阅读说明：本技术 线剩余量检测装置 (Remaining line quantity detection device ) 是由 上山晃弘 下山恭生 小村善幸 于 2021-04-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种线剩余量检测装置,可实现省空间化。线剩余量检测装置具备台座(110)和检测部(130),该台座(110)可载置锥筒(11),该检测部(130)配置在上述台座(110)上,具有相对于上述锥筒(11)的绕线部分(12)的底面照射光的发光部(132)及接收来自上述底面的反射光的受光部(133)。(A wire remaining amount detection device can save space. The device for detecting the amount of remaining thread comprises a base (110) on which a tapered tube (11) can be placed, and a detection unit (130) which is disposed on the base (110) and has a light emitting unit (132) that irradiates light onto the bottom surface of a thread winding portion (12) of the tapered tube (11) and a light receiving unit (133) that receives reflected light from the bottom surface.)

1. A remaining thread amount detection device (100) is provided with a base (110) and a detection unit (130),

the base (110) can carry the cone (11),

the detection unit (130) is disposed on the base (110), and has a light emitting unit (132) that irradiates light onto the bottom surface of the winding portion (12) of the tapered tube (11), and a light receiving unit (133) that receives reflected light from the bottom surface.

2. The device (100) for detecting the amount of remaining thread according to claim 1, further comprising positioning portions (112, 120) for positioning the shaft center of the tapered tube (11) with respect to the detection portion (130).

3. The residual thread amount detection device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a residual thread amount estimation unit (140) that estimates the residual thread amount in accordance with the amount of light received by the light receiving unit (133).

4. The residual thread amount detection device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the residual thread amount estimation unit (140) estimates the residual thread amount in accordance with at least one of the number, color, and material of the thread wound around the tapered tube (11).

5. The device (100) for detecting a residual thread amount according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a communication unit (150) capable of communicating information relating to a detection result by the detection unit (130).

6. The device (100) for detecting the amount of remaining thread according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light emitting section (132) is disposed on the axial center side of the tapered tube (11) with respect to the light receiving section (133).

7. The device (100) for detecting the amount of remaining thread according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an adjusting unit (160) that can adjust a distance between the bottom surface and the detecting unit (130).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a technique of a remaining thread amount detection device for detecting a remaining amount of thread wound around a taper cylinder.

Background

Conventionally, a remaining thread amount detection device for detecting a remaining amount of thread wound around a cone has been known. For example, as described in patent document 1.

Patent document 1 discloses a string remaining amount detection device (string detection device) including an optical sensor that irradiates light to a side surface of a string wound on a cone and detects reflected light from a string surface. The yarn is fed from the cone drum to the knitting machine, and if the yarn wound on the cone drum is not present, the optical sensor detects the reflected light from the surface of the cone drum. The remaining thread amount detection device can determine the presence or absence of a thread wound around a cone based on a change in reflected light detected by an optical sensor (a difference between the reflected light from the thread surface and the reflected light from the cone surface).

[ Prior Art document ]

[ patent document ]

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese patent application laid-open No. 8-277069

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, generally, a plurality of cones, which are used to supply yarn to a knitting machine, are used in a state of being arranged in parallel so as to be closely spaced. Therefore, when an optical sensor detection line disposed on the side of the tapered tube is used as described in patent document 1, it is difficult to secure the disposition space of the optical sensor. Therefore, it is desirable to save space in the remaining wire amount detection device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a residual wire amount detection device capable of saving space.

Means for solving the problems

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and means for solving the problem will be described next.

That is, the remaining thread amount detection device according to the present invention includes a base on which a tapered tube can be placed, and a detection unit that is disposed on the base and has a light emitting unit that irradiates light onto a bottom surface of a winding portion of the tapered tube and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light from the bottom surface.

With this configuration, the space of the wire remaining amount detection device can be saved by providing the detection unit with the pedestal on which the taper tube is mounted.

