JP6913047B2 - How to adjust the columns, imaging device and imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a support, a photographing device, and a method for adjusting the photographing device.

Tollhouses on toll roads may be equipped with a photographing device for photographing vehicles. Patent Document 1 describes an electronic toll collection system that exchanges information by wireless communication between a roadside antenna installed on the roadside and an on-board unit mounted on a vehicle traveling in a lane, and collects necessary charges. (ETC: Electronic Toll Collection System (registered trademark), also referred to as "automatic toll collection system") describes that it is equipped with a photographing device for photographing the number plate of a vehicle entering the tollhouse.

Like the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, the imaging device installed at the toll booth is generally installed on the island on the right side in the vehicle traveling direction (hereinafter, referred to as normal installation). However, when the installation space cannot be secured on the island on the right side in the vehicle traveling direction, the photographing device may be installed on the island on the left side in the vehicle traveling direction (hereinafter, referred to as reverse installation). For example, when the photographing device photographs the license plate in front of the vehicle, the pan angle (horizontal angle) of the normally installed photographing device is adjusted so as to face the left side, which is the upstream side and the lane side of the lane. On the other hand, the pan angle of the reverse-installed imaging device is adjusted so as to face the right side, which is the upstream side and the lane side of the lane.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-075841

Like the imaging device of Patent Document 1 described above, the imaging device installed on the island may include a support column whose height of the imaging device main body can be adjusted. Since such a photographing device can adjust the height of the optical axis even if the height of the island is different, it is possible to stably photograph a vehicle traveling in a lane. In addition to the height adjusting function, such a strut may also be able to adjust the pan angle described above.
However, the pan angle of the photographing device is opposite to that of the case where the photographing device is installed on the island on the right side and the case where the photographing device is installed on the island on the left side with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the columns to be installed on the island on the right side and the columns to be installed on the island on the left side separately.
Further, for example, if the pan angle adjustment range is expanded with one type of support so as to cover both normal installation and reverse installation, for example, a long hole for pan angle adjustment becomes longer, and the support column becomes longer. There is a possibility that the strength of the bread will decrease.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a support, a photographing device, and a method for adjusting the photographing device, which can suppress an increase in the types of columns and a decrease in strength of the columns. be.

The following configuration is adopted to solve the above problems.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the support column (21) is a support column that supports the device main body (20) of the photographing device (11,211) for photographing the vehicle (A) on the lane (L) from below. The columns include a lower column (30, 230) extending upward from the installation surface and an upper column (31,231) extending downward from the device main body and being connectable to the lower column. The lower strut is provided with a first positioning portion (36) capable of positioning the lower strut around the axis of the lower strut at a first angle pitch with respect to the installation surface, and the upper strut and the lower strut are the first. A second positioning portion (50) that enables the upper strut to be positioned with respect to the lower strut at a bi-angle pitch is provided, and the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch are not an integral multiple of each other. The second positioning portion is formed on either one of the upper column and the lower column to form a plurality of elongated holes (41,241) arranged at a second angular pitch and extending in the circumferential direction. The portion (42) is inserted into the elongated hole and fixed to either the upper strut or the lower strut, and the relative displacement of the upper strut and the lower strut in the vertical direction is regulated. A plurality of pin members (45) that enable relative displacement of the upper strut and the lower strut in the circumferential direction are provided.

In this first aspect, the lower strut can be positioned with respect to the installation surface at a first angle pitch, and the upper strut can be positioned with respect to the lower strut at a second angle pitch.
For example, when the photographing device is installed on one of the installation surfaces in the lane width direction, the lower column is positioned with respect to the installation surface so as to have a reference orientation preset by the first positioning unit, and then the device is installed. The upper strut is positioned on the lower strut by the second positioning portion so that the optical axis of the main body is oriented appropriately. Thereby, the horizontal angle of the optical axis of the apparatus main body can be adjusted by the elongated hole of the second positioning portion.

