JP2004317188A - Visual inspection apparatus and ptp packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visual inspection apparatus capable of certainly detecting foreign matters even when there is identification data in the sheet part other than the pocket part of a PTP sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The visual inspection apparatus K1 is constituted so that the presence of foreign matters is inspected after tablets 5 are charged in the respective pocket parts 2 formed on the PTP sheet 10. The pocket parts 2a and non-pocket parts 2b of the PTP sheet 10 are illuminated by an illumination means 11 and reflected light is detected by a CCD (charge coupled device) camera 12 while the image data obtained from the reflected light is processed by an image processor 13. A CPU (central processing unit) 20 performs the setting of the illumination condition of the background region R2 of the non-pocket parts 2b (S21), image capture processing (S22), binarization processing (S23) and foreign matter detecting processing (S24). Further, the CPU 20 performs the setting of the illumination condition of an identification region R1 (S26), image capture processing (S27), binarization processing (S28) and foreign matter detecting processing (S29) to perform the inspection of foreign matter on the basis of these processings (S30). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field including a visual inspection device for inspecting a PTP sheet and a PTP packaging machine equipped with the visual inspection device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a PTP sheet is composed of a container film in which a pocket portion into which a tablet or the like is put is formed, and a sealing film fixed to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion in the container film. ing. Then, before the container film and the sealing film are fixed to each other, a tablet or the like is put into the pocket portion.
[0003]
As a PTP sheet appearance inspection apparatus configured as described above, there is known an apparatus capable of inspecting the PTP sheet for the presence or absence of foreign matter such as hair (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
Further, as another tablet inspection device, there is one in which an imaging unit images a tablet, binarizes image information from the tablet, and inspects the tablet for the presence or absence of a defect or foreign matter (see Patent Document 2). ).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-39484
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-4-36643
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the appearance inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the color character area and the tablet area of the image for determining foreign matter inspection are masked, and it is determined whether or not there is a foreign matter such as hair in the unmasked portion. ing. Therefore, even if there is a foreign substance in a color character area or the like, the presence or absence of the foreign substance cannot be detected because the mask is masked.
[0007]
Further, in the case of the tablet inspection apparatus described in Patent Literature 2, the inspection is only for inspecting the presence or absence of a defect or foreign matter on the tablet, and is not an inspection for the presence or absence of foreign matter on a sheet other than the pocket portion of the PTP sheet. .
[0008]
By the way, in recent years, identification information such as characters and numerals such as product descriptions is printed in black ink on a sheet portion other than the pocket portion of the PTP sheet. This black identification information may be erroneously recognized as foreign matter such as dust on the PTP sheet, and it is difficult to treat a sheet portion other than the pocket portion as an inspection target in order to prevent erroneous recognition. Therefore, when the identification information is attached to the sheet portion other than the pocket portion, the foreign material is not detected in the sheet portion, and the foreign material detection of the entire PTP sheet is not always sufficient.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an appearance inspection apparatus and a PTP packaging machine capable of reliably detecting foreign matter even when identification information is present in a sheet portion other than a pocket portion of a PTP sheet. Providing is one of the main purposes.
[0010]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
The characteristic means capable of achieving the above object will be described below. In addition, characteristic actions and effects of each means will be described as necessary.
[0011]
Means 1. The illuminating means irradiates light on the PTP sheet provided with the pocket portion and the non-pocket portion other than the pocket portion, the imaging means receives the light from the illuminated PTP sheet, and the obtained image data is used as the foreign matter inspection means. In a visual inspection device that processes and inspects for the presence of foreign matter,
The foreign substance inspection unit is configured to perform a foreign substance inspection based on an identification area condition for an identification area to which identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached, and to perform a foreign substance inspection on a background area to which the identification information of the non-pocket part is not attached. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized by switching between a foreign substance inspection based on a background area condition and performing the inspection. still. The “identification information” is, for example, a character, a symbol, a pattern, or the like attached to represent a product name, a product description, or the like, and may be described by printing or the like, or may be attached in other forms. .
