Injection needle rotation angle measuring device and injection needle rotation angle measuring method

Abstract

The objective is to provide a device and method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle that can more reliably measure the rotation angle in which the cutting surface of the injection needle faces. [Solution] The device is characterized by comprising a laser light source that irradiates laser light toward the blade surface from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the injection needle, a light receiving sensor that receives the reflected laser light reflected from the blade surface, and a rotation angle measuring unit that detects the position of bright spots contained in the reflected laser light from the information of the reflected laser light received by the light receiving sensor and measures the rotation angle of the injection needle toward which the blade surface is facing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an injection needle rotation angle measuring device and an injection needle rotation angle measuring method for measuring the rotation angle of the cutting edge surface of an injection needle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the manufacture of injection needles and the assembly of syringes, injection needle rotation angle measurement has been performed to measure the rotation angle of the cutting edge surface of the injection needle and adjust the orientation of the cutting edge surface.

[0003] For example, in the injection needle assembly device of Patent Document 1, a mounting hub that is erected on an assembly jig and has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped outer shape at the lower part where the tip of the syringe is inserted, an injection needle that is rotatably inserted into the needle insertion port at the upper part of the hub, a light projector for a light source that projects laser light whose optical axis is orthogonal to the surface including one surface of the hub and irradiates the cutting edge surface of the needle, a light receiver that has a rectangular light receiving slit that is opposed to the light projector through the needle and is inclined with respect to the direction of the needle, and receives the laser light passing through the slit, and positioning means for detecting the extreme value of the light reception amount from the change in the light reception amount of the light receiver due to the rotation of the needle and positioning the position of the cutting edge surface of the needle from the extreme value.

[0004] Also, in the needle tip alignment device for an injection needle of Patent Document 2, light is irradiated onto the inclined cut surface blade tip of the approximate tip part of the injection needle, the reflection angle of the light reflected and emitted by the inclined cut surface is detected, and a drive system is provided to direct the inclined cut surface of the approximate tip part of the injection needle in a certain direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, the injection needle assembly device described in Patent Document 1 does not capture reflected light from the injection needle, but rather measures the shadow cast by the projected light, making more accurate measurements difficult.

[0007] Furthermore, although the needle tip alignment device for injection needles described in Patent Document 2 uses light reflection, its technical features differ from those of the present invention.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide an injection needle rotation angle measuring device and an injection needle rotation angle measuring method that can more reliably measure the rotation angle to which the cutting surface of the injection needle faces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to claim 1 is characterized by comprising a laser light source that irradiates laser light toward the blade surface from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the injection needle, a light receiving sensor that receives reflected laser light reflected from the blade surface, and a rotation angle measuring unit that detects the position of bright spots contained in the reflected laser light from the information of the reflected laser light received by the light receiving sensor and measures the rotation angle of the injection needle toward which the blade surface is facing.

[0010] The injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, the rotation angle measuring unit detects the positions of two bright spots contained in the reflected laser light and measures the rotation angle of the injection needle facing the blade surface.

[0011] The injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2, the laser light source irradiates the cutting surface with laser light that is narrowed to the width of the diameter of the injection needle.

[0012] The method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle according to claim 4 is characterized by irradiating the cutting surface of the injection needle with laser light from a laser light source from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the injection needle, receiving the reflected laser light reflected from the cutting surface with a light receiving sensor, detecting the position of a bright spot contained in the reflected laser light from the information of the reflected laser light received by the light receiving sensor, and measuring the rotation angle of the injection needle that the cutting surface is facing.

[0013] The injection needle rotation angle measurement method according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of claim 4, it detects the positions of two bright spots contained in the reflected laser light and measures the rotation angle of the injection needle facing the blade surface.

[0014] The method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle according to claim 6 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of claim 4 or claim 5, the laser light source irradiates the cutting edge with laser light that is focused to the width of the diameter of the injection needle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and it is possible to more reliably measure the rotation angle to which the cutting surface of the injection needle faces. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an actual injection needle measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the angle at which the laser beam is irradiated by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing the angle at which the laser beam is irradiated by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the projection of reflected laser light generated by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 7]It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 9] It is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an actual injection needle measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the angles at which laser light is irradiated by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the projection of the reflected laser light generated by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device. FIGS. 8 to 10 are explanatory diagrams showing another example of the reflected laser light measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device.

[0018] The injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 according to the present invention measures the rotation angle D at which the blade surface 4b provided on the injection needle body 4a of the injection needle 4 faces. Here, the rotation angle D at which the blade surface 4b of the injection needle 4 faces is the angle when the cylindrical axis a of the slender cylindrical injection needle 4 is used as the rotation axis. And when the injection needle 4 rotates with the cylindrical axis a, the direction in which the blade surface 4b faces changes, and the degree of this rotation becomes the rotation angle D (hereinafter simply referred to as the rotation angle D) at which the blade surface 4b of the injection needle 4 faces.

