JP2015179023A - Object detection method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an object detection method and object detection device capable of being applied even to a thin object which is tabular or sheet-shape, and a high temperature object such as a slab, without problems of installation space.SOLUTION: Detection wave transmission/reception means is installed obliquely above a transport path in the transport direction. A detection medium is transported toward a specific transport roller at least whose outer peripheral face is metal, where a detection position is, from the detection wave transmission/reception means. The detection medium which is reflected by the transport roller is received, and when a reception signal is stopped, it is detected that there is an object on the specific transport roller.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for detecting an object moving on a conveyance path formed by aligning a plurality of conveyance rollers, and an apparatus therefor.

  Conventionally, in a factory production site or work site, an object such as a workpiece is moved on a conveyance path formed by aligning multiple conveyance rollers, and the position of the object on the conveyance path and the length of the object in the conveyance direction are detected. To be done. In such an object detection device, the transmission unit and the reception unit of the detection medium are arranged opposite to each other across the conveyance path to perform transmission / reception of the detection medium, and when the transmission / reception is blocked by the object, the transmission unit and the reception unit are It detects that the tip of the object has reached the position where it is placed, and detects the length of the object in the conveyance direction based on the time when transmission / reception is interrupted.

  Prior to the present application, in Patent Document 1, the microwave transmitting means and the receiving means are arranged on one side across the conveyance path, and the two reflecting surfaces are arranged at an angle of 90 ° on the other side. Has proposed an object detection device in which reflectors arranged opposite to each other are arranged. This object detection device utilizes the reversal of the direction of the microwave electric field for each reflection, and the transmission microwave from the transmission means is reflected by the reflector when no object is present at the device installation location. It is reflected twice and reaches the receiving means. That is, the direction of the electric field is the same between the transmission microwave and the reception microwave. On the other hand, when the object that has moved along the transport path reaches the device installation location, the transmission microwave is reflected once by the object and reaches the receiving means. That is, the direction of the electric field differs between the transmission microwave and the reception microwave. Therefore, by configuring the receiving means to receive microwaves having the same electric field direction as the transmission microwave, it is possible to accurately determine that the object is present at the device installation location when the received signal is interrupted. Can be detected.

  Incidentally, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a case where a slab moving on a rolling line of a steel facility is detected. The rolling line is formed by aligning a plurality of conveying rollers 1, and the upper surface of the conveying roller 1 is formed. As shown by arrow F, the slab 10 is conveyed from the upper left diagonal direction to the lower right diagonal direction in the figure. Since the slab 10 is a plate material, in the conventional object detection device, it is difficult to dispose the transmitting means and the receiving means on both sides of the transport roller 1 in accordance with the thickness of the slab 10, as shown in the figure. The receiving unit 101 is disposed above the gap 2 of the conveying roller 1 and the transmitting unit 100 is opposed to the lower side, and transmission / reception (a dashed line in the figure) is performed by the detection medium. Or in patent document 1, the transmission means 100 and the receiving means 101 are installed above the clearance gap 2, and the reflecting plate (not shown) is installed below the clearance gap 2. FIG.

  However, since oxides or water droplets drop from the slab 10, falling objects and scales from the slab 10 adhere to and accumulate on the antenna of the transmission unit 100 and the reflecting surface of the reflector, making detection impossible. .

  Further, due to the problem of installation space, it may not be possible to dispose the receiving means, the transmitting means, and the reflecting plate above and below the conveyance path. In particular, the slab 10 has a high temperature, and the transmission unit 100 and the reception unit 101 must be installed away from the conveyance roller 1. However, the distance between the conveyance roller 1 and the floor surface is not so great, and the conveyance roller 1 In general, sufficient space cannot be secured below. Further, there is a groove under the transport roller 1, and maintenance is difficult.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-264877

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an object detection method and an object detection apparatus that can be applied to a plate-like or sheet-like thin object and a high-temperature object such as a slab without any problem of installation space.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following object detection method and apparatus.
(1) A method for detecting an object moving on a conveyance path formed by aligning a plurality of conveyance rollers,
At least the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller is made of metal,
The detection medium is transmitted from a diagonally upper direction of the conveyance path toward the specific conveyance roller that is the detection position, and the detection medium reflected by the conveyance roller is received. An object detection method comprising detecting the presence of an object on a roller.
(2) The object detection method according to (1), wherein the detection medium is light, microwave, or millimeter wave.
(3) The object detection method according to (1) or (2) above, wherein a slab that moves on a rolling line of a steel facility is detected using a microwave or a millimeter wave as a detection medium.
(4) An apparatus for detecting an object moving on a conveyance path formed by aligning a plurality of conveyance rollers,
A detection wave transmission / reception means disposed obliquely above the conveyance direction of the conveyance path,
The detection wave transmitting / receiving unit transmits the detection medium toward the specific conveyance roller at least the outer peripheral surface which is the detection position, and the detection medium reflected by the specific conveyance roller is received by the detection wave transmission / reception unit. ,
An object detection device for detecting the presence of an object on a specific conveyance roller when a reception signal is interrupted.
(5) The object detection device according to (4), wherein the detection medium is light, microwave, or millimeter wave.
(6) The object detection apparatus according to (4) or (5), wherein a microwave or millimeter wave is used as a detection medium, and the detection medium is used for detection of a slab moving on a rolling line of a steel facility.

  According to the present invention, it is only necessary to install the transmission / reception means obliquely above the conveyance direction of the conveyance path, and the present invention can be applied to a place where a human hand does not enter the lower side of the conveyance path. Moreover, since a receiving means and a reflecting plate are not installed below the conveyance path, it can be applied to detection of a high-temperature object such as a slab that conveys a rolling line of a steel facility.

It is a perspective view which shows the case where it contributes with the slab which moves a rolling line as an example of the object detection apparatus of this invention. In FIG. 1, it is A arrow view seen from the conveyance roller side surface. It is a perspective view which shows the case where it contributes with the slab which moves a rolling line as an example of the conventional object detection apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an object detection method and an apparatus therefor according to the present invention by exemplifying a case where a slab moving on a rolling line of a steel facility is detected.

  As shown in the figure, a conveyance path (rolling line) is formed by arranging a large number of conveyance rollers 1, and the upper surface of the conveyance roller 1 is slab 10 as shown by an arrow F from the upper left side in the figure. It is conveyed toward the lower right.

  Since the slab 10 is a plate material, as shown in FIG. 3, in the object detection device in which the transmission unit 100 or the reflection plate is installed below the transport roller 1, the fallen object from the slab 10 or the transmission unit 100 or the reflection plate Scale adheres and accumulates, making detection impossible.

  In the present invention, the detection medium transmitting / receiving means 20 is disposed obliquely upward with respect to the conveyance direction F, and the detection medium is transmitted toward the conveyance roller 1A serving as a detection position. The transmission / reception means 20 may be separated into a transmission means and a reception means, and may be arranged in parallel by adjusting the angle so that transmission / reception can be performed. As the detection medium, microwaves and millimeter waves are preferable because they can be measured even in a state where water vapor is present in the surroundings of a high-temperature object. Further, since the conveying rollers 1 and 1A are made of metal at least on the outer peripheral surface and reflect microwaves and millimeter waves, the microwaves or millimeter waves transmitted from the transmission / reception means 20 toward the conveying rollers 1A are transmitted by the conveying rollers. When there is no slab 10 immediately above 1A, a part of the slab 10 is reflected by the surface of the transport roller 1A and enters the transmission / reception means 20.

  However, when the slab 10 moves on the rolling line and the tip 10a reaches the transport roller 1A, the microwave or millimeter wave sent from the transmission / reception means 20 is in the vicinity of the transport direction F in the vicinity of the tip 10a of the slab 10. Are totally reflected obliquely in the opposite direction and are not reflected to the transmitting / receiving means 20.

  Therefore, when the reception signal by the transmission / reception means 20 is interrupted, it can be detected that the leading end 10a of the slab 10 has reached the conveying roller 1A. Further, the reflection by the slab 10 continues until the rear end 10b of the slab 10 passes the conveying roller 1A, and during that time, the reception signal by the transmission / reception means 20 is also interrupted, so that both the front end 10a and the rear end 10b of the slab 10 are detected. Can do.

