JPH0541368Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a device for detecting the combination and separation of two objects.

BACKGROUND ART FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional device for detecting the coupling/separation of two objects, and when the two objects 1 and 2 are coupled, a connector 3 provided at the coupling portion of these objects 1 and 2 is shown. A bypass path 4 is formed through the two sets of pin joints 3a, 3b, while when the two objects 1, 2 are separated, the two sets of pin joints 3a,
3b is removed, the bypass path 4 is opened and the relay 5 is driven.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Even when the two objects 1 and 2 are connected, approximately the same amount of current as the relay drive current is consumed, resulting in a large amount of power consumption and a heavy load on the battery. Moreover,
When the two objects 1 and 2 are separated, the two sets of pin joints 3a and 3b remain exposed,
These two sets of pin joints 3a, 3b are short-circuited on their exposed surfaces, a bypass path 4 is formed, and the relay 5
The drive current may be cut off and malfunction may occur.

Therefore, the present invention provides a detection device for coupling and separating two objects, which can reduce power consumption and prevent malfunctions caused by short circuits.

Means for Solving the Problem One of the two separable and combinable objects is provided with a main body that separates a reception chamber, and the end surface of the first light conduction path leading to the light source is attached to the wall of the reception chamber. and the end face of the second light conduction path connected to the light receiving section are exposed and arranged, while the end faces of the first and second light conduction paths are covered and placed inside the receiving chamber when the other object is connected.
The optical conductive path and the second optical conductive path are optically blocked, and when the other object is separated, the first optical conductive path and the second optical conductive path are separated from the end faces of the first and second optical conductive paths. An actuating member is provided which is coupled to the actuator.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which the same parts as those of the conventional structure are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, two
At the end of one of the two bodies 1 and 2, a body 11 is provided which separates a receiving chamber 10 from the body 11. This main body 11 includes a cylindrical casing 12.
The axis of the casing 12 is oriented in the direction of separation and connection of the two objects 1 and 2. A partition body 13 is provided at the axially intermediate portion of the casing 12 to partition the hollow part into front and rear parts, and the hollow part in front of the partition body 13 is formed into a receiving opening 14 . This socket 1
Numeral 4 is for fitting a pin 15 protruding from the end of the other object 2 when the two objects 1 and 2 are joined. A casing 1 is located approximately in the center of the partition body 13.
A hole 16 is formed which penetrates in the axial direction of 2.
This hole 16 is for inserting a protrusion 17 provided approximately in the center of the rear end surface of the pin 15 when the two objects 1 and 2 are connected. The rear part of the casing 12 is sealed by a block 18. Block 1
8, the inner peripheral surface of the casing 12, and the partition body 1
The above-mentioned receiving chamber 10 is separated from the rear surface of 3.
In the block 18, a first optical conductive path 19 and a second optical conductive path 20 are arranged side by side in the axial direction. 1st
The light guide path 19 is optically connected to a light source 21 arranged at the rear of the main body 11, and the second light guide path 2
0 is optically connected to a light receiving section 22 arranged at the rear of the main body 11. The end surface 19a of the first optical conduction path 19 and the end surface 20a of the second optical conduction path 20 are exposed and arranged on the partition wall of the receiving chamber 10, specifically, on the front surface of the block 18. End surfaces 19a and 2 of the first and second optical conduction paths 19 and 20 on the front surface of this block 18
The peripheral edge including 0a forms an inclined surface 18a that slopes backward from the inside to the outside. On the other hand, reception chamber 1
An actuating member 23 is provided within the housing. This actuating member 23 is activated when the two objects 1 and 2 are connected.
The end surfaces 19a and 20a of the second optical conductive paths 19 and 20 are covered to optically block the first optical conductive path 19 and the second optical conductive path 20, and on the contrary, the two objects 1,
2, the first optical conductive path 1 is separated from the end surfaces 19a and 20a of the first and second optical conductive paths 19 and 20.
9 and the second optical conduction path 20 are optically coupled. Specifically, the actuating member 23 is connected to the casing 1
It is slidable in the axial direction even when it is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of No. 2. The block side surface 23a of the actuating member 23 is shaped to be in close contact with the front surface of the block 18, and a reflective mirror 24 is provided in a closed annular shape on the inclined surface portion of the block side surface 23a. A spring 25 is interposed between the partition body 13 and the actuating member 23 and biases the actuating member 23 in a direction away from the block 18, and one end of the spring 25 is anchored to the rear surface of the partition body 13. The other end is moored to the side surface of the partition of the actuating member 23. In addition,
The casing 12, block 18, actuating member 23, etc. are made of a material that does not transmit light.

