Rotary device

Abstract

To provide a rotary device that can have a rotary body electrically connected to external equipment at lower cost.SOLUTION: A mirror rotary device 2 (rotary device) comprises: a mirror rotary body 22 (rotary body); a rotary cable 24 the extension end of which rotates together with the mirror rotary body 22 (rotary body); and a protection ring 25 which is provided in a ring shape making a round on an axis X11 between an outer surface of a photography device 3 as an adjacent structure and a passing region of the rotary cable 24 and fixed to an outer surface of the mirror rotary body 22 (rotary body) to rotate together, and also restricts a collision between the rotary cable 24 and the outer surface of the photography device 3 when the extension end 241 rotates together with the mirror rotary body 22 (rotary body) to protect the rotary cable 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating device that is electrically connected to an external device and includes a rotating body that is rotatable about a predetermined axis. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, contact structures using slip rings have been known as structures for electrically connecting a rotating body to an external device (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such contact structures, for example, a slip ring is provided on the rotating body, and the rotating body and the external device are electrically connected by, for example, rubbing the outer periphery of the slip ring with a brush contact on the external device side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-163418 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-165227 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned contact structure using a slip ring may increase manufacturing costs due to its structural complexity, and such a contact structure may also require more frequent maintenance, which may lead to increased maintenance costs.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a rotating device that can electrically connect a rotating body to an external device at reduced cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the rotating device is characterized by comprising: a rotating body that is rotatable around a predetermined axis line as a rotation center; a rotating cable that extends from the outer surface of the rotating body and electrically connects the rotating body to an external device, the extending end portion on the rotating body side rotating around the axis line together with the rotating body when the rotating body rotates; and a protective ring that is arranged in a ring shape that circles around the axis line between the outer surface of an adjacent structure that is arranged adjacent to the extending side of the rotating cable when viewed from the rotating body and has a shape along the axis line, and the passing area of ​​the rotating cable, the protective ring is fixed to the outer surface of the extending side of the rotating cable on the rotating body and rotates together with the rotating body, and protects the rotating cable by restricting collision between the rotating cable and the outer surface of the adjacent structure when the extending end portion rotates together with the rotating body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the above-described rotating device, the rotating body can be electrically connected to an external device at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an image inspection device to which an embodiment of a rotation device is applied. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged view showing an extended end holding portion shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is an enlarged view showing the double ring structure of the protective ring shown in FIG. 1 and also showing an enlarged view of an intermediate part that is detachably attached to the protective ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the rotation device will be described below.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image inspection device to which an embodiment of a rotation device is applied.

[0011] The image inspection device 1 of this embodiment is an apparatus that photographs a workpiece to be inspected, which is placed on a predetermined axis X11, from multiple directions around the axis X11 and performs visual inspections, etc., based on the photographed images. This image inspection device 1 has a mirror rotation device 2 and an adjacent imaging device 3 installed on the upper surface of a rectangular, flat base frame 1a, and operates under the control of a processing device 4. The mirror rotation device 2 is a rotation device that reflects subject light from the workpiece on a mirror rotation body 22 (described below) that rotates around the axis X11 and sends it to the imaging device 3. The imaging device 3 is a device that collects subject light from the workpiece reflected by the mirror rotation body 22 with a photographing lens 31 and photographs it with a camera 32. The processing device 4 controls the operation of the mirror rotation device 2 and the imaging device 3, and performs inspection processing, such as visual inspection of the workpiece, based on the photographed images obtained by the imaging device 3. The processing device 4 is connected to the mirror rotation body 22 of the mirror rotation device 2, a drive unit 23, and the camera 32 of the imaging device 3.

[0012] The mirror rotation device 2 first includes an erected frame 21 , a mirror rotor 22 , a drive unit 23 , a rotation cable 24 , and a protective ring 25 .

