Protective device for increasing the stability of an optical housing element, as well as a use of the protective device and a set with the protective device

Abstract

Protective device (1) for increasing the stability of an optical housing element (2), wherein the optical housing element (2) can be inserted into at least one recess (3) of a housing (4) and, in the inserted state, is flush with the housing (4), characterized in that the protective device (1) can be attached flush to the housing (4), wherein the protective device (1) is designed in a plate-like form and has at least one recess (5), wherein the dimension of the recess (5) of the protective device corresponds to the dimension of the recess (3) of the housing minus a predetermined difference value, so that the protective device (1) in the attached state projects at least partially into the recess (3) of the housing to a predetermined extent (B), the protective device (1) covers the entire optical housing element (2) except for the recess (5), has a thickness of ≤ 0.7 mm and is made of metal.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a protective device for increasing the stability of an optical housing element, wherein the optical housing element can be inserted into at least one recess of a housing and, in the inserted state, is flush with the housing.

[0002] The invention further relates to a use of the protective device and a set including the protective device.

[0003] Cameras with various housings are used in many sectors. They primarily serve to monitor industrial processes, for example, in the food industry. Such cameras must meet certain requirements. Above all, they must be robust and impact-resistant. A conventional camera lens typically has about half the impact resistance at its edges compared to its surface. Therefore, this area requires special protection.

[0004] Conventional optical housing elements are protected by being recessed into the surrounding housing. This recessed installation impairs cleanability. However, hygiene plays a crucial role in many applications, especially in the food industry. Therefore, it is essential that both the optical housing element and the housing are easy to clean.

[0005] Another conventional solution for increasing stability is to increase the material thickness of the optical housing element. The thicker the optical housing element, the more impact-resistant it becomes. However, increased material thickness of the optical housing element leads to complex and expensive manufacturing processes. Furthermore, increased material thickness can lead to limitations in optical functionality, for example, when used as a camera lens.

[0006] DE 100 32 071 B4 discloses a plastic safety windscreen for motor vehicles, comprising a central transparent area and a surrounding edge area. The safety windscreen is connected to a body mounting of the motor vehicle via a congruent, surrounding, flat element on its inner surface facing the vehicle body. The flat element has holes and is embedded in an adhesive bond connecting the windscreen and the body mounting. The flat element can be designed as a metal strip. The safety windscreen can be formed in one piece or as a composite of two windscreens, with thicknesses of, for example, 8 to 10 millimeters specified for one-piece windscreens.

[0007] EP 1 560 054 A1 discloses an optical unit comprising at least two optical elements with translucent areas and a light-shielding element with an aperture. This light-shielding element is arranged between the optical elements. At least one of the optical elements has at least three projections that contact another optical element at locations outside the optically effective area. Part of the light-shielding element is inserted between the optical elements. The projections fix the optical elements both along the optical axis and perpendicular to it. The light-shielding element has a diameter that is at least as large as the diameter of one of the optical elements facing it.

[0008] DE 10 2016 105 201 A1 discloses a sensor housing with at least one front cover, wherein at least one gap on a surface of the sensor housing is filled with a resin to form a continuous, gap-free surface. The resin is preferably a synthetic resin, such as epoxy resin. The entire surface of the sensor housing, with the exception of a portion of the front cover, can be covered with resin. Alternatively, the entire surface of the sensor housing, including the front cover, can be covered with resin. An associated manufacturing process comprises placing the sensor housing in a vacuum chamber, creating a vacuum, encasing it with resin, allowing the resin to penetrate into the gaps, releasing the vacuum, and subsequently curing the resin.

[0009] DE 10 2012 112 753 A1 discloses a reflector housing for an optoelectronic sensor. It comprises a housing, a reflector element, and a front panel. The reflector element is arranged within the housing. The front panel and the reflector element are in direct, surface contact with each other. The front panel is fixed in the housing by means of a first elastomer seal, which is provided in a groove in the housing, by means of a positive and frictional connection. The elastomer seal can be an annular seal. The reflector housing can also have a separate housing base, which is secured in a further groove in the housing by means of a second elastomer seal.

[0010] The protective devices known from the prior art do not yet allow for the specification of a protective device that protects an optical housing element from impacts without reducing cleanability and making the manufacturing process complex and expensive.

[0011] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a protective device that protects an optical housing element while ensuring good cleanability and being cost-effective to manufacture.

[0012] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are found in the dependent claims.

[0013] According to the invention, a protective device for increasing the stability of an optical housing element is provided, wherein the optical housing element can be inserted into at least one recess of a housing and, in the inserted state, is flush with the housing, characterized in that the protective device can be attached flush to the housing, wherein the protective device is designed in a plate-like form and has at least one recess, wherein the dimension of the recess of the protective device corresponds to the dimension of the recess of the housing minus a predetermined difference value, so that, in the attached state, the protective device projects at least partially into the recess of the housing to a predetermined extent.

[0014] It is therefore a key aspect of the invention that, due to its projection into the recess of the housing, the protective device increases the impact resistance of the optical housing element and simultaneously ensures good cleanability, since the protective device can be attached directly to the housing.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective device is a film. The film can be manufactured to fit precisely so that it can be applied to the housing. The manufacturing process for the film is simple and cost-effective.

[0016] In principle, the protective device can be made of various materials; however, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective device is made of metal, preferably steel, or plastic. Metal or plastic are particularly suitable as protective devices because they exhibit high impact resistance and, with regard to hygiene, are also suitable for use in, for example, process monitoring in the food industry.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective device has a thickness of ≤ 0.7 mm, preferably ≤ 0.3 mm, and most preferably ≤ 0.2 mm. Depending on the material used for the protective device, the impact resistance also depends on the material thickness. Various combinations of material and material thickness can be selected depending on the impact load. However, it is stipulated that the material thickness does not exceed 0.7 mm.

