TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to angle measurement devices which provide measurement of bending angle of any kind of metal, plastic materials having angular bending, in automotive and defense industry, particularly in sheet bending and molding industry.

The present invention particularly relates to an angle measurement device which measures the bending angle of work pieces like bended metal, plastic, wood, etc. by using line laser and camera in a contactless and precise manner.

PRESENT ART

Today, bending angles of wooden materials in construction sector and any kind of metal, plastic materials having angular bending must be clearly calculated, in automotive and defense industry, particularly in sheet bending and molding industry. Since the bending angles of the work pieces produced in these fields must be used in a faultless manner, angle measurement devices are used for controlling bending angles after production.

In the prior art, the devices, used for detecting bending angles of work pieces, grab the product and measurement is realized with contact. This prevents realizing a precise measurement.

In the known state of the art, since measurement is realized with contact to the work pieces, the devices cannot be used for work pieces of every size, and specialized personnel are needed. This increases labor loss.

In the known state of the art, precise measurement cannot be made when there is vibration on the floor where measurement is made.

In the known state of the art, when test and quality control will be realized to the work pieces, press brake operators have to manually enter measurement data one by one. This leads to extension of the duration. The product with patent number CN206601085U can be shown as example to the oldest traditional inclination angle-meter which is frequently used in production sector and which is completely mechanical. Specialized personnel are needed for the usage of this product, and this product is not suitable for the objects which have bending of wide radius. In other words, it has limited usage area. Moreover, the usage of the device after adjustment leads to time losses when compared with the electronic models.

In the known state of the art, some devices have been developed where the measurement result value is shown on the digital screen without needing specialized user by means of combining mechanical equipment with the digital measurement mechanism in the direction of technological improvements. As an example to such devices, the application with patent number US8607465B with title Sliding T-Bevel can be given. The measurement process in this device is realized by means of a rotary encoder with electromechanical structure where the angular data is included to the system. Some of the disadvantages of this system are that the rotary encoder has a specific lifetime because of its mechanical structure and the precision in the device dimensions is approximately 0.5 ^e . The abovementioned disadvantages are also present in the system with patent number US2010242292A1 .

Another one is the product with patent number US20110197651 A1 formed by utilizing completely electronic technologies. The angle measurement system is realized thanks to the accelerometer sensor of the device. Since a surface of the piece to be measured has to press onto the floor in a flat manner in order for this device to measure the bending angle of an object, the device has limited usage area. Besides, because of the structure of the accelerometer, the measurement results are affected by distortions like small vibrations, noise.

Another one is the product with patent number CN107923738A where the object bending angle is measured by using infrared laser distance sensor. For this product, it can be said that it is a disadvantage that the bending angle measurement precision is low which results from the measurement precisions of the infrared sensors provided on the system. Moreover, since this device has measurement capability between 30-150 ^e , it can measure the bended object in a single-directional manner.

Another example related to said embodiment is the utility model with application number 2020/09991 with title “A mechanism for aligning an angle measurement device”. In the abstract of the invention with classification G01 B11/26, the following statement exists: “The invention relates to a device for aligning an angle measuring instrument with respect to two workpiece planes that enclose an angle to be measured, wherein the angle measuring instrument has a rotating mirror for deflecting a laser beam perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the mirror. In order to create advantageous alignment conditions, according to the invention, the angle measuring instrument is assigned an alignment stop, which determines an alignment straight line, parallel to the axis of rotation of the mirror, for both workpiece planes.” Mirror is used for measurement in said application. This leads to usage of extra material and cannot provide sufficient precision technologically.

Since precise measurements cannot be made in said applications, these applications can be shown as example to the abovementioned disadvantages.

As a result, improvements are made in the angle measurement device in a parallel manner to the developing technology, and therefore, new embodiments, which eliminate the abovementioned problems and which bring solution to the present systems, are required in the related technical field.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an angle measurement device in a different manner from the embodiments used in the present art, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing some additional advantages to the related technical field.

The object of the present invention is to realize measurement in a contactless manner by using image processing technology by positioning the developed device opposite to the bending angle of the bended object (metal, wooden and plastic).

