JP4506448B2 - Container foreign matter detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-container foreign object detection device, and more particularly, to a container of an in-container foreign object detection device that images a container with an imaging means while transporting a transparent container in which liquid is sealed, and detects the foreign matter in the container by image processing. Concerning transportation.

  The main foreign substances mixed in a container sealed with drinking water or the like are a part of a container material or a part of a part filled with a liquid of contents at the stage of forming and manufacturing the container. Although almost no foreign matter is mixed in the container, there is a possibility of adverse effects on the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to reliably detect and remove it regardless of the frequency of occurrence.

  Although the conventional 100% inspection relies on human visual inspection, there is a possibility that foreign object detection may be overlooked, and automation of the inspection is required. In view of this, various devices have been proposed for irradiating a transparent container with a change in container thickness with illumination light, and detecting foreign matter mixed in the container by image processing from the image of the container obtained by the imaging means. ing.

  At this time, first, the position of the container present in the captured image must be specified. Unlike the human visual recognition, a bright portion different from the background brightness in the video is determined as the container portion. That is, when performing image processing, it is determined by the difference in brightness. It is desirable that the container to be inspected is contained in one unit of one whole or two in the video, and when the second half is reflected, it becomes easy to generate a discrimination error.

  Therefore, in order to maintain the inspection performance, it is necessary to provide an alignment mechanism for ensuring a gap between the containers and keeping the container interval constant.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-228867 discloses a conventional technique for showing this kind of foreign matter detection apparatus in a container and aligning containers connected continuously without a gap at a constant interval.

  In this prior art, a screw type feeder having a spiral groove is used in order to align a continuous container without a gap at a constant interval. Specifically, a large number of containers are placed on a transport conveyor, and while being pushed by the transport conveyor, are bitten one by one in a groove of the screw type feeder, and the rotating shaft extending in the transport direction rotates to follow the groove. The containers are separated while creating a gap, and are supplied and conveyed to the downstream side where the imaging means is located.

  Containers that are continuous without gaps at the inlet of the screw feeder are also arranged one by one at the outlet at intervals determined by the pitch of the grooves of the screw feeder.

JP 2004-279218 A

  However, in the above prior art, the gap between the container and the groove becomes a problem. If there is a gap, the container is swung in the groove of the screw-type feeder that rotates at high speed, and the container may fall over at the outlet of the screw-type feeder in an unstable posture. Therefore, by providing a screw-type feeder having a groove shape corresponding to the shape type of the container, stable conveyance can be performed.

  Therefore, although there is no problem if manufacturing using the same type of container is repeated every day, if you frequently switch to manufacturing using different types of containers, prepare multiple screw-type feeders that match the type and store them in the container. It will take time to adjust and confirm the replacement work.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an in-container foreign object detection device that does not require replacement of alignment mechanism parts for each shape type of container even when a plurality of types of containers are conveyed.

  The device of the present invention that achieves the above object is characterized in that the container is imaged by the imaging means while transporting the transparent container in which the liquid is sealed, and the foreign object detection in the container is detected by image processing. In the apparatus, there is provided an aligning / conveying means for aligning the containers conveyed upstream from the position where the imaging means for the conveying path is installed and moving the containers at a speed slower than the moving speed of the containers passing through the imaging means. There is.

  According to the present invention, the container is transported at a speed higher than the speed of passing through the aligning and conveying means until the conveying path passes through the imaging means downstream from the outlet of the aligning and conveying means. The containers are kept at a desired distance from each other at the exit of the aligning / conveying means, and the distance between the containers is determined by the difference between the moving speed of the containers passing through the imaging means and the moving speed of the containers in the aligning / conveying means.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the alignment mechanism component for each shape type of the container, and a plurality of types of containers can be aligned and conveyed using the same alignment mechanism component. Thereby, the image of the container unit obtained by the imaging means can be image-processed, and foreign matter can be detected with high inspection performance.

  The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a container foreign matter detecting device 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container foreign matter detection device 10 includes a carry-in part R1, an alignment transport part R2, a first detection part R3, a second detection part R4, a defective container removal part R5, and a carry-out part R6. Has been. In FIG. 1, the direction from the right carry-in portion R1 to the left carry-out portion R6 is defined as a transport direction, and a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction is defined as a width direction.

