JP4978314B2 - Hair detection sensor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hair detection sensor, and more particularly to a hair detection sensor for counting hair sucked by a suction device.

  Household vacuum cleaners with built-in dust detection sensors for detecting sucked dust are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-130962 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Patent No. 2668899 (Patent Document 2), and No. -253144 (Patent Document 3) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-308611 (Patent Document 4).

In the vacuum cleaners disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4, an optical sensor that forms a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver is arranged in a passage through which sucked dust passes, and a change in the amount of light received by the light receiver is detected. By doing so, the passage of dust is detected. In particular, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose that the number of generated pulse signals indicating changes in the amount of received light is counted, and that the electric blower is controlled based on the number of counts. Patent Document 4 discloses a configuration for stabilizing the detection sensitivity of dust regardless of the amount of air flow of a vacuum cleaner.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-130962 Japanese Patent No. 2668899 JP-A-5-253144 JP 2000-308611 A

  On the other hand, foreign substances such as hair adhering to a worker's clothes are sucked before the worker enters the work area by an industrial suction device having the same principle as that of a vacuum cleaner. Especially in the food manufacturing industry, etc., it is necessary to prevent the hair from mixing into the food. Therefore, industrial-use suction devices are installed at the entrances and exits of the manufacturing factory and processing factory of food, cosmetics, precision electronic components, etc. However, there is a need to easily count the number of hairs sucked by the suction device in order to obtain basic data for quality control.

  However, in the dust sensor in the vacuum cleaner as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4, although it is possible to roughly detect the presence and degree of dust, the relationship with the response time of the optical sensor It is difficult to obtain a detection result in which the sucked hair is detected and counted for each hair. That is, in the suction device, it is difficult to obtain a detection result capable of counting the sucked hair simply by providing a sensor in the path through which the hair is sucked, as in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect the sucked hair in a countable manner by being attached to the suction tube of the suction device. It is to provide a hair detection sensor.

  A hair detection sensor according to the present invention is a hair detection sensor attached to a suction pipe to which an object sucked by a suction machine is sent, and includes an optical sensor, a speed reduction mechanism, and a signal processing unit. The optical sensor includes a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver, and detects the passage of an object based on the presence or absence of light shielding between the light emitter and the light receiver. The speed reduction mechanism is arranged at a predetermined position so as to collide with the hair to be fed through the suction tube, and is configured to extend the time for the hair to pass through the region where the light flux exists due to the collision with the hair. Furthermore, the speed reduction mechanism is provided in a shape that allows the hair after the collision to be sent out again toward the suction device. Then, the signal processing unit determines whether or not the hair has passed based on the amount of light received by the light receiver.

  According to the hair detection sensor, it is possible to extend the time for the hair to pass through the light flux existing area of the optical sensor by causing the sucked hair to collide with the speed reduction mechanism. Thereby, since the problem of insufficient response time of the optical sensor can be solved and the sucked hair can be detected one by one, the hair can be counted based on the detection result. Further, since the hair colliding with the speed reduction mechanism is not clogged in the suction tube, the suction device is not hindered.

  Preferably, the speed reduction mechanism includes a cover unit arranged so as to close an opening provided on the outer peripheral side of the curved portion of the suction pipe. And a cover unit has a 1st wall surface part provided across the existing area | region of a light beam with respect to the extended line of a curved part.

  In the above-described hair detection sensor, the speed reduction mechanism has a simple structure by providing the first wall surface portion that collides with the hair on which the centrifugal force acts when passing through the bending portion with respect to the opening portion provided in the bending portion of the suction tube. Can be realized.

  More preferably, the cover unit further includes a second wall surface portion formed between the first wall surface portion and the suction pipe. The second wall surface portion is provided with an attachment port for attaching the light emitter and the light receiver. Alternatively, the second wall surface portion is provided so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the first wall surface portion.

  With such a configuration, the light receiver and the light emitter can be efficiently attached. Further, by making the angle formed by the first and second wall surfaces an obtuse angle, noise generated in the air path returning from the opening of the suction tube to the suction tube via the first and second wall surfaces can be reduced. it can.

Preferably, the cover unit is detachably attached to the opening.
Such a configuration facilitates maintenance work such as cleaning of the light emitting surface and the light receiving surface of the optical sensor.

  Preferably, the hair detection sensor further includes a cylindrical unit connected to the suction device. The reduction mechanism is extended from the inner wall surface of the cylindrical unit so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the suction direction of the object, and a plurality of the reduction mechanisms are disposed so as to have a gap between the inner wall surfaces facing each other. Includes wire pins. Further, the plurality of wire pins are provided in at least one of the region where the light beam exists and the region upstream thereof so as not to interfere with the light beam.

  In the above hair detection sensor, the plurality of wire pins arranged on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical unit that can be attached regardless of the shape of the suction tube extends the time for the hair to pass through the region where the light flux exists, and the hair does not stay on the wire pin. Such a reduction mechanism can be realized.

