JPH0132268Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a photoelectric switch, and in particular to a fiber-type photoelectric switch in which the light transmitting and receiving fibers can be detachably replaced with fibers of any length. Regarding.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, this type of photoelectric switch has a photoelectric switch main body b that includes a light emitting element a and a light receiving element (not shown) disposed symmetrically to the light emitting element a. A connector d is used to insert a pair of fibers c for transmitting and receiving light. This connector d is integrally molded with a cylindrical portion g, a flange portion g', and a pair of protruding portions f through which the fiber c is inserted. In order to fix the connector d and the fiber c, the fiber c is inserted into the cylindrical part g, and then the protrusion f
Insert into. Thereafter, resin or the like is injected into the gap between the cylindrical part g and the fiber c to fix them. When inserting the connector d into the insertion part h of the photoelectric switch body b, fit the dustproof O-ring e from the protruding part f side, bring it into close contact with the flange part g', and then tighten it. The fiber c is attached to the photoelectric switch body b by fitting the attachment i onto the connector d and screwing it into the insertion portion h. The photoelectric switch configured in this manner outputs an on/off signal when an object j passes between the light transmitting part and the light receiving part at the tip of the fiber c, whose optical axes are aligned, that is, by blocking the light. It's becoming like that.

However, in this conventional photoelectric switch, when it becomes necessary to change the length of the fiber c, for example when changing the detection location, the fiber c is fixed to the connector d as described above. There was a problem in that it was not possible to replace the fiber c with an appropriate length.
Further, since the fiber c and the connector d are fixed together with resin or the like as described above, there is a problem that it is time-consuming and production efficiency is low. Furthermore, due to variations in accuracy of each member constituting the photoelectric switch, a gap is created between the light receiving element and the light emitting element a and the fiber c, resulting in a problem that the light transmission efficiency is reduced.

(c) Purpose The present invention solves these problems, allows the fiber to be detachably replaced, and
To provide a photoelectric switch in which fibers can be easily attached to a photoelectric switch body and optical transmission efficiency is improved.

(D) Structure Therefore, the feature of the present invention is that the connector for attaching the fiber to the photoelectric switch body is connected to the first connector, the second connector, and a sealing material interposed between both connectors. formed from
The first connector is formed with a protrusion having an insertion hole for bringing one end of the fiber into close contact with the surfaces of the light-receiving element and the light-emitting element, and the second connector has an insertion hole corresponding to the insertion hole of the first connector. has
The slit is formed so that the second connector can be tightened radially inward by screwing the fastener, and the fiber inserted into the insertion hole can be compressed.

(E) Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photoelectric switch body, and a cylindrical insertion portion 3 having a male threaded portion 2 is protruded from the photoelectric switch body 1. A light-receiving element and a light-emitting element 5 are disposed in a pair of cylinders 4 provided within this insertion portion 3.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a connector, into which a pair of fibers 7 for transmitting and receiving light are inserted, one end of which is brought into close contact with the surfaces of the light receiving element and the light emitting element 5.

Specifically, the connector 6 includes first and second connectors 8 and 9 made of synthetic resin, for example, and a sealing material 10 interposed between both connectors 8 and 9. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch is equipped with a pair of protrusions 12 having insertion holes 11, and is housed in the insertion portion 3 of the photoelectric switch main body 1 as a whole. 12 is inserted into the cylindrical body 4. Furthermore, a pair of fitting recesses 13 are provided on the surface facing the protrusion 12 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the second connector 9 has a pair of insertion holes 14 corresponding to the insertion holes 11 of the first connector 8, and has two threads extending from one end surface to the middle. A slit 15 is formed to enable the fiber 7 inserted into the insertion hole 14 to be compressed. Further, a flange portion 16 is integrally formed on one end surface on the slit 15 side.
A pair of fitting protrusions 17 corresponding to the fitting recesses 13 of the first connector 8 are provided protruding from the connector 6 . Thus, by fitting the fitting protrusion 17 into the fitting recess 13, positioning for smooth insertion of the fiber 7 is performed. This flange portion 16 is provided with a pair of holes 24 corresponding to the insertion holes 11 and 14. Further, a tapered surface 25 is formed on the outer peripheral edge on the slit 15 side, the diameter of which is slightly larger outward than the other outer peripheral surfaces. This tapered surface 25
As shown in FIG. 5, a serrated locking protrusion 18 is provided on the inner peripheral edge of the holder.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing material 10 has a hole 19 corresponding to the insertion holes 11 and 14 of both connectors 8 and 9, and a fitting protrusion 17 of the second connector 9.
Holes 20 corresponding to the respective holes are bored.
This sealing material 10 is formed so as to come into contact with the end surface of the insertion portion 3 when the connector 6 is attached to the photoelectric switch main body 1. In the connector 6 configured in this way, the sealing material 10 is interposed between the first connector 8 and the second connector 9, and the fitting protrusion 17 is fitted into the fitting recess 13. Ultrasonic welding is performed to fuse the fitting protrusion 17 and the fitting recess 13 so that both connectors 8 and 9 are integrated. At this time, they may be integrated by welding instead of fusion.

