Laser distance measuring device

Abstract

To provide a laser distance measuring device capable of adjusting the positions of a light emitting scanning line and a light receiving scanning line with respect to a reflection surface of a mirror without removing a laser unit from a case.SOLUTION: A laser distance measuring device 10 comprises: a laser unit 13; a case 11 storing the laser unit 13; a mirror 15 disposed facing a laser passage port 114 of the case 11; screw holes 131, 132, 133 formed in left and right sidewalls of the laser unit 13, into which screws 16a, 16b, 16c are fastened; and screw penetrating holes 111, 112, 113 formed in the left and right sidewalls of the case 11, respectively facing the screw holes 131, 132, 133, and through which the screws 16a, 16b, 16c penetrate. The diameter of the screw penetrating hole 111 is same as the bore diameter of the corresponding screw hole 133 while the diameters of the screw penetrating holes 112, 113 other than the screw penetrating hole 111 are greater than the diameters of the corresponding screw holes 131, 132.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laser distance measuring device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a laser distance measuring device that scans laser light to measure the distance to a measurement target has been provided. Such a conventional laser distance measuring device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the laser distance measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the laser light (emission scanning line) emitted from the laser light emitting unit is reflected by a mirror and then emitted outside the device to irradiate the measurement target. Then, the reflected light (reception scanning line) from the measurement target irradiated with the laser light enters the device and is reflected by the mirror, and then detected by the light receiving unit. The laser distance measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 unitizes the laser light emitting unit and the light receiving unit as a laser unit by fixing them to the same holder (frame member). Further, the holder for fixing the laser unit is attached inside a case (housing).

[0005] Therefore, in the laser distance measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when attempting to adjust the position of the light emission scanning line and the position of the light reception scanning line with respect to the mirror, after removing the holder to which the laser unit is fixed from inside the case, it is necessary to adjust the mounting angle of the laser unit with respect to the mirror. At this time, if the adjustment of the mounting angle of the laser unit cannot be performed well, the holder to which the laser unit is fixed will be repeatedly removed from inside the case many times. Therefore, in the laser distance measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the adjustment of the position of the light emission scanning line and the position of the light reception scanning line with respect to the mirror may become complicated.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a laser distance measuring device capable of adjusting the position of the light emission scanning line and the position of the light reception scanning line with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror without removing the laser unit from the case.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The laser distance measuring device according to the present disclosure includes a laser unit having a laser light emitting element and a laser light receiving element, a case for housing the laser unit, a mirror disposed to face a laser passage opening provided in the case, a plurality of sets of screw holes formed on both left and right side walls of the laser unit for fastening screws, and a plurality of sets of screw through holes formed on both left and right side walls of the case, each of which faces a corresponding set of screw holes and through which the screws pass. Among the plurality of sets of screw through holes, the aperture diameter of one set of screw through holes is the same as the aperture diameter of the corresponding screw hole, and among the plurality of sets of screw through holes, the aperture diameters of the screw through holes other than one set of screw through holes are larger than the aperture diameter of the corresponding screw hole.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the position of the light emission scanning line and the position of the light reception scanning line with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror can be adjusted without removing the laser unit from the case.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Embodiment 1. The laser distance measuring device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0012] First, the configuration of the laser distance measuring device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a side view of the laser distance measuring device 10 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the state where the laser unit 13 is removed from the case 11. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the screw holes 131, 132, 133 and the through holes 111, 112, 113. This FIG. 3 shows the screw holes 131, 132, 133 and the through holes 111, 112, 113 on either one side of the screw holes 131, 132, 133 and the through holes 111, 112, 113 on both the left and right sides.

[0013] The laser distance measuring device 10 according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on, for example, a construction machine (not shown) such as a road roller. When the laser distance measuring device 10 is mounted on a road roller, the laser distance measuring device 10 is mounted on the rear part of the road roller and measures the distance to the ground (measurement target) compacted by the roller of the road roller. An operator checks the unevenness of the compacted ground from the measurement result.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the laser distance measuring device 10 includes a case 11, a cover 12, a laser unit 13, a mirror rotation mechanism 14, and a mirror 15.

