Monitoring system for a spring machine

Abstract

A monitoring system for a spring machine includes a carrier platform, a sensing module, and a processing device. The carrier platform is adapted to be movably disposed adjacent to the spring machine. The sensing module includes a vision sensor, and a processing unit that is connected to the vision sensor. The vision sensor is configured to perform image detection on a dimension of a coil of a coil spring to be produced by the spring machine, and to generate and output a detection result of the dimension. The processing unit is configured to generate a detection signal according to the detection result received from the vision sensor. The processing device stores multiple correction values, and is configured to, obtain according to the detection signal, and to transmit to the spring machine, one of the correction values, for the spring machine to adjust the dimension of a coil later formed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monitoring system for a spring machine, comprising:
 a carrier platform adapted to be movably disposed adjacent to the spring machine;   a sensing module including
 a vision sensor that is disposed on said carrier platform and that is adapted to face the spring machine, said vision sensor being configured to perform image detection on a dimension of a coil of a coil spring that is to be produced by the spring machine and to generate and output a detection result of the dimension, and 
 a processing unit that is communicatively connected to said vision sensor to receive the detection result therefrom, and that is configured to generate a detection signal according to the detection result; and 
   a processing device communicatively connected to said processing unit to receive the detection signal therefrom, and including a database that stores multiple correction values, said processing device being configured to, in response to receiving the detection signal from said processing unit, obtain one of the correction values from said database according to the detection signal, and to transmit said one of the correction values to the spring machine for the spring machine to adjust the dimension of a coil that is currently being formed according to said one of the correction values.   
     
     
         2 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier platform includes a base, a plurality of casters disposed on said base to allow said base to be moved on a ground, and a supporting frame disposed on said base, and
 wherein said vision sensor is disposed on said supporting frame.   
     
     
         3 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said carrier platform further includes a receiving module disposed on said base, said receiving module including a supporting stand disposed on said base, an actuator disposed on said supporting stand, and a guiding rail connected to said actuator, and
 wherein said actuator is configured to move said guiding rail in an up-down direction with respect to said supporting stand.   
     
     
         4 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said guiding rail includes:
 a receiving segment having a first end that is adapted to be adjacent to the spring machine, and a second end that is opposite to said first end and that is farther away from the spring machine than said first end, said receiving segment being inclined upward from said first end toward said second end by a first inclined angle; and   a delivering segment extending in a direction from said second end of said receiving segment downwardly toward said base and inclined by a second inclined angle that is greater than said first inclined angle of said receiving segment.   
     
     
         5 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said carrier platform further includes a holder disposed on said base, said monitoring system further comprising an illumination unit disposed on said holder. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1 , the spring machine including a pitch tool for controlling a pitch of a coil that is currently being formed, and a control unit for controlling operation of the pitch tool,
 wherein said vision sensor of said sensing module is configured to perform the image detection on the pitch of the coil of the coil spring that is to be produced by the spring machine and to generate and output a detection result of the pitch, and said processing device is configured to transmit said one of the correction values to the spring machine for the control unit to control the pitch tool in order to adjust the pitch of a coil that is currently being formed according to said one of the correction values.   
     
     
         7 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1 , the spring machine including a plurality of coiling point tools for controlling a diameter of a coil that is currently being formed, and a control unit for controlling operation of the coiling point tools,
 wherein said vision sensor of said sensing module is configured to perform the image detection on the diameter of the coil of the coil spring that is to be produced by the spring machine and to generate and output a detection result of the diameter, and said processing device is configured to transmit said one of the correction values to the spring machine for the control unit to control the coiling point tools in order to adjust the diameter of a coil that is currently being formed according to said one of the correction values.   
     
     
         8 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said database of said processing device further stores a plurality of indices that correspond respectively to the correction values, and that correspond respectively to various ranges of the dimension,
 wherein said processing unit of said sensing module is configured to obtain one of the indices that corresponds to the detection result, and to generate the detection signal including said one of the indices, and   wherein said processing device is configured, in response to receiving the detection signal, to obtain one of the correction values that corresponds to said one of the indices included in the detection signal from said database.   
     
     
         9 . A monitoring system for a spring machine, the spring machine including a pitch tool for controlling a pitch of a coil of a coil spring that is to be produced by the spring machine, a plurality of coiling point tools for controlling a diameter of a coil of the coil spring that is to be produced, and a control unit for controlling operation of the pitch tool and the plurality of coiling point tools, said monitoring system comprising:
 a carrier platform adapted to be movably disposed adjacent to the spring machine;   a sensing module including
 a vision sensor that is disposed on said carrier platform and that is adapted to face the spring machine, said vision sensor being configured to perform image detection on one of the pitch and the diameter of a coil of the coil spring that is to be produced by the spring machine and to generate and output a detection result of said one of the pitch and the diameter, and 
 a processing unit that is communicatively connected to said vision sensor to receive the detection result therefrom, and that is configured to generate a detection signal according to the detection result; and 
   a processing device communicatively connected to said processing unit to receive the detection signal therefrom, and including a database that stores multiple correction values, said processing device being configured to, in response to receiving the detection signal from said processing unit, obtain one of the correction values from said database according to the detection signal, and to transmit said one of the correction values to the control unit to control one of the pitch tool and the plurality of coiling point tools, so as to adjust a corresponding one of the pitch and the diameter of a coil that is currently being formed according to said one of the correction values.   
     
     
         10 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said carrier platform includes a base, a plurality of casters disposed on said base to allow said base to be moved on a ground, and a supporting frame disposed on said base, and
 wherein said vision sensor is disposed on said supporting frame.   
     
     
         11 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said carrier platform further includes a receiving module disposed on said base, said receiving module including a supporting stand disposed on said base, an actuator disposed on said supporting stand, and a guiding rail connected to said actuator, and
 wherein said actuator is configured to move said guiding rail in an up-down direction with respect to said supporting stand.   
     
     
         12 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said guiding rail includes:
 a receiving segment having a first end that is adapted to be adjacent to the spring machine, and a second end that is opposite to said first end and that is farther away from the spring machine than said first end, said receiving segment being inclined upward from said first end toward said second end by a first inclined angle; and   a delivering segment extending from said second end away from the spring machine, and being inclined toward said base by a second inclined angle that is greater than said first inclined angle of said receiving segment.   
     
     
         13 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said carrier platform further includes a holder disposed on said base, said monitoring system further comprising an illumination unit disposed on said holder. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said database of said processing device further stores a plurality of indices that correspond respectively to the correction values, and that correspond respectively to various ranges of said one of the pitch and the diameter,
 wherein said processing unit of said sensing module is configured to obtain one of the indices that corresponds to the detection result, and to generate the detection signal including said one of the indices, and   wherein said processing device is configured, in response to receiving the detection signal, to obtain one of the correction values that corresponds to said one of the indices included in the detection signal from said database.