CA1299735C - Object inspection apparatus - Google Patents
Object inspection apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1299735C CA1299735C CA000529776A CA529776A CA1299735C CA 1299735 C CA1299735 C CA 1299735C CA 000529776 A CA000529776 A CA 000529776A CA 529776 A CA529776 A CA 529776A CA 1299735 C CA1299735 C CA 1299735C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- signal
- inspection
- zone
- inspection apparatus
- image signal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Landscapes
- Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An object inspection apparatus having a light source for irradiating an object to be inspected, a pick-up device for picking up the object and generating an image signal thereof including a synchronizing signal, and an inspecting device for receiving the image signal to inspect whether or not the object has a defect, in which the inspecting device includes a reference position detector for generating a reference position signal based upon an image signal in a first field of the image signal and the synchronizing signal, an inspection zone position setter storing an inspection zone of a predetermined shape and for generating a control signal based on the reference position signal and the synchronizing signal, an inspection zone controller receiving the image signal from the pick-up device and the control signal and for delivering an image signal in a second field of the image signal from the pick-up device within an inspection zone determined by the control signal, and a judging device receiving the image signal from the inspection zone controller to judge whether or not the object has a defect.
An object inspection apparatus having a light source for irradiating an object to be inspected, a pick-up device for picking up the object and generating an image signal thereof including a synchronizing signal, and an inspecting device for receiving the image signal to inspect whether or not the object has a defect, in which the inspecting device includes a reference position detector for generating a reference position signal based upon an image signal in a first field of the image signal and the synchronizing signal, an inspection zone position setter storing an inspection zone of a predetermined shape and for generating a control signal based on the reference position signal and the synchronizing signal, an inspection zone controller receiving the image signal from the pick-up device and the control signal and for delivering an image signal in a second field of the image signal from the pick-up device within an inspection zone determined by the control signal, and a judging device receiving the image signal from the inspection zone controller to judge whether or not the object has a defect.
Description
9'7~
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVEMTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an object inspection apparatus and, is directed more particularly to such object inspection apparatus that utilizes a pick-up device such as a video camera to inspect the objects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an inspection zone of an object to be inspected;
Fig. 2 is a front view showing the picture screen of a monitor television receiver;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical circuitry of a main part of one example according to the present invention;
Figs. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams that are used to explain the operation of the present invention; and Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams respectively showing parts of another example of the present invention.
Description of the Prior Art Presently, in replacement of the manual object inspections conducted by human vision as well as hands, such an automatic appearance inspection apparatus of objects has advanced in which a photoelectric conversion sensor is used to pick-up the object and the output signal therefrom is electronically processed. In such case, many apparatuses use a video camera that is ~ormed of a pick-up element such as a CCD or the like, to pick-up an object to be inspected by receiving the reflection light emitted therefrom which is irradiated by a light source. Then, a corresponding video signal is processed by an exclusive electronic circuitry to conduct the inspection of the object.
As for the inspection items for such appearance inspection apparatus of the object that replaces the human inspection of the object, there are the variety of requirements such as, for example, the shape of the object, its dimension, a flaw on its appearance, foreign particles adhered thereon or mixed therewith, etc.
Further, there is a wide variaticn in the inspected objects from flat board-like objects to cubical objects with severe unevenness, whereby normally, the object inspection is not purposed for the entire object, but the requirements are to conduct a specific inspection that is limited to a partial area of the object.
For example, in the case where the inspection is purposed to check a crack at the body portion of a transparent glass bottle 1 and a foreign particle mixed therein, as shown in Fig. 1, inspection areas or zones 2 ~2~g~3~
and 3 as shown by the dot lines in Fig. 1 are determined, which makes only the necessary portions as the subject zones to be inspected, and the image signals from such portions are electronically analyzed to thereby detect a flaw or the like that exists within such above-mentioned inspection zones 2 and 3.
Such ahove-mentioned determination of such specific inspection zones 2 and 3 is expressed as providing windows or to conduct masking. Fig. 2 shows one example thereof, whereas reference numeral 4 denotes a target screen of the video camera though not shown or the picture screen of a video monitor (not shown) which is connected to the video camera. Within this picture screen 4, such aforementioned specific inspection zones or the windows 2 and 3 are provided as shown in Fig. 2 and only the areas inside these windows 2 and 3 are made as the subject zones for the inspection of the bottle 1.
After providing such windows 2 and 3, if the bottle 1 to be inspected is transported to come to the position as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 and then picked up by the video camera, the inspection of the necessary portions of the bottle 1, in other words, the inspection of only the windows 2 and 3 will be carried out. There are various means to provide such windows 2 and 3, for instance, between the video camera and the bottle 1 which 3~
is the inspected object, there is located an opaque plate with apertures therethrough that are corresponding to the shapes of windows 2 and 3 to thereby physically provide windows 2 and 3 or means to electronically control the imaye signal from the video camera by horizontal and vertical coordinates in correspondence with the windows 2 and 3, or to electronically provide windows 2 and 3 by the computer software. In such case, where the windows are provided as above and only the portions within the windows are made as zones to be inspected, it is essential that the inspected object must be picked up at a predetermined exact position.
