JPH08293621A - Cover member for photosensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate cleaning and maintenance work capable of cleaning similarly with other parts using alcohol, etc., without a drycleaning step by using a cover member for cleaning photosensors as a detector used in a ticket vending machine and an automatic ticket checker. CONSTITUTION: Within a photosensor unit 10 wherein an upper extension part 14 and a lower extension part 16 apart with a specific interval is connected by a connector 18 while a light-emitting element 20 is so buried as to emit light in the front end side of the upper extension part 14 while a photodetector 22 is so buried as to receive light in the front end side of the lower extension part 16, a funnel shaped cover member in excellent transmissivity and solvent resistance covers the photoemitting element 20 and photodetecting element 22 from the front end 16 for protecting both parts 14 and 16. In the case of periodical cleaning times, the lens parts of both photoemitting and detecting element 20 and 22 are cleaned up similarly with other parts of the automatic ticket vending machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cover member for a photo sensor used as a detector in, for example, an automatic ticket vending machine or an automatic ticket gate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an automatic ticket vending machine or the like is used for a predetermined period, various parts in the automatic ticket vending machine, such as a magnetic head,
The thermal head, the conveyor belt, the rollers, the photo sensor, etc. are contaminated with dust, ink, and the like.

Therefore, it is necessary to carry out maintenance such as cleaning of parts such as an automatic ticket vending machine after use for a predetermined period. Normal,
This cleaning uses alcohol or the like to remove dirt. However, the light emitting diode and the phototransistor as the photosensor use a lens made of a synthetic resin material such as acrylic resin having good transparency, and the lens portion is weak against alcohol etc. The current situation is to use Karabuki.

However, cleaning with a simple wipe may make it difficult for dirt to be removed, and as a result, may cause erroneous detection by the photosensor. And, in order to completely remove the dirt only by cleaning with a dry cloth, the work requires a great deal of labor.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is intended to prevent erroneous detection due to dirt on a photo sensor used in an automatic ticket vending machine or an automatic ticket gate, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a photo sensor cover member that can be used for maintenance work using alcohol.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an upper extension by connecting an upper extension portion (14) and a lower extension portion (16) with a connecting portion (18) at a predetermined distance. A photo sensor unit in which a light emitting element (20) is embedded at the tip side of the portion (14) so as to emit light, and a light receiving element (22) is embedded at the tip side of the lower extension portion (16) so as to receive light. With respect to (10), it has good permeability, has solvent resistance, and has a box shape, and the light emitting element (20) and the light emitting element (20) from the tip end side of the upper extension (14) and the lower extension (16). A cover member for a photo sensor, which can be mounted so as to cover the light receiving element (22).

The cover member (12) is preferably made of polycarbonate, which has good permeability and is strong against alcohol and the like for cleaning, from the viewpoint of improving the cleaning work.

By providing a double-sided adhesive tape (32) on the inner surface of the bottom portion (30) of the cover member (12), when the cover member (12) is attached to the photo sensor unit (10), it is fixed. It is preferable because it can be attached and detached and other use surface (mounting surface) can be used.

[0009]

Operation: The upper extension (1) of the photo sensor unit (10)
4) and the cover member (12) is inserted and attached to the tip end side of the lower extension portion (16). Since the cover member (12) has good transparency, it does not hinder the detection of tickets and the like. Further, the cover member (12) covers the light emitting diode (20) as a light emitting element and the phototransistor (22) as a light receiving element, and the lens portion is protected.

Further, since the cover member (12) is made of a solvent resistant material that is strong against alcohol and the like, it can be cleaned with alcohol and the like like other parts such as automatic ticket vending machines and automatic ticket gates. The work is quick.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a photo sensor unit (10) used in a unit form as a ticket ticket detecting device such as an automatic ticket vending machine.
Is a cover member (12) for a photosensor according to the present invention.
The perspective view seen from the opening side of FIG.

The photosensor unit (10) has a structure in which an upper extension portion (14) having a quadrangular cross section and a lower extension portion (16) having a quadrangular cross section are integrally connected by a connecting portion (18). ing.

The upper extension (14) and the lower extension (16)
And are separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. A light emitting diode (20), which is a light emitting element, is embedded in the tip end side of the upper extension portion (14), and the tip end that is a lens portion of the light emitting diode (20) is flush with the lower surface of the upper extension portion (14). It is in a state. A phototransistor (22), which is a light receiving element, is embedded on the tip side of the lower extension portion (16), and the tip portion, which is the lens portion of the phototransistor (22), is on the upper surface of the lower extension portion (16). It is flush. The optical axis (L) is between the light emitting diode (20) and the phototransistor (22).