[0019] The injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 is mainly used in the manufacturing process of the injection needle 4, and can also be used in the process of assembling the injection needles 4 one by one into a syringe, but is also used when measuring the rotation angle of the injection needles 4 in a case where a plurality of injection needles 4 are arranged in parallel for work.

[0020] Furthermore, while the injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 primarily measures the rotation angle D of the injection needle 4, it is also possible to add a function that determines, based on the rotation angle D, that the orientation of the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4 is not in the desired orientation. Additionally, as will be described later, if the rotation angle D cannot be measured by the injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1, it is possible to determine that the injection needle 4 is misaligned in the direction of extension of the cylindrical axis a.

[0021] The injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 is composed of a rotation angle measuring unit 10, a laser light source 12, a light receiving sensor 14, etc. While the basic configuration of the injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 includes one laser light source 12, the light receiving sensor 14 may be multiple, such as left and right light receiving sensors 14a and light receiving sensor 14b, as shown in the figure. In this embodiment, the light receiving sensors 14 (14a, 14b) are described as two, left and right, but depending on the type and size of the sensor, it is also possible to operate with just one light receiving sensor 14. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as will be described later, measurements are performed based on the bright spots LrRb1~LrRb3 and bright spots LrLb1~LrLb3 that appear on the left and right sides respectively, but it is also possible to perform measurements using either the left or right bright spots LrRb1~LrRb3 or bright spots LrLb1~LrLb3. In relation to this, a configuration with only one light receiving sensor 14 on either the left or right side is also possible.

[0022] The laser light source 12 irradiates laser light L toward the blade surface 4b from a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical axis a, which is the axis of the injection needle 4. The laser light source 12 receives power from a power source (not shown) and emits laser light L, with a wavelength of approximately 300 nm to 700 nm, more specifically, a red laser (center wavelength: red (650 nm)), a green laser (center wavelength: green (532 nm)), a violet laser (center wavelength: blue-violet (405 nm)), a blue laser (center wavelength: blue (375 nm)), etc. Preferably, the laser light source 12 used in the injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 of this application has a wavelength of approximately 655 nm to approximately 665 nm.

[0023] The angle at which the laser light source 12 irradiates the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4 with laser light L is basically perpendicular to the cylindrical axis a, which is the axis of the injection needle 4. However, the angle α between the optical axis b of the laser light source 12 and the cylindrical axis a, as shown in Figure 3, is approximately 90 degrees ± 1 degree, and the angle β between the horizontal plane h of the injection needle 4 and the optical axis b, as shown in Figure 4, when the cutting surface 4b is facing directly upwards, is approximately 90 degrees ± 0.1 degrees.

[0024] Furthermore, when performing work with multiple injection needles 4 arranged in parallel, the width of the laser beam L may be narrowed to the width of the diameter of the injection needles 4, and the narrowed laser beam L may be directed toward the blade surface 4b.

[0025] The light receiving sensors 14 (14a, 14b) receive reflected laser light Lr (LrR, LrL, LrR1~LrR3, LrL1~LrL3) reflected from the blade surface 4b. The light receiving sensors 14 (14a, 14b) transmit information (mainly light intensity and light intensity distribution) of the received reflected laser light Lr (LrR, LrL, LrR1~LrR3, LrL1~LrL3) to the rotation angle measuring unit 10 as analog or digital information.

[0026] The rotation angle measuring unit 10 detects the positions of bright spots LrRb1~LrRb3 and LrLb1~LrLb3 contained in the reflected laser light Lr(LrR, LrL, LrR1~LrR3, LrL1~LrL3) received by the light receiving sensors 14 (14a, 14b) from the information of the reflected laser light Lr(LrR, LrL, LrR1~LrR3, LrL1~LrL3) and measures the rotation angle D of the injection needle to which the blade surface 4b faces. The value output by the rotation angle measuring unit 10 is basically the rotation angle D. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 can be configured using an electronic computer or the like, and is generally configured with hardware and software, but is not limited by specific configuration means as long as the functions of each means can be realized.

[0027] Bright spots LrRb and LrLb (LrRb1 to LrRb3, LrLb1 to LrLb3) contained in the reflected laser light Lr are points with particularly high brightness in the reflected laser light Lr reflected by the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4. As described above, when laser light L is shone toward the cutting surface 4b from a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical axis a, which is the axis of the injection needle 4, reflected laser light LrR and reflected laser light LrL are generated on the left and right sides, respectively, as shown in Figure 5, and bright spots LrRb and LrLb with high brightness are generated within each of these reflected laser light LrR and reflected laser light LrL. The positions of these bright spots LrRb and LrLb can be identified by the information (light intensity and light intensity distribution) of the reflected laser light LrR and LrL received by the light receiving sensors 14 (14a, 14b). Based on the information from the reflected laser beams LrR and LrL, the rotation angle measuring unit 10 detects the positions of the bright spots LrRb and LrLb and measures the rotation angle D that the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4 is facing.

