Photoelectric Sensor Air Purge Layout for Low-Air Lens Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air purge units require a large air supply to effectively remove contamination from photoelectric sensor lenses, leading to increased electric power consumption.

Innovation Solution

An air purge unit with multiple small air blow-out ports arranged on the side wall of the housing, which increases air flow velocity and allows efficient contamination removal with a reduced air supply amount, by distributing air over a wider lens surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single large air blow-out port is used to remove contamination from the lens surface, then the air supply amount increases, but the contamination removal effectiveness is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination removal effectivenessVSAvoidelectric power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The single large air blow-out port is divided into multiple small air blow-out ports arranged in an array. This segmentation allows the air supply amount to be reduced while maintaining contamination removal effectiveness, as each small port creates focused high-velocity air jets that are more efficient at removing particles than a single large port

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If multiple small air blow-out ports are used to reduce air supply amount, then the electric power consumption decreases, but the contamination removal effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectric power consumptionVSAvoidcontamination removal effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The parameters of the air blow-out ports are optimized by arranging multiple small ports in a specific array pattern with controlled spacing and orientation. This parameter optimization ensures that the combined effect of multiple small air jets maintains contamination removal effectiveness while using less air supply than a single large port

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The air purge unit effectively removes contamination from the photoelectric sensor lens with a smaller air supply, reducing power consumption while maintaining efficient cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of air blow-out ports (32) arranged on a side wall (30a) of the housing (30) for blowing the air to a lens surface (11a) of a photoelectric sensor (1)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3932571B1Air purge unit

Publication Date: 2024.05.01 OMRON CORP

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AI summary

Provided is an air purge unit capable of removing contamination of a lens surface of a photoelectric sensor with a small air supply amount. This air purge unit 2 is provided with: a housing 30; an air supply port 31 for supplying air into the housing 30; and a plurality of air blow-out ports 32 arranged on a side wall of the housing 30 and blowing air to a lens surface 11a of a photoelectric sensor 1.