  The transparent PET containers 1 are sequentially loaded on the entrance transport conveyor 11 at the carry-in portion R1 and are continuously transported. The entrance conveyor 11 is configured to be able to transport the mounted containers 1 from the alignment transport unit R2 through the first detection unit R3 to the entrance of the second detection unit R4. The portion for mounting is made of resin or rubber. The container 1 is already filled with liquid contents, mainly chemicals and beverages, and further sealed with a container lid 2.

The foreign object detection is performed after the container 1 is sealed with the container lid 2, and in the process of performing the foreign object detection, there is no printed matter that becomes an optical obstacle on the surface of the container, and the container determined to be a non-defective product in the foreign object detection. There are many cases where printed matter is affixed only to. In addition, the container and contents (liquid sealed in the container) targeted in the present embodiment are both transparent, but are not limited to colorless and transparent, and are colored and transparent, and are opaque in general ambient light. Even if it is a case, it can be made into the object of a foreign material detection according to the degree of light transmission.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the foreign matter mixed in the container 1 is a floating foreign matter D1 floating in the liquid of the container 1, a precipitated foreign matter D2 settled on the bottom, and a floating foreign matter floating on the liquid surface. Dividing into D3, the floating foreign matter D3 is less than the floating foreign matter D1, the settled foreign matter D2, and the like.

  Returning to FIG. 1, a stopper 12 is provided, and this stopper 12 is used when it is not necessary to transport the container 1 into the foreign matter detection device such as the convenience of transportation of the entire production line or the convenience of the foreign matter detection device. The charging of the container 1 is forcibly stopped.

  The containers 1 moving on the entrance conveyor 11 are conveyed while being sandwiched from both sides in the width direction by a pair of container alignment conveyors 14 juxtaposed in the width direction in the container alignment portion R2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each container alignment conveyor 14 is provided with a number of continuous grippers 15 made of rubber and having a hollow, semi-cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, it can be inserted regardless of the difference in container shape such as a round shape or a square shape and the presence or absence of undulations on the surface of the container.

  A mountain-shaped gripper 15a shown in FIG. 5 is suitable for a container having a large side undulation of the container 1 or a container that is not line-symmetric. Further, for a rectangular container having a side surface close to a flat surface, the container has a crease-like gripper 15b shown in FIG. An inclined gripper 15c shown in FIG. 7 that does not enter the undulation pattern is suitable. In order to provide a reliable container interval, a female gripper 15d paired with a rubber or sponge container shape shown in FIG. 8 may be used.

  The container alignment conveyors 14 that are sandwiched are endless. For example, the downstream rotary shaft 17 is a drive shaft, the upstream rotary shaft 16 is a driven shaft, and both drive shafts 17 are driven at the same speed by the same drive source. It is mechanically coupled to rotate at Therefore, by arranging the grippers 15 in the container alignment conveyors 14 in plane symmetry, it is possible to adopt a shape that moves in synchronization.

  Further, the respective rotation shafts 16 and 17 of each container aligning conveyor 14 can be slid in the width direction on a straight line by a common ball screw having a right screw and a left screw without changing the position in the transport direction. It has a structure. A rotation handle is attached to one end of the ball screw. The rotation of the rotation handle in the forward direction reduces the gap between the container alignment conveyors 14, and the rotation of the rotation handle in the reverse direction increases the gap. Can be handled very easily.

  If the conveyance guides are also fixed before and after each container alignment conveyor 14, the interval between the conveyance guides is changed simultaneously with the change of the gap of each container alignment conveyor 14, and the setup change is further simplified.

  Assuming that the moving speed V2 of the container 1 in a state where the containers 1 are sandwiched between the container aligning conveyors 14 with respect to the conveying (moving) speed V1 of the container 1 by the inlet transfer conveyor 11, the moving speed V2 is slower than the moving speed V1. It is like that.

