Laser irradiation device

Abstract

To clearly indicate a turning range of a work machine that turns independently of the environment.SOLUTION: A laser irradiation device comprises: a main body having a long length; a mounting part provided near a first end of the main body and attachable to an upper part of a work machine; and a laser light source part provided near a second end opposite to the first end of the main body. The laser light source part irradiates a region corresponding to a working range of the work machine with laser light in a state where the main body is attached to the work machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser irradiation device, and more particularly to a laser irradiation device that indicates the rotation range of a rotating work machine. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when using rotating heavy machinery such as a backhoe, a technology has been developed to indicate the rotation range using a visible means in order to prevent people from entering the rotation range of the heavy machinery. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for indicating the rotation range of a heavy machinery by attaching a flag that rotates together with the heavy machinery to the side of the heavy machinery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-344471 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, for example, the technology for displaying the swing range disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is difficult to visually recognize the swing range in dark places, such as at night. Also, it is difficult to recognize the swing range when the heavy equipment is not swinging. The following embodiment has been made in consideration of the above problems, and one of its objectives is to display the swing range of the work equipment independently of the environment in which the work is performed or the operating status of the work equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a main body having a longitudinal length, a mounting portion provided near a first end of the main body and mountable on an upper portion of a work machine, and a laser light source portion provided near a second end of the main body opposite the first end. When the main body is mounted on the work machine, the laser light source portion irradiates a region corresponding to a working range of the work machine with laser light.

[0006] The work machine may be rotated, and the laser light source unit may irradiate a region corresponding to a rotation range of the work machine with laser light.

[0007] The main body may further include a reflector provided near the second end thereof, which reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source toward the ground when the main body is attached to the work machine, and the laser light source may emit linear laser light in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.

[0008] The reflecting portion may include an annular reflecting plate and a connecting member that connects the reflecting plate and the main body portion, and the connecting member may be connected to the main body portion at the annular central portion of the reflecting plate.

[0009] The laser light source unit may be a laser level, and may emit linear laser light radially from the main body unit as an axis.

[0010] The laser light source unit may emit laser light while rotating or scanning a point light source, and irradiate an area on the ground corresponding to the work range with the laser light.

[0011] The working apparatus may further include a control device that detects a working state of the working machine and calculates the working range based on the detected working state.

[0012] The mounting portion may include a magnet.

[0013] The main body may be extendable in a longitudinal direction of the main body.

[0014] The main body portion may include a first main body portion having a tubular structure and a screw groove on the inner wall of the tubular structure, and a second main body portion having a columnar structure and a screw thread corresponding to the screw groove on the outer periphery of the column, with a portion of the second main body portion positioned inside the first main body portion, and the main body portion may be expandable and contractable by the first main body portion and the second main body portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the laser irradiation device of one embodiment of the present invention, the swing range of the work machine can be displayed independently of the environment in which the work is performed or the operating status of the work machine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a work machine equipped with a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a top view showing a state in which the swing range of a work machine is displayed by a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a side view showing a main body and a mounting portion of a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view showing a reflecting portion of the laser irradiation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a reflecting section of a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a main body section. [Figure 6] 1 is a side view showing a work machine equipped with a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, a laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the description of the example shown below. In the drawings referred to in this embodiment, the same parts or parts having similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0018] In each embodiment of the present invention, the direction from the work machine 200 toward the laser irradiation device 100 while the work machine 200 is performing work is referred to as "upward." Conversely, the direction from the laser irradiation device 100 toward the work machine 200 in such a state is referred to as "downward." In the following description, for example, the expression "laser irradiation device 100 above the work machine 200" merely describes the vertical relationship between the work machine 200 and the laser irradiation device 100 as described above, and other members may be disposed between the work machine 200 and the laser irradiation device 100. "Above" or "below" refers to the vertical relationship between multiple members, and when referring to the laser irradiation device 100 above the work machine 200, the work machine 200 and the laser irradiation device 100 may be in a positional relationship where they do not overlap in a planar view. On the other hand, when referring to the laser irradiation device 100 vertically above the work machine 200, it refers to a positional relationship where the work machine 200 and the laser irradiation device 100 overlap in a planar view.

[0019] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, expressions such as "α includes A, B, or C," "α includes any one of A, B, and C," and "α includes one selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C" do not exclude cases where α includes multiple combinations of A to C. Furthermore, these expressions do not exclude cases where α includes other elements.

