Optoelectronic sensor

Abstract

Optoelectronic sensor (S) with a two-part housing, wherein the two-part housing comprises a first housing part (G1) for housing a sensor electronics and a second housing part (G2) for fastening the sensor (S) in its operating position, the first housing part (G1) has a front side with a viewing window and a back side, and the second housing part (G2) has a fastening section provided for attaching the sensor (S) to structures, and a connecting section provided for adjustably connecting the second housing part (G2) to the rear side of the first housing part (G1), characterized in that at least one first adjustment unit (VE1) is provided on the connecting section, which adjusts the first and second housing parts (G1, G2) relative to one another in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner by rotating the adjustment unit (VE1), wherein the first adjustment unit (VE1) is formed from a thread (1) and a threaded pin (2a), and wherein the first adjustment unit (VE1) comprises a bearing (L) provided on the rear side of the first housing part (G1), on which the threaded pin (2a) is arranged, which extends in the vertical direction of the sensor (S) and comprises a thread (1) provided on the second housing part (G2), into which the threaded pin (2a) engages, and a second adjustment unit (VE2) with a threaded pin (2b) provided on the second housing part (G2), which extends in the horizontal direction of the sensor (S), and a gear (3) provided on the first housing part (G1), into which the threaded pin (2b) intervenes, includes.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor for detecting an object according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Conventional optoelectronic sensors have holes in their housings that allow the sensor housing to be mounted on structures such as scaffolding, a wall, or the like, positioning the sensors in their operating positions. Once mounted in their operating positions, the sensors' orientation is predefined.

[0003] Due to tolerances, sensors, especially reflective or through-beam photoelectric sensors or light sensors, exhibit a so-called squint angle, meaning that the light emitted by the sensors is within a defined angle. Furthermore, the operating positions of the sensors and their associated reflectors or receivers also vary due to mounting tolerances.

[0004] This may require a correction of the alignment of the sensors, in which a light beam emitted by the sensors is directed onto the respective reflectors or receivers.

[0005] DE 20 2008 018 144 U1 describes an optical sensor of the type mentioned above, in which the sensor housing is provided with a fastening device that engages with a mounting adapter by means of a circular dovetail guide. The mounting adapter is attached to structures so that the sensor is mounted in its operating position. By loosening the fastening device, the sensor can be aligned along the circular dovetail guide around a horizontal axis of the sensor and fixed in the aligned operating position by retightening the fastening device.

[0006] DE 102012010933 A1 discloses a camera mount with a drive device in which the alignment can be adjusted by means of a motor via a worm gear and a worm wheel. DE 19526556 A1 shows a manually operated adjustment device with a worm gear and worm for aligning an infrared temperature sensor.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an optoelectronic sensor that can be aligned precisely and quickly.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by an optoelectronic sensor having the features of claim 1.

[0009] The adjustment unit consists of a thread and a threaded pin. This offers the advantage that, once the sensor is firmly mounted in its operating position, the sensor can be precisely aligned simply by turning the adjustment unit, without loosening and retightening any part of the sensor.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second housing parts are movably connected to one another by a tongue and groove connection. The tongue and groove connection between the first and second housing parts advantageously enables a rotational movement of the housing parts relative to one another, both about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis of the sensor.

[0011] Furthermore, according to the invention, the first adjustment unit comprises a bearing provided on the rear side of the first housing part, on which a threaded pin is arranged which extends in the vertical direction of the sensor, and a thread provided on the second housing part, into which the threaded pin engages.

[0012] Furthermore, the second adjustment unit comprises a threaded pin provided on the second housing part, which extends in the horizontal direction of the sensor, and a gear provided on the first housing part, into which the threaded pin engages.

[0013] Furthermore, the first adjustment unit is provided with a bearing provided on the rear side of the first housing part, on which a threaded pin is arranged, which extends in the vertical direction of the sensor, and with a thread provided on the second housing part, in which the threaded pin engages, and the second adjustment unit is provided with a threaded pin provided on the second housing part, which extends in the horizontal direction of the sensor, and with a gear provided on the first housing part, in which the threaded pin engages.

[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment, the adjustment units are designed for the force-fitting or form-fitting adjustment of the first housing part to the second housing part about a vertical axis of the sensor and / or along the vertical axis of the sensor.

