Fusion width measurement method of multicore flat cable and measurement device

Abstract

To improve quality of a multicore flat cable.SOLUTION: A fusion width measurement device 10 has an optical sensor 11 that measures a fusion width of a fusion part 5 in a multi-core flat cable 1, a control unit 13 that takes in the measured value of the fusion width of the fusion part 5 measured by the optical sensor 11, and a setting unit 14 in which a threshold for determining the acceptability of the fusion width of the fusion part 5 is set. The control unit 13 compares the measured value of the fusion width of the fusion part 5 measured by the optical sensor 11 with the threshold set by the setting unit 14 to determine the acceptability of the measured fusion width.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of a flat cable, a flat cable in which fused portions and non-fused portions are alternately provided along the longitudinal direction of the cable is known. Patent Document 1 describes an example of a defect detection device for detecting defects in fused portions of such a flat cable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 5-40964 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The flat cable fusion defect detection device described in Patent Document 1 detects fusion defects such as peeling or holes in the fusion part of the flat cable, but cannot measure the fusion width in the fusion part.

[0005] Furthermore, the defect detection device cannot later check at what position in the longitudinal direction of the flat cable the fusion defect has occurred.

[0006] It is possible for an operator to manually measure the fusion width of the fused portion of the flat cable. In that case, the operator must first pull the flat cable in-line to the winder, measure the fusion width of the fused portion, and then judge whether the measurement is good or bad.

[0007] Therefore, the fusion width is measured only a few times near the ends of the flat cable, and quality assurance is not performed for the entire length of the flat cable.

[0008] In addition, the measurement takes a long time because the fusion width is measured after the flat cable is pulled to the winder. Furthermore, manual measurement increases the risk of measurement errors and requires a lot of work to manage the measurement values ​​after measurement.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable, which can improve the quality of the cable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The method for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable of the present invention is a method for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable in which fused portions and non-fused portions are alternately and repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cable, and includes the steps of: (a) measuring the fusion width of the fusion portion of the multi-core flat cable by a non-contact sensor provided in a fusion width measuring device; and (b) inputting the measured value of the fusion width of the fusion portion measured by the non-contact sensor into a control unit provided in the fusion width measuring device. After step (b), the control unit compares the measured value of the fusion width of the fusion portion measured by the non-contact sensor with a preset threshold value for determining whether the fusion width of the fusion portion is good or bad, thereby determining whether the measured value of the fusion width is good or bad.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, in step (A) prior to step (a), the amount of movement of the multi-core flat cable along the cable longitudinal direction is measured by a measuring unit provided in the fusion width measuring device, and the position of the fusion portion in the cable longitudinal direction is determined by the control unit based on data on the amount of movement of the fusion portion sent from the measuring unit. In step (a), the fusion width of the fusion portion at the position determined by the control unit in step (A) is measured by the non-contact sensor, and the control unit judges whether the measurement value corresponding to the position of the fusion portion in the cable longitudinal direction is good or bad.

[0012] The fusion width measuring device for a multi-core flat cable of the present invention is a fusion width measuring device for a multi-core flat cable in which fused portions and non-fused portions are arranged alternately and repeatedly in the longitudinal direction of the cable, and has a non-contact sensor that measures the fusion width of the fused portion in the multi-core flat cable, a control unit that inputs the measurement value of the fusion width of the fused portion measured by the non-contact sensor, and a setting unit in which a threshold value for determining whether the fusion width of the fused portion is good or bad is set, and the control unit compares the measurement value of the fusion width of the fused portion measured by the non-contact sensor with the threshold value set by the setting unit to determine whether the measurement value of the fusion width is good or bad.

[0013] In one aspect of the present invention, the cable further includes a measuring instrument that contacts the multi-core flat cable moving along the longitudinal direction of the cable, and an encoder that calculates the amount of movement of the fused portion using data sent from the measuring instrument, and the control unit determines the position of the fused portion in the longitudinal direction of the cable based on the data on the amount of movement of the fused portion sent from the encoder, the non-contact sensor measures the fusion width of the fused portion at the position determined by the control unit, and the control unit determines whether the measured value of the fusion width corresponding to the position of the fused portion in the longitudinal direction of the cable is good or bad. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the quality of a multi-core flat cable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial plan view showing the structure of a multi-core flat cable used in the method for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure taken along the line AA shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure cut along line BB shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fusion width measuring device for a multi-core flat cable according to the present invention; [Diagram 5] 5 is a schematic diagram showing the fusion width of the fused portion of the multi-core flat cable measured by the fusion width measuring device shown in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the method and device for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used in principle for the same or substantially the same configurations, elements, etc.

