JP2000146849A - Automatic visual inspection device for cylindrical body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably reduce an inspection time for a photoreceptor or the like, and stably rotate an inspected body so as to highly precisely inspect a surface defect or the like. SOLUTION: When a conveying stage 6 holding a photoreceptor 12 fed in a feed station 8 is sent to an inspection station 9, a center punch 77 is lowered to press one end part of the photoreceptor 12 with the other end supported by a rotary holder 65, and the center punch 77 is rotated by a drive motor 75 to rotate the photoreceptor 12 with a fixed rotational speed. Roughness and irregularity of a cylindrical body surface of the rotating photoreceptor 12 are measured by an inspection head 3. The photoreceptor 12 after finishing inspection is sent to a discharge station 11 to be discharged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic visual inspection apparatus for measuring the roughness and irregularity of the entire surface of a cylindrical body such as a photoreceptor by using mechanical means or optical means, and more particularly to an automatic visual inspection apparatus. The present invention relates to improving the inspection accuracy by accurately rotating a photoconductor or the like when performing the inspection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, it is necessary to inspect a photosensitive member used in a copying machine or the like, or to inspect a surface defect or roughness of various rollers or the like and use a photosensitive member having no defect or the like in order to form a high quality image. It is. As an apparatus for automatically inspecting the surface of the photoreceptor or the like, for example, a surface layer defect detection apparatus described in JP-A-7-63687, JP-A-5-107196, and JP-A-7-140079 is used. It is used.

As shown in FIG. 6, a detecting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-63687
The photoconductors 12 conveyed in the direction are transferred to a plurality of inspected body supports 32 sequentially arranged in the inspection section, and each inspected body support 32 is lifted to an inspection position by a lift device 33, and is moved to the inspection position. Inspection light is emitted while rotating the photoconductor 12 to inspect the surface of the photoconductor. JP-A-7-14
As shown in FIG. 7, the detection device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 0079/1992 supports both ends of the photoreceptor 12 with two sets of support rollers 36 and 37 provided at both ends of a drive shaft 34 and a driven shaft 35, respectively. By rotating the drive shaft 34 and rotating the supporting rollers 36 and 37, the photosensitive member 12 is rotated and irradiated with inspection light to inspect the surface of the photosensitive member 12. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-107096 supports the photosensitive member 12 on the upper surface of a drum support member 38 with the axis thereof being vertical, and The surface of the photoconductor 12 is inspected by irradiating slit light onto the surface of the photoconductor 12 while rotating the photoconductor 12 at a constant rotation speed by rotating the photoconductor 12 at a constant rotation speed by rotating means 39 including a stepping motor and a gear group.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-63687
In the inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-1400079 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-140079, the surface of the photoconductor is rotated by bringing the surface of the photoconductor into contact with a support or a plurality of support rollers. A frictional force acts between the body support and the support roller, and the surface of the photoreceptor is rubbed, and in some cases, there is a danger that a flaw or the like may occur in the contacting part. In addition, since the surface of the photoreceptor rotates while being brought into contact with the support or the roller to be inspected, and there is no mechanism for aligning the center axis of the photoreceptor when rotating, there is also a problem that the rotation accuracy cannot be improved. . In addition, the support roller uses a rubber-based material for the surface of the photoreceptor to protect the surface of the photoreceptor. The body rotates in an eccentric state, and the amount of eccentricity is up to 0.2 mm
And the inspection accuracy is reduced.

The detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-107096 supports and rotates only the lower part of a vertically erected photoreceptor.
There is a problem in that the rotation axis is deflected, so that the rotation accuracy cannot be increased and the measurement accuracy is reduced.

[0006] Further, the inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 5-107096 and Hei 7-140079 is
The photoconductors are transported one by one by transporting means such as robots and transferred to the inspection device, and the inspected photoreceptors are discharged by the transporting means. The inspection time required for the inspection, the inspection tact cannot be increased.

The present invention solves such a problem, transfers and discharges another inspection object during inspection of the inspection object such as a photoconductor, greatly shortens the inspection time, and shakes the inspection object by, for example, shaking. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body that can rotate stably with a maximum amount of about 0.1 mm and inspect a surface defect or the like with high accuracy.