For such purpose, in the prior art, for example, when the inspected objects are moving on conveyor at the production lines and inspected by this method of inspection using the windows, a separate position detection means must be provided in order to detect whether or not the object that is to be inspected has arrived at such predetermined position. As a practical example, there was needed an arrangement formed of a light projector and a light receiving sensor to detect the position at which the inspected object crosses the light beam from the light projector. Therefore, the system construction becomes complicated which confines the range of application.
3~
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel object inspeckion apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an object inspection apparatus which is simple in a circuit construction.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an object inspection apparatus in which an inspection zone or window can be automatically set.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an object inspection apparatus which comprises:
a) a light source for irradiating an object to be inspected;
b) a pick-up means for picking up the object and generating an image signal of the object including a synchronizing signal; and c) inspecting means for receiving the image signal to inspect whether or not the object has a defect;
the above inspecting means having:
A) reference position detecting means for generating a reference position signal based upon an image signal in a first field of the image signal and the synchronizing signal;
~ 3S
B) inspection zone position setting means storing an inspection zone of a predetermined shape and for generating a control signal based on the reference position signal and the synchronizing signal;
C) inspection zone control means receiving the image signal from the pick-up means and the control signal and for delivering an image signal in a second field of the image signal from the pick-up means within an inspection zone determined by the control signal; and D) judging means receiving the image signal from the inspection zone control means to judge whether or not the object has a defect.
The additional and other objects, features and advantages of the pr~sent invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings through which like elements and parts are marked with the same reference numerals and letters.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An example of the present invention will be explained in reference with Fig. 3 which is a block diagram showing the example of the present invention. In Fig. 3, reference numeral 5 designates a video camera that is used as a pick-up device which is formed of, for example, a CCD (charge-coupled device) as a photosensing - 6a -3~;
element and picks up an object to be inspected andreference numeral 6 is a synchronizing signal separator circuit that separates a vertical synchroniæing signal V
and a horizontal synchronizing signal H from the composite video signal that is delivered from the video camera 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a reference position detection section which based on the signal in the first field of the image signal of the inspected object from the video camera 5, detects a portion of the image signal in the first field which is previously determined and generates a reference positional signal for a - 6b -~L~g9~3~
window or inspection zone~ This reference position detection section 7 is connected to the output sides of the video camera 5 and the synchronizing signal separator circuit 6. Reference numeral 8 represents an inspection zone position setting up section that receives the output signals from the synchronizing signal separator circuit ~
and the reference position detection section 7 to determine a relative position between the previously determined inspection zone pattern of the object and the image thereof by such reference position signal, and 9 an inspection section which processes the image signal in the second field within the inspection zone pattern set up by the position setting-up section 8 to detect the flaw or abnormalities within the inspection zone of the inspected object and to deliver the judgement signal to the outside. To this end, the inspection section 9 receives the output signal from the video camera 5 and the output signal from the inspection zone position setting-up section 8. In this case, the separator circuit 6, the detection section 7, position setting-up section 8 and the inspection section 9 construe an inspection apparatus 14.
The operation of the aforementioned object inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be explained in reference with Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4, reference numeral 1 designates the inspected object such as a glass bottle or the like as mentioned before, 11 a belt conveyer which transfers the inspected objects 1 in the direction shown by an arrow A and 12 a light source which irradiates light onto the inspected object 1 on the belt conveyer 11 and is located at the opposite side to the video ~æs~s camera 5 with respect to the belt conveyer 11. In this case, the video camera 5 photosenses the light which has passed through the glass bottle 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes a monitor television receiver which displays an image of the glass bottle 1 as picked up by the video camera 5 and 14 is the inspection apparatus which includes the reference position detection section 7 and so on as shown on Fig. 3 and which is construed by an electronic circuitry.
Fig. 5 shows a monitor picture screen 13A of the monitor television receiver shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, reference numerals lA and lA' shows the images of the same bottle 1 as the inspected object and 2, 2' and 3, 3' are the windows or the inspection zones in the images lA and lA' of the bottle 1 respectively. Reference numeral 15 designates a location detection zone for the glass bottle 1, which is the inspected object, and 16 and 16' reference detection positions of the images lA and lA'.
Now, turning back to Fig. 3, the apparatus will be explained. The image signal of the inspected object or the glass bottle 1 as picked up by the video camera 5 is supplied to the synchronizing signal separator circuit 6, reference position detection section 7 and the inspection section 9~ respectively. The synchronizing signal separator circuit 6 separates the vertical synchronizing signal V as well as the horizontal synchronizing signal H from the composite video signal from the video camera 5 and supplies the same to the reference posltion detection section 7 and the inspection zone position setting-up section 8. Needless to say, when the video camera 5 includes in itself the synchronizing signal separation function and the respective ~2~973~
synchronizing signals are delivered separately to the image signal, this synchronizillg signal separator circuit 6 may be eliminated. The respective synchronizing signals H and V
are used to determine the coordinate positions on the picture screen in the electronic circuit 14, which is the inspection apparatus of the present invention.