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems of specialized personnel requirement and limited usage area since there is no need to grab big or very small sized objects thanks to the capability of the device of realizing contactless measurement by means of image processing technology.

Another object of the present invention is to provide easy and rapid usability thanks to ergonomic handling and LCD screen provided on the device.

Another object of the present invention is to realize measurement without being affected by medium noises and vibration on the floor thanks to the operation principle of the device and thanks to the image sensing camera having wide angle imaging and the used line laser. Another object of the present invention is to realize more precise measurement when compared with the devices realized by means of other methods existing in the literature since pixel sized process is realized instead of metric sized process thanks to the used image processing technology.

Another object of the present invention is to realize measurement process from both bending directions (narrow or wide angled) of the bended object where the bending measurement capability is between 30-178 ^e .

Another object of the present invention is to transfer the measured angle values of the work piece to the press brake machine system directly by means of the buttons on the device via wireless network when test and quality control will be realized on the work pieces for the press brake machine operators of the device.

The structural and characteristic properties and all advantages of the present invention will be understood in a more clear manner by means of the below mentioned figures and the detailed description written by making reference to these figures. Therefore, evaluation shall be made by taking into consideration these figures and the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is the frontal perspective view of the subject matter angle measurement device.

Figure 2 is the rear perspective view of the subject matter angle measurement device.

Figure 3 is the perspective view of the dismantled form of the subject matter angle measurement device.

Figure 4 is the rear perspective view of application of the subject matter angle measurement device to the material.

Figure 5 is the frontal perspective view of application of the subject matter angle measurement device to the material.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Angle measurement device 2. Work piece

3. Floor

10. Upper cover

11. Cover assembly housing

12. Selection buttons

13. Button gap

14. Arm gap

15. Screen gap

20. Lower cover

21. Charge adaptor input housing

22. Magnet housings

23. Laser source housing

30. Display screen

31. Screen arm

32. Turn on-turn off button

40. Computer unit

50. Quick charge unit

60. Assembly part

70. Camera

71. Camera protector

80. Battery unit

90. Laser light source

91. Laser lights

100. Fixing magnets

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the subject matter angle measurement device (1) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

Structural principle:

Said angle measurement device (1 ) consists of upper cover (10), lower cover (20), display screen (30), computer unit (40), quick charge unit (50), assembly part (60), camera (70), battery unit (80), laser light source (90), and fixing magnets (100). In Figure 1 and 2, the perspective view of the angle measurement device (1) is given. In Figure 3, the dismantled view of the angle measurement device (1) is given, and the detailed description will be given essentially though this figure.

Said upper cover (10) and said lower cover (20) are the main external items which provide housing of electronic parts of the device. Cover assembly housings (11) are formed at the top and bottom of the upper cover (10). The assembly of the upper cover (10) and of the lower cover (20) is provided through these housings.

Selection buttons (12), button gap (13), arm gap (14) and screen gap (15) are formed on the upper cover (10). The selection buttons (12) correspond to the display screen (30) and provide data selection on the screen. This provides easiness for the user.

Turn on-turn off button (32) is fixed to said button gap (13). The turn on-turn off button (32) contacts the display screen (30) and provides turning on-turning off the device. Said arm gap (14) is the gap through which the screen arm (31 ) will be passed which provides data selection to be realized through the screen and provided at the upper part of the display screen (30).

The charge adaptor input housing (21 ) is formed at the lateral side of the lower cover (20). The charge adaptor housing (21) will be used during charging of the battery unit (80) through the quick charge unit (50) for storing energy. Magnet housings (22) are formed for the placement of fixing magnets (100) at the bottom part and at the inner side of the lower cover (20). This is seen in Figure 3.

The display screen (30) is the LCD/TFT/OLED visual screen where the measurement values and the functional values needed for measurement are displayed. On the display screen (30), screen guidance and screen arm (31) and turn on-turn off button (32) are provided. The screen guidance and screen arm (31) is used in the processes of selection and approval of the functional processes of the device on the display screen (30). The turn on-turn off button (32) is used for turning on and turning off the device.

