JPH07267431A - Object conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an object conveying device allowing a user (maintenance man) to immediately and intuitively recognize the actual position where a conveyance abnormality occurs and having a displaying means displaying it with a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:A light emitting element 5a, or 5b, or 5c near the position where a conveyance abnormality is detected is concurrently used as the displaying means of the conveyance abnormality, and a user (maintenance man) can intuitively recognize the actual position where the conveyance abnormality occurs without almost complicating the structure of a device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an object transfer device, and more particularly to an object transfer device with high visibility of abnormal transfer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical sensor utilizing the transmission or reflection of light is widely and generally used for detecting (monitoring) the transport position and transport abnormality of an object to be transported in an object transport device.

Examples of the above-mentioned transporting device include a ticket transporting part in an automatic ticket gate, and a belt conveyor generally used for industrial purposes.

Conventionally, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) having a high luminous efficiency is generally used as a light emitting element used for an optical sensor of a carrying device.

The light emitting element used in such a conventional optical sensor is exclusively used as a light source of the sensor.

There is also known an optical sensor capable of adjusting the light amount of the light emitting element including on / off switching, which is used for reducing the power consumption of the light emitting element or preventing disturbance. ing.

A display function of automatically sensing the position of the conveyance abnormality of the conveyed object and displaying the information of the position where the conveyance abnormality occurs on a display panel provided near the operation unit or the like. Some are equipped with.

[0008]

However, in the conventional object transporting apparatus as described above, even if the object to be transported causes the transport abnormality in the transport path, the location where the transport abnormality occurs is the user or maintenance staff. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to identify.

Further, in the case of the conventional object transporting device having the display function, the position of the transporting abnormality of the transported object is automatically sensed as described above, and the display panel provided in the vicinity of the operating portion or the like. The information on the position where the conveyance abnormality occurs is displayed on the top, but as a sign for notifying the abnormality, for example, a code display that is difficult for the user to intuitively recognize, or a simulated diagram of the conveyance device Since it is a display method in which the position is displayed on the conventional display with a bright spot or the like, the display is also difficult for the user to intuitively recognize. That is, when the position where the conveyance abnormality has occurred is displayed on the display panel as described above, it is possible to immediately recognize the actual position where the conveyance abnormality has occurred by observing the position information displayed on the display panel. The problem is that it is not easy in practice.

It is also conceivable that a large number of display elements are provided at a number of points along the transport path in a finely-positioned manner and the display element closest to the location where the transport abnormality occurs is operated. Providing such a display element causes a problem that the device becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to allow a user (maintenance person) to immediately and intuitively recognize an actual position where a conveyance abnormality occurs. Another object is to realize an object transporting device that has a simple structure of display means capable of displaying it.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object carrying apparatus of the present invention is a carrying means for carrying an object to be carried along a predetermined carrying path, and a plurality of positions along the carrying path. At least a first detection means and a second arranged
A plurality of detecting means, each of which emits visible light, and is arranged to face the light emitting element with a gap through which the transported object can pass. The transported object is provided with a light receiving element that receives visible light emitted from the light emitting element when the transported object does not pass and the visible light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by the transported object when the transported object passes. A plurality of detection means for detecting the passage of each of the objects at each position, and the transported object is at least between the first sensing means and the second sensing means of the sensing means. The passing time from the time when the first detecting means is passed to the time when the second detecting means is passed is counted, and when the passing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined passing time of the conveyed object in the normal state by the conveying means. Or it does not pass through the second detection means after passing through said first detecting means,
And a control unit for causing the light emitting element of the first detection unit to blink in an emission pattern different from the emission pattern of visible light when the transported object is not passing.

A plurality of transporting means for transporting the transported object through a predetermined transporting path and a plurality of at least first detecting means and second detecting means arranged at a plurality of positions along the transporting path. And a light emitting element that emits visible light, and a light emitting element that faces the light emitting element and has a gap through which the transported object can pass. A light-receiving element that receives visible light emitted from a light-emitting element and blocks visible light emitted from the light-emitting element when the object to be conveyed passes through the object to be conveyed, and allows passage of the object to be conveyed at each position. The plurality of detection means for detecting, and the transported object passes through the first detection means at least between the first detection means and the second detection means of the transported object. Time point From the first detecting means to the second detecting means, and when the passing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined passing time in a normal state of the transported object by the transporting means, or when the first detecting means is operated. If the second detection means is not passed after passing, the light emitting element of the first detection means is caused to blink in a firing pattern different from the firing pattern of visible light when the transported object is not passed. In addition, the control means for stopping the transfer means to stop the transfer of the transferred object by the transfer means.

