JP2000292367A - Defect inspection device and its recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute inspection of manufactured goods continuously, even when a communication trouble with a host computer occurs, and to remove the possibility to losing inspection result information. SOLUTION: In the case of the state where communication with a host computer 6 is impossible at the time of starting inspection, a control computer 4 sets an inspection condition following the content of an inspection condition file read from a local disc self-contained in its own machine, in an image processing device 3. In the case of the state where communication with the host computer 6 is impossible at the time of writing an inspection result file in the host computer 6 after finish of the defect inspection, the inspection result file is reserved in the local disc, and when communication with the host computer 6 becomes possible at the time of finish of the inspection of the next time or after next, the file is written in whole in a remote disc of the host computer 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defect inspection apparatus for detecting defects, foreign matter, dirt, etc., of a product flowing through a production line at high speed and continuously, such as a film for photographing and a resin plate in the form of a sheet. It relates to the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, inspections are performed on products, such as film for photographing and sheet-like resin plates, which flow through a production line at high speed and continuously for defects, foreign matter, dirt, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to simply as defects). The defect inspection apparatus inspects whether or not the manufactured product has a defect based on a predetermined size of the defect to be detected.

That is, the above-described defect inspection apparatus extracts defects by performing various kinds of image processing on image data of the surface of the manufactured product output from, for example, a CCD camera or the like, and the size of the extracted defects is reduced. If the size of the defect is larger than the predetermined size of the defect, the size of the defect,
The position of the defect on the product, the type of the defect (bright defect or dark defect), and the like are recorded as inspection result information.

Some of the above-described defect inspection devices include R
Serial communication is performed with an upper computer using an interface such as S-232C, and information such as the size of a defect to be detected (hereinafter referred to as inspection condition information) and inspection result information, which are defined in advance, are exchanged. , Management of inspection condition information corresponding to various manufactured products, inspection result information of each manufactured product, and the like. Furthermore, there is a communication system in which communication between the above-described host computer and the defect inspection apparatus is performed via a local area network (hereinafter, referred to as a LAN).

[0005]

By the way, in a defect inspection apparatus which communicates with a host computer through the above-described serial communication or via a LAN, inspection condition information and inspection result information are exchanged with the host computer. In this case, if a communication failure occurs with the host computer, processing such as repetitive retry processing is performed as soon as the network is restored so that various types of information can be transmitted and received immediately.

However, if the network is not restored even after performing the retry processing more than the specified number of times, the inspection cannot be performed because the inspection condition information cannot be read from the host computer, and as a result, the production line is interrupted. In some cases, such a problem may occur that the inspection result information that was to be transmitted to the host computer is lost.

An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and even if a communication failure occurs with a host computer, a manufactured product can be continuously inspected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a defect inspection apparatus and a recording medium for the defect inspection apparatus, which have no risk of losing information.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 reads inspection condition information stored in a storage device of a host computer using communication means, and reads the inspection condition information. Based on the inspection condition information, a defect inspection apparatus which inspects the presence or absence of a defect, foreign matter, dirt, etc. of a manufactured product flowing on a production line, and writes the inspection result in the higher-level computer; Determining means for determining whether communication with the higher-level computer is possible; and, when starting the inspection of the manufactured product, determining that communication with the higher-level computer is impossible by the determining means. Inspection condition adopting means for adopting the stored inspection condition information as inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product, and at the end of the inspection of the manufactured product, When it is determined that communication with the host computer is possible, the test result is written into the host computer using the communication means, and when communication is determined to be impossible, the test result is stored in the storage means. When the determination unit determines that communication is possible at the end of the next and subsequent inspections, the inspection results stored in the storage unit together with the inspection results in the next and subsequent inspections are batched using the communication unit. Writing means for writing the data to the host computer.

The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
In the defect inspection apparatus according to the above, the inspection condition adopting means is stored in the storage means when the determination means determines that communication with the host computer is possible at the start of the inspection of the manufactured product. Comparing the inspection condition information with the creation date and time of the inspection condition information stored in the storage device of the host computer, and adopting the inspection condition information with the newer creation date and time as the inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product. Features.

