JPH0755659Y2 - Remaining amount sensor - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of substances such as liquid and powder, for example, a remaining amount sensor used for detecting the remaining amount of coffee in a vending machine for coffee.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among the conventional remaining amount sensors of this type, for example, those that detect the remaining amount of liquid, there are many methods that detect the displacement of the liquid inside the liquid tank. Was troublesome. In addition, the structure of the remaining amount sensor is complicated and expensive.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a remaining amount sensor which can be easily attached to the outside of a container for containing a substance, has a simple structure and is inexpensive.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a remaining amount sensor of the present invention comprises a base 1 and a balance plate 2 supported on the base 1 so that both ends thereof move up and down alternately. A load receiving plate 3 attached to one end of the balance plate 2, a limit switch 4 attached to the lower surface of the other end of the balance plate 2 so that the lower end moves downward, and the balance plate 2 And a weight 5 movably attached to the.

[0005]

Function: The bottom of the container containing the liquid or the like is placed on the load receiving plate 3. As the liquid or the like is discharged from the container and the weight of the container decreases, the balance plate 2 on the side where the load receiving plate 3 is attached is attached.
Of one side of the balance plate 2 on the opposite side is lowered, and the other end of the balance plate 2 on the side on which the limit switch 4 on the opposite side is attached is lowered. Detect the remaining amount.

[0006]

Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the base 1 has a mounting plate portion 7 having mounting holes 6 and 6 ', and side wall portions 8 and 8'which are vertically bent upward at both lateral ends thereof. A shaft 9 is installed between the side wall portions 8 and 8'on both sides thereof. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the balance plate 2 has a top plate portion 11 in which a long and narrow through hole 10 in the front-rear direction is formed at a substantially central portion thereof, and a side wall portion 12 vertically bent downward at both lateral ends thereof. 12 ', and a shaft 13 is installed between the side wall portions 12 and 12' on both sides at the front end thereof. The balance plate 2 is placed on the base 1 so that the side wall portions 12 and 12 'thereof overlap the outer surface sides of the side wall portions 8 and 8'of the base 1, and the front ends of the side wall portions 12 and 12' are covered. Shaft 9 attached to the base 1 at a position near the part
Are pivoted on both ends. Therefore, the front end and the rear end of the balance plate 2 are alternately moved up and down. next,
The load receiving plate 3 has a flat top surface 1 as shown in FIG.
4 and side wall portions 15 and 15 'vertically bent downward at both ends in the lateral direction, and the side wall portions 15 and 15' are on the outer surface side of the side wall portions 12 and 12 'of the balance plate 2. The balance plate 2 is covered so as to overlap with each other, and the rear end portions of the side walls 15 and 15 ′ thereof are pivotally attached to both ends of a shaft 13 attached to the balance plate 2. Next, the limit switch 4 is fixed to the inner surface side of the side wall portion 12 at the rear end portion of the balance plate 2 as shown in FIG. Next, the weight 5
Is a screw hole 1 that opens vertically in the approximate center as shown in FIG.
6, a through hole 10 which is provided below the top plate portion 11 of the balance plate 2 and is formed in the top plate portion 11 of the balance plate 2.
A screw 17 attached so as to pass through is inserted into and screwed into the screw hole 16. When this screw 17 is tightened, the weight 5
Is fixed to the balance plate 2 at that position, and when the screw 17 is loosened, the weight 5 is moved within the moving range of the screw 17 in the through hole 10.
Is movable with respect to the balance plate 2. Therefore, the center of gravity of the balance plate 2 can be moved by changing the position of the weight 5. In addition, the through hole 1 is formed on the top surface of the top plate portion 11 of the balance plate 2.
A scale plate 18 for positioning the weight 5 is attached near 0.

As shown in FIG. 3, this remaining amount sensor is arranged on a pedestal 20 on which a container 19 containing a liquid or the like is placed, and the base 1 is fixed, and as shown in FIG. The bottom of the container 19 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the container 3. When the amount of liquid or the like inside the container 19 is still sufficient, the front end of the balance plate 2 is pushed down by its weight as shown in FIG. 4, and the limit switch 4 attached to the rear end on the opposite side is in the OFF state. However, when the amount of liquid or the like in the container 19 decreases to a set value, the balance of the balance plate 2 reverses and the rear end of the balance plate lowers, and as shown in FIG. It turns on and operates. Therefore, the user can confirm the remaining amount of liquid or the like. The set value of the remaining amount of liquid or the like can be changed by moving the weight 5.

[0008]

The present invention is as described above. Instead of detecting the remaining amount by using the displacement of liquid or the like as in the prior art, the remaining amount is detected by using the change in weight. Therefore, it is not necessary to mount the container in a container for containing a substance such as a liquid, and it suffices to mount it outside the container, so that the mounting operation is extremely easy and simple. Further, the structure is not so complicated and the manufacturing is easy, so that there is an advantage that it can be provided at a low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper surface side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower surface side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an installed state.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the remaining amount is detected.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Base 2 Balance plate 3 Load receiving plate 4 Limit switch 5 Weight 6, 6'Mounting hole 7 Mounting plate part 8, 8'Side wall part 9 Shaft 10 Through hole 11 Top plate part 12, 12 '
Side wall part 13 Shaft 14 Top plate part 15, 15 'Side wall part 16 Screw hole 17 Screw 18 Scale plate 19 Container 20 Cradle

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A base 1, a balance plate 2 supported by the base 1 so that both ends thereof move up and down alternately, a load receiving plate 3 attached to one end of the balance plate 2, and a balance plate 2. A remaining amount sensor having a limit switch 4 mounted on the lower surface of the other end so that the lower end moves downward, and a weight 5 movably mounted on the balance plate 2.