  More preferably, the cross-sectional area of the cross section perpendicular to the suction direction of the object in the passage region of the object in the cylindrical unit is narrower than the upstream and downstream regions in the light flux existing region.

  By setting it as such a structure, the detection accuracy of the hair by an optical sensor can be improved.

  Alternatively, preferably, the signal processing unit determines whether or not the hair passes every predetermined cycle, and the hair detection sensor determines the number of passing hairs based on the number of the predetermined cycle determined by the signal processing unit as having the hair passing. A counter for calculating is further provided.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the same hair from being counted repeatedly (double counting), and thus it is possible to count hair more accurately.

  Preferably, the light receiver detects that the hair has passed in response to the amount of light received being equal to or less than a threshold value. The signal processing unit includes a threshold value adjusting unit that updates the threshold value based on the amount of light received by the light receiver in a state where the light flux is output from the light emitter in accordance with the input adjustment instruction.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to accurately detect the hair even when the light amount level of the light beam changes with time due to dust adhering to the light emitter or light receiver.

  Preferably, the signal processing unit detects that the hair has passed when the light receiver detects that the light beam has been continuously blocked for a predetermined period. And this predetermined period is set corresponding to the difference of the passage time of the existing area of the light beam at the time of the deceleration mechanism collision between dust and hair.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the passage of hair in response to chattering of the optical sensor or the passage of dust.

  According to the present invention, the aspirated hair can be detected by the hair detection sensor attached to the suction tube of the suction device and counted based on the detection result.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated in principle.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of suction device 5 to which hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  Referring to FIG. 1, suction device 5 includes a suction machine (suction device) 10, suction port 20, suction tube 30, and accumulation unit 40. Foreign matter including the hair 50 is sucked from the suction port 20 by the wind generated by the suction device 10. The foreign matter sucked from the suction port 20 is sent to the suction machine by the suction tube 30 and is stored in the storage unit 40. Hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment is provided corresponding to the curved portion of suction tube 30.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where hair detection sensor 100 according to Embodiment 1 is attached to suction tube 30.

  Referring to FIG. 2, hair detection sensor 100 is attached to an opening (not shown) provided on the outer side (outer peripheral side) of the curved portion of suction tube 30. The hair detection sensor 100 includes a cover unit 105 attached so as to close the opening. The cover unit 105 is attached by being fastened to the suction pipe 30 by a band (not shown) passed through the band hole 107 or the like.

  Further, the cover unit 105 is appropriately provided with an attachment port 110 # for attaching a light receiver and a light emitter of the optical sensor. The light emitter and the light receiver inserted in the attachment port 110 # are connected to an optical sensor main body (not shown) that controls light projection and reception through a fiber cable (not shown).

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 3, cover unit 105 is attached so as to cover opening 32 provided on the outer peripheral side of suction tube 30. In the example of FIG. 3, the cover unit 105 is mounted symmetrically with respect to the center line 310 having a curved shape, but can be mounted shifted to the upstream side or the downstream side of the suction pipe 30. In this specification, “upstream side” and “downstream side” are defined according to the suction direction of hair or the like.

  Hair detection sensor 100 includes an optical sensor constituted by a pair of light emitter 110 and light receiver 120, and cover unit 105 provided with collision surface 150 and connection surface 155.

  Since the collision surface 150 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the curved extension line 300 of the suction tube 30 in the opening 32, the hair 50 having a relatively large mass among the foreign matters fed through the suction tube 30 is Due to the centrifugal force acting at the time of passage, the collision surface 150 collides with high probability. On the other hand, since the acting centrifugal force is small for dust having a relatively small mass, the possibility of colliding with the collision surface 150 is relatively low.

  The connection surface 155 connects the collision surface 150 and the wall surface of the suction pipe 30 on the outer peripheral side of the opening 32. Connection surface 155 is provided with light emitter 110 and light receiver 120 inserted into attachment port 110 # shown in FIG. A light beam 200 is generated between the pair of light emitter 110 and light receiver 120.

  At least a part of the existence region 200 # of the light beam 200 is disposed in a region between the collision surface 150 and the curved extension line 300 of the suction tube 30 in the opening 32. In other words, the collision surface 150 is provided with the light flux existing region 200 # separated from the extension line 300.

  Since the velocity component in the vertical direction of the collision surface 150 is reversed, the hair 50 guided to the collision surface 150 from the opening 32 and colliding with the collision surface 150 is sent again through the opening 32 toward the suction tube 30. Is done. At this time, since the hair 50 passes through the luminous flux existing region 200 # again, the passage time of the luminous flux existing region 200 # is extended when the hair 50 collides with the collision surface 150. Further, since the collision surface 150 is made of a material such as resin and is not a complete elastic body, and the hair 50 is not a complete elastic body, when the collision surface 150 bounces, a complete elastic collision does not occur. Ingredients decrease. Due to this deceleration, the passage time when the hair 50 passes through the luminous flux existing region 200 # again is extended.