[0020] [1. First embodiment] [1-1. Overall structure] 1 and 2, the overall configuration of the laser irradiation device 100 and the work machine 200 according to the first embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a backhoe is exemplified as the work machine 200, but the configuration is not limited to this. The work machine 200 may be any work machine that can rotate, and is not limited to a backhoe. Furthermore, the work machine 200 in which the laser irradiation device 100 is used is not limited to heavy machinery, and can be used in a variety of work machines.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a work machine equipped with a laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser irradiation device 100 includes a main body 110, an attachment 120, a laser light source 130, and a reflector 140. The laser irradiation device 100 is attached to the top of a work machine 200. The main body 110 is attached to the work machine 200 by the attachment 120. The laser light source 130 is disposed above the work machine 200 by the main body 110. The reflector 140 reflects laser light emitted from the laser light source 130 toward the reflector 140 downward (toward the ground). The detailed configuration of each component of the laser irradiation device 100 will be described later. The reflector 140 is disposed to surround the laser light source 130 in a top view, and the laser light source 130 emits laser light radially toward the reflector 140 around the laser light source 130 in a top view.

[0022] A laser level is used as the laser light source unit 130. A laser level is a device that emits a linear laser beam in the horizontal direction and is capable of irradiating the laser beam in a 360-degree direction as viewed from above. In other words, the laser light source unit 130 emits the laser beam in a circle that corresponds to the rotation range of the work machine 200. In other words, the laser light source unit 130 emits linear laser beams radially with the main body unit 110 as its axis. A laser level may emit laser beams continuously in a 360-degree direction as viewed from above, or may emit laser beams intermittently. In addition to a laser level, the laser light source unit 130 may also emit laser beams in a 360-degree direction as viewed from above by rotating or scanning the laser beam from a point light source. The laser light source unit 130 may emit laser beams from a single light source or from multiple light sources.

[0023] The work machine 200 includes a swivel main frame 210, a cab 220, an arm 230, a bucket 240, and a crawler 250. The swivel main frame 210 swivels relative to the crawler 250 (or the ground). The swivel main frame 210 is equipped with an engine and a power supply system. The cab 220 is configured integrally with the swivel main frame 210. A driver's seat is provided in the cab 220. The driver's seat is located at the center of rotation of the work machine 200. The arm 230 extends forward from the swivel main frame 210. The bucket 240 is provided at the tip of the arm 230. In FIG. 1 , the arm 230 is bent and folded back midway. The arm 230 and the bucket 240 swivel together with the swivel main frame 210. The crawler 250 is provided below the swivel main frame 210. The crawler 250 is an example of an endless track and can be replaced with other configurations.

[0024] In this embodiment, the laser irradiation device 100 is attached to the upper surface of the cab 220. The attachment part 120 is attached to the upper surface of the cab 220 at a position including the center of rotation of the work machine 200.

[0025] Fig. 2 is a top view showing a state in which a turning range of a work machine is displayed by a laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, Fig. 2 omits the laser irradiation device 100, and illustrates a configuration in which a turning range 190 is displayed on the ground around a work machine 200 by laser light emitted from the laser irradiation device 100. The turning range 190 is displayed by irradiating the ground with laser light emitted from the laser light source unit 130 in a circular manner when the main body 110 of the laser irradiation device 100 is attached to the work machine 200.

[0026] The swing range 190 may indicate the outermost periphery of the folded-back portion of the arm 230 when the work implement 200 swings with the arm 230 folded back as shown in FIG. 1 , or may indicate the outermost periphery of the bucket 240 when the work implement 200 swings with the arm 230 extended and the bucket 240 farthest from the swing main frame 210. Alternatively, the swing range 190 may be switched to either of the above depending on the state of the arm 230. In this case, for example, a control device that controls the operation of the work implement 200 may detect the angle of the arm 230 and the angle of the bucket 240, and calculate the position of the outermost periphery in the current state based on these angles and the shape of the arm 230 and the shape of the bucket 240. In other words, the control device detects the working state of the work implement 200, and calculates the working range of the work implement 200 (e.g., swing range 190) based on the detected working state.

[0027] [1-2. Configuration of laser irradiation device 100] The detailed configuration of the laser irradiation device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main body and an attachment part of a laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a main body 110 and an attachment part 120. The main body 110 has a longitudinal direction in the D1 direction. In the D1 direction, the attachment part 120 is provided near a first end 111 of the main body 110, and a laser light source part 130 and a reflector 140 are provided near a second end 112 of the main body 110 opposite the first end 111 of the main body 110 (see FIG. 5). The main body 110 includes a first main body part 113, a second main body part 114, and a light source fixing part 115. The second main body part 114 is movable in the D1 direction relative to the first main body part 113. This configuration allows the main body 110 to expand and contract in the D1 direction. The laser light source part 130 and the reflector 140 are fixed to the light source fixing part 115. The D1 direction corresponds to the up-down direction or vertical direction in a state in which the laser irradiation device 100 is attached to the work machine 200 as shown in FIG.

[0029] The first body portion 113 is a tubular or cylindrical member. The second body portion 114 is a columnar member. A screw thread is provided on the outer periphery of the second body portion 114. A screw groove corresponding to the screw thread of the second body portion 114 is provided on the inner wall of the first body portion 113. In other words, the second body portion 114 is a male screw, and the first body portion 113 is a female screw. By rotating the second body portion 114 relative to the first body portion 113, the position of the second body portion 114 relative to the first body portion 113 in the D1 direction can be adjusted. In this embodiment, a screw thread is provided on the outer periphery of the light source fixing portion 115 to which the laser light source portion 130 can be attached.

[0030] The configurations of the first body portion 113 and the second body portion 114 are not limited to the above configurations. For example, the first body portion 113 may not have a screw groove on its inner wall, and the second body portion 114 may not have a screw thread on its outer periphery. In other words, the second body portion 114 may be slidable in the D1 direction relative to the first body portion 113, and an adjustment means may be provided to adjust the positions of both in the D1 direction. The adjustment means may be a gear lift type. The configuration of the light source fixing portion 115 is not limited to the above configuration. The light source fixing portion 115 may not have a screw thread on its outer periphery, and the laser light source portion 130 may be fixed to the body portion 110 by a method other than a screw type.

[0031] The mounting portion 120 is equipped with a magnet. The mounting portion 120 is attached to the work machine 200 by the magnetic force of the magnet. However, the configuration of the mounting portion 120 is not limited to this configuration. The mounting portion 120 may be attached to the work machine 200 by a force other than magnetic force. For example, through holes may be provided at the first end 111 of the main body 110 and at the attachment position of the work machine 200, and the laser irradiation device 100 may be attached to the work machine 200 by bolts or the like that pass through these through holes.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the reflecting unit 140 of the laser irradiation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the reflecting unit 140 includes a reflecting plate 141 and a connecting member 142. The reflecting plate 141 is annular. As will be described in detail later, the reflecting plate 141 is inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the laser light from the laser light source unit 130 in order to reflect the laser light emitted horizontally from the laser light source unit 130 downward (toward the ground) when the main body unit 110 is attached to the work machine 200. If the reflecting plate 141 is annular and perfectly circular, the inclination angle of the reflecting plate 141 is constant. On the other hand, if the reflecting plate 141 is annular and not perfectly circular (for example, elliptical), the inclination angle of the reflecting plate 141 may be adjusted so that the laser light emitted from the laser light source unit 130 is reflected by the reflecting plate 141 and appears as a perfect circle on the ground.

[0033] The connecting member 142 is provided so as to bridge between opposing portions of the annular reflecting plate 141, and connects the reflecting plate 141 and the main body 110. If the reflecting plate 141 is a perfect ring, the connecting member 142 is provided so as to pass through the center of the circle. The connecting member 142 has a through-hole 143 that penetrates the connecting member 142 at a position corresponding to the center of the circle. In other words, the connecting member 142 is connected to the main body 110 at the center of the ring of the reflecting plate 141. Although FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration in which two connecting members 142 are provided, the number of connecting members 142 may be one or three or more. Furthermore, although the connecting member 142 is linear in FIG. 4, the connecting member 142 may be curved.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a reflecting unit of a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a main body unit. The cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' shown in Fig. 4, showing a state in which the reflecting unit 140 of Fig. 4 is attached to the main body unit 110 of Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the light source fixing unit 115 passes through a through-hole 143 provided in the connecting member 142 and is connected to the laser light source unit 130. In this state, the connecting member 142 is sandwiched between the second main body unit 114 and the laser light source unit 130. For example, the position of the reflecting unit 140 relative to the main body unit 110 may be fixed by fastening the connecting member 142 between the laser light source unit 130 and the second main body unit 114, or the reflecting unit 140 may be fixed by other methods.

[0035] The connecting member 142 is connected to a position on the inclined surface of the reflecting plate 141 that is a predetermined distance below the upper end 144. In other words, the reflecting plate 141 has an inclined surface above the connecting member 142 that reflects downward the laser light 131 emitted horizontally from the laser light source unit 130. In other words, the laser light source unit 130 emits linear laser light in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body unit 110. Note that when the laser light source unit 130 is provided below the connecting member 142, the inclined surface does not need to be provided above the connecting member 142. In this case, the connecting member 142 may be connected to the upper end 144 of the reflecting plate 141.

[0036] The size of the turning range 190 can be adjusted by the angle θ formed between the traveling direction of the laser light emitted from the laser light source unit 130 and the inclined surface of the reflector 141, the height H (not shown) from the ground to the laser light source unit 130, and the horizontal distance L from the laser light source unit 130 to the reflector 141. Specifically, the radius R of the turning range 190 is determined by the following formula. R=L+H·tan(90°-2θ)

[0037] The extension and retraction of the main body 110 may be performed manually or by mechanical control. In the case of mechanical control, the main body 110 may be automatically extended and retracted based on the numerical value of the rotation range 190 input by the user and the above-mentioned calculation formula, thereby adjusting the height of the laser light source unit 130.

[0038] As described above, the laser irradiation device 100 according to this embodiment is configured to irradiate laser light from above the work implement 200 toward the ground, thereby making it possible to display the rotation range 190 by irradiating it with laser light within the rotation range of the work implement 200. Because the laser light is irradiated onto the ground, the rotation range 190 can be displayed in an easily visible state even in dark places such as at night. Furthermore, the circular rotation range 190 can be displayed even when the work implement 200 is not rotating.

[0039] In the present embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the laser light is irradiated onto the rotation range 190 of the work machine 200 when the work machine 200 is rotating, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, even when the work machine does not rotate, the laser light may be irradiated onto an area within the work range of the work machine where entry by people should be restricted. In this case, the area onto which the laser light is irradiated does not have to be circular, and can be set according to the area to be restricted.

[0040] [2. Second Embodiment] The overall configuration of a laser irradiation device 100A and a work machine 200A according to the second embodiment will be described using Figure 6. The laser irradiation device 100A shown in Figure 6 is similar to the laser irradiation device 100 shown in Figure 1, but differs from the laser irradiation device 100 in that the laser irradiation device 100A does not include a member corresponding to the reflector 140 in Figure 1 and the laser light source unit 130A irradiates laser light diagonally downward. In the following description, when describing configurations similar to those of the laser irradiation device 100 and the work machine 200, the alphabet "A" may be added after the reference numerals shown in Figure 1 and the description may be omitted.

[0041] 6 radiates a linear laser beam diagonally downward. When the laser light source unit 130A is a point light source, the laser light source unit 130A may radiate the laser beam diagonally downward while rotating or scanning around the main body unit 110A as an axis. In other words, the laser light source unit 130A emits laser beam of a point light source and rotates the emitted laser beam of the point light source so as to draw a circle on the ground.

[0042] As described above, the laser irradiation device 100A according to this embodiment can obtain the same effects as the laser irradiation device 100 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, since the reflecting section 140 of the first embodiment can be omitted, costs can be reduced.

[0043] The above-described embodiments of the present invention may be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. Furthermore, even if a person skilled in the art appropriately adds or deletes components or modifies the design based on each embodiment, or adds or omits steps or modifies conditions, such combinations are included in the scope of the present invention as long as they include the gist of the present invention.

[0044] Even if there are other effects and advantages different from those brought about by the above-mentioned embodiments, those that are clear from the description in this specification or that can be easily predicted by a person skilled in the art are naturally understood to be brought about by the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100: Laser irradiation device, 110: Main body, 111: First end, 112: Second end, 113: First main body, 114: Second main body, 115: Light source fixing portion, 120: Mounting portion, 130: Laser light source portion, 131: Laser light, 140: Reflecting portion, 141: Reflecting plate, 142: Connecting member, 143: Through hole, 144: Upper end, 190: Swing range, 200: Work machine, 210: Swing main frame, 220: Cab, 230: Arm, 240: Bucket, 250: Crawler

Claims

1. a main body portion having a longitudinal axis; a mounting portion provided near a first end of the main body portion and capable of being mounted to an upper portion of a work machine; a laser light source unit provided near a second end of the main body portion opposite to the first end; a reflector that is provided near the second end of the main body and that reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source toward the ground when the main body is attached to the work machine, the laser light source unit, when the main body unit is attached to the work machine, irradiates a laser beam so as to be displayed on the ground in an area corresponding to a work range of the work machine; the laser light source unit emits linear laser light in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body unit, The reflecting portion is an annular reflector; a connecting member that connects the reflector and the main body, The connecting member is connected to the main body at the annular center portion of the reflector.

2. The work machine rotates, The laser irradiation device according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light source unit irradiates a region corresponding to a rotation range of the work machine with laser light.

3. The laser irradiation device according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light source unit emits linear laser light radially with the main body unit as an axis.

4. 4. The laser irradiation device according to claim 1, further comprising a control device that detects a working state of the work machine and calculates the working range based on the detected working state.

5. The laser irradiation device according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a magnet.

6. The laser irradiation device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body is extendable and contractible in a longitudinal direction of the main body.

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