JP2002139458A - X-ray foreign body detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray foreign body detector by which the X-ray transmission level of a specimen and a reference value can be recognized easily and by which the state of the mixture of a foreign body with the specimen can be recognized more precisely. SOLUTION: By an X-ray detector 9, the strength of X-rays transmitted through the specimen 2 is output to a processing means 13. By a display processing part 16 installed at the processing means 13, the peak value of the X-ray transmission level to be output from the X-ray detector 9 is displayed on a region D1 by bars R1 to Bn whose heights correspond to the X-ray transmission level in a plurality of places in the longitudinal direction of the specimen 2. On the barrs B1 to Bn in the region D1, the line R for the reference value which is used to judge the mixture of the foreign body G is overlapped and displayed. Thereby, a level difference in the X-ray transmission level with reference to the reference value can be grasped easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to raw meat, fish,
The present invention relates to an X-ray foreign matter detection device that detects foreign matter in a test object from the amount of X-ray transmitted when X-rays are irradiated to the test object of each type, such as processed food and medicine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art X-ray foreign matter detectors irradiate X-rays to inspection objects of various types, such as raw meat, fish, processed foods, and pharmaceuticals, which are sequentially conveyed on a conveyance line, and are irradiated with the X-rays. This is a device that detects whether or not foreign matter such as metal, glass, stone, and bone is mixed in the inspection object from the amount of transmitted X-rays.

In this type of X-ray foreign matter detection device, an image display showing the internal state of the inspection object at the time of X-ray exposure, a quality judgment display, and the like are displayed on a display screen of a display provided on the front of the device body. It is displayed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a display screen of a display of this type of conventional X-ray foreign matter detection device. In this configuration,
Two indicators 52 and 53 are provided side by side with respect to the front surface of the apparatus main body 51. Then, an image A2 indicating the internal state of the inspection object at the time of X-ray exposure is displayed in a display area 52a of one display 52, and a display area 53 of the other display 53.
On a, a total number of inspections is shown in addition to the indication B2 of the quality of the inspection object.
The inspection result display C2 of the number of non-defective products and the total number of NGs is performed.

[0005] The judgment of the pass / fail judgment result B2 displayed in the display area 53a is performed by a control section in the apparatus. In this control unit, a reference value (threshold) of the X-ray transmission level for foreign substance detection is set in advance, and a portion where the inspected object does not reach this reference value (does not transmit X-rays) is generated. If so, it is determined and displayed as NG.

[0006]

The result of the NG determination process of the control unit having the above configuration is displayed in the display area 53a, and the operator can determine whether the inspection object is "normal" or "NG" by this display. I could only judge if there was. Therefore,
For example, when an NG inspection object is generated, how much the X-ray transmission level of the inspection object exceeds the reference value (N
In the case of G, it was not possible to know the degree of how low the level is with respect to the reference value. In particular,
When NG is displayed, if there is no foreign matter corresponding to the inspection object or if foreign matter enters the inspection object even though it is determined to be normal, the reference value is set. It is necessary to grasp the degree of the X-ray transmission level which exceeds the above, but conventionally, this could not be performed.

A plurality of the reference values are stored in advance in accordance with the type of the object to be inspected, and can be automatically selected and set by designating the object to be weighed. However, when the weighing object to be actually measured is not in this setting or when it is desired to perform more strict foreign object detection, there has been a demand to set the reference value arbitrarily. In this case, the reference value cannot be easily and appropriately set.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily recognize the X-ray transmission level and the reference value of the object to be inspected, and to more easily check the state of foreign matter in the object to be inspected. It is an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray foreign matter detection device that can be accurately confirmed.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray foreign matter detecting apparatus according to the present invention irradiates an X-ray to an object to be inspected 2 and, together with the X-ray exposure, the X-ray inspection apparatus. In the X-ray foreign matter detection device 1 for inspecting the presence or absence of the foreign matter G in the inspection object from the transmission amount of the X-ray transmitted through the object and displaying the inspection result on the display 15, the inspection object is transmitted through the inspection object. An X-ray detector 9 that outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the X-ray, a transmission level that is an output of the X-ray detector at a predetermined location on the inspection object, and a threshold value for determining the presence or absence of foreign matter. A predetermined reference value and the same display area D1 of the display unit
And a display processing unit 16 for displaying the information.