21 (see Fig. 1) has a female threaded portion 22 on the inner peripheral surface.
It is a cap nut-shaped fastener having a hole 23 formed therethrough. The fastener 21 connects both connectors 8 and 9 with the sealing material 10 interposed therebetween.
With the (connector 6) inserted into the photoelectric switch main body 1, it is fitted onto the second connector 9, and by screwing the inner peripheral edge of the hole 23, the tapered surface 2
5 in the radial inward direction, and tighten the locking protrusion 18 on the outer sheath 7a of the fiber 7 (see FIG. 7).
Let it sink into you. Then, a fastener 21 is screwed into the insertion portion 3 of the photoelectric switch main body 1.

Thus, the fiber 7 is fixed to the connector 6 by the tightening force of the second connector 9 and the biting force of the locking protrusion 18, and is also fixed to the photoelectric switch body 1 by the fastener 21. That will happen.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment; for example, the first connector 8 may be provided with a fitting protrusion, and the second connector 9 may be provided with a fitting recess. Alternatively, fitting protrusions may be provided on both connectors 8 and 9, and they may be integrated by fusion or welding as described above.

(F) Effect This invention provides a slit in the second connector to sandwich the fiber, so the fiber can be firmly fixed, the fiber can be detached and replaced, and the screw can be removed. The diameters of the first connector and the second connector can be reduced to the minimum diameter into which only the fiber can be inserted without connecting the fiber to the photoelectric switch body using a wire or the like. Further, since the sealing material is interposed between the first connector and the second connector, the sealing material will not be missing from the connector when the fiber length is replaced with one of a different length. Furthermore, the fiber attached to the photoelectric switch main body reliably adheres to the surfaces of the light-receiving element and the light-emitting element without shifting, resulting in improved light transmission efficiency. Furthermore, since the fiber can be easily inserted into the connector, work efficiency is improved and mass production becomes possible.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the locking protrusion 18 of the second connector 9 is connected to the outer sheath 7a of the fiber 7.
The fiber 7 can be more firmly fixed by biting into the fiber 7.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the connector, Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the connector, and Fig. 4 excludes the fastener. 1, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the main part of the second connector, FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of the sealing material, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing a conventional example. 1... Photoelectric switch body, 3... Insertion part, 7...
...Fiber, 8...First connector, 9...Second connector, 10...Sealing material, 11, 14...
...Insertion hole, 12...Protrusion, 13...Fitting recess,
15...Slit, 17...Fitting protrusion, 19,2
0...hole, 21...tightening tool.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A photoelectric switch body having a light receiving element and a light emitting element, a first connector attached to the photoelectric switch body, and a second connector attached to the first connector.
and a connector having a sealing material interposed between both connectors, and a fastener screwed onto a mounting portion of the photoelectric switch body in order to attach the connector to the photoelectric switch body. The first connector has a fitting portion formed in a flange portion of the second connector and a mounting portion having an insertion hole for bringing the fiber for transmitting and receiving light into close contact with the light receiving element and the light emitting element. The second connector has a fitting recess or a fitting protrusion corresponding to the protrusion or fitting recess, and the second connector has an insertion hole into which the fiber is inserted, and two threads that partially communicate with the insertion hole. a slit, and an outer circumferential surface with a tapered edge so as to bend radially inward and clamp the fiber as the fastener is screwed from the slit toward the main body of the photoelectric switch. 2. A photoelectric switch, wherein the sealing material has a hole corresponding to both the insertion holes and a hole corresponding to the fitting protrusion or the fitting recess of the flange.