[0028] The specific reflected laser beams LrR1~LrR3, LrL1~LrL3 and bright spots LrRb1~LrRb3, LrLb1~LrLb3 will be described below using Figures 6 to 10. The states shown in Figures 6 to 10 represent the state in which the cylindrical axis a of the injection needle 4 is oriented horizontally, that is, the injection needle 4 is lying on its side. Furthermore, the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4 in Figures 6 and 7 is facing directly upwards, and this state is defined as the state in which the rotation angle D of the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4 is 0 degrees. Figures 6 to 10 simulate the state in which the reflected laser beams LrR1~LrR3, LrL1~LrL3 reflected by the cutting surface 4b of the injection needle 4 are projected onto the light receiving sensor 14 (14a, 14b).

[0029] When the rotation angle D is 0 degrees, as shown in Figure 7, the reflected laser beam LrR1 on the right is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14a, and the bright spot LrRb1 on the right is generated at a single point in the reflected laser beam LrR1. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 then detects the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrR1 on the right from the information of the light receiving sensor 14a, and detects that the bright spot LrRb1 is located in the sensor area LrRe3. Although it is possible to accurately measure the position of the bright spot LrRb1, considering the size of the bright spot LrRb1, it is often sufficient to simply detect that the bright spot LrRb1 is located in the sensor area LrRe3 and consider that to be the measurement of the bright spot LrRb1's position. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 does not need to know the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrR1 on the right side, and may simply need to know that the bright spot LrRb1 is located in the sensor area LrRe3. However, in order to determine the rotation angle D more accurately, it is desirable to know the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrR1 on the right side.

[0030] When the rotation angle D is 0 degrees, as shown in Figure 7, the reflected laser beam LrL1 on the left is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14b, similar to the right side, and the bright spot LrLb1 on the left is generated at a single point in the reflected laser beam LrL1. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 then detects the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrL1 on the left from the information of the light receiving sensor 14b, and detects that the bright spot LrLb1 is located in the sensor area LrLe3. Although it is possible to accurately measure the position of the bright spot LrLb1, considering the size of the bright spot LrLb1, it is often sufficient to simply detect that the bright spot LrLb1 is located in the sensor area LrLe3 and consider that to be the measurement of the bright spot LrLb1's position. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 does not need to know the overall position of the left-side reflected laser beam LrL1, and may simply need to know that the bright spot LrLb1 is located in the sensor area LrLe3. However, in order to determine the rotation angle D more accurately, it is desirable to know the overall position of the left-side reflected laser beam LrL1.

[0031] Next, Figure 8 shows the state in which the injection needle 4 has been rotated approximately 10 degrees to the left of the drawing by a rotation angle D, compared to the states in Figures 6 and 7 described above. As shown in Figure 8, the reflected laser beam LrR2 on the right is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14a, and the bright spot LrRb2 on the right is generated at a single point in the reflected laser beam LrR2. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 then detects the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrR2 on the right from the information of the light receiving sensor 14a, and detects that the bright spot LrRb2 is located in the sensor area LrRe3.

[0032] In Figure 8, similar to the right side, the reflected laser beam LrL2 on the left is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14b, and the bright spot LrLb2 on the left is generated at a single point in the reflected laser beam LrL2. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 detects the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrL2 on the left from the information of the light receiving sensor 14b, and detects that the bright spot LrLb2 is located in the sensor area LrLe4. It can also be seen that the reflected laser beam LrL2 itself has rotated to the left compared to the case in Figure 7, in relation to the cylindrical axis a.

[0033] Thus, when the injection needle 4 rotates around the cylindrical axis a, the rotation angle D can be obtained by comparing the position of the bright spot LrRb1 when the rotation angle D is 0 degrees with the position of the bright spot LrRb2 when it is rotated, and the position of the bright spot LrLb1 when the rotation angle D is 0 degrees with the position of the bright spot LrLb2 when it is rotated. Furthermore, if the positions of the bright spots at rotation angles D of 0 degrees or other angles are known in advance, it is possible to measure the rotation angle D.

[0034] While it is possible to measure the rotation angle of the injection needle 4 by measuring only the right or left side, it is preferable to use the results from both the left and right sides to determine the rotation angle D more accurately. Furthermore, depending on the position of the injection needle 4 and the rotation state of the cutting edge 4b, it may be the case that only one bright spot is produced. In such cases, it is especially desirable to use the information from both the left and right sides.