Further, the display processing section 16 puts each peak value of the transmission level which is the output of the X-ray detector 9 at a plurality of places on the inspection object together with the reference value in the same display area D1 of the display. The display may be configured.

The display processing section 16 displays the peak value of the transmission level in a bar graph B having a height corresponding to the X-ray transmission level, and displays the reference value on a linear R superimposed on the bar graph. It can also be configured to display with.

A transport section 3 for transporting the inspection object;
And detecting the presence or absence of foreign matter G in the inspection object during the transportation of the inspection object 2 by the transport unit. The display processing unit 16 performs the X-ray detection at a predetermined position of the inspection object. The transmission level which is the output of the detector 9 may be displayed in the same display area D1 of the display unit 15 together with the reference value.

Further, the display processing section 16 displays image data indicating the transmission level of the inspected object 2 in a plan view based on the output of the X-ray detector 9 in the area A1, and performs the X-ray detection. The peak value B of the transmission level and the linear value R of the reference value at a plurality of points in the length direction of the inspection object based on the output of the inspection device.
Is displayed in another area D1 and the two areas A
1 and D1 may be arranged so that the horizontal axis is the same in the longitudinal direction of the object to be inspected, arranged vertically and displayed simultaneously.

In the X-ray foreign matter detector 1 of the present invention, the display processing unit 16 displays the X-ray transmission level of the inspection object 2 output from the X-ray detector 9 and a reference value for judging the presence or absence of foreign matter. 1
5 on the same display area D1. Thereby, the level difference of the X-ray transmission level with respect to the reference value can be easily grasped. In addition, by displaying the X-ray transmission level on the area D1 as a bar graph B and displaying the reference value superimposed on a line R, the degree of the level difference can be easily determined.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an X-ray foreign matter detection device. The X-ray foreign matter detection device 1 is provided in a part of a transport line, and detects the presence or absence of foreign matter mixed into the inspection object 2 (including the surface) sequentially transported at a predetermined interval. . In the X-ray foreign matter detection device 1, a transport unit 3 and a foreign matter detection unit 4 are provided inside the apparatus main body 1a, and a display 7 is provided on an upper front surface of the apparatus main body 1a.

The transport unit 3 includes, for example, raw meat, fish, processed food,
It transports the inspected object 2 of each type such as a medicine, and is constituted by, for example, a belt conveyor arranged horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body 1a. The transport section 3 carries out the inspection object 2 carried in from the carry-in port 3a to the carry-out port 3b at a predetermined carry speed set in advance by driving of the drive motor 6.

The foreign matter detector 4 detects foreign matter in the transported inspection object 2 in the middle of the transport path, and is provided above the belt conveyor 3 at a predetermined distance from the X-ray generator 8.
And an X-ray detector 9 provided in the belt conveyor 3 so as to face the X-ray generator 8.

The X-ray generator 8 has a configuration in which a cylindrical X-ray tube 12 provided inside a metal box 11 is immersed in insulating oil (not shown). Is irradiated on the anode target to generate X-rays.
The X-ray tube 12 is provided so that its longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the transport direction of the inspection object 2. The X-rays generated by the X-ray tube 12 are emitted toward a lower X-ray detector 9 in a substantially triangular screen shape by slits (not shown) along the longitudinal direction.

The X-ray detector 9 detects X-rays transmitted through the inspection object 2 when the inspection object 2 is irradiated with the X-rays, and detects the transmitted amount of the detected X-rays. Output an electric signal corresponding to.

Although not shown, the X-ray detector 9 includes, for example, a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the inspection object 2 conveyed on the belt conveyor 3, An array line sensor including a scintillator provided on a diode is used. In the X-ray detector 9 having such a configuration, when the X-ray is emitted from the X-ray generator 8 to the inspection object 2,
X-rays transmitted through the inspection object 2 are received by a scintillator and converted into light. Furthermore, the light converted by the scintillator
The light is received by a photodiode disposed under the photodiode. Each photodiode converts the received light into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. The X-ray detector 9 outputs to the processing means 13 an electric signal having a level corresponding to the intensity of the received X-ray.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the apparatus. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The setting unit 5 includes a storage unit 5a for storing various settings related to the inspection of foreign objects on the inspection object 2 and a plurality of operation units 5b for setting instructions. The storage unit 5a previously sets and holds a plurality of X-ray transmission levels (reference values, so-called thresholds) for pass / fail determination for each type of the inspection object 2. The reference value includes a value manually set using the operation unit 5b.

