JPH02304310A - Automatic level measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To measure a horizontal level automatically without any manual work by providing a photodetecting means consisting of plural photodetecting elements on a traveling body on a rail and detecting variation in the horizontal level according to its signal. CONSTITUTION:The frame F of an automatic stack crane is provided with the photodetection part 2 which has the photodetecting elements 2a, 2b... 2k and the laser light of a level meter 1 is photodetected and converted into a digital signal. When a measurement is taken, the digital signal of the photodetection part 2 is converted by an input interface circuit 5 into an analog signal, which is amplified by an amplifying circuit 6, digitized by a memory circuit 7, and outputted on a printer 9 through an output interface circuit 8. Then light striking on the photodetecting elements 2a... shift in position according to the variation in the horizontal level, the level of the analog signal varies accordingly, and the ratio of the variation is outputted on the printer 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an automatic level measuring device suitable for use, for example, in measuring the horizontal level of a running rail or the like.

"Prior Art" Conventionally, laser level meters have been mainly used to measure the horizontal level of running rails, etc.

When measuring the horizontal level of a traveling rail using this level meter, first a measuring tape is applied to the traveling object on the traveling rail, and then a laser beam is directed from the level meter to the measuring tape. Then, changes in the horizontal level as the vehicle travels are read from the position of the light hitting the measure and recorded.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' By the way, to measure the horizontal level using the conventional level meter mentioned above, there are two steps: reading the position from the light that hits the measure, and recording the reading result. Since it requires manpower to carry out the measurement, it is difficult to carry out efficient measurement work.

Also, since it is a visual reading, the accuracy is ±5m.
It was difficult to measure with high precision, as only about m was obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic level measuring device that can improve work efficiency and perform highly accurate measurements.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention provides an automatic level measuring device that measures the horizontal level of an object using a laser or light, in which a plurality of photodetecting elements are arranged on the same straight line, and each It is characterized by comprising a photodetection means for detecting the laser beam, and an output means for outputting a change in the horizontal level based on a signal output from each of the photodetection elements.

[Function J According to this invention, when the light detection means is hit by a laser beam,
A horizontal level corresponding to the area hit by the light is output.

"Embodiments" Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a measurement state according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, this embodiment was applied to measuring the horizontal level of the running rail of an auto stack crane, which is a type of logistics equipment. Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows an external view of the auto stack crane.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a conventionally used laser type level meter. Reference numeral 2 denotes a light detection section, which is attached to the frame F of the auto stack crane so as to face the laser beam emitting surface of the level meter 1, as shown in the figure. As shown in FIG. 2, this photodetecting section 2 includes two photodetecting elements 2a and 2 arranged on the same straight line.
b... 2j, 2k are constructed by H if number of elements, and an output can be obtained from each element. That is, a parallel digital signal is output from the photodetector 2.Next, in FIG.
This is an output unit that outputs the horizontal level of the object to be measured (in this case, the running rail of an auto stack crane). Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the output section 3. As shown in FIG.

In this figure, 4 is a control circuit that controls each circuit of the output section 3, including a CPU (central processing unit) and a ROM (not shown).
(read-only memory), etc.

In this case, a program (measurement control program) for controlling CI) U is written in the ROM. Reference numeral 5 denotes a human interface circuit, which includes a D/A (analog/digital) converter (not shown) and converts the digital signal output from the photodetector 2 into an analog signal. In this case, the connection between the photodetector 2 and the D/A converter is as follows. That is, the output terminal of the photodetecting element 2 is connected to the 2° input terminal of the D/A converter, and the output terminal of the photodetecting element 2j is connected to the 2' input terminal of the same converter. . Similarly, 2!23.2' of the D/A converter,
The photodetecting elements 2i, 2h, 2g, . . . are connected to the input ends of the . Reference numeral 6 denotes an amplifier circuit, which amplifies the analog signal output from the input interface circuit 5 with a predetermined amplification factor. 7 is a memory circuit configured with an A/D converter (path shown), which converts the analog signal output from the amplifier circuit 6 into a digital signal and stores it in the memory, and also outputs it to the outside. . Reference numeral 8 denotes an output interface circuit which converts the digital signal output from the memory circuit 7 into data for printer output and outputs the data. Further, the output interface circuit 8 includes a built-in power supply circuit that supplies power to each circuit. In this case, power is also supplied to the photodetector 2.

9 is a printer. As mentioned above. The level meter 11, the light detection section 2, and the output section 3 constitute an automatic level measurement device.

In the automatic level measuring device configured in this way,
First, the level meter 1 is installed at a position approximately 5fflH away from the travel start position of the auto stack crane, and then the light detection section 2 is placed on the frame of the auto stack crane so that the laser beam hits the approximate center of the detection section. Install IJ on F
Le.

After making these settings, turn on the power switch (not shown) of the output section 3, and then turn on the measurement start switch (not shown) at the same time as the auto stack crane starts traveling. As a result, first of all, the traveling rail I at the time when the measurement start switch is turned on,
The horizontal level of is outputted by the printer 9. That is,
The digital signal output from the photodetector 2 is converted into an analog signal by the input interface circuit 5, then amplified by the amplifier circuit 6, and then converted into a digital signal by the memory circuit 7 and written into the memory. The data is supplied to the output interface circuit 8, where it is converted into data for printer output, and output to the printer 9.

Next, as the auto stack crane travels, the traveling rail 1. The horizontal level of the image is output to the printer 9. In this case, when the crane moves due to changes in the horizontal level of the traveling rail [7], the position of the laser light hitting the light detection sensors 2a, 2b, etc. changes accordingly, and accordingly The level of the analog signal output from the interface circuit 5 changes, and the rate of this change is output by the printer 9.

In this way, when the auto stack crane travels a predetermined travel type M (for example, 200 m), changes in the horizontal level of the travel rail L over this distance are output to the printer 9 over time. This makes it possible to see at a glance changes in the horizontal level of the running rail during the running process.

In addition, in the embodiment described in (-), the case where the invention was applied to the measurement of the horizontal 1-novel of the running rail of an auto stack crane was explained, but it is clear that the invention can be applied in other cases as well.

``Effects of the Invention'' - As explained above, according to the automatic level measuring device of the present invention, the horizontal level can be automatically obtained according to the location where the emitted laser light hits, so that Compared to the case where the position hit by the emitted laser beam is visually measured using a tape measure or the like, highly accurate measurement is possible without the need for human labor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a measurement state using an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one part constituting the embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the output section constituting the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an external view showing the auto-stunk crane. 1... Level meter, 2... Light detection section (light detection means), 3... Output section (output means), 4... Control circuit, 5... Input interface circuit, 6...Amplification circuit, 7...Memory circuit, 8...Output interface circuit, 9...Printer (4 to 9 constitute the output section 3), 17... Traveling rail (object). Applicant Ishikawajima Logistics Service Co., Ltd. Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic level measuring device that measures the horizontal level of a target object using laser light, a plurality of light detection elements are arranged on the same straight line, each of which detects the laser light, and the light detection means. An automatic level measuring device comprising: output means for outputting changes in the horizontal level based on signals output from each element.