JPS59196490A - Optical sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to freely set an attaching place by reducing the size of a machine frame, in an opposed type optical sensor, by providing a light reflective member for refracting an optical axis piercing through a detecting position. CONSTITUTION:The detecting position 1 of a label or the like is provided to a sensor frame 6 in a slit shape and pervious orifices 7 is provided to the part faced to said detecting position while a mirror plate 3 is obliquely provided to each pervious orifice 7 at an angle of 45 deg.. The light emitted from a light emitting element 4 is refracted to a vertical direction by the mirror plate 3 and incident to a light receiving element 5 through the mirror plate 3 while pierced through the detecting position 1. By this mechanism, the presence or absence of base paper or a label at the detecting position 1 can be detected. Because the frame part of the detecting position 1 comprises only the 45 deg.-projection of the mirror plate 3 and is difined in an extremely small size, an attaching place can be freely set. In addition, because a size is not adhered to light emitting and receiving elements, erroneous operation can be prevented.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to improvements in optical sensors.

To explain the conventional optical sensor with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18, (1) in the figure is the detection position for detecting a label, etc.
A light emitting element (4) and a light receiving element (5) centering on the position (1).
The two are arranged facing each other. The light emitting element (4) is a light emitting diode or the like, and the light receiving element (5) is a phototransistor or the like, and since the longitudinal direction of the pixel element <4'> (g) is arranged in a straight line, the vicinity of the detection position (1') The container frame has become larger. If the optical sensor is large, there is a problem in that there are restrictions on where it can be installed. In addition, each of the light emitting and light receiving elements (4><6V) could get stuck with glue or the like and cause malfunction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances.The purpose of the present invention is that the container frame is small so that the mounting location can be set freely, and that glue etc. does not adhere to the light-emitting and light-receiving elements and malfunctions occur. Our goal is to provide optical sensors.

Such an optical sensor of the present invention is provided with a light reflecting member that bends an optical axis passing through the detection position of a label or the like at one or both of the detection positions, and a light receiving element at one end of the optical axis and a light emitting element at the other end. It is characterized by having been established.

An example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the figures, (1) is a detection position for a label, etc., which is provided in the form of a slit in the container frame (6).

Through-holes (7) are provided in the portions facing the detection position (1), and a mirror plate (3) is provided in each through-hole (7) at an angle of 45°, and an optical axis (2) passing through the detection position (1) is provided. ) into a U-shape.

An element mounting hole (8) is provided at each end side of the optical axis (2),
A bullet-shaped light emitting element (4) and a light receiving element (5) are provided, respectively.

The light emitting element (4) is a light emitting diode or the like that generates a certain amount of light, and the light receiving element (5) is a phototransistor or the like that generates a current proportional to the amount of light emitted. That is, it detects whether the detection position (1) is empty, a mount, or both a mount and a label.

In this example, the frame portion of the detection position (1) is the mirror plate (3).
It can be accommodated very small with only a 45° protrusion. The attachment of this embodiment or the embodiments described below is such that it protrudes into the path of the label (4) and blank paper (13) as shown in FIG. 15, and a description of the following embodiments will be omitted. or,
Components having the same configuration as those of the first embodiment are also designated by the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, a light emitting element (4) is provided facing the detection position (1), and the other configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment. Same as example.

The third embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, a polarizing prism (
), and the prism α1 and the picture frame ←Q are integrally molded from transparent resin, glass, or the like.

The fourth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, four polarizing prisms are provided in place of the end plate (3) of the second embodiment, and the prism α→ and the image frame qQ and are integrally molded from transparent resin or the like.

If the fifth embodiment is explained with reference to FIG.
The polarizing prism (2) on the light emitting element side of the example is provided in the opposite direction, and the light emitting element (4) is provided in the opposite direction.

The sixth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.
FIG. 12 is a three-dimensional diagram showing the optical axis (2) of this example.
The optical axis (2) extending from the light emitting element (4) is horizontally
After passing through the second polarizing prism (b), which is bent once, to the polarizing prism (6), the polarizing prism α1 provided facing each other
and the second polarizing prism) to the light receiving element (5). Polarizing prism 0 and the second polarizing prism (goods) are attached to the image frame (
ie, and the position facing the polarizing prism (6) is defined as the detection position (1). By bending the optical axis (2) in any direction using the polarizing prism in this manner, the positions of the light emitting and light receiving elements <485) can be set arbitrarily.

The seventh embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
The bending of the light ai1 (2) in this embodiment is the same as in the sixth embodiment, but the detection position is between the second polarizing prism Z and the polarizing prism α.

In the above embodiment, the polarizing prism and the image frame are integrated, but they may be separate units.

As described above, the present invention provides a light reflecting member that bends the optical axis passing through the detection position of a label or the like at one or both of the detection positions, and a light receiving element is provided at one end of the optical axis, and a light emitting element is provided at the other end of the optical axis. Since the sensor is configured as a light sensor, it is possible to reduce the size of the image frame near the detection position so that it can be installed anywhere. Furthermore, since no glue or the like is attached to each of the light emitting and light receiving elements, malfunctions can be prevented.

Thus, the desired goal is achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a front view of the first embodiment of the optical sensor of the present invention;
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view of the second embodiment, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of FIG. 3, and FIG.
Front view of the embodiment FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line Vl-M in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a front view of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 7, and FIG. is a vertical sectional view of the fifth embodiment, FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sixth embodiment, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line M-M in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 shows the principle of the sixth embodiment. Three-dimensional drawing, 1st
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the seventh embodiment, and Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the seventh embodiment.
15 is a three-dimensional view showing the installed state of the optical sensor of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a front view of the conventional optical sensor, and FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XMI-XVI of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the same. In the figure, (1)...Detection position (2)...Optical axis (3)
...Mirror plate (6)...Polarizing prism■...
・Second polarizing prism (4)...Light emitting element (5)...
Light-receiving element (6)a→...It is a container frame. Patent applicant Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An optical sensor in which a light reflecting member that bends the original axis passing through the detection position of a label, etc. is provided at one or both of the detection positions, a light receiving element is provided at one end of the optical axis, and a light emitting element is provided at the other end of the optical axis. . (2) The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light reflecting member is a polarizing prism. (3) Claim 1, wherein the light reflecting member is a mirror plate.
Optical sensor as described in section.