[0013] The standing frame 21 is a rectangular standing plate erected on one end side of the rectangular flat base frame 1a in the axial direction D11 along the axis X11. Here, the photographing device 3, which is an adjacent structure to the mirror rotation device 2, is disposed adjacent to the extending side of the rotating cable 24 as seen from the mirror rotor 22, and is equipped with the photographing lens 31 and camera 32 as described above. The photographing lens 31 has a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction D11 along the axis X11, and is fixed to the base frame 1a via the photographing holder 1b with the camera 32 attached to one end thereof. The standing frame 21 of the mirror rotation device 2 is disposed adjacent to the other end side of the photographing lens 31 of the photographing device 3. The mirror rotor 22 and the drive unit 23 are held by this standing frame 21.

[0014] The mirror rotor 22 is a rotor journaled on the standing frame 21 so as to be rotatable about the axis X11. The mirror rotor 22 includes a mirror housing 221 located on the opposite side of the standing frame 21 from the imaging device 3, and a connecting pulley 222 located on the imaging device 3 side. The mirror housing 221 defines a space surrounding the axis X11 in which a workpiece is placed, and includes one or more mirrors that reflect and direct subject light from the workpiece to the imaging device 3. The mirror housing 221 also includes an illumination unit 221a that irradiates illumination light onto the workpiece. The illumination light from the illumination unit 221a is reflected by the workpiece and sent to the imaging device 3 as subject light. The connecting pulley 222 is a large-diameter circular pulley component that penetrates the standing frame 21 and is coaxially connected to the mirror housing 221, and receives a rotational driving force from the drive unit 23 via a transmission belt 233 (described later).

[0015] The drive unit 23 is a part that drives the mirror rotor 22 to rotate, and includes a motor 231, a small pulley 232, and a transmission belt 233. The motor 231 is a servo motor whose rotation can be controlled, and is held in a position above the mirror rotor 22 on the side of the standing frame 21 opposite the imaging device 3. The small pulley 232 is a pulley component that passes through the standing frame 21 and is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 231. The transmission belt 233 is a belt component that connects the small pulley 232 and the connecting pulley 222, which is a pulley component with a large diameter, and transmits the rotation of the small pulley 232 to the connecting pulley 222.

[0016] The rotating cable 24 is a cable member that extends from the outer surface of the connecting pulley 222 located on the imaging device 3 side of the mirror rotating body 22, and electrically connects the mirror rotating body 22 to the processing device 4 as an external device. Specifically, it is a cable that enables the processing device 4 to control the lighting of the lighting unit 221a provided in the mirror housing section 221. The extending end 241 of the rotating cable 24 on the connecting pulley 222 side rotates together with the mirror rotating body 22 around the axis X11 when the mirror rotating body 22 rotates.

[0017] The protective ring 25 is a member for protecting the rotating cable 24, which would otherwise flap when the extending end 241 rotates together with the mirror rotor 22. The protective ring 25 is provided in the shape of a circular ring that goes around the axis X11 between the outer surface of the cylindrical photographing lens 31 of the photographing device 3, which is an adjacent structure to the mirror rotor 22, and the passing area of ​​the rotating cable 24. When the extending end 241 rotates together with the mirror rotor 22, the protective ring 25 protects the rotating cable 24 by restricting collision between the rotating cable 24 and the outer surface of the photographing lens 31. The protective ring 25 is connected and fixed to the outer surface of the connecting pulley 222 by multiple connecting rod members 251 so as to be located in the middle of the photographing lens 31 in the axial direction D11, and rotates together with the mirror rotor 22 and the extending end 241 of the rotating cable 24.

[0018] In this embodiment, the mirror rotation device 2 further includes a remote relay holder 26. The remote relay holder 26 is installed so as to relay and hold the rotating cable 24 at a relay position P11 that is farther away from the mirror rotor 22 than the protective ring 25 in the axial direction D11. The remote relay holder 26 includes a relay holder plate 261, a linear shaft member 262, a bushing 263, a cable clip 264, and a compression spring 265. In this embodiment, the relay position P11 is located above the camera 32 of the imaging device 3, and the relay holder plate 261 is a rectangular plate component that holds other components so that the rotating cable 24 is relayed and held at this relay position P11. A pole member 1c that fixes and holds the relay holder plate 261 near the relay position P11 is erected on the base frame 1a. The remote relay holding portion 26 including the relay holding plate 261 is installed on the pole member 1c so as to relay and hold the rotating cable 24 at the relay position P11.