The remaining thread amount detection device according to the present invention further includes a positioning portion for positioning the shaft core of the tapered tube with respect to the detection portion.

By performing the positioning of the tapered tube in this manner, the detection accuracy by the detection unit can be improved.

The remaining thread amount detection device according to the present invention further includes a remaining thread amount estimation unit that estimates the remaining thread amount in accordance with the amount of light received by the light receiving unit.

With this configuration, the remaining amount of the line according to the amount of received light can be estimated.

The remaining thread amount estimating unit estimates the remaining thread amount in accordance with at least one of the number, color, and material of the thread wound around the tapered tube.

With this configuration, the accuracy of estimating the remaining amount of the wire can be improved by estimating the number of wires or the like.

The remaining thread amount detection device according to the present invention further includes a communication unit capable of communicating information related to a detection result by the detection unit.

With this configuration, effective and flexible use of the detection result (for example, construction of a database related to detection, control of the operation of the knitting machine, and the like) can be realized.

The light emitting section is disposed on the axis of the cone cylinder with respect to the light receiving section.

With this configuration, even when the remaining amount of the wire is reduced, the detection by the detection unit can be easily performed.

The remaining thread amount detection device according to the present invention further includes an adjustment unit that can adjust a distance between the bottom surface and the detection unit.

With this configuration, the distance between the bottom surface of the winding portion and the detection portion is adjusted according to the type of the wire, and the like, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the detection portion.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

As an effect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve an effect of saving space of the remaining wire amount detection device.

Drawings

Fig. 1(a) is a perspective view of a residual thread amount detection device and a thread taper cylinder according to a first embodiment of the present invention; (b) is a side partial sectional view thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged view of the remaining amount detecting device.

FIG. 3(a) is a plan view showing a remaining thread amount detecting device; (b) is a side view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view a-a.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a temporal change in the detection result by the detection unit.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged view showing a remaining thread amount detection device according to a second embodiment.

Detailed Description

In order to implement the mode of the invention

Hereinafter, directions indicated by arrow U, arrow D, arrow F, arrow B, arrow L, and arrow R in the drawing are defined as up direction, down direction, front direction, rear direction, left direction, and right direction, respectively.

First, a description will be given of the wimble 10 held by the remaining thread amount detection device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with reference to fig. 1.

The yarn cone 10 is configured to wind a yarn supplied to a knitting machine (a flat knitting machine, a vertical knitting machine, a circular knitting machine, or the like) around a cone 11. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the paper cone 11 is used. The tapered tube 11 is formed into a hollow substantially truncated cone shape. The winding portion 12 having a shape (substantially truncated cone shape) along the side surface of the tapered tube 11 is formed by winding a wire around the side surface of the tapered tube 11.

Next, the configuration of the remaining thread amount detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 4.

The remaining thread amount detection device 100 is a device that holds the thread taper cylinder 10 and detects the remaining amount of thread of the thread taper cylinder 10. The remaining string detecting device 100 mainly includes a base 110, an inside positioning unit 120, a detecting unit 130, a control unit 140, and a communication unit 150.

The base 110 is a portion on which the wire taper cylinder 10 (taper cylinder 11) is placed. The base 110 mainly includes a main body 111 and an outer positioning portion 112.

The main body 111 is formed into a substantially elliptical shape that is long in the front-rear direction when viewed from above. The main body 111 is formed in a substantially plate shape having a constant vertical width (thickness). The main body 111 has a recess 111 a.

The recess 111a is a portion where an outer positioning portion 112 described later is disposed. The recess 111a is formed in the center of the front end of the body 111. The recess 111a is formed so as to recess the top surface of the body 111 downward.