[0012]
According to the above means 1, the foreign matter inspection means inspects foreign matter in the identification area of the non-pocket portion under the identification area condition. Since the identification information is attached to the identification area, when the illumination means illuminates the identification area and the imaging means captures an image, the amount of light received by the imaging means from the identification area is small. Therefore, the image data obtained from the imaging means does not reach a sufficient level, and there is a possibility that a sufficient foreign substance cannot be detected. However, by taking measures such as an increase in the amount of illumination of the illuminating means or a change in the level of a threshold value during image data processing under the identification area condition, foreign substances in the identification area can be reliably detected.
[0013]
Further, the foreign matter inspection means inspects foreign matter in the background area of the non-pocket portion under the background area condition. Since identification information is not added to the background area, when the illumination unit illuminates the background area and the imaging unit captures an image, the amount of light received by the imaging unit from the identification region is large. Therefore, the image data obtained from the imaging means reaches a sufficient level, and foreign matter in the background area can be reliably detected. However, similarly to the case where the background area condition is the identification area condition, for example, when the illumination light amount of the illumination unit is large, the level of the image data is too high, and it is rather difficult to detect the foreign matter in the background area. Therefore, by appropriately setting the background region condition to be different from the identification region condition, it is possible to reliably detect the foreign matter in the background region.
[0014]
Means 2. The illuminating means irradiates light on the PTP sheet provided with the pocket portion and the non-pocket portion other than the pocket portion, the imaging means receives the light from the illuminated PTP sheet, and the obtained image data is used as the foreign matter inspection means. In a visual inspection device that processes and inspects for the presence of foreign matter,
An identification area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached, and an area determination unit that determines a background area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is not attached,
Under the judgment of the area discriminating means, a foreign substance inspection based on an identification area condition for an identification area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached, and a foreign substance inspection for a background area to which the identification information of the non-pocket section is not attached. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized in that the inspection is performed by switching between a foreign matter inspection based on background area conditions.
[0015]
According to the above means 2, the area determining means determines the identification area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached and the background area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is not attached. The foreign matter inspection means inspects foreign matter in the identification area under the identification area condition in the manner described in the above means 1. The foreign matter inspection means inspects the foreign matter in the background area of the non-pocket portion under the background area condition in the manner described in the above means 1. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect foreign matter in the identification area and the background area.
[0016]
Means 3. In the appearance inspection apparatus according to the above means 1 or 2, the foreign matter inspection means includes a binarization means for binarizing the identification area with an identification area condition or the background area with a background area condition. The appearance inspection apparatus according to the above description.
[0017]
According to the means 3, the identification area to which the identification information such as the character and the symbol is attached is binarized based on the identification area condition. In this case, when the illuminating unit illuminates the identification area and the imaging unit captures an image, even if the amount of light received by the imaging unit from the identification area is small, the image data obtained from the imaging unit may have a level adjusted threshold value, for example. The binarization is performed based on the identification area condition. Thereby, the foreign matter in the identification area is reliably detected.
[0018]
In addition, a background area to which no identification information is attached is binarized by the background area condition. In this case, when the illumination unit illuminates the background area and the imaging unit captures an image, the identification information is not attached and the amount of light received by the imaging unit from the identification region is large. Foreign matter in the background area can be reliably detected. However, if the image data is processed with the background area condition having the same threshold value as the identification area condition, the amount of light received by the imaging unit is too large, so that it is rather difficult to detect foreign matter in the background area. Therefore, when the image data is binarized, the region condition is appropriately set so as to be different from the identification region condition, so that the foreign matter in the background region is reliably detected.
[0019]
Means 4. In the visual inspection device according to the means 3, a threshold condition for discriminating between an identification area with a foreign substance and an identification area without a foreign substance is set as the identification area condition at the level of the image data obtained from the imaging means. A visual inspection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0020]
According to the means (4), the identification area having the foreign matter and the identification area having no foreign matter are reliably determined based on the threshold condition of the identification area condition.
[0021]
Means 5. In the visual inspection device according to the above means 3, as the background area condition, a threshold condition for discriminating a background area having a foreign substance and a background area having no foreign substance is set in a level of image data obtained from the imaging means. A visual inspection device characterized by being performed.