The processing means 13 comprises a CPU and the like, a memory and the like. The electric signal input from the X-ray detector 9 is subjected to A / D conversion by an A / D conversion unit (not shown), and then one The object 2 is stored in the data memory 14 as a unit. The outputs of the line sensors constituting the X-ray detector 9 are stored in the data memory 14 for a predetermined number of lines (for example, 480 lines) corresponding to the detection period of the inspected object 2 being conveyed. The processing unit 13 inspects the inspection object 2 for foreign matter based on the data.

The content of the inspection process is to check whether foreign matter such as metal, glass, stone, bone, etc. is mixed in the inspection object 2 based on an electric signal corresponding to the transmission level of the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object 2. It is determined whether or not it is. Further, the quality of the inspection object 2 is determined from the result of the determination, and a selection signal or the like indicating whether the inspection object 2 is a non-defective product or a defective product is output to the outside. Further, the image data obtained by directly developing the input data into an image is sent to the image processing unit 1.
6 to the display unit 15 of the display 7.

The processing means 13 is provided with an image processing section 16 for performing a specific image processing on the display on the display section 15. The image processing unit 16 stores the reference value set by the setting unit 5 and the inspection object 2 stored in the data memory 14.
Then, a predetermined graph display process is executed based on the X-ray transmission level, and the display data is output to the display unit 15.

In the X-ray foreign substance detecting apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, when the inspection object 2 is carried in from the entrance 3a of the belt conveyor 3, the X-ray foreign substance detection device 1
X-rays are emitted from the ray generator 8. X-rays that pass through the inspection object 2 with the X-ray exposure are detected by the X-ray detector 9. Then, the processing means 13 determines whether or not a foreign substance has entered the inspection object 2 based on the electric signal corresponding to the amount of transmission of the X-rays detected by the X-ray detector 9, and this determination result Output a selection signal indicating a good or defective product from the outside. Then, the inspection object 2 that has completed the above inspection is sorted into non-defective products and defective products according to the sorting signal output from the processing unit 13.

Here, the processing means 13 is provided for the inspection object 2
In the inspection, various image data relating to the inspection of the inspection object 2 is output to the display unit 15 via the image processing unit 16. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display image on the display unit 15. As shown in the figure, image data directly developed on the basis of the electric signal output from the X-ray detector 9 at the time of X-ray irradiation is displayed as an image in the area A1. The lateral direction in this area A1 coincides with the transport direction of the belt conveyor 3. For example, the image data is displayed with the number of pixels about the number of lines stored in the data memory 14.

The image data is displayed in accordance with the degree (stage) of the X-ray transmission level. The operator sees this area A1 and sees the state of the external shape of the inspected object 2 as viewed on a plane. The degree of transmission of X-rays in the inspection object 2 can be checked, and the display density of the foreign matter G portion can be displayed differently from the others (dense, or the surrounding and other colors), and the mixing position of the foreign matter G can be grasped. become able to.

In addition, the display of OK / NG judgment is displayed in the area B1. In addition, the total number of inspections,
An inspection result display of the total number of NG is displayed in the area C1. Further, an X-ray transmission level of the inspection object 2 is graphed together with a reference value by an image processing unit 16 to be described later, and the area D1
To display.

Here, the processing means 13 compares the data stored in the data memory 14 with the reference value stored in the setting means 5 and the data exceeding the reference value is included in any one line. If there is, it is determined to be NG. Strictly, when the X-ray transmission level is lower than the reference value (when X-rays are not transmitted due to foreign matter), it is determined to be NG, and when the X-ray transmission level is higher than the reference value, it is determined to be OK. , "NG" or "OK" is displayed corresponding to the area B1.

Then, the image processing section 16 detects and holds the peak value (the lowest value of the X-ray transmission level) in the data of each line for the predetermined number of lines stored in the data memory 14. Thereafter, the peak value data is graded according to any of a plurality of levels of the predetermined X-ray transmission level. The image processing unit 16 is provided with a conversion table for determining which of the plurality of stages the input data is. In this conversion table, for example, 256 levels of X-ray transmission levels from 0 to 255 are associated with input data (X-ray transmission levels at which peak values are detected).

