JP2001010723A - Container inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase inspection processing quantity without speeding up carrier speed of a carrier unit. SOLUTION: This inspection device is constituted of an entrance star wheel 2 for continuously performing carrying-in of containers 1, an exit star wheel 3 for continuously performing carrying-out of containers, a plurality of carrier units 10 which move along a circular trajectory 12, receive containers 1 from the entrance star wheel 2, stop at inspection positions and perform carrying-out of containers 1 to the exit star wheel 3, a lighting system 4 and an image pickup device 5 provided at the inspection positions, a rotary dividing device 11 for intermittently carrying the carrier units 10 along the circular trajectory 12, supporting devices 22 which are vertically installed in the carrier units 10 and support bottom surfaces of the containers 1 and a rotating device 33 for rotating the supporting devices 22. In this case, a plurality of the supporting devices 22 are installed in each carrier unit 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visual inspection device for imaging a container, and more particularly, to a support and transport unit for the container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-74915 discloses an inlet starwheel that continuously carries in a container, an outlet starwheel that continuously carries out a container, and a motor that moves along a circular orbit. A plurality of transport units that receive the container, stop at the inspection position, and carry out the container to the exit starwheel, an illumination device and an imaging device provided at the inspection position, and intermittently transport the transport unit along a circular orbit. A container inspection device including a rotary indexing device, a support device that is installed vertically to the transport unit and supports the container bottom surface, and a rotating device that rotates the support device is disclosed. Here, one support device is provided for each transport unit.

[0003]

In the above-described container inspection apparatus, there is a demand to increase the number of inspection processes. However, since the above-mentioned apparatus intermittently transports the transport unit, high-speed transport is difficult in terms of inertia. Have difficulty. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a container inspection apparatus capable of increasing the number of inspection processes without increasing the transport speed of a transport unit.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an inlet starwheel for continuously loading containers, an outlet starwheel for continuously discharging containers, and a circular orbit. A plurality of transport units that move, receive the container from the entrance starwheel, stop at the inspection position, and carry out the container to the exit starwheel, an illumination device and an imaging device provided at the inspection position, and the transport unit A rotary indexing device that intermittently conveys the container along the circular orbit, a supporting device that is installed vertically to the conveying unit and supports the container bottom surface, and a container inspection device that includes a rotating device that rotates the supporting device. In addition, a plurality of support devices are installed in each transport unit.

According to the present invention, a plurality of container support devices are installed in each transport unit, and a plurality of image pickup devices are provided in correspondence with the number of support devices. Can be.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a container inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a vial will be described as an example of the container. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire configuration of a container inspection device M (hereinafter, referred to as an inspection device M). Inspection device M is continuous vial 1
, An exit starwheel 3 that continuously carries out the vial 1, an exit starwheel 3 that moves along the circular orbit 12 and receives the vial 1 from the entrance starwheel 2 and stops at the inspection position. Transport unit 10 for unloading vial 1, illuminating device 4 and two imaging devices 5 installed at the inspection position, and rotary indexing device for transporting transport unit 10 intermittently along circular track 12. 11 is provided.

[0007] A conveyor 6 is installed adjacent to the inlet starwheel 2 and the outlet starwheel 3, and an infield screw 7 is installed adjacent to the inlet starwheel 2. And vial 1 is conveyor 6
Is continuously supplied to the in-field screw 7, where a constant interval is formed, and then, is transferred to the transport unit 10 by the entrance star wheel 2. A defective turntable 8 is provided adjacent to the exit starwheel 3. After the inspection, good products are conveyed to the conveyor 6 by the exit starwheel 3 and sent to the next process. To be stocked.

Next, the transport unit and the rotary indexing device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In FIG.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a circular orbit, and a plurality of transport units 10 arranged at predetermined intervals are moved along the circular orbit 12 by a rotary indexing device 11. The rotation indexing device 11 includes two fixed upper and lower cams 13-1 and 13-2 (one of the cams 13-2 is indicated by a broken line) having a part of the circumference formed into a waveform, and the cams described above. 13-1, 13-
Cam followers 14-1 and 14-2 that follow 2
(One cam follower 14-2 is shown by a broken line), a plurality of drive arms 15 installed concentrically with the cams 13-1 and 13-2, the drive arm 15, the transport unit 10, and the cam followers 14-1 and 14-. 2 and a T-shaped driven arm 17 for connecting the arm 2 to the arm. That is, two cams 13-1, 13 concentrically with the circular track 12 are provided inside the circular track 12.
-2 is fixedly installed. The cams 13-1 and 13-2 are conjugate cams, and are formed in a wave shape having a plurality of valleys (R1, R2...) And peaks (R'1, R'2...). The cams 13-1 and 1 corresponding to the transport unit 10
A plurality of cam followers 14 that move in contact with 3-2;
1, 14-2 are provided.