[0022]
According to the means 5, the background region having the foreign matter and the background region having no foreign matter are reliably determined based on the threshold value of the background region condition.
[0023]
Means 6. The appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of the above means 1 to 4, wherein the foreign matter inspection means grasps in advance an output value of the imaging means corresponding to a reflected light amount of the identification area.
[0024]
Since the identification information is attached to the identification area of the non-pocket portion, the amount of light received by the imaging means from the identification area is small. Therefore, the image data obtained from the imaging means does not reach a sufficient level, and there is a possibility that a sufficient foreign substance cannot be detected. However, according to the means 6, since the output value of the imaging means corresponding to the reflected light amount of the identification area is grasped, measures such as changing the level of the threshold value in the image data processing under the identification area condition are taken. As a result, foreign matter in the identification area can be reliably detected.
[0025]
Means 7. 7. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area determination unit includes a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position when determining the identification area and the background area. apparatus. As a method of position adjustment, a reference position is provided on the PTP sheet to prevent a position shift occurring in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the PTP sheet, and the amount of position shift between the position of the end face of the PTP sheet and the reference position is determined. It may be calculated and corrected.
[0026]
According to the above means 7, since the position adjusting means adjusts the position when judging the identification area and the background area, even if the position of the PTP sheet changes, the area judging means makes sure the identification area and the background area. Can be determined. This makes it possible to reliably detect foreign matter in the identification area and the background area.
[0027]
Means 8. In the appearance inspection device according to any one of the above means 1 to 7, the foreign matter inspection means may be illumination based on an identification area illumination condition for illuminating the identification area, or background area illumination for illuminating the background area. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized by switching illumination based on conditions.
[0028]
According to the above means 8, at the time of foreign substance inspection of the identification area, illumination based on the identification area illumination condition for illuminating the identification area is performed. Since the identification information is attached to the identification area, the amount of light received by the imaging unit from the identification area is small. Therefore, the image data obtained from the imaging means does not reach a sufficient level, and there is a possibility that a sufficient foreign substance cannot be detected. However, by taking measures such as increasing the amount of illumination light of the illumination means under the set identification area illumination condition, foreign substances in the identification area can be reliably detected.
[0029]
Further, at the time of the foreign substance inspection of the background area, illumination based on the background area illumination condition for illuminating the background area is performed. Since no identification information is given to the background area, the amount of light received by the imaging unit is large. Therefore, the image data obtained from the imaging means reaches a sufficient level, and foreign matter in the background area can be reliably detected. However, similarly to the case where the background area illumination condition is the identification area illumination condition, for example, when the illumination light amount of the illumination unit is large, the level of the image data is too high, so that it is rather difficult to detect the foreign matter in the background area. Therefore, by appropriately setting the background region illumination condition to be different from the identification region illumination condition, it is possible to reliably detect the foreign matter in the background region.
[0030]
Means 9. In the appearance inspection device according to any one of the above means 1 to 8, the illumination light amount of the illumination means is adjusted to illuminate the identification information illumination condition for illuminating the identification area or the background area. An appearance inspection apparatus, wherein lighting conditions for background information are set.
[0031]
According to the means 9, the illumination information amount of the illumination means is adjusted, so that the identification information illumination condition or the background area illumination condition is set. In this case, when the amount of light received from the identification region or the background region received by the imaging unit is small and the foreign matter inspection is not performed accurately, the identification information illumination condition or the background region illumination condition is set so that the illumination amount of the illumination unit increases. Are set respectively. Conversely, when the amount of light received from the identification area or the background area received by the imaging means is large and the foreign substance inspection is not performed accurately, the identification information illumination condition or the background area illumination condition is set so that the illumination light quantity of the illumination means decreases. Is set. Thus, even if the light reflectance of the identification area or the background area is different, the illumination amount of the illuminating means for illuminating the identification area or the background area becomes appropriate, so that the foreign matter in the identification area or the background area can be accurately inspected. .
[0032]
Means 10. In the appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of the means 1 to 9, the output signal of the imaging unit is adjusted to set the identification information illumination condition or the background information illumination condition. Appearance inspection device.
