JP2002250703A - X-ray foreign matter detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take the statistics of the X-ray inspection results of an object to be inspected with respect to various items to effectively utilize them in the maintenance of a manufacturing line or the analysis of a cause at the time of detection of foreign matter. SOLUTION: A processing means 13 judges the presence of the foreign matter in the object W to be inspected on the basis of the X-ray transmission quantity detected by an X-ray detector 9 when the object W to be inspected is exposed to and irradiated with X-rays. A statistical processing part 16 sets the kind of the object to be inspected as a unit to successively store the respective detection values of the acquired items, for example, the number of products, the mixing number of foreign matters, a manufacturing period or the like set to an item setting part 18 in a memory part 14. At the time of alteration of the kind, statistic processing setting the kind of the object to be inspected, an inspection period, a date and a lot as units is carried out on the basis of the acquired items stored in the memory part 14 to automatically issue printing output from an external printing part 17. At this time, the printed acquired items are automatically eliminated from the memory part 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD 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 an inspected object from the amount of X-ray transmitted when X-rays are irradiated to the inspected object of each type, such as processed foods and pharmaceuticals. The present invention relates to an X-ray foreign matter detection device capable of outputting various kinds of inspection results as statistics.

[0002]

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

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional X-ray foreign matter detecting device of this kind. As shown in the figure, an X-ray generator 51 is provided at an intermediate position where the inspection object W is transported on the conveyor 50,
The X-ray detectors 52 are arranged to face each other. The X-ray generator 51 irradiates X-rays to the inspection object W being conveyed, and the X-ray detector 52 generates an electric signal (X) corresponding to the amount of X-rays transmitted through the inspection object W.
Line transmission data). The processing means provided inside the apparatus determines the presence or absence of foreign matter based on the amount of transmitted X-rays.

The X-ray foreign matter detector detects foreign matter in a large number of inspection objects W manufactured on the transport line. The X-ray foreign matter detection device stores and holds X-ray detection results such as presence or absence of foreign matter, and analyzes the cause. To be used. Items of the X-ray detection result include the type of the inspection object W, the number of products produced, the production date / time (production start date / time and production end date / time), the number of foreign substances mixed, and the like.

[0005]

The above X-ray detection results can be statistically output for the purpose of analyzing the cause of contamination, and output. However, in the conventional X-ray foreign matter detection device, when the type of the inspection object W produced on the transport line is fixed to a single type, the items that can be statistically output include the production quantity, the production date and time, It was fixedly set as the number of contaminants.

In this case, when a plurality of types of inspected objects W are detected by X-rays later on this transport line,
The statistical processing sometimes caused inconvenience. When X-ray detection is performed on a plurality of varieties with a single device, 1) varieties 1,
2) Variety 2, 3) Variety 3, 4) Variety 1, 5) Variety 4,
If the varieties are changed in five times, the statistical processing for the varieties 1 in the conventional statistical processing for the varieties is performed at different times,
Since the X-ray was detected the first time and the 4th time, it was the same kind 1 but was sometimes collectively classified as the kind 1 in some cases.

That is, since the respective items of the X-ray detection result relating to the same type 1 are statistically output, even if the same type 1 is used, there is a disadvantage that the production time is different and the statistics cannot be classified according to the manufacturing time. There was something. Thus, conventionally,
Even if there are a plurality of items of the X-ray detection result, flexible statistical processing cannot be performed, and there is a problem that it cannot be sufficiently utilized for inspection of an operation state of a production line and analysis of a cause when foreign matter is mixed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and enables the X-ray inspection results of an inspection object to be statistically categorized in various items, and is effectively used for maintenance of a production line and analysis of causes at the time of foreign matter detection. It is an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray foreign matter detection device capable of performing the above-described operation.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray foreign matter detector according to the present invention irradiates an inspection object (W) sequentially conveyed on a conveyance line with X-rays. X
An X-ray foreign matter detector for detecting the amount of X-rays transmitted through the inspection object with the X-ray exposure by an X-ray detector (9) and determining the presence or absence of a foreign object in the inspection object In (1), processing means (1) for judging a detection state of a foreign substance inside the inspection object based on X-ray transmission data output from the X-ray detector.
3), an item setting unit (18) for setting collection items necessary for statisticization of the inspection processing of the inspection object, and the processing unit in units of a type of the inspection object transported on the transport line. Each detection value of the collection items such as the detection state of the detected foreign matter is sequentially stored in the storage unit (14), and when outputting statistics, a predetermined statistical process is performed based on the collection items stored in the storage unit. A statistical processing unit (16) for external output.