[0019] The linear motion shaft member 262 is a round rod member fixed to the relay holding plate 261 so as to extend along a linear motion shaft 262a parallel to the pole member 1c, which intersects with the installation surface of the imaging device 3, which is an adjacent structure, i.e., the upper surface of the base frame 1a. A bushing 263, a cable clip 264, and a compression spring 265 are attached to the linear motion shaft member 262. The bushing 263 is a cylindrical member through which the linear motion shaft member 262 passes and which penetrates the relay holding plate 261. The bushing 263 is provided so as to be movable on the linear motion shaft 262a in a linear motion direction D12 and rotatable in a rotational direction D13 (yawing direction) around the linear motion shaft 262a. The cable clip 264 is a holding portion for the rotating cable 24 fixed to the end of the bushing 263 on the base frame 1a side. By being fixed to the bushing 263, the cable clip 264 is also movable in the linear motion direction D12 and rotatable in the rotational direction D13. The compression spring 265 is a coil spring that passes through the linear motion shaft member 262, and is interposed in a compressed state between the bushing 263 and a tip flange 262b that is provided on the linear motion shaft member 262 on the side opposite the cable clip 264. The compression spring 265 biases the cable clip 264 toward the base frame 1a via the bushing 263.

[0020] In this embodiment, the mirror rotation device 2 further includes the following extension end holding portion 27. The extension end holding portion 27 is provided on the outer surface of the connecting pulley 222 of the mirror rotor 22.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the extension end holding portion shown in FIG.

[0022] The extending end holding portion 27 holds the extending end portion 241 of the rotating cable 24 so that the rotating cable 24 extends in the axial direction D11 from the outer surface of the connecting pulley 222 of the mirror rotor 22. The extending end holding portion 27 includes a pair of roller portions 271 that hold the extending end portion 241 therebetween, and roller holding portions 272 that are fixed near the extension holes 222a of the extending end portion 241 on the outer surface of the connecting pulley 222 and hold the pair of roller portions 271.

[0023] In this embodiment, the protective ring 25 has a double ring structure, and the mirror rotation device 2 includes the following relay component that is detachably attached to the protective ring 25.

[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the double ring structure of the protective ring shown in FIG. 1 and also showing an enlarged view of an intermediate part that is detachably attached to the protective ring.

[0025] The protective ring 25 in this embodiment has a double ring structure including an inner ring 252 and an outer ring 253. The inner ring 252 is a ring member located on the inner periphery of the protective ring 25 and fixed to the outer surface of the connecting pulley 222 of the mirror rotor 22. The outer ring 253 is a ring member bearing-coupled to the outer periphery of the inner ring 252 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction D14. The mirror rotation device 2 is provided with a ring relay holder 28 that is detachably attached to a predetermined attachment position P12 of the outer ring 253 and that relays and holds the rotating cable 24 when attached to the outer ring 253. The ring relay holder 28 is arranged to be rotatable in a rotational direction D15 about a radial axis 25a of the protective ring 25 that passes through the attachment position P12 of the outer ring 253.

[0026] When the ring relay holder 28 is attached, the outer ring 253 moves in the circumferential direction D14, allowing the rotating cable 24 held by the ring relay holder 28 to move in the roll direction. Furthermore, when the outer ring 253 rotates to position the ring relay holder 28 at the top dead center or bottom dead center relative to the extension hole 222a of the extension end 241, the rotating cable 24 can move in the yaw direction by rotating in the rotation direction D15 about the radial axis 25a. Furthermore, when the ring relay holder 28 is positioned at a position rotated ±90° relative to the extension hole 222a of the extension end 241, the rotating cable 24 can move in the pitch direction by rotating in the rotation direction D15.