[0008]

An automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body according to the present invention has a cylindrical body holding section and an inspection section, and the cylindrical body holding section has a conveying section and an upper holding mechanism section. The transport means is a stage for loading, inspecting, and discharging the cylindrical body.
And a plurality of transfer stages provided with a rotary holder rotatably supporting one end of the cylindrical body in a state where the cylindrical body is vertically set, and each transfer stage is provided between each of the stations. The upper press mechanism is provided above the transfer stage moved to the inspection station, is vertically moved and is rotatably supported by the shaft, and presses the other end of the cylindrical body. Rotating the punch, having a rotary holder and rotation driving means for rotating the cylindrical body gripped by the center punch, wherein the inspection means measures the roughness and irregularity of the rotating cylindrical body surface. I do.

The transfer stage has a rotary holder for rotatably supporting one end of the cylindrical body in a state where the cylindrical body stands upright, a transfer guide, and an inner diameter gripping mechanism. A portion that abuts the inside diameter of one end is formed in a tapered shape, the conveyance guide is formed so as to be reduced in diameter and expandable, and the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder to hold the cylinder. The gripping mechanism may reduce and increase the diameter of the transport guide.

The transport guide, which is reduced in diameter and expanded in diameter by the inner diameter gripping mechanism, has a tapered tip, and is reduced in diameter when the cylindrical body is loaded at the loading station. It is good to use it as a guide for the loading operation.

It is desirable that the transport means circulates a plurality of transport stages in the order of charging, inspecting, and discharging.

Further, it is desirable that the center punch of the upper holding mechanism has a tapered portion in contact with the cylindrical body. Further, it is preferable to have a pressing force adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the force pressing the cylindrical body against the upper pressing mechanism.

Further, it is desirable to detect the number of rotations of the rotation driving means for rotating the center punch and the number of rotations of the rotation holder when the cylindrical body held by the rotation holder and the center punch is rotating.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The automatic photoconductor inspection apparatus of the present invention has a photoconductor holder and inspection means. The photoreceptor holding unit has a transport unit and an upper pressing mechanism, and the transport unit has stations for loading, inspecting, and discharging the photoreceptor, and a plurality of transport stages. One end of each transport stage is rotatably supported by a rotatable rotatable holder in a state where the photosensitive member is set upright. Then, the transport means sequentially sends the transport stage holding the photoreceptor loaded at the loading station from the inspection station to the discharge station,
The photoconductor is moved without touching the outer surface of the photoconductor.

The upper holding mechanism is provided on the upper part of the transport stage moved to the inspection station. The upper holding mechanism is rotatably supported by a vertically movable center for pressing the other end of the photosensitive member.
A punch, and a rotation holder for rotating the center punch to rotate the photoconductor held by the center punch. When the transport stage holding the photoconductor is sent to the inspection station, the center punch is lowered. Then, press the other end of the photoconductor whose one end is supported by the rotating holder,
The center punch is rotated by the rotation driving means, and the photoconductor held by the rotation holder and the center punch is rotated at a constant rotation speed. The surface roughness and irregularity of the rotating photoreceptor are measured by an inspection means. The photoconductor having undergone this inspection is sent to a discharge station and discharged.

[0016]

1 and 2 show the structure of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view and FIG. 2 is a side view. As shown in the figure, a photoconductor appearance inspection apparatus 1 has a photoconductor holder 2 and an inspection head 3. The photoreceptor holding unit 2 is turned by a rotary drive actuator 4, for example, at a turntable 5 positioned at four index positions, a transport stage 6 a to 6 d provided at the four index positions of the tongue table 5, and a turntable. It has an upper holding mechanism 7 provided on the upper part of the table 5. At the four index positions of the turntable 5, a loading station 8, an inspection station 9, a waiting station 10, and a discharging station 11 are sequentially provided.

The transfer stages 6a to 6d support the photoreceptor 12 in a vertical direction, and support the photosensitive member 12 in a vertical direction, as shown in a sectional view of FIG.
And an inner diameter gripping mechanism 63 provided in the bearing support cylinder 62.
And a plurality of, for example, three divided transport guides 64 along the circumferential direction. The bearing 61 provided on the upper part of the bearing support cylinder 62 has a rotatable rotary holder 65 that has a tapered surface on the outer periphery of the upper end and supports the photoconductor 12.
The inner-diameter gripping mechanism 63 includes, for example, a three-jaw mechanical chuck, a chuck using air pressure, or the like, to which a transport guide 64 divided into three parts is attached, and moves the transport guide 64 in the radial direction. The transport guide 64 positions and fixes the photoconductor 12. An angle detection sensor 66 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotation holder 65.

