Impact detecting apparatus and packaging system

• US 20090249858A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kasahara, Rikio, Ishikawa, Sakae
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/12.60
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/10 with provision for switching-in of additional or auxiliary indicators or recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/03 by using non-electrical means

Abstract

An impact detection sensor is attached to a packaging container. When the packaging container is subjected to impacts downward in a vertical direction twice, i.e., a bottom surface of the packaging container is subjected to impacts twice, a weight moves downward in the vertical direction by the application of the first impact, and is seen through a weight indicator unit located on the bottom of an impact detection sensor. At the time of the application of the second impact, the weight moved downward in the vertical direction is prevented from moving back to. an initial position by a pressing portion, and seen through the same bottom weight indicator unit.

Claims

1. An impact detecting apparatus comprising an indicator unit capable of indicating a direction of an impact when the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to the impact, wherein

when the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to multiple impacts in different directions, the indicator unit is capable of indicating the directions all together.

2. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight;

a guide unit that guides the weight to move in the direction of the impact when the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to the impact; and

an elastic member that elastically holds the weight between the elastic member and the guide unit by applying a bias to the weight to restrict movement of the weight before the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to the impact, wherein

when the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to the impact, the weight is released from the elastic member, and moves on the guide unit to a position of the indicator unit, and thereby indicating the direction of the impact.

3. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a holding hole on a peripheral portion of the elastic member, wherein

the elastic member restricts the movement of the weight by holding the weight in the holding hole.

4. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a tip portion of the elastic member has a wedge shape, and

the tip portion serves to restrict the movement of the weight before the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to the impact, and also serves to prevent the weight moved due to the impact from moving back to a position where the weight is originally located after the weight moves when the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to the impact.

5. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the weight, the guide unit, and the elastic member are configured as one unit, and

a plurality of units are arranged in layers so as to indicate number of times and directions of impacts.

6. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the weight includes a plurality of weights that are arranged to correspond to a plurality of directions of impacts to be detected;

the guide unit includes a plurality of guide members that are arranged radially from a center base portion along the directions of impacts to be detected, and guide the weights to move thereon respectively; and

an elastic member that is made of an elastic thin sheet, and includes

a mounting base portion that is mounted to the center base portion; and

projecting portions that project from the mounting base portion in a substantially radial manner along the guide members, the projecting portions elastically holding the weights between tips of which and the guide members thereby keeping the weights in normal positions near the center base portion of the guide members, and elastically bending, when the impact detecting apparatus is subjected to an impact in a certain direction, thereby causing any of the weights located in the direction of the impact to move because the weight is released from the projecting portion, wherein

the indicator unit is mounted over the guide members so that any movements of the weights from the normal positions on the guide members can be seen from outside through the indicator unit, and

the directions of impacts to be detected are grouped into plural pairs, the weights, the guide members, and the elastic member are configured as units by each of the pairs, and the units are arranged in layers.

7. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the weights have a spherical shape,

a circular holding hole for holding the weight therein is formed on each of the projecting portions, and

the projecting portions respectively hold corresponding weight by having line contact with the weight on a circumference of the holding hole.

8. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the units have a two-layer structure,

each of the guide members is composed of a high guide unit and a low guide unit, the high guide unit and the low guide unit having a height difference,

the elastic member includes a first elastic member and a second elastic member, the first elastic member being attached to the center base portion, the second elastic member being attached to the center base portion via the first elastic member, and

a spacer having a thickness corresponding to a height difference between the high guide unit and the low guide unit is provided between the first elastic member and the second elastic member.

9. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the first elastic member and the second elastic member is provided with a predetermined elastic force by the spacer to adjust elastic forces of the first elastic member and the second elastic member depending on a layer thereof.

10. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising supporting portions that are arranged to be opposed to the projecting portions with keeping a predetermined distance from corresponding projecting portion in a bias direction of the corresponding projecting portion, and when any of the weights is released from corresponding projecting portion, the corresponding projecting portion comes in contact with corresponding supporting portion.

11. The impact detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

a predetermined elastic force is applied to the first elastic member by the spacer, and

the second elastic member is mounted to a convex portion provided on a rear surface of a cover of the impact detecting apparatus, and is pressed by the convex portion, and thereby being provided with a predetermined elastic force.

12. A packaging system comprising

a packaging container for packing therein an object to be packaged, the packaging container having at least one surface;

and

the impact detecting apparatus according to claim 1 attached to the surface of the packaging container.

13. The packaging system according to claim 12, wherein the surface is a side wall surface of the packaging container.