[0018] The invention further comprises a set consisting of a protective device, an optical housing element, and a housing. The optical housing element is arranged within the housing. The protective device is applied to the housing, so that the housing, the optical housing element, and the protective device can be combined into a single unit.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective device is attached to the housing by means of a fastening element, wherein the fastening element is selected from the following list: adhesive, adhesive tape, screws, welds, and / or solder. The fastening element can be arranged between the protective device and the housing, as, for example, when using an adhesive or adhesive tape, or it can run along the outer edge of the protective device, as, for example, when using welds and solder as fastening elements. The protective device can be screwed onto the housing. The choice of fastening element can be made depending on the expected impact load. Adhesive, as a soft layer between the protective device and the housing, protects the optical housing element primarily due to its damping properties.In soldered or screwed connections, the optical housing element benefits from the advantageous energy distribution of the protective device. Furthermore, the optical housing element comprises a camera lens or an illumination lens. Camera lenses or illumination lenses are inserted into a housing as optical housing elements.

[0020] The invention further comprises the use of the protective device to increase the stability of the glazing of a camera housing. Camera lenses or illumination lenses typically have about half the impact resistance at their edges compared to the surface of the optical housing element. This sensitive edge area is protected by applying the protective device to the camera housing and extending it beyond the edge of the optical housing element.

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail using a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

[0022] The drawings show Fig. 1 Schematic representation of a protective device mounted on a housing according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view Fig. 2 Schematically a protective device and a housing according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view Fig. 3 schematically a protective device attached to a housing according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective close-up of a cross-sectional view along the axis AA. Fig. 1.

[0023] Out of Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a protective device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view. The protective device 1, in the form of a plate-shaped film, is mounted on the housing 4. The housing 4, on which the protective device 1 is mounted, is a camera housing 8. The camera housing 8 has three optical housing elements 2 arranged one above the other. The plate-shaped protective device 1 is precisely shaped to fit the housing 4, such that the protective device 1 projects beyond the edge region 9 of the optical housing elements 2 by a predetermined dimension B. The optical housing element 2 is, for example, the lens 7 of a camera, so that the protective device 1 projects beyond the edge region 9 of the lens 7 and thereby optimally protects the lens 7 from impacts on the edge region 9.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a protective device 1 and a housing 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view. The housing 4 has three recesses 3 into which optical housing elements 2 are inserted. The protective device 1 also has three recesses 5. The dimensions of the recesses 5 of the protective device 1 are selected such that, when mounted, the protective device 1 projects beyond the edge region 9 of the optical housing elements 2. The dimensions of the recesses 5 of the protective device 1 correspond to the recesses 3 of the housing 4 minus a predetermined difference. This difference determines how far the protective device 1 projects beyond the edge region 9 of the optical housing elements 2.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a protective device 1 attached to a housing 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective close-up of a cross-sectional view along the axis AA. Fig. 1. An optical housing element 2 is inserted into the recess 3 of the housing 4. This could, for example, be a glazing element 7 in a camera housing 8. The protective device 1 is attached to the housing 4 by means of a fastening element 6. Fig.3. The protective device 1 is attached to the housing by means of an adhesive bond as a fastening element 6. However, the protective device 1 can also be screwed, welded, or soldered in place. The recess 5 of the protective device 1 is designed such that it projects beyond the edge region 9 of the optical housing element 2. The dimensions of the recess 5 of the protective device correspond to the dimensions of the recess 3 of the housing minus a difference value. The difference value is the dimension B of the projection of the protective device beyond the edge region 9 of the optical housing element. In other words, the difference value determines the length of the portion of the protective device that projects into the glazing 7 and thus protects the edge region 9 of the glazing 7. Because the protective device 1 can be attached flush to the housing 4 and is designed in a plate-like form, the protective device 1, the glazing 7, and the camera housing 8 are easy to clean. Reference symbol list 1 protective device 2 optical housing element 3 recesses 4 cases 5 recesses 6 A Fasteners 7 Glazing 8 camera bodies 9 Edge area Cutting axis B. Measure of intrusion

Claims

[1] Protective device (1) for increasing the stability of an optical housing element (2), wherein the optical housing element (2) can be inserted into at least one recess (3) of a housing (4) and, in the inserted state, is flush with the housing (4). characterized by that the protective device (1) can be attached to the housing (4), wherein the protective device (1) is designed in a plate-like form and has at least one recess (5), wherein the dimension of the recess (5) of the protective device corresponds to the dimension of the recess (3) of the housing minus a predetermined difference value, so that the protective device (1) in the attached state projects at least partially into the recess (3) of the housing to a predetermined extent (B), the protective device (1) covers the entire optical housing element (2) except for the recess (5), has a thickness of ≤ 0.7 mm and is made of metal. [2] Set comprising a protective device (1) according to claim 1, comprising an optical housing element (2) and a housing (4). [3] Set comprising a protective device (1), an optical housing element (2) and a housing (4) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the protective device (1) is attached to the housing (4) by means of a fastening means (6), wherein the fastening means (6) is selected from the following list: adhesive, tape, screws, welds and / or solder. [4] Set comprising a protective device (1), an optical housing element (2) and a housing (4) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that the optical housing element (2) comprises a camera lens or a lighting lens. [5] Use of the protective device (1) according to one of the preceding claims to increase the stability of a glazing (7) of a camera housing (8).

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