[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment, the adjustment unit is designed for the force-fitting or form-fitting adjustment of the first housing part to the second housing part about a horizontal axis of the sensor.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment, the thread is designed as a gear, a rack or the like.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment, the rear side of the first housing part is convex or concave and the connecting section of the second housing part is correspondingly concave or convex.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment, the thread is convex or concave.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the fastening section of the second housing part is designed as an additional side wall that runs parallel to the first housing part. Advantageously, an additional adjustment unit is provided between the second housing part and the additional side wall, which is arranged perpendicular to the adjustment unit located between the first and second housing parts. This allows the optical axis of the sensor to be adjusted about an additional axis.

[0020] Preferred embodiments and further developments as well as further advantages of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

[0021] The invention will be explained in detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic 3D representation of a preferred embodiment of a sensor according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the sensor according to the invention of Fig. 1 along the section plane AA; Fig. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the sensor according to the invention; Fig. 4 a schematic side view of another preferred embodiment of the sensor according to the invention; Fig. 5 a schematic side view of another preferred embodiment of the sensor according to the invention; Fig. 6, Fig. 6a is a schematic representation of another preferred embodiment of the sensor according to the invention and a side sectional view thereof; and Fig. 7, Fig. 7a a schematic side view and top view of another preferred embodiment of the sensor according to the invention.

[0022] In the Fig. 1 shows a schematic 3D representation of a preferred embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention.

[0023] The sensor S according to the invention has a two-part housing comprising a first housing part G1 and a second housing part G2. The first housing part G1 houses sensor electronics, and the second housing part G2 serves to mount the sensor S in its operating position on structures such as scaffolding, walls, or the like.

[0024] The first and second housing parts G1 and G2 are movably connected to each other via a tongue and groove connection FN.

[0025] The first housing part G1 has a front side with a viewing window and a rear side. The light beams of the sensor S are emitted through the viewing window. On the rear side of the first housing part G1 is a connecting section of the second housing part G2, which is provided for adjustably connecting the second housing part G2 to the rear side of the first housing part G1. Furthermore, the second housing part G2 has a mounting section, which is provided for attaching the sensor S to structures.

[0026] According to the invention, at least one adjustment unit VE1 and VE2 is provided on the connecting section, which is intended to bring about a relative non-positive or positive movement of the first and second housing parts G1 and G2 to one another by rotating the adjustment unit VE1 and VE2, so that the first housing part G1 adjusts or changes its orientation relative to the second housing part G2, which is fixedly mounted.

[0027] This means that after mounting the sensor S over the fastening section of the second housing part G2 of the sensor S on superstructures, the alignment of the first housing part G1 of the sensor S with the sensor electronics can be precisely aligned to a reflector or receiver (not shown) by simply turning the adjustment unit VE1 and VE2, e.g. using a screwdriver.

[0028] In this case, it is unnecessary to loosen and tighten any screw connection of the sensor S again, so that the alignment of the sensor S according to the invention can be carried out very easily and, above all, very precisely.

[0029] Advantageously, the adjustment unit VE1 and VE2 is formed from a thread 1 and a threaded pin 2a and 2b, wherein the threaded pin 2a and 2b engages positively in the thread 1. The thread 1 is stamped into an outer side of the connecting portion of the second housing part G2.

[0030] According to the Fig. In the embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention shown in Fig. 1, the adjustment unit VE1 comprises a bearing L provided on the rear side of the first housing part G1, on which the threaded pin 2a is arranged, and the thread 1 provided on the second housing part G2, into which the threaded pin 2a engages in a form-fitting manner.

[0031] Here, both the threaded pin 2a and the thread 1 extend in a vertical direction of the sensor S, so that by turning the threaded pin 2a at the point P1, the first housing part G1 of the sensor S moves or adjusts relative to the second housing part G2 of the sensor S along the arrow Pf1 and a vertical axis vA of the sensor S in the vertical direction.

[0032] As a result, the sensor S according to the invention can be aligned in the vertical direction.

[0033] Furthermore, the sensor S has a second adjustment unit VE2, which comprises a threaded pin 2b provided on the second housing part G2, which extends in a horizontal direction of the sensor S, and a gear 3 provided on the first housing part G1, into which the threaded pin 2b engages.

[0034] By turning at point P2 of the horizontally extending threaded pin 2b, a relative movement of the first housing part G1 with respect to the second housing part G2 takes place, during which the first housing part G1 is rotated about the vertical axis vA of the sensor S.

[0035] As a result, the sensor S according to the invention can be aligned in the horizontal direction.