The synchroni~ing signals H and V are both supplied to a position detection zone setting circuit 7A of the reference position detection section 7, which then sets or determines its zone, for instance, position detection zone 15 as shown in Fig. 5. This zone 15 is previously determined in accordance with the application manner of the apparatus so that this setting circuit 7A is construed by, for example, a counter, an IC memory or the like to store the predetermined zone 15. In the meantime, the iamge signal from the video camera 5 is supplied to a position detection circuit 7B of the reference position detection section 7 which then generates a detection signal based on an image signal in the first field of the image signal and on a part of the inspected ojbect or the glass bottle 1 within the position detection zone 15. This detection signal is then supplied to the setting circuit 7A. For example, in the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the outer surfaces of the left side walls of the images lA and lA' of the glass bottle 1 are set as the reference detection positions 16 and 16', so that the position detection manner of the position detection circuit 7B is such one that the difference between the brightness and the darkness of the bottle 1 at the outer surface of the left side wall portion is detected by a comparator, and the side edge of the object 9~3~
l is detected o~ the like.
When the outer surface of the left side wall of the inspected object l as transferred on the belt conveyer 11 in tne direction A in Fig~ 4 is within the position detection zone 15, a reference signal generation circuit 7C receives the output of the setting circuit 7A and generates a signal _ which becomes a reference signal, namely a position reference signal which is used to determine the positions of the windows or inspection zones 2 and 3. This position reference signal m is supplied to the inspection zone position setting section 8. In this case, the setting section 8 is provided with an inspection zone pattern circuit 8A in which a given inspection zone pattern is previously set and then preserved. The signal corresponding to this given inspection zone pattern in the circuit 8A is supplied to a pattern position setting circuit 8B of the setting section 8. Further, the position reference signal m from the reference signal generation circuit 7C of the reference position detection section 7 is supplied to the pattern position setting circuit 8B of the setting section 8, whereby the inspection zone pattern of the inspection zone pattern circuit 8A is controlled to be positioned at a predetermined position relative to the image lA by the signal m.
For instance, in Fig. 5, reference numeral 16 is a time point when the reference detection position was detected.
Therefore, if it is assumed that this time point is taken as tl, a time point t2 which is apart from the time point tl by x ~delay in timing) is set as the left side edge of the inspection zone or window 3 and a time point t3 that is ~2~ 3S
apart from the time point t2 by xl is set as the left side edge of the inspection zone or window 2. Even through a reference detection position 16' of the image lAI at the left side o~ the picture screen 13A i5 detected, if the values x and x' are made constant, the relative positional relations of the inspection zones ~' and 3' to the image lA
of the bottle l will be always constant.
Further, in the above explanation, the left side surface of the image of the bottle l was caught as the reference position. However, there may be consider such a method that tne left side surface and the right side surface of the image of the bottle l are detected as reference positions, respectively, and the inspection zones or windows 2 and 3 are set therebetween. It is, however, free to select, depending upon the shape of the inspected object, one detection point or a plurality of detection points as the reference position.
Then, under the state that the positioning of the inspection zone pattern was set up, a control siynal generation circuit 8C of the setting section 8 receives the output of the setting circuit 8B, produces and supplies a control signal n to the inspection section 9. In order that the inspection zone pattern circuit 8A stores the above-mentioned pattern, it is formed of, for example, an IC-ROM (integrated circuit read-only memory) or the like.
Further, the pattern circuit 8A receives such address signal to set the position of the pattern from the pattern position setting circuit 8B formed of, for example, a counter, a pulse generator or the like so as to sub-divide and restrict the horizontal position of the pattern. Simultaneously, it is needless to say that this pattern position setting circuit 8B is controlled by the respective synchronizing signals H and V from the synchronizing signal separator circuit 6 in order to set the windows or the inspection zones 2 and 3 at the accurate positions withi.n the picture screen.
The control signal n from the control signal generation circuit 8C is supplied to an inspection zone control circuit 9A of the inspection section 9 to thereby designates the inspection zones or windows 2 and 3. The inspection zone control circuit 9A to which the image signal from the video camera 5 is supplied may be, for example, a switching circuit which, only when there is the image signal within the inspection zones which are determined by the control signal n, supplies the image signal in the second field to a judgement circuit 9B or such a circuit which directly controls the operation of the judgement circuit 9B as construed by a computor or the like. The judgement circuit 9B carries out the inspection and the judgement of the image signal in the second field within the inspection zones 2 and 3 only and delivers the judgement result, namely a signal representing the existance or absence of defects or abnormalities in the object 1 to the outside through a terminal 10.
Next, another application example of the present invention will be explained in reference with Figs. ~ and 7.
For example, when an object to be inspected such as the glass bottle 1 is desired to be inspected from various angles, it is sufficient that the glass bottle 1 is transferred on conveyer belt 11 while it is rotating~ For ~2~3~
example~ as illustrated in Fig. 6, when the glass bottle 1 passes in front of the fixed camera (which is not shown in Fig. 6), if the bottle 1 is transferred while rotated such that its image is moved from the right end towards the left end of the monitor picture screen 13A and the inspection is carried out at three positions, that is, the center position, the right end position and left end position on the monitor picture screen 13A, the same bottle 1 is inspected from three different angles. In this case also, the respective inspection zones can be correctly set up by detecting the reference detection positions at the outer surface of the left side wall of the bottle 1, for example, time points P, O and Q so that the specific inspection purposes can be achieved. At this time, for example, although the operation of the judgement circuit 9B is stopped normally, a control signal for the initiation of the operation is supplied through a terminal 9C, shown in Fig.