  According to such a speed relationship (V2 <V1), the containers 1 sandwiched between the grippers 15 of the container aligning conveyors 14 are once decelerated to the speed V2 in the aligning and conveying unit R2, and then the containers 1 are released from the grippers 15. Then, the speed is again increased to the speed V1 of the entrance conveyor 11. Apparently, the containers 1 that were at various intervals up to the position where they enter the alignment transport unit R2 are temporarily clogged in the interval between the grippers 15, and the interval between the containers is reduced to S1. Next, when the gripper 15 is released, the desired interval S2, which is the final interval, is reached. Therefore, the container interval S2 can be adjusted by the relative speed difference between the moving speeds V1 and V2 (the distance that the inlet transport conveyor 11 moves at the speed V1 when the gripper 15 opens the container 1 becomes the container interval S2). The container interval S2 can be increased as the speed V2 is smaller than the speed V1.

  Since each container alignment conveyor 14 has the synchronous speed V2, when it is released from the gripper 15, the container 1 reaches the first detection unit R3 by the entrance conveyor 11 while being kept stationary. That is, in the container 1, the liquid surface of the sealed liquid is in a state where a hydrostatic surface free from waves and bubbles is maintained, and the first detection unit R3 and the second detection unit R4 are used for imaging the container. Make a good environment.

  The first detection unit R3 is for detecting the floating foreign matter D1 and the floating foreign matter D3 shown in FIG. 3 (a), and the second detection unit R4 is for detecting the precipitated foreign matter D2 shown in FIG. 3 (b). Is for.

  An imaging means 20 is provided in the first detection unit R3, and an illumination light source 21 having a halogen lamp is installed on the apparatus base F (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the imaging unit 20 is configured to receive the light from the illumination light source 21 through the light guide 22 on the side of the container 1 from the illumination light irradiation unit 23 installed on one side (width direction) of the entrance conveyor 11. Irradiate. The illumination light source 21 is selected from a fluorescent lamp, LED, EL, incandescent lamp, metal halide lamp, infrared light lamp, ultraviolet light lamp, surface emitting illumination device, etc. in addition to a halogen lamp.

  The inside of the light guide 22 is in a state where several hundred optical fibers are bundled, and the optical fibers are divided by the illumination light irradiating means 23, and the tips of the optical fibers are linearly arranged and fixed. Since the light has a constant spread angle at the tip of the optical fiber, it becomes a rectangular transmitted illumination light L1 gradually spreading from a straight line as the distance to the illumination light irradiation means 23 increases.

  On the side opposite to the container 1, a plurality of imaging cameras 24 that image the container 1 are arranged. The arrival of the container 1 at the floating foreign matter detection position P1 where the illumination light irradiation means 23 and the imaging camera 24 exist is detected by the container detection sensor 25 arranged above the entrance transport conveyor 11, and the imaging camera is based on the detection result. 24, and image processing is performed by the foreign object detection control unit 40 of FIG.

  As the type of the container detection sensor 25, a light transmission type or an ultrasonic type may be used in addition to the light reflection type.

  The imaging camera 24 calculates the size of a foreign object to be recognized from the width of the field of view, and determines the number of installations in consideration of the resolution of the camera. FIG. 9 shows an example in which two units are installed at the top and bottom, and the upper half and the lower half of the container 1 are divided and imaged. It is also possible to pick up images separately, and after the image pickup, the foreign substance detection control unit 40 performs composition processing to discriminate the boundary line to form one image.

  In FIG. 2, after passing through the first detection unit R <b> 3, the container 1 reaches the upstream end of the container sandwiching conveyor 31 in the second detection unit R <b> 4 provided with the imaging means 30.

  The configuration of the container sandwiching conveyor 31 is the same as that of the container aligning conveyor 14 in the aligning and transporting section R2, and it can be transported while sandwiching both side surfaces of the container 1. The left and right clearances are similarly adjusted with a rotating handle attached to a common ball screw. Moreover, both the container clamping conveyors 31 are mechanically coupled as a configuration having a synchronized speed.

  The moving speed V1 of the container 1 in the state where the container 1 is mounted on the entrance conveyor 11 and the moving speed V3 of the container 1 in the state where the container is held by the container holding conveyor 31 are made equal (moving speed V1 = The moving speed V3), and hence the container interval S2 in the first detection unit R3, is maintained as it is.