As the above light emitting element, for example, a light emitting diode that emits light in the visible light region, an incandescent lamp such as a small light bulb, or the like can be preferably used.

The light receiving element may be, for example, Cd.
Cd-Se sensor using -Se, or a-S
An element using a photoelectric effect or an electric field effect such as an i sensor or a CCD can be preferably used.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the light emitting element is used as the light emitting means for detecting the passage of the transported object in the detecting means using the light emitting element, and the detecting means having the light emitting element is provided. When a conveyance abnormality occurs due to a conveyed object being clogged during the conveyance process after that and before the portion where the next detection unit is provided, what is called normal light emission of the light emitting element? It is also used as a display means for emitting light in different patterns and directly displaying the position where the conveyance abnormality occurs. The control means controls the operation of causing the light emitting element to emit light to serve also as the display means.

As described above, according to the present invention, the structure of the apparatus is hardly complicated by using the light emitting element near the place where the conveyance abnormality is detected as the display means for the conveyance abnormality. In addition, the user (maintenance person) can intuitively recognize the actual position where the conveyance abnormality occurs.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the object transporting device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the object transporting device according to the present invention will be described below as an example in which the object transporting device is specifically applied to a magnetic card reading device such as an automatic ticket gate.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the structure of the object conveying device portion in the magnetic card reader of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure centering on the conveying portion.

This magnetic card reader is used for carrying an object 1 to be conveyed.
And a first detection unit 4a, a second detection unit 4b, and a third detection unit arranged at a plurality of positions along the transport route 2 Part 4c
Of the light-emitting elements 5a, b, c that emit visible light and the light-emitting elements 5a, b, c that are arranged to face the light-emitting elements 5a, b, c with a gap through which the transported object 1 can pass. The visible light emitted from the light emitting elements 5a, b, c is received when the conveyed object 1 is not passing, and the visible light emitted from the light emitting elements 5a, b, c is passed when the conveyed object 1 is passed.
First to third detectors provided with light receiving elements 6a, 6b, 6c that are shielded by
Detection units 4a, b and c, between the first detection unit 4a and the second detection unit 4b among the detection units 4a, b and c, and between the second detection unit 4b and the third detection unit 4b. With respect to the section 4c, for example, the passing time from the time when the transported object passes the first detection unit 4a to the time when the transported object passes the second detection unit 4b is counted. The first detection is performed when a predetermined passage time of the conveyed object 1 is longer than a normal time or when the conveyed object 1 does not pass the second detection unit 4b after passing the first detection unit 4a. The light emitting element 5a of the section 4a is made to blink in a firing pattern different from the visible light emission pattern when the conveyed object 1 is not passing, and the conveying section 3 is stopped to convey the conveyed object 1 by the conveying section 3. Control unit 7 for stopping the light emission, and the luminescent element controlled by the control unit 7. 5a, b, c changing the light emission state of the light emitting element, and the light emitting element drive switching unit 8 controls the light emitting elements 5a, b, c as light emitting elements or display elements to change the light emitting pattern. It is equipped with driving.

In this embodiment, the control unit 7 has a control CPU 701 and a control operation program storage unit 70.
2 and a timer 703 for outputting a clock pulse or the like serving as a reference of the operation cycle of each part including the control CPU 701 are arranged in the main part thereof.

As the light emitting elements 5a, 5b, and 5c, LEDs having high light emitting efficiency are used, and the light receiving elements 6a and 6a,
Phototransistors are used as b and c. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and a light emitting element or a light source capable of emitting visible light such as a glow lamp or a small incandescent lamp may be used as the light emitting element.

When the magnetic card, that is, the transported object 1 passes through the first detection unit 4a arranged near the slot of the magnetic card, the first detection unit 4a detects the passage.