3, to the judgement circuit 9B so as to operate the judgement circuit 9B in synchronism with the moving speed of the belt conveyer 11 such that the judgement circuit 9B
delivers the judged result at three times at the appropriate positions of the bottle 1 on the monitor picture screen 13A.
Since the accurate setting of the inspection zones can be conducted automatically as aforementioned, the timing of the control signal is not required so highly accurate. This control signal may be generated from, for example, a rotary encoder 9D shown in Fig. 3, which is in synchronism with the transfer speed of the conveyer 11.
Further, in order to transfer the bottle 1 on the straight line type belt conveyer 11 while being rotated, as ~2~
shown in Fig~ 7, if the belt conveyer 11 is divicled into, for example, four belt members llA, llB, llC and llD and the transfer speeds of the respective belt members are changed sequentially by a little one another, it is possible to transfer the bottle while it is being rotated. ~s to the methods to rotate the bottle while conveying the same, various means are known and the selection thereof may be freely made.
While the above explanation is made on the case where the light passed through the transparent glass bottle to be inspected is photosensed by the video camera and the image signal therefrom is processed, if the present invention is applied to inspect an opaque object such as a cylindrical can made of metal, the light from the light source is irradiated on the opaque object, the reflected light thereon is photosensed by the video camera and the image signal therefrom is similarly processed as above. Then, the opaque object can be inspected.
Further, the explanation of the operation of the object inspection apparatus according to the present invention was made on the premise that the bottle 1 moves in the horizontal direction while the vertical direction remains steady and the pattern of the inspection zone is set by only the horizontal control. However, when the bottle 1 is moved in the vertical direction, the pattern of the inspection zone is controlled in its vertical direction, similarly.
According to the present invention, when the inspection and the judgement are performed for only desired portions of the inspected object, by a simple circuit construction, the inspection zone corresponding to the desired portion of the 3~;i inspected object can be automatically set if the object is within the visual or plcking-up range of the video camera.
In the prior art, since the inspection zones are fixed at given positions within the visual area of the video camera, the inspected object also had to be located at a predetermined position accurately upon inspecting the object. ~lso, in other prior art methods to automatically set the inspected zone, the entire image of the object had to be picked up and analyzed and then the procedure to set the inspection zone is carried out by a computor software, which required much processing time.
According to the present invention, a specific position of the object is noted, such specific position is detected by the image signal in the first field from the video camera, and making the position as a reference, the inspection zone is set and such set inspection zone is only inspected by the image signal in the second field.
Therefore, very high speed judgement can be conducted.
Further, according to the present invention, multiple inspections can be made within one picture screen.
It will be apparent that many modifications and variations could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirits or the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention so that the spirits or scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims only.
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVEMTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an object inspection apparatus and, is directed more particularly to such object inspection apparatus that utilizes a pick-up device such as a video camera to inspect the objects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an inspection zone of an object to be inspected;
Fig. 2 is a front view showing the picture screen of a monitor television receiver;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical circuitry of a main part of one example according to the present invention;
Figs. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams that are used to explain the operation of the present invention; and Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams respectively showing parts of another example of the present invention.
Description of the Prior Art Presently, in replacement of the manual object inspections conducted by human vision as well as hands, such an automatic appearance inspection apparatus of objects has advanced in which a photoelectric conversion sensor is used to pick-up the object and the output signal therefrom is electronically processed. In such case, many apparatuses use a video camera that is ~ormed of a pick-up element such as a CCD or the like, to pick-up an object to be inspected by receiving the reflection light emitted therefrom which is irradiated by a light source. Then, a corresponding video signal is processed by an exclusive electronic circuitry to conduct the inspection of the object.
As for the inspection items for such appearance inspection apparatus of the object that replaces the human inspection of the object, there are the variety of requirements such as, for example, the shape of the object, its dimension, a flaw on its appearance, foreign particles adhered thereon or mixed therewith, etc.
Further, there is a wide variaticn in the inspected objects from flat board-like objects to cubical objects with severe unevenness, whereby normally, the object inspection is not purposed for the entire object, but the requirements are to conduct a specific inspection that is limited to a partial area of the object.
For example, in the case where the inspection is purposed to check a crack at the body portion of a transparent glass bottle 1 and a foreign particle mixed therein, as shown in Fig. 1, inspection areas or zones 2 ~2~g~3~
and 3 as shown by the dot lines in Fig. 1 are determined, which makes only the necessary portions as the subject zones to be inspected, and the image signals from such portions are electronically analyzed to thereby detect a flaw or the like that exists within such above-mentioned inspection zones 2 and 3.
Such ahove-mentioned determination of such specific inspection zones 2 and 3 is expressed as providing windows or to conduct masking. Fig. 2 shows one example thereof, whereas reference numeral 4 denotes a target screen of the video camera though not shown or the picture screen of a video monitor (not shown) which is connected to the video camera. Within this picture screen 4, such aforementioned specific inspection zones or the windows 2 and 3 are provided as shown in Fig. 2 and only the areas inside these windows 2 and 3 are made as the subject zones for the inspection of the bottle 1.