The cam 1 corresponding to the transport unit 10
A plurality of drive arms 15 having a center O of 3-1 and 13-2 as a center of rotation are provided. Corresponding to the drive arm 15, the tip of the drive arm 15 is rotatably connected to the tip of the drive arm 15 via a rotary bearing 16, and the cam followers 14-1, 1
A T-shaped driven arm 17 connected to 4-2 is also provided. Each driven arm 17 and each transport unit 10 are connected via a linear sliding bearing 18. A rotary bearing 19 is interposed between the linear sliding bearing 18 and the transport unit 10, and the transport unit 10 is rotatable with respect to the linear sliding bearing 18.

In the rotary indexing device configured as described above,
The contact T from the continuously rotating inlet starwheel 2
₁The vial 1 is received on the transport unit 10 at.
The drive arm 15 is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow A.
And the cam followers 14-1 and 14-2 are the cams 13-1 and
While moving the arc-shaped portion of 13-2, the transport unit
10 moves on the circular orbit 12 at a constant speed. Cam follow
The waist 14-1 enters the waveform portion of the cam 13-1 and approaches the valley R1.
The driven arm 17 rotates with respect to the drive arm 15
The rotation about the bearing 16 starts, and the driven arm 17
Tilted in the direction of travel of the circular track 12 from the extension of the moving arm 15
The transport unit 10 moves to the inspection position S ₁Gradually approaching
That is, the vehicle is decelerated. And the transport unit
When the unit 10 is at the inspection position S₁Stop when you reach.
Each inspection position S₁To S₇Has one lighting device 4 and two
The imaging devices 5 and 5 are installed (not shown in FIG. 2).
Is shown in FIG. 1).

[0011] When the drive arm 15 and the follower arm 17 is collinear becomes the center position of the period in which the transport unit 10 is in the testing position S _1, the driving arm 15 a predetermined angle across the center position (alpha) The transport unit 10 continues to stop only while the transport unit 10 is located inside the transport unit 10. On the other hand, the driven arm 17
Focusing on only while the driven arm 17 is rotated about the inspection position S _1, the transport unit 10 continues to stop at the test position S _1. While the driven arm 17 is rotated about the inspection position S _1, the distance between the transport unit 10 and the drive arm 15 will vary, this distance change is absorbed by the linear sliding bearing 18. Drive arm 1
5 further rotates, and the cam follower 14-1
Approaches the top of a mountain R'1, the transport unit 10 starts away from the inspection position _{S 1.} When the cam follower 14-1 moves toward the valley R2 beyond the peak R'1, the transport unit 10 gradually approaches the extension of the drive arm 15, that is, is accelerated. Then, when the drive arm 15 overlaps the mountain of the cam, the transport unit 10 reaches the maximum speed.

[0012] Next, the transport unit 10 toward the inspection position _{S 2,} after repeated sequentially above operation, inspection position _{S 7}
After being accelerated too much, it becomes a constant speed, to payout the vial 1 to the outlet star wheel 3 by contact T _2. In the present invention, the valley R of cam 13-1 that corresponds to the inspection position _{S 1}
Valley R of cam 13-1 that corresponds to the inspection position _{S 2} and 1 of the center
And second center, driving the pitch angle formed by the center O of the cam and theta _1, corresponding to the inspection position S ₂ and the drive arm 15 corresponding to the inspection position S ₁ connection point between the driven arm 17 and (bearing 16) Connection point between arm 15 and driven arm 17 (bearing 1
6), when the pitch angle formed by the center O of the cam and theta _2, between the theta ₁ and theta ₂ a difference of theta. Where θ ₁ >
Although θ ₂ or θ ₁ <θ ₂ may be satisfied, θ ₁ ≠ θ ₂ is required.

[0013] position of the drive arm 15 is taking a certain moment that coincides with the center of the valley R1 at the inspecting position S _1, the center and the drive arm 15 of the inspection position S ₂ at the valley R2 is θ deviation check position S ₃ in the center and the drive arm 15 of the valley R3 is shifted 2 [theta], i.e., the inspection position _{S n} are shifted (n-1) θ (n is an integer of 1 or more). Therefore, the timing for operating each transport unit 10 slightly shifts.

[0014] Here, when a rotation angle corresponding to θ per unit time, when a unit time has elapsed from the moment that a state shown in FIG. 2, the position of the drive arm 15 coincides with the center of the valley R2 at the inspecting position S ₂ . With additional period of unit time, the position of the drive arm 15 coincides with the center of the valley R3 at the inspecting position S _3. In other words, the start and stop timings of each transport unit 10 are shifted by the unit time.

Next, an example in which the rotary indexing device shown in FIG. 2 is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary indexing device, and FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of the rotary indexing device.
The transport unit 10 has guide rollers 10a, 10a. The guide rollers 10a, 10a are engaged with the circular grooves 21a of the turret disk, so that the transport unit 10 can rotate in a circular orbit about the rotation center O. It moves along 12. Inside the circular orbit 12, two conjugate cams 13-1 are vertically arranged concentrically with the circular orbit 12.
13-2 is fixedly installed. In addition, cam followers 14-1 and 14-2 that move in contact with the conjugate cams 13-1 and 13-2 are provided corresponding to the transport unit 10.