[0036] In the Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the Fig. 1 shown sensor S according to the invention along the section plane AA.

[0037] The first housing part G1 has two grooves N1 and N2 running along its sides. The second housing part G2 has two springs F1 and F2 on its edges, corresponding to the grooves N1 and N2 of the first housing part G1, positioned in the corresponding grooves N1 and N2. Thus, the first and second housing parts G1 and G2 are movably connected to each other.

[0038] Furthermore, the gear wheel 3 is shown with its thread 1, which is provided on the first housing part G1 and into which the threaded pin 2b extending horizontally on the second housing part G2 engages.

[0039] By turning the horizontally extending threaded pin 2b, the first housing part G1 is rotated relative to the second housing part G2 about the vertical axis vA of the sensor S, which is in the Fig. 2 is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, so that the first housing part G1 rotates along the arrows Pf2 shown.

[0040] The springs F1 and F2 of the second housing part G2 move in accordance with the rotation of the horizontally extending threaded pin 2b in the grooves N1 and N2 of the first housing part G1.

[0041] Thus, according to the exemplary embodiment, the sensor S according to the invention comprises an adjustment unit VE1 with a bearing L provided on the rear side of the first housing part G1, on which bearing the threaded pin 2a extending in the vertical direction of the sensor S is arranged, and with a thread 1 provided on the second housing part G2, into which threaded pin 2a extending in a vertical direction of the sensor S engages, and a further adjustment unit VE2 with a threaded pin 2b provided on the second housing part G2, which extends in a horizontal direction of the sensor S, and with a gear 3 provided on the first housing part G1, into which the horizontally extending threaded pin 2b engages.

[0042] The adjustment units VE1 and VE2 are designed for the force-fitting or form-fitting adjustment of the first housing part G1 to the second housing part G2 about the vertical axis vA of the sensor S and / or along the vertical axis vA of the sensor S, so that the sensor S can be aligned easily and precisely in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention, wherein in the embodiment the adjustment unit VE1 comprises a threaded pin 2a provided on the rear side of the first housing part G1 and extending in a vertical direction of the sensor S, and a thread 1 provided on the second housing part G2 and likewise extending in a vertical direction of the sensor S. The threaded pin 2a engages non-positively in the thread 1, so that by turning the threaded pin 2a the first housing part G1 is moved up or down relative to the second housing part G2 in the vertical direction of the sensor.

[0044] Compared to the previous embodiment, the threaded pin 2a is provided in a recess in the first housing part G1, so that the construction is simplified and the bearing L can be dispensed with.

[0045] In the Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention, in which the adjustment unit VE1 is formed from a thread 1 provided on the rear side of the first housing part G1 and a threaded pin 2a provided in a shoulder on the second housing part G2.

[0046] In this embodiment, the rear side of the first housing part G1 is convex, and the connecting portion of the second housing part G2 is concave. The first and second housing parts G1 and G2 are connected by the tongue and groove connection FN, with the grooves N1 provided on the rear side of the first housing part G1 also being convex, and the tongues F1 provided on the connecting portion of the second housing part G2 being correspondingly concave.

[0047] By turning the threaded pin 2a, the first housing part G1 is rotated relative to the second housing part G2 about a horizontal axis hA of the sensor S, which is in the Fig. 4 is perpendicular to the plane of the page. This allows vertical alignment around the axis hA of the sensor S.

[0048] Furthermore, a tool inserted to rotate the threaded pin 2a has the same orientation throughout the entire alignment of the sensor S.

[0049] In contrast to the previous embodiment in the Fig. 4 shows the Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention, in which the rear side of the first housing part G1 is concave and the connecting section of the second housing part G2 is convex.

[0050] Furthermore, the thread 1 is provided on the convex side of the connecting section of the second housing part G2 and the threaded pin 2a is provided on the back of the first housing part G1, so that by rotating the threaded pin 2a the first housing part G1 is also rotated relative to the second housing part G2 about a horizontal axis hA of the sensor S, which is in the Fig. 5 is rotated perpendicular to the sheet plane.

[0051] However, the orientation of the tool used to rotate the threaded pin 2a changes during the entire alignment of the sensor S. The entire sensor S is advantageously more space-saving than the previous embodiment.

[0052] In the Fig. Figure 6 shows a further preferred embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention and its side sectional view, wherein the straight rear side of the first housing part G1 is extended by an attachment 4, which is convex on a side facing the second housing part G2. The attachment 4 is screwed onto the rear side of the first housing part G1 and has a thread 1 on the convex side.