The outer positioning portion 112 is configured to position the tapered tube 11. The outer positioning portion 112 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The outer positioning portion 112 is disposed in the recess 111a of the main body portion 111. The vertical width (thickness) of the outer positioning portion 112 is formed to be slightly larger than the vertical width (depth) of the recess 111 a. Thus, if the outer positioning portion 112 is disposed in the recessed portion 111a, the upper end portion of the outer positioning portion 112 slightly protrudes upward from the upper surface of the main body portion 111. The outer positioning portion 112 mainly includes a recess 112a and a transmission portion 112 b.

A recess 112a is formed in the right and left center of the rear end portion of the outside positioning portion 112. The recess 112a is formed to recess the upper surface of the outer positioning portion 112 downward.

The transmissive portion 112b shown in fig. 4 is a portion that transmits light irradiated and received by the detection portion 130 described later. The transmission portion 112b is formed of a material having light transmissivity. The transmission portion 112b is provided so as to form a bottom portion of the recess 112a (an upper portion of the detection portion 130 described later). In the illustrated example, the transmissive portion 112b is formed above the detection portion 130 (only a part of the outer positioning portion 112), but the entire outer positioning portion 112 may be formed of a material having light permeability, for example.

The inner positioning portion 120 shown in fig. 2 and 3 is configured to position the tapered tube 11. The inner positioning portion 120 is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape that tapers toward the upper end. The inner positioning portion 120 is provided at a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the base 110.

The detection unit 130 shown in fig. 2 to 4 is a remaining amount detection unit that detects the thread wound around the taper cylinder 11. The detection unit 130 mainly includes a substrate 131, a light emitting unit 132, and a light receiving unit 133.

The substrate 131 shown in fig. 4 is a plate-shaped member provided with a light emitting section 132 and a light receiving section 133.

The light emitting unit 132 is a structure (light emitting element) that irradiates light (infrared rays). The light emitting section 132 is provided on the upper surface of the substrate 131. The light emitting unit 132 can emit light (infrared light) upward. In fig. 4, the irradiation range of the infrared rays irradiated from the light emitting section 132 is schematically shown by a two-dot chain line.

The light receiving unit 133 is a structure (light receiving element) that receives light (infrared rays). The light receiving part 133 is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 131. The light-receiving section 133 is provided in front of the light-emitting section 132. The light receiving portion 133 can receive light (reflected light) irradiated from the light emitting portion 132 and reflected outside (in the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the winding portion 12). In fig. 4, the light receiving range of the light receiving unit 133 is schematically indicated by a two-dot chain line.

In this way, the detection unit 130 is formed by an optical sensor that detects the reflected light. The detection unit 130 is disposed inside the base 110 (outside positioning unit 112). Specifically, the detection unit 130 is disposed below the transmission unit 112b of the outside positioning unit 112. This allows the light emitting unit 132 to emit light (infrared light) upward through the transmissive unit 112 b. The light receiving unit 133 can receive the incident reflected light through the transmission unit 112 b.

By disposing the detection unit 130 by the base 110 in this manner, the disposition space of the detection unit 130 can be secured. Further, by disposing the detection unit 130 in the recess 112a (below the recess 112 a), dust can be prevented from intruding and accumulating above the detection unit 130. This can prevent the detection unit 130 from blocking the light emitted and received.

The light emitting unit 132 is disposed behind the light receiving unit 133. That is, the light emitting unit 132 is disposed on the side of the inner positioning unit 120 with respect to the light receiving unit 133. Thus, the light emitting unit 132 is disposed on the axis side of the pyramid cylinder 10 mounted on the base 110, compared to the light receiving unit 133. Accordingly, even when the line of the conical cylinder 10 is reduced as described later, the light from the light emitting portion 132 is easily irradiated to the winding portion 12, and thus the reflected light is easily detected by the light receiving portion 133.

Control unit 140 shown in fig. 2 and 3 is a control unit that estimates the remaining amount of thread wound around tapered tube 11 based on the detection result of detection unit 130. The control portion 140 is disposed inside the base 110 (outside positioning portion 112). Specifically, the control unit 140 is disposed in the vicinity (front side) of the detection unit 130 of the outside positioning unit 112. The control unit 140 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, a storage unit such as a RAM or a ROM, and the like. The storage unit of the control unit 140 stores various information, programs, and the like used for estimating the remaining amount of lines.