[0015] In the laser distance measuring device 10, the side where the front storage part 11b and the laser unit 13 to be described later are installed is defined as the front side, and the side where the rear storage part 11c and the mirror rotation mechanism 14 to be described later are arranged is defined as the rear side for explanation. Also, in the laser distance measuring device 10, when the laser distance measuring device 10 is viewed from the front side (front), the left side is defined as the left side of the device, and the right side is defined as the right side of the device.

[0016] The case 11 has an upper opening 11a, a front storage part 11b, and a rear storage part 11c. The upper opening 11a is formed over the entire upper part of the case 11. The front storage part 11b is provided at the front part of the case 11, and the rear storage part 11c is provided at the rear part of the case 11. The front storage part 11b and the rear storage part 11c are downward convex parts that protrude downward from the case 11. An intended space is formed between the front storage part 11b and the rear storage part 11c.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front storage portion 11b has a plurality of sets of threaded holes 111, 112, 113 on both the left and right side walls. A pair of upper threaded holes 111 on the left and right, a pair of middle threaded holes 113 on the left and right, and a pair of lower threaded holes 112 on the left and right are arranged in a straight line from the upper part to the lower part of the case 11. Each upper threaded hole 111, each lower threaded hole 112, and each middle threaded hole 113 located in the middle thereof penetrate the left and right vertical walls of the front storage portion 11b at the same height position in the left-right direction (width direction) of the case 11. Also, the hole diameters of the upper threaded holes 111 and the lower threaded holes 112 are the same. Furthermore, the hole diameters of the upper threaded holes 111 and the lower threaded holes 112 are larger than the hole diameter of the middle threaded holes 113.

[0018] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the front storage portion 11b has a laser passage port 114. The laser passage port 114 is opened on the rear surface of the front storage portion 11b. The rear surface of the front storage portion 11b is a surface facing the rear storage portion 11c. The laser passage port 114 allows the laser light (emission scanning line) emitted from the laser unit 13 described later and the reflected light (reception scanning line) of the laser light guided to the laser unit 13 to pass through.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 12 serves as a lid that closes the upper opening 11a of the case 11. The cover 12 is fixed to the case 11 using screws or the like in a state where the upper opening 11a of the case 11 is closed.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the laser unit 13 is housed and fixed inside the front storage portion 11b. This laser unit 13 can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction through the upper opening 11a with respect to the front storage portion 11b in a state where the cover 12 is removed from the case 11.

[0021] Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the laser unit 13 is a unitized assembly of a laser light emitting element 13a, a laser light receiving element 13b, a mounting member 13c, and the like.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the laser unit 13 incorporates, for example, one laser light-emitting element 13a, one or more light-emitting side lenses (not shown), one light-emitting side reflector (not shown), one laser light-receiving element 13b, one or more light-receiving side lenses (not shown), and one light-receiving side reflector (not shown). The laser light emitted from the laser light-emitting element 13a passes through the light-emitting side lens, is reflected by the light-emitting side reflector, and then is emitted from the laser passage port 114. Further, the reflected light from the measurement object in the emitted laser light enters through the laser passage port 114, is reflected by the light-receiving side reflector, and passes through the light-receiving side lens. Then, the reflected light that has passed through the light-receiving side lens is received by the laser light-receiving element 13b.

[0023] A pair of left and right mounting members 13c are respectively attached to the left and right side walls of the laser unit 13. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each mounting member 13c has, in order from above to below of the laser unit 13, an upper screw hole 131, a middle screw hole 133, and a lower screw hole 132. The upper screw hole 131, the lower screw hole 132, and the middle screw hole 133 located in the middle thereof penetrate the mounting member 13c in the left-right direction (width direction) of the laser unit 13. The upper screw hole 131, the lower screw hole 132, and the middle screw hole 133 in the left mounting member 13c and the upper screw hole 131, the lower screw hole 132, and the middle screw hole 133 in the right mounting member 13c are arranged at the same height position. The pitch between the upper screw hole 131 and the middle screw hole 133 and the pitch between the lower screw hole 132 and the middle screw hole 133 are the same pitch.