[0010] Further, the invention described in claim 3 is based on claim 2.
The defect inspection apparatus described in (1), further comprising an updating unit for updating, from the two pieces of inspection condition information, inspection condition information having an earlier creation date and time to inspection condition information having a later creation date and time.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the inspection condition information stored in the storage device of the host computer is read using communication means, and based on the read inspection condition information, the manufactured product flowing through the production line is read. A computer-readable recording medium on which a defect inspection program for inspecting the presence or absence of defects, foreign matter, dirt, and the like, and writing the inspection result to the host computer is stored. The defect inspection program stores inspection condition information in advance. A first step of performing communication, a second step of determining whether communication with the high-level computer is possible, and a step of performing communication with the high-level computer in the second step when the inspection of the manufactured product is started. When it is determined that the inspection condition information stored in the first step is adopted as the inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product, And, at the end of the inspection of the manufactured product, if it is determined in the second step that communication with the host computer is impossible, the inspection result is written to the host computer, and communication is determined to be impossible. When the inspection is performed, the inspection result is stored, and when it is determined that communication is possible in the second step at the end of the next and subsequent inspections, together with the inspection result in the next and subsequent inspections,
And a fourth step of writing the stored inspection results collectively into a host computer.

Here, in the configuration of the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the inspection condition information includes, for example, the size of a defect to be detected, that is, the width, length, area, etc. of the defect to be detected. Value. Further, the storage means corresponds to, for example, a local disk included in the control computer 4 of FIG. 1 in the description of the embodiment of the invention. The determination means corresponds to the processing in step S8 in FIG. 3, the processing in step Sa1 in FIG. 4, and the processing in step Sb1 in FIG. 5, for example, in the description of the embodiment of the invention. Further, the inspection condition adopting means corresponds to, for example, the processing of steps S2 to S4 in FIG. 3 and the writing means corresponds to the processing of step S9 in the description of the embodiment of the invention.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, when communication with the host computer is not possible at the time of starting the inspection, the inspection condition information stored in the storage means is used as the information of the manufactured product. It is adopted as the inspection condition information used for the inspection, and when communication with the host computer is not possible at the end of the inspection, the inspection result is stored in the storage means and is collectively collected at the end of the next and subsequent inspections. Is written to the host computer. As a result, the inspection can be performed even when the inspection condition information cannot be read from the host computer, and the risk of losing the inspection result information can be eliminated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the determining means determines that communication with the host computer is possible at the time of starting the inspection of the manufactured product, the inspection condition adopting means stores the information in the storage means. The created inspection condition information is compared with the creation date and time of the inspection condition information stored in the storage device of the host computer, and the inspection condition information with the newer creation date and time is adopted as the inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product. .
Therefore, the inspection of the manufactured product can be always performed based on newer inspection conditions. Here, claim 2
The features of the invention described in (1) correspond to the processing in step Sa7 in FIG. 4 and step Sb7 in FIG.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, of the two pieces of inspection condition information described above, the inspection condition information having the oldest creation date and time is updated by the updating means with the newest inspection condition information having the creation date and time. Therefore, the defect inspection apparatus of the present invention and the host computer can always match the contents of the stored inspection condition information with the newly generated inspection condition information. Here, the updating means performs step Sa8 in FIG. 4 and step Sb in FIG.
8 corresponds to the processing of FIG.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a defect inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a defect inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this drawing, the configuration surrounded by a dotted line is the configuration of the defect inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an illuminating device which irradiates light on an object to be inspected traveling continuously and rapidly in a certain direction on a production line. Numeral 2 denotes a light receiving device, which converts the amount of reflected light and / or transmitted light from the inspection object illuminated by the illumination device 1 or the amount of either one of them, in the width direction of the traveling inspection object (at right angles to the traveling direction). Direction) in a predetermined range.

It is preferable that the light receiving device 2 receives reflected light from an opaque film when the object to be inspected is an opaque film, and receives transmitted light when the object is a transparent film. As the light receiving device 2, a line sensor such as a line CCD camera, an area sensor, or the like can be used.