According to the structure of the above embodiment, when the two objects 1 and 2 are connected as shown in FIG. By pushing, the block side surface 23a of the actuating member 23 is brought into close contact with the front surface of the block 18,
The first optical conduction path 19 and the second optical conduction path 20 are optically interrupted. As a result, the light l ₁ incident on the first optical conduction path 19 from the light source 21 does not reach the light receiving section 22 . In other words, the light receiving section 22 detects that the two objects 1 and 2 are combined. On the contrary, as shown in Figure 2, two objects 1 and 2
When the actuating member 2 is separated by the aforementioned protrusion 17,
3 is released, the actuating member 23 is moved back by the spring 25, and the block side surface 23a of the actuating member 23 is released from the front surface of the block 18. Then, the light l ₁ entering the first optical conduction path 19 from the light source 21 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 24 and received by the light receiving section 22 via the second optical conduction path 20. , 2 is detected. In this separation detection state, the end surface 20a of the second light conduction path 20 connected to the light receiving section 22 is sealed by the actuating member 23 and the main body 11 separating the receiving chamber 10, so that the light receiving section 22 is exposed to the outside. It doesn't let in any light.

FIG. 3 shows a different example of the present invention, in which a third optical conduction path 26 is provided that spans the actuating member 23, the partition body 13, and the pin 15 and is coaxial with the first optical conduction path 19, and While the reflecting mirror 24A is configured as a half mirror, the wavelength of the light _l1 from the light source 11 is set to a wavelength that is reflected by the reflecting mirror 24A, and another light source that emits light _l2 having a wavelength that passes through the reflecting mirror 24A is set. The light source 27 is optically connected to the first optical conduction path 19, and in addition to the effects of the previous embodiment, when the two objects 1 and 2 are coupled, the reflecting mirror 24A
It is possible to exchange information between two objects 1 and 2 by the light l ₂ that passes through the object.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, when two objects are connected, power consumption in the light receiving section can be eliminated, and power consumption at the time of connection can be reduced. Moreover, since current is converted into light, malfunctions due to short circuits can be prevented when two objects are separated. Moreover, since the end surfaces of the first and second optical conduction paths can be isolated from the outside by the main body and the actuating member not only when two objects are connected but also when they are separated, malfunctions caused by external light can be prevented. Furthermore, semiconductor elements can be used for the light source and the light receiving section, such as using an LED for the light source and a photodiode or phototransistor for the light receiving section, which further reduces power consumption for overall detection of coupling and separation. There are practical effects such as being able to do the same.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which two objects are combined according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which two objects of the same embodiment are separated, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which two objects of the invention are separated. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a different example of the invention, and is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional two-member coupling/separation detection device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2...Object, 10...Receiving chamber, 11...Main body, 19...First light conduction path, 20...Second light conduction path, 19a, 20a...End surface, 23...Operation member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] One of the two objects that can be separated and combined is provided with a main body that separates a receiving chamber, and the end surface of the first light conduction path connected to the light source and the second light connected to the light receiving part are provided on the wall surface of the receiving chamber. The end surfaces of the first and second optical conduction paths are exposed and arranged, while the end surfaces of the first and second optical conduction paths are covered and placed inside the receiving chamber when the other object is coupled.
The optical conductive path and the second optical conductive path are optically blocked, and when the other object is separated, the first optical conductive path and the second optical conductive path are separated from the end faces of the first and second optical conductive paths. 1. A device for detecting connection and separation of two objects, characterized in that an actuating member that connects them is provided.