[0010] The statistical processing section (16) may be configured to print out a statistical processing result based on the collection items stored in the storage section (14) to a printing section (17) when a print issuance request is made.

The statistical processing section (16) is configured to automatically output the statistical processing result from the printing section (17) every time the type of the inspection object (W) on the transport line is changed. Can also.

Further, the statistical processing section (16) performs statistical processing based on the collection items stored in the storage section (14) by combining each unit of the type, inspection period, date, and lot of the inspection object. An executable configuration is also possible.

According to the above configuration, the processing means 13 of the X-ray foreign matter detecting device 1 performs the inspection based on the X-ray transmission amount detected by the X-ray detector 9 when the inspection object W is irradiated with X-rays. The presence / absence of foreign matter in the object is determined. The statistical processing unit 16 sequentially stores the detection values of the collection items set in the item setting unit 18 in the storage unit 14 in units of the type of the inspection object. At the time of product change, etc., based on the collection items stored in the storage unit 14, statistical processing combining the units of the product to be inspected, the inspection period, the date, and the lot is executed. Statistical output such as printout.

[0014]

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

The transport section 3 includes, for example, raw meat, fish, processed food,
The inspection object W of each kind such as medicine is transported. The transport section 3 is configured by a belt conveyor arranged horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body 1a. The transport unit 3 transports the inspection object W carried in from the carry-in port 3a toward the carry-out port 3b (in the carrying direction X in the drawing) at a predetermined carrying speed set in advance by driving the drive motor 6.

The foreign matter detector 4 detects foreign matter in the transported inspection object W in the middle of the transport path, and includes an X-ray generator 8 provided above the transport unit 3 at a predetermined height and a transport unit. 3 is provided with an X-ray detector 9 provided opposite to 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 longitudinal direction of the X-ray tube 12 is the transport direction X of the inspection object W.
It is provided in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to. X-ray tube 1
The X-rays generated by 2 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 W when the inspection object W is irradiated with the X-rays, and detects the transmitted amount of the detected X-rays. Output an electrical signal corresponding to. The X-ray detector 9 is provided along a Y direction orthogonal to the transport direction X of the inspection object W transported on the transport unit 3. As the X-ray detector 9, an array-type line sensor including a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a line and a scintillator provided on the photodiodes is used.

In the X-ray detector 9 having such a configuration,
When an X-ray is emitted from the X-ray generator 8 to the inspection object W, the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object W is received by a scintillator and converted into light. Further, the light converted by the scintillator is received by a photodiode disposed below the scintillator. Each photodiode converts the received light into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. This 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 processing means 13 includes a CPU and the like, a memory and the like, and receives X-ray transmission data from the X-ray detector 9. The X-ray transmission data is A / D converted by an A / D converter (not shown) and then stored in the storage unit 14. The storage unit 14 stores at least 640 pieces of X-ray transmission data per line (Y direction) of the inspection object W to be conveyed.
A predetermined number of lines (for example, 480 lines) corresponding to the length of the transport direction X (the detection period from the front end Wa to the rear end Wb) is stored. The processing unit 13 performs an inspection process on the inspection object W for foreign matter contamination based on the data.

The transport unit 3 is provided with a position detector 10 such as a light emitting / receiving sensor for detecting the inspection object W. Processing means 13
Receives the output of the position detector 10 and uses, as a start trigger, the output at the time when the tip of the inspection object W shields the light emitting / receiving position, and the shielding period is the length of the inspection object W (the detection period). ), And stores the X-ray transmission data for each inspection object W in the storage unit 14.

