performed. Further, if the influence of the high frequency component can be removed, the averaging may be performed using a method other than the above moving average processing method.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the total number of the round steel bars S is equal to or greater than the target number in step S134, the control unit 12 stops the transport operation of the transport unit 10, but the present invention It is not limited to such an example. For example, in step S134, when the total number of the round bars S exceeds the target number, the control unit 12 determines that the total number of the round bars S exceeds the target number as an abnormality in addition to the above operation. Alternatively, a signal indicating abnormality may be transmitted to the bundling device 4. When the binding device 4 acquires a signal indicating an abnormality from the control unit 12, the binding device 4 may stop the binding operation of the conveyed round steel bars S and notify the operator of the abnormality.

<Effect of embodiment>
(1) The round bar number counting device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a transport unit 10 that transports a round bar such as a round steel bar S in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the round bar extends, and a transport unit. The two distance meters 11a and 11b that measure the distance to the passing round bar and the distance meters 11a and 11b from the measurement results of the two distance meters 11a and 11b. And a control unit 12 that calculates the thickness d of the round bar passing between the distance meters 11a and 11b and counts the number of round bars to be conveyed based on the calculated thickness d.

  Here, in the case of a counting method using a light projecting / receiving sensor, for example, as shown in FIG. 15A, the round bar steel S transported along the transport path 71 is counted using a light projector 72 and a light receiver 73. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15B, the relationship between the amount of light received by the light receiver 73 and the measurement position is obtained, and the number of round bars S is counted from the relationship between on / off of light reception and the measurement position. However, when the round steel bars S conveyed in contact with each other as shown in FIG. 15 (A) are transported in contact with each other, as shown in FIG. Since light cannot be received, it is difficult in principle to count the round steel bars S one by one.

Further, for example, in the case of a counting method using one distance meter as in Patent Document 1, a normal surface profile can be obtained when a round steel bar is bent and overlapped, or when the bending is large. Since the differential value becomes unstable, the number of round steel bars may not be counted with high accuracy. Furthermore, in the counting method using one distance meter, as shown in FIG. 16A, when the round bar steel S conveyed in the state of contacting the conveyance path 71 is counted by the distance meter 74, the distance meter 74 The original waveform obtained from the measurement result is as shown in FIG. At this time, the change in the original waveform becomes small at the measurement time _Tc where the round steel bars S are in contact with each other. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 16C, the differential value obtained by differentiating the value of the original waveform with the measured value becomes small. In the counting method as in Patent Document 1, the number is counted based on whether or not the differential value exceeds the threshold value. However, when the change is small as shown in FIG. 16C, the round steel bar S is accurately counted. There were times when it was not. In particular, when the round steel bar S is bent or bent, there is a high possibility that it will not be counted correctly at the contact location when the round bar steel S is not in a normal shape.
On the other hand, according to the above configuration, by measuring the thickness with the two distance meters 11a and 11b, for example, when two round steel bars S are in contact with each other as shown in FIG. 11 can be detected in a state where the two round steel bars S are separated as shown in FIG. 11, the number of round bars can be counted with high accuracy.

(2) The control unit 12 creates a profile of the thickness d with respect to the measurement time of the distance meters 11a and 11b or the transport distance of the round bar from the calculated thickness d, and determines whether or not there is a sudden change point in the profile, When there is a sudden change in the profile, the profile is divided, and in the profile, the region T _{a where} the thickness d is not less than the first thickness threshold value d _t1 smaller than the diameter of the round bar, and the thickness d is greater than the diameter. large second thickness threshold d _t2 or more and a region T _b depending on the length counts the number of round bar, if there is no sudden change points in profile, the thickness d of the profile is the first thickness threshold value or counting the number of round bars according to the length of the region T _a as the d _t1 or more. According to the above-described configuration, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, even when the two round steel bars S pass in the direction in which the distance meters 11a and 11b face each other, the round steel bars S are passed. Can be accurately counted.