Further, when the photographing device is installed on the other installation surface in the lane width direction, a rotation angle different from the above-mentioned reference direction can be selected from the first angle pitch by the first positioning unit. Further, the second positioning portion allows the angle of the upper strut with respect to the lower strut to be selected at the second angle pitch. Therefore, when the photographing device is installed on the other island, one of the plurality of pin members is on the photographing area side on the lane (in other words, inside the lane width direction and upstream of the lane) with respect to the angle parallel to the lane. Can be turned to the side). Since one of the plurality of pin members faces the photographing area side in this way, in each elongated hole arranged at the second angle pitch, a portion used on one installation surface and a portion used on the other installation surface. And can be duplicated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the elongated hole from becoming longer in the circumferential direction.
Therefore, it is possible to suppress the increase in the types of columns and the lengthening of the elongated holes to reduce the strength of the columns.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the support column according to the first aspect, the fixing portion (51) that regulates the relative displacement of the upper support column and the lower support column positioned by the second positioning portion in the circumferential direction. May be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.
With this configuration, after positioning the upper strut and the lower strut by the second positioning portion, the displacement of the lower strut and the upper strut in the circumferential direction is regulated by the fixing portion, so that the lower strut and the upper strut can be It is possible to suppress the displacement of the relative position in the circumferential direction of. Further, since it is not necessary to regulate the relative displacement of the lower strut and the upper strut in the axial direction by the second positioning portion, it is possible to prevent the configuration of the second positioning portion from becoming complicated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the column according to the first or second aspect, one of the upper column and the lower column can be inserted into the other, and the second positioning portion is the upper column. A pin fixing portion (38,238) capable of fixing the pin member is provided on at least one of the strut and the lower strut, and the pin fixing portion is provided in the height direction of at least one of the upper strut and the lower strut. A plurality of them may be provided at intervals.
By doing so, one of the upper strut and the lower strut can be slid with respect to the other, and the height of the strut can be easily adjusted. Further, a plurality of pin fixing portions are provided at intervals in the height direction of at least one of the upper strut and the lower strut, that is, in the height direction of the strut. Therefore, the second positioning portion can position the lower strut and the upper strut in the circumferential direction at a plurality of height positions where the pin fixing portion is formed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographing device (11,211) includes the device main body portion (20) of the photographing device (11,211) for photographing the vehicle (A) on the lane (L), and the device. An imaging device including a support column (21) that supports the main body from below, the support column is a lower support column (30, 230) extending upward from the installation surface and downward from the device main body portion. The first positioning is provided with an upper support (31,231) that extends and can be connected to the lower support, and the lower support can be positioned at a first angle pitch around the axis of the lower support with respect to the installation surface. The upper strut and the lower strut include a second positioning portion (50) that enables the upper strut to be positioned with respect to the lower strut at a second angle pitch, and the first angle pitch. And the second angular pitch are angular pitches that are not integral multiples of each other, and the second positioning portion is arranged at either the upper strut and the lower strut at the second angular pitch in the circumferential direction. The elongated hole forming portion (42) forming a plurality of elongated holes (41,241) extending into the elongated hole, and the elongated hole forming portion (42), which is inserted into the elongated hole and fixed to either the upper column or the lower column, and the upper column. A plurality of pin members (45) that enable relative displacement of the upper strut and the lower strut in the circumferential direction while restricting the relative displacement of the lower strut in the vertical direction are provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the first positioning unit according to the fourth aspect is installed on the first installation surface (IR) arranged on either the left or right side of the lane, the second aspect is described. A second installation surface in which one of the plurality of pin members of the positioning portion is arranged so as to extend in parallel with the lane toward the upstream side of the lane and is arranged on either the left or right side of the lane. When installed on (IL), the plurality of pin members may be arranged so as to extend in a direction different from that when installed on the first installation surface.
With this configuration, when positioning the lower strut on the first installation surface, it is sufficient to select an angle so that the pin member extends parallel to the lane, so that the lower strut with respect to the first installation surface can be selected. Can be reduced from being positioned at the wrong angle. Furthermore, when positioning the lower column on the second installation surface, an appropriate angle is selected from the first angle pitch so that the pin member extends in a direction different from that when installing on the first installation surface. do it. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of positioning the lower support column at an erroneous angle with respect to the second installation surface.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the absolute value of the first maximum adjustment angle for adjusting the pan angle of the apparatus main body on the first installation surface is a. The absolute value of the second maximum adjustment angle for adjusting the pan angle of the apparatus main body on the second installation surface is b, and the absolute value of the angle difference between the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch is defined as b. Assuming that c is c and the number of the elongated holes formed at intervals in the circumferential direction is d, the angle range θ in which one elongated hole extends in the circumferential direction is θ = a + (bc) and θ <(. 360 / d) may be satisfied.
With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the length of the elongated hole from becoming unnecessarily long.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the first angle pitch according to the sixth aspect is 90 degrees, the second angle pitch is 120 degrees, and the angle range θ in which the elongated hole is formed is. It may be 40 degrees.
With this configuration, the lower column can be positioned at four points with respect to the installation surface. Further, the upper strut can be positioned at three points with respect to the lower strut. Then, by forming the elongated hole in an angle range of 40 degrees, the upper strut can be rotated by 40 degrees with respect to the lower strut. Therefore, when installing on the first installation surface by forming a long hole that intersects the optical axis over a range of 8 degrees on the lane side of the optical axis and a range of 32 degrees on the opposite side. Allows the optical axis of the device body to be adjusted by 32 degrees from a position parallel to the lane to the lane side.
In addition, when installing on the second installation surface, the mounting position of the pin member extending parallel to the lane when installing on the first installation surface is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction away from the lane to rotate the lower support column to the second. Position on the installation surface. As a result, one of the remaining two pin member mounting positions is arranged on the lane side by 30 degrees, which is the difference between 120 degrees and 90 degrees. By arranging an elongated hole where the optical axis intersects at the mounting position of the pin member facing the lane side by 30 degrees, the optical axis of the device main body is moved from a position parallel to the lane to the lane side, and the above 8 degrees at 30 degrees. It will be possible to adjust only 38 degrees including. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the pan angle to the lane side on the first installation surface by 32 degrees while using the same elongated hole formed in the angle range of 40 degrees, and to the lane side on the second installation surface. The pan angle can be adjusted by 38 degrees.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, the upper column and the lower column positioned by the second positioning portion are arranged in the circumferential direction. A plurality of fixed portions (51) that regulate relative displacement may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.
With this configuration, after positioning the upper strut and the lower strut by the second positioning portion, the displacement of the lower strut and the upper strut in the circumferential direction is regulated by the fixing portion, so that the lower strut and the upper strut can be It is possible to suppress the displacement of the relative position in the circumferential direction of. Further, since it is not necessary to regulate the relative displacement of the lower strut and the upper strut in the axial direction by the second positioning portion, it is possible to prevent the configuration of the second positioning portion from becoming complicated.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the support column according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, one of the upper support column and the lower support column can be inserted into the other, and the second aspect is described. The positioning portion includes a pin fixing portion (38,238) capable of fixing the pin member to at least one of the upper strut and the lower strut, and the pin fixing portion is at least the upper strut and the lower strut. A plurality of them may be provided at intervals in one height direction.
By doing so, the height of the support column can be easily adjusted by sliding one of the upper support column and the lower support column with respect to the other. Further, a plurality of pin fixing portions are provided at intervals in the height direction of at least one of the upper strut and the lower strut, that is, in the height direction of the strut. Therefore, the second positioning portion can position the lower strut and the upper strut in the circumferential direction at a plurality of height positions where the pin fixing portion is formed.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the method for adjusting the photographing device is the method for adjusting the photographing device in any one of the fourth to ninth aspects, and the lower support column is adjusted by the first positioning portion. The process of positioning on the island installation surface and the position where the upper strut is photographed from the position where the optical axis of the device main body faces the upstream side in the traveling direction of the vehicle with respect to the lower strut by the second positioning portion. It includes a step of rotatably supporting the device and a step of adjusting the optical axis of the device body while observing an image taken by the device body.
By doing so, the optical axis can be easily adjusted while using the same support regardless of whether the photographing device is installed on the left or right side of the lane.

According to the above-mentioned imaging device and the method of adjusting the imaging device, it is possible to suppress the increase in the types of columns and the decrease in the strength of the columns.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the tollhouse where the photographing apparatus is installed in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the photographing area of the vehicle number recognition apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the vehicle number recognition device in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the upper column in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the lower support in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a pin member and a pan angle by the difference of the installation position in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship between the female screw part and the elongated hole when the pan angle is 0 degree in the case where the vehicle number recognition device is installed normally. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 when the pan angle is 32 degrees in the case of the above-mentioned normal installation. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship between the female screw part and the elongated hole when the pan angle is 0 degree in the case where the vehicle number recognition device is reversely installed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 when the pan angle is 38 degrees in the case of the reverse installation. It is a flowchart of the adjustment method of the vehicle number recognition device in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 8 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the support column, the photographing device, and the adjustment method of the photographing device in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Fee Station)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a toll collection system including a photographing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The toll collection system 100 according to this embodiment is installed in the tollhouse office, the toll collection machine 10, the vehicle type discrimination device 3, the start controller 5, and the start detector 6 installed in the tollhouse on the toll road. The monitoring device 8 is provided.
A tollhouse is a facility provided at the entrance or exit of a toll road to collect tolls from vehicles traveling on the toll road. In this embodiment, an example in which the toll collection system 100 is provided at the exit tollhouse of the toll road will be described, but in other embodiments, the toll collection system 100 is provided at the entrance tollhouse of the toll road. good.
The tollhouse office is provided at a location away from the tollhouse, and is a facility for staff to monitor a plurality of tollhouses via the monitoring device 8.

In the example of FIG. 1, at the exit tollhouse, islands I are laid on both sides of the lane L connecting the toll road and the general road.
In the following description, the direction in which the lane L extends (± X direction in FIG. 1) is the "lane direction", and the toll road side in the lane direction (-X side in FIG. 1) is the "upstream side" or "lane". The "front side" and the general road side (+ X side in FIG. 1) in the lane direction are also referred to as "downstream side". Further, the direction orthogonal to the lane direction (± Y direction in FIG. 1) is also described as the "lane width direction", and the direction orthogonal to the lane direction (± Z direction in FIG. 1) is the "height direction". Also described.

The automatic toll collection machine 10 is installed on the island I and collects tolls with the vehicle A stopped on the lane L.

The vehicle type discrimination device 3 is provided on the upstream side in the lane direction (-X side in FIG. 1) of the automatic toll collection machine 10 and is a device for discriminating the vehicle type of the vehicle A arriving at the tollhouse.
In this embodiment, the vehicle type determination device 3 includes a vehicle detector 7, a vehicle number recognition device (photographing device) 11, and a vehicle type determination unit 12.