The content of the inspection processing is to check whether foreign matter such as metal, glass, stone, bone, etc. is mixed in the inspection object W based on an electric signal corresponding to the transmission level of the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object W. It is determined whether or not it is. As a basic principle, when a state in which X-rays are not transmitted due to foreign matter occurs, that is, when the value of the amount of X-ray transmission is low, it is determined that foreign matter is mixed, and a selection signal or the like is output to the outside. Further, an image processing unit (not shown) directly develops the input data into an image and outputs the image data to the display unit 15 of the display unit 7.

The statistical processing section 16 collects various data relating to the operation status of the apparatus, executes predetermined statistical processing, and outputs statistics from the display section 15 and the printing section 17. Various items for the statistical processing are set in the item setting unit 18. The statistical processing unit 16 collects data of various items set in the item setting unit 18 and stores the data in the storage unit 14 for each type of the inspection object W.

The item setting section 18 includes, as items of the X-ray detection result, the line number of the transport line on which the X-ray foreign matter detector 1 is installed, the type (product number) of the inspection object W, the production date and time (production start date and time). And production end date / time), the number of products produced, the number of foreign materials mixed, and the like. The statistical processing unit 16 collects data related to the above items during operation of the apparatus and stores the collected data in the storage unit 14, and reads out the data stored in the storage unit 14 at the time of outputting statistics to perform predetermined statistical processing. For example, a foreign matter mixing ratio is calculated and output. The foreign matter mixing ratio is calculated by ((number of foreign matter mixed / production number) × 100%).

In addition, the items of the X-ray detection result include the number of missing parts, the number of external defects, and the number of times of two pieces. The missing item count indicates the presence or absence of the inspection object W in a container such as a tray. The number of external failures indicates the number of failures occurring in a device outside the X-ray foreign matter detection device 1, for example, the number of sorting operation errors in a subsequent sorting machine. The number of double rides indicates that the inspected object W has been detected to have overlapped with the inspected object W during X-ray detection. At the time of two-car riding, a state in which the X-ray transmission amount does not decrease to the level corresponding to a foreign substance but is lower than that at the time of normal one-car detection is detected. Corresponding to the above items, the missing item ratio, the external defect ratio, and the two-seat detection ratio are also determined by the ratio (%) to the production number in the same manner as described above.

At the time of statistical output by the statistical processing section 16, an output item can be selected and output. For this selection, a list displayed on the display unit 15 is selected by a key operation of the operation unit 19.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the setting contents of the statistical processing displayed on the display unit 15. As shown, the statistical processing is set on this display screen before the operation of the apparatus. The setting items include an output method 20, automatic printing 21, and automatic deletion 22 after printing.

In the setting of the output method 20, any one of the items of automatic printing, date designation printing, period designation printing, and product designation can be selected and set. At the time of automatic print selection setting, each time the type of the inspection object W is switched, statistical processing of this type is executed and printed out from the printing unit 17.

At the time of selecting and setting the period-specified printing, the corresponding period can be designated on a separate screen shown in FIG. 4 and statistically output. On the screen of FIG. 4, items 30 for the start date and end date of the statistical processing are displayed.
Shows a list of types and product names inspected during this period.
All kinds and kinds can be designated by the kind designation item 32, and all kinds or kinds designated by the kind designation item 32 can be selected from the list 31 and statistically processed.

At the time of selecting and setting the date designation printing, the same day can be designated by specifying the start date and end date 30 of the statistical processing on the separate screen shown in FIG. 4 (state shown). In this case as well, all types and types can be specified by the type specification item 32, and all types or types specified by the type specification item 32 can be selected from the list 31 and statistically processed. At the time of selecting and setting the type designation, a list 31 of another screen shown in FIG.
A type list is displayed in the list, a type is specified in a type specification item 32, and a corresponding type is selected in the list 31 to perform statistical processing.