In this case, an opaque film having a width of 1020 mm is set as an object to be inspected, a 110 W high frequency lighting fluorescent lamp is used as the illumination device 1, and two lines CC are used as the light receiving device 2.
It is assumed that a D camera is used. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the illuminating device 1 is installed so that the irradiation light irradiates the opaque film F flowing in the direction of the arrow A at a predetermined angle,
Further, the two light receiving devices 2 are installed so as to detect light reflected from the opaque film F.

In FIG. 2, the arrangement of the illuminating device 1 'and the light receiving device 2' shows an example of the arrangement when the inspection object is a transparent film. In this case, the lighting device 1 'and the light receiving device 2' are installed so as to face each other with the transparent film interposed therebetween, and the light receiving device 2 'receives light transmitted from the transparent film.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an image processing device which converts an analog video signal (0 to 1 V) outputted from the light receiving device 2 into a digital signal (0 to 0) by a bit A / D conversion circuit (not shown).
255), and the digital signal is binarized by comparing the digital signal with a predetermined threshold (described later). Then, the binarized data is run-length coded, and further subjected to a connectivity process to determine predetermined inspection conditions (the size of a defect to be detected, ie, the width, length, area, etc. of a defect). ), A defect on the inspection object (opaque film) is detected.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a control computer, which is connected to the image processing apparatus 3 and a general-purpose interface bus (for example, G
PIB), and the above-described predetermined threshold value and predetermined inspection conditions (hereinafter collectively referred to as inspection condition information) via the interface bus.
This is set in the image processing device 3.

The control computer 4 sequentially receives information (details of which will be described later) relating to defects detected by the image processing device 3 and stores the information in a storage device (hereinafter, referred to as a local disk) built in the control computer 4. To the temporary storage area. And at the end of the inspection,
Information about the defect stored in the temporary storage area is written as an inspection result file in a predetermined storage area in a storage device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote disk) built in the higher-level computer 6 described below.

Further, at this time, if the inspection result file cannot be written to the remote disk due to a network failure or the like, the next inspection is performed while the inspection result file is stored in the temporary storage area of the local disk. If the network is restored at the end of the next and subsequent inspections, write them all to the remote disk.

Here, the contents of the above-described inspection condition information are as follows:
A plurality of types of inspection condition information, which differ depending on the type of the inspection target and correspond to various inspection targets, are stored in advance in the local disk and the remote disk as inspection condition files. Further, the local disk and the remote disk each store one management file in which the file name of the inspection condition file corresponding to the inspection object to be inspected is written by the operator before starting the inspection. ing.

Thus, when the inspection is started, the control computer 4 first reads the management file from the local disk and / or the remote disk. Then, the inspection condition file written in the read management file is read from the local disk and / or the remote disk, and the threshold value and the inspection condition according to the contents of the inspection condition file are read by the image processing apparatus. Set to 3.

The above-mentioned management file is not an essential component. For example, before the start of the inspection, the operator stores only the inspection condition files corresponding to the inspection object on the local disk and the remote disk, respectively. When the control computer 4 reads the inspection condition file at the start and sets the threshold value and the inspection condition in the image processing apparatus 3, the management file becomes unnecessary.

Next, reference numeral 5 denotes a production control device, which controls a production device (not shown) for a product to be inspected based on control data transmitted from the host computer 6 described later. Further, when a product (that is, an inspection object) produced by this production apparatus is sent to the defect inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1, an inspection start signal (hereinafter, simply referred to as a start signal) is sent to the control computer 4. Output. Further, at this time, when a product type different from the previously produced product is transmitted, a product type switching signal (hereinafter, simply referred to as a switching signal) is also output.

When the switching signal is output,
It is assumed that the signal is always output before the start signal. Then, when the delivery of the product produced by the production device (not shown) is completed, an inspection end signal (hereinafter, simply referred to as an end signal) is output to the control computer 4.