Then, the control CPU 701 in the control unit 7
Detects it and drives the transport unit 3 to move the transported object 1
From the position of the first detection unit 4a to the third position along the transport path 2.
The sheet is conveyed to the position of the detection section 4c. And the magnetic head 3
When the transported object 1 passes through 01, the magnetic head 30
1 reads information recorded on the transported object 1. On the other hand, the above-mentioned control CPU 701 monitors the transport state of the transported object 1 on the transport path 2, so as to monitor the transport state of the transported object 1, the first detection units 4a to 4a.
A timer 703 measures the passing time of the transported object 1 in each of the detection units in order of the second detection unit 4b to the third detection unit 4c.
Calculated based on the output of the above, the conveyance between the adjacent detection units, that is, between the first detection unit 4a and the second detection unit 4b, and between the second detection unit 4b and the third detection unit 4c. Determine the time. At this time, the control CPU 701 compares the normal transport time tolerance value preset based on the transport time in the normal transport operation of the transport unit 3 and stored in the control operation program storage unit with the calculated transit time. However, if the passage time is longer, it is determined that the conveyance is abnormal. When the control CPU 701 determines that the conveyance is abnormal, the conveyance operation of the conveyance unit 3 is stopped, and the light emitting element of the detection unit on the source side in the conveyance path direction is set to one more than the detection unit at the point where the passage time is determined to be long. It blinks to display that a conveyance error has occurred in that part, and alerts the user (or mechanic). For example, when the conveyance time becomes long, such as when the conveyed object 1 is clogged between the first detection unit 4a and the second detection unit 4b, the second detection unit 4b before the second detection unit 4b (source The light emitting element 5a of the first detection unit 4a (on the side) blinks. In the blinking operation of the light emitting element 5a and the like of the first detection unit 4a, the light emitting element drive switching unit 8 is controlled by the control CPU 701 to control the light emitting element driving unit 9 that drives the light emitting element 5a and the like. By doing so, the driving can be switched and performed.

In this way, the object transporting apparatus according to the present invention switches the light emitting element near the portion where the transport abnormality occurs from the light emitting operation as the optical sensor during the normal transport operation to the different blinking operation. It is possible to display the conveyance abnormality in a simple and intuitive way. As a result, the user (maintenance person) can very easily determine the place where the conveyance abnormality has occurred and deal with it easily and quickly.

[0026]

As clearly described in the detailed description above, according to the present invention, the user (maintenance person) can immediately and intuitively recognize the actual position where the conveyance abnormality occurs, and It is possible to provide an object transporting device having a simple structure of display means for displaying it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a structure of an object carrying device in a magnetic card reading device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure centering on a carrying section of an object carrying device in the magnetic card reading device of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Object to be transported 2 ... Transport path 3 ... Transport section 4a ... First detection section 4b ... Second detection section 4c ... Third detection section 5a ... First light emitting element 5b ... Second light emitting element 5c Third light emitting element 6a First light receiving element 6b Second light receiving element 6c Third light receiving element 7 Control unit 8 Light emitting element drive switching Section 9 ...... Light emitting element drive section 701 ...... Control CPU 702 ...... Control operation program storage section 703 ...... Timer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of transporting means for transporting an object to be transported along a predetermined transporting path, and a plurality of at least first detecting means and second detecting means arranged at a plurality of positions along the transporting path. And a light emitting element which emits visible light in a predetermined emission pattern, and the object to be conveyed, which is arranged to face the light emitting element with a gap through which the object to be conveyed can pass. When the non-passage of the light-emitting element is received, the light-receiving element receives the visible light emitted from the light-emitting element and the visible light emitted from the light-emitting element is blocked by the transported object when passing through the transported object. Between the plurality of detection means for detecting each of the positions and at least the first detection means and the second detection means of the detection means,
When the passing time from the time when the passing means passes through the second detecting means to the time when the passing time passes the second detecting means, and the passing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined passing time when the transported object is normal by the transport means, or When the second detection unit is not passed after passing the first detection unit, the light emitting element of the first detection unit is caused to emit light in a firing pattern different from the firing pattern of the visible light. An object transporting device comprising: 2. A plurality of transporting means for transporting an object to be transported along a predetermined transporting path, and a plurality of at least first detecting means and second detecting means arranged at a plurality of positions along the transporting path. And a light emitting element which emits visible light in a predetermined emission pattern, and the object to be conveyed, which is arranged to face the light emitting element with a gap through which the object to be conveyed can pass. When the non-passage of the light-emitting element is received, the light-receiving element receives the visible light emitted from the light-emitting element and the visible light emitted from the light-emitting element is blocked by the transported object when passing through the transported object. Between the plurality of detection means for detecting each of the positions and at least the first detection means and the second detection means of the detection means,
When the passing time from the time when the passing means passes through the second detecting means to the time when the passing time passes the second detecting means, and the passing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined passing time when the transported object is normal by the transport means, or When the second detection means is not passed after passing the first detection means, the light emitting element of the first detection means is caused to blink in a firing pattern different from the visible light emission pattern. Controlling means for stopping the carrying means to stop the carrying of the object to be carried by the carrying means; light emitting element drive switching means for changing the light emitting state of the light emitting element under the control of the controlling means; And a light emitting element driving section controlled by the element drive switching section to drive the light emitting element as a light emitting element or as a display element by changing a light emitting pattern. That the object conveying device.