The vehicle detector 7 extends in the height direction (± Z direction) on the island I, and of the vehicle A traveling in the lane L through the floodlight tower and the light receiving tower facing each other with the lane L in the lane width direction. Outputs a detection signal according to entry / exit.

The vehicle number recognition device 11 is provided at a position where the vehicle body of the vehicle A that has reached the point where the vehicle detector 7 is installed can be photographed from the front side in the lane direction (± X direction). The vehicle number recognition device 11 photographs the vehicle A from the front side at the timing when a detection signal indicating the approach of the vehicle A is output from the vehicle detector 7, and acquires image data including the license plate of the vehicle A. Then, by performing a predetermined image recognition process on the acquired image data, the license plate information (NP information) of the vehicle A included in the image data is output. The NP information includes the size of the license plate (plate size) and the classification number (NP number) stamped on the license plate.

The vehicle type determination unit 12 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle A based on the NP information output from the vehicle number recognition device 11. Further, the vehicle type determination unit 12 transmits the determined vehicle type of the vehicle A to the automatic toll collection machine 10.

The start controller 5 is provided on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the automatic toll collector 10, and the vehicle A traveling in the lane L is opened and closed by opening and closing the open / close bar. Controls the start and stop of.
The start controller 5 opens the open / close bar when it receives a permission signal that permits the vehicle to start, and closes the open / close bar when it receives a stop signal that prohibits the vehicle from starting.
As a result, the start controller 5 regulates the vehicle A from leaving the lane L until the automatic toll collection machine 10 completes the toll collection process of the vehicle A.

The start detector 6 is on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the start controller 5 and is provided on the most downstream side of the lane L, and detects whether or not the vehicle A has left the lane L.
When the start detector 6 detects that the vehicle A has left the lane L, the start detector 6 transmits an exit detection signal to the toll automatic toll collector 10 and outputs a stop signal to the start controller 5 for prohibiting the start of the following vehicle. ..

The monitoring device 8 is communicably connected to the automatic toll collector 10 via the network NW. The monitoring device 8 is a device that is operated by a staff member stationed at the tollhouse office and supports the toll collection process by transmitting and receiving information and commands to and from the automatic toll collection machine 10.

(Vehicle number recognition device)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a photographing area of the vehicle number recognition device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle number recognition device 11 has its optical axis adjusted so that the license plate of the vehicle A can be photographed. Specifically, the optical axis is adjusted so that the vehicle A can photograph the license plate in front of the vehicle A whose approach is detected by the vehicle detector 7. For example, when the vehicle number recognition device 11 is installed on the right island IR (hereinafter, simply referred to as normal installation), and when the vehicle number recognition device 11 is installed on the left island IL (hereinafter, simply reverse installation). In both cases, the optical axis La of the vehicle number recognition device 11 refers to the widthwise center line c (hereinafter, simply referred to as the lane center line c) of the lane L of the upstream side Dau of the vehicle A in the traveling direction Da. It is suitable. In the following description, the optical axis La in the case of normal installation is referred to as an optical axis La1, and the optical axis La in the case of reverse installation is referred to as an optical axis La2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the angle θR formed by the lane center line c and the optical axis La1 is substantially the same as the angle θL formed by the lane center line c and the optical axis La2. In other words, FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the optical axis La1 and the optical axis La2 have a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the lane center line c. However, when the vehicle A enters the tollhouse, it tends to be slightly closer to the side where the steering wheel is arranged in the vehicle width direction. This is because the driver drives closer to the booth or the automatic toll collection machine for cash payment or the like. Therefore, for example, when the vehicle is driving on the left side and the right-hand drive vehicle occupies a large number, the angle θL may be slightly larger than the angle θR. On the contrary, when the vehicle is on the right side and the left-hand steering wheel is predominant, the angle θR may be slightly larger than the angle θL.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle number recognition device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an upper support column according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a lower support column according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle number recognition device 11 includes a device main body 20 and a support column 21.

The device main body 20 has a function of mainly photographing the license plate of the vehicle A traveling in the lane L. The device main body 20 includes a housing 22. The housing 22 internally houses parts for digital photography (none of which are shown) such as an image sensor, an optical lens, and a storage device such as a RAM, and a computer (not shown) that performs image processing and the like. ing. The housing 22 is formed in a box shape including a front plate 22a, a rear plate 22b, an upper plate 22c, a lower plate 22d, a right plate 22e, and a left plate 22f. The housing 22 in this embodiment is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the direction in which the optical axis La extends.

The housing 22 is provided with a window portion (not shown) on the front plate 22a. This window portion (not shown) takes in light for forming an image on the image sensor through a lens (not shown) inside the housing 22. The housing 22 is further provided with a first eaves portion 23A around the window portion (not shown) to reduce the adhesion of water droplets or the like to the window portion (not shown). The housing 22 is further formed with a second eaves portion 23B at intervals around the first eaves portion 23A. The second eaves portion 23B is formed so that the right plate 22e, the left plate 22f, and the upper plate 22c of the housing 22 extend to the front of the housing 22 on which the optical axis La extends. In this embodiment, the housing 22 having both the first eaves portion 23A and the second eaves portion 23B is illustrated, but the first eaves portion 23A and the second eaves portion 23B may be provided as needed. good.

The housing 22 is further provided with a plurality of hanging tools 24 on the upper plate 22c. The hanging tools 24 of the housing 22 illustrated in this embodiment are arranged at intervals from each other. The device main body 20 can be lifted by a crane or the like via these hanging tools 24 when it is installed on the island I or when it is transported.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the support column 21 includes a lower support column 30 and an upper support column 31. The support column 21 supports the device main body 20 from below. In other words, the support column 21 extends upward from the island I and is connected to the lower plate 22d of the device main body 20. The position of the device main body 20 is held above the upper surface of the island I by the support column 21.

The lower support column 30 is installed on the island I, and is installed so as to extend upward from the upper surface of the island I. The lower strut 30 in this embodiment includes a lower fixing plate portion 32, an entry box portion 33, and a lower strut main body portion 34.

The lower fixing plate portion 32 is fixed to the island I. The lower fixing plate portion 32 in this embodiment is formed in a flat plate shape so as to extend in the horizontal direction from the lower edge of the incoming wire box portion 33. In other words, the lower fixing plate portion 32 is formed in a flat plate shape perpendicular to the axis O1 of the lower support column 30. The lower fixed plate portion 32 in this embodiment has a substantially square contour in top view or bottom view. The four corners 32a of the lower fixing plate portion 32 are chamfered, and first mounting holes 35 are formed near the corners 32a.

These first mounting holes 35 are formed at a 90-degree pitch (first angle pitch) around the axis O1 of the lower strut main body 34. These first mounting holes have the same distance from the axis O1 in the radial direction about the axis O1. That is, all of these first mounting holes 35 are arranged on the same virtual circle centered on the axis O1. The lower fixed plate portion 32 in this embodiment is for concrete so that two sides 32b of the four sides 32b are parallel to the lane L and the other two sides 32b extend in a direction orthogonal to the lane L. It is fixed on the island I using fasteners such as anchor bolts and nuts. In this way, since the first mounting holes 35 are arranged on the same virtual circle at a 90-degree pitch, the lower fixing plate portion 32 is centered on the axis O1 with respect to the island I when fixed to the island I. It is possible to select the mounting angle at a right angle of 90 degrees. Hereinafter, a configuration in which positioning is performed at a 90-degree pitch by the first mounting holes 35 is simply referred to as a first positioning portion 36.