  In the second detection unit R4, there is no conveyor on which the containers 1 are mounted unlike the entrance transport conveyor 11. Therefore, the container 1 clamped by the container clamping conveyor 31 is in a floating state.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the imaging camera 32 of the imaging means 30 for imaging the bottom part of the container 1 is provided below the conveyance path constituted by the container sandwiching conveyor 31, and is provided on the apparatus mount F (see FIG. 2). An illumination light source 33 having a halogen lamp is installed.

  Light from the illumination light source 33 is irradiated from above the container 1 from the illumination light irradiation means 35 via the light guide 34 above the conveyance path. What is necessary is just to use the thing similar to the illumination light source 21 as the illumination light source 33. FIG.

  The tip of the optical fiber in the light guide 34 is fixed in a ring shape directly above the container 1 with the illumination light irradiation means 35 facing directly below. As in the case of floating foreign object detection, light has a certain spread angle at the tip of the optical fiber. For this reason, as the distance from the illumination light irradiating means 35 increases, in the case of detecting a precipitated foreign substance, the transmitted illumination light L2 gradually becomes circular from the ring shape. At this time, since the tip of the optical fiber is arranged in a ring shape in the illumination light irradiation means 35, the shadow of the container lid 2, which may be an opaque material, is not projected on the bottom side of the container, and an obstacle in foreign object detection It will not be. In order to further avoid the influence of the shadow of the container lid 2 being projected on the bottom side of the container, the ring-shaped arrangement diameter in the illumination light irradiation means 35 is preferably made larger than the container lid 2.

  In this embodiment, one imaging camera 32 is arranged below the conveyor 11. However, the image may be enlarged and divided by a plurality of imaging cameras.

  The arrival of the container 1 at the foreign substance detection position P2 where the imaging camera 32 and the illumination light irradiation means 35 are present is detected by the container detection sensor 36 disposed above the entrance conveyor 11 and the imaging camera is based on the detection result. 32, and image processing is performed by the foreign object detection control unit 40 of FIG.

  Here, the foreign object detection control unit 40 will be described.

  In FIG. 11, the detection results of the container detection sensors 25 and 36 at the floating foreign substance inspection position P1 and the settled foreign substance inspection position P2 are grasped by the main computing unit 42 via the I / O interface 41, and the shutter signal control unit 43 and Reflected in the shutter signals of the imaging cameras 24 and 32 by the camera controller 44. Based on the shutter signal, the imaging cameras 24 and 32 capture images of the container 1 and temporarily store them in the image information storage unit 46 that performs image processing from the camera controller 44 via the camera interface 45. The process which extracts a foreign material with is performed. The captured image and the video that has already been processed are displayed on the image processing monitor 47. In addition, the start, stop, and error of the apparatus are managed by the operation switch 48 and the display lamp 49, and the operation status management of the entire apparatus including the management and image processing of the video is performed by the main computing unit 42 and the main storage unit 50. ing. The operation status of the entire apparatus is displayed on the monitor 51.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a synthesized image obtained by obtaining the container 1 containing the floating foreign substance D1 with the imaging camera 24. FIG. 12A shows a grayscale image M1, and FIG. 12B shows a binarized image M2 after the grayscale image M1 of FIG.

  In the grayscale image M1, vertical and horizontal lines in the container range are traces of dark parts due to the influence of container undulations on the side wall of the container 1. The undulation pattern in the dark part is eliminated as much as possible by the illumination light, and the outline of the container 1 and its peripheral part are divided into black and white by image processing as in the binarized image M2 in FIG. Search for the presence or absence of. If the black object is the foreign object image MD1, and this foreign object image MD1 exists, it is determined as a defective container, and if it does not exist, it is determined as a non-defective container, and is managed with internal data.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of an image captured by the imaging camera 32 of the container 1 containing the precipitated foreign substance D2. FIG. 13A shows a grayscale image N1, and FIG. 13B shows a binarized image N2 after the grayscale image N1 shown in FIG.

  Also in the case of the precipitated foreign matter D2, in the grayscale image N1, the radial line in the container range has a dark part generated due to the influence of the container undulation at the bottom of the container 1. However, by removing the undulating pattern in the dark area with illumination light and performing image processing, the outline of the container and its peripheral part are divided into black and white as shown in FIG. 13B, and the presence or absence of a black object in the container area is searched. To do.

