Optical encoder and roller module using the same

Abstract

The roller module includes a roller, a magnetically guided internal gear, and an optical encoder. The magnetically guided internal gear is disposed inside the roller and rotates synchronously with the roller. The inner edge of the magnetically guided internal gear includes a plurality of staggered tooth tips and tooth roots. The optical encoder includes a grating disk, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a first magnetic element, and a second magnetic element. The grating disk has a plurality of staggered light-blocking and light-transmitting portions. The first and second magnetic elements are adjacent to the inner edge of the magnetically guided internal gear and maintain a distance from the magnetically guided internal gear. When the roller rotates, it drives the magnetically guided internal gear and the grating disk to rotate synchronously, so that the light-transmitting and light-blocking portions pass through the gap between the light emitting element and the light receiving element in sequence to generate photoelectric signals. At the same time, the tooth tips and tooth roots of the magnetically guided internal gear and the adjacent first and second magnetic elements generate a tactile feedback due to the change in magnetic attraction.

Claims

1. A roller module, comprising: A support base; a roller pivotally mounted on the support base, the roller having a wheel frame, a first axle and a second axle; A magnetically guided internal gear is disposed within the wheel frame and can rotate synchronously with the wheel frame. The inner edge of the magnetically guided internal gear includes a plurality of tooth tips and a plurality of tooth roots, which are alternately arranged. An optical encoder is mounted on the support base. The optical encoder includes a grating disk, a bracket, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a first magnetic element, and a second magnetic element. The grating disk is fixed to the second shaft and can rotate synchronously with the roller. The grating disk has a plurality of light-blocking parts and a plurality of light-transmitting parts, which are alternately arranged. The bracket has a first clamping part and a second clamping part. The first magnetic element is fixed to the first clamping part, and the second magnetic element is fixed to the second clamping part. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are adjacent to the inner edge of the magnetically guided internal gear, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element maintain a distance from the magnetically guided internal gear. When the roller rotates, it drives the magnetic internal gear and the grating turntable to rotate synchronously, so that the plurality of light-transmitting parts and light-blocking parts will pass through the gap between the light emitting element and the light receiving element in sequence to generate photoelectric signals. At the same time, the tooth tips and tooth roots arranged alternately in the magnetic internal gear and the adjacent first magnetic element and second magnetic element will generate a sudden feedback due to the change of magnetic attraction force.

2. The roller module as claimed in claim 1, the roller further comprising a wheel cover formed on one side of the wheel rim, a first axle formed at the center of the wheel cover and extending outward from the wheel cover along a first axis, a second axle formed at the center of the wheel cover and extending outward from the wheel cover along a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being coaxial and opposite in direction.

3. The roller module as described in claim 1, wherein the second shaft has a locking shaft, the locking shaft is a non-circular shaft, the grating turntable has a shaft hole, the shape of the shaft hole is corresponding to the locking shaft, so that the shaft hole can be fitted onto the locking shaft, so that the grating turntable can rotate synchronously with the wheel frame or the magnetic internal gear.

4. The roller module as described in claim 1, wherein the first clamping part and the second clamping part extend into the hollow structure of the magnetically conductive internal gear, such that the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are radially adjacent to the inner edge of the magnetically conductive internal gear.

5. As described in claim 1, when the roller or the magnetic internal gear is not rotating or has stopped rotating, the first magnetic element is radially aligned with one of the plurality of tooth tips.

6. As described in claim 5, when the roller or the magnetic internal gear is not rotating or has stopped rotating, the second magnetic element is radially aligned with another tooth tip among the plurality of tooth tips.

7. The roller module as described in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element is selected from a magnet, the first magnetic element includes a first magnetic end and a second magnetic end, the first magnetic end of the first magnetic element is close to one of the tooth tips of the plurality of teeth in the magnetically guided internal gear, and the second magnetic end of the first magnetic element is away from the tooth tip.

8. The roller module as described in claim 7, wherein the first magnetic end of the first magnetic element has a protruding structure.

9. The roller module as described in claim 7, wherein the second magnetic element is selected from a magnet, the second magnetic element includes a first magnetic end and a second magnetic end, the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element is close to another tooth tip among the plurality of tooth tips in the magnetically guided internal gear, the first magnetic end of the second magnetic element is far from the other tooth tip, the first magnetic end of the first magnetic element and the first magnetic end of the second magnetic element have the same magnetic pole, and the second magnetic end of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element have the same magnetic pole.

10. The roller module as described in claim 9, wherein the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element has a protruding structure.