The incoming wire box portion 33 is formed in a hollow box shape protruding upward from the upper surface 32c of the lower fixing plate portion 32. The wire box portion 33 allows cables connected to the device main body 20 from the outside to easily enter the inside of the support column 21. The wire box portion 33 in this embodiment is formed in a tubular shape having a quadrangular cross section that opens downward. Specifically, the wire box portion 33 includes four thin plate-shaped flat plate portions 33a extending vertically from the upper surface 32c of the lower fixing plate portion 32 and a lower strut main body portion 34 extending horizontally from the upper edge of the flat plate portion 33a. Has an upper support plate portion 33b to which the above support plate portion 33b is connected.

By processing the four flat plate portions 33a with a hole saw or the like, through holes can be easily formed in the thickness direction thereof. For example, when the cables connected to the device main body 20 pass through the ground pipe installed on the island I, the ground pipe is formed by forming a through hole in the flat plate portion 33a closest to the outlet of the ground pipe. It can be easily connected to the incoming line box portion 33. Then, the cables can be easily pulled from the ground pipe to the incoming line box portion 33. On the other hand, when cables are connected to the device main body 20 via the underground such as an underground pit formed on the island I, for example, by arranging the entry box 33 above the underground pit, the entry box The underground pit and the inside of the entry box portion 33 can be communicated with each other through the opening facing downward of the portion 33, and the cables can be easily drawn into the inside of the entry box portion 33.

The upper support plate portion 33b is formed in a flat plate shape extending in a direction intersecting with the four flat plate portions 33a. The upper support plate portion 33b extends from the upper edges of the four flat plate portions 33a toward the axis O1, and forms a circular opening 33bh around the axis. In the upper support plate portion 33b, the lower edge of the lower strut main body portion 34 is connected to the peripheral edge of the opening 33bh by, for example, welding.

The lower support main body 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending upward from the upper support plate 33b. The internal space of the lower strut main body 34 is communicated with the internal space of the incoming wire box 33 via the opening 33b formed in the upper support plate 33b. Here, a rib member 37 formed so as to extend between the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the lower strut main body 34 and the upper surface of the upper support plate 33b is fixed to the lower strut main body 34 illustrated in this embodiment. Has been done. The rib members 37 are so-called triangular ribs, and a plurality of rib members 37, more specifically four, are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction about the axis O1. The rib member 37 may be omitted if sufficient support strength of the lower strut main body portion 34 by the incoming wire box portion 33 can be obtained.

The lower strut main body 34 includes a plurality of female screw portions (pin fixing portions) 38. These plurality of female screw portions 38 are arranged with a first interval L1 in the axis O1 direction, and are arranged in series along the axis O1. Further, the rows of the female screw portions 38 arranged in series are formed at a pitch of 120 degrees (second angle pitch) in the circumferential direction about the axis O1. The angular pitch of the female screw portion 38 in the circumferential direction is different from the angular pitch of the first mounting hole 35 in the lower fixing plate portion 32, and further, the angular pitch of these female screw portions 38 and the angular pitch of the first mounting hole 35. Is not a positive integer multiple of each other.

The case where five female screw portions 38 of this embodiment are formed side by side in the axis O1 direction in each row arranged at a pitch of 120 degrees is illustrated. In this embodiment, of the five female screw portions 38, two vertically adjacent to each other are used at the same time. By appropriately selecting the two female screw portions 38 that are vertically adjacent to each other from the five female screw portions 38, the height position of the upper strut 31 connected to the lower strut main body 34 can be adjusted. Can be done.

The upper support column 31 extends downward from the device main body 20 and can be connected to the lower support column 30. The upper strut 31 includes an upper strut main body portion 39 and an upper fixing plate portion 40 (see FIG. 4).
The upper strut main body 39 is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens downward. The upper strut main body 39 has an inner diameter R2 slightly larger than the outer diameter R1 of the lower strut main body 34. As a result, the lower strut body 34 is inserted into the upper strut body 39 in a posture arranged so that the axis O1 of the lower strut body 34 overlaps the extension line O2 of the axis O2 of the upper strut body 39. It is possible. Further, the lower strut main body 34 and the upper strut main body 39 can be relatively displaced in the circumferential direction about the axes O1 and O2.

The upper strut main body 39 includes an elongated hole forming portion 42 that forms a plurality of elongated holes 41. Two of these plurality of elongated holes 41 are arranged with a first spacing L1 in the axis O2 direction, and are formed at a pitch of 120 degrees in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O2, like the female screw portion 38. ing. The elongated holes 41 extend in the circumferential direction about the axis O2, and the elongated holes 41 adjacent to each other in the axial direction O2, in other words, the elongated holes 41 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction have their respective end positions in the circumferential direction. Match. Here, the 120-degree pitch in the elongated hole means that the position of one end in the circumferential direction about the axis O2 is 120-degree pitch. Since the elongated holes 41 have a length in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O2, the details will be described later, but the distance between the elongated holes 41 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O2 is more than 120 degrees. It becomes a small angle range.

The upper fixing plate portion 40 is fixed to the lower surface of the apparatus main body portion 20. The upper fixing plate portion 40 in this embodiment is formed in a flat plate shape and is formed so as to extend in the horizontal direction from the upper edge of the upper strut main body portion 39. The upper fixing plate portion 40 in this embodiment has a rectangular shape whose contour in top view or bottom view is smaller than that of the lower plate 22d (see FIG. 3) of the apparatus main body portion 20, and is formed by fasteners such as bolts and nuts. It is fixed to the lower plate 22d. Between the upper fixing plate portion 40 and the upper strut main body portion 39, a rib member 43 which is a so-called triangular rib formed in the same manner as the rib member 37 of the lower strut 30 described above is provided and reinforced. ..

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper strut main body 39 and the lower strut main body 34 are connected via a pin member 45. As the pin member 45 in this embodiment, there are two types, a half-screw type first bolt 46 and a full-screw type second bolt 47. The first bolt 46 and the second bolt 47 each include a shaft portion (not shown in FIG. 3) on which a male screw is formed, and bolt heads 46h and 47h, respectively. The shaft portion (not shown in FIG. 3) has a diameter smaller than the width of the elongated hole 41 and can be inserted into the elongated hole 41. On the other hand, the bolt heads 46h and 47h are formed larger than the width of the elongated hole 41.

The first bolt 46 regulates the relative displacement of the upper strut body 39 and the lower strut body 34 in the vertical direction, and is in the circumferential direction about the axis O2 of the upper strut body 39 with respect to the lower strut body 34. It is possible to rotate to. These first bolts 46 can also be referred to as pin members 45 for adjusting the pan angle of the apparatus main body 20. Here, the pan angle of the device main body 20 is an angle at which the photographing direction of the device main body 20 is swung left and right, and the axis lines O1 and O2 extending the optical axis La of the device main body 20 in the vertical direction with respect to the reference position. It is the angle rotated around. The shaft portion of the first bolt 46 is inserted into one of the two elongated holes 41 arranged side by side in the axis O2 direction, and the lower strut main body portion 34 is arranged to face the elongated hole 41. Is screwed into the female screw portion 38 of.