  If the black object is a foreign object image ND2, and this foreign object image ND2 exists, it is determined as a defective container, and if it does not exist, it is determined as a non-defective container, and is managed by internal data together with the floating foreign object image MD1.

  Since the captured image M1 of the floating foreign material D1 shown in FIG. 12 and the captured image 9 of the settled foreign material D2 shown in FIG. 13 are kept constant by the container alignment conveyor 14 in the alignment transport unit R2, The container can be easily identified and stable image processing is possible.

  Returning to FIG. 1, when the floating, floating, and sediment foreign matter inspections are completed, the defective container removing unit R5 sorts them according to the inspection result managed by the internal data. If it is a defective container, it will be discharged from a normal manufacturing line by pushing the defective container 1 to the container discharge conveyor 18b side by the pusher 61 of the container extrusion unit 60 from the side of the exit conveyance conveyor 18a.

  Alternatively, instead of the container push-out unit 60, a means for adding a defect identification mark as a mark at a conspicuous position of the defective container 1 may be provided so that the defective container can be rejected in a subsequent process.

  The floating foreign matter inspection position P1, the sedimentary foreign matter inspection position P2 and its surroundings are surrounded by a light shielding cover (not shown) to block the light from the surroundings which is an optical disturbance to the container 1 and the imaging cameras 24 and 32, and stable foreign matter. Is detected.

  The inlet conveyor 11, the container aligning conveyor 14, the container holding conveyor 31, the outlet conveyor 18a and the container discharge conveyor 18b are continuously driven except that speed setting is required. Since it is not necessary, description of the electric system is omitted.

  Next, an in-container foreign object detection apparatus 10 according to a second embodiment, which is another example of aligning containers at a constant interval, will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 14, the same components as those shown in FIGS.

  In this embodiment, instead of the container alignment conveyor 14 that sandwiches the side portion of the container 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a container alignment conveyor 14A that sandwiches the container lid 2 from the side surface is used.

  The shape of the container lid 2 is various, such as a round shape and a square shape, and further, the shape of the container lid 2 is similar in many cases. For this reason, by using the container alignment conveyor 14 </ b> A that sandwiches the container lid 2, there is an advantage that it is possible to further save the trouble of changing the setup for every container 2. In addition, the container 1 is conveyed in the state mounted in the entrance conveyor 11 similarly to 1st embodiment.

  The speed setting of the container alignment conveyor 14 </ b> A that sandwiches the container lid 2 is also made smaller than the speed of the entrance conveyor 11. By doing so, the container 1 sandwiched between the grippers is once decelerated, and then the container 1 is opened from the gripper and again accelerated to the speed of the entrance conveyor 11. In this way, the containers 1 that were originally at various intervals become a constant container interval when they come out of the container alignment conveyor 14A.

  Furthermore, a container foreign matter detecting device 10 according to a third embodiment that is aligned at a constant interval without contacting the side surface of the container will be described with reference to FIG.

  Also in FIG. 15, the same reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent parts as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

  In this embodiment, the container alignment conveyor 14 </ b> B presses the container 1 from the upper surface of the container lid 2. In many cases, a label or the like is attached to the side surface of the container 1, which is suitable when it is desired to avoid contact with the container 1. A vertical movement mechanism (not shown) that can adjust the height of the container alignment conveyor 14B is provided so that the burden of setup change can be reduced as much as possible.

  The entrance conveyor 11 includes a front half part 11a and a rear half part 11b. The front half part 11a of the entrance transport conveyor 11 is located in an area where the container alignment conveyor 14B presses the containers 1 (area until the pressing is released). There is a rear half portion 11b of the entrance transport conveyor 11 on the downstream side from the position where 14B releases the pressing against the container 1. The moving speed of the second half part 11b of the entrance conveyor 11 is V1, the moving speed of the first half part 11a is V2 synchronized with the container aligning conveyor 14B, and a relationship of V1> V2 is established.