[0024] The upper screw hole 131, the lower screw hole 132, and the middle screw hole 133 all have the same screw hole diameter (female screw diameter). Therefore, screws 16a, 16b, and 16c having the same screw diameter (male screw diameter) are fastened to the upper screw hole 131, the lower screw hole 132, and the middle screw hole 133. Also, the upper screw through hole 111 corresponds to the upper screw hole 131. The lower screw through hole 112 corresponds to the lower screw hole 132. The middle screw through hole 113 corresponds to the middle screw hole 133. At this time, the diameter of the upper screw through hole 111 is larger than the screw hole diameter of the upper screw hole 131. The diameter of the lower screw through hole 112 is larger than the screw hole diameter of the lower screw hole 132. The diameter of the middle screw through hole 113 and the screw hole diameter of the middle screw hole 133 are the same diameter.

[0025] And the laser unit 13 is fixed from the outside of the case 11 by three screws 16a, 16b, and 16c on each of its left and right sides in a state of being housed in the front storage portion 11b of the case 11. Specifically, the screw 16a arranged in the upper stage passes through the waterproof washer 17a and the upper screw through hole 111 in order and is fastened to the upper screw hole 131. The screw 16b arranged in the lower stage passes through the waterproof washer 17b and the lower screw through hole 112 in order and is fastened to the lower screw hole 132. The screw 16c arranged in the middle stage passes through the waterproof washer 17c and the middle screw through hole 113 in order and is fastened to the middle screw hole 133.

[0026] The waterproof washers 17a, 17b, and 17c are for waterproofing by the bush in the washer being in close contact with the outer surface of the front storage portion 11b when the screws 16a, 16b, and 16c are tightened.

[0027] The mirror rotation mechanism 14 rotatably supports the mirror 15 and adjusts the mounting angle of the mirror 15 around the mirror central axis (horizontal axis). The mirror central axis is an axis extending in the front-rear direction of the case 11. The mirror rotation mechanism 14 is housed and fixed inside the rear storage portion 11c of the case 11. The mirror rotation mechanism 14 is, for example, one in which a housing, a motor, a bearing, an oil seal, a shaft, etc. are coaxially arranged.

[0028] The mirror 15 reflects the laser light emitted from the laser emitting element 13a of the laser unit 13, and irradiates the reflected laser light toward the measurement target. Further, the mirror 15 reflects the reflected light from the measurement target of the laser light, and causes the reflected reflected light to be received by the laser receiving element 13b of the laser unit 13. For this reason, the mirror 15 is disposed in the space formed between the front storage portion 11b and the rear storage portion 11c. Further, the mirror 15 is disposed such that its reflecting surface faces the measurement target. That is, the mirror 15 is disposed such that its reflecting surface gradually inclines downward from above as it goes from the front side to the rear side of the case 11.

[0029] The shaft of the mirror rotation mechanism 14 is connected to the center portion of the rear surface of the mirror 15. For this reason, when the mirror rotation mechanism 14 operates, the reflecting surface of the mirror 15 rotates around the mirror central axis as the rotation center. As a result, the mounting angle (in other words, the posture or orientation) of the mirror 15 around the mirror central axis with respect to the measurement target is adjusted.

[0030] Next, a method for adjusting the vertical mounting angle of the mirror 15 of the laser unit 13 in the laser distance measuring device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 while comparing it with that in the laser distance measuring device 50 according to the conventional example.

[0031] First, the laser distance measuring device 50 according to the conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the laser distance measuring device 50 according to the conventional example with the holder 53 removed from the case 51. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the laser distance measuring device 50 according to the conventional example with the laser unit 54 removed from the holder 53.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the laser distance measuring device 50 includes a case 51, a cover 52, a holder 53, a laser unit 54, and a mirror rotation mechanism 55.

[0033] The case 51 has an upper opening 51a, a front storage portion 51b, and a rear storage portion 51c. The upper opening 51a is formed over the entire upper portion of the case 51. The front storage portion 51b is provided at the front of the case 51, and the rear storage portion 51c is provided at the rear of the case 51. The front storage portion 51b and the rear storage portion 51c are downward convex portions that protrude downward from the case 51. An intended space is formed between the front storage portion 51b and the rear storage portion 51c. Note that the front storage portion 51b has a laser passage opening (not shown).