After providing such windows 2 and 3, if the bottle 1 to be inspected is transported to come to the position as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 and then picked up by the video camera, the inspection of the necessary portions of the bottle 1, in other words, the inspection of only the windows 2 and 3 will be carried out. There are various means to provide such windows 2 and 3, for instance, between the video camera and the bottle 1 which 3~
is the inspected object, there is located an opaque plate with apertures therethrough that are corresponding to the shapes of windows 2 and 3 to thereby physically provide windows 2 and 3 or means to electronically control the imaye signal from the video camera by horizontal and vertical coordinates in correspondence with the windows 2 and 3, or to electronically provide windows 2 and 3 by the computer software. In such case, where the windows are provided as above and only the portions within the windows are made as zones to be inspected, it is essential that the inspected object must be picked up at a predetermined exact position.
For such purpose, in the prior art, for example, when the inspected objects are moving on conveyor at the production lines and inspected by this method of inspection using the windows, a separate position detection means must be provided in order to detect whether or not the object that is to be inspected has arrived at such predetermined position. As a practical example, there was needed an arrangement formed of a light projector and a light receiving sensor to detect the position at which the inspected object crosses the light beam from the light projector. Therefore, the system construction becomes complicated which confines the range of application.
3~
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel object inspeckion apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an object inspection apparatus which is simple in a circuit construction.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an object inspection apparatus in which an inspection zone or window can be automatically set.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an object inspection apparatus which comprises:
a) a light source for irradiating an object to be inspected;
b) a pick-up means for picking up the object and generating an image signal of the object including a synchronizing signal; and c) inspecting means for receiving the image signal to inspect whether or not the object has a defect;
the above inspecting means having:
A) reference position detecting means for generating a reference position signal based upon an image signal in a first field of the image signal and the synchronizing signal;
~ 3S
B) inspection zone position setting means storing an inspection zone of a predetermined shape and for generating a control signal based on the reference position signal and the synchronizing signal;
C) inspection zone control means receiving the image signal from the pick-up means and the control signal and for delivering an image signal in a second field of the image signal from the pick-up means within an inspection zone determined by the control signal; and D) judging means receiving the image signal from the inspection zone control means to judge whether or not the object has a defect.
The additional and other objects, features and advantages of the pr~sent invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings through which like elements and parts are marked with the same reference numerals and letters.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An example of the present invention will be explained in reference with Fig. 3 which is a block diagram showing the example of the present invention. In Fig. 3, reference numeral 5 designates a video camera that is used as a pick-up device which is formed of, for example, a CCD (charge-coupled device) as a photosensing - 6a -3~;
element and picks up an object to be inspected andreference numeral 6 is a synchronizing signal separator circuit that separates a vertical synchroniæing signal V
and a horizontal synchronizing signal H from the composite video signal that is delivered from the video camera 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a reference position detection section which based on the signal in the first field of the image signal of the inspected object from the video camera 5, detects a portion of the image signal in the first field which is previously determined and generates a reference positional signal for a - 6b -~L~g9~3~
window or inspection zone~ This reference position detection section 7 is connected to the output sides of the video camera 5 and the synchronizing signal separator circuit 6. Reference numeral 8 represents an inspection zone position setting up section that receives the output signals from the synchronizing signal separator circuit ~
and the reference position detection section 7 to determine a relative position between the previously determined inspection zone pattern of the object and the image thereof by such reference position signal, and 9 an inspection section which processes the image signal in the second field within the inspection zone pattern set up by the position setting-up section 8 to detect the flaw or abnormalities within the inspection zone of the inspected object and to deliver the judgement signal to the outside. To this end, the inspection section 9 receives the output signal from the video camera 5 and the output signal from the inspection zone position setting-up section 8. In this case, the separator circuit 6, the detection section 7, position setting-up section 8 and the inspection section 9 construe an inspection apparatus 14.
The operation of the aforementioned object inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be explained in reference with Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4, reference numeral 1 designates the inspected object such as a glass bottle or the like as mentioned before, 11 a belt conveyer which transfers the inspected objects 1 in the direction shown by an arrow A and 12 a light source which irradiates light onto the inspected object 1 on the belt conveyer 11 and is located at the opposite side to the video ~æs~s camera 5 with respect to the belt conveyer 11. In this case, the video camera 5 photosenses the light which has passed through the glass bottle 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes a monitor television receiver which displays an image of the glass bottle 1 as picked up by the video camera 5 and 14 is the inspection apparatus which includes the reference position detection section 7 and so on as shown on Fig. 3 and which is construed by an electronic circuitry.
Fig. 5 shows a monitor picture screen 13A of the monitor television receiver shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, reference numerals lA and lA' shows the images of the same bottle 1 as the inspected object and 2, 2' and 3, 3' are the windows or the inspection zones in the images lA and lA' of the bottle 1 respectively. Reference numeral 15 designates a location detection zone for the glass bottle 1, which is the inspected object, and 16 and 16' reference detection positions of the images lA and lA'.