The upper holding mechanism 7 is provided above the inspection station 9 of the turntable 5 and, as shown in the front view of FIG. 4 and the side view of FIG. The movable stage 73 is provided so as to be vertically movable, an actuator 74 for moving the movable stage 73 up and down, a driving motor 75 attached to the movable stage 73, and a bearing holder 76 mounted on the movable stage 73. And a center punch 77 at the lower end for guiding and holding the photoconductor 12. The drive motor 75 incorporates an encoder 78, and a pulley 79 attached to a rotating shaft is connected to a pulley 80 attached to the rotating shaft at the upper end of the center punch 77 by a belt 81. Is rotated at a constant rotation speed.
At the upper end of the fixed stage 71, a tension length adjustment plate 82 that moves up and down by an adjustment mechanism such as an adjustment screw is provided, and a coil spring 83 is provided between the tension length adjustment plate 82 and the movable stage 73. ing.

The inspection head 3 is provided at a position facing the inspection station 9 of the turntable 5 and irradiates the photosensitive member 12 with slit light to detect a defect or roughness on the surface of the photosensitive member 12. Here, a mechanical inspection device may be used as the inspection head 3 instead of the optical inspection device.

The operation of inspecting the surface of the photoreceptor 12 with the appearance inspection apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.

First, at the loading stage 8 of the turntable 5, the photosensitive member 12 to be inspected by using a transfer means such as a robot is transferred to the transport stage 6 at the location of the loading station 8.
Transfer to and support a. When the photoconductor 12 is transferred to the transport stage 6a, the transport guide 64 is moved in the radial direction by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63 to reduce the outer diameter, and the lower end of the photoconductor 12 is moved along the transport guide 64. And the inserted photoconductor 12 is placed on the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65.
Thereafter, the diameter of the transport guide 64 is expanded by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63, and the inner peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12 is held by the transport guide 64. In this state, the turntable 5 is rotated by the rotary drive actuator 4, and the photosensitive member 1 is
The transfer stage 6a into which the loading 2 has been inserted is moved to the inspection station 9
Move to and position. When the transport stage 6a into which the photosensitive member 12 has been loaded is moved at the loading station 8, the lower end of the photosensitive member 12 is supported by the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65 and the inner surface of the photosensitive member 12 is moved. Since the photosensitive member 12 is pressed by the transport guide 64, the photosensitive member 12 can be stably moved to the inspection station 9. Also, the photoconductor 12
Can be moved without touching the outer surface of the photoconductor 12, and the outer surface of the photoconductor 12 can be prevented from being scratched or stained.

The movable stage 73 of the upper holding mechanism 7 provided above the photosensitive member 12 supported by the transfer stage 6a moved to the inspection station 9 is lowered, and the tapered end of the center punch 77 is exposed. It is inserted inside the upper end of the body 12 and the upper end of the photoreceptor 12 is pressed by the center punch 77. As described above, the photosensitive member 1 is
When the upper end of the movable stage 73 is pressed, the thrust of the actuator 74 moving the movable stage 73, the force obtained by adding the weight of the movable stage 73, and the tensile force of the coil spring 83 cause the photosensitive member 1 to move.
The position of the tension length adjusting plate 82 is adjusted in advance so that an appropriate pressing force required for rotating the 2 is applied.

Center punch 7 provided on movable stage 73
7, the upper end of the photoconductor 12 is pressed, the diameter of the conveyance guide 64 is reduced by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63 of the conveyance stage 6a, and the pressing of the inner surface of the photoconductor 12 by the conveyance guide 64 is released.
The photoconductor 12 is gripped by the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65 of the movable stage 73 and the center punch 77 of the movable stage 73. In this state, the drive motor 75 of the movable stage 73 is rotated to rotate the photosensitive member 12 at a constant speed. When the photoconductor 12 is rotated in this manner, the photoconductor 12 is
Because it is gripped by the tapered surface 5 and the center punch 77,
The rotation axis of the photoconductor 12 can be made constant, and the photoconductor 1
2 can be rotated stably without any shaft runout or eccentricity. Further, when the photosensitive member 12 is rotating, the photosensitive member 12 is gripped with an appropriate pressing force, and the rotating holder 65 is held.
By comparing the output of an angle detection sensor 66 provided on the outer periphery of the photosensor with the output of an encoder 78 incorporated in the drive motor 75, it is possible to confirm whether or not the photoconductor 12 is rotating correctly without slipping. In addition to being able to rotate the body 12 with high accuracy, it is possible to detect whether or not slippage or the like has occurred while rotating the photoconductor 12, and to accurately grasp whether or not the inspection data is accurately measured, Inspection accuracy can be improved.

In this state, the roughness and irregularity of the surface of the photoconductor 12 are measured by the inspection head 3. When inspecting the surface of the photoconductor 12 moved to the inspection station 9,
At the loading station 8, the photosensitive member 12 to be inspected next is loaded into the transport stage 6d provided downstream of the transport stage 6a. Then, the photoconductor 1 moved to the inspection station 9
When the inspection of 2 is completed, the rotation of the drive motor 75 is stopped, the diameter of the transport guide 64 is expanded by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63, the inner surface of the photoconductor 12 is pressed by the transport guide 64, and the movable stage 73 is raised. Then, the pressing of the upper end of the photoconductor 12 by the center punch 77 is released. Thereafter, the turntable 5 is rotated, and the transport stage 6a holding the photoconductor 12 inspected at the inspection station 9 is moved to the standby station 10 to hold the newly loaded photoconductor 12. The transport stage 6d is moved to the inspection station 9, and the surface of the newly loaded photoconductor 12 is inspected in the same manner as described above. This operation is sequentially repeated, and when the transfer stage 6a having the inspected photosensitive member 12 has moved to the position of the discharge station 11, the photosensitive member 12 held on the transfer stage 6a is gripped by a transfer means such as a robot, and an inner diameter gripping mechanism After the conveying guide 64 is reduced in diameter by 63 and the pressing of the inner surface of the photoconductor 12 by the conveying guide 64 is released,
The photoconductor 12 is discharged from the transfer stage 6a by the transfer means and sent to the next step.

In the inspection station 9 provided at the four index positions of the turntable 5 in this manner, the photosensitive members 12
While inspecting the photoconductor 12, the photoconductor 12 to be inspected next is input at the input station 8, and the photoconductor 12 inspected at the discharge station 11 is discharged. The inspection time of the photoconductor 12 can be greatly reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where four indexing positions are provided on the turntable 5 has been described. However, if at least three indexing positions of the loading station 8, the inspection station 9 and the discharging station 11 are provided, three indexing positions are provided. good.

In the above embodiment, the case where the tapered surface of the center punch 77 is used for guiding the upper end of the photosensitive member 12 is described. By sandwiching the photoreceptor 12, the photoreceptor 12 can be stably gripped, and the axis of the photoreceptor 12 and the center of the center punch can be aligned, so that the photoreceptor 12 rotates stably. be able to.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cylindrical body to be inspected is inserted at an input station, sent to an inspection station, inspected for a surface condition, and then sent to an ejection station and ejected. Thus, while one cylinder is being inspected at the inspection station, the other cylinder can be loaded and unloaded at the loading station and the discharging station.
The inspection time per book can be greatly reduced, and the inspection efficiency can be improved.

When the cylinder is moved in the order of the loading, inspection, and discharge stations, one end is held in a state where the cylinder is set upright at the transport stage.
It is possible to move without touching the outer surface of the cylindrical body, and it is possible to prevent the outer surface of the cylindrical body from being scratched or stained.

Further, the center punch is lowered at the inspection station, the other end of the cylindrical body having one end supported by the rotary holder of the transport stage is pressed, and the center punch is rotated to rotate the rotary holder and the center punch. By rotating the cylindrical body gripped at a constant rotation speed, the rotation axis of the cylindrical body can be kept constant, and the cylindrical body can be rotated stably without touching the shaft and eccentricity, etc. The surface condition of the body can be accurately detected. Further, since the cylindrical body is rotated by pressing the upper part of the cylindrical body with the center punch provided at the upper part of the inspection station, there is no need to provide a rotating means for the cylindrical body in the transporting means for moving the cylindrical body to each station. The cylindrical body can be easily moved while being simplified.