  As a result, the hair 50 can be detected without excessively increasing the response time of the optical sensor constituted by the pair of the light emitter 110 and the light receiver 120.

  It should be noted that securing the length of collision surface 150 in a direction parallel to light beam 200 facilitates securing the time for hair 50 to pass through light beam existing region 200 #.

  That is, the collision surface 150 and the connection surface 155 constitute a “cover unit (deceleration mechanism)” in the present invention. In particular, the collision surface 150 corresponds to the “first wall surface” in the present invention, and the connection surface 155 corresponds to the “second wall surface” in the present invention.

  Further, the connection surface 155 is not provided in a shape perpendicular to the collision surface 150 but is formed so as to form an obtuse angle θ0 with the collision surface 150. Thereby, the noise which generate | occur | produces in the air path which returns to the suction pipe 30 from the opening part 32 through the collision surface 150 and the connection surface 155, ie, the noise generated by attaching the hair detection sensor 100, can be suppressed.

  FIG. 4 shows an arrangement example of optical sensors in the hair detection sensor 100. FIG. 4 corresponds to a plan view of the connection surface 155 viewed in the III-III direction from the IV-IV cross section in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, hair detection sensor 100 is provided with 10 pairs of optical sensors (channels CH1 to CH10) attached using attachment port 110 # of cover unit 105. In other words, light flux existing region 200 # described above includes a region where ten light fluxes corresponding to channels CH1 to CH10 are run.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensors of the channels CH <b> 1 to CH <b> 10 are connected to corresponding optical sensor bodies 210 by optical fiber cables 115 and 125, respectively. The optical sensor main body 210 controls the light irradiation timing from the light source (not shown), the light receiving element (not shown), and the light emitting device 110, and a detection signal based on the amount of light received detected by the light receiving device 120. A processing circuit (not shown) or the like is output. The outline of the detection principle of the optical sensor will be described. The light source of the optical sensor main body 210 is pulsed, and the light is guided by the optical fiber cable 115 and irradiated from the front end surface of the optical fiber that is the light emitter 110. The The irradiated light enters the front end face of the optical fiber of the opposing light receiver 120 via region 200 #. The light received by the light receiver 120 is guided by the optical fiber cable 125 and received by the light receiving element of the optical sensor body 210. This change in the amount of received light is detected by signal processing, and the presence or absence of hair that is the detected object is detected. Although not shown, in each of the channels CH1 to CH10, the optical sensor light emitter 110 and the light receiver 120 are connected to the corresponding optical sensor body 210 by optical fiber cables 115 and 125, respectively. ing. The optical sensor shown in this example is independent for each of the channels CH1 to CH10. That is, the CH1 light emitter 110 and the CH1 light receiver 120 face each other as a pair, and the CH2 light emitter 110 and the CH2 light receiver 120 face each other as a pair. It consists of a set of optical sensors. The processing circuit appropriately controls the light projecting timing and the light receiving gate timing so that the self-emission can be received by one set of optical sensors, and the irradiation light of other channels is received and mutual interference does not occur ( (See FIG. 8 described later).

  As the optical sensor, for example, E3X-DA-S manufactured by OMRON can be used, and as the optical sensor body 210, E32-T22R manufactured by OMRON can be used.

  Referring to FIG. 6, light (for example, laser light, red LED light, etc.) is emitted from light emitter 110 in a shape that radiates from a plurality of light sources bundled with fiber cables so as to spread at a predetermined angle. . Therefore, the light quantity distribution has a distribution as shown in the figure corresponding to the fiber diameter (for example, 500 μm).

  On the other hand, the thickness of Japanese hair is generally said to be 0.07 mm to 0.08 mm. For this reason, when a hair having a thickness of at least 50 μm passes, it is expected that a decrease in received light amount of about 50 μm / 500 μm = 10% will occur at least.

  Therefore, by setting the threshold of the amount of light received by the light receiver 120 to about -6% of the level of the amount of light received when there is no light shielding object, when the amount of received light becomes lower than the threshold, the hair 50 It can be detected that the light beam 200 is shielded, that is, that the hair 50 has passed. The optical sensor body 210 is configured to generate a detection signal when the amount of light received by the light receiver becomes lower than a threshold value.

  In general, it is said that the speed at the time of suction by a vacuum cleaner is about 200 km / h. Considering that the time required for a 200 km / h object to traverse a 500 μm fiber is about 9 μs, it is understood that it is necessary to provide a speed reduction mechanism constituted by the cover unit 105 shown in FIG. This eliminates the need for excessively increasing the response speed of the optical sensor.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the signal processing circuit 250 that processes the output from the optical sensor main body 210.

  Referring to FIG. 7, signal processing circuit 250 includes a detection unit 260, a timer setting unit 270, an output unit 280, and a threshold adjustment instruction unit 285. Here, an example in which the signal processing circuit 250 is externally attached to the optical sensor 210 is shown, but the signal processing circuit 250 may be built in the optical sensor 210.

  Here, the light flux generation timing in the channels CH1 to CH10 of the optical sensor is controlled by the optical sensor body 210 as shown in FIG. The light flux generation timing has the same meaning as the light emission timing of the light source for each channel of the optical sensor or the light emission timing at which the light emitter 120 for each channel emits light.

  Referring to FIG. 8, the light emission timings of channels CH1 to CH10 of the optical sensor are sequentially switched in pulses. For this reason, the light beam 200 is instantaneously generated by only one channel. The output signal from each light receiver 120 is validated at the light emission timing from the corresponding light emitter 110. In other words, the optical sensor controls the timing of light emission and light reception in pairs. Specifically, the control for shifting the light emission / light reception timing for each channel such that the CH1 light emission timing and the CH1 light reception effective timing are appropriately matched, and the CH2 light reception timing is matched with the CH2 light emission timing. do. Thereby, even if it is the structure which provides an optical sensor in multiple channels in parallel in order to improve a detection probability, the misdetection by mutual output interference between channels can be prevented.

  The output from the channels CH1 to CH10 of the optical sensor makes a round for every period Tc. Further, the detection unit 260 sets a detection unit period Ts for detecting the passage of the hair 50. This detection unit period Ts is preferably given by an integral multiple (n times) of the round cycle Tc. Then, during this detection unit period Ts, in the same channel of the optical sensor, when the amount of light received by the light receiver 120 falls below the threshold value n times in succession, the detection unit 260 causes the hair 50 to pass through the channel. The detected detection signal (pulse signal) is output. Here, it is assumed that n times is continuous only when the light beam is continuously shielded for a predetermined period of time, and it is considered that the hair has passed through the region 200 #, and the hair is stabilized from the change in the amount of received light. This is to detect. On the other hand, for example, in order to prevent an unstable detection state (chattering) that occurs below the threshold value only once, then exceeds the threshold value, and falls below the threshold value only once. . Further, when the amount of light received by the light receiver 120 is less than the threshold value due to a noise signal or the like once, or when a fine object that is not a detection object passes through the region 200 #, the light is received for less than n times. This is also to prevent the detection signal from being output when the amount of light received by the detector 120 falls below the threshold value. That is, the predetermined period in which the amount of received light changes n times continuously is set corresponding to the difference in passage time when the speed reduction mechanism collides between dust and hair.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the passage of the hair 50 in response to chattering of each optical sensor or passage of dust or the like having a faster passage speed than the hair 50.

  Note that the detection unit period Ts can be derived from the experimental results to be described later, and may be set and adjusted to be shorter than the expected time that the hair would take to pass through the region 200 #. For example, Ts = 250 ms is set.

  Referring to FIG. 7 again, timer setting unit 270 sets a predetermined off-delay period and accumulates an output pulse signal from detection unit 260 in each channel within each off-delay period. The output unit 280 outputs a pulse signal indicating whether or not the hair 50 has passed through each of the channels CH1 to CH10 for each off-delay period set by the timer setting unit 270. That is, even if the pulse signal is output from the detection unit 260 a plurality of times during a single off-delay period, the pulse output signals from the output unit 280 are combined into one.

  FIG. 9 shows actual measurement examples of output pulse signals from the detection unit 260 when various lengths of hair pass.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the hair is relatively short, for example, when the hair length is 1 cm and 2 cm, a single pulse signal is output from the detection unit 260, whereas when the hair length becomes long, the speed is reduced. It can be seen that the pulse signal is generated a plurality of times from the detection unit 260 as the passage time of the light flux existence region 200 # is extended by the action of the mechanism. This is considered to be due to a part of one long hair passing over the luminous flux existing area 200 # and another part passing again over the luminous flux existing area 200 #. As shown in FIG. 9, the period td until the generation of the pulse signal when passing through one hair has different values depending on the hair length.

  If each of the plurality of pulse signals is counted, the same hair is counted twice (double counting), and the number of hairs that have passed is erroneously counted.

  Therefore, as described above, the timer setting unit 270 accumulates the output pulse signal from the detection unit 260 within the off-delay period, thereby determining whether or not the hair passes in each off-delay period in each channel of the optical sensor. It is configured to detect. If the actual measurement example (td) of the output pulse signal shown in FIG. 9 is taken into consideration, the above-described double count problem can be reliably solved by setting the off-delay period to about 100 ms in consideration of the margin. Be expected. Therefore, in the hair detection sensor according to the present embodiment, the off delay period is set to 100 ms. If the worker sucks hair adhering to clothes before entering the work area with the industry suction device, several hairs intermittently pass through the region 200 # every predetermined time. Therefore, even if such signal processing is performed, detection failure due to detection of a plurality of hairs is not so much.

  Referring to FIG. 7 again, the output pulse signal from output unit 280 is input to OR circuit 290. As described above, the output pulse signal from the output unit 280 indicates whether or not the hair 50 passes in each off-delay period for each channel of the optical sensor. Then, the OR circuit 290 outputs an OR logic operation result of the output pulse signal from the output unit 280. That is, the output signal of OR circuit 290 is a 1-bit signal indicating whether or not the passage of hair is detected in at least one of channels CH1 to CH10 for each off-delay period.

  Therefore, by using the counter 400 arranged in the subsequent stage, the number of the aspirated hair can be counted by counting the number of off-delay periods determined as having hair passing based on the output signal of the OR circuit 290. It becomes possible.

  Threshold adjustment instruction unit 285 receives an instruction signal for instructing threshold level adjustment of light receiver 120 from input unit 295. This instruction signal is input at a time other than during the foreign object suction operation by the suction device 5. For example, the input of the instruction signal is valid only when the suction device 10 is not in operation or in a preparation stage before the operation.

  When the instruction signal is input, the threshold adjustment instruction unit 285 transmits the adjustment instruction to each optical sensor body 210. Each optical sensor body 210 irradiates light from the light emitter 110 in response to the adjustment instruction, and at the same time a predetermined amount of light received by the light receiver 120 (for example, 0. 0 corresponding to −6%). The threshold value is updated to (94 times).

  With such a configuration, a threshold value for detecting whether or not the hair 50 passes is appropriately set in accordance with the accumulation of dust in the light emitter 110 or the light receiver 120 and the change in the temporal characteristics of the optical sensor. Therefore, the detection accuracy can be improved.

  As described above, according to the hair detection sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the opening is provided in the curved portion of the suction tube, and the reduction mechanism and the optical sensor are disposed in the opening, so that the suction is performed. Since the time for the hair to pass through the light flux existing area of the optical sensor can be extended, the passage of the hair can be detected without excessively increasing the response speed of the optical sensor. For this reason, the system which can count the hair attracted | sucked based on this detection result is realizable.

  Further, by applying appropriate signal processing with a detection unit period Ts and an off-delay period to the output signal based on the change in the amount of light received by the optical sensor, it is possible to more accurately count the aspirated hair. It can be set as the structure which can obtain a detection result.

  The hair detection sensor 100 is configured to be detachable from the opening 320 by being attached with a band using the band hole 107. In this way, maintenance such as removal of dust accumulated in the light emitter 110 or the light receiver 120 can be easily performed. The detachable attachment structure is not limited to the above, and an attachment mechanism such as a screw can be provided.

  In hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment, the number of optical sensors arranged is not particularly limited. Further, the shape and arrangement position of collision surface 150 are also arranged with light flux existing region 200 # spaced from the above-described extension line 300, and the passage time of light flux existing region 200 # is extended by the collision of collision surface 150. As long as it is possible, it can have any shape.

[Embodiment 2]
In the second embodiment, a configuration of a hair detection sensor that can be attached to any portion other than the curved portion, that is, a portion other than the curved portion will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of suction device 5 to which hair detection sensor 100 # according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is attached.

  Comparing FIG. 10 with FIG. 1, hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment can be provided corresponding to the straight portion of suction tube 30.

  Referring to FIG. 11, hair detection sensor 100 # has a suction unit 30 and a cylindrical unit 140 to which both ends thereof are connected. The inner wall surface 145 of the cylindrical unit 140 is provided with a pair of a light emitter 110 and a light receiver 120 that constitute an optical sensor. Each light emitter 110 and light receiver 120 are connected to an optical sensor main body 210 and a signal processing circuit 250 similar to those in FIG. 7 by optical fiber cables 115 and 125.

  In hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment, a plurality of wire pins 160 provided on inner wall surface 145 constitute a speed reduction mechanism. That is, hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment differs from hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment only in the configuration of the speed reduction mechanism, and the light flux detected by light emitter 110 and light receiver 120. The processing of the output signal indicating the presence or absence of light shielding 200 is basically the same as that of hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated. Note that it is preferable to appropriately adjust the detection unit period Ts (FIG. 8) described in the first embodiment and the off-delay period by the timer setting unit 270 in accordance with the difference in the type of the speed reduction mechanism.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the inner wall surface 145 of the cylindrical unit 140 is provided with a light emitter 110 and a light receiver 120 which constitute a 10-channel optical sensor as in the first embodiment. Like that. That is, also in hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment, ten light fluxes run in light flux existing region 200 # in cylindrical unit 140. Hair detection sensor 100 # also has a configuration in which 10 channels of optical sensors are provided, but the number of arrangements may be any number.