[0017] <Configuration of multi-core flat cable> The multi-core flat cable 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is a flat cable including a plurality of cables 2. As shown in Fig. 2, each cable 2 constituting the multi-core flat cable 1 is made up of a conductor 3 and an insulator 4 covering the conductor 3. The insulator 4 covers the conductor 3 so that the conductor 3 is not exposed. In the multi-core flat cable 1, a plurality of cables 2 having the above-mentioned structure are arranged side by side.

[0018] 1, in the multi-core flat cable 1, fused portions 5 and non-fused portions 6 are alternately provided along the cable longitudinal direction L1. For example, the length of the fused portions 5 is specified by the user, and therefore the multi-core flat cable 1 is provided with the fused portions 5 and non-fused portions 6. In other words, in the multi-core flat cable 1, fused portions 5 of a predetermined length and non-fused portions 6 of a predetermined length are alternately arranged along the cable longitudinal direction L1.

[0019] 2, the fused portion 5 is formed by fusing the insulation 4 of each cable 2 at high temperature to join parts of the insulation 4 of adjacent cables 2. Therefore, the cable 2 at one end and the cable 2 at the opposite end are connected by parts of the insulation 4.

[0020] On the other hand, in the non-fused portion 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the cables 2 are not fused, and therefore adjacent cables 2 are separated from each other (not joined).

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, in the multi-core flat cable 1, the direction perpendicular to the cable longitudinal direction L1 is defined as the width direction M1, and the fusion width W1 shown in FIG. 2 refers to the length of the fusion portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 in the width direction M1.

[0022] <About the multi-core flat cable fusion width measuring device> 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fusion width measuring device 10 of the multi-core flat cable 1 of this embodiment. The fusion width measuring device 10 measures the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1, and judges whether the measured value of the fusion width W1 is good or bad.

[0023] The configuration of the fusion width measuring device 10 will be described. The fusion width measuring device 10 has a non-contact sensor that measures the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 in the multi-core flat cable 1 shown in Fig. 5, and a control unit 13 that inputs the measurement value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 measured by the non-contact sensor. The non-contact sensor is, for example, an optical sensor 11.

[0024] The optical sensor 11 is electrically connected to the sensor controller 12, which is further electrically connected to the control unit 13. This allows the optical sensor 11 to detect the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5, and the sensor controller 12 to display the measurement value (numeric value) of the fusion width W1.

[0025] Furthermore, the sensor controller 12 uploads the numerical data of the measurement value to the control unit 13. That is, the sensor controller 12 numerically displays the measurement value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 detected by the optical sensor 11, and transmits the numerical data of this measurement value to the control unit 13.

[0026] 5, the optical sensor 11 is disposed above the multi-core flat cable 1, and includes a light source 11a that emits light 11b toward the fused portion 5 to be measured, and a sensor 11d that detects reflected light 11c of the light 11b irradiated onto the fused portion 5. In other words, the optical sensor 11 irradiates the fused portion 5 with light 11b, and captures reflected light 11c of the light 11b reflected by the fused portion 5 to measure the fusion width W1 of the fused portion 5. For example, the light 11b is a laser beam, and the light source 11a is a laser oscillator.

[0027] The control unit 13 receives the measured value of the fusion width W1 transmitted from the sensor controller 12.

[0028] 4, the fusion width measuring device 10 is equipped with a setting unit 14 electrically connected to the control unit 13. The setting unit 14 sets a threshold value for determining whether the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 is good or bad. The setting unit 14 is, for example, a touch panel, and an operator inputs an upper limit value and a lower limit value for the threshold value of the fusion width W1 to determine the threshold value for determining whether the fusion width W1 is good or bad.

[0029] The control unit 13 receives a threshold value for determining whether the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 is acceptable, which is set by the setting unit 14. Furthermore, the control unit 13 compares the measurement value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 measured by the optical sensor 11 with the threshold value set by the setting unit 14 to determine whether the measurement value of the fusion width W1 is acceptable. That is, the control unit 13 receives the threshold value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 previously set by the setting unit 14 and the measurement value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 measured by the optical sensor 11, and determines whether the measurement value of the fusion width W1 measured by the optical sensor 11 is within or outside the specified range.

[0030] This makes it possible to manage which of the measured values ​​of the fusion width W1 inputted into the control unit 13 are within the range and which are outside the range.

[0031] The fusion width measuring device 10 also includes a position measuring unit (measuring unit) 15 electrically connected to the control unit 13. The position measuring unit 15 is a measuring unit that determines the amount of movement of the multi-core flat cable 1 moving along the cable longitudinal direction L1 and transmits the amount of movement to the control unit 13. In detail, the position measuring unit 15 includes a measuring instrument 15a that comes into contact with the multi-core flat cable 1 moving along the cable longitudinal direction L1, and a linear speed detector (encoder) 15b that calculates the amount of movement of the fusion portion 5 based on the data sent from the measuring instrument 15a.