[0035] Figure 9 shows the state in which the injection needle 4 has been rotated approximately 25 degrees to the left of the drawing at a rotation angle D, compared to the states in Figures 6, 7, and 8 described above. As shown in Figure 9, the reflected laser beam LrR3 on the right is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14a, and the bright spot LrRb3 on the right is generated at a single point in the reflected laser beam LrR3. The rotation angle measuring unit 10 then detects the overall position of the reflected laser beam LrR3 on the right from the information of the light receiving sensor 14a, and detects that the bright spot LrRb3 is located in the sensor area LrRe2.

[0036] In Figure 9, similar to the right side, the reflected laser beam LrL3 on the left is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14b, and the bright spot LrLb3 on the left appears at a single point in the reflected laser beam LrL3. However, although a large portion of the reflected laser beam LrL3 is projected onto the light receiving sensor 14b, the bright spot LrLb3 is outside the light receiving sensor 14b, and the rotation angle measuring unit 10 cannot detect the position of the bright spot LrLb3, making it impossible to measure the rotation angle D. Thus, depending on the magnitude of the rotation angle D, the rotation angle measuring unit 10 may not be able to measure the rotation angle D. In such cases, it can be determined that the injection needle 4 has rotated beyond the measurable range, and by pre-setting a threshold for the rotation angle D, it is possible to give the rotation angle measuring unit 10 a function to determine whether the rotation angle D is correct or incorrect.

[0037] Furthermore, Figure 10 shows another example where the rotation angle D cannot be measured. In this case, when measuring the rotation angle D of the injection needle 4, the injection needle 4 is set in the injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1, but as shown in Figure 10, it is shifted in the direction of the arrow in Figure 10 to such an extent that the reflected laser light is not projected onto the light receiving sensor 14 (14a, 14b). In such a case, it is possible to conclude that the position of the injection needle 4 is undesirable because even the reflected laser light cannot be detected and the rotation angle D cannot be measured.

[0038] With the injection needle rotation angle measuring device 1 having the above configuration and operation, the rotation angle in which the cutting surface of the injection needle faces can be measured more reliably.

[0039] This invention allows for various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention. In other words, the scope of the invention is indicated by the claims, not by the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the equivalent scope of the meaning of the invention are considered to be within the scope of this invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0040] As described above, the present invention provides an injection needle rotation angle measuring device and an injection needle rotation angle measuring method that can more reliably measure the rotation angle to which the cutting surface of the injection needle faces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Injection needle rotation angle measuring device 4...syringe needle 4a··Needle body 4b...Blade surface 10. Rotation angle measuring section 12. Laser light source 14. Light receiving sensor 14a... Light receiving sensor 14b...Light receiving sensor a...cylindrical shaft b...Optical axis D... Rotation angle h...Horizontal plane α...Angle β...angle L... Laser light Lr··Reflected laser light LrR... Reflected laser light LrRb... Bright spot LrL... Reflected laser light LrLb... Bright spot LrR1~LrR3...Reflected laser light LrRb1~LrRb3... Bright spots LrL1~LrL3...Reflected laser light LrLb1~LrLb3... Bright spots LrRe1~LrRe5...Sensor Area LrLe1~LrLe5...Sensor Area

Claims

1. In a device for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle, the cutting edge of an injection needle is facing a certain direction. A laser light source that irradiates laser light toward the cutting surface of the injection needle from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the needle, A light receiving sensor that receives the reflected laser light reflected from the blade surface, An injection needle rotation angle measuring device characterized by comprising a rotation angle measuring unit that detects the position of a bright spot contained in the reflected laser light from the information of the reflected laser light received by the light receiving sensor and measures the rotation angle of the injection needle toward which the blade surface is facing.

2. The rotation angle measuring unit, The injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that it detects the positions of the two bright spots contained in the reflected laser light and measures the rotation angle of the injection needle toward which the blade surface faces.

3. The aforementioned laser light source The injection needle rotation angle measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laser light, narrowed to the width of the diameter of the injection needle, is irradiated toward the cutting surface.

4. In a method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle, which measures the rotation angle in which the cutting surface of the injection needle faces, A laser beam is irradiated from a laser light source toward the cutting surface of the injection needle, from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the needle. The reflected laser light reflected from the blade surface is received by a light receiving sensor. A method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle, characterized by detecting the position of a bright spot contained in the reflected laser light from the information of the reflected laser light received by the light receiving sensor, and measuring the rotation angle of the injection needle toward which the blade surface is facing.

5. The method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle according to claim 4, characterized by detecting the positions of the two bright spots contained in the reflected laser light and measuring the rotation angle of the injection needle toward which the blade surface faces.

6. The method for measuring the rotation angle of an injection needle according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the laser light source irradiates the laser beam, which is narrowed to the width of the diameter of the injection needle, toward the cutting surface.

Images