Next, using FIG. 13, it is a conceptual diagram illustrating the deceleration action by the wire pin.
Referring to FIG. 13, wire pin 160 is provided to extend from inner wall surface 145 in a direction that forms obtuse angle θ <b> 2 with respect to the suction direction of hair 50. And the front-end | tip of the wire pin 160 has the clearance gap 165 between the inner wall surfaces 145 which oppose.

  As a result, when the sucked hair 50 collides with the wire pin 160 and decelerates, or when it is caught by the wire pin 160 and temporarily stopped, the passage time of the light flux existing region 200 # of the optical sensor can be extended. . That is, a speed reduction mechanism is realized by the plurality of wire pins 160.

  Further, since θ2 forms an obtuse angle and a gap 165 is provided at the tip of the wire pin 160, the hair 50 once caught is moved in the direction of the arrow 55 in FIG. And can be sent out toward the suction device 10. That is, the hair 50 can be prevented from collecting on the wire pin 160.

  FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of cylindrical unit 140 for explaining an arrangement example of a plurality of wire pins 160 in hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 14, wire pin 160 corresponds not only to region 210 # upstream of the light flux presence region 200 # but also to light flux presence region 200 # as shown in FIG. Further, it may be provided.

  Also in this case, the plurality of wire pins 160 are provided downward (the traveling direction of the hair 50) with respect to the wall surface vertical direction, as shown in FIG. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 13, the hair 50 is arranged to extend in a direction that forms an obtuse angle θ <b> 2 with respect to the suction direction of the hair 50. However, when the wire pin 160 is provided in the light flux existence region 200 #, it is necessary to appropriately arrange the gap between the light emitter 110 and the light receiver 120 so that the wire pin 160 does not block the light flux 200.

  That is, a plurality of wire pins 160 can be provided in at least one of light flux existing region 200 # and upstream region 210 #.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a convex portion 147 on the inner wall surface 145 of the cylindrical unit 140 in a region corresponding to the light flux existing region 200 # when viewed in the suction direction of the hair 50. In this way, the cross-sectional area (plane perpendicular to the suction direction) of the passage region of hair 50 can be made smaller in light flux existing region 200 # than upstream region 210 # and / or downstream region 220 #. it can. As a result, the aspirated hair 50 # can pass through the light flux existing region 200 # more reliably without increasing the number of optical sensors arranged.

  According to hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment described above, a speed reduction mechanism similar to that of the first embodiment is configured by a plurality of wire pins 160 even for linear suction tube 30, and optical The passage time of the hair 50 in the luminous flux existing region 200 # of the type sensor is ensured, and it is possible to reliably detect and count that the hair has passed.

[Experimental result]
Next, an experiment is performed in which the suction device is configured by attaching the hair detection sensor 100 or 100 # according to the first and second embodiments to a household vacuum cleaner, and the hair 50 is actually sucked by the suction device 5 #. It was.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an experimental suction device 5 # configured by attaching the hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment or the hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment to a household vacuum cleaner. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the suction port of the vacuum cleaner corresponds to the suction port 20 in FIG. 1 or 10, and the suction pipe 30 is configured by the ventilation path between the suction port 20 and the blower. That is, the suction tube 30 to which the hair detection sensor according to the present invention is attached includes, in addition to both the flexible hose portion and the straight or curved tubular portion, the vicinity of the root of the suction tube 30 of the vacuum cleaner body 15 and the interior of the body 15. It is a concept that includes the ventilation path. That is, the hair detection sensor 100 or 100 # may be attached to any of the ventilation paths including these portions.

The vacuum cleaner 15 used in the experiment was a commercial product, and had a suction work rate of 420 W, a vacuum degree of 17390 Pa, an air volume of 1.45 m ³ / min, and a hose (suction pipe) inner diameter of 30 mm. In the experimental example shown below, hair samples of various lengths (about 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, 7 cm, and 15 cm) are prepared, and the hair 50 is obtained by sucking one sample with the suction device 5 #. An experiment was conducted to determine whether the hair detection sensors 100 to 100 # can detect the passage. Hereinafter, a hair sample having a length of about 15 cm is also referred to as long hair.

  FIGS. 17 and 18 are charts showing experimental results by suction device 5 # to which hair detection sensor 100 according to the first embodiment is attached. 17 (i) to (vi) show experimental results when the hair length is 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, 7 cm, and long hair, respectively.

  In this experiment, nine channels of 1ch to 9ch are provided as optical sensors, and circles (o) are given when the passage of hair is detected in each channel. A total of 10 suction tests are performed for each hair length.

  FIG. 17 shows an experimental result when the hair detection sensor 100 is arranged on the upstream side with respect to the center line 310 (FIG. 3) of the curved portion. On the other hand, experimental results when the hair detection sensor 100 is arranged on the downstream side are shown.

  As can be understood from the above description, if the passage of hair is detected in any channel of the optical sensor, the detection result is successful (indicated by a circle), and the passage of hair is detected in any channel. If not, it is unsuccessful (denoted by x).