[0034] The cover 52 serves as a lid that closes the upper opening 51a of the case 51. The cover 52 is fixed to the case 51 using screws or the like in a state where the upper opening 51a of the case 51 is closed.

[0035] The laser unit 54 is housed and fixed inside the front storage portion 51b while being fixed inside the holder 53. The holder 53 to which the laser unit 54 is fixed can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction with respect to the front storage portion 51b through the upper opening 51a in a state where the cover 12 is removed from the case 11.

[0036] Here, the laser unit 54 has screw holes 54a, 54b, 54c on both the left and right side walls respectively. FIG. 5 shows only the screw holes 54a, 54b, 54c on the left side wall among the screw holes 54a, 54b, 54c on both the left and right side walls. The screw holes 54a, 54b, 54c are arranged in order from above to below the case 51. On the other hand, the holder 53 has through-screw holes 53a, 53b, 53c on both the left and right vertical walls respectively. For this reason, the laser unit 54 is fixed from the outside of the holder 53 by screws 56a, 56b, 56c from both its left and right sides, and is attached inside the holder 53.

[0037] Also, the holder 53 to which the laser unit 54 is fixed is fixed inside the front storage section 51b by a plurality of screws 57 from above. FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of fixing the holder 53 inside the front storage section 51b by four screws 57.

[0038] The mirror rotation mechanism 55 is housed and fixed inside the rear storage section 51c of the case 51. The mirror rotation mechanism 55 is a mechanism that rotatably supports a mirror (not shown) and adjusts the mounting angle around the mirror central axis of the mirror 15. The above mirror is disposed in the space formed between the front storage section 51b and the rear storage section 51c.

[0039] Therefore, in the conventional laser distance measuring device 50, when adjusting the position of the light emission scanning line and the position of the light reception scanning line with respect to the reflection surface of the mirror, first, the cover 52 is removed from the case 51.

[0040] Next, all the screws 57 are loosened and removed.

[0041] Next, the holder 53 to which the laser unit 54 is fixed is taken out from the front storage section 51b of the case 51 through the upper opening 51a above the case 51.

[0042] Next, in the holder 53 to which the laser unit 54 is fixed, with the screws 56a, 56b, and 56c loosened, the vertical mounting angle of the mirror of the laser unit 54 is adjusted.

[0043] Next, the holder 53 to which the laser unit 54 after the above mounting angle adjustment is fixed is fixed inside the front storage portion 51b of the case 51 using all the screws 57.

[0044] Next, by driving the laser unit 54, the positions of the emission scanning line and the reception scanning line with respect to the reflection surface of the mirror are confirmed.

[0045] At this time, if the positions of the emission scanning line and the reception scanning line with respect to the reflection surface of the mirror are different from the preset positions, the holder 53 to which the laser unit 54 is fixed is repeatedly taken out from inside the case 51 many times until those positions match the preset positions.

[0046] On the other hand, in the laser distance measuring device 10 according to the first embodiment, when adjusting the positions of the emission scanning line and the reception scanning line with respect to the reflection surface of the mirror 15, first, the cover 12 is removed from the case 11.

[0047] Next, the screws 16a, 16b, and 16c are loosened. For this reason, while the heads of the screws 16a, 16b, and 16c are separated from the outer surface of the front storage portion 11b, the screws 16a, 16b, and 16c are in a state of being fastened to the screw holes 131, 132, and 133 through the screw through holes 111, 112, and 113.

[0048] Next, the laser unit 13 is rotated in the front-rear direction about a screw 16c that is fastened to a screw hole 133 through a threaded hole 113. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the laser unit 13 swings (rotates) in the X direction or the Y direction by an amount such that the hole diameters of the threaded holes 111 and 112 are larger than the screw diameters of the screws 16a and 16b. For this reason, the vertical mounting angle of the laser unit 13 with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror 15 is adjusted. After the adjustment of the mounting angle, the screws 16a, 16b, and 16c are completely fastened. That is, the screws 16a, 16b, and 16c are fastened until their heads are pressed against the outer surface of the front storage portion 11b.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, since the laser unit 13 can swing in the X direction and the Y direction about the screw 16c as the rotation center, the mounting angle of the laser unit 13 in the front-rear direction can be adjusted within the range of the angle α. Correspondingly, the position of the emission scanning line and the position of the reception scanning line with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror 15 can be adjusted within the range of the angle β.

