JP2003098108A - Apparatus and method for inspecting container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method or the like for inspecting containers whereby surfaces or the like of containers can be inspected in a wide range. SOLUTION: The container inspecting apparatus is provided with a conveyor 1 for transferring aligned PET bottles BT and a camera 3 for photographing the PET bottles BT transferred by the conveyor 1 from the side of a side face of a transfer path. In the apparatus, the PET bottle BT has side faces 2 formed nearly plane. The PET bottle BT is photographed by the camera 3 in a state in which the sides face 2 of the PET bottle BT are inclined to a transfer direction of the PET bottle BT transferred on the transfer path.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container inspection device and a container inspection method for photographing and inspecting containers conveyed in an aligned state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a PET body having a substantially rectangular prism shape
Containers such as (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles whose horizontal cross section is not circular are known. In such a container, a side face may be covered with a shrink label, or a plurality of side faces may be respectively attached with labels, and in order to inspect a label attaching position, a label defect, etc., a plurality of labels may be attached. A lateral inspection is required.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an inspection device for inspecting a label attached to a PET bottle BT having a body of a substantially rectangular prism shape. FIG. 2 shows the PET bottle BT as viewed from above (in the direction of the opening).
The PET bottles erected on 1 are arranged so that the side surface 2 of the body portion thereof is parallel or perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor 101. As shown in FIG. 2, in the conventional inspection apparatus, for example, PET bottles BT arranged in a line are arranged.
The conveyor 101 while transporting the
103 arranged on both sides of the camera and having an optical axis 103a
The PET bottle BT is photographed by using, and it is inspected based on the photographed image whether or not the label is properly attached.

[0004]

However, as shown in FIG. 2, the PET bottles BT are arranged so that the side surface 2 of the body portion is parallel or perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor 101. There is a problem that it is difficult to photograph the side surface 2 that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the. Even if the image is taken from an angle inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor 101, the adjacent PET bottles BT are shaded and a sufficient inspection cannot be performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container inspecting apparatus, a container inspecting method and the like capable of inspecting the surface of a container and the like in a wide range.

[0006]

The container inspection apparatus of the present invention is a transfer means (1) for transferring aligned containers (BT).
In a container inspection device comprising: a photographing means (3) for photographing the container (BT) conveyed by the conveying means (1) from a side surface side of the conveying path, the container (BT) has a substantially flat surface. (2), the container (BT) is photographed by the photographing means (3) in a state in which the surface (2) of the container (BT) is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction of the container (BT) conveyed on the conveyance path. It is characterized by being done.

According to this container inspection apparatus, since the container is photographed by the photographing means in a state in which the surface of the container is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the container conveyed through the conveying path, the surface of the container and the like can be widely covered. Can be photographed and inspected.

The material of the container is not limited, and includes plastic, glass, and metal containers. In addition, the use of the container is not limited, and includes food containers containing beverages, containers for pharmaceuticals, and the like.

The optical axis of the photographing means may be orthogonal to the carrying direction or may be inclined with respect to the carrying direction.

The container (BT) has four substantially planar surfaces (2) corresponding to the four side surfaces of a quadrangular prism, among the four approximately planar surfaces (2). The two surfaces (2) may be photographed by the same optical axis (3a) of the photographing means (3).

In this case, since two of the four surfaces formed in a substantially flat shape by the same optical axis can be photographed, it is possible to reduce the number of photographing means and photograph each surface. There is no need to move means.

The container (BT) may be carried by the carrying means (1) with the take-out portion of the packing material facing upward.

The image pickup means (3) includes a first image pickup device (3) and a second image pickup device (3) which are located across the transport path.
It is characterized by including.

In this case, a wide area of the container exposed on both side surfaces of the transport path can be photographed by the first photographing device and the second photographing device.

The containers (BT) may be transported by the transport means (1) in a state where they are arranged in one row.

In this case, the containers can be photographed by the photographing means without causing a blind spot due to the containers in other rows.

The container (B) conveyed by the conveying means (1)
With respect to the direction T), from the first state in which the surface (2) formed in a substantially flat surface is substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the carrying direction, the second surface is inclined with respect to the carrying direction. The container (BT) via the angle changing means may be photographed by the photographing means (3).