  Referring to FIG. 17, (i) hair length of 1 cm can detect the passage of hair with a success rate of 4/10, and (ii) hair length of 2 cm can detect the passage of hair with a success rate of 9/10. ing. Furthermore, as understood from (iii) to (vi), it is understood that the passage of hair can be detected with a success rate of 10/10 when the hair length is 3 cm or more.

  Furthermore, (vii) shows the result when a sample with a hair length of 1 cm is aspirated by the OR output of a 10-channel optical sensor with one optical sensor added. As can be understood from the experimental results, by increasing the number of sensors, the detection rate when the hair length is 1 cm can be improved to 7/10.

  Referring to FIG. 18, (i) hair passage of 1 cm can be detected with a success rate of 4/10, and (ii) hair length of 2 cm can be detected with a success rate of 5/10. ing. Furthermore, as shown in (iii) to (vi), it can be seen that when the hair length is 3 cm or more, the passage of hair can be detected with a success rate of 9/10 to 10/10.

  As can be understood from the experimental results shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the hair detection sensor 100 has a high probability of being attached to either the upstream side or the downstream side with respect to the center of the curved portion of the suction tube 30. Can be detected. Therefore, it is understood that the hair detection sensor 100 can realize a system for counting the sucked hair.

  On the other hand, FIG. 19 shows a result of an experiment by suction device 5 # to which hair detection sensor 100 # according to the second embodiment is attached.

  Referring to FIG. 19, (i) when the hair length is 1 cm, the passage of hair can be detected with a success rate of 3/10, and (ii) when the hair length is 2 cm, the passage of hair can be detected with a success rate of 1/10. ing. Further, (iii) hair length of 3 cm can detect the passage of hair with a success rate of 3/10, and as shown in (iv) to (vi), when the hair length is 5 cm or more, 8/10 to 10/10 The success rate shows that the passage of hair can be detected.

FIG. 20 shows a chart summarizing the experimental results of FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 20, according to hair detection sensor 100 (elbow method) according to the first embodiment, it can be seen that hair having a hair length of 2 to 3 cm or more can be detected almost certainly. On the other hand, even with hair detection sensor 100 # (wire pin method) according to Embodiment 2 that can be attached regardless of the shape of suction tube 30, hair can be accurately detected with a high probability if the hair has a length of 5 cm or more. Detected.

  From the above experimental results, it is understood that the hair sucked by the hair detection sensor according to the present invention can be detected, and by applying the hair detection sensor, a system that can easily count the hair sucked by the suction device can be realized. The

  For example, the hair detection sensor of the present invention is preferably applied mainly to an industrial suction device, but does not exclude application to a household vacuum cleaner. When factory workers use a suction device for the industry to suck hair adhering to clothes before entering the work area, it is assumed that there is no large dust or foreign matter other than hair adhering to the clothes of the worker. , Hair can be detected accurately. On the other hand, if you want to detect the number of foreign objects other than hair, the number of foreign objects of the same size as the hair and the number of foreign objects larger than that is combined with the number of hairs. It can also be detected. The “hair detection sensor” of the present invention can also be regarded as a detection target for foreign matter adhering to the clothes of the operator without distinguishing between hair and foreign matter. Furthermore, “hair” is an example, and it can be said that the hair detection sensor of the present invention does not exclude the use of detecting the number of foreign substances other than hair.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The hair detection sensor according to the present invention can be applied to household vacuum cleaners, industry suction devices, and the like.

It is a schematic block diagram explaining the whole structure of the suction device to which the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view explaining the attachment state to the suction tube of the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 1. It is III-III sectional drawing in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the optical sensor in the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the structure of the optical sensor in the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 1. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the detection principle of the hair by an optical sensor. It is a functional block diagram explaining the structure of the signal processing circuit which processes the output from an optical sensor main body. It is a wave form diagram explaining the output timing of a light beam. It is a wave form diagram which shows the actual measurement example of the output pulse signal from the detection part at the time of hair of various length passing. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the whole structure of the suction device to which the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied. It is a figure explaining the structure of the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the structure of the optical sensor in the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 2. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the deceleration effect | action by a wire pin. It is sectional drawing of the cylinder part for demonstrating the example of arrangement | positioning of the several wire pin in the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the arrangement | positioning direction of a wire pin. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the suction apparatus for experiment comprised by attaching the hair detection sensor according to Embodiment 1 or 2 to a household vacuum cleaner. It is a graph which shows the experimental result (the 1) by the suction device which attached the hair detection sensor by Embodiment 1. It is a graph which shows the experimental result (the 2) by the suction device which attached the hair detection sensor by Embodiment 1. It is a graph which shows the experimental result by the suction device which attached the hair detection sensor by Embodiment 2. 20 is a chart in which experimental results in FIGS. 17 to 19 are arranged.