[0033]
According to the above means 10, when the identification information illumination condition or the background information illumination condition is set, the output signal of the imaging means obtained from the identification area or the background area is adjusted. As a result, the phenomenon that the output signal of the imaging unit approaches, for example, the upper limit and the foreign substance inspection cannot be performed does not occur, and no trouble occurs in the foreign substance inspection.
[0034]
Means 11. In the visual inspection device according to the means 10, when the identification information illumination condition or the background information illumination condition is set, an output signal of the imaging unit is set so as not to approach an upper limit value. Features a visual inspection device.
[0035]
According to the means 11, the identification area lighting condition or the background area lighting condition is set so that the output signal of the imaging means does not approach the upper limit value. Accordingly, when the illumination unit illuminates under the set identification region illumination condition or the background region illumination condition, the output signal of the imaging unit does not approach the upper limit value, so that the foreign substance inspection is smoothly performed.
[0036]
Means 12. In the visual inspection device according to any one of the means 1 to 11, the exposure time when the imaging unit is exposed to light from the PTP sheet is adjusted to expose the identification area. Wherein the identification region exposure condition or the background region exposure condition for exposing the background region is set.
[0037]
According to the means 12, by adjusting the exposure time when the imaging means is exposed, the identification information exposure condition or the background information exposure condition is set. In this case, when the amount of light received from the identification area or the background area received by the imaging unit is small and the foreign substance inspection is not accurately performed, the identification information exposure condition or the background information exposure condition is set so that the exposure time increases. Are set respectively. Conversely, when the amount of light received from the identification area or the background area received by the imaging unit is large and the foreign substance inspection is not performed accurately, the identification information exposure condition or the background information exposure condition is set so that the exposure time is reduced. Are set respectively. Thereby, even if the reflectance of the identification area or the background area is different, the exposure time for illuminating the identification area or the background area is adjusted, so that the presence or absence of foreign matter in the identification area or the background area can be accurately inspected. .
[0038]
Means 13. In the visual inspection device according to any one of the above means 1 to 12, the light from the PTP sheet is used to adjust the aperture of the light when the imaging means is exposed, thereby exposing the identification area. An appearance area inspection condition for setting an identification area exposure condition or a background area exposure condition for exposing the background area.
[0039]
According to the means 13, the identification information exposure condition or the background information exposure condition is set by adjusting the aperture amount of the light received by the imaging means. In this case, when the amount of light from the identification area or the background area received by the imaging unit is small and the foreign matter inspection is not performed accurately, the identification information exposure condition or the background information is set such that the aperture of the light is reduced. Exposure conditions are set respectively. Conversely, when the amount of light received from the identification area or the background area received by the imaging means is large and the foreign substance inspection is not performed accurately, the identification information exposure condition or the background information is adjusted so that the aperture of the light increases. Each exposure condition is set. Thus, even if the light reflectance or the like of the identification area or the background area is different, the aperture of the light is adjusted, so that the presence or absence of foreign matter in the identification area or the background area can be accurately inspected.
[0040]
Means 14. In the appearance inspection device according to any one of the above means 1 to 13, the foreign matter inspection means may be configured such that, when the PTP sheet is continuously conveyed, image data based on illumination of the identification area, and image data of the background area. An appearance inspection apparatus, which corrects a positional shift between the PTP sheet and image data based on illumination due to conveyance of the PTP sheet.
[0041]
Since the PTP sheet is continuously conveyed, a positional shift occurs between the image data based on the illumination for the pocket and the image data based on the illumination for the non-pocket. However, according to the means 14, since the position shift due to the conveyance of the PTP sheet is corrected, it is possible to perform the detection with higher accuracy.
[0042]
Means 15. In any one of the above means 1 to 14, illumination for the pocket portion under the illumination condition of the pocket portion for inspecting the foreign material in the pocket portion, and illumination of the non-pocket portion for inspecting the foreign material in the non-pocket portion may be performed. An appearance inspection apparatus comprising: an illumination control unit that alternately performs illumination for a non-pocket portion.
[0043]
According to the means 15, the illumination for the pocket portion and the illumination for the non-pocket portion are alternately performed, and the inspection of foreign matter in the pocket portion and the inspection of foreign material in the non-pocket portion are alternately performed. Therefore, the foreign substance inspection of the whole PTP sheet having the pocket portions and the non-pocket portions alternately can be smoothly performed.
[0044]
Means 16. In the appearance inspection device according to any one of the above means 1 to 15, the image data processing by the illumination for the pocket portion is performed before the image data processing by the illumination for the non-pocket portion, and the image data processing by the illumination for the non-pocket portion is performed. An appearance inspection apparatus, comprising: an image data processing unit that eliminates the influence of the pocket illumination when performing image data processing.
[0045]
Since the pocket into which the tablet is inserted is bulged in a protruding manner, there is a concern that the bulge and the shadow of the tablet may cause erroneous detection as if the non-pocket had foreign matter. In this regard, according to the means 16, the illumination for the pocket portion is performed before the illumination for the non-pocket portion, and the foreign substance inspection for the pocket portion is performed before the foreign substance inspection for the non-pocket portion. When performing image data processing using illumination for pockets, image data processing is performed to eliminate the influence of illumination for pockets. Therefore, at the time of the foreign substance inspection of the non-pocket part, the influence of the foreign substance inspection result of the pocket part is removed, and erroneous detection due to a shadow such as a protruding bulge of the pocket part can be prevented.
[0046]
Means 17. In the appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of the means 1 to 16, the identification information is ink that has a property of transmitting infrared light, and the illuminating means can irradiate infrared light. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized in that the means has sensitivity to infrared light.
[0047]
According to the means (17), when the reflected light of the identification information irradiated with the light including the infrared light by the illumination means is imaged by the imaging means having sensitivity to the infrared light, the color of the sheet to which the identification information is attached is given. Regardless of this, a video signal is output in which the brightness of the identification information itself is higher than that of the foreign substance in the identification area where the identification information exists. Therefore, there is no need to change the illumination color tone or apply a color filter depending on the color of the identification information, and it is possible to simplify the optical setting.
[0048]
Means 18. A PTP packaging machine provided with the visual inspection device according to any one of the above means 1 to 17.
[0049]
By providing the PTP packaging machine with the appearance inspection device specified by each of the above-described means as in the means 18, the sheet can be inspected in the packaging process by the PTP packaging machine. Thus, a PTP sheet in which a defect is found during or after packaging can be eliminated.
[0050]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0051]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the PTP sheet is inspected in the PTP packaging machine P1 by equipping the PTP packaging machine P1 with a PTP sheet appearance inspection device K1.
[0052]
First, the PTP packaging machine P1 in which the appearance inspection of the PTP sheet is performed will be briefly described. The PTP packing machine P1 is for automatically packing tablets into PTP sheets. Specifically, a light-transmitting film 3 such as polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride is fed into the heating plate 4a and the forming plate 4b by the film feed roll 3a and the tension rolls 3b and 3c, and the pocket portion 2a (see FIG. 2) is formed into a film 3. When the pockets 2a corresponding to the molding plate 4b are formed on the film 3 as described above, flat non-pockets 2b are formed between the pockets 2a. For this reason, the cross section of the film 3 along the longitudinal direction has a shape in which the non-pocket portions 2b and the pocket portions 2a are alternately formed at predetermined intervals. On the non-pocket portion 2b of the film 3, identification information 2c (see FIG. 6) such as characters, numerals, symbols, and patterns such as product descriptions (for example, "AB50") is printed with black ink. When the film 3 in which the pocket portions 2a are formed is sent below the tablet input shutter 6 serving as the tablet input means, the tablets 5 are automatically filled in each pocket portion 2a by the tablet input shutter 6. .
[0053]
Further, an aluminum sealing film 7 is fed through the tension rolls 7a and 7b onto the film 3 in which the pockets 2a are filled with the tablets 5, and fixed by a pair of seal rolls 8 and 9 as sealing means. Can be Thus, a film-shaped PTP sheet 10 in which the tablets 5 are filled in the respective pocket portions 2a is manufactured (see FIG. 4). After the film-shaped PTP sheet 10 is cut into a sheet shape, it is sequentially sent to a not-shown defective sheet discharging mechanism, a PTP sheet stacking mechanism, and the like.