The computer unit (40) is the microprocessor unit which calculates the bending angle of the work piece (2) and which is a storage and wireless connection unit and which has RAM and ROM where image processing algorithms are realized.

Image sensing camera (70) is used for sensing the laser lights (91) transmitted onto the work piece (2) and for transmitting to the computer unit (40). As the image sensing camera (70), CCD camera or webcam can be used. Camera protector (71) is used for protecting the front glass of the camera (70), which senses the image, from impacts and dust.

The battery unit (80) is the battery unit made of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer material which provides energizing all chargeable electronic equipment provided in the device. Quick charge unit (50) is used for rapidly charging of said battery unit (80). The mechanical assembly of the quick charge unit (50) and the computer unit (40) to each other is provided by means of the assembly part (60).

Line laser light source (90) is used in reflecting linear light on the work piece (2) and in aligning of the object in the direction of the bending axis in the image processing algorithm. This can send linear light in the direction of laser X (horizontal) and Y (orthogonal) axes. The laser light (91 ) is shown in Figure 4 and 5.

The fixing magnet (100) provides fixation of the device on the machine or on a metal object in the direction of the operator usage area. Thanks to this, the fixing magnet (100) can be positioned and used at any location and provides easiness to the user.

During the assembly process;

The computer unit (40) and the quick charge unit (50) are fixed to each other by means of the assembly part (60). The computer unit (40) is connected to the display screen (30), and the display screen (30) is fixed to the screen gap (15). Before this, the turn on-turn off button (32) is fixed to the display screen (30) and passed through the button gap (13). The screen arm (31) is passed through the arm gap (14).

Said camera (70) is fixed to the lower cover (20) and the camera protector (71 ) is fixed to the front face thereof as seen in Figure 2. Thanks to this, the camera (70) is protected from deteriorating effects like external impacts and dust.

The battery unit (80) is fixed in the lower cover (20) and the laser light source (90) is connected to the computer unit (40), the display screen (30) and the camera (70). Thanks to this, the required energy transfer to said items is provided.

As seen in Figure 2, the laser light source (90) is placed to the laser source housing (23) formed at the lower part of the lower cover (20). The fixing magnets (100), used for fixation of the angle measurement device (1) on a metal floor without needing any apparatus, are placed to the magnet housings (22) provided on the bottom of the lower cover (20). Thanks to this, when the device is placed on the floor (3), the device is fixed to the floor (3) with the help of fixing magnets (100). In Figure 1 and 2, the perspective view of the angle measurement device (1) with completed assembly is given.

Operation principle:

In order to measure the bending angle of the work piece (2) (metal, plastic or wooden) shown in Figure 5, first of all, the wide or narrow angled part of the work piece (2) is brought opposite to the angle measurement device (1). The angle measurement device (1) is operated. As seen in Figure 5, after operation of the angle measurement device (1), the line laser lights (91) which exit the laser light sources (90) are fallen on the work piece (2) and the measurement process is realized. These lights are detected by the camera (70), and the image clouds are transferred to the computer unit (40). The obtained linear image clouds are analyzed in the computer unit (40) in short time with the usage of different image processing algorithms, and the bending angle value of the object is calculated. The calculated angle value is digitally transferred to user through the display screen (30). Moreover, the user can realize the required approval and selection adjustments of the device thanks to the selection buttons (12) and the screen arm (31) provided on the display screen (30).

The device can realize the bending process in both directions (from the narrow angled or wide angled side). This process is realized by means of placing the work piece (2) and the angle measurement device (1) on the floor (3).

If the device is desired to be used for realizing measurement in press brake machines, after the measurement process is realized, the measured value can be entered automatically through the wireless network to the machine interface by using selection buttons (12) instead of entering the measured value to the machine interface manually.

The subject matter angle measurement device (1) essentially realizes measurement process of the bending angle of the work piece (2) (metal, plastic and wooden) by using line laser lights (91) with the main function of illumination and marking and CCD camera (70) with the main function of image capturing where the work piece (2) has bending characteristic which is different from these two functions. Thanks to the used laser and camera system, the angle measurement process is realized in a contactless manner.