[0053] The second housing part G2 has the threaded pin 2a on the connecting section, which engages in the thread 1 of the convex side of the attachment 4.

[0054] By actuating the adjustment unit VE1 by turning the threaded pin 2a, the first housing part G1 is rotated relative to the second housing part G2 about a horizontal axis hA of the sensor S, so that the sensor S can be precisely aligned vertically, ie about the axis hA.

[0055] The attachment 4 is advantageously made of a higher-strength material than the first housing part G1, so that the connection between the attachment 4 and the connecting section of the second housing part G2 has a higher strength.

[0056] According to a further preferred embodiment of the sensor S according to the invention, Fig. 7 and Fig. 7a, the second housing part G2 has an additional side wall G2a, which is designed as a fastening section and runs parallel to the first housing part G1. The additional side wall G2a has at least two bores B, through which the sensor S according to the invention can be mounted in its operating position.

[0057] According to the invention, the adjustment unit VE1 is provided between the first and second housing parts G1, G2 in order to adjust the optical axis of the sensor S vertically, ie around the axis hA, by turning the threaded pin 2a.

[0058] In addition, an additional adjustment unit VE3 is provided between the second housing part G2 and the additional side wall G2a, which is arranged perpendicular to the previous adjustment unit VE1 located between the first and second housing parts G1, G2.

[0059] By turning a threaded pin 2c of the additional adjustment unit VE3, the second housing part G2 is adjusted relative to the additional side wall G2a, so that the sensor S according to the invention can be adjusted in a further axis which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the sensor S and to the additional side wall G2a.

[0060] Thus, the optical axis of the sensor S according to the invention can be adjusted quickly and precisely in 2 planes by means of the adjustment units VE1 and VE3. List of reference symbols 1 thread 2a, 2b, 2c threaded pin 3 gear 4 Essay hA Horizontal axis vA Vertical Axis F1, F2 spring FN tongue and groove joint G1, G2 First and second housing part L bearing N1, N2 groove P1, P2 contact point Pf1, Pf2 movement direction arrows S Optoelectronic sensor VE1, VE2, VE3 adjustment unit

Claims

[1] Optoelectronic sensor (S) with a two-part housing, wherein the two-part housing comprises a first housing part (G1) for housing a sensor electronics and a second housing part (G2) for fastening the sensor (S) in its operating position, the first housing part (G1) has a front side with a viewing window and a back side, and the second housing part (G2) has a fastening section provided for attaching the sensor (S) to structures, and a connecting section provided for adjustably connecting the second housing part (G2) to the rear side of the first housing part (G1), characterized by , that at least one first adjustment unit (VE1) is provided on the connecting section, which adjusts the first and second housing parts (G1, G2) relative to one another in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner by rotating the adjustment unit (VE1), wherein the first adjustment unit (VE1) is formed from a thread (1) and a threaded pin (2a), and wherein the first adjustment unit (VE1) comprises a bearing (L) provided on the rear side of the first housing part (G1), on which the threaded pin (2a) is arranged, which extends in the vertical direction of the sensor (S) and comprises a thread (1) provided on the second housing part (G2), into which the threaded pin (2a) engages, and a second adjustment unit (VE2) with a threaded pin (2b) provided on the second housing part (G2), which extends in the horizontal direction of the sensor (S), and a gear (3) provided on the first housing part (G1), into which the threaded pin (2b) intervenes, includes. [2] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to claim 1, characterized by that the first and second housing parts (G1, G2) are movably connected to one another by a tongue and groove connection (FN). [3] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment units (VE1, VE2) are designed for the positive or non-positive adjustment of the first housing part (G1) to the second housing part (G2) about a vertical axis (vA) of the sensor (S) and / or along the vertical axis (vA) of the sensor (S). [4] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment unit (VE1) is designed for the positive or non-positive adjustment of the first housing part (G1) to the second housing part (G2) about a horizontal axis (hA) of the sensor (S). [5] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the thread (1) is designed as a gear (3), a rack or the like. [6] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear side of the first housing part (G1) is convex or concave and the connecting section of the second housing part (G2) is correspondingly concave or convex. [7] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to claim 6, wherein the thread (1) is convex or concave. [8] Optoelectronic sensor (S) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening section of the second housing part (G2) is formed as an additional side wall (G2a) which runs parallel to the first housing part (G1).

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