JPH06248271A - Center mark sensor apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a center mark sensor capable of preventing the intrusion of an obstacle in a visual field of a photographing means and keeping clean a center mark target. CONSTITUTION:A photographing means (2) is loaded on a moving apparatus used in a coke oven and photographs a center mark target (12) located near a rail in the coke oven and the mark (14) attached on the center mark target (12) is distinguished. When the moving apparatus starts to move, air blowing means (20 and 28) quickly encloses a visual field of the photographing means (2) predetermined so as to cover the center mark target (12) by air curtain and an air blowing means (30) keeps the simply enclosed visual field at positive pressure with its air blow.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention captures an image of a target core target provided near the orbit of a coke oven from the mobile machine in order to stop the mobile machine used in a coke oven at a fixed position. The present invention relates to a target core sensor device for identifying a mark added to a mark.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the coke treatment process in a coke oven,
A large number of mobile devices such as charging cars, extruders, guide cars, and fire trains are used. In recent years, unmanned and automated work for these mobile devices has been increasing. For this unmanned and automated operation, it is required to automatically drive a mobile device with a weight of around 300 tons and to stop it at a fixed position with high accuracy. Among these requirements, there is a target core sensor device that realizes the fixed position stop control.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a conventional target core sensor device of this type. This target core sensor device 1
Is a CCD camera 2 as an image pickup means, and a housing 4 which is attached to the CCD camera 2 and whose side surface facing an object is open.
The camera hood 6 attached to the open side edge of the housing 4 is mounted on the above-mentioned mobile device together with an image data processing device (not shown) coupled to the CCD camera 2.

Here, the camera hood 6 forms a horizontally long field of view in which the vertical direction is constant and the horizontal direction is divergent toward the left and right, and the movement path of the mobile unit reciprocating in the direction indicated by the arrow A can be widely seen. It is like this.

On the other hand, a target core target 12 is attached to the front part of a processing chamber such as a dry distillation chamber which is connected to the left and right of the coal tower. The target core target 12 has two types of slits having different widths arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and a bar code 14 for expressing information by changing the combination thereof. In addition, a fluorescent lamp 16 is horizontally installed behind the target core target 12, so that the target core target 12 is
The barcode 14 can be imaged.

Therefore, the target core sensor device 1 mounted on a mobile device (not shown) captures an image of the target core target 12 while the mobile device is running, processes the image data, and outputs a predetermined bar code 14 to the target core target 12. The stop command is output while the image is captured at a predetermined position. As a result, a heavy mobile device can be stopped at a fixed position with high accuracy.

[0007]

The coke processing environment in which the target core target 12 is detected by the above-described target core sensor device 1 is extremely bad. For example, rain, snow, dust,
The presence of smoke, water vapor, etc. interferes with the imaging of the barcode 14 by the CCD camera 2.

Among the obstacles described above, rain, snow, dust, etc. can be protected to some extent by the camera hood 6, but smoke,
Since the water vapor may fill the inside of the camera hood 6, the water vapor cannot be protected and the detection failure may occur.

Further, if dust or the like adheres to the target core target along with rain and snow, it becomes difficult to identify the bar code 14, and therefore the adhered matter must be removed manually. However, since the coke oven equipment has a high operating rate, there is a problem that it is difficult to clean the target core target 12.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to prevent an obstacle from entering the visual field space of the image pickup means and to keep the target core target clean. The purpose is to obtain the device.

[0011]

The present invention includes an imaging means mounted on a mobile unit used in a coke oven, and the imaging means captures an image of a target core target provided near the orbit of the coke oven. In a target core sensor device for identifying a mark added to a target core target, an air ejecting means for simply sealing a visual field space of an imaging means, which is set so that the target core target is embedded when the mobile unit moves, by an air curtain. And an air blowing means for blowing air so as to keep the simply sealed visual field space at a positive pressure.

In this case, the image pickup means has a hood, and the air discharge means has a first air discharge means that forms a cylindrical air curtain forward from the peripheral edge of the hood, and a flat plate that crosses the cylindrical air curtain. It is preferable to provide a second air ejecting unit that forms a uniform air curtain.

The air blowing means preferably includes a pipe arranged to blow air into the interior through the hood.

[0014]

In the present invention, since the visual field space of the image pickup means is simply sealed by the air curtain and the visual field space is kept at a positive pressure, it is possible to prevent an obstacle from entering the visual field space. When the mobile unit moves, the target core target is embedded in this visual field space, so dust and snow, etc. adhering to the target core target can be blown away by pressure air when entering and exiting this visual field space. Therefore, the target core target can always be kept clean.

Here, a hood is attached to the image pickup means, an air curtain is formed forward from the peripheral portion of the hood, and the air curtain is traversed by a flat air curtain, whereby a simple sealing is achieved. A visual field space can be easily created.