[0032] Measuring instrument 15a is, for example, a roll-type sensor that rotates and comes into contact with multi-core flat cable 1 moving along cable longitudinal direction L1 to detect the rotation angle between predetermined fused portions 5 of multi-core flat cable 1. The rotation angle detected by measuring instrument 15a is sent to linear speed detector 15b.

[0033] The linear speed detector 15b determines the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 from the data of the rotation angle sent from the measuring instrument 15a. The amount of movement of the fused portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 determined by the linear speed detector 15b is then transmitted to the control unit 13.

[0034] The control unit 13 determines the position of the fused portion 5 in the cable longitudinal direction L1 based on the data on the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 sent from the linear speed detector 15b. In particular, the control unit 13 includes a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), and converts the data on the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 sent from the linear speed detector 15b into time to determine the linear speed per unit time. Then, the control unit 13 calculates the position of the fused portion 5 in the multi-core flat cable 1 from the respective lengths of the fused portion 5 and the non-fused portion 6.

[0035] In this way, the optical sensor 11 measures the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 at the position determined by the control unit 13. That is, the control unit 13 controls the optical sensor 11 to irradiate light 11b from the light source 11a to the fusion portion 5 at a predetermined position of the moving multi-core flat cable 1, and detects the reflected light 11c with the sensor 11d to measure the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5.

[0036] The control unit 13 also judges the acceptability of the measurement value of the fusion width W1 corresponding to the position of the fusion portion 5 in the cable longitudinal direction L1. That is, the control unit 13 recognizes the position of the measurement value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 in the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1, and manages the positions of these multiple fusion portions 5, the measurement values ​​of the fusion width W1 corresponding to the positions, and the result of the acceptance judgment of the measurement value of the fusion width W1.

[0037] In other words, the measured values ​​of the fusion width W1 are managed to determine which positions are within or outside the range. This makes it possible to measure and manage the fusion width W1 of each fusion portion 5 over the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1, and guarantee the cable quality over the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1.

[0038] <Method of measuring the fusion width of multi-core flat cables> A multi-core flat cable 1 having fused portions 5 and non-fused portions 6 alternately arranged in the cable longitudinal direction L1 as shown in Fig. 1 is prepared, and a fusion width measuring device 10 shown in Fig. 4 is also prepared. Next, the multi-core flat cable 1 is wound up in-line using a winding machine. During this process, the amount of movement of the multi-core flat cable 1 along the cable longitudinal direction L1 is measured by a position measuring unit 15 provided in the fusion width measuring device 10.

[0039] Furthermore, the position of the fused portion 5 in the cable longitudinal direction L1 is determined by the control unit 13 provided in the fusion width measuring device 10 based on data on the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 sent from the position measuring unit 15. In this case, the control unit 13 determines the rotation angle detected by the measuring device 15a as it rotates and comes into contact with the moving multi-core flat cable 1, and the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 by the linear speed detector 15b based on this rotation angle, and further determines the position of the fused portion 5 in the cable longitudinal direction L1 based on the data on the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 sent from the linear speed detector 15b. For example, the position of the fused portion 5 in the multi-core flat cable 1 is determined from a time conversion value per unit length of the multi-core flat cable 1.

[0040] Next, the fusion width W1 (see FIG. 2) of the fusion portion 5 at the position found by the control unit 13 is measured by the optical sensor 11 provided in the fusion width measuring device 10. At that time, the control unit 13 controls the optical sensor 11 to irradiate light 11b from the light source 11a to the fusion portion 5 at a predetermined position of the moving multi-core flat cable 1, and the reflected light 11c is detected by the sensor 11d to measure the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5.

[0041] The measured value of the fusion width W 1 of the fusion portion 5 measured by the optical sensor 11 is input to the control unit 13 .

[0042] Next, the control unit 13 compares the measurement value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 measured by the optical sensor 11 with a threshold value for determining whether the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 is good or bad, which is set in advance by the setting unit 14, to determine whether the measurement value of the fusion width W1 is good or bad.

[0043] As a result, the control unit 13 recognizes at which position along the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1 the measured value of the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 is located, and manages the positions of the multiple fusion portions 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1, the measured values ​​of the fusion width W1 corresponding to those positions, and the results of the pass / fail judgment of the measured values ​​of the fusion width W1.

[0044] If the result of the pass / fail judgment of the measurement value of the fusion width W1 is OK (good), the control unit 13 continues to operate the winding line for the multi-core flat cable 1. On the other hand, if the result of the pass / fail judgment of the measurement value of the fusion width W1 is NG (bad), the control unit 13 stops the winding line for the multi-core flat cable 1.

[0045] <Effects of this embodiment> According to the fusion width measuring method and fusion width measuring device 10 of the present embodiment, the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 in the multi-core flat cable 1 is measured using the optical sensor 11, and the measured value of the fusion width W1 is input to the control unit 13, so that the measured value of the fusion width W1 can be numerically managed. Furthermore, the control unit 13 of the fusion width measuring device 10 can automatically determine the quality of the measured value of the fusion width W1, so that measurement errors caused by each worker are eliminated and the occurrence of misrecognition by the worker can be suppressed. This can improve the measurement accuracy of the measured value of the fusion width W1. Furthermore, the manual measurement of the fusion width W1 can be eliminated.

[0046] Moreover, by measuring the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 at predetermined locations over the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1 and numerically managing these measured values, it is possible to improve the cable quality over the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1. Furthermore, it is possible to guarantee the cable quality over the entire length of the multi-core flat cable 1.

[0047] Also, the amount of movement of the fused portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 is obtained by the linear speed detector 15b, and the position of the fused portion 5 of the multi-core flat cable 1 can be obtained based on the amount of movement of the fused portion 5. This makes it possible to measure the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 at a predetermined position of the multi-core flat cable 1, and therefore the fusion width W1 of the fusion portion 5 that appears at equal intervals in-line can be continuously measured.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the number of optical sensors 11 provided on the multi-core flat cable 1 may be multiple depending on the cable width. Alternatively, one optical sensor 11 may be provided so that its position can be adjusted in the width direction M1 of the multi-core flat cable 1.

[0049] The optical sensor 11 may be surrounded by a wall or the like. This prevents the laser from being blocked by an operator or the like, which can lead to measurement errors. The distance between the optical sensor 11 and the multi-core flat cable 1 is preferably fixed in accordance with the specifications of the optical sensor 11. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Multi-core flat cable 2 Cable 3 Conductors 4. Insulation 5 Fusion part 6 Non-fused area 10 Fusion width measuring device 11 Optical sensors (non-contact sensors) 11a light source 11b light 11c reflected light 11d Sensor 12 Sensor Controller 13 Control section 14 Setting section 15 Position measurement section (measurement section) 15a Measuring Instruments 15b Linear speed detector (encoder) L1 Cable length direction M1 width direction W1 Fusion width

Claims

1. A method for measuring the fusion width of a multi-core flat cable in which fused and non-fused portions are alternately and repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cable, comprising the steps of: (a) measuring a fusion width of the fusion portion of the multi-core flat cable by a non-contact sensor provided in a fusion width measuring device; (b) inputting a measurement value of the fusion width of the fusion portion measured by the non-contact sensor into a control unit included in the fusion width measuring device; having the control unit compares the measured value of the fusion width of the fusion portion measured by the non-contact sensor with a preset threshold value for determining whether the fusion width of the fusion portion is good or bad after the step (b), thereby determining whether the measured value of the fusion width is good or bad.

2. 2. The method for measuring a fusion width of a multi-core flat cable according to claim 1, In step (A) prior to step (a), a movement amount of the multi-core flat cable along the cable longitudinal direction is measured by a measuring unit included in the fusion width measuring device, and a position of the fusion portion in the cable longitudinal direction is determined by the control unit based on data on the movement amount of the fusion portion sent from the measuring unit; In the step (a), a fusion width of the fusion portion at the position determined by the control unit in the step (A) is measured by the non-contact sensor; The control unit determines whether the measurement value corresponding to the position of the fusion portion in the longitudinal direction of the cable is good or bad.

3. A fusion width measuring device for a multi-core flat cable in which fused and non-fused portions are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cable, a non-contact sensor for measuring a fusion width of the fusion portion of the multi-core flat cable; a control unit that inputs a measurement value of the fusion width of the fusion portion measured by the non-contact sensor; A setting unit that sets a threshold value for determining whether or not the fusion width of the fusion portion is good; having The control unit compares the measured value of the fusion width of the fusion portion measured by the non-contact sensor with the threshold value set by the setting unit to determine whether the measured value of the fusion width is good or bad.

4. 4. The multi-core flat cable fusion width measuring device according to claim 3, a measuring instrument that moves along the longitudinal direction of the cable and contacts the multi-core flat cable; an encoder for calculating the amount of movement of the fused portion based on data sent from the measuring device; and the control unit determines a position of the fusion portion in the cable longitudinal direction based on data on the amount of movement of the fusion portion sent from the encoder, The non-contact sensor measures a fusion width of the fusion portion at the position determined by the control unit, The control unit determines whether the measured value of the fusion width corresponding to the position of the fusion portion in the longitudinal direction of the cable is good or bad.

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