[0054]
Next, the appearance inspection device K1 of the PTP sheet 10 in which the pockets 2a are filled with the tablets 5 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The visual inspection device K1 includes a lighting unit 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), a CCD camera 12 as an imaging unit, an image processing unit 13 as an image data processing unit, and the like.
[0055]
The illuminating means 11 includes an LED (not shown) having a light amount adjusting function for illuminating with a set light amount based on set lighting conditions. In this case, the illumination light amount of the illumination unit 11 is set to one of a plurality of levels under the control of the CPU 20 as the exposure control unit.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing device 13 includes a shading correction unit 14, an image memory 16, a shading correction table 18, a CPU 20, a determination memory 22, an input / output interface 23, a visual inspection result and statistical data memory 24, a camera timing It comprises control means 26 and the like.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 6, the CCD camera 12 receives reflected light of L1, L2, and L3 within a certain area and two-dimensionally captures the image. The captured two-dimensional image data is converted from an analog signal for each pixel. They are converted into digital signals and output. The image memory 16 sequentially stores digitized two-dimensional image data and stores it as two-dimensional image data. Here, before the two-dimensional image data is stored in the image memory 16 by the CPU 20, the shading correction means 14 performs shading correction in accordance with the data of the shading correction table 18. In this shading correction, since there is a technical limit in uniformly illuminating the entire PTP sheet 10 with the illumination light of the illumination means 11, the variation in the brightness of the video data caused by the brightness of the light due to the difference in the position is considered. This is performed for correction.
[0058]
The image memory 16 stores not only multi-valued data output from the shading correction unit 14 but also data that has been subjected to image processing by the CPU 20 or in the process of image processing, for example, binarized data. The binarized two-dimensional image data stored in the image memory 16 is used at the time of foreign substance inspection.
[0059]
The CPU 20 as image data processing means executes image data processing using various image processing programs, foreign matter detection programs, and other programs while using the storage contents of the determination memory 22 and the like. The determination memory 22 stores threshold data (described later) for performing image processing by the CPU 20, and the presence / absence of a foreign substance can be inspected based on the threshold data.
[0060]
The input / output interface 23 is for transmitting control signals to the PTP packaging machine P1 or receiving various signals such as operation signals from the PTP packaging machine P1. By transmitting and receiving these various signals, for example, a defective sheet discharging mechanism of the PTP packaging machine P1 can be controlled. The input / output interface 23 is for transmitting display data to the monitor 25, and can display two-dimensional image data, a visual inspection result, and the like on the monitor 25.
[0061]
The test result and statistical data memory 24 stores test result data, statistical data obtained by probabilistically processing the test result data, and the like. These inspection result data and statistical data are also used at the time of foreign substance inspection, and can be displayed on the monitor 25 under the control of the CPU 20. Further, the CPU 20 can transmit a control signal to the PTP packaging machine P1 based on the appearance inspection result data and the statistical data.
[0062]
The camera timing control means 26 controls the timing at which two-dimensional image data captured by the CCD camera 12 is captured. Such timing is performed based on a signal from an encoder (not shown) provided in the PTP packaging machine P1.
[0063]
Here, the relationship between the CCD camera 12 and the illumination means 11 will be described. The illuminating means 11 and the CCD camera 12 are arranged on the front side of the PTP sheet 10 after the sealing film 7 is adhered, as shown in FIG. Then, the illumination unit 11 illuminates the PTP sheet 10 in which each pocket 2a is filled with the tablet 5. The CCD camera 12 receives reflected light within a certain area and performs two-dimensional imaging.