11. The roller module as described in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element is selected from a magnet, the first magnetic element includes a first magnetic end and a second magnetic end, the first magnetic end of the first magnetic element is close to one of the tooth tips of the plurality of teeth in the magnetically guided internal gear, and the second magnetic end of the first magnetic element is far away from the tooth tip, the shape of the first magnetic element is a trapezoidal prism structure, which tapers from the second magnetic end of the first magnetic element towards the first magnetic end of the first magnetic element.

12. The roller module as described in claim 11, wherein the second magnetic element is selected from a magnet, the second magnetic element includes a first magnetic end and a second magnetic end, the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element is close to another tooth tip among the plurality of tooth tips in the magnetically guided internal gear, and the first magnetic end of the second magnetic element is far away from the other tooth tip, the shape of the second magnetic element is a trapezoidal prism structure, which tapers from the first magnetic end of the second magnetic element towards the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element.

13. The roller module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic component includes a first magnet, a second magnet, and a third magnet, the first magnet being located between the second magnet and the third magnet, the magnetic poles of the first magnet being arranged laterally, including a first magnetic pole near the tip of a tooth in the magnetically conductive internal gear and a second magnetic pole away from the tip of the tooth in the magnetically conductive internal gear, the magnetic poles of the second magnet being arranged longitudinally, including a first magnetic pole away from the first magnet and a second magnetic pole in contact with the first magnet, the magnetic poles of the third magnet being arranged longitudinally, including a first magnetic pole in contact with the first magnet and a second magnetic pole away from the first magnet, the first magnetic pole of the first magnet, the second magnetic pole of the second magnet, and the first magnetic pole of the third magnet having the same magnetic pole, and the second magnetic pole of the first magnet, the first magnetic pole of the second magnet, and the second magnetic pole of the third magnet having the same magnetic pole.

14. The roller module as described in claim 13, wherein the first magnetic end of the first magnet forms a protruding structure, and the first magnetic end of the first magnet is closer to the tooth tip in the magnetically conductive internal gear than other parts of the first magnetic element.

15. The roller module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic component includes a fourth magnet, a fifth magnet, and a sixth magnet, the fourth magnet being located between the fifth magnet and the sixth magnet, the magnetic poles of the fourth magnet being arranged laterally, including a first magnetic pole away from the other tooth tip of the magnetically conductive internal gear and a second magnetic pole close to the other tooth tip of the magnetically conductive internal gear, the magnetic poles of the fifth magnet being arranged longitudinally, including a first magnetic pole away from the fourth magnet and a second magnetic pole attached to the fourth magnet, the magnetic poles of the sixth magnet being arranged longitudinally, including a first magnetic pole attached to the fourth magnet and a second magnetic pole away from the fourth magnet, the first magnetic poles of the fourth magnet, the second magnetic poles of the fifth magnet, and the first magnetic poles of the sixth magnet having the same magnetic poles, and the second magnetic poles of the fourth magnet, the fifth magnet, and the sixth magnet having the same magnetic poles.

16. The roller module as described in claim 15, wherein the second magnetic end of the fourth magnet forms a protruding structure, and the second magnetic end of the fourth magnet is closer to the other tooth tip in the magnetically conductive internal gear than other parts of the second magnetic element.

17. A roller module, comprising: A support base; a roller pivotally mounted on the support base, the roller having a frame, a first shaft, and a second shaft; a magnetically guided internal gear disposed within the frame and capable of rotating synchronously with the frame, the inner edge of the magnetically guided internal gear including a plurality of tooth tips and a plurality of tooth roots, the tooth tips and tooth roots being alternately arranged; and an optical encoder mounted on the support base, the optical encoder including a grating disk, a bracket, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a magnetic ring, wherein the grating disk is fixed to the second shaft and capable of rotating synchronously with the roller, the grating disk having a plurality of light-blocking parts and a plurality of light-transmitting parts, the light-blocking parts and the light-transmitting parts being... The magnetic rings are staggered and fixed to the bracket. Each magnetic ring is selected from a magnet and includes a first magnetic end, a second magnetic end, and a hollow portion. The hollow portion is located between the first and second magnetic ends. The first magnetic end has a tapered structure and forms at least one first tip, which is close to the tooth tip of the magnetically guided internal gear. The second magnetic end has a tapered structure and forms at least one second tip. The first and second tips of the magnetic ring are spaced apart from the magnetically guided internal gear. When the roller rotates, it drives the magnetically guided internal gear and the grating turntable to rotate synchronously, so that the plurality of light-transmitting and light-blocking parts pass through the gap between the light emitting element and the light receiving element in sequence to generate photoelectric signals. At the same time, the staggered tooth tips and roots of the magnetically guided internal gear and the adjacent magnetic ring generate a tactile feedback due to the change in magnetic attraction.

18. The roller module as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bracket has a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, the first magnetic end being fixed to the first clamping portion and the second magnetic end being fixed to the second clamping portion.

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