JPH1154001A - Light detecting system and visually confirming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm whether a photoelectric switch is set in a desired state capable of detecting a matter to be detected or not by making the matter to be detected visually confirmable by a visual light emitted from the photoelectric switch through an image cable consisting of a bundle of a number of optical fibers. SOLUTION: An objective lens 41 sets the field of view A of a fiber scope 4. The field of view A includes at least the spot Ls of a visible light L. The objective lens 41 is mounted on a head part 2 in such a manner as to be removable, so that the three-dimensional angle of the field of view A is selectable by replacing it. On the other hand, an eyepiece 42 is provided on the upper surface of the case 15 of an amplifier 1. An operator can visually confirm a work W to which the visible light L is emitted through the objective lens 41, an image cable 40 and the eyepiece 42 on the amplifier 1 side. Thus, even when the head part 2 is set in a narrow place or complicated place, it can be easily confirmed whether a photoelectric switch is in the state detectable of the work W or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photoelectric switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, components to be manufactured have been reduced in size, and accordingly, manufacturing equipment has also been reduced in size. In such a manufacturing facility, a large number of photoelectric switches are provided. When the photoelectric switches are installed, it is checked whether or not the photoelectric switches are positioned so that a detection target (work or the like) can be detected by the photoelectric switches. I do.

[0003]

However, as the size of the manufacturing equipment has been reduced, the detection target cannot be seen, making it difficult to perform such confirmation. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide such a light detection system,
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily confirm whether or not a photoelectric switch is installed in an expected state in which a detection target can be detected.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting a target to which visible light is emitted from a photoelectric switch via an image cable in which a number of optical fibers are bundled. It is characterized by being visible.

According to the present invention, the tip of a visual recognition device such as a fiberscope can be installed together with the light projecting portion of the photoelectric switch so that the object to be detected and the spot of visible light can be visually recognized from the eyepiece of the fiberscope. Even if it is a narrow place, the detection target can be seen.

On the other hand, a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a mounting portion for mounting a head portion of a photoelectric switch is provided on a mounting portion on which a distal end portion of an image cable is mounted.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the scope of the right is defined in the state of a visual recognition device alone such as a fiberscope. Therefore, the mounting portion for mounting the head portion of the photoelectric switch is provided. If it is provided in the mounting portion, it does not matter whether or not the detection target can be visually recognized by the photoelectric switch, and is included in the scope of the present invention. The “head unit” refers to a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, or a light emitting and receiving unit that is located away from an amplifier unit having an input unit and a display unit of a photoelectric switch.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a reflection type photoelectric switch is used.
In FIG. 1A, a detection cable 10 having an optical fiber 11 for light emission and an optical fiber 12 for light reception shown in FIG. The head unit 2 is connected via the power supply. From the light projecting portion 13 at the tip of the light emitting optical fiber 11, detection light composed of visible light L is emitted toward a work (detection target) W in FIG. 1A, and reflected light L1 is generated. FIG. 1 (b)
Incident on the light-receiving unit 14. The display section 16 provided in the amplifier section 1 in FIG. 1A displays a detection state and a set sensitivity, and the sensitivity is set by pressing the setting section 17.

[0009] Between the amplifier section 1 and the head section 2,
An image cable (image fiber) 40 is wired. The image cable 40 is formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers, and includes an objective lens 41 provided at a distal end 40a of the image cable 40 shown in FIG. 1B and an image cable 40 shown in FIG. A so-called fiberscope (viewing device) 4 is configured by the eyepiece 42 provided on the proximal side 40b. The objective lens 41 (FIG. 1B) sets the field of view A of the fiberscope 4, and the field of view A includes at least the spot Ls of the visible light L. FIG.
The objective lens 41 shown in (b) is detachably provided on the head unit 2. By exchanging the objective lens 41,
The solid angle of the visual field A in FIG. 1A can be selected. On the other hand, the eyepiece lens 42 is provided on the upper surface of the case (housing) 15 of the amplifier unit 1.