(3) The control unit 12 controls the transport operation of the round bars of the transport unit 10 and stops the transport operation when the total number of round bars counted exceeds a target. According to the said structure, a round bar can be counted automatically in real time. Further, according to the above configuration including the configurations of (1) and (2), for example, it is not necessary to perform complicated processing such as differential processing of measured values as in Patent Document 1, so that the time required for counting is inexpensive. It can be shortened by the device configuration.
(4) The transport unit 10 transports the round bar perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and with an inclination with respect to the horizontal plane, and the two distance meters 11a and 11b are provided side by side with an inclination with respect to the vertical direction. It is done. According to the said structure, it becomes difficult for the round bars in conveyance to contact.

  (5) In the method of counting the number of round bars according to the embodiment of the present invention, the round bars are transported in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (S102), and the two round bars are provided across the transport path of the round bars to be transported. Using the distance meters 11a and 11b, the distances to the round bars passing between the distance meters 11a and 11b are respectively measured (S104). From the measurement results of the distance meters 11a and 11b, the distance between the two distance meters 11a and 11b is measured. The thickness of the passing round bar is calculated (S106), and the number of round bars to be conveyed is counted based on the calculated thickness d (S110 to S130). According to the said structure, the effect similar to the structure of said (1) can be acquired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Counting apparatus 10: Conveyance part 10a: 1st conveyance part 10b: 2nd conveyance part 100a, 100b: Chain 101a, 101b: Pulley 102a, 102b: Claw part 11a: 1st distance meter 11b: 2nd Distance meter 12: control unit 13: storage unit 2: host computer 3: transport device 4: bundling device 5: rolling device 6: inspection device 71: transport path 72: projector 73: light receiver 74: distance meter S, S1 S5: round bar steel L: distance _{L 1,} L _2: measurement distance d: thickness

Claims (4)

A transport unit for transporting the round bar in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the round bar extends;
Two distance meters that are provided across the transport path of the round bar transported by the transport unit and measure the distance to the passing round bar,
A controller that calculates the thickness of the round bar passing between the two distance meters from the measurement result of the distance meter, and counts the number of the round bars to be transported based on the calculated thickness; I have a,
The controller is
From the calculated thickness, create a profile of the thickness with respect to the measuring time of the distance meter or the transport distance of the round bar,
Determine if there is a sudden change in the profile,
If there is a sudden change in the profile, the profile is divided, and the region of the profile where the thickness is equal to or greater than a first thickness threshold smaller than the diameter of the round bar, and the thickness is the diameter. Counting the number of the round bars according to the length of the region that is greater than or equal to the larger second thickness threshold,
When there is no sudden change in the profile, the number of the round bars is counted according to the length of a region of the profile where the thickness is equal to or greater than the first thickness threshold . Number counting device. The control unit controls the transfer operation of the round bar of the transfer unit, and stops the transfer operation when the total number of counted round bars exceeds a target. The round bar number counting device according to claim 1 . The transport unit transports the round bar perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,
The rangefinder two is the number counting device round bar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is arranged side by side with an inclination relative to the vertical direction. Transport the round bar in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the round bar extends,
Using two distance meters provided across the transport path of the round bar to be transported, each measuring the distance to the round bar passing between the distance meters,
Calculate the thickness of the round bar passing between the two distance meters from the measurement result of the distance meter, and based on the calculated thickness, count the number of the round bar to be conveyed ,
When counting the number of the round bars,
From the calculated thickness, create a profile of the thickness with respect to the measuring time of the distance meter or the transport distance of the round bar,
Determine if there is a sudden change in the profile,
If there is a sudden change in the profile, the profile is divided, and the region of the profile where the thickness is equal to or greater than a first thickness threshold smaller than the diameter of the round bar, and the thickness is the diameter. Counting the number of the round bars according to the length of the region that is greater than or equal to the larger second thickness threshold,
When there is no sudden change in the profile, the number of the round bars is counted according to the length of a region of the profile where the thickness is equal to or greater than the first thickness threshold . Number counting method.

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