In the setting of the automatic printing 21 shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to set whether or not the statistical processing is automatically executed when the type of the inspection object W is switched and the printout is performed from the printing unit 17. In the setting of the automatic deletion 22 after printing, it is possible to set whether or not to delete the statistically processed data printed from the printing unit 17 after performing the statistical processing from the storage unit 14. In the clear confirmation 23, it is possible to set whether or not to display a confirmation message of deletion on the display unit 15 when deleting the statistical processing data printed from the printing unit 17 by setting the automatic deletion 22 after printing. The statistical output is not limited to being displayed on the printing unit 17 and may be displayed on the display unit 15 or may be configured to externally output statistical data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure relating to the statistical processing. The statistical processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. At the time of X-ray inspection, this type (product number) is set for each type of X-ray inspection (SP1). The operation of the transport line starts production of the inspection object W of this type, and the inspection object W is sequentially transported on the transport line (SP
2).

The X-ray foreign matter detection device 1 detects foreign matter of the inspection object W during transportation (SP3). When the inspection object W is carried in from the carry-in entrance 3a of the transport unit 3, the inspection object W is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray generator 8 in the transportation process. X-rays that pass through the inspection object W with the X-ray exposure are detected by the X-ray detector 9. And processing means 1
3 determines whether or not a foreign substance has entered the inspection object W based on an electric signal corresponding to the amount of transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray detector 9, and from the determination result, a non-defective product or a non-defective product. A selection signal indicating a good product is output to the outside. At the same time, the data for statistics is stored in the storage unit 14 (SP4). At this time, the number of inspected inspection objects W is counted, and when a defective product is detected, the number of the defective product is counted. As described above, defective products are classified into foreign object detection, the number of missing products, and the number of times of two products.

The above foreign substance detection processing will be described. The processing unit 13 compares the data stored in the storage unit 14 with a reference value, and determines that the data that exceeds the reference value is NG if any one of the lines includes the data. Strictly speaking,
When the X-ray transmission amount 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 amount is higher than the reference value, it is determined to be OK, and "NG" is determined. ,
Alternatively, “OK” is displayed. Then, the inspection object W that has completed the inspection is sorted into non-defective products and defective products according to the sorting signal output from the processing unit 13.

At this time, the image processing section 16 of the processing means 13
Displays on the display unit 15 image data indicating the amount of X-ray transmission output by the X-ray detector 9 when the inspection object W is located at the X-ray irradiation position. The display screen of the display unit 15 allows the user to check the state of the external shape of the inspected object W as viewed in a plane and the degree of transmission of X-rays within the inspected object W. It can be displayed in a different color (dark or in a different color from the surroundings) so that the position where foreign matter is mixed in can be grasped. The display unit 15 displays “OK” and “NG” pass / fail judgment results, and inspection results of the total number of inspections, the number of non-defective products, and the total number of NGs.

When the production of this type is completed in a predetermined amount (for one lot) (SP5), it is stored in the storage unit 14 as a set of statistical data relating to this type (SP6). FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a production state in a certain transport line. As shown in the drawing, each time the production of one lot of a certain product type (product number 1) is completed, the statistical data is stored in a lot unit for each lot.
Is stored in As described above, this statistical data includes the product type (product number), the line number of the transfer line, the production date and time (production start date and time and the production end date and time), the number of products,
It consists of data for each item such as the number of missing parts, the number of external defects, and the number of rides.

Subsequently, another type (product number 2 in the example of FIG. 6)
Is started, the process returns to SP1, and statistical data on a new product type (product number 2) is collected. Here, if automatic printing is selected and set as the statistical output, the statistical processing unit 16 reads the stored data relating to the product number 1 from the storage unit 14 at the end of the production of the product number 1, performs the statistical processing, and prints the data from the printing unit 17. Output (SP7).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a printing result from the printing unit 17. As shown in the drawing, at the time of automatic printing, each value (line number of the transport line, production date and time (production start date and time and production end date and time), The number of products, the number of contaminants mixed in, the number of missing parts, the number of external defects, and the number of times of two pieces are statistically printed out. After the printout, if automatic deletion is selected and set, the statistical data relating to the printed product number 1 is deleted from the storage unit 14.