A driving plate 15 'shown in FIG. 2 in which a plurality of driving arms 15 are integrated is provided.
A rotary bearing 16 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary bearing 5 ', and a driven arm 17 is rotatably supported by the rotary bearing 16. The driven arm 17 includes a base 17a fitted on the rotary bearing 16,
An extension 17b fixed to the base 17a with bolts is provided, and the base 17a and the extension 17b constitute a T-shaped arm. The drive plate 15 'is provided with a speed reducer 30 as shown in FIG.
Is connected to an output shaft (annular member) 31 and is driven to rotate at a constant speed.

The driven arm 17 has cams 13-1 and 13-
2, the cam followers 14-1 and 14-2 are fixed, and the driven arm 17 is rotated with respect to the rotary bearing 16 according to the cam profile. The driven arm 17 and the transfer unit 10 are connected via a linear sliding bearing 18. Linear sliding bearing 1
A rotary bearing 19 is interposed between the transfer unit 8 and the transport unit 10, and the transport unit 10 is rotatable about a shaft 20 supported by the rotary bearing 19 with respect to the linear sliding bearing 18. .

Next, the structure of the support device installed in the transfer unit and the vacuum system of the support device will be described with reference to FIGS. In the transport unit 10, two suction tubes 22 constituting two support devices are rotatably installed via a bracket 41, and the lower end of each suction tube 22 is connected to a rotary joint 23. Also, the fixed plate 26 and the rotating plate 27 are coaxial with the rotating indexing device 11.
Is provided. The fixed plate 26 is fixedly supported by a fixed support 28. The fixed plate 26 has a port 26a formed of an arc-shaped long hole.
Are formed. The port 26a is connected to a vacuum source (not shown) through a communication passage 28a formed in the support 28.

On the other hand, the rotating plate 27 is
and a plurality of ports 27a formed of circular holes that can communicate with the rotary plate 27. Each port 27a communicates with a communication hole 21b of the turret disk 21 that rotates integrally with the rotary plate 27. Each communication hole 21 b is connected to the rotary joint 23 via a tube 29, and a vacuum is formed at the upper end of each suction tube 22.

A port 26 formed in the fixed plate 26
a is an angle equivalent to between up connection point T _{2 (see} FIG. 2) of the outlet star wheel 3 of the conveying unit 10 from the connection point T _{1 (see} FIG. 2) of the inlet star wheel 2 of the transfer unit 10 formed The suction tube 22 installed in the transfer unit 10 suctions the vial 1 by this angle due to the vacuum from the vacuum source.

Further, the suction tube 22 has a groove 22a at a lower portion, and the groove 22a
3 (see FIG. 4). The rotating belt 33 is shown in FIG.
The rotating belt 33 is wound around a plurality of pulleys 34 as shown in FIG. 3 and is driven by the rotation of a pulley 34 connected to a driving source. Then, the suction pipe 22 is rotated by the traveling of the rotating belt 33, and the suction pipe 22 is rotated.
Vials 1 supported by the inspection positions S _{1 to} S
_{At 7,} rotation is made 360 ° or more.

As is apparent from FIG.
At 0, two support devices, that is, two adsorption tubes 22 are installed. Two imaging devices 5 and 5 (see FIG. 1) are installed corresponding to the two support devices. Therefore, at the inspection positions S _{1 to} S ₇ , two vials 1 can be inspected at the same time, and the inspection processing quantity of the vials 1 can be doubled as compared with the conventional apparatus. In addition, it is also possible to install three or more support devices in each transport unit 10, and to increase the number of imaging devices corresponding to this.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a plurality of container support devices were installed in each transport unit, and a plurality of imaging devices were provided corresponding to the number of support devices,
Inspection processing volume can be several times that of conventional equipment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a container inspection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of a rotary indexing device in the container inspection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an example in which the rotary indexing device shown in FIG. 2 is embodied.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the container inspection device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vial 2 entrance starwheel 3 exit starwheel 4 illumination device 5 imaging device 10 transport unit 11 rotation indexing device 12 circular orbit 13 cam 14 cam follower 15 drive arm 17 driven arm 18 linear sliding bearing 22 suction tube 25 sliding valve 26 Fixed plate 27 Rotating plate 33 Rotating belt 35 Support rod 37 Holding plate

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G051 AA11 AA18 AB20 BA20 CA03 CA04 CA07 DA02 DA06 DA08 DA13 3F072 AA07 GB06 GB10 GC04 GE02 GE03 GG04 GG16 HA07 JA05 KA01 KA30 KC01 KC07 KC09 KC12

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An inlet starwheel for continuously loading containers, an outlet starwheel for continuously discharging containers, and moving along a circular orbit, receiving containers from the inlet starwheel and stopping at an inspection position. A plurality of transport units for transporting the container to the exit starwheel; a lighting device and an imaging device provided at the inspection position; and a rotary indexing device for intermittently transporting the transport unit along the circular orbit. And a support device installed vertically to the transport unit and supporting the bottom of the container, and a container inspection device including a rotating device for rotating the support device, wherein a plurality of support devices are installed in each transport unit. Container inspection equipment.