[0027] According to the mirror rotation device 2 of the embodiment described above, the mirror rotor 22 and the processing device 4 are electrically connected by the rotating cable 24, which is a cable member that has a simpler structure and is less expensive than a slip ring or the like. Furthermore, when the extending end 241 of the rotating cable 24 rotates together with the mirror rotor 22, collision between the outer surface of the imaging device 3 and the passing area of ​​the rotating cable 24 is restricted by the protective ring 25 that circles around the axis X11 between them. This restriction protects the rotating cable 24 from collision with the outer surface of the imaging device 3. Furthermore, because the protective ring 25 rotates together with the mirror rotor 22 and the extending end 241 of the rotating cable 24, friction between the rotating cable 24 and the protective ring 25 is also reduced, thereby protecting the rotating cable 24 in this respect as well. The simplicity of the connection structure using the rotating cable 24, combined with the protection provided by the protective ring 25, reduces the frequency of maintenance. As described above, according to the mirror rotation device 2, since the rotating cable 24 is inexpensive and the frequency of maintenance is reduced, the electrical connection between the mirror rotating body 22 and the processing device 4 can be made at low cost.

[0028] In this embodiment, a remote relay holding unit 26 is provided that relays and holds the rotating cable 24 at a relay position P11 that is farther away than the protective ring 25. The remote relay holding unit 26 is provided to be movable on a linear axis 262a that intersects with the installation surface of the imaging device 3 and to be rotatable around the linear axis 262a. With this configuration, the remote relay holding unit 26 relays and holds the rotating cable 24 while smoothly following the movement of the rotating cable 24 at the relay position P11. This relay holding stabilizes the movement of the rotating cable 24, thereby reducing the rotational load on the rotating cable 24, thereby further reducing the frequency of maintenance and further reducing costs.

[0029] In this embodiment, the remote relay holding unit 26 is mounted on the pole member 1c that is erected on the installation surface. With this configuration, the remote relay holding unit 26 is stably mounted on the pole member 1c, which reduces the frequency of maintenance for the remote relay holding unit 26 and further reduces costs.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an extension end holder 27 is provided that holds the extension end 241 so that the rotating cable 24 extends in the axial direction D11 from the outer surface of the mirror rotor 22. With this configuration, the extension end holder 27 holds the rotating cable 24 so that it extends from the outer surface of the mirror rotor 22 along the axis X11 serving as the center of rotation. As a result, twisting of the extension end 241 is suppressed during rotation of the mirror rotor 22, and the rotational load is suppressed. This effect of suppressing the rotational load at the extension end 241 makes it possible to further reduce the frequency of maintenance and further reduce costs.

[0031] In this embodiment, the protective ring 25 includes an inner ring 252 and an outer ring 253 that is rotatable in the circumferential direction D14. The outer ring 253 is provided with a ring relay holder 28 that is detachably attached to a predetermined attachment position P12 and is rotatable around the radial axis 25a of the protective ring 25. With this configuration, when the rotation of the mirror rotor 22 is, for example, 180° or less around the axis X11, the ring relay holder 28 is attached to the outer ring 253 to relay and hold the rotating cable 24, thereby enhancing the protective effect of the rotating cable 24. When the rotation of the mirror rotor 22 is, for example, 360° or more, the ring relay holder 28 is not attached and the rotating cable 24 is not constrained relative to the outer ring 253, thereby preventing tangling of the rotating cable 24 and providing protection.

[0032] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical example of the rotation device, and the rotation device is not limited to this but can be implemented in various modifications.