The shaft portion of the first bolt 46 is a so-called half-screw, and there is a portion where no male screw is formed in a range slightly larger than the thickness of the upper strut body portion 39 on the side close to the bolt head 46h. .. Therefore, even if all the male screws formed on the first bolt 46 are screwed into the female screw portion 38, the upper strut main body 39 is sandwiched between the bolt head 46h of the first bolt 46 and the lower strut main body 34. Is not held. On the other hand, since the shaft portion of the first bolt 46 is inserted into the elongated hole 41, the displacement of the upper strut main body 39 with respect to the lower strut main body 34 in the vertical direction is restricted. In the following description, a configuration capable of positioning with the first bolt 46, the elongated hole 41, and the female screw portion 38 at a pitch of 120 degrees is simply referred to as a second positioning portion 50.

After adjusting the pan angle of the device main body 20, the second bolt 47 fixes the upper support main body 39 to the lower support main body 34 so that the adjusted pan angle does not change. The second bolt 47 is inserted into the other elongated hole 41 in which the first bolt 46 is not inserted among the two elongated holes 41 arranged side by side in the axis O2 direction, and is arranged to face the elongated hole 41. It is screwed into the female screw portion 38 of the lower strut main body portion 34. The shaft portion of the second bolt 47 is a so-called full screw, and a male screw is formed over the entire length direction of the shaft portion. Therefore, by screwing the male screw formed on the second bolt 47 into the female screw portion 38, the upper strut main body 39 is sandwiched between the bolt head 47h of the second bolt 47 and the lower strut main body 34. Be retained. The second bolt 47, the elongated hole 41, and the female screw portion 38 form a fixing portion 51 that regulates the relative displacement of the upper strut 31 and the lower strut 30 positioned by the second positioning portion 50 in the circumferential direction. ing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the position of the pin member and the pan angle due to the difference in the installation position in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the female screw portion and the elongated hole when the pan angle is 0 degrees when the vehicle number recognition device is normally installed. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 when the pan angle is 32 degrees in the case of the above-mentioned normal installation. It should be noted that FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views, and for convenience of illustration, the length of the elongated hole 41 does not include the shaft diameter of the first bolt 46 described above. However, the actual elongated hole 41 needs to be lengthened by a length corresponding to the shaft diameter of the first bolt 46 (hereinafter, the same applies to FIGS. 9, 10, 12 to 15).

(Regular installation)
As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle number recognition device 11 normally installed on the right island IR on the right side in the traveling direction of the lane L is one of the first bolts 46 inserted into the three elongated holes 41. The bolt 46 is arranged so as to extend parallel to the lane L toward the upstream side of the lane L. In other words, of the three female threaded portions 38 into which the first bolt 46 is screwed, one female threaded portion 38 extends parallel to the lane L and is arranged on the most upstream side of the lane L. Is installed for the right island IR. In FIG. 6, the arrow in the lane L indicates the traveling direction of the vehicle A. In the following description, in the normal installation, the female screw portion 38 into which the first bolt 46 arranged parallel to the lane L and extending toward the upstream side of the lane L is screwed is referred to as the first female screw portion 38A. Refer to. The other female threaded portions 38 are referred to as a second female threaded portion 38B and a third female threaded portion 38C, respectively.

Assuming that the angle at which the optical axis La1 is parallel to the lane L and extends to the upstream side of the lane L with respect to the axis O1 is 0 degree, which is the reference position, the pan angle of the device main body 20 normally installed in this embodiment is , It is possible to adjust from the reference position of 0 degrees to the position of -32 degrees on the L side of the lane. That is, the maximum adjustment angle (first maximum adjustment angle) of the pan angle of the device main body 20 in the normal installation is −32 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the optical axis La1 is at the position of 0 degrees in the normal installation, the elongated hole 41 facing the first female screw portion 38A is in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O1 extending in the vertical direction. It is formed in the range of +32 degrees to -8 degrees. That is, the elongated hole 41 facing the first female screw portion 38A is formed in an angle range of 40 degrees in total including the position where it intersects the optical axis La1.
The second female threaded portion 38B and the third female threaded portion 38C are formed at a pitch of 120 degrees with respect to the first female threaded portion 38A. The distance between the elongated holes 41 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is in an angle range of 80 degrees. In FIGS. 7 to 10, for convenience of illustration, the first bolt 46 is not shown.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the apparatus main body 20 is rotated so that the optical axis La1 faces the lane L side (right side in FIG. 8) in the normal installation, the elongated hole 41 becomes the shaft portion of the first bolt 46. By sliding against it, the position of the optical axis La1 can be displaced from the reference position of 0 degrees to the position of −32 degrees. When rotated to this position of −32 degrees, the shaft portion of the first bolt 46 abuts at the end of the elongated hole 41, and the optical axis La1 cannot face the lane L side any more. The angle of the optical axis La1 can be adjusted in the range of 0 to -8 degrees on the opposite side of the lane L, but normally, in the case of normal installation, the angle is 0 to -8 degrees. No range is used.

(Reverse installation)
As shown in FIG. 6, the lower support column 30 of the reversely installed vehicle number recognition device 11 is −90 with respect to the lower support column 30 of the normally installed vehicle number recognition device 11 in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O1. It is installed by rotating it. As a result, the first bolt 46 is arranged at an angle position different from that in the case of normal installation. Specifically, the first bolt 46, which is arranged so as to extend toward the upstream side of the lane L in parallel with the lane L at the time of normal installation, is arranged at a position of −90 degrees. That is, the first bolt 46 is arranged so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the lane L and away from the lane L (in other words, a direction away from the lane L).
The pan angle of the device main body 20 reversely installed in this embodiment can be adjusted from a reference position of 0 degrees to a position of +38 degrees on the L side of the lane. That is, the maximum adjustment angle (second maximum adjustment angle) of the pan angle of the device main body 20 in the reverse installation is +38 degrees.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the female screw portion and the elongated hole when the pan angle is 0 degrees when the vehicle number recognition device is installed in reverse. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 when the pan angle is +38 degrees in the case of the reverse installation.
As shown in FIG. 9, in the reverse installation, since the first female screw portion 38A is arranged at the position of −90 degrees, the third female screw portion 38C is arranged at the position of +30 degrees.
This +30 degree angle allows the lower strut 30 to be positioned with respect to the left island IL (hereinafter, simply referred to as the first angle pitch; 90 degrees) and the upper strut 31 to be positioned with respect to the lower strut 30. It is equal to the angle difference (in other words, the phase difference; 30 degrees) from the angle pitch (hereinafter, simply referred to as the second angle pitch; 120 degrees).
When the optical axis La2 is at the position of 0 degrees, the elongated hole 41 facing the third female screw portion 38C has +32 degrees to -8 degrees in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O1 as in the case of normal installation. It is formed over a range of degrees.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the reverse installation, when the apparatus main body 20 is rotated so that the optical axis La2 faces the lane L side (left side in FIG. 9), the elongated hole 41 becomes the shaft portion of the first bolt 46. By sliding against it, the optical axis La2 can be displaced from the 0 degree position to the +38 degree position.
The maximum adjustment angle in this reverse installation is the absolute value of -8 degrees, which is the angle of the elongated hole 41 formed on the opposite side of the lane L when the above-mentioned optical axis La2 is at the position of 0 degrees. It is equal to the sum of +30 degrees, which is the angle at which the third female screw portion 38C is arranged. When rotated to the position of +38 degrees, which is the maximum adjustment angle, the shaft portion of the first bolt 46 abuts at the end of the elongated hole 41, and the optical axis La2 of the device main body portion 20 faces the lane L side any more. You will not be able to. The angle of the optical axis La2 can be adjusted in the range of 0 to -2 degrees on the opposite side of the lane L, but normally, in the case of reverse installation, the angle is 0 to -2 degrees. No range is used.

