JPH0540028A - Instrument for measuring width or thickness - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately measure the width, thickness, etc., of an object which cannot be measured by directly putting a scale on the object by using a measuring means for short-circuiting/separation measurement as a non-contact type distance measuring means. CONSTITUTION:A non-contact type distance measuring means measures distances Y1 and Y2 by emitting laser beams upon a slab 23 from laser emitting heads 21 and 22. When the distance between the origins P1 and P2 of the heads 21 and 22, distances from the origins P1 and P2 to the front ends of the heads 21 and 22, and width of the slab 23 are respectively represented by L, X1 and X2, and W, the width of the slab 23 can be found from an equation W=L-(X1+ X2+Y1+Y2). Since a short-distance type one is used as the non-contact type distance measuring means and short distances are accurately measured by bringing the heads 21 and 22 nearer to the slab 23 to be measured, the width, etc., of the slab 23 can be measured with high accuracy. In addition, a carrier roller 24 can rotate, the width, etc., of slabs can be measured continuously by successively feeding the slabs.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a measuring device, and more particularly to a device for measuring the width and thickness of an object using ultrasonic waves or light (including laser light).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when measuring the distance to an object to which a ruler or the like cannot be applied, the distance from the device to the object is generally measured using ultrasonic waves or light. Therefore, when measuring the thickness or width of an object using the method, a device for measuring the distance using ultrasonic waves or light is arranged on both sides of the object to be measured, and the device from the device to the object is measured. It is possible to measure the distance and calculate from the position of the measuring device and the measurement length to measure the length or thickness of the object.

[0003]

However, in the method of measuring the distance by using the ultrasonic wave or the light, there is a measurement error in the device for measuring the distance by using the ultrasonic wave or the light. Is known to occur at a value of 0.5 to 1% of the maximum measurement length even with an accurate device. Therefore, when measuring an object with a relatively constant width or thickness, a device with a short maximum measurement length can be used for relatively accurate measurement, but an object whose width or thickness differs greatly depending on the object. When measuring width and thickness, it is necessary to prepare a device with a long maximum measurement length. Here, for example, 0.3 to 2
When measuring an object having a width of m from one side, a length measuring device having a measuring range of at least about 1.8 m is required. In this case, if the measuring error is 0.6%, the maximum measuring error is 10%. It will be 0.8 mm, and will have an error of 3.6% for a length of 0.3 m, and if the object is measured from both sides, an error of double that will occur. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, in measuring the width, thickness, etc. of an object that cannot be measured by directly applying a ruler, the value of the measurement error is reduced to make the value as accurate as possible. It is an object to provide a width or thickness measuring device that can be obtained.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a width or thickness measuring device comprising contactless distance measuring means utilizing reflection of ultrasonic waves or light on both sides of an object to be measured. An apparatus for measuring the width or thickness of the measurement object, each of which is provided, and a non-contact type distance measuring means which is provided on both sides of the measurement object and which measures the distance to the measurement object without contact, Supporting means for respectively holding the non-contact type distance measuring means, and at least one of the non-contact type distance measuring means for the measuring object according to the type of the measuring object and the type of the non-contact type distance measuring means. And a feeding device that brings the feeding device closer to a predetermined position. A width or thickness measuring device according to a second aspect is the first aspect.
In the width or thickness measuring device described in the item 1, the supporting means is provided with a reflecting plate that is provided with an advancing and retracting device and is in contact with the measurement target. A width or thickness measuring device according to a third aspect is the width or thickness measuring device according to the second aspect, wherein the reflecting plate is provided with a rotating roller that abuts against an object to be measured. ing. In the above, it is preferable that the non-contact type distance measuring means employs a distance measuring device using a laser beam having extremely high measurement accuracy at a short distance.

[0005]

In the width or thickness measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, by using the measuring means for short distance measurement as the non-contact type distance measuring means, only a short range can be measured. , The absolute error of the measurement distance is small. Therefore, the non-contact type distance measuring means is operated to move the feeding device to a set distance according to the object to be measured, and the distance to the measuring object is measured. Here, the set distance is a distance that does not come into contact with the non-contact type distance measuring means even if the measuring object moves a little or shakes due to fluctuations in the width, thickness, etc. of the measuring object, and the non-contact type. The distance measuring means has the highest measurement accuracy. Therefore, for example, when the non-contact distance measuring means is a non-contact distance measuring means using laser light, the non-contact distance measuring is performed by irradiating the measuring surface or the measuring point of the measuring object with laser light or the like. Find the distance between the means and the side wall. The width or the like of the measurement object is obtained by subtracting the distance between the non-contact type distance measuring means and the measurement object from the constant distance and the distance from the end point of the constant distance to the non-contact type distance measuring means. A distance such as a width can be calculated, and the accuracy of the distance in this case depends on the contactless distance measuring means having a short measurement length, so that a relatively accurate measurement result can be obtained.

In the width or thickness measuring device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the supporting means according to the first aspect is provided with a reflecting plate which is provided with an advancing / retreating device and which abuts against the measuring object. When the measurement surface or the measurement point of the measurement object for determining the distance such as the width of the measurement object is bad and causes a measurement error, the reflection plate is brought into contact with the side wall, and the laser beam is provided on the side opposite to the contact side. And the like to determine the distance between the measurement objects. The width and the like of the measurement object can be measured by subtracting the width length of the reflection plate from the distance between the non-contact distance measuring means and the measurement object.

In the width or thickness measuring device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the reflecting plate according to the second aspect is provided with a rotating roller that abuts against the measuring object. Even if it moves, the reflector can be brought into contact with the measurement object without any hindrance, and the width of the measurement object can be measured from the inside of the reflection plate to the surface of the rotating roller that contacts the measurement object. By adding the process of subtracting the distance, the width of the measuring object can be obtained.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a measurement explanatory view of the width or thickness measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A width or thickness measuring device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to have left and right non-contact type distance measuring means and a feeding device 11 for simultaneously moving the non-contact type distance measuring means to the left and right. It These will be described in detail below.

The feeding device 11 has a frame body 11a, a linear guide 12 having both ends joined to the inner side wall of the frame body 11a, and a linear guide 12 having a left screw portion 13 and a right screw portion 14. A screw rod 15 which is provided in parallel and penetrates both inner side walls of the frame body 11a, a bearing 16 which is fixed to opposite outer side walls of the frame body 11a and pivotally supports one end of the screw rod 15, and the screw rod. A bearing 17 that pivotally supports the other end of the screw 15, and a stepping motor 1 that is connected to the end of a screw rod 15 that penetrates the bearing 17.
8 and traveling pieces 19 and 20 which are an example of a supporting unit which is screwed into the left-hand thread portion 13 and the right-hand thread portion 14 and comes into contact with the linear guide 12.
The contactless distance measuring means is a laser emitting head 2
The laser emitting heads 2 and 1 are provided with a measuring device that is provided with the laser emitting heads 1 and 22 and emits a laser from the laser emitting heads 21 and 22 and reflects the laser on an object to be measured to measure the distance.
Reference numerals 1 and 22 are provided inside the traveling pieces 19 and 20, respectively. In addition, the slab 23, which is an example of the object to be measured, is placed on the rotating carrier roller 24 and is conveyed.

Next, a method of measuring the width of the slab 23 using the width or thickness measuring device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. It is an object to be measured conveyed along the carrier roller 24. The slab has the same center as that of the measuring device 10 for measuring the width or thickness of the slab, even if the slab has a slight left or right deflection, and the standard width or thickness of the slab 23 to be conveyed is known in advance (No. 1). The same applies to the second embodiment). In the width or thickness measuring device 10, the running pieces 19 and 20 are the stepping motor 1
When the screw 8 rotates, the screw rod 15 having the left screw portion 13 and the right screw portion 14 rotates to move in opposite directions, so that the traveling pieces 19, 20 can be simultaneously expanded or contracted with the slab 23 as the center. In addition, here, the running pieces 19 and 2 by the stepping motor 18 and the screw rod 15 are used.
The moving distance of 0 is extremely accurate, and the moving distance can be accurately measured by the control device. Therefore, first, determine the origin of the laser firing head 21, 22 at the start of the travel frame 19, 20 and P _1, P _2, respectively, P ₁
The distance between P _{2 and} P ₂ is L (constant). Next, the distances from P ₁ and P ₂ to the tips of the laser emitting heads 21 and 22 are X ₁ and X ₂ , respectively, and the respective laser emitting heads 2
Assuming that the distances between the tip ends of Nos. 1 and 22 and the side walls of the slab 23 are Y ₁ and Y ₂ , and the width of the slab 23 is W,
The width of the slab 23 is W = L− (X ₁ + X ₂ + Y ₁ +
Y ₂ ). Therefore, in measuring the width of the slab 23, the object to be measured is placed substantially in the center of the carrier roller 24, and then the stepping motor 18 is rotated to preferably the linear guides 12 on both side walls of the slab 23.
The laser emitting heads 21 and 22 provided on the traveling pieces 19 and 20 are brought close to a predetermined position by being guided by, and the distance data measured by emitting the laser light is included in one of the measuring devices (Fig. (Not shown).
The arithmetic unit that receives the data performs arithmetic processing to perform slab 23
Figure out the width of. As described above, according to this embodiment, the short distance non-contact distance measuring means is used, and the measurement slab 2 is used.
Since the laser emitting heads 21 and 22 are brought close to 3 to measure a short distance with high accuracy, the slab 23 has a small measurement error.
The width of can be accurately determined. Further, since the carrier roller 24 rotates, the slab 23 can be sequentially fed and the width and the like can be continuously measured.

A width / thickness measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a measurement explanatory view of the width or thickness measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The frame 11a, the linear guide 12, the screw rod 15 including the left-hand threaded portion 13 and the right-handed threaded portion 14, the bearings 16, 1
7, stepping motor 18, running pieces 19, 20
And laser emitting heads 21 and 22, slab 23,
Since the carrier roller 24 has the same structure as that of FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the configuration of FIG. 1 is that each of the traveling pieces 19 and 20 of the first embodiment has a measuring auxiliary device 2 attached thereto.
5, 26 are provided, and small cylinders 27 and 29 used as one of the advancing and retracting devices and measuring reflection plates 28 and 30 which are one of reflection plates are arranged in the auxiliary measuring devices 25 and 26, respectively. Alternatively, the thickness measuring device 31 is used.

The measuring method of the width or thickness measuring device 31 constructed as described above will be described below. When measuring the width and the like of the slab 23 arranged on the carrier roller 24, the small cylinder 2
By the pressing force of 7, 29, the measuring reflection plates 28, 30 come into contact with both side walls of the slab 23 to determine the width and the like of the slab 23. Specifically, as in the first embodiment, the constant distance is L,
X ₁ and X ₂ , the widths of the measurement reflection plates 28 and 30 are constant L _0, and the distances from the laser emitting heads 21 and 22 to the measurement reflection plates 28 and 30 are Y ₁ and Y ₂ , respectively. When the width (W) and the like are measured, W = L- (2L ₀ +
X ₁ + X ₂ + Y ₁ + Y ₂ ). This arithmetic processing is performed by the arithmetic device shown in the first embodiment. As described above, since the traveling auxiliary members 25, 20 are provided with the auxiliary measuring devices 25, 26, even if the both side walls to be measured of the slab 23, which is an example of the measuring object, have irregularities, the laser emitting head 21, The laser light from 22 is used for the head measurement reflection plate 2
Since the width of the slab 23 and the like are reflected by reflecting on 8, the accurate measurement can be performed.

A width or thickness measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a measuring auxiliary device of a width or thickness measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 2 is different from the configuration of FIG. 2 in that a measurement auxiliary device 32 having the same structure as the measurement auxiliary devices 25 and 26 used in the second embodiment is used, but a small cylinder 27 is used.
The rotary roller 33 is provided at the end of the. By providing the measuring auxiliary device 32 with the rotating roller 33 as described above, the width and the like of the slab 23 when the slab 23 is long and is moved by being fed by the carrier roller 24 (see FIG. 2). The rotating roller 33 contacts the slab 23, and the width of the slab 23 can be measured without any trouble. The operation of the small cylinder 27 is preferably activated only when the measurement is performed, but it is also possible to continuously bring the rotating roller 33 into contact with the slab 23. Regarding the calculation of the measurement result, the distance Z ₁ from the side wall of the slab 23 to the inside of the reflection plate 28 for measurement from L of the second embodiment, and
The width of the slab 23 is calculated by subtracting the distance Z ₂ (not shown) from the other side wall of the slab 23 to the inside of the measurement reflection plate 30.

Next, a width or thickness measuring device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a measurement explanatory view of the width or thickness measuring apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. A width or thickness measuring device 34 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a frame body 35, linear guides 36 and 37 having end portions joined to the side walls of the frame body 35, and the linear guides 36 and 37. Screw rods 38 and 39 that are provided in parallel with and penetrate the upper and lower portions of both inner side walls of the frame body 35,
The screw rods 40, 41, 42, 43 provided on the left and right of the screw rods 38, 39 are fixed to the center of the screw rod 38 provided on the upper portion of the frame 35, and the linear guide 36 is also fixed. The fixed fixing piece 44 and the screw rod 38 guided by the linear guide 36.
Running pieces 45, 46 respectively screwed to the left and right screws of the
A vertical elevating tool 48 having a laser emitting head 47 at its lower end, a center of a screw rod 39 provided at the lower portion of the frame 35, and the linear guide on each of the traveling pieces 45 and 46 and the fixed piece 44. A fixed piece 49 fixed to the center of 37, running pieces 50, 51 screwed to the left and right screws of the screw rod 39, and the running pieces 50, 5
1 and the fixed rod 49, which are provided at the upper end of each of them, do not move up and down, and the screw rod 3
The timing pulley 53 fitted in the No. 8, the timing pulley 54 fitted in the screw rod 39, the belt 55 for synchronizing the timing pulley 54 and the timing pulley 53, and the screw rod 38 used in the embodiment. It is composed of a stepping motor 18. A slab 23 is placed on the carrier roller 24.

The measuring method of the width or thickness measuring device 34 configured as described above will be described below. First, the screw rod 38 is rotated by the stepping motor 18 in order to move the upper left and right laser heads 47 and the lower left and right laser heads 52 to positions to be measured in advance. Then, the traveling pieces 45 and 46 are guided by the linear guide 36, moved a distance between the traveling pieces 45 and 46, and set at a predetermined position. Next, the same controller (not shown) is used to move the traveling pieces 45, 46 and the fixed piece 44, and the vertical lifting device 48 having the same height.
Are simultaneously moved up and down to adjust the laser emitting head 47 to a predetermined height. The height of the laser emitting head 47 is adjusted so that the distance measurement from the laser emitting head 47 has the maximum accuracy. In addition, the frame 35
The screw rod 39 provided at the lower portion rotates in synchronization with the timing pulley 53, and the traveling pieces 50 and 51 move the same distance as the traveling pieces 45 and 46 and are set at the measurement target position. Next, the carrier roller 24 emits the laser light from the laser emitting heads 47, 52 to the slab 23 arranged between the laser emitting heads 47, 52, and the measured distance data is calculated as in the first embodiment. It is transmitted to the device and the thickness of the slab 23 is determined. Specifically, the points at the tip of the laser emitting head 52 from the fixed point when the vertical lifting device 48 is at a specific position are P ₁ and P ₂ , respectively, and the distance between P _{1 and} P ₂ is L constant, P The distance X ₀ from _one point to the tip of the laser emitting head 47 is constant (changes according to the standard thickness of the object to be measured). The distances from the laser emitting heads 47 provided on the traveling piece 45, the fixed piece 44, and the traveling piece 46 to the upper surface of the slab 23 are X ₃ , X ₄ , and X ₅ , respectively.
In addition, the laser emitting heads 52 provided on the traveling piece 50, the fixed piece 49, and the traveling piece 51 are connected to the slab 2
3 Distances to the lower surface are Y ₃ , Y ₄ , and Y ₅ . Therefore, when the thicknesses W ₁ , W ₂ and W ₃ of the three parts of the slab 23 are obtained, W ₁ = L− (X ₀ + X ₃ + Y ₃ ), W ₂ = L
_{- (X 0 + X 4 +} Y 4), W 3 = L- (X 0 + X 5 + Y
₅ ) It is calculated by the formula. The distance X ₀ may be accurately obtained by a mechanical distance sensor provided on the elevator, or a pulse motor may be used for the elevator to measure the number of pulses and measure the distance. You may. Since the slab 23 is provided between the laser emitting head 47 and the laser emitting head 52 as described above,
The thickness of the slab 23 can be measured.

Although the laser emitting head 22 is used as the measuring device in the first to fourth embodiments, an ultrasonic wave may be used depending on the shape and the measuring range of the object to be measured. Although the slab 23 is used as the object to be measured, other metallic materials, synthetic resins, wood, etc. can be used for measurement. Also, the shape of the measurement object may be a rod or a plate,
The cross-section may be circular, polygonal, elliptical, semi-circular, etc. The width or thickness measuring devices of Examples 1 to 4 can measure a non-standard measurement target object by interlocking with a measuring device including the laser emitting heads 21 and 22 and a control device including a sensor or the like. is there.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, the width or thickness measuring device according to the first aspect of the invention does not directly measure the width or the like of the object to be measured, but the contactless distance measuring device. Depending on the type of measurement object that is standardized in advance,
Measures the distance to the measurement object by moving it closer to the measurement object distance and subtracts the distance to the measurement object from a certain distance to determine the width, etc., so the measured distance itself is short and highly accurate measurement with few errors Can be performed without contact. In the width or thickness measuring device according to claim 2,
Since the supporting means according to claim 1 is provided with the reflecting plate which is provided with the advancing / retreating device and is in contact with the measurement target, even if the measurement target has unevenness or a surface or a point which is difficult to measure, it is easy. Highly accurate measurement is possible. In the width or thickness measuring device according to claim 3, since the rotary plate that comes into contact with the object to be measured is provided on the reflecting plate according to claim 2, particularly when the object to be measured is a long object. By sending the long object along the rotary roller, it becomes easy to bring the reflection plate into contact with the object to be measured, and particularly when measuring the object to be continuously sent out, the measurement is performed without any trouble. It can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a measurement explanatory diagram of a width or thickness measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a measurement explanatory diagram of a width or thickness measuring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a measuring auxiliary device of a width or thickness measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a measurement explanatory diagram of a width or thickness measuring apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Width or Thickness Measuring Device 11 Feeding Device 11a Frame 12 Linear Guide 13 Left-hand Threaded Part 14 Right-handed Threaded Part 15 Screw Rod 16 Bearing 17 Bearing 18 Stepping Motor 19 Traveling Top 20 Traveling Top 21 Laser Emission Head 22 Laser Emission Head 23 Slab 24 Carrier Roller 25 Measuring Auxiliary Device 26 Measuring Auxiliary Device 27 Small Cylinder 28 Measuring Reflector 29 Small Cylinder 30 Measuring Reflector 31 Width or Thickness Measuring Device 32 Measuring Auxiliary Device 33 Rotating Roller 34 Width or Thickness Measuring Device 35 Frame 36 Linear guide 37 Linear guide 38 Screw rod 39 Screw rod 40 Screw part 41 Screw part 42 Screw part 43 Screw part 44 Fixed piece 45 Traveling piece 46 Traveling piece 47 Laser emitting head 48 Vertical movement up and down Tool 49 Fixed piece 50 Travel piece 51 Travel piece 52 Laser emitting head 53 Timing pulley 54 Timing pulley 55 Belt

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A non-contact type distance measuring means utilizing reflection of ultrasonic waves or light is provided on both sides of an object to be measured,
An apparatus for measuring the width or thickness of the measurement object, the contactless distance measuring means being provided on both sides of the measurement object to measure the distance to the measurement object without contact, and the non-contact type Supporting means for respectively holding distance measuring means, at least one of the non-contact type distance measuring means according to the type of the measuring object and the type of the non-contact type distance measuring means to a predetermined position on the measuring object A width or thickness measuring device, characterized in that it has a feeding device which approaches. 2. The width or thickness measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means is provided with a reflecting plate that is provided with an advancing / retreating device and is in contact with the object to be measured. 3. The width or thickness measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reflecting plate is provided with a rotating roller that comes into contact with the object to be measured.