[0033] For example, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of a rotation device, a mirror rotation device 2 is exemplified in which an image inspection device 1 that photographs a workpiece and performs an appearance inspection based on the photographed image has an image pickup device 3 incorporated as an adjacent structure and a processing device 4 incorporated as an external device. However, the rotation device is not limited to this, and any specific device configuration is not required.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the mirror rotation device 2 equipped with the remote relay holder 26 is exemplified as an example of a rotation device. However, the rotation device is not limited to this, and a relay holder located far from the protective ring may not be provided. However, as described above, the remote relay holder 26 stabilizes the movement of the rotating cable 24 and reduces the rotation load, thereby further reducing the frequency of maintenance and further reducing costs.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the remote relay holding unit 26 installed on the pole member 1c is illustrated as an example of a remote relay holding unit. However, the remote relay holding unit is not limited to this, and any specific installation method is not important. However, as described above, the remote relay holding unit 26 is stably installed on the pole member 1c, which reduces the frequency of maintenance for the remote relay holding unit 26 and further reduces costs.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of a rotation device, a mirror rotation device 2 including an extension end holder 27 that holds the extension end 241 of the rotation cable 24 is exemplified. However, the rotation device is not limited to this, and a holder for the extension end of the rotation cable may not be provided, and the rotation cable may be extended from the rotor in an unconstrained state. However, as described above, the holding by the extension end holder 27 suppresses twisting of the extension end 241 and reduces the rotational load, thereby further reducing the frequency of maintenance and further reducing costs.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of a rotation device, a mirror rotation device 2 is illustrated that includes a protective ring 25 having a double ring structure with an inner ring 252 and an outer ring 253, and a ring relay holder 28 that is detachable from the outer ring 253. However, the rotation device is not limited to this, and the protective ring may be a simple ring member, and a detachable relay holder may not be provided on the ring member. However, as described above, with the protective ring 25 having a double ring structure and the detachable ring relay holder 28, the protective effect of the rotating cable 24 by the ring relay holder 28 can be improved depending on the rotation angle, and entanglement of the rotating cable 24 can be suppressed when the cable is not restrained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1. Image inspection equipment 1a Base frame 1b Shooting holding section 1c Pole member 2. Mirror rotation device (rotation device) 3. Imaging equipment (adjacent structures) 4 Processing equipment (external equipment) 21 Standing frame 22 Mirror Rotating Body (Rotating Body) 23 Drive unit 24 rotation cable 25 Protective Ring 25a Radial axis 26 Remote relay holding unit 27 Extended end holding part 28 Ring relay holder 31 Photographic Lens 32 Camera 221 Mirror storage section 221a Lighting section 222 Connecting Pulley 222a Extension hole 231 Motor 232 Small pulley 233 Transmission Belt 241 Extending end 251 Connecting rod members 252 Inner ring 253 Outer ring 261 Relay holding plate 262 Linear shaft member 262a Linear shaft 263 Bush 264 Cable clip (retaining part) 265 Compression Spring 271 Roller section D11 Axial direction D12 Linear direction D13, D15 Rotation direction D14 Circumferential direction P11 Relay position P12 Mounting position X11 axis

Claims

1. a rotating body that is rotatable about a predetermined axis; a rotating cable extending from the outer surface of the rotating body and electrically connecting the rotating body to an external device, the extending end of which on the rotating body side rotates around the axis together with the rotating body when the rotating body rotates; a protective ring provided in a ring shape that goes around the axis between the outer surface of an adjacent structure that is disposed adjacent to the extending side of the rotating cable when viewed from the rotating body and that has a shape along the axis, and the passing area of ​​the rotating cable, the protective ring being fixed to the outer surface of the rotating body on the extending side of the rotating cable and rotating together with the rotating body, and protecting the rotating cable by restricting collision between the rotating cable and the outer surface of the adjacent structure when the extending end portion rotates together with the rotating body; A rotating device comprising:

2. The rotating device according to claim 1, further comprising a remote relay holding portion that is installed to relay and hold the rotating cable at a relay position farther from the rotating body in the axial direction along the axis than the protective ring, and that is configured so that the holding portion of the rotating cable is movable on a linear axis that intersects with the installation surface of the adjacent structure and is rotatable around the linear axis.

3. 3. The rotating device according to claim 2, wherein the remote relay holding section is installed on a pole member erected on the installation surface so as to relay and hold the rotating cable at the relay position.

4. 2. The rotating device according to claim 1, further comprising an extension end holder provided on the outer surface of the rotating body and configured to hold the extension end of the rotating cable so as to extend the rotating cable from the outer surface of the rotating body in the axial direction.

5. the protective ring has an inner ring located on the inner circumferential side and fixed to the outer surface of the rotating body, and an outer ring bearing-connected to the outer periphery of the inner ring so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, The rotating device according to claim 1, further comprising a ring relay holder that is detachably attached to a predetermined attachment position on the outer ring, that relays and holds the rotating cable when attached to the outer ring, and that is arranged so that the rotating cable can rotate around the radial axis of the protective ring that passes through the attachment position.

Images