Here, the absolute value of the maximum adjustment angle of the pan angle from the 0 degree reference position to the lane L side in the normal installation is set to "a", and the maximum adjustment of the pan angle from the 0 degree reference position to the lane L side in the reverse installation is set to "a". The absolute value of the angle is "b", the absolute value of the angle difference between the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch is "c", and the number of elongated holes 41 formed at intervals in the circumferential direction is "d". Then, the angle range “θ” in which the elongated hole 41 extends in the circumferential direction satisfies θ = a + (bc) and θ <(360 / d).
In the case of the above-described embodiment, since a = 32, b = 38, c = 30, d = 3, the angle range “θ” in which the elongated hole 41 extends in the circumferential direction is θ = 32+ (38-30) =. 40 and θ <360/3 = 120.

(Adjustment method)
The vehicle number recognition device 11 in this embodiment has the above-described configuration. Next, the adjustment method of this vehicle number recognition device will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an adjustment method of the vehicle number recognition device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
First, for example, at the construction planning stage, it is determined which island I of the right island IR and the left island IL the vehicle number recognition device 11 is to be installed. That is, it is determined whether the vehicle number recognition device 11 is installed normally or reversely.

In the case of normal installation, the lower column 30 is positioned on the right island IR by the first positioning unit 36, and in the case of reverse installation, the lower column 30 is positioned on the left island IL by the first positioning unit 36 (step S01). At this time, in the case of normal installation, the lower support column 30 is positioned on the right island IR at the angle shown in FIG. 7, and in the case of reverse installation, the lower support column 30 is positioned on the left island IL at the angle shown in FIG. Then, the lower support column 30 is fixed to the island I.

Next, the upper support column 31 is rotatably supported by the lower support column 30 from a position where the optical axis La of the device main body 20 faces the upstream side in parallel with the lane L to a position where the vehicle A is photographed (step S02).
In the case of normal installation, the elongated hole 41 at which the optical axis La of the apparatus main body 20 intersects is arranged so as to face the first female screw portion 38A in the top view. Then, the first bolt 46 is inserted into each elongated hole 41 and screwed into the first female screw portion 38A, the second female screw portion 38B, and the third female screw portion 38C, respectively.
On the other hand, in the case of reverse installation, the elongated hole 41 at which the optical axis La of the apparatus main body 20 intersects is arranged so as to face the third female screw portion 38C. Then, the first bolt 46 is inserted into each elongated hole 41 and screwed into the first female screw portion 38A, the second female screw portion 38B, and the third female screw portion 38C, respectively.
After that, the device main body 20 is placed on the upper support column 31, the device main body 20 is fixed to the upper support column 31, and the wiring work of the device main body 20 is performed.

Next, the angle of the optical axis La of the device main body 20 around the axes O1 and O2 is adjusted while observing the image actually taken by the device main body 20 (step S03). When the angle adjustment of the optical axis La is completed, the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 are fixed by the second bolt 47 constituting the fixing portion 51.

As described above, in this embodiment, the lower strut can be positioned at a pitch of 90 degrees with respect to the island I, and the upper strut 31 can be positioned at a pitch of 120 degrees with respect to the lower strut 30. Therefore, in the case of normal installation, after the lower column 30 is positioned with respect to the island I by the first positioning unit 36 so as to be in the reference direction, the optical axis La1 of the device main body 20 is oriented in an appropriate direction. The upper support column 31 can be positioned on the lower support column 30 by the second positioning unit 50.

Further, in the case of reverse installation, the first positioning unit 36 can select an angle different from the above-mentioned reference direction at the first angle pitch. Therefore, one of the three first bolts 46 is oriented toward the lane L side from the reference position parallel to the first lane L and extends to the upstream side of the lane L (the shooting area side of the vehicle A). be able to. Therefore, since one of the three first bolts 46 faces the L side of the lane, the elongated hole 41 is long because the portion used for normal installation and the portion used for reverse installation are overlapped in the elongated hole 41. It is possible to suppress scaling.
As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the types of the columns 21 and a decrease in the strength of the columns 21.

Further, when positioning the lower support column 30 on the right island IR, an angle may be selected so that one first bolt 46 extends in parallel with the lane L by the first positioning portion 36. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the positioning of the lower support column 30 at an erroneous angle with respect to the right island IR. Further, when positioning the lower column 30 on the left island IL, the first bolt 46 extends in a direction different from that when it is installed on the right island IR, and the pitch of the first positioning portion 36 is 90 degrees. You just have to choose the right angle. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the positioning of the lower support column 30 at an erroneous angle with respect to the left island IL.

Further, by positioning the lower support column 30 with respect to the island I at a pitch of 90 degrees, it is possible to position the lower support column 30 at four points. Further, by positioning the upper strut 31 with respect to the lower strut 30 at a pitch of 120 degrees, the upper strut 31 can be positioned with respect to the lower strut 30 at three points. Then, by forming the elongated hole 41 in an angle range of 40 degrees, the upper support column 31 can be rotated by 40 degrees with respect to the lower support column 30.
Further, in the normal installation, when the optical axis La1 is arranged at the position of 0 degree, the elongated hole 41 intersecting the optical axis La1 in the top view is formed in the range of -8 degrees to +32 degrees. The angle of the optical axis La1 of the main body 20 can be adjusted by −32 degrees toward the lane L side with reference to the position parallel to the lane L.

Further, in the case of reverse installation, the mounting position of the first bolt 46 extending parallel to the lane L in the case of normal installation is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction away from the lane L to position the lower support column 30 on the left island IL. do. As a result, one of the remaining two mounting positions of the first bolt 46 is arranged on the L side of the lane by 30 degrees, which is the difference between 120 degrees and 90 degrees. By arranging the elongated hole 41 at which the optical axis La2 intersects at the mounting position of the first bolt 46 facing the lane L side by 30 degrees, the angle of the optical axis La2 of the apparatus main body 20 is parallel to the lane L. It will be possible to adjust by +38 degrees to the L side of the lane with reference to the position.

Further, the elongated hole 41 is formed so as to extend over an angle range of 40 degrees about the axis O1. This makes it possible to adjust the pan angle in the range of -32 degrees from the reference position, which is 0 degrees, to the lane L side on the right island IR, and also on the left island IL, from the reference position, which is 0 degrees, to the lane. The pan angle can be adjusted in the range of +38 degrees on the L side. Therefore, one type of lower strut 30 and upper strut 31 can be used for both normal installation and reverse installation.

Further, after positioning the upper strut 31 and the lower strut 30 by the second positioning portion 50, the displacement of the lower strut 30 and the upper strut 31 in the circumferential direction can be regulated by the fixing portion 51. Therefore, after adjusting the pan angle, it is possible to prevent the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 from being displaced from each other in the circumferential direction.
Further, since it is not necessary to regulate the relative displacement of the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 in the axis O1 direction by the second positioning unit 50, it is possible to prevent the configuration of the second positioning unit 50 from becoming complicated.

Further, by adopting a so-called double pipe structure consisting of the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31, the lower support column 30 is slid with respect to the upper support column 31 in the axes O1 and O2 directions to increase the height of the support column 21. It can be easily adjusted. Further, a plurality of female screw portions 38 are provided at intervals in the length direction of the lower strut 30, that is, in the height direction of the strut 21. Therefore, the second positioning portion 50 can position the lower strut 30 and the upper strut 31 in the circumferential direction at a plurality of height positions where the female screw portion 38 is formed.