Now, turning back to Fig. 3, the apparatus will be explained. The image signal of the inspected object or the glass bottle 1 as picked up by the video camera 5 is supplied to the synchronizing signal separator circuit 6, reference position detection section 7 and the inspection section 9~ respectively. The synchronizing signal separator circuit 6 separates the vertical synchronizing signal V as well as the horizontal synchronizing signal H from the composite video signal from the video camera 5 and supplies the same to the reference posltion detection section 7 and the inspection zone position setting-up section 8. Needless to say, when the video camera 5 includes in itself the synchronizing signal separation function and the respective ~2~973~
synchronizing signals are delivered separately to the image signal, this synchronizillg signal separator circuit 6 may be eliminated. The respective synchronizing signals H and V
are used to determine the coordinate positions on the picture screen in the electronic circuit 14, which is the inspection apparatus of the present invention.
The synchroni~ing signals H and V are both supplied to a position detection zone setting circuit 7A of the reference position detection section 7, which then sets or determines its zone, for instance, position detection zone 15 as shown in Fig. 5. This zone 15 is previously determined in accordance with the application manner of the apparatus so that this setting circuit 7A is construed by, for example, a counter, an IC memory or the like to store the predetermined zone 15. In the meantime, the iamge signal from the video camera 5 is supplied to a position detection circuit 7B of the reference position detection section 7 which then generates a detection signal based on an image signal in the first field of the image signal and on a part of the inspected ojbect or the glass bottle 1 within the position detection zone 15. This detection signal is then supplied to the setting circuit 7A. For example, in the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the outer surfaces of the left side walls of the images lA and lA' of the glass bottle 1 are set as the reference detection positions 16 and 16', so that the position detection manner of the position detection circuit 7B is such one that the difference between the brightness and the darkness of the bottle 1 at the outer surface of the left side wall portion is detected by a comparator, and the side edge of the object 9~3~
l is detected o~ the like.
When the outer surface of the left side wall of the inspected object l as transferred on the belt conveyer 11 in tne direction A in Fig~ 4 is within the position detection zone 15, a reference signal generation circuit 7C receives the output of the setting circuit 7A and generates a signal _ which becomes a reference signal, namely a position reference signal which is used to determine the positions of the windows or inspection zones 2 and 3. This position reference signal m is supplied to the inspection zone position setting section 8. In this case, the setting section 8 is provided with an inspection zone pattern circuit 8A in which a given inspection zone pattern is previously set and then preserved. The signal corresponding to this given inspection zone pattern in the circuit 8A is supplied to a pattern position setting circuit 8B of the setting section 8. Further, the position reference signal m from the reference signal generation circuit 7C of the reference position detection section 7 is supplied to the pattern position setting circuit 8B of the setting section 8, whereby the inspection zone pattern of the inspection zone pattern circuit 8A is controlled to be positioned at a predetermined position relative to the image lA by the signal m.
For instance, in Fig. 5, reference numeral 16 is a time point when the reference detection position was detected.
Therefore, if it is assumed that this time point is taken as tl, a time point t2 which is apart from the time point tl by x ~delay in timing) is set as the left side edge of the inspection zone or window 3 and a time point t3 that is ~2~ 3S
apart from the time point t2 by xl is set as the left side edge of the inspection zone or window 2. Even through a reference detection position 16' of the image lAI at the left side o~ the picture screen 13A i5 detected, if the values x and x' are made constant, the relative positional relations of the inspection zones ~' and 3' to the image lA
of the bottle l will be always constant.
Further, in the above explanation, the left side surface of the image of the bottle l was caught as the reference position. However, there may be consider such a method that tne left side surface and the right side surface of the image of the bottle l are detected as reference positions, respectively, and the inspection zones or windows 2 and 3 are set therebetween. It is, however, free to select, depending upon the shape of the inspected object, one detection point or a plurality of detection points as the reference position.
Then, under the state that the positioning of the inspection zone pattern was set up, a control siynal generation circuit 8C of the setting section 8 receives the output of the setting circuit 8B, produces and supplies a control signal n to the inspection section 9. In order that the inspection zone pattern circuit 8A stores the above-mentioned pattern, it is formed of, for example, an IC-ROM (integrated circuit read-only memory) or the like.
Further, the pattern circuit 8A receives such address signal to set the position of the pattern from the pattern position setting circuit 8B formed of, for example, a counter, a pulse generator or the like so as to sub-divide and restrict the horizontal position of the pattern. Simultaneously, it is needless to say that this pattern position setting circuit 8B is controlled by the respective synchronizing signals H and V from the synchronizing signal separator circuit 6 in order to set the windows or the inspection zones 2 and 3 at the accurate positions withi.n the picture screen.
The control signal n from the control signal generation circuit 8C is supplied to an inspection zone control circuit 9A of the inspection section 9 to thereby designates the inspection zones or windows 2 and 3. The inspection zone control circuit 9A to which the image signal from the video camera 5 is supplied may be, for example, a switching circuit which, only when there is the image signal within the inspection zones which are determined by the control signal n, supplies the image signal in the second field to a judgement circuit 9B or such a circuit which directly controls the operation of the judgement circuit 9B as construed by a computor or the like. The judgement circuit 9B carries out the inspection and the judgement of the image signal in the second field within the inspection zones 2 and 3 only and delivers the judgement result, namely a signal representing the existance or absence of defects or abnormalities in the object 1 to the outside through a terminal 10.