[0064]
The tablets 5 to be filled one by one into the pockets 2a have various forms and the like, and the reflectance of the pockets 2a filled with the tablets 5 differs depending on the tablets 5. The reflectance of the non-pocket portion 2b (the aluminum sealing film described later) is different from the reflectance of light of the pocket portion 2a filled with the tablet 5. An area including a portion of the non-pocket portion 2b to which the identification information 2c is attached (hereinafter, referred to as an identification region R1) is a region of the non-pocket portion 2b to which the identification information 2c is not attached (hereinafter, referred to as a background region R2). ) And the presence or absence of the identification information 2c, the light reflectance differs. Furthermore, the light reflectance differs depending on whether there is a foreign substance in the identification region R1 of the non-pocket portion 2b and whether there is a foreign substance in the background region R2. Although the identification region R1 shown in FIG. 6 is described as a rectangular frame including the identification information 2c, the shape is not necessarily limited to the shape including the identification information 2c. As described above, when the CCD camera 12 outputs a signal having a magnitude divided from the “0” stage to the “255” stage for each pixel, the CCD camera 12 reflects when the magnitude of the output signal is close to the “0” stage. Light intensity is low. On the other hand, when the magnitude of the output signal is close to the “255” level, the amount of reflected light is large. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when the illuminating unit 11 irradiates the PTP sheet 10 with a constant light amount, the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light from the identification area R1 where there is no foreign matter outputs an output value D2, The CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the identification region R1 where the foreign matter is present outputs an output value D1. Further, the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the background region R2 having no foreign matter outputs an output value D4, and the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the background region R2 having a foreign matter outputs the output value D3. Therefore, in order to detect the presence / absence of a foreign object from the output value D1 and the output value D2 of the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the identification area R1, the identification area condition (threshold condition) is larger than the output value D1 and the output value. It is necessary to set a threshold value Q1 smaller than D2. Similarly, in order to detect the presence / absence of a foreign object from the output value D3 and the output value D4 of the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the background area R2, the background area condition (threshold condition) is set to be larger than the output value D3 and output. It is necessary to set a threshold value Q2 smaller than the value D4. It goes without saying that the numerical values of the output signals and the output values D1 to D4 are merely examples.
[0065]
Thus, even if the illumination means 11 irradiates the PTP sheet 10 with a constant light amount, the reflected light amounts from the pocket portion 2a and the non-pocket portion 2b (identification region R1 and background region R2) are different. Therefore, in order to obtain the required amount of reflected light and detect the presence or absence of a foreign substance, a pocket portion illumination condition described later is set, and further, the identification region illumination condition and the background region illumination condition of the non-pocket portion illumination condition are individually set. Is set. Under the setting, the illumination unit 11 illuminates the reflected light amount pocket portion 2a and the non-pocket portion 2b (including the identification region R1 and the background region R2) with an appropriate amount of light. In this case, the amount of light reflected from the identification region R1 of the PTP sheet 10 is grasped in advance, and the illumination time of the illumination means 11 is adjusted appropriately. Also, with respect to an aperture member (not shown) for adjusting the amount of light received by the CCD camera 12 from the PTP sheet 10, the amount of aperture of the light is appropriately adjusted. Since the pocket 2a protrudes from the PTP sheet 10 to the front side and the tablet 5 is contained in the pocket 2a, it is as if the non-pocket 2b has foreign matter due to the bulging and the shadow of the tablet 5. Is erroneously detected. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the image data processing by illumination of the pocket 2a is performed before the image data processing by illumination of the non-pocket 2b. In order to remove the influence of the image data processing result of 2a, "mask" is applied.
[0066]
Note that “mask” data for removing the influence of the image data processing result of the pocket portion 2 a is stored in the image memory 16 in advance. However, when the “mask” is applied, the position is corrected by transporting the PTP sheet 10. In detail, as shown in FIG. 6, the CCD camera 12 receives the reflected light in the fixed area L1 under the illumination for the pocket 2a by the illumination means 11, and under the control of the camera timing control means 26, The first video signal is captured at a predetermined timing. Next, while the PTP sheet 10 is being conveyed, the CCD camera 12 receives the reflected light in the fixed area L2 under the illumination of the background area illumination condition of the non-pocket portion 2b of the illumination means 11, and the camera timing control means 26 The second video signal is captured at a predetermined timing under the control of. Further, while the PTP sheet 10 is being conveyed, the CCD camera 12 receives the reflected light in the certain area L3 under the illumination of the identification area illumination condition of the non-pocket portion 2b of the illumination means 11, and the camera timing control means 26 Under control, a third video signal is captured at a predetermined timing. In this case, there is a time difference between the timing of capturing the first video signal, the timing of capturing the second video signal, and the timing of capturing the third video signal. Is transported. For this reason, a positional shift occurs between the first video signal (image data) based on the pocket illumination and the second and third video signals (image data) based on the non-pocket illumination. In order to prevent the adverse effect of the displacement, a mask having a corrected time difference is prepared so as to eliminate the influence of the image data processing result of the pocket portion 2a during the image data processing of the non-pocket portion 2b. In this case, the positions of the pocket portion 2a and the non-pocket portion 2b of the PTP sheet 10 are grasped in advance and used for forming a mask. In addition, the transport speed of the PTP sheet 10 and the amount of positional deviation due to the time difference between the first, second, and third timings under the control of the camera timing control unit 26 are grasped in advance and used for correcting the time difference. The areas L2 and L3 are transported in the transport direction by the time difference from the position of the area L1. However, in FIG. 6, for the sake of simplicity, the areas L2 and L3 are displayed slightly shifted in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. ing.