  Note that the installation position of the transmission / reception means 20 is set at a position where the reflection intensity from the conveyance roller 1 </ b> A is the highest in the obliquely upward direction with respect to the conveyance direction F. Microwaves or millimeter waves from the transmission / reception means 20 are also reflected by the transport rollers 1B and 1C adjacent to the transport roller 1A depending on the incident angle to the transport roller 1A and the interval between the transport rollers 1. FIG. 2 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. When Y is a plane that passes through the axis O of the transport roller 1A and is orthogonal to the transport surface, this Y and the microwave or millimeter wave from the transmission / reception means 20 are shown. When the angle θ formed by the axis M is increased, that is, when the transmission / reception means 20 is lowered toward the conveyance roller, the transmission / reception means 20 also receives reflected waves from the conveyance roller 1C and further from the conveyance roller 1B in addition to the reflection waves from the conveyance roller 1A. Received at. Therefore, in order to eliminate unnecessary reflected waves by the transport rollers 1B and 1C as much as possible, the installation position (angle θ) of the transmission / reception means 20 is adjusted so that the reception intensity of the reflected waves by the transport roller 1A is maximized.

  In addition, the transmission / reception means 20 can be similarly installed not only on the upstream side in the transport direction but also on the downstream side in the transport direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the transmission / reception means 20 ′ is arranged at an angle θ ′ similar to θ on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and microwaves or millimeter waves are transmitted / received (axis M ′).

  Here, since the beam diameter of the millimeter wave can be made smaller than that of the microwave, transmission to the transport roller 1A can be performed while avoiding the transport roller 1C and the transport roller 1C. Therefore, the transport roller 1A and the transport roller The resolution with 1C and 1B increases.

  According to the above configuration, since there is no transmission unit 100 shown in FIG. 3 or the reflection plate in Patent Document 1 below the transport roller 1, the falling means from the slab 10 to the transmission unit 100 or the reflection plate The problem of scale adhesion / deposition is eliminated. Further, the problem of installation below the transport roller 1 is also eliminated.

  Although the case where the slab 10 of the rolling line is detected has been described above, the present invention absorbs various objects other than the slab 10, for example, microwaves and millimeter waves such as wooden, paper, and resin objects. It can also be applied to objects to be blocked. As described above, the slab 10 utilizes the fact that the microwave or millimeter wave from the transmission / reception means 20 is reflected to the side opposite to the conveyance direction F and is not reflected to the transmission / reception means 20. Even an object to be absorbed / blocked can be detected in the same manner because there is no reflection of microwaves or millimeter waves to the transmission / reception means 20.

  Further, depending on the type of object or the environment of the conveyance path, light (laser light is preferable) can be used as the detection medium. Since the slab 10 is a high-temperature object, its surroundings are also high temperature, and there is a large amount of water vapor, microwaves and millimeter waves are used. However, since objects made of wood, paper, and resin are generally transported in air at room temperature, light is transmitted and received between the transmission / reception means 20 and the transport roller 1A. When a resinous object reaches the transport roller 1A and transmission / reception of light is blocked, it is detected that these objects have reached the transport roller 1A.

1, 1A conveying roller 2 gap 10 slab 20 transmitting / receiving means

Claims (6)

A method for detecting an object moving on a conveyance path formed by aligning a plurality of conveyance rollers,
At least the transport surface of the transport roller is made of metal,
The detection medium is transmitted from a diagonally upper direction of the conveyance path toward the specific conveyance roller that is the detection position, and the detection medium reflected by the conveyance roller is received. An object detection method comprising detecting the presence of an object on a roller.   The object detection method according to claim 1, wherein the detection medium is light, microwave, or millimeter wave.   The object detection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a microwave or millimeter wave is used as a detection medium to detect a slab moving on a rolling line of a steel facility. An apparatus for detecting an object moving on a conveyance path formed by aligning a plurality of conveyance rollers,
A detection wave transmission / reception means disposed obliquely above the conveyance direction of the conveyance path,
The detection wave transmitting / receiving unit transmits the detection medium toward the specific conveyance roller at least the outer peripheral surface which is the detection position, and the detection medium reflected by the specific conveyance roller is received by the detection wave transmission / reception unit. ,
An object detection device for detecting the presence of an object on a specific conveyance roller when a reception signal is interrupted.   The object detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection medium is light, microwave, or millimeter wave.   6. The object detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a microwave or millimeter wave is used as a detection medium, and is used for detection of a slab moving on a rolling line of a steel facility.

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