Next, another application example of the present invention will be explained in reference with Figs. ~ and 7.
For example, when an object to be inspected such as the glass bottle 1 is desired to be inspected from various angles, it is sufficient that the glass bottle 1 is transferred on conveyer belt 11 while it is rotating~ For ~2~3~
example~ as illustrated in Fig. 6, when the glass bottle 1 passes in front of the fixed camera (which is not shown in Fig. 6), if the bottle 1 is transferred while rotated such that its image is moved from the right end towards the left end of the monitor picture screen 13A and the inspection is carried out at three positions, that is, the center position, the right end position and left end position on the monitor picture screen 13A, the same bottle 1 is inspected from three different angles. In this case also, the respective inspection zones can be correctly set up by detecting the reference detection positions at the outer surface of the left side wall of the bottle 1, for example, time points P, O and Q so that the specific inspection purposes can be achieved. At this time, for example, although the operation of the judgement circuit 9B is stopped normally, a control signal for the initiation of the operation is supplied through a terminal 9C, shown in Fig.
3, to the judgement circuit 9B so as to operate the judgement circuit 9B in synchronism with the moving speed of the belt conveyer 11 such that the judgement circuit 9B
delivers the judged result at three times at the appropriate positions of the bottle 1 on the monitor picture screen 13A.
Since the accurate setting of the inspection zones can be conducted automatically as aforementioned, the timing of the control signal is not required so highly accurate. This control signal may be generated from, for example, a rotary encoder 9D shown in Fig. 3, which is in synchronism with the transfer speed of the conveyer 11.
Further, in order to transfer the bottle 1 on the straight line type belt conveyer 11 while being rotated, as ~2~
shown in Fig~ 7, if the belt conveyer 11 is divicled into, for example, four belt members llA, llB, llC and llD and the transfer speeds of the respective belt members are changed sequentially by a little one another, it is possible to transfer the bottle while it is being rotated. ~s to the methods to rotate the bottle while conveying the same, various means are known and the selection thereof may be freely made.
While the above explanation is made on the case where the light passed through the transparent glass bottle to be inspected is photosensed by the video camera and the image signal therefrom is processed, if the present invention is applied to inspect an opaque object such as a cylindrical can made of metal, the light from the light source is irradiated on the opaque object, the reflected light thereon is photosensed by the video camera and the image signal therefrom is similarly processed as above. Then, the opaque object can be inspected.
Further, the explanation of the operation of the object inspection apparatus according to the present invention was made on the premise that the bottle 1 moves in the horizontal direction while the vertical direction remains steady and the pattern of the inspection zone is set by only the horizontal control. However, when the bottle 1 is moved in the vertical direction, the pattern of the inspection zone is controlled in its vertical direction, similarly.
According to the present invention, when the inspection and the judgement are performed for only desired portions of the inspected object, by a simple circuit construction, the inspection zone corresponding to the desired portion of the 3~;i inspected object can be automatically set if the object is within the visual or plcking-up range of the video camera.
In the prior art, since the inspection zones are fixed at given positions within the visual area of the video camera, the inspected object also had to be located at a predetermined position accurately upon inspecting the object. ~lso, in other prior art methods to automatically set the inspected zone, the entire image of the object had to be picked up and analyzed and then the procedure to set the inspection zone is carried out by a computor software, which required much processing time.
According to the present invention, a specific position of the object is noted, such specific position is detected by the image signal in the first field from the video camera, and making the position as a reference, the inspection zone is set and such set inspection zone is only inspected by the image signal in the second field.
Therefore, very high speed judgement can be conducted.
Further, according to the present invention, multiple inspections can be made within one picture screen.
It will be apparent that many modifications and variations could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirits or the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention so that the spirits or scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims only.
Claims (11)
1. An object inspection apparatus comprising:
a) linear conveyor means for continuously transporting a plurality of objects to be inspected through a plurality of spaced predetermined positions within a predetermined visual field while simultaneously rotating each object at least once as it moves through from position to position within said visual field, b) a light source for irradiating the objects in said visual field;
c) pick-up means for generating a continuous image signal of the objects within said visual field including a synchronizing signal for each object being conveyed;
d) means for separating the respective synchronizing signals from the image signal;
e) inspection means receiving said image signal for determining whether the object has a defect; said inspection means having:
A. means for generating a reference position signal for each object at each of the predetermined positions within said visual field, said respective reference position signals being derived from the location of said object in said image signal in combination with the associated synchronizing signal;
B. means for storing an inspection zone of predetermined shape common to each object at each of the predetermined positions and for generating inspection zone control signals derived from the reference position signal at each of the predetermined positions in combination with the associated synchronizing signal;
the predetermined positions and said inspection zones corresponding thereto being so defined that the inspection zones of adjacent positions do not overlap one another;
C. means receiving the image signal from said pick-up means and the inspection zone control signal for generating a signal for initiating the judgement of a portion of each of said image signals within each inspection zone at said predetermined positions;
D. means for receiving each of the judging initiating signals for determining whether or not, at any of said predetermined positions the object located at the predetermined position has a defect; and E. means responsive to said determining means to activate an operation control.