The connecting portion between the upper extension (14) and the connecting portion (18) and the connecting portion between the lower extension (16) and the connecting portion (18) have flanges (24, 24) extending upward and downward, respectively. 24) is provided and each flange (24, 24)
A screw hole (26, 26) for attachment is formed in the. By attaching the flanges (24, 24) to predetermined positions of the automatic ticket vending machine or the like through the screw holes (26, 26), the photo sensor unit (10) is fixedly mounted to the automatic ticket vending machine or the like.

As described above, the light from the light emitting diode (20) is received by the phototransistor (22), which is a light receiving element, so that the phototransistor (22) is normally turned on.
It is in a state. However, when issuing a ticket such as an automatic ticket vending machine, when the ticket to be issued is conveyed to a position between the light emitting diode (20) and the phototransistor (22), that is, the issued ticket is the optical axis. When it comes to the position of (L), the light from the light emitting diode (20) is blocked, and the phototransistor (22) is turned off.
When the condition is reached, the boarding ticket is detected.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the cover member (12) has an upper extension (1) containing a light emitting diode (20) and a phototransistor (22).
4) and the lower extension (16) have the same shape as the quadrangular cross section, and are a box-shaped box having a hexahedron having an opening (28) on one surface side.

The material of the cover member (12) is
A transparent material is preferable, but a material having good permeability is preferable, and a solvent-resistant material that can be washed with alcohol or the like is preferable. For example, a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate is preferable. In addition, it is preferable to use a hard material so that it can maintain a square shape rather than a soft material.

As shown in FIG. 3, a double-sided adhesive tape (32) is attached to the inner surface of the bottom portion (30) of the cover (12) member.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, such a cover member (12) is fitted on the tip side of the upper extension (14) and the lower extension (16) from the opening (28) side. insert. That is, the light emitting diode (2
0) and the phototransistor (22) so as to surround the member (12) with the upper extension (14).
And the lower extension (16).

Therefore, it is strong against alcohol, that is,
Since the light emitting diode (20) and the phototransistor (22) are covered with a simple member having solvent resistance, even when cleaning each part by using the vending machine or the like for a predetermined period of time, other parts can be removed. Similarly, it can be cleaned with alcohol or the like, which facilitates maintenance work.

Further, when the side surface (a) (mounting surface) of the cover member (12) on the optical axis (L) side is, for example, scratched and damaged to reduce the transparency, the other side surface (b, c, d)
Can be reattached to the optical axis (L) side and reused. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the cover member (1
2) The member can use the four side surfaces (a, b, c, d) as a whole, and thus the cover member (12) can be used for a long period of time.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the photosensor portion of the photosensor unit is surrounded by the solvent resistant cover member, the photosensor itself is not contaminated and the photosensor is not contaminated. It will prevent. Also,
Even when cleaning and maintaining each part such as an automatic ticket vending machine and an automatic ticket gate, it is not necessary to clean the photosensor only with a troublesome wipe, and cleaning can be performed with alcohol or the like, which improves maintenance work.

Further, the cover member has a rectangular shape,
Since four surfaces (mounting surfaces) that cover the photosensor can be used, even if the mounting surface is scratched, other surfaces can be used, which is convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover member of the present invention is attached to a photo sensor unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover member.

[Fig. 3] Attaching the cover member to the photo sensor unit,
It is a front view of the partial cross section which showed the state which made the cover member the cross section.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Photo Sensor Unit 12 Cover Member 14 Upper Extension 16 Lower Extension 18 Connection 20 Light Emitting Diode 22 Phototransistor 28 Opening 30 Bottom 32 Double-sided Adhesive Tape

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An upper extension part (14) and a lower extension part (16) are separated by a predetermined distance and are connected by a connecting part (18), and a light emitting element (20) is provided at a tip side of the upper extension part (14). To the photo sensor unit (10) which is embedded so as to emit light and which is embedded at the tip side of the lower extension portion (16) so as to receive the light receiving element (22). And has a square shape so that it can be mounted so as to cover the light emitting element (20) and the light receiving element (22) from the tip end side of the upper extension portion (14) and the lower extension portion (16). A cover member for a photo sensor characterized by the above. 2. The cover member for a photo sensor according to claim 1, wherein the cover member (12) is made of polycarbonate. 3. The use surface on the side of the light emitting element (20) and the light receiving element (22) is at least four surfaces (a, b,
c) d), and the photosensor cover member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when one of the surfaces is not usable, the other surface can be used. 4. The bottom portion (30) of the cover member (12).
The cover member for a photo sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a double-sided adhesive tape (32) is provided on the inner surface of the.