The host computer 6 has the above-mentioned remote disk therein, and stores the above-described plural types of inspection condition files and one management file. The control computer 4 and the production control device 5 are connected by Ethernet (for example, 10BASE-T), and communicate with them using TCP / IP as a communication protocol. Then, while outputting control data for controlling a production device (not shown) to the production control device 5,
The inspection result file transmitted from the control computer 4 is stored in a predetermined storage area in the remote disk.

Next, a processing procedure of the defect inspection apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, the control computer 4 from the host computer 6 or the production control device 5 is operated by the operator.
When the control computer 4 is set to the inspection mode in which the inspection can be started, the control computer 4 proceeds to step S1 in FIG. 3 and determines whether or not a switching signal has been output from the production control device 5. If the switching signal has not been output from the production control device 5, the determination result is NO and the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether or not a start signal has been output from the production control device 5.

At this time, if the start signal has not been output from the production control device 5, the determination result is NO, and the process returns to step S1. Thus, the control computer 4
Repeats the processes of steps S1 and S5 until the production control device 5 outputs a start signal, and enters a standby state. Then, when, for example, a switching signal is started from the production control device 5, the result of the determination in step S1 is YES, and the control computer 4 proceeds to the process in step S2 to perform a management file reading process.

Here, the processing in step S2 is described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the processing in step S2 is performed in steps Sa1 to
a11. First, when the process of step S2 is started, the process proceeds to step Sa1 of FIG. 4, and it is determined whether or not a failure has occurred in a network for communicating with the host computer 6. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not a network failure has occurred at this time. When the control computer 4 reads the management file from the remote disk of the host computer 6 and a read error occurs, This is made possible by assuming that a failure has occurred.

More specifically, for example, a very common C
When using the library function “_fsopen ()” function (a function to open the specified file in shared mode), a NULL pointer is returned when trying to open the management file stored on the remote disk (ie, , When a read error occurs), it is determined that a network failure has occurred.

As another method for determining the presence or absence of a network failure, for example, the OS of the control computer 4
Using WINDOWS as (Operating System)
An API (Application Programming Interface: a function or command provided by the basic software such as the OS to the application program) as a Winsock API (Wi-Fi)
ndows API for TCP / IP network), by using connect () function,
If "0" is returned, it is determined that the connection has been successful without a network failure, and if SOCKET ERROR is returned, it is determined that a network failure has occurred and the connection has failed. In this case, the cause of the error can be known by further using the WSAgetLastError () function.

If it is determined in step Sa1 that a network failure has not occurred, the process proceeds to step Sa2, while if it is determined that a network failure has occurred, the process proceeds to step Sa4. here,
It is assumed that no network failure has occurred, and the process proceeds to step Sa2.

In step Sa2, it is determined whether a management file is stored in the remote disk. In this embodiment, since the management file of the remote disk is read in step Sa1, step S1 is already executed.
The determination of a2 is also made at the same time. If the management file is not stored in the remote disk, the determination result is NO, and the process proceeds to step Sa4 as in the case where it is determined in step Sa1 that a network failure has occurred. On the other hand, if it is determined in step Sa2 that the management file is stored in the remote disk, the determination result is YES and the process proceeds to step Sa3 to read the management file from the remote disk.

Next, when the processing in step Sa3 is completed, or when it is determined in step Sa1 that a network failure has occurred, or when it is determined in step Sa2 that the management file does not exist on the remote disk Then, the process proceeds to Step Sa4, and it is determined whether or not the management file exists in the local disk.

If the management file exists in the local disk, the flow advances to step Sa5 to read the management file in the local disk.
Proceed to a6. On the other hand, if the management file does not exist in the local disk, the process directly proceeds to step Sa6 without performing the process of step Sa5.

In step Sa6, based on the determinations in steps Sa2 and Sa4, it is determined whether the management file has been read from both the remote disk and the local disk. Here, when the management file can be read from both disks, the determination result is YES, and the process proceeds to Step Sa7,
The time stamp (file creation date and time) of both management files is compared. Then, the process proceeds to Step Sa8, where the newly created management file is adopted as a management file used for inspection, and the oldest created management file is updated to the newly created management file.

That is, for example, when the creation date and time of the management file stored on the remote disk is older than the creation date and time of the management file stored on the local disk, the control computer 4 stores the management file on the local disk. Overwrite the management file with the management file stored on the remote disk. In the opposite case, the management file stored on the remote disk is overwritten with the management file stored on the local disk. When the processing in step Sa8 ends, the process proceeds to step S3 shown in FIG.

Here, only the time stamp comparison in step Sa7 is performed without performing the management file update processing in step Sa8, and the newly created management file is adopted as the management file used for inspection. It may be.

If the decision result in the step Sa6 is NO, the process proceeds to a step Sa9, where the management file can be read from either the remote disk or the local disk based on the determinations in the steps Sa2 and Sa4. Is determined. At this time, if the management file can be read from one of the disks, the determination result is YES, and the process proceeds to Step Sa10.

In step Sa10, the management file that can be read is adopted as a management file used for inspection, and the read management disk is written to a disk on which no management file exists. That is, for example, when the management file is stored only in the local disk, the management file stored in the local disk is written to the remote disk.

Here, if the management file cannot be read from the remote disk due to the occurrence of a network failure (if the result of the determination in step Sa1 is YES), after the network is restored, the local disk together with the inspection result file is restored. Is written to the remote disk (details will be described later).
When the process in step Sa10 ends, the process proceeds to the process in step S3 shown in FIG.

It should be noted that, in step Sa9, the judgment result is NO.
(If no management file is stored in both disks), the process proceeds to step Sa11, where error processing is performed, and all processing ends. here,
The content of the error processing includes, for example, a process of displaying a message indicating that the management file does not exist on both disks on a display (not shown) connected to the control computer.

As described above, by performing the processing shown in FIG. 4 as the management file reading processing shown in step S2 in FIG. 3, a network failure has occurred and communication with the host computer has become impossible. Even in this case, the management file stored on the local disk is read, so that the defect inspection process can be continued.

When the management file can be read from both the remote disk and the local disk, the newly created management file is adopted as the management file used for inspection, and the oldly created management file is used. Is updated to a newer management file. Further, when the management file is stored in only one of the remote disk and the local disk, the management file is stored in the disk having no management file.

Returning to FIG. 3, when the processing of step S2 is completed, the process proceeds to step S3, where the inspection condition file of the file name written in the management file adopted in step S2 is copied to the remote disk and the local disk. Read from both or either. Here, the reading process of the inspection condition file in step S3 is performed in steps Sb1 to Sb11 as shown in FIG.
And the same processing as the management file reading processing shown in FIG. 4 is performed, except that the file to be read is set as the inspection condition file.

Accordingly, although detailed description of the inspection condition file reading process is omitted, even in this case, if a network failure occurs and communication with the host computer becomes impossible, it is stored in the local disk. The read inspection condition file is read, and the defect inspection process can be continued.

Next, when the inspection condition file reading process in step S3 is completed, the process proceeds to step S4, where the image processing device 3 sends the image data to the image processing apparatus 3 in accordance with the contents of the read inspection condition file.
A threshold for binarization and inspection conditions are set. Next, the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether or not a start signal has been output from the production control device 5. Here, if the start signal has not been output from the production control device 5, the determination result is N
O is returned to step S1, and thereafter, the processing of steps S1 to S5 is repeated until a start signal is output.

Then, when the start signal is output from the production control device 5, the control computer 4 proceeds to the process of step S6 and starts the inspection process. If only the start signal is output without outputting the switching signal, step S2
The inspection is performed based on the inspection condition information set in the image processing apparatus 3 at the time of the previous inspection without performing the processing of S4.

Control computer 4 in step S6
In the inspection processing, first, an instruction to start the inspection is sent to the image processing apparatus 3, whereby the image processing apparatus 3 transmits the instruction to the production apparatus (not shown) based on the inspection conditions set by the control computer 4. Inspection of the opaque film sent from.

Each time the image processing apparatus 3 detects a defect having a size larger than the set defect size,
Information on the detected defect (hereinafter referred to as detected defect information) is transmitted to the control computer 4 via the general-purpose data interface. Here, the contents of the detected defect information include, for example, the position of the detected defect on the opaque film in the running direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) and the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the arrow A in FIG. 2). ), The width of the defect, the length of the defect, the area of the defect, the type of the defect (bright defect or dark defect), and the like.

As a result, when the control computer 4 receives the detected defect information from the image processing apparatus 3, the control computer 4 sequentially accumulates the detected defect information in a predetermined temporary storage area (for example, a temporary folder) of the local disk. An NG signal is output from a digital output board mounted in the control computer 4 to the outside. The NG signal may be used as a signal for notifying the operator of a defect, for example, a signal for turning on a patrol light or a signal for sounding a buzzer.

In addition, a labeler is installed on the production line,
The labeler may be activated every time the NG signal is output, and a label may be attached near the position of the detected defect on the inspection object. Further, when a display, a printer, or the like is connected to the control computer 4, the content of the detected defect information transmitted from the image processing device 3 may be sequentially displayed or printed.

Then, the process proceeds to step S7, where it is determined whether or not the end signal has been output from the production control device 5. If the end signal has not been output, the determination result is NO and the process returns to step S6. Subsequently, the inspection process is performed. When the end signal is output from the production control device 5, the result of the determination in step S7 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S8, where the inspection in the image processing device 3 is ended. Judge.

Here, if there is no network failure and the connection with the host computer 6 can be established, the determination result is NO and the process proceeds to step 9, where the detected defect information stored in the temporary storage area in the local disk is detected. Is written in a predetermined storage area of the remote disk as an inspection result file. At this time, if there is an inspection result file obtained in the past inspection in the temporary storage area,
The inspection result file is also written.

Further, step Sa shown in FIG.
1, and if the management file or the inspection condition file cannot be read from the remote disk due to the occurrence of a network failure in step Sb1 shown in FIG. 5, the management file and the inspection condition file exist on the remote disk at this time. It is determined whether or not it is.

When the management file and the inspection condition file exist on the remote disk, the remote disk file is compared with the time stamp of the management file and the inspection condition file stored on the local disk. If the file is older than the file on the disk, the file stored in the file on the remote disk is updated to the file stored on the local disk. If the management file or the inspection condition file does not exist on the remote disk, the file on the local disk corresponding to the file is written on the remote disk.

As described above, when the writing of the inspection result file in step S9 is completed normally, all the inspection result files stored in the temporary storage area are deleted, and then the process returns to step S1 to execute the next inspection. The processing after step S1 is performed on the target object.

On the other hand, if the connection with the host computer 6 cannot be established in step S8, the judgment result is YES.
And returns to step S1 without doing anything. This allows
Inspection result files that could not be sent to the remote disk were not deleted from the temporary storage area and remained stored, and no network failure occurred when the next and subsequent inspections were completed If
The data is written to the remote disk together with the inspection result file.

Thereafter, the processing of steps S1 to S9 is repeated until the inspection mode state of the control computer 4 is released from the host computer 6 by the operator.

The final storage location of the inspection result file may be saved not only in the remote disk but also in an inspection result file storage area provided in the local disk as described above. Good. In this case, when the end signal is output from the production control device 5 in step S7, the inspection result file stored in the temporary storage area of the local disk is stored in the above-described storage area for storing the inspection result file. To do it.

Further, the configuration may be such that it is possible to select whether to store the inspection result file only on the remote disk or to store both on the remote disk and the local disk.

A program for realizing the functions of the processes in FIGS. 3 to 5 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed. Thus, the defect inspection of the manufactured product may be performed.

Here, the "computer system" includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, an RO
M, a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short time. thing,
In this case, a program that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client, is also included.

Further, the above-mentioned program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and may be for realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. You may.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when communication with the host computer is impossible at the time of starting the inspection, the inspection condition information stored in the storage means is stored in the product. Is adopted as the inspection condition information used for the inspection, and the inspection is performed based on the inspection condition information. Therefore, the inspection can be performed even when the inspection condition information cannot be read from the host computer. Further, even if communication with the host computer is not possible at the end of the test, the test results are stored in the storage means and written collectively to the host computer at the end of the next and subsequent tests. This has the effect of eliminating the risk of loss.

If the judging means judges that communication with the host computer is possible at the start of the inspection of the manufactured product, the inspection condition adopting means judges the inspection condition information stored in the storage means and the storage of the host computer. By comparing the creation date and time of the inspection condition information stored in the apparatus, the inspection condition information with the newer creation date and time is adopted as the inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product. It can be implemented based on new inspection conditions.

Further, the updating means updates the inspection condition information having the oldest creation date and time out of the two inspection condition information described above with the inspection condition information having the newest creation date and time. The upper-level computer can match the contents of the stored inspection condition information with the newly created inspection condition information,
For example, at the time of the next inspection to be performed, even if communication with the host computer becomes impossible, the inspection can always be performed based on the newly created inspection condition information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration in an embodiment of a defect inspection apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship between a lighting device and a light receiving device in the defect inspection apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a control computer in the defect inspection apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a management file reading processing procedure in the control computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an inspection condition file reading processing procedure in the control computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1, 1 'lighting device 2, 2' light receiving device 3, image processing device 4, control computer 5, production control device 6, host computer

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tokuyuki Ikeda 2-1-1, Ushikawa-dori, Toyohashi-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside the Toyohashi Plant of Mitsubishi Ryon Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuo Takahashi 2-1-1, Ushikawa-dori, Toyohashi-shi, Aichi Prefecture Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Toyohashi Plant F-term (reference) 2G051 AA32 AA41 AB01 AB02 BA20 CA03 CA04 CA07 CB01 CB02 DA01 DA06 EA11 EA12 EA14 FA10

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Inspection condition information stored in a storage device of a host computer is read using communication means, and based on the read inspection condition information, whether there is a defect, foreign matter, dirt, or the like of a product flowing through a production line. A defect inspection apparatus that writes inspection results to the host computer, a storage unit that stores inspection condition information in advance, a determination unit that determines whether communication with the host computer is possible, If the determination unit determines that communication with the host computer is impossible at the start of the inspection, the inspection condition information stored in the storage unit is used as the inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product. The adoption means, and, when the inspection of the manufactured product is completed, when the determination means determines that communication with the host computer is possible, the inspection is performed. The result is written into the host computer using the communication means, and if it is determined that communication is not possible, the inspection result is stored in the storage means, and it is determined that communication is possible by the determination means at the end of the next and subsequent inspections. A defect inspection apparatus characterized by comprising writing means for writing the inspection results stored in the storage means together with the inspection results in the next and subsequent inspections to the host computer at a time using the communication means. . 2. The test condition adopting means, wherein when the test means determines that communication with the host computer is possible, the test condition information stored in the storage means. And comparing the creation date and time of the inspection condition information stored in the storage device of the host computer, and adopting the inspection condition information with the newer creation date and time as the inspection condition information used for the inspection of the manufactured product. The defect inspection apparatus according to claim 1. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an updating unit for updating, from the two pieces of inspection condition information, inspection condition information having an earlier creation date and time to inspection condition information having a later creation date and time. Defect inspection equipment. 4. Inspection condition information stored in a storage device of a host computer is read using communication means, and based on the read inspection condition information, whether there is a defect, foreign matter, dirt, or the like of a product flowing through a production line. Is a computer-readable recording medium that records a defect inspection program that writes an inspection result to the host computer, wherein a first step of storing inspection condition information in advance, and communication with the host computer is possible. A second step of determining whether or not communication with the host computer is impossible in the second step at the start of the inspection of the product;
A third step in which the inspection condition information stored in the first step is adopted as inspection condition information used for inspection of the manufactured product; and When it is determined that communication is impossible, the inspection result is written to the host computer,
When it is determined that communication is not possible, the inspection result is stored, and when it is determined that communication is possible in the second step at the end of the next and subsequent inspections, the inspection result in the next and subsequent inspections is stored together with the inspection result. A fourth step of collectively writing the stored inspection results to a host computer, the computer-readable recording medium recording a defect inspection program.