Further, when the cylindrical body is sequentially moved for each station, the inner surface of the cylindrical body is expanded and held by an inner diameter gripping mechanism by a transport guide capable of reducing and expanding the diameter.
The cylinder can be moved stably.

Further, the cylindrical body moved to the inspection station is supported by the tapered surface of the rotary holder and the other end of the cylindrical body is pressed by the tapered surface of the center punch while the inner surface is held by the conveyance guide. It can be held stably. Further, when rotating the cylindrical body, the holding of the inner surface of the cylindrical body is released, and the cylindrical body is gripped by the rotation holder and the center punch, so that the cylindrical body can be smoothly rotated.

Also, by holding the inner diameter gripping mechanism having both the loading guide function and the diameter reduction / diameter expansion function at the loading station, the inner diameter gripping mechanism can be reduced in size, and a cylindrical body having a small inner diameter can be formed. It can be held and moved stably.

Furthermore, by circulating a plurality of transport stages in the order of loading, inspection, and discharging, the transport means can be reduced in size and easily moved.

Further, by adjusting the force by which the center punch presses the cylindrical body, it is possible to prevent an excessive force from being applied to the cylindrical body, transmit an appropriate rotational force to the cylindrical body, and slide the cylindrical body. Can rotate without.

Further, while rotating the cylindrical body held by the rotary holder and the center punch, the cylindrical body is rotated by detecting the number of rotations of the rotation driving means for rotating the center punch and the number of rotations of the rotary holder. It is possible to detect whether or not slippage or the like has occurred during the operation, to accurately grasp whether or not the inspection data is accurately measured, and to improve the inspection accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a transfer stage.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration of an upper holding mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a configuration of an upper holding mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a third conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Appearance inspection apparatus 2 Photoconductor holding | maintenance part 3 Inspection head 4 Rotation drive actuator 5 Turntable 6 Transport stage 7 Upper holding mechanism part 8 Loading station 9 Inspection station 10 Standby station 11 Photoconductor 61 Bearing 62 Bearing support cylinder 63 Inner diameter Gripping mechanism 64 Transport guide 65 Rotary holder 66 Angle detection sensor 71 Fixed stage 73 Movable stage 75 Drive motor 76 Bearing holder 77 Center punch 78 Encoder 82 Tension length adjusting plate 83 Coil spring

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical body holding part and an inspection means, wherein the cylindrical body holding part has a conveying means and an upper pressing mechanism, and the conveying means includes a station for loading, inspecting, and discharging the cylindrical body. A plurality of transfer stages provided with a rotary holder rotatably supporting one end of the cylindrical body in a state where the cylindrical body stands upright, and the respective transfer stages are sequentially fed between the respective stations. An upper holding mechanism is provided above the transport stage moved to the inspection station, and is vertically supported and rotatably supported by the shaft, and presses the other end of the cylindrical body. Has a rotary holder and a rotation driving means for rotating the cylindrical body gripped by the center punch, and the inspection means measures the roughness and irregularity of the rotating cylindrical body surface. Automatic visual inspection system for cylindrical bodies. 2. The transfer stage has a rotary holder that rotatably supports one end of the cylindrical body in a state where the cylindrical body is set upright, a transport guide, and an inner diameter gripping mechanism. A portion which is in contact with the inner diameter of one end of the body is formed in a tapered shape, the conveyance guide is formed so as to be reduced in diameter and expandable, and the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder to hold the cylinder. 2. The automatic visual inspection device for a cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter gripping mechanism reduces and increases the diameter of the transport guide. 3. The transport guide whose diameter is reduced and expanded by the inner diameter gripping mechanism has a tapered end.
2. The automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein when the cylindrical body is loaded at the loading station, the diameter is reduced to guide the loading operation. 4. The apparatus for automatically inspecting a cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein said transport means circulates a plurality of transport stages in the order of charging, inspecting, and discharging. 5. The center punch of the upper holding mechanism has a tapered portion in contact with the cylindrical body.
An automatic visual inspection device for a cylindrical body as described in the above. 6. The automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body according to claim 5, wherein said upper pressing mechanism has a pressing force adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a force pressing said cylindrical body. 7. The cylinder according to claim 6, wherein the rotation number of the rotation drive means for rotating the center punch and the rotation number of the rotation holder are detected when the cylindrical body held by the rotation holder and the center punch is rotating. Automatic body inspection system