The control unit 140 can be electrically connected to the detection unit 130 to obtain the detection result of the detection unit 130. The arithmetic processing unit of the control unit 140 can execute the above-described program, and estimate the remaining amount of the thread wound around the taper cylinder 11 by performing predetermined arithmetic processing or the like using the detection result of the detection unit 130 or the like.

The communication unit 150 is configured to be capable of electrical communication with an external device. The communication unit 150 is disposed inside the base 110 (outside positioning unit 112). Specifically, the communication unit 150 is disposed in the vicinity (front side) of the detection unit 130 of the outside positioning unit 112. The communication unit 150 is electrically connected to the control unit 140, acquires various information (for example, estimation result of remaining amount of wire) from the control unit 140, and transmits information to the outside by wireless communication. The communication unit 150 may transmit information received from an external device or the like to the control unit 140.

Next, a method of holding the bobbin 10 by the remaining thread amount detection device 100 will be described.

When the pyramid-shaped wire casing 10 is held by the wire remaining amount detection device 100, the pyramid-shaped wire casing 10 is placed on the base 110 while the inner positioning portion 120 is inserted into the cone 11, as shown in fig. 2.

At this time, as shown in fig. 4, the cone tube 11 is placed on the upper surface of the base 110 such that the front lower end portion of the cone tube 11 is fitted into the gap (groove) between the inner positioning portion 120 and the outer positioning portion 112. By disposing the front lower end portion of the tapered tube 11 so as to be sandwiched between the inner positioning portion 120 and the outer positioning portion 112 in this manner, the axial center of the tapered tube 11 can be positioned. Further, positioning is performed not by the entire lower end portion (the entire circumference) of the tapered tube 11 but by only a part (the front portion), and thus the positioning can be performed with respect to various types of tapered tubes 11 having different diameters. By positioning the tapered tube 11 in this manner, the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of the wire using the detection unit 130 can be improved.

In addition, in a state where the cone tube 11 is placed on the base 110, the inner positioning portion 120 is inserted into the inner side of the cone tube 11, so that the cone tube 11 can be prevented from falling over or falling off.

When the position of the tapered tube 11 is shifted forward when the tapered tube 11 is placed on the base 110, the front lower end portion of the tapered tube 11 is placed on the upper surface of the outer positioning portion 112. At this time, the upper surface of the outer positioning portion 112 protrudes from the upper surface of the base 110 (main body portion 111), and therefore the entire tapered tube 11 is slightly inclined rearward. The operator who sets the line cone 10 on the line residual amount detection device 100 can confirm whether or not the cone 11 is correctly placed on the line residual amount detection device 100 (can deny the position) by visually confirming whether or not the cone 11 (the line cone 10) is inclined.

Thus, the bobbin 10 can be mounted (held) on the remaining thread amount detection device 100. From this cone 10 the thread can be supplied to the knitting machine.

Next, a method of detecting the remaining amount of thread of the thread bobbin 10 by the thread remaining amount detecting device 100 will be described.

When the yarn is fed from the yarn cone 10 mounted on the yarn remaining amount detecting device 100 to the knitting machine, the remaining amount of the yarn gradually decreases. When the remaining amount of the thread is reduced to some extent, the thread bobbin 10 needs to be replaced. In order to grasp the timing of replacement of the line cone 10, it is also desirable to grasp the remaining amount of the line cone 10. In the present embodiment, the remaining amount of thread of the tapered bobbin 10 can be detected (estimated) using the thread remaining amount detection device 100

The remaining thread amount detection device 100 can detect (estimate) the remaining amount of thread of the tapered thread cylinder 10 in approximately 2 steps. Specifically, the remaining thread amount detection device 100 can detect the remaining amount of thread in 2 steps of (1) "the step of detecting the amount of light received by the detection section 130" and (2) "the step of estimating the remaining amount of thread based on the amount of light received". The following description will be made in order.

First, the following describes (1) 'a step of detecting the amount of light received by the reflected light by the detection unit 130'.

When the remaining amount of the thread bobbin 10 is detected, as shown in fig. 4, the detection of the reflected light (light irradiation and reception) by the detection unit 130 is performed. Specifically, light is emitted upward from the light emitting unit 132. Since the winding portion 12 of the bobbin 10 is located above the light emitting portion 132, the light from the light emitting portion 132 irradiates the bottom surface of the winding portion 12. The light reflected by the bottom surface of the winding portion 12 is received by the light receiving portion 133.

Here, the amount of light received detected by the light receiving unit 133 changes according to the winding thickness T of the winding portion 12 of the tapered bobbin 10 (the thickness in the radial direction of the winding portion 12). For example, as in the winding portion 12 indicated by the two-dot chain line in fig. 4, when the winding thickness T is sufficiently large (that is, when the remaining amount of the wire of the bobbin 10 is large), most of the light irradiated from the light emitting portion 132 is reflected by the bottom surface of the winding portion 12. In this case, the light receiving portion 133 detects a relatively large amount of light.

On the other hand, as in the winding portion 12 indicated by the solid line in fig. 4, when the winding thickness T is relatively small (that is, when the remaining amount of the wire in the bobbin 10 is small), only a part of the light irradiated from the light emitting portion 132 is reflected by the bottom surface of the winding portion 12. In this case, the amount of light received detected by the light receiving unit 133 is relatively small.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a temporal change in the detection result (light receiving amount) by the detection unit 130, as a specific example of a change in the light receiving amount due to a change in the remaining amount of the wire (change in the roll thickness T). Fig. 5 shows an example in which the detection unit 130 detects the amount of received light for 3 lines (3 types of tapered cylinders 10) having different line diameters.

In fig. 5, a line a with a medium line diameter is shown: cotton thread (double thread with 30 cotton count), thread B with a relatively thin thread diameter: yarn (three-ply yarn with 72 counts), thick yarn C: the detection result of 3 lines of acrylic acid line (double line with count of 20). In any of the yarns, the initial thickness T of the yarn cone 10 is 20mm, and the feeding speed of the yarn to the knitting machine is 5 m/s.

In either case, the light receiving amount is substantially constant after a while from the start of the supply of the yarn to the knitting machine (elapsed time 0 second). This is because, when the winding thickness T of the winding portion 12 is sufficiently large, most of the light irradiated from the light emitting portion 132 is reflected by the bottom surface of the winding portion 12 and does not change in the detection result (light receiving amount) by the light receiving portion 133 even if the remaining amount of the wire is reduced by a little. Further, at the start of the supply of the thread, a difference occurs in the amount of light received by the 3 threads due to a difference in thread diameter, material, and the like.

In either case, if a certain time elapses, the amount of light received starts to decrease. This is because the winding thickness T of the winding portion 12 is reduced, and a part of the light emitted from the light emitting portion 132 is no longer reflected by the bottom surface of the winding portion 12 (see fig. 4). Since the roll thickness T gradually decreases with time, the light receiving amount also gradually decreases.

In either case, if time further elapses, the received light becomes constant again at a value close to 0. This means that the wire of the wire winding portion 12 is not available.

In addition, if 3 lines are compared, the light receiving amount starts to decrease at an earlier timing as the line diameter is larger. This is because, when compared with the same winding thickness T (20mm), the larger the wire diameter, the faster the reduction rate of the winding thickness T of the winding portion 12. Therefore, the inclination of the graph in which the light receiving amount decreases (the amount of decrease per unit time) increases as the wire diameter increases.

Next, the above-described (2) "step of estimating the remaining amount of the line according to the light receiving amount" will be described.

The control unit 140 estimates the remaining amount of the thread of the tapered bobbin 10 based on the detection result (light receiving amount) by the detection unit 130. Specifically, the remaining amount (m) of the thread is calculated (estimated) from the detection result (light receiving amount) by the detection unit 130 with reference to information (for example, a table showing the relationship between the light receiving amount and the remaining amount of the thread) showing the relationship between the light receiving amount and the remaining amount of the thread obtained by an experiment (actual measurement value), numerical analysis, or the like.

Here, the relationship between the amount of received light which is the basis of estimation and the remaining amount of the thread (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "estimation basis information") differs depending on various conditions such as the number of threads, color, material, and type (size, shape, etc.) of the tapered bobbin 10. Therefore, the control unit 140 stores estimation basis information under various conditions in advance. The control unit 140 selects appropriate estimation basis information according to the type of the pyramid cylinder 10 that is the estimation target of the wire remaining amount, and estimates the wire remaining amount based on the estimation basis information. By estimating the remaining amount in accordance with the estimation basis information (the number of lines, etc.) in this way, the estimation accuracy can be improved.

The estimation basis information used for estimation is not limited to information stored in advance in the control unit 140. For example, the estimation basis information may be transmitted from an external device to the control unit 140 via the communication unit 150, and the estimation basis information may be stored in the control unit 140. The estimation basis information may be automatically determined by the control unit 140 based on information on the pyramid cylinder 10 received from an external device, or may be arbitrarily selected by an operator using an external device (for example, an input device such as a keyboard or a switch).

By estimating the remaining amount of the wire using the detection result (light receiving amount) by the detection unit 130 in this way, it is possible to grasp not only the presence or absence of the wire but also the remaining amount of the wire, the state of change thereof with time, and the like.

The information on the remaining amount of the wire estimated in this way can be transmitted to the external device via the communication unit 150, and can be used as desired. For example, the remaining amount of the thread can be displayed on a monitor screen, and the timing of replacement of the bobbin 10 can be grasped. In addition, when the remaining amount of the wire is reduced to some extent, the intention of the wire can be notified to the operator by using a buzzer or the like. Further, by accumulating this information, a database concerning the detection of the remaining amount of the yarn can be constructed, and the operation of the knitting machine can be controlled based on this information. Thus, by using the communication unit 150, the detection result (estimation result) of the remaining amount of the wire can be effectively used.

The outer positioning portion 112 and the inner positioning portion 120 of the present embodiment are one embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention. The control unit 140 of the present embodiment is an embodiment of the remaining amount estimating unit of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the invention described in the claims.

For example, the type of the pyramid-shaped element 10 to be detected of the remaining amount of thread by the remaining-thread-amount detecting device 100 is not limited. For example, although the substantially truncated cone-shaped wire taper cylinder 10 (taper cylinder 11) is illustrated in the present embodiment, a taper cylinder having another shape (for example, a substantially cylindrical shape having a substantially constant diameter) may be used.

The configuration of the remaining thread amount detection device 100 illustrated in the present embodiment is an example, and the shape and the like of each part may be changed arbitrarily. For example, the size, shape, etc. of the pedestal 110 and the inside positioning portion 120, and the arrangement of the detection portion 130 and the control portion 140, etc. can be arbitrarily changed. However, the detection unit 130 is preferably disposed at a position where the roll thickness T of the wire is easily detected, in order to improve the estimation accuracy of the remaining amount of wire.

The configurations of the outer positioning portion 112 and the inner positioning portion 120 illustrated in the present embodiment are examples, and the configurations may be changed as long as the positioning of the tapered tube 10 is possible. For example, the positioning of the tapered tube 10 may be performed using not only the groove between the outer positioning portion 112 and the inner positioning portion 120 as in the present embodiment but also another groove, protrusion, or the like. Further, for example, by configuring the inner positioning portion 120 along the inner side of the linear tapered tube 10 (tapered tube 11) to be slidable in the radial direction of the tapered tube 11, the width of the groove between the inner positioning portion 120 and the outer positioning portion 112 can be adjusted. This makes it possible to adjust the width of the groove corresponding to the tapered tube 10 having various shapes, and to easily position the tapered tube 10.

In the present embodiment, an example in which 1 detection unit 130 is provided in the remaining amount detection device 100 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of detection units 130 may be provided in the remaining amount detection device 100. For example, by arranging a plurality of detection units 130 in parallel in a radial direction around the axial center of the spool 10, the remaining amount of the spool 10 can be detected in more detail.

The method of supplying power to the remaining line amount detection device 100 illustrated in the present embodiment is not limited. For example, dry batteries or storage batteries may be provided inside the base 110 and the inside positioning portion 120, or power may be supplied from the outside by applying an appropriate wiring.

In addition, the communication unit 150 communicates with an external device by wireless communication, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the communication unit 150 may be configured to perform communication by wired communication or the like.

In the present embodiment, an example in which information on the remaining amount of wire is transmitted to an external device via the communication unit 150 and is effectively and flexibly used is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the line remaining amount detection device 100 itself may be provided with a display unit such as a monitor, an emergency light, a buzzer, or other notification unit, and the display unit and the notification unit that indicate that the remaining amount of the line has decreased may be used to notify the operator.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the remaining amount of wire is estimated by the control unit 140 included in the remaining wire amount detection device 100 itself is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection result of the detection unit 130 may be transmitted to an external device via the communication unit 150, and the remaining amount of the wire may be calculated (estimated) by the external device (e.g., a personal computer or the like).

A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained below.

The remaining linear amount detection device 200 according to the second embodiment shown in fig. 6 is different from the remaining linear amount detection device 100 according to the first embodiment (see fig. 2 and the like) in that it includes an adjustment unit 160.

The adjusting unit 160 is configured to adjust the distance between the bobbin 10 (the bottom surface of the winding portion 12) and the detecting unit 130. The adjustment unit 160 mainly includes an operation unit 161 and a shaft 162.

The operation portion 161 is a portion formed in a substantially circular plate shape. The operation unit 161 is disposed inside the pedestal 110 (below the detection unit 130). A part (front end portion) of the operation portion 161 is disposed so as to be exposed forward from the front side surface of the base 110.

The shaft portion 162 is a portion formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The shaft portion 162 is provided to extend upward from the center of the operation portion 161. The shaft portion 162 is formed with an external thread portion. The shaft portion 162 (male screw portion) is inserted into a female screw portion (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the outside positioning portion 112.

By rotating the operating portion 161 of the adjusting portion 160 configured as described above from the outside of the base 110, the screwing depth of the shaft portion 162 to the outer positioning portion 112 can be changed. This allows the outer positioning portion 112 to move up and down, thereby adjusting the height of the outer positioning portion 112.

By adjusting the height of the outside positioning portion 112 in this way, the distance between the bobbin 10 (the bottom surface of the winding portion 12) placed on the base 110 and the detection portion 130 can be arbitrarily adjusted. This makes it possible to adjust the distance between the winding portion 12 and the detection portion 130 to an optimum distance according to the type of wire, for example, and to improve the detection accuracy by the detection portion 130.

The configuration of the adjusting unit 160 is not limited to the present embodiment, and may be appropriately modified. The adjusting unit 160 may be configured to move only the detecting unit 130 vertically without moving the outer positioning unit 112. The adjusting unit 160 may be configured to adjust the distance between the bottom surface of the winding portion 12 and the detecting unit 130, and may be configured to move the tapered bobbin 10 up and down instead of the detecting unit 130 (the outer positioning unit 112), for example.

Description of the symbols

10: line cone

11: cone cylinder

12: wire winding part

100: remaining line quantity detection device

110: pedestal

112: outside positioning part

120: inner positioning part

130: detection part

132: light emitting part

133: light receiving part

140: control unit

150: a communication unit.