In this case, since the movement from the first state suitable for transportation to the second state can be performed at high speed without manpower, the inspection process can be automated.

In the first state, the surfaces (2) of the adjacent containers (BT) formed in a substantially flat shape face each other with a space therebetween, and in the second state, the corner portions of the adjacent containers (BT) are in contact with each other. May be close to each other and arranged substantially along the transport direction.

In this case, since the shadow is less likely to be formed by the adjacent container, it is possible to eliminate the blind spot of the photographing by the photographing means and set the optical axis direction of the photographing means in a wide range. Become.

The container inspection method of the present invention comprises a carrying means (1) for carrying aligned containers (BT), and a carrying means (1).
In the container inspection method for inspecting the container (BT) by using the photographing means (3) for photographing the container (BT) conveyed from the side surface of the conveyance path, the container (BT) is formed in a substantially flat shape. The container (BT) has a surface (2), and the surface (2) of the container (BT) is tilted with respect to the transport direction of the container (BT) transported through the transport path.
It is characterized by being photographed by.

According to this container inspection method, since the container is photographed by the photographing means in a state in which the surface of the container is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the container conveyed in the conveying path, the surface of the container and the like can be widely covered. Can be photographed and inspected.

The material of the container is not limited, and includes plastic, glass, and metal containers. In addition, the use of the container is not limited, and includes food containers containing beverages, containers for pharmaceuticals, and the like.

The optical axis of the photographing means may be orthogonal to the carrying direction or may be inclined with respect to the carrying direction.

The container (BT) has four substantially planar surfaces (2) corresponding to the four side surfaces of a rectangular prism, and among the four substantially planar surfaces (2). The two surfaces (2) may be photographed by the same optical axis (3a) of the photographing means (3).

In this case, since two of the four surfaces formed in a substantially flat shape by the same optical axis can be photographed, it is possible to reduce the number of photographing means and photograph each surface. There is no need to move means.

The container of the present invention is inspected by using the container inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated forms.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a container inspection device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. Figure 1
(A) is a diagram showing an arrangement of PET bottles at the time of photographing,
FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the arrangement of PET bottles before photographing.

The container inspection apparatus 100 of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle B whose body has a substantially rectangular prism shape.
This is for inspecting the position and defects of the label attached to the side surface 2 of the T.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the container inspection apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is a conveyor 1 that conveys a PET bottle BT that is erected with the take-out portion of the filling material facing upward. And a pair of cameras 3 arranged to sandwich the conveyor 1 and photograph the PET bottle BT conveyed by the conveyor 1.

As shown in FIG. 1A, PET bottle B
When the T is photographed, the PET bottles BT are placed on the conveyor 1 so that the side surfaces 2 of the PET bottles BT arranged in a row are oriented in a direction inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor 1. The angle of the side surface 2 may be about 45 degrees with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor 1 or may be different. By placing the PET bottle BT in such an orientation, all the side surfaces 2 are exposed in the side surface direction of the conveyor 1, so that each side surface 2 of the PET bottle BT passing through the position of the camera 3 is clearly seen by the camera 3. To be taken. The two side surfaces 2 exposed upward in FIG. 1 (a) are the two side surfaces exposed downward in FIG. 1 (a) by the camera 3 arranged above the conveyor 1 in FIG. 1 (a). 2 is the conveyor 1 in FIG.
Images can be taken by the cameras 3 arranged on the lower side of the.

As described above, since the side surface 2 of the PET bottle BT is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor 1, the optical axis 3
It is possible to photograph two side surfaces with the single camera 3 with the fixed a. Further, since the corner portions of the adjacent PET bottles BT face each other, the adjacent P
Each PET bottle BT can be photographed without the shadow of the ET bottle BT. Therefore, the blind spot of the inspection can be reduced, and the position and defects of the label attached to the surface of the PET bottle can be inspected over a wide range.