[0050] Next, when the laser unit 13 is driven, the positions of the emission scanning line and the reception scanning line with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror 15 are confirmed. At this time, even if the positions of the emission scanning line and the reception scanning line with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror 15 are different from the preset positions, the adjustment of the mounting angle of the laser unit 13 as described above can be performed without removing the laser unit 13 from the front storage portion 11b of the case 11 until those positions match the preset positions.

[0051] As described above, the laser distance measuring device 10 according to Embodiment 1 includes a laser unit 13 having a laser light emitting element 13a and a laser light receiving element 13b, a case 11 for housing the laser unit 13, a mirror 15 disposed to face a laser passage port 114 provided in the case 11, a plurality of sets of screw holes 131, 132, 133 formed in the left and right side walls of the laser unit 13 and to which screws 16a, 16b, 16c are fastened, and a plurality of sets of screw through holes 111, 112, 113 formed in the left and right side walls of the case 11, each of which faces a corresponding set of screw holes 131, 132, 133 and through which the screws 16a, 16b, 16c pass. Among the plurality of sets of screw through holes 111, 112, 113, the aperture diameter of one set of screw through holes 111 is the same as the aperture diameter of the corresponding screw hole 133, and among the plurality of sets of screw through holes 111, 112, 113, the aperture diameters of the screw through holes 112, 113 other than one set of screw through holes 111 are larger than the aperture diameters of the corresponding screw holes 131, 132. For this reason, in the laser distance measuring device 10 according to Embodiment 1, the positions of the light emitting scanning line and the light receiving scanning line with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror 15 can be adjusted without removing the laser unit 13 from the case 11.

[0052] Note that within the scope of the present disclosure, any component of the embodiment can be modified or any component of the embodiment can be omitted.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0053] 10 Laser distance measuring device, 11 Case, 11a Upper opening, 11b Front storage section, 11c Rear storage section, 111 Upper threaded through hole, 112 Lower threaded through hole, 113 Middle threaded through hole, 114 Laser passage port, 12 Cover, 13 Laser unit, 13a Laser emitting element, 13b Laser receiving element, 13c Mounting member, 131 Upper threaded hole, 132 Lower threaded hole, 133 Middle threaded hole, 14 Mirror rotation mechanism, 15 Mirror, 16a - 16c Screws, 17a - 17c Waterproof washers, 50 Laser distance measuring device, 51 Case, 51a Upper opening, 51b Front storage section, 51c Rear storage section, 52 Cover, 53 Holder, 53a - 53c Threaded through holes, 54 Laser unit, 54a - 54c Threaded holes, 55 Mirror rotation mechanism, 56a - 56b Screws, 57 Screw.

Claims

1. a laser unit having a laser light emitting element and a laser light receiving element; a case for housing the laser unit; a mirror disposed opposite to a laser passage opening provided in the case; a plurality of sets of screw holes formed in left and right side walls of the laser unit for fastening screws; a plurality of sets of screw through-holes formed in left and right side walls of the case, each set of screw through-holes being opposite to a corresponding set of screw holes and allowing the screws to pass therethrough; among the plurality of sets of screw through-holes, the aperture diameter of one set of screw through-holes is the same as the aperture diameter of the corresponding screw holes; among the plurality of sets of screw through-holes, the aperture diameters of the screw through-holes other than the one set of screw through-holes are larger than the aperture diameters of the corresponding screw holes A laser distance measuring device characterized by the above.

2. the plurality of sets of screw through-holes are arranged linearly; the one set of screw through-holes is arranged in the middle among the plurality of sets of screw through-holes The laser distance measuring device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. the laser unit is rotatable about a screw that passes through the one set of screw through-holes and is fastened to the screw holes corresponding to the one set of screw through-holes with all the screws loosened. The laser distance measuring device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above.

Images