(Modification example)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the first angle pitch at which the lower strut is positioned with respect to the island I is 90 degrees and the second angle pitch at which the upper strut is positioned with respect to the lower strut is 120 degrees. explained. However, the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch are not limited to the angle pitch of the above-described embodiment. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the first angle pitch is smaller than the second angle pitch has been described, but the first angle pitch may be larger than the second angle pitch.

Next, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that this modification differs only in the second angle pitch from the above-described embodiment. Therefore, in the description of this modification, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 8 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 in a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12, the vehicle number recognition device 211 in the modified example of this embodiment includes a support column 221 and a device main body 20 as in the vehicle number recognition device 11 of the above-described embodiment. The support column 221 includes a lower support column 230 and an upper support column 231.
The lower strut 230 includes a lower fixing plate portion 32, an entry box portion 33, and a lower strut main body portion 234. Since the lower fixing plate portion 32 and the wire entry box portion 33 have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The lower strut main body 234 is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens upward, and the angle pitch at which the female screw portion 238 is formed around the axis O1 is different from that of the lower strut main body 34 of the above-described embodiment. The plurality of female screw portions 238 formed on the lower strut main body portion 234 are arranged with a first interval in the axis O1 direction and are arranged in series along the axis O1. Further, the female screw portions 238 arranged in series are formed at a pitch of 72 degrees (second angle pitch) in the circumferential direction about the axis O1. That is, the female screw portions 238 are arranged in the axis O1 direction at five locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The angular pitch in the circumferential direction of the female screw portion 238 is different from the angular pitch (90 degrees) of the first mounting hole 35 in the lower fixing plate portion 32, which is the first angular pitch by the first positioning portion 36. Further, the angle pitch of the female screw portion 238 and the angle pitch of the first mounting hole 35 are angle pitches that are not integral multiples of each other.

The upper strut 231 extends downward from the device main body 20 and can be connected to the lower strut 230. The upper strut 231 includes an upper strut main body portion 239 and an upper fixing plate portion 40. Since the upper fixing plate portion 40 has the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The upper strut main body 239 is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens downward. The upper strut main body 239 differs from the upper strut main body 39 of the above-described embodiment only in the angle pitch in which the elongated holes 41 are formed around the axis O1.

In the vehicle number recognition device 211 configured in this way, when the optical axis La1 is at a position of 0 degrees in the normal installation shown in FIG. 12, the elongated hole 241 facing the first female screw portion A is centered on the axis O1. It is formed in the range of +32 degrees to -20 degrees in the circumferential direction. That is, the elongated hole 241 facing the first female screw portion 238A is formed in an angle range of 52 degrees in total including the position where it intersects the optical axis La1. The second female screw portion 238B, the third female screw portion 238C, the fourth female screw portion 238D, the fifth female screw portion 238E, and the first female screw portion 238A are formed at a pitch of 72 degrees. There is. The distance between the elongated holes 241 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is in an angle range of 20 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the apparatus main body 20 is rotated so that the optical axis La1 faces the lane L side (right side in FIG. 13) in the normal installation, the elongated hole 241 becomes the first bolt 46 (from FIG. 12). The position of the optical axis La1 can be displaced from the reference position of 0 degrees to the position of −32 degrees by sliding with respect to the shaft portion (not shown in FIG. 15). That is, the absolute value "a" of the first maximum adjustment angle, which is the maximum value of the pan angle that can be adjusted from the reference position to the lane L side in the normal installation, is 32 degrees. When rotated to this position of −32 degrees, the shaft portion of the first bolt 46 abuts at the end of the elongated hole 241 and the optical axis La1 cannot face the lane L side any more. The pan angle of the optical axis La1 can be adjusted in the range of 0 to +20 degrees on the side opposite to the lane L, but normally, in the case of normal installation, this is 0 to +20 degrees. No range is used.

As shown in FIG. 14, the lower support 230 of the reversely installed vehicle number recognition device 211 is +90 with respect to the lower support 230 of the normally installed vehicle number recognition device 211 in the circumferential direction centered on the axis O1. It is installed by rotating it. As a result, the first bolt 46 is arranged at an angle position different from that in the case of normal installation. Specifically, the first bolt 46, which is arranged so as to extend toward the upstream side of the lane L in parallel with the lane L at the time of normal installation, is arranged at a position of +90 degrees. That is, the first bolt 46 is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the lane L and extend toward the lane L.

When the optical axis La2 is arranged at a position of 0 degrees in the reverse installation, the second female screw portion 238B is arranged at a position of +18 degrees. The angle of 18 degrees is a first angle pitch (90 degrees) in which the lower strut 230 can be rotated with respect to the left island IL, and a second angle pitch (72 degrees) in which the upper strut can be rotated with respect to the lower strut 230. Is equal to the absolute value of the difference from (in other words, phase difference; 18 degrees).
When the optical axis La2 is arranged at the reference position of 0 degrees, the elongated hole 241 facing the second female screw portion 238B is +32 degrees in the circumferential direction about the axis O1 as in the case of normal installation. It is formed over a range of -20 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the apparatus main body 20 is rotated so that the optical axis La2 faces the lane L side in the reverse installation, the elongated hole 241 slides with respect to the shaft portion of the first bolt 46, and the optical axis The position of La2 can be displaced from the reference position of 0 degrees to the position of +38 degrees. That is, the absolute value "b" of the second maximum adjustment angle, which is the maximum value of the pan angle that can be adjusted in the reverse installation, is 38 degrees. The second maximum adjustment angle "b" is the absolute value (18 degrees) of the angle at which the second female screw portion 238B is arranged when the optical axis La2 is arranged at the position of 0 degrees, and the second female screw portion. It is equal to the sum of the absolute value (20 degrees) of the angle at which the end of the elongated hole 241 facing the 238B is located on the opposite side of the lane L from the lane L.
When the device main body 20 is rotated so that the optical axis La2 is displaced from 0 degrees to +38 degrees, the first bolt 46 abuts at the end of the elongated hole 241 and the optical axis La2 of the device main body 20 abuts. , It becomes impossible to turn to the L side of the lane any more. In the case of reverse installation, as shown in FIG. 16, the pan angle of the optical axis La2 can be adjusted by 0 to -14 degrees (an angle range obtained by subtracting +18 degrees from +32 degrees). However, normally, in the case of reverse installation, this 0 to -14 degrees is not used.

Here, also in this modification, the absolute value of the first maximum adjustment angle is "a" (= 32), the absolute value of the second maximum adjustment angle is "b" (= 38), the first angle pitch and the second. Assuming that the absolute value of the angle difference from the angular pitch is "c" (= 18) and the number of elongated holes formed at intervals in the circumferential direction is "d" (= 5), the elongated holes 241 are formed in the circumferential direction. The extended angle range “θ” satisfies θ = a + (bc) (= 52) and θ <(360 / d) (= 72).

The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications, and the design can be changed without departing from the gist thereof.
For example, in the above-described embodiment and modified example, the case where the incoming wire box portion 33 is provided on the lower columns 30 and 230 has been described, but the incoming wire box portion 33 may be omitted.