Further, by sending air through the hood into the inside of the hood, it is possible to surely increase the positive pressure in the simply sealed visual field space.

[0017]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same elements. Then, it is attached so as to surround the outer periphery of the front edge of the camera hood 6, and the pipe
Air discharge pipe for discharging pressure air supplied through 18
20 and a pipe 26 mechanically connected to the air discharge pipe 20.
The other point is that another air discharge pipe 28 for discharging the pressure air supplied through the pipe and a pair of pipes 30 as air blowing means for blowing the pressure air into the inside of the camera hood 6 from inside are newly provided. The configuration is different from that in FIG.

Here, the air discharge pipe 20 is provided with a large number of air discharge ports 24 for discharging the air on the extension of the front end portion of the camera hood 6 all around the camera hood 6. Therefore, by supplying the pressurized air from the pipe 18, the cylindrical air curtain 42 as shown in FIG. 2 can be formed in front of the camera hood 6.

On the other hand, the other air discharge pipe 28 is a CCD
It is located behind the target core target 12 as viewed from the camera 2 and above the visual field of the CCD camera 2. The air discharge pipe 28 is slightly longer than the lateral expansion of the field of view of the CCD camera 2, and a large number of air discharge ports (not shown) are formed on the lower surface thereof over the entire length. Therefore, by supplying pressurized air from the pipe 26, a flat air curtain 44 can be formed behind the target core target 12 as shown in FIG.

As described above, by forming the tubular air curtain 42 by the air discharge pipe 20 and the flat air curtain 4 by the air discharge pipe 28, respectively, the camera hood 6 and the simply sealed visual field space 40 are formed. can get.

On the other hand, by supplying the pressurized air from the pipes 30 provided on both sides of the camera hood 6, it is possible to keep the visual field space 40 simply sealed by the air curtain at a positive pressure. Incidentally, it is said that it is desirable to raise the pressure in the electric equipment room by 3 to 5 mmH ₂ O above the atmospheric pressure, and in this embodiment as well, a positive pressure similar to this is applied.

As a result, even if obstacles such as rain, snow, dust, smoke, and water vapor try to enter the visual field space, they are obstructed by the tubular air curtain 42 and the flat air curtain 44, and the interior is positively pressurized. By doing so, the target core sensor 12 can be prevented from being defectively detected by pushing it outward.

Further, the air discharge pipe 28 is connected to the target core target 12
Since it is located closer to the fluorescent lamp 16 than the target core target 12, the target core target 12 crosses the cylindrical air curtain 42 to enter and exit the simply sealed field of view space when moving the mobile unit, so that fine particles adhere to the target core target 12. However, it is blown away at this time.

In the above embodiment, the air discharge pipes 20, 28
Although a large number of air discharge ports are provided in each of the above, similar results can be obtained by forming a narrow slit instead.

Further, in the above embodiment, the camera hood 6,
The tubular air curtain 42 and the flat air curtain 44 form the field space 40 that is simply sealed. However, when the camera hood 6 is not used, the open side surface of the housing 4 on which the CCD camera 2 is mounted is opened. An air discharge tube that forms a cylindrical air curtain may be provided at the edge, and the point is that the field of view of the image pickup means, which is set so that the target core target is embedded when the mobile unit moves, is defined by the air curtain. If the air discharge means for simply sealing and the air blowing means for blowing air so as to keep the visual field space at a positive pressure are provided, the same result as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an obstacle from invading the visual field space of the image pickup means, thereby preventing the detection failure of the target core target. Since the target core target can be prevented and the target core target can be kept clean, it is not necessary to clean the target core target.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining the shape of an air curtain formed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional target core sensor device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 CCD camera 6 Camera hood 10 Target core sensor device 12 Target core target 14 Bar code 16 Fluorescent lamp 18, 26, 30 Pipe 20, 28 Air discharge pipe 40 Field of view space 42, 44 Air curtain

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Takahisa Yamaguchi Inventor Takahisa Yamaguchi 66-2 Horikawa-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Masanori Matsumoto 1-chome Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. 1 in Toshiba Headquarters Office

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mark attached to a target core target including image pickup means mounted on a mobile device used in a coke oven, the target core target provided near the orbit of the coke oven is photographed by the image pickup means. In the target core sensor device for identifying the target core sensor device, when the mobile unit moves, air ejecting means for simply sealing the visual field space of the imaging means, which is set so that the target core target is embedded, by an air curtain; A target core sensor device comprising: an air blowing unit that blows air so as to maintain the visual field space at a positive pressure. 2. The image pickup means has a hood, and the air discharge means includes a first air discharge means forming a cylindrical air curtain forward from a peripheral portion of the hood, and the cylindrical air curtain. A second air discharge means for forming a flat plate-shaped air curtain that traverses is provided.
Target core sensor device as described. 3. The target core sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the air blowing means includes a pipe installed so as to blow air into the inside through the hood.