Although the optical axis 3a of each camera 3 is orthogonal to the carrying direction of the conveyor 1 in FIG. 1A, the optical axis 3a can be set obliquely with respect to the carrying direction.
For example, when increasing the number of cameras, the blind spot of the inspection can be further reduced by photographing from a plurality of different angles. Also in this case, since the corner portions of the adjacent PET bottles BT face each other, the angle of the optical axis 3a can be selected in a wide range, and the adjacent PE bottles BT can be selected.
The T-bottle BT can be reliably inspected without forming a shadow.

As shown in FIG. 1B, in a state before photographing by the camera, the PET bottles BT are arranged so that the side surface of each PET bottle BT is parallel or perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor 1.
Bottles BT are arranged at intervals. Then P
The ET bottle BT is rotated, and as shown in FIG.
As the corners of the ET bottle BT approach each other,
By exposing the side surfaces 2 on both sides of the conveyor 1, it is possible to photograph all the side surfaces 2. It should be noted that after photographing by the camera 3, the PET bottle BT may be rotated again in the direction as shown in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the bottle having the substantially rectangular column shape is illustrated as an example, but the shape of the bottle is not limited. For example, the present invention can be applied to a bottle having a substantially cylindrical or polygonal body.

The material of the container is not limited to PET,
Includes various plastic, glass and metal containers.
The use of the container is not limited, food containers containing beverages,
Includes containers for pharmaceutical products. Further, in FIG. 1A, the case where the direction of the optical axis 3a is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyor 1 is illustrated, but the direction of the optical axis is not limited to this. For example, the optical axis may be inclined with respect to the transport direction. The number of cameras (imaging devices) is not limited to the number in the embodiment. The camera may be a video camera or a still camera.

[0038]

As described above, according to the container inspecting apparatus or the container inspecting method of the present invention, when the container surface is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the container conveyed on the conveying path, Since the image is taken by the image taking means, the surface of the container or the like can be taken and inspected over a wide range.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a container inspection device of the present embodiment,
(A) is a diagram showing an arrangement of PET bottles at the time of photographing,
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the arrangement of PET bottles before photographing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional container inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Conveyor (conveying means) 2 side (front) 3 cameras (shooting means, shooting device) 3a optical axis BT PET bottle (container)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A container inspecting apparatus comprising: a conveying means for conveying aligned containers; and a photographing means for photographing a container conveyed by the conveying means from a side of a conveying path. A container inspection having a curved surface, wherein the container is photographed by the photographing means in a state in which the surface of the container is inclined with respect to a conveyance direction of the container conveyed through the conveyance path. apparatus. 2. The container has four substantially planar surfaces corresponding to the four side surfaces of a quadrangular prism, and two of the four substantially planar surfaces are the surfaces. The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein images are taken by the same optical axis of the imaging means. 3. The container inspecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is conveyed by the conveying means in a state in which a take-out portion for the filling is directed upward. 4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the photographing means includes a first photographing device and a second photographing device that are located with the conveyance path sandwiched therebetween. Inspection device. 5. The container is conveyed by the conveying means in a state where the containers are arranged in one row.
The container inspection device according to any one of 1. 6. The direction of the container conveyed by the conveying means is changed from a first state in which the surface formed in a substantially planar shape is substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction,
An angle changing unit that changes the surface to a second state in which it is inclined with respect to the transport direction, and the container that has passed through the angle changing unit is photographed by the photographing unit. 5. The container inspection device according to any one of 5 above. 7. In the first state, substantially planar surfaces of adjacent containers face each other with a space therebetween, and in the second state, adjacent corner portions of the containers are adjacent to each other. 7. The container inspection device according to claim 6, wherein the containers are closely arranged and are arranged substantially along the transport direction. 8. A container inspecting method for inspecting the container using a carrying means for carrying the aligned containers and a photographing means for taking an image of the container carried by the carrying means from a side surface of a carrying path, Has a substantially flat surface, and the container is photographed by the photographing means in a state in which the surface of the container is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction of the container conveyed through the conveyance path. A method for inspecting containers. 9. The container has four substantially planar surfaces corresponding to the four side surfaces of a quadrangular prism, among the four surfaces substantially planar formed by the photographing means. The container inspection method according to claim 8, wherein two surfaces are imaged at the same time. 10. A container characterized by being inspected by using the container inspection device according to claim 1.