Further, the case where the lower strut main bodies 34 and 234 are inserted into the upper strut main bodies 39 and 239 has been described, but the upper strut main bodies 39 and 239 are inserted into the lower strut main bodies 34 and 234. You may do so. Then, the case where the elongated holes 41 and 241 constituting the second positioning portion 50 are formed in the upper strut main bodies 39 and 239 into which the lower strut main bodies 34 and 234 are inserted has been described. However, the elongated holes 41,241 may be provided on one of the upper column main bodies 39,239 and the lower column main bodies 34,234, which are located outside. For example, the lower column main bodies 34,234. When the upper strut main bodies 39 and 239 are inserted into the inside of the above, the upper strut main bodies 34 and 234 may be provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the first angle pitch is 90 degrees and the second angle pitch is 120 degrees has been described. Further, in the modified example, the case where the first angle pitch is 90 degrees and the second angle pitch is 72 degrees has been described. However, if the angle range in which the elongated holes 41,241 are formed is the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch that satisfy θ = a + (bc) and θ <(360 / d), these operations are carried out. It is not limited to the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch of the form and the modified example. Further, a case where the first maximum adjustment angle is -32 degrees and the second maximum adjustment angle is +38 degrees, and a case where the first maximum adjustment angle is +32 degrees and the second maximum adjustment angle is -38 degrees will be described. However, these maximum adjustment angles may be appropriately set as necessary.

Further, although the case where the support column 21 can adjust the height has been described, it does not have to have the height adjustment function. Then, the case where the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 are arranged like a so-called double pipe is illustrated, but when the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 do not have the height adjusting function, for example, the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 may be used. A flange may be provided for each, and the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31 may be connected via the flange. In this case, an elongated hole 41 may be formed in one flange of the lower support column 30 and the upper support column 31, and a female screw portion 38 may be formed in the other.
Further, although the case where the pin member 45 is fixed by the screw action has been described, the fixing method of the pin member 45 is not limited to the screw action. That is, a pin fixing portion other than the female screw portions 38 and 238 may be used.

3 Vehicle type discrimination device 5 Start controller 6 Start detector 7 Vehicle detector 10 Automatic toll collection machine 11 and 211 Vehicle number recognition device (photographing device)
12 Vehicle type discrimination unit 20 Device main body 21,221 Support 22 Housing 22a Front plate 22b Rear plate 22c Upper plate 22d Lower plate 22e Right plate 22f Left plate 23A First eaves 23B Second eaves 24 Tools 30, 230 Lower columns 31,231 Upper support 32 Lower fixed plate 32a Square 32b Side 32c Top 33 Inlet box 33a Flat plate 33b Upper support plate 33b Opening 34, 234 Lower support main body 35 First mounting hole 36 First positioning part 37 Rib members 38, 238 Female threaded part (pin fixing part)
38A 1st female screw part 38B 2nd female screw part 38C 3rd female screw part 39,239 Upper strut body part 40 Upper fixing plate part 41,241 Long hole 42 Long hole forming part 43 Rib member 45 Pin member 46 First bolt 46h Bolt head 47 Second bolt 47h Bolt head 50 Second positioning part 51 Fixed part 100 Toll collection system 238A First female screw part 238B Second female screw part 238C Third female screw part 238D Fourth female screw part 238E No. Five female threads

Claims (10)

It is a support column that supports the main body of the imaging device that photographs vehicles in the lane from below.
The lower support that extends upward from the installation surface,
An upper strut that extends downward from the device main body and can be connected to the lower strut,
With
The lower strut
A first positioning portion capable of positioning at a first angle pitch around the axis of the lower strut with respect to the installation surface is provided.
The upper strut and the lower strut
A second positioning portion that enables the upper strut to be positioned with respect to the lower strut at a second angle pitch is provided.
The first angle pitch and the second angle pitch are set to be angle pitches that are not integral multiples of each other.
The second positioning unit is
A plurality of elongated holes arranged at a second angular pitch and extending in the circumferential direction in either the upper column or the lower column,
The upper strut and the lower strut are inserted into the elongated hole and fixed to either one of the upper strut and the lower strut, and the upper strut and the lower strut are regulated while restricting the relative displacement of the upper strut and the lower strut in the vertical direction. Multiple pin members that allow relative displacement in the circumferential direction with
Prop with. The column according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fixed portions that regulate the relative displacement of the upper column and the lower column positioned by the second positioning unit in the circumferential direction at intervals in the circumferential direction. One of the upper strut and the lower strut can be inserted into the other.
The second positioning unit is
A pin fixing portion capable of fixing the pin member is provided on at least one of the upper strut and the lower strut.
The pin fixing portion is
The support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of columns are provided at intervals in the height direction of at least one of the upper column and the lower column. It is a photographing device including a device main body for photographing a vehicle in a lane and a support column for supporting the device main body from below.
The support is
The lower support that extends upward from the installation surface,
An upper strut that extends downward from the device main body and can be connected to the lower strut,
With
The lower strut
A first positioning portion capable of positioning at a first angle pitch around the axis of the lower strut with respect to the installation surface is provided.
The upper strut and the lower strut
A second positioning portion that enables the upper strut to be positioned with respect to the lower strut at a second angle pitch is provided.
The first angle pitch and the second angle pitch are set to be angle pitches that are not integral multiples of each other.
The second positioning unit is
A plurality of elongated holes arranged at a second angular pitch and extending in the circumferential direction in either the upper column or the lower column,
The upper strut and the lower strut are inserted into the elongated hole and fixed to either one of the upper strut and the lower strut, and the upper strut and the lower strut are regulated while restricting the relative displacement of the upper strut and the lower strut in the vertical direction. Multiple pin members that allow relative displacement in the circumferential direction with
A shooting device equipped with. The first positioning unit is
When installed on the first installation surface arranged on either the left or right side of the lane, one of the pin members of the plurality of pin members of the second positioning portion is in the lane parallel to the lane. Arranged to extend toward the upstream side,
When installed on a second installation surface arranged on either the left or right side of the lane, the plurality of pin members extend in a direction different from that when installed on the first installation surface. The photographing apparatus according to claim 4, which is arranged in such a manner. Let a be the absolute value of the first maximum adjustment angle for adjusting the pan angle of the apparatus main body on the first installation surface.
Let b be the absolute value of the second maximum adjustment angle for adjusting the pan angle of the apparatus main body on the second installation surface.
Let c be the absolute value of the angle difference between the first angle pitch and the second angle pitch.
Let d be the number of elongated holes formed at intervals in the circumferential direction.
The angle range θ in which one of the elongated holes extends in the circumferential direction is
θ = a + (bc) and θ <(360 / d)
The photographing apparatus according to claim 5. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the first angle pitch is 90 degrees, the second angle pitch is 120 degrees, and the angle range θ in which the elongated hole is formed is 40 degrees. Any one of claims 4 to 7 provided with a plurality of fixed portions that regulate the relative displacement of the upper strut and the lower strut positioned by the second positioning portion in the circumferential direction at intervals in the circumferential direction. The imaging device described in the section. The support is
One of the upper strut and the lower strut is made insertable with respect to the other.
The second positioning unit is
A pin fixing portion capable of fixing the pin member is provided on at least one of the upper strut and the lower strut.
The pin fixing portion is
The photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein a plurality of the upper strut and the lower strut are provided at intervals in the height direction of at least one of them. The method for adjusting a photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9.
A step of positioning the lower support column on the installation surface by the first positioning unit, and
A step of rotatably supporting the upper strut with respect to the lower strut from a position where the optical axis of the device main body faces the upstream side in the traveling direction of the vehicle to a position where the vehicle is photographed by the second positioning portion.
The process of adjusting the optical axis of the device main body while observing the image taken by the device main body, and
How to adjust the imaging device, including.

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