JPH0155415B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a marking device that detects an abnormal part, such as a scratch, from an object to be inspected that is being transported through a passage, and marks a certain length of the abnormal part on the front side in the transport direction. Regarding.

This type of marking device is used, for example, in an inspection process in a metal wire manufacturing line, to detect and mark defective locations, and a schematic configuration thereof is shown in FIG. The marking apparatus 1 shown in FIG. A sensor 5 installed along the path of the metal wire 3 between the metal wire 3 and the metal wire 3 detects abnormalities such as scratches on the metal wire 3, and if there is an abnormality, the sensor Marker 6 provided downstream from 5 in the conveyance direction (direction of arrow A) of metal wire 3
(e.g. paint spraying equipment, marking means)
is driven to mark the abnormal portion of the metal wire 3 with paint or the like.

By the way, in the conventional marking device 1 of this type, when the sensor 5 detects a scratch or the like, a time delay device (not shown) such as a timer is activated, and the marker 6 is driven based on the output of this time delay device. It was common for things to be done. In this case, the marker 6 may be driven for a predetermined period of time (for example, the time required for one point on the metal wire 3 to move from the position of the sensor 5 to the position of the marker 6) from the time when the scratch etc. is detected. Alternatively, there is a method in which the marker 6 is driven for a predetermined period of time after the predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time when the scratch etc. is detected, but in any of the above methods, the conveyance speed of the metal wire 3 is constant. However, if the conveyance speed of the metal wire 3 changes, the marking position shifts back and forth in the conveyance direction according to the conveyance speed, making it impossible to perform accurate marking. There is a drawback. Further, in a metal wire manufacturing line as shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance speed of the metal wire generally varies greatly.

As described above, the conventional marking apparatus of this type has the disadvantage that if the conveyance speed of the object to be inspected changes, it becomes impossible to accurately mark the abnormal area.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a marking device that can accurately mark an abnormal location on an object to be inspected even if the conveyance speed of the object to be inspected changes. It is an object.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an inspection process in a metal wire production line. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. , and the explanation thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, 5 is an eddy current flaw detection coil (sensor), and this eddy current flaw detection coil 5 is
Metal wire 3 that passes through the magnetic core of the coil and is conveyed
If there is an abnormality such as a scratch on the object to be inspected, its impedance changes. The flaw detection circuit 7 is a circuit configured to detect a change in impedance of the eddy current flaw detection coil 5 and output a pulse signal of "1" when the impedance changes. Reference numeral 8 denotes a conveyance distance detection section provided to detect the distance over which the metal wire 3 is conveyed.
In this conveyance distance detection section 8, 9 is a roller, and the outer circumferential surface of the roller 9 is pressed against the metal wire 3, and when the metal wire 3 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A, the outer circumferential surface It is supported so as to rotate without generating slip between it and the metal wire 3. In this case, the roller 9 rotates once when the metal wire 3 is conveyed 1 m in the direction of arrow A. The pulse generator 10 converts the amount of rotation of the roller 9 into a pulse train signal with the number of pulses corresponding to the amount of rotation. In this case, the pulse generator 10 outputs a pulse train signal of 100 pulses for each rotation of the roller 9. Ru. Next, 11 is configured to drive the marker 6 from the time when the eddy current flaw detection coil 5 detects an abnormal location such as a flaw on the metal wire 3 until the abnormal location reaches a predetermined location near the marker 6. This is the control circuit. In this control circuit 11, a portion consisting of an inverter 12-0 and JK flip-flops 12-1 to 12-20 constitutes a 20-stage shift register 12. The input point of this shift register 12 is the connection point between the set input terminal J of the JK flip-flop 12-1 and the input terminal of the inverter 12-0, and the output signal of the flaw detection circuit 7 described above is supplied to this input point. ing. Also, a 1/2 frequency divider 13 connected in series,
14 is a frequency divider for frequency dividing the output of the pulse generator 10 mentioned above, and from the output of the 1/2 frequency divider 14, the number of pulses is 1/4 of the number of pulses output by the pulse generator 10. is output. The pulse train signal output from the 1/2 frequency divider 14 is supplied to the shift register 12 as a shift pulse. Reference numeral 15 denotes a rotary type changeover switch, and this changeover switch 15 connects the JK flip-flop 12--in the shift register 12.
This is for selectively taking out the signals obtained at each set output terminal Q of 11 to 12-20. 16 also determines the operation timing of marker 6.
This is an SR type flip-flop, and this flip-flop 16 is set when a "1" signal is supplied from the flaw detection circuit 7 to its set input terminal S.
In addition, a changeover switch 15 is connected to the reset input terminal R.
It is reset when a ``1'' signal is supplied via . The signal at the set output terminal Q of this flip-flop 16 is supplied to a gate circuit 17. On the other hand, the stop signal generation circuit 18 is activated only when the pulse generator 10 is outputting a predetermined number or more of pulses within a predetermined time, that is, when the metal wire 3 is being conveyed at a speed higher than a predetermined speed (lower limit speed). The "1" signal is output only when the metal wire 3 is being transported at an extremely low speed or is stopped.
is a circuit that outputs a "0" signal. The output of this stop signal generating circuit 18 is the gate circuit 1.
7. This gate circuit 17 ANDs the output signal of the flip-flop 16 and the output signal of the stop signal generating circuit 18, and outputs a "1" signal only when both of these signals are "1" signals. The marker 6 is driven by the "1" signal output from the gate circuit 17.