Accordingly, the operator can visually recognize the work W irradiated with the visible light L on the amplifier side through the objective lens 41, the image cable 40 and the eyepiece lens 42, and therefore, the operator can view the work W in a narrow place or in a narrow place. Even when the head unit 2 is installed in a dug place, the photoelectric switch is
Can be easily confirmed whether or not it is in a state where it can be detected.

In the present invention, the place where the head unit 2 is installed may be dark, but in the present invention, since the work W is irradiated with the visible light L, the visible light L is used as illumination.
It can be seen even in dark places.

FIG. 2 shows a first modification. In FIG. 2A, an eyepiece 42 is a work W (projected via the image cable 40) from the image cable 40.
2B, a display section 16 of a photoelectric switch is provided in the field of view of the eyepiece 42 as shown in FIG. 2B. Therefore, the operator
As shown in FIG. 2B, the spot Ls, the work W, and the display unit 16 can be visually recognized through the eyepiece lens 42. Therefore, while viewing the work W and the like, the setting unit 17 shown in FIG. Can be used to set sensitivity and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a second modification. In the second modification, an extension auxiliary fiberscope 5 for visually recognizing a detection point is provided on the amplifier section side remote from the amplifier section 1.
Is added. The auxiliary fiber scope 5 has a connecting portion 51 provided at the tip of the image cable 50.
The connection section 51 is detachably attached to the eyepiece 42 of the amplifier section 1. The operator operates the connection unit 51
Is connected to the portion of the eyepiece 42 of the amplifier section 1, the detected portion can be visually recognized via the image cable 50 and the eyepiece 52. Therefore, even when the amplifier unit 1 is installed in a lower part of a manufacturing facility, the detection position can be easily visually recognized through the auxiliary fiberscope 5.

In the second modification, a remote setting unit 17A separate from the setting unit 17 provided in the amplifier unit 1.
Is added. The setting unit 17 and the setting device 17A
Are operation units for setting the sensitivity and the like of the photoelectric switch. The setting unit 17A is connected to the amplifier unit 1 via the wiring member 6, and the setting unit 1A provided in the amplifier unit 1
7 can be set in the same manner. The operator can operate the remote setting unit 17A to set the detection sensitivity and the like while looking at the detection location via the eyepiece 52 of the auxiliary fiberscope 5 at a position slightly away from the amplifier unit 1. it can. Therefore, the amplifier unit 1
The sensitivity can be easily set even when the device is installed at a lower part of a manufacturing facility.

In the first and second modifications, the head 2 (FIG. 1) side is not shown.
It has the same configuration as the first embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a third modification. In the third modification, a lighting device 7 is added. The illumination device 7 is for irradiating the illumination light La toward the work W for a short time when the work W is detected by the photoelectric switch. The lighting device 7 includes a case (housing) 2 of the head unit 2.
The optical fiber 70 includes an optical fiber 70 for illumination that connects between the optical fiber 1 and the case 15 of the amplifier unit 1, a light source 71 provided at a base end of the optical fiber 70, and an illumination circuit 72.

Now, when the reflected light L1 enters the photoelectric conversion element 30 via the light receiving optical fiber 12, a detection signal is output to the illumination circuit 72 via the signal processing circuit 31, and the illumination circuit 72 Is turned on for a very short time. Light source 71
The illumination light La is irradiated from the tip of the optical fiber 70 toward the work W for a short time via the optical fiber 70. Therefore, even if the workpiece W is moving at a high speed, the afterimage of the workpiece W and the spot Ls can be visually recognized, so that the visibility of the detected portion is improved.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the objective lens 41 is attached to the distal end of the image cable 40.
Are provided, and an eyepiece 42 is provided on the base end side of the image cable 40 to constitute the fiber scope 4.
The distal end portion 40 a of the image cable 40 and the objective lens 41 in the fiber scope 4 are mounted on a mounting case (mounting portion) 43. The mounting case 43 is integrally formed with a mounting portion 44 having a female screw portion 44a. A rod-shaped head portion (light emitting portion) 2 having the male screw portion 20 is screwed and attached to the attachment portion 44. Note that a lens unit 21 is detachably mounted on the head unit 2.