Explanation of symbols

  5, 5 # suction device, 10 suction machine, 15 household vacuum cleaner body, 20 suction port, 30 suction pipe, 32 opening, 40 storage part, 50 hair, 100, 100 # hair detection sensor, 105 cover unit, 107 band hole, 110 light emitter, 110 # mounting port, 115, 125 optical fiber cable, 120 light receiver, 140 cylindrical unit, 145 inner wall surface, 147 convex portion, 150 collision surface, 155 connection surface, 160 wire pin, 165 gap , 200 luminous flux, 200 # luminous flux existing area, 210 optical sensor main body, 210 # upstream area (anti-luminous area), 220 # downstream area (anti-luminous area), 250 signal processing circuit, 260 detector, 270 Timer setting unit, 280 output unit, 285 threshold adjustment instruction unit, 290 OR circuit, 295 input , 300 extension lines (curved portion), 310 center line (curved portion), 320 openings (suction pipe), CH1 to CH10 channels (optical sensor), Ts detection unit period.

Claims (11)

A hair detection sensor attached to a suction pipe to which an object sucked by a suction machine is sent,
An optical sensor configured by a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver, and detecting the passage of the object based on the presence or absence of light shielding between the light emitter and the light receiver;
A speed reduction mechanism arranged at a predetermined position so as to collide with the hair to be fed through the suction tube, and configured to extend the time for the hair to pass through the region where the light flux exists by the collision with the hair. ,
The speed reduction mechanism is provided in a shape that can send the hair after the collision toward the suction machine again,
Based on the received light amount of the light beam by the light receiver further example Bei signal processing unit for the hair to determine whether passed,
The signal processing unit detects that the hair has passed when it is detected by the light receiver that the light beam is continuously shielded for a predetermined period of time,
The hair detection sensor , wherein the predetermined period is set corresponding to a difference in passage time of the light flux existing area at the time of the collision of the speed reduction mechanism between dust and the hair . The speed reduction mechanism includes a cover unit disposed so as to close an opening provided on the outer peripheral side of the curved portion of the suction pipe,
The hair detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the cover unit includes a first wall surface portion that is provided with a region where the light flux exists with respect to an extension line of the curved portion. The cover unit further includes a second wall surface portion formed between the first wall surface portion and the suction pipe,
The hair detection sensor according to claim 2, wherein an attachment port for attaching the light emitter and the light receiver is provided in the second wall surface portion.   The hair detection sensor according to claim 3, wherein the second wall surface portion is provided so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the first wall surface portion.   The hair detection sensor according to claim 2, wherein the cover unit is detachably attached to the opening. A hair detection sensor attached to a suction pipe to which an object sucked by a suction machine is sent,
An optical sensor configured by a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver, and detecting the passage of the object based on the presence or absence of light shielding between the light emitter and the light receiver;
A speed reduction mechanism arranged at a predetermined position so as to collide with the hair to be fed through the suction tube, and configured to extend the time for the hair to pass through the region where the light flux exists by the collision with the hair. ,
The speed reduction mechanism is provided in a shape that can send the hair after the collision toward the suction machine again,
A signal processing unit for determining whether or not the hair has passed, based on the amount of light received by the light receiver;
A cylindrical unit connected to the suction machine;
The speed reduction mechanism is extended from the inner wall surface of the cylindrical unit so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the suction direction of the object, and a plurality of the reduction mechanisms are arranged so as to have a gap between the inner wall surfaces facing each other. Including wire pins,
The hair detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wire pins are provided in at least one of a region where the light beam exists and a region upstream of the light beam so as not to interfere with the light beam. The cross-sectional area of the cross section perpendicular to the suction direction of the object in the passage region of the object in the cylindrical unit is greater than at least one of the upstream and downstream regions in the light flux existing region. The hair detection sensor according to claim 6 , which is narrow. The signal processing unit determines whether or not the hair passes every predetermined cycle,
The hair according to claim 1 or 6 , wherein the hair detection sensor further includes a counter that calculates the number of passing hairs based on the number of the predetermined periods determined by the signal processing unit to pass the hair. Detection sensor. The light receiver detects that the light flux is shielded in response to the amount of light received being equal to or less than a threshold value,
The signal processing unit includes a threshold adjustment unit that updates the threshold based on the amount of light received by the light receiver in a state in which the light flux is output from the light emitter according to an input adjustment instruction. The hair detection sensor according to claim 1. The signal processing unit detects that the hair has passed when it is detected by the light receiver that the light beam is continuously shielded for a predetermined period of time,
The hair detection sensor according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined period is set corresponding to a difference in passage time of the light flux existing area at the time of the deceleration mechanism collision between dust and the hair. The light receiver detects that the hair has passed in response to the amount of light received being below a threshold value,
The signal processing unit updates the threshold value based on the received light amount of the light receiver in a state where the light flux is output from the light emitter according to an input adjustment instruction.
The hair detection sensor of Claim 6 which has a part.

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