  The front half part 11a and the rear half part 11b have a horizontal part and an inclined part, and the boundary between the horizontal part and the inclined part is a position Px where the container alignment conveyor 14B releases the pressing against the container 1. The horizontal part and the inclined part in the front half part 11a and the rear half part 11b are alternately arranged when viewed from above, so that the container 1 is located at the position Px where the container alignment conveyor 14B releases the pressing against the container 1 so that the container 1 It is transferred from the horizontal part to the horizontal part of the latter half part 11b.

  When the entrance conveyor 11 is viewed from above, an alternate arrangement with the front half part 11a as the center and the rear half part 11b on both sides or an alternate arrangement of the front half part 11a-the latter half part 11b-the front half part 11a-the latter half part 11b may be employed.

  According to such a configuration, the container interval S1 at the container alignment conveyor 14B becomes a constant and increased container interval S2 at the stage of coming out of the container alignment conveyor 14B.

  Furthermore, a container foreign matter detection device 10 according to a fourth embodiment that aligns containers at regular intervals will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 16 as well, the same or equivalent parts as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In this embodiment, instead of the container alignment conveyor 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side surface of the container 1 mounted and conveyed on the inlet conveyance conveyor 11 is intermittently separated by a container pressing plate 19 having a buffer material. It is designed to be pinched. A linear motion element such as an air cylinder is used for the clamping operation, and it can be configured with a simpler structure than the container alignment conveyor 14 shown in FIGS.

  The container holding plate 19 repeats an intermittent operation of sandwiching the container 1 from the side at a constant time interval. During the time when the container pressing plate 19 is pushed out and the container 1 is sandwiched, the container 1 stops while slipping on the inlet conveyor 11. And although the container upstream from carrying-in part R1 is conveyed until it reaches the position of the container stopped previously, it is stopped after reaching this position. During the time when the container pressing plate 19 releases the container 1 from being sandwiched, the container 1 is transported while being mounted on the inlet transport conveyor 11.

  Therefore, by managing the time during which the container holding plate 19 sandwiches the container 1 and the time during which the container 1 is opened, the moving speed V2 of the container 1 in the alignment transport unit R2 can be set, and the container interval S2 after opening can be freely set. Can be set.

  For the difference in container shape, the setup can be easily changed by adjusting the position where the container pressing plate 19 is pushed and stopped.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the foreign material detection apparatus in a container which is 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the foreign substance detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the presence state of the foreign material in a container. It is a figure which shows the shape of the gripper in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other shape of the gripper in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other shape of the gripper in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other shape of the gripper in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other shape of the gripper in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the detection part of the floating foreign material in the container foreign material detection apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the detection part of the settled foreign material in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the structure of the foreign material detection control part in the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the condition which detects a floating foreign material by the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the condition which detects the foreign material settled by the foreign material detection apparatus in a container shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows schematic structure of the foreign material detection apparatus in a container which is 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows schematic structure of the foreign material detection apparatus in a container which is 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the foreign material detection apparatus in a container which is 4th embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Container
2 ... Container lid
10 ... Foreign object detection device in container
11 ... Entrance conveyor
14 ... Container alignment conveyor
18a ... Exit conveyor
18b ... Container discharge conveyor
20, 30 ... Imaging means

Claims (3)

In the container foreign matter detection device for picking up an image of the container with the imaging means while transporting the transparent container in which the liquid is sealed, and detecting the foreign matter in the container by image processing,
Alignment conveyance means for aligning the containers conveyed upstream from the position where the image pickup means on the conveyance path is installed and moving the containers at a speed slower than the movement speed of the containers passing through the image pickup means is provided . Immediately after the means, while the hydrostatic surface of the liquid level in the container is maintained, a first detection unit is provided for detecting floating foreign substances from the side of the container, and then for detecting precipitated foreign substances from below the container. container foreign matter detecting apparatus characterized in that a second detection unit. In the container foreign matter detection device according to claim 1,
The aligning and conveying means includes a pair of endless members that sandwich the body or lid of the container from both sides in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in the conveying path, and driving means that moves the endless members synchronously. An apparatus for detecting foreign matter in a container, comprising: In the container foreign matter detection device according to claim 1,
The aligning and conveying means includes a pair of members that intermittently sandwich the body of the container from both sides in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction in the conveying path and a driving means that moves the members synchronously. An in- container foreign object detection device characterized in that:

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