The peak value after the grading is the VRAM
The image is developed in an image memory such as. On this image memory, the peak values after the grading are stored for the respective lines, and are displayed as bar graphs in the area D1 of the display unit 15 and output. In this area D1, the horizontal axis indicates each line, and the vertical axis indicates the transmission level (the transmission level is lower at the upper side and the transmission level is lower at the upper side). The horizontal axis corresponds to the transport direction of the inspection object 2, and the portions where the bars B1 to Bn of the graph are present on the horizontal axis correspond to the length of the inspection object 2 along the transport direction. The transmission level of X-rays can be easily known from the height of the bar B, and it can be understood that the higher the height of the bar B, the lower the X-ray transmission level.

In addition, the image processing section 16 displays the level of the reference value set in the setting means 5 as a line R on the area D1. By displaying the linear shape R over the bar B, the linear shape R can be seen as a threshold value for the quality judgment in the area D1. The bar B which does not reach the height of the linear R is a place where the X-ray transmission level is high and no foreign matter is mixed in, and the bar B (NG) which exceeds the linear R has a low X-ray transmission level and the foreign matter is mixed. It becomes possible to grasp that it is a place.

Then, the level difference between each X-ray transmission level with respect to the reference value can be grasped in more detail by the height of the bar displayed in the area D1. In this way, by displaying each line as a bar graph of the peak value and simultaneously displaying the reference value in a superimposed manner, the X-ray transmission level of each line can be easily grasped as a level difference from the reference value. At the same time, it becomes possible to know the position where the foreign matter is mixed on the inspection object 2. Note that the processing unit 13 determines that “NG” is obtained if any one of the locations exceeds the reference value as described above.

In the above embodiment, the plurality of bars B displayed in the area D1 are displayed in the same number of lines as the number of lines stored in the data memory 14. May be configured to reduce and display the number of bars B on the horizontal axis to a predetermined number that is easily visible. In this case, at least a bar B corresponding to a line exceeding the reference value
The display of the (NG) portion may be preferentially displayed, and the bars B1 to Bn of the lines that do not reach the reference value may be thinned out at intervals of a predetermined number of lines. In addition, a lower “OK” area around the reference value linear R and an upper “N” area.
The area "G" is displayed in a different display color, or only the bar B (NG) exceeding the linear R is displayed in a different display color different from the other bars B1 to Bn so as to improve the visibility. Is also good.

The display mode of the area D1 can be arbitrarily switched by operating the operation section 5b of the setting means 5.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the display may be performed using a comprehensive line H connecting the peak values of the transmission levels of the respective lines in the area D1. A peak value H (NG) is protrudingly displayed on the comprehensive line H corresponding to the bar B (NG).

As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents each line, and the vertical axis represents the transmission level. The transmission level is inverted so that the transmission level is high at the top and low at the bottom. You can also. In this case, the determination result is “NG” below the linear value R of the reference value and “OK” above.

As shown in FIG. 6, a reference value, not a bar graph, and an X-ray transmission level of a line whose judgment result exceeds a reference value corresponding to "NG" are numerically displayed on the area D1, and It can also be switched so that the level difference of the X-ray transmission level of the line with respect to the reference value is numerically calculated and displayed numerically. By this numerical display, these reference values,
The X-ray transmission level and level difference of the “NG” portion can be grasped by specific numerical values.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the area A1 and the area D1 can be switched so as to display the same length in the horizontal direction (in the transport direction of the inspection object 2) at the vertical position.
The area A1 displays image data obtained by directly developing the display input data into an image, and the area D1 displays the bar graph. Since these two images have the same length in the horizontal direction, the position where the foreign matter G is mixed on the plane of the inspection object 2 can be determined from the area A1, and at the same time, the X-ray transmission level of the foreign matter G can be determined from the area D1. And the level difference can be associated and grasped.

The areas A1 and D1 shown in FIG. 7 may be displayed on the upper and lower positions of the single display 15, or may be displayed on different displays arranged vertically. Further, when the areas A1 and D1 are vertically arranged on the single display 15, the lower end of the area A1 and the upper end of the area D1 can be joined so that there is no space between them.