The operation of this embodiment with the above configuration is as follows. First, it is assumed that the distance d between the eddy current flaw detection coil 5 and the marker 6 is set to 60 cm, and that the metal wire 3 is being conveyed in the direction of arrow A at a speed higher than the lower limit speed. In this case, the pulse generator 10 outputs 100 pulses every time the metal wire 3 is conveyed by 1 m (that is, 1 pulse is output every time the metal wire 3 is conveyed by 1 cm). Therefore, one pulse is output from the 1/2 frequency divider 14 every time the metal wire 3 is conveyed by 4 cm, and this pulse train signal is supplied to the shift register 12 as a shift pulse. Also in this case,
The stop signal generation circuit 18 outputs a "1" signal. Now, if there is an abnormal part such as a flaw in the part of the metal wire 3 that passes through the magnetic core of the eddy current flaw detection coil 5, the flaw detection circuit 7 outputs a pulse signal of "1". The output of the flaw detection circuit 7 immediately sets the flip-flop 16, so that the gate circuit 17 outputs a "1" signal, and as a result, the marker 6 starts operating (that is, the metal wire 3 is sprayed with paint and marked). ).
Further, the pulse signal of "1" outputted by the flaw detection circuit 7 gives a set condition to the JK flip-flop 12-1 in the shift register 12, and when the 1/2 frequency divider 14 outputs the pulse signal, the JK flip-flop 12-1 is set. Set it to 1. The output of the flaw detection circuit 7 stored in the JK flip-flop 12-1 in this way changes by 1 bit each time the 1/2 frequency divider 14 outputs a pulse signal, that is, each time the metal wire 3 is conveyed by 4 cm. It's being shifted. And the JK selected by the changeover switch 15
When the output of the flip-flop becomes "1", the output resets the flip-flop 16, and as a result, the operation of the marker 6 is stopped. In the above operation, the shift register 12 changes the setting position of the selection switch 15 while the abnormal area is being transported from the eddy current testing coil 5 to the marker 6 (this distance is 60 cm as described above). If the set output terminal Q of the JK flip-flop 12-15 corresponds to the number of shifts (60 cm/4 cm = 15), the marker 6 starts operating when the eddy current testing coil 5 detects the abnormal location, and at this point The operation ends when the metal wire 3 is conveyed approximately 4 cm x 15 = 60 cm. Therefore, the marking on the metal wire 3 in this case is as shown in FIG.
The forward direction of the conveyance direction of the same metal wire 3 at the abnormal location B in
It is carried out from around 60cm to this abnormality point B, and abnormality point B is the metal wire 3 of this marking part.
It is located at the rear end as shown in the figure with respect to the conveyance direction. According to this embodiment, the relative position of this marking portion with respect to the abnormal location B and its length in the transport direction are determined by the number of shifts in the shift register 12 as described above, and this number of shifts is determined by the number of shifts in the shift register 12. Since it is only related to the distance, it does not change at all even if the conveyance speed of the metal wire 3 changes. In addition, in this device, the stop signal generation circuit 18 generates a stop signal when the conveyance speed of the metal wire 3 is lower than the lower limit speed, or when the conveyance speed of the metal wire 3 decreases below the lower limit speed or stops during marking. Since the gate circuit 17 is configured to prevent the marker 6 from operating in response to this signal, the marker 6 may continue to operate for a long time, wasting the marking agent, or excessive marking may adversely affect the metal wire 3. It is possible to prevent the risk of harm, etc.

In this embodiment, the distance between the eddy current flaw detection coil 5 and the marker 6 was set to 60 cm, but this distance may be set arbitrarily. However, in this case, it is necessary to operate the changeover switch 15 to appropriately set the length of the marking portion according to the set distance. Further, in this embodiment, the object to be inspected is described as a metal wire, but the object to be inspected may be any object as long as it can be transported through a passage and inspected. Further, the sensor is not limited to an eddy current flaw detection coil, but any sensor may be used as long as it is capable of detecting an abnormal part from the transported object to be inspected. For reference, a front view (operation panel) of the control unit 11 in this embodiment described above is shown in FIG. 4.

As explained above, the marking device according to the present invention includes a sensor for detecting an abnormal part from an object to be inspected that is conveyed through a passage, and a marking device provided downstream of the sensor for marking the object to be inspected. means, a conveying distance detecting means for outputting a pulse train signal corresponding to the conveying distance of the object to be inspected, and a marking means when an abnormal part in the object to be inspected is detected based on the output of the sensor and the output of the conveying distance detecting means. A control circuit that starts driving the marking means and stops driving the marking means when the abnormal part reaches the vicinity of the marking means, and a control circuit that generates a stop signal when the conveyance speed of the object to be inspected falls below a certain value based on the output of the conveyance speed detection means. It is equipped with a stop signal generation circuit that outputs a stop signal, and a gate circuit that does not drive the marking means while this stop signal generation circuit is generating a stop signal, so it can be In addition to being able to accurately mark a certain length of the front side of the abnormal part of the object to be inspected, even if the object to be inspected is thin like a wire, compared to a configuration that only locally marks the abnormal part. It is easy to visually recognize the marking, and it is easy to confirm the abnormal part located at the end of the marking. Furthermore, in this device, the stop signal generation circuit generates a stop signal when the conveyance speed of the inspected object is slower than a predetermined lower limit speed, or when the conveyance speed of the inspected object decreases below the lower limit speed or stops during marking. Since the emission gate circuit is configured to prevent the marking means from operating, there is no risk that the marking means will continue to operate for a long time, wasting marking agent, etc., or that excessive marking will have a negative effect on the object to be inspected. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a marking device applied to a metal wire inspection process, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration when the present invention is applied to a metal wire inspection process, and Fig. 3 is an embodiment of the same. FIG. 4 is a front view of the control unit in the same example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Marking device, 3... Test object (metal wire), 5... Sensor (eddy current flaw detection coil), 6... Marker (marking means), 8... Transport distance detection means, 11... Control circuit, 17...gate circuit, 1
8...Stop signal generation circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sensor provided along a path of the object to be inspected and for detecting an abnormal part in the object to be inspected from the object to be inspected that is transported along the path; marking means for marking the object to be inspected, and conveyance distance detecting means for outputting a pulse train signal with a number of pulses corresponding to the distance over which the object to be inspected has been conveyed along the passage; , the marking means is started to be driven when an abnormal part in the object to be inspected is detected based on the output of the sensor and the output of the transport distance detecting means, and when the abnormal part reaches the vicinity of the marking means; a control circuit that drives and stops the marking means; a stop signal generation circuit that outputs a stop signal when the conveyance speed of the object to be inspected falls below a certain value based on the output of the conveyance speed detection means; and a stop signal generation circuit that stops the marking means. A marking device comprising: a gate circuit that does not drive marking means while a signal is being generated.