If the mounting part 44 of the head part 2 is formed integrally with the mounting case 43 of the fiberscope 4 as in the second embodiment, the present light detection system can be realized without any design change of the detector. can do.

In the above embodiments, the reflection type photoelectric switch has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a transmission type photoelectric switch. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the photoelectric switch in which the optical fiber is wired and connected between the head unit and the amplifier unit has been described. Applicable. When the distance from the head to the work is short, the image cable 40
There is no need to provide an objective lens (condensing lens) 41 at the tip of the lens.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the detection target irradiated with the visible light as the detection light is made visible through the image cable, the detection target can be detected by the photoelectric switch even when the photoelectric switch is mounted in a narrow place or the like. It can be checked whether it is installed in the state. In addition, since the detection target is irradiated with the visible light emitted from the photoelectric switch, the visible light serves as illumination, so that it can be visually recognized even in a dark place.

Further, if the display section of the photoelectric switch is provided within the visual field of the viewing section, the detection state and sensitivity of the detection target can be simultaneously viewed, and the operability and visibility of the sensitivity setting are improved.

Further, if the setting device of the photoelectric switch is provided separately from the amplifier section, regardless of the installation location of the amplifier section,
Operability such as sensitivity setting is improved.

Further, if the viewing portion of the amplifier section can be visually recognized by the extension fiberscope, the operability is further improved.

Further, if the object to be detected is illuminated for a short time by the illumination light at the time of detection, the visibility of the moving object to be detected is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a light detection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a schematic perspective view and a plan view of an amplifier section of a light detection system showing a first modification.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view on the amplifier side of a light detection system showing a second modification.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a light detection system showing a third modification.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a light detection system according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Amplifier unit 16: Display unit 2: Head unit 4: Fiber scope 40: Image cable 42: Eyepiece (viewing unit) 43: Mounting case 44: Mounting unit A: Field of view L: Visible light W: Work

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An object to which the visible light is irradiated is visually recognized through a photoelectric switch having a light projecting unit for emitting the visible light toward the object to be detected and an image cable in which a number of optical fibers are bundled. A light detection system having a visual recognition device for performing the operation. 2. A light-emitting unit that emits visible light toward an object to be detected, a photoelectric switch in which an amplifier unit having a signal processing circuit is disposed separately, and an image cable in which a number of optical fibers are bundled. A light detection system having a visual recognition device wired between the light projecting unit and the amplifier unit to visually recognize the detection target on the amplifier unit side. 3. The light detection system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the display unit of the photoelectric switch is arranged within a visual field of a visual recognition unit that visually recognizes a detection target from the image cable. 4. The light detection system according to claim 2, wherein a setting device for setting the photoelectric switch is provided separately from the amplifier unit. 5. The light detection system according to claim 2, wherein a visual recognition unit for visually recognizing a detection target from the image cable is provided in the amplifier unit, and an extension fiberscope for visually recognizing the visual recognition unit is provided. 6. The light detection system according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination device that irradiates illumination light to the detection target for a short time when the detection target is detected by the photoelectric switch. 7. A visual recognition device in which a mounting portion for mounting a head portion of a photoelectric switch is provided on a mounting portion on which a distal end portion of an image cable in which a number of optical fibers are bundled is mounted. 8. A mounting portion for mounting a head portion of a photoelectric switch is provided on a mounting portion on which a distal end portion of an image cable in which a number of optical fibers are bundled is mounted, and a detection target irradiated with visible light from the head portion. Is visually recognizable through an eyepiece provided at a base end of the image cable.