[0067]
Next, the appearance inspection of the PTP film 10 by the appearance inspection device K1 in the PTP packaging machine P1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In step S1, as shown in FIG. 7, foreign matter detection processing for the pocket portion 2a is performed. When inspecting for foreign matter in the pocket 2a, illumination conditions for the pocket are set, and the illuminating means 11 emits a predetermined amount of light. The reflected light from the PTP sheet 10 is received by the CCD camera 12, and the obtained image data is processed by the CPU 20 to check for the presence of foreign matter.
[0068]
In step S2, a foreign object detection process for the non-pocket portion 2b is performed. In the case of the foreign substance inspection for the non-pocket portion 2b, the amount of reflected light from the PTP sheet 10 differs between the identification region R1 having the identification information in the non-pocket portion 2b and the background region R2 having no identification information in the non-pocket portion 2b. I do. Therefore, in the case of the foreign substance inspection of the non-pocket portion 2b, the identification region illumination condition for the identification region R1 or the background region illumination condition for the background region R2 is set. Under the set identification area illumination condition or background area illumination condition, the illumination means 11 irradiates light, the illuminated reflected light from the PTP sheet 10 is received by the CCD camera 12, and the obtained image data is transmitted to the CPU 20 by the CPU 20. Process and inspect for foreign matter. Then, in the case of the foreign substance inspection of the identification area R1, a threshold condition (threshold Q1 in FIG. 5) for discriminating the identification information R1 with the foreign substance and the identification information R1 without the foreign substance is set as the identification area condition. Is inspected for the presence of foreign matter. In the case of the foreign substance inspection of the background area R2, a threshold condition (threshold Q2 in FIG. 5) for determining the background area R2 having the foreign substance and the background area R2 having no foreign substance is set. Will be inspected. After the non-pocket portion 2b foreign object detection process (S2), the pocket portion 2a foreign object detection process (S1) is performed again, and steps S1 and S2 are repeated alternately.
[0069]
Next, the specific contents of the foreign matter detection processing of the pocket portion 2a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 8, in step S11, when the illuminating means 11 illuminates the pocket 2a, the illumination conditions of the pocket are set. First, it is determined whether the amount of reflected light from the pocket 2a is large. That is, it is determined whether or not the output signal of the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light is large. When it is determined that the amount of reflected light from the pocket portion 2a is small, the illumination condition of the pocket portion is set such that the amount of illumination light of the illumination means 11 increases. Conversely, when it is determined that the amount of reflected light from the pocket 2a is large, the illumination condition of the pocket is set so that the amount of illumination of the illumination means 11 is reduced.
[0070]
More specifically, when the magnitude of the output signal of the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the pocket 2a is close to, for example, the maximum "255" stage, the illumination light amount of the illumination means 11 for illuminating the current pocket 2a is large. As too much, the illumination light amount of the illumination means 11 is reduced. Therefore, in this case, the illumination means is set so that the magnitude from the output signal of the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the pocket part 2a is smaller by a predetermined amount than the upper limit value. Eleven illumination light quantities are set.
[0071]
Next, in step S12, processing for capturing an image for the pocket portion captured by the CCD camera 12 is performed. At this time, the illumination means 11 illuminates the PTP sheet 10 according to the set pocket illumination conditions, so that the CