月: 2023年2月

What Is a Rotating Laser?

A rotating laser is a type of leveling device that uses a laser. The name varies by manufacturer and is sometimes referred to as a laser level. Leveling is a very important process in construction. If floors and window frames are not level, the building will not have a solid structure. A rotating laser emits a laser beam while rotating, which is received by a receiver for easy leveling. It can be used for large outdoor areas or on sloping surfaces.

Uses of Rotational Lasers

Rotational lasers are used for leveling. First, the rotating lasers are set up to emit a laser beam while rotating over a large area. The laser beam is then received by a receiver at the location where the level is to be checked, allowing for easy leveling. The rotating lasers make it possible for one person to work alone and measure many positions at once. Once levelness is verified, this allows for concrete pouring, building floor finishes, gutters, and drainage systems to be checked.

Principle of the Rotating Lasers

The rotating lasers are one of the devices that can perform leveling. Here we introduce the principle and features of the rotating lasers.

Rotating lasers mainly consist of a rotating head with a laser source, an operation panel, and a power supply. The device is mounted on a tripod or a similar device. The rotating lasers are placed at the reference point for the measurement, and when the laser beam is emitted, the rotating head emits light in a uniform horizontal direction. A receiver is then placed on a wall or scale to determine the height of the laser beam at that point. The level can then be checked by comparing the difference with a reference point.

Rotating lasers can be used during the day or in bright light because of their ability to emit a powerful laser beam. However, it cannot be used in the rain because the device may malfunction. In addition, the laser beam has a wide range of reach, so it can be used in large warehouses or outdoors. Furthermore, some laser beams can be tilted more than horizontally, allowing measurements to be taken farther away even on steeply sloping surfaces.

What Is a Diffraction Grating?

A diffraction grating is an optical element fabricated on a glass substrate with finely spaced grooves at equal intervals. When light is irradiated onto a diffraction grating, the effect of the grooves causes a diffraction of light, which allows the incident light to be divided according to its wavelength. Types include transmissive, reflective, and brazed types. Each has a slightly different structure, and therefore, different spectral performance.

Since diffraction gratings can extract light of a certain wavelength, they are used in monochromators, which emit light of a single wavelength, and polychromators, which emit light of a fixed wavelength range.

Uses of Diffraction Gratings

Diffraction gratings have fine grooves on their surfaces, and they have the property of dividing incident light spectrally into different wavelengths. The gratings are used in devices that use this property to control the wavelength of light.

For example, they are used in monochromators that emit light at a single wavelength and polychromators that emit light at a fixed wavelength. They are also used in spectrophotometers for astronomical observations, various spectroscopic analyzers in the natural sciences, and manufacturing and quality control equipment for pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

Principle of Diffraction Gratings

Diffraction gratings are made by vapor-depositing a metal such as aluminum on a glass substrate and engraving a large number of parallel lines (15,000 to 30,000 for UV to visible light and 1,500 to 2,500 for infrared light). These grooves scatter the incident light, resulting in interference fringes. As a result, the incident light can be spectrally split according to wavelength.

Compared to prisms, diffraction gratings are used in many spectrometers because of their superior light resolution and equal dispersion at all wavelengths. Prisms are made from optical glass and disperse light using different refractive indices for each wavelength of light. Diffraction gratings use the fact that the diffraction direction of the incident light diffracts in different directions, depending on the wavelength of the light to disperse it.

The basic principle of diffraction gratings is illustrated in the figure below. Diffraction gratings use the diffraction phenomenon of light. Light incident on a microscopic slit S0 diffracts in various directions, with S0 as the wave source. Diffraction gratings have grooves or other structures (S1, S2, …, G1, G2, …) corresponding to these slits, or G1, G2,…) at equal intervals (in a grating). Light emitted or reflected from the grooves causes interference. The light emitted or reflected from the grooves causes interference. Interfering light in the angular direction of the emitted or reflected angle such that the optical path difference between adjacent grooves is an even multiple of a half wavelength (an integer multiple of the wavelength) strengthens each other while interfering light in the angular direction such that the optical path difference is an odd multiple of a half wavelength (a half integer multiple of the wavelength) weakens each other. Using this principle, light can be divided into wavelengths and extracted.

There are two types of diffraction gratings: original and replica. Original gratings are difficult and expensive to fabricate because they must be especially precise. Replica gratings can be manufactured in large numbers from original gratings and are therefore inexpensive and widely used.

Types of Diffraction Gratings and Points to Note

There are two main types of diffraction gratings. One transmits light and the other reflects light. Transmission gratings, which transmit light, are not often used because they require transparency over a wide range of wavelengths, but they are often used in educational settings as simple demonstrations of natural light spectroscopy, for example. Reflective gratings, another type of diffraction gratings, are gratings engraved on a metal surface, and these gratings are mainly used in spectrophotometers that require high accuracy.

When handling diffraction gratings, care must be taken to prevent dirt from adhering to it. For example, handling the grating with bare hands may cause components such as sebum to adhere to the grating and degrade its performance. In addition, in an environment prone to condensation, water may adhere to the diffraction gratings and degrade its optical characteristics. In addition, when handling intense light such as laser light, it is necessary to check the diffraction behavior in advance and understand the direction in which the light is flying so that it does not irradiate people.

What Is a Flexible Tubing?

A flexible tubing is a pipe that can be bent freely and connected to equipment. It is a type of steel pipe used for gas piping.

In addition to flexible tubing, reinforced gas hoses, soft cords, and gas cords are other typical types of steel pipes used in gas piping. Different combinations are used for different gas appliances: Flexible tubing is used with instantaneous water heaters, gas water heaters, and built-in stoves; reinforced gas hoses are used with gas water heaters, gas heat pumps, and instantaneous water heaters; soft cords are used with gas rice cookers and table stoves; and gas cords are used with gas rice cookers, clothes dryers, and gas fan heaters. The soft cord can be used with gas rice cookers and tabletop stoves.

Uses of Flexible Tubing

Used to connect gas appliances such as instantaneous water heaters, gas water heaters, and built-in stoves to gas taps. Flexible tubings are classified according to the type of gas, with metal flexible tubings being the standard for city gas and metal flexible hoses being the standard for propane gas.

As of May 1, 1997, the rubber pipe inlet structure of instantaneous water heaters, bathtubs, and stoves has been discontinued, and instantaneous water heaters and bath tubs now use screw connections, while stoves use screw connections or quick joints, so flexible tubing is used.

Principles of Flexible Tubing

The tube can be bent freely, which allows for flexibility and resilience in connection with equipment.

Tubes are made of copper or SUS304 stainless steel, and the presence or absence of an outer cover affects corrosion resistance.

Since the entire joint is made of one piece, it has superior water sealing properties compared to metal joints.

Those made of rubber can accommodate large displacement even with short face-to-face dimensions, and can also cope with displacement caused by repeated earthquakes, etc. Excellent electrical insulation properties absorb noise and vibration generated by the equipment. Lighter weight and easier handling than metal joints. The material of the inner rubber surface can be selected according to the intended use. By attaching a reinforcing cloth or ring, a structure with excellent durability can be achieved. This protects piping from expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. The body is covered with a special synthetic rubber with excellent weather resistance, so it can withstand long-term use.

The main body is reinforced with tough steel wires and synthetic fibers for excellent pressure resistance performance.

The internal arch structure contributes to absorbing unequal settlement caused by piping connections between buildings. The short face-to-face dimensions allow for a high degree of freedom in design.

What Is a Tip Dresser?

A tip dresser is a device used to reshape the electrodes of spot-welding machines to restore their weldability.

Previously, manual filing was commonly used for grinding electrodes, but this posed issues with worker safety, workload, and quality. Tip dressers address these concerns.

Tip dressers are particularly beneficial for achieving precise tip shapes, a task that is challenging with standard polishing machines.

Uses of Tip Dressers

Applied to spot welding equipment, tip dressers are used in various fields. They not only restore weldability but also remove burrs formed during welding.

Available in both handy and stationary types, the handy type is ideal for on-site maintenance, while the stationary type is preferred for precision grinding.

Principles of Tip Dressers

The circular component, which contains the polishing parts, rotates at a high speed to efficiently grind the tip. Additionally, a floating unit is employed for vertical and precise polishing, reducing stress on both the tips and the dresser.

Some models feature a tip discrimination sensor for quick verification of proper polishing.

Advanced models use an electro-pneumatic proportional valve and a multi-function controller to apply appropriate pressure to the dresser electrode. General tip dressers can handle simple chip shapes like A, F, and P types, whereas special models are required for complex shapes like E and R types.

What Is a Digital Gauge?

A digital gauge is a type of measuring instrument used to measure minute changes in height, inclination, depth, etc. of a point relative to another point.

Digital gauges, which cannot operate independently, are attached to equipment for specific measurement purposes.

Different sellers may refer to digital gauges as Digimatic Indicators.

There are also dial gauges, which are simple in construction and resistant to shocks, but their accuracy is not as high as that of digital gauges.

Applications of Digital Gauges

Digital gauges are widely used in the production of various products to ensure accuracy and for various tests. Although it is possible to directly read the numbers on gauges, they are mainly used to derive the desired rate of change from the amount of change in the numbers.

Digital gauges can measure displacement in micrometers, so they can be used to measure fine details such as surface steps, hole depths, and thicknesses of parts, and they can also be used to measure large, visible changes such as distortion when pressure is applied to building materials, automobile parts, etc.

Principles of Digital Gauges

Digital gauges are available in several types, the most common of which are the spindle type and the photoelectric type.

In the spindle type, a spindle is brought into contact with the surface of the object to be measured, and the ups and downs of the tip of the spindle in accordance with changes in the object’s shape are output as measurement results. This method is also often used for dial gauges, and is suitable for objects with a large amount of change.

The photoelectric type has a contact part similar to the spindle type, but instead of directly outputting the motion as a measurement result, it measures the phase displacement of the light generated from the light source when it reaches the light receiving element through two slits (a moving slit linked to the spindle and a fixed slit) and converts it into a measurement result. This method, offering detailed displacement checks, is more suitable for measuring minute changes than the spindle type.

What Is a Dry Bearing?

Dry bearing is a type of bearing that can be used without lubrication by impregnating the bearing body with lubricating oil, embedding individual lubricants, or using self-lubricating materials.

Generally, a bearing has a ball between the inner and outer rings, and the ball rolls. Lubricating oils such as oil and grease are applied to these bearings to reduce resistance to rotation and to prevent wear due to friction between the balls and the inner and outer rings.

Applications of Dry Bearings

More than 100 dry bearings of about 30 different types are used in a single automobile, such as in power steering systems.

Dry bearings can be used in severe environments such as wind power generation facilities, where maintenance is difficult due to their elevated location, and offshore oil field facilities, where corrosion risk due to seawater is high.

Because they do not contain oil or grease, they are used to hold rotating parts in vacuum, in places where outgassing is undesirable, and underwater.

It is difficult to apply to locations where high-speed rotation and high rotational accuracy are required, and is often used in locations where rotational accuracy is not required at low speeds.

Principles of Dry Bearings

Because they are oilless bearings, they can be used in vacuum, underwater, at high temperatures, and in places where maintenance is not possible.

They are inexpensive, have a large lineup, and range in size from quite small. Materials are not only metal but also plastic, including fluorine-based resin that can be used in areas where chemical resistance is required.

Among dry bearings, there are a large number of dry bearings on the market that can be selected according to the application and are resistant to specific elements such as vibration resistance and heat resistance.

Graphite or molybdenum disulfide is added as a lubricant in metal dry bearings, while self-lubricating materials such as POM are used in plastic dry bearings.

General-purpose dry bearings made of POM (polyacetal), which has good sliding properties, can be obtained for a cheap price.

Dry bearings are sometimes called oilless bearings because of their characteristics oilless.

What Is a Pallet Changer?

A pallet changer is a device used to separate cargo from pallets and replace them with new ones.

When cargo is received on pallets, there is a risk that dirt, dust, and even insects attached to the pallets can contaminate the cargo. It is advisable to replace pallets to prevent such contamination and foreign matter.

Pallet changers are generally used for pallet replacement and come in automatic, semi-automatic, and manual varieties.

Uses of Pallet Changers

When cargo arrives on pallets, the dirt present on the pallets can introduce foreign matter into the goods or bring pests into the premises. This is particularly critical in the fields of medical and food-related logistics.

Additionally, when shipping products, the pallet may not be returned. If you use high-quality and costly pallets in your company and ship them as-is, you may incur financial losses.

This creates a demand for pallet replacement, but manually replacing pallets carrying one-ton loads is extremely challenging.

Various types of pallet changers exist, such as inverted, tilting, and clamping types, depending on the manufacturer.

Principles of Pallet Changers

The structure of pallet changers and the pallet-changing mechanism are as follows:

• Inverted type (rotates 180 degrees to replace pallets)
• Tilting type (tilts 90 to 100 degrees to swap pallets)
• Clamping type (clamps loads on pallets from 2 or 4 sides, lifts and swaps pallets)
• Type using a depalletizer & palletizer
• Uses rotating clamping forks on forklifts to flip and replace pallets
• Installs a weight-reducing device, allowing a person to lift the load and replace the pallet.

As you can see, pallet changers come in various forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all device. The suitability of each type depends on factors like whether it can invert or clamp, which vary depending on the type of load being replaced.

Even for pallets of the same size, equipment specifications differ based on factors like the maximum load weight, available installation space, and other considerations. Thus, various types of equipment exist to match the cargo, available manpower, and budget.

What Is a Power Roller?

A power roller is a roller equipped with an integrated drive motor and reduction gears.

Unlike standard conveyor systems that rely on separate drive components such as drive motors, drive chains, or sprockets, power rollers can rotate solely through the roller itself.

Power rollers are commonly used to drive belt conveyors and are also integrated into roller conveyors as part of the system.

Applications of Power Rollers

Power rollers serve as integral components in conveyor systems. They are installed at the ends of belt conveyors, functioning as drive pulleys, and they are also utilized in roller conveyors, which consist of multiple rollers arranged at regular intervals.

When integrated into a roller conveyor, the drive torque generated by the power roller is transmitted to the adjacent free rollers using a drive element like a V-belt, causing the other rollers to rotate.

Because they have built-in motors, power rollers can be combined with sensors and other control devices. When a load is introduced onto the conveyor, sensors detect it, allowing for precise control over conveyor movement and stopping.

Principles of Power Rollers

Each power roller incorporates a drive motor and reduction gear within the roller structure. Various types of power rollers are available to suit specific applications, including waterproof variants, models with integrated brakes, and those designed for curve conveyors.

A power line extends from the roller shaft, enabling power to be supplied to the internal motor by applying voltage to this power line. Power can be provided through both DC power supply and AC power supply. It is possible to directly supply AC power from the breaker, or the system can operate using DC power from a power supply source.

In the case of a power roller serving as a drive pulley for a belt conveyor, the belt and rollers are engaged by maintaining a certain tension in the belt, causing it to adhere to the rollers. This allows the drive torque to be transferred to the belt. To achieve this, a V-belt is employed, so power rollers equipped with V-pulleys are used. These power rollers feature a pulley groove on one side where the V-belt is secured, facilitating the transmission of driving torque to the free rollers.

What Is an Electric Stacker?

Electric stackers are primarily utilized in factories, warehouses, and other settings where heavy loads require movement.

These stackers are employed not only for lifting heavy objects but also for the straightforward transportation of heavy loads, making them versatile material handlers.

Typically, electric stackers find their place in factories and warehouses where heavy materials and cargo are regularly transported, alongside the use of forklifts.

Uses of Electric Stackers

Electric stackers boast a maximum load capacity of up to 1,000 kg, enabling them to lift items that are too heavy for manual handling.

In warehouses, these powered lifters are instrumental in loading and unloading goods from shelves during cargo organization or for unloading items delivered by trucks.

Electric stackers are commonly installed in small and medium-sized factories and development centers where the use of forklifts may not be necessary.

Principles of Electric Stackers

Electric stackers employ hydraulic pressure to elevate their forks, and they come in two variations: manual and electric.

Manual electric stackers do not rely on a power source, but they require manual lever operation for lifting. While they can handle relatively light loads with ease, lifting heavy items may strain the user’s hands. For occasional use, they are suitable, but frequent daily use can be taxing on the arms.

Battery-powered electric stackers, on the other hand, are battery-operated and require periodic recharging. They employ a motor for lifting and lowering, eliminating the need for manual effort and reducing strain on the user’s arms. Additionally, they can lift lighter items at approximately twice the speed of manual operation, thus enhancing work efficiency.

Electric stackers are capable of effortlessly lifting heavy objects and are compact enough to maneuver in spaces where elevators may not be suitable. This makes them valuable for transporting loads within environments containing numerous machines and equipment.

What Is a Handling Robot?

Handling robots are industrial robots used primarily in manufacturing plants to transport workpieces. They come in various forms, including vertically articulated robots, horizontally articulated robots (scalar robots), Cartesian robots, and parallel link robots. Recently, human-contact robots, which operate safely alongside humans without safety fences, have also gained prominence.

Uses of Handling Robots

Handling robots are utilized for tasks such as pick-and-place, packaging, and palletizing in various industries:

1. Pick and Place

This process involves moving workpieces from one position to another, using different types of robots for precision and efficiency.

2. Packaging

Robots in packaging handle workpieces with care, using dual-armed scalar robots and humanoid robots for complex tasks.

3. Palletizing

Used in stacking items on pallets, handling robots simplify and accelerate the palletizing process, with vertically articulated robots being particularly effective for heavy loads.

Principle of Handling Robots

These robots typically feature a gripper or suction hand attached to an arm for grasping workpieces. Recent advancements include 3D vision sensors for improved workpiece recognition, allowing robots to handle items in bulk piles.

Types of Handling Robots

Handling robots vary in design and function:

1. Vertically Articulated Robots

These robots mimic the human arm’s movement and are versatile in handling tasks.

2. Horizontally Articulated Robots

Designed for linear horizontal and vertical movements, they are ideal for specific, repetitive tasks.

3. Cartesian Coordinate Robots

Known for their simple design and precise control, Cartesian coordinate robots are effective in linear motion tasks.

4. Parallel Link Robots

These robots offer precision and high-speed operation but have limitations in terms of weight handling and range.

Other Information on Handling Robots

Advantages of Handling Robots

Handling robots offer consistent performance in repetitive tasks, lifting heavy objects effortlessly and operating continuously. The advent of human-collaborative robots has reduced the need for safety fences, allowing direct interaction between humans and robots.