The reference value described in the above embodiment can be set by actually transporting the object 2 of the type to be inspected on the belt conveyor 3 with foreign matter mixed therein. Become. At this time, the transmission level of the X-ray can be obtained as a bar graph (or a numerical value) on the area D1, so that the reference value can be set based on the transmission level at the position where the foreign matter is mixed based on the obtained transmission level. As a result, it is possible to easily set the optimum reference value for detecting the foreign matter which is assumed for each type of the inspection object 2,
The foreign matter detection accuracy of the apparatus can be improved.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the X-ray transmission level of the object to be inspected and the reference value are displayed in the same area of the display, so that the level difference between the X-ray transmission level and the reference value can be easily grasped. become. It is possible to more accurately confirm the state of foreign matter inclusion and the quality determination of foreign matter inclusion. In addition, by displaying the peak value and the reference value of the X-ray transmission level at a plurality of positions on the inspection object, the position of the foreign object mixed in the inspection object, the state of the foreign object mixing, and the quality judgment of the foreign object mixing can be more accurately confirmed. become able to. In addition, the peak value of the X-ray transmission level is displayed in a bar graph, and the reference value is superimposed and displayed. Be able to grasp accurately and easily.

Further, by providing a transport unit for detecting foreign matter while transporting the object to be weighed, the X-ray transmission level can be obtained at each of a plurality of locations along the transport direction and displayed together with the reference value. Even the inspection of each conveyed object to be weighed can be performed smoothly and with the above effects. In addition, a display area of image data of a planar foreign substance mixed with the inspection object and a linear display area of the peak values of the plurality of transmission levels and the reference value are vertically arranged, and the length of the horizontal axis of both areas is set. Is made to coincide with the length direction of the object to be inspected, whereby the position where the foreign object is mixed on the plane of the object to be inspected, the X-ray transmission level of the foreign object, and the level difference can be grasped in association with each other.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an X-ray foreign matter detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the X-ray foreign matter detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display state of a display device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another display mode on a display device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another display mode on a display device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another display mode on a display device.

FIG. 7 is a view showing another display mode on a display device.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a display screen of a display of a conventional X-ray foreign matter detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... X-ray foreign substance detection apparatus, 2 ... Inspection object, 5 ... Setting means,
5b operating unit, 13 processing means, 14 data memory,
15: display, 16: image processing unit, B1 to Bn: bar,
G: Foreign matter, R: Linear of reference value.

Claims (5)

[Claims] An X-ray is irradiated onto an object to be inspected (2).
Inspecting the inspection object for the presence or absence of foreign matter (G) from the transmission amount of the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object with the irradiation of the radiation;
An X-ray foreign matter detection device (1) that displays the inspection result on a display (15); an X-ray detector (9) that outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object; The transmission level, which is the output of the X-ray detector, at a predetermined location on the object to be inspected, and a preset reference value, which is a threshold value for determining the presence or absence of foreign matter, are displayed in the same display area (D1) of the display. And a display processing unit (16) for displaying the X-ray foreign matter. 2. The display processing section (16) further comprises: a plurality of peak values of a transmission level, which are outputs of the X-ray detector (9), at a plurality of positions on the inspection object; The X according to claim 1, which is displayed in a display area (D1).
Line foreign matter detection device. 3. The display processing section (16) displays a peak value of the transmission level on a bar graph (B) having a height for each X-ray transmission level, and superimposes the reference value on the bar graph. The X-ray foreign matter detection device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the X-ray foreign matter detection device is displayed in a curved line (R). 4. A transport section (3) for transporting the inspection object.
And detecting the presence or absence of a foreign substance (G) in the inspection object during the transportation of the inspection object (2) by the transportation unit. The display processing unit (16) The transmission level, which is an output of the X-ray detector (9) at a predetermined location, is displayed together with the reference value in the same display area (D1) of the display (15). X
Line foreign matter detection device. 5. The display processing section (16) converts image data indicating a transmission level of the inspected object (2) in a plan view based on an output of the X-ray detector (9) into an area (A1). An image obtained by superimposing the peak value (B) of the transmission level at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the inspection object and the linear shape (R) of the reference value on the basis of the output of the X-ray detector is another image. The area (D1) is displayed, and both of the areas (A1, D1) have their abscissas aligned in the length direction of the object to be inspected, and are arranged vertically and displayed simultaneously. The X-ray foreign matter detection device according to any one of the above.