When the inspection objects W of each type are produced on this transport line and automatic printing is not set, the
At 6, each type is stored in the storage unit 14 in units of one lot. In this case, the statistics are dated, dated,
It can be printed out by any of the selection operations of the type designation (SP8). When the date designation and the period designation are selected, the varieties on the corresponding day (period) can be statistically output by specifying all the varieties or the varieties.

When the type designation is selected, statistical data of the same type in different lots can be statistically output. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, for the product number 1, two lots are manufactured at different manufacturing times (time 1 and time 4). At the time of selection of a product type, statistical processing for these two lots can be performed and printed out.

As described above, the statistical processing of the inspection object W can be performed statistically by type, date, period, etc.
Statistical data in accordance with the required statistical output can be obtained, and the frequency of foreign matter contamination on the transport line, the type of product, the date and time of occurrence can be confirmed and analyzed in detail, and the occurrence of defective products can be checked. Be able to assist in investigating the cause.

[0042]

According to the present invention, each detected value of a collection item such as a detection state of a foreign substance is stored for each type of inspection object, and at the time of statistical output, the type of inspection object, inspection period,
It is possible to execute predetermined statistical processing in units of date and lot and output it externally. Accordingly, it is possible to perform statistics including the same product at different inspection times and to perform another statistics, thereby enabling various statistical outputs. In particular, even if there are a plurality of statistics collection items, flexible statistical processing can be performed, and it is possible to support the inspection of the operation state of the production line and the analysis of causes when foreign substances are mixed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external 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 setting screen for statistical output.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a period setting and a kind list screen.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating statistical processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a type change state on a line.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a printout state of a statistical result.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an X-ray foreign matter detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... X-ray foreign substance detection device, 3 ... conveyance part, 8 ... X-ray generator,
9 X-ray detector, 13 processing means, 14 storage unit, 15
... Display unit, 16 ... Statistical processing unit, 17 ... Printing unit, 18 ... Item setting unit, 19 ... Operation unit, W ... Inspection object.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Kimura 5-10-27 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Anritsu Corporation F-term (reference) 2G001 AA01 BA11 CA01 DA01 DA02 DA08 FA01 FA06 FA29 FA30 GA05 HA13 JA09 JA16 KA03 KA05 LA01 LA03 LA06 NA17 PA03 PA11

Claims (4)

[Claims] An X-ray is emitted to an inspection object (W) sequentially conveyed on a transportation line, and the amount of X-ray transmitted through the inspection object with the X-ray exposure. X-ray detector (9) for detecting the presence of foreign matter in the object to be inspected by the X-ray detector (9). Processing means (13) for judging the detection state of foreign matter inside the inspection object
An item setting unit (18) for setting collection items necessary for statisticization of the inspection processing of the inspection object; and a detection unit that is detected by the processing unit in units of a type of the inspection object transported on the transport line. The respective detection values of the collection items such as the detection state of the foreign matter are sequentially stored in the storage unit (14).
A statistical processing unit (16) for executing predetermined statistical processing based on the collection items stored in the storage unit and outputting the data externally when the statistical output is performed; 2. The statistical processing unit according to claim 1, wherein a statistical processing result based on the collection items stored in the storage unit is printed out on a printing unit when a print issuance request is issued. X-ray foreign matter detector. 3. The statistical processing unit (16) automatically prints out the statistical processing result from the printing unit (17) every time the type of the inspection object (W) on the transport line is changed. 2. The X-ray foreign matter detector according to 2. 4. The statistical processing unit (16) performs a statistical process based on the collection items stored in the storage unit (14) by combining each unit of a type, an inspection period, a date, and a lot of an inspection object. X according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is executable.
Line foreign matter detection device.