a) linear conveyor means for continuously transporting a plurality of objects to be inspected through a plurality of spaced predetermined positions within a predetermined visual field while simultaneously rotating each object at least once as it moves through from position to position within said visual field, b) a light source for irradiating the objects in said visual field;
c) pick-up means for generating a continuous image signal of the objects within said visual field including a synchronizing signal for each object being conveyed;
d) means for separating the respective synchronizing signals from the image signal;
e) inspection means receiving said image signal for determining whether the object has a defect; said inspection means having:
A. means for generating a reference position signal for each object at each of the predetermined positions within said visual field, said respective reference position signals being derived from the location of said object in said image signal in combination with the associated synchronizing signal;
B. means for storing an inspection zone of predetermined shape common to each object at each of the predetermined positions and for generating inspection zone control signals derived from the reference position signal at each of the predetermined positions in combination with the associated synchronizing signal;
the predetermined positions and said inspection zones corresponding thereto being so defined that the inspection zones of adjacent positions do not overlap one another;
C. means receiving the image signal from said pick-up means and the inspection zone control signal for generating a signal for initiating the judgement of a portion of each of said image signals within each inspection zone at said predetermined positions;
D. means for receiving each of the judging initiating signals for determining whether or not, at any of said predetermined positions the object located at the predetermined position has a defect; and E. means responsive to said determining means to activate an operation control.
2. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reference position detecting means has a position detecting circuit receiving the image signal from said pick-up means, a position detecting zone setting circuit receiving an output signal from said position detecting circuit and the synchronizing signal, and a reference signal generating circuit receiving an output signal from said position detecting zone setting circuit and generating the reference position signal.
3. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inspection zone position setting means has an inspection zone pattern circuit storing the inspection zone of a predetermined shape, a pattern position setting circuit receiving a signal corresponding to the inspection zone from said inspection zone pattern circuit, the synchronizing signal and the reference position signal from said reference signal generating circuit, and a control signal generating circuit receiving an output signal from said pattern position setting circuit and generating the control signal.
4. An object inspection apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a synchronizing signal separator which separates the synchronizing signal from the image signal from said pick-up means.
5. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronizing signal comprises horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals.
6. An object inspection apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for transporting a number of said objects in front of said pick-up means.
7. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transporting means is a belt conveyer.
8. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said belt conveyer is formed of a plurality of parallel belt members which are sequentially different in moving speed whereby said object is transported while being rotated in a visual field of said pick-up means.
9. An object inspection apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means for supplying an operation control signal to said judging means whereby said judging means judges whether or not said object has a defect at a plurality of positions.
10. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operation control signal is generated in synchronism with a moving speed of said belt conveyer.
11. An object inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pattern position setting circuit determines a relative position between the inspection zone and a reference point of said image based on the reference position signal.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000529776A CA1299735C (en) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-02-16 | Object inspection apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000529776A CA1299735C (en) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-02-16 | Object inspection apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1299735C true CA1299735C (en) | 1992-04-28 |
Family
ID=4134977
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000529776A Expired - Fee Related CA1299735C (en) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-02-16 | Object inspection apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1299735C (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-02-16 CA CA000529776A patent/CA1299735C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5007096A (en) | Object inspection apparatus | |
| US4486776A (en) | Inspection apparatus | |
| CA1228136A (en) | Surface inspection apparatus | |
| CA1128195A (en) | Moving object inspection system | |
| US4692800A (en) | Automatic inspection device | |
| US5085510A (en) | Pharmaceutical tablet vision inspection system | |
| US4364088A (en) | Apparatus for inspecting whether an object is good or bad | |
| US4891530A (en) | Testing or inspecting apparatus and method for detecting differently shaped surfaces of objects | |
| US20030035103A1 (en) | Method and device for inspecting transparent containers | |
| GB2065874A (en) | Method of operating a stroboscope in a pattern recognition process | |
| EP0909384A2 (en) | Visual inspection apparatus | |
| JPH0135295B2 (en) | ||
| CA1299735C (en) | Object inspection apparatus | |
| AU601714B2 (en) | Object inspection apparatus | |
| JPH08313454A (en) | Image processing equipment | |
| JP2593863B2 (en) | Object appearance inspection device | |
| JPH0617876B2 (en) | Object inspection device | |
| JPH06118026A (en) | Method for inspecting vessel inner surface | |
| JP2506201B2 (en) | Goods inspection equipment | |
| JPH10160676A (en) | Rice grain inspection device | |
| JPH0124561Y2 (en) | ||
| JPH01119744A (en) | Inspecting apparatus of external appearance of semiconductor device | |
| JP3412405B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for inspecting paint appearance of cylindrical axial lead type electronic component | |
| JPS63153414A (en) | Inspecting instrument for empty can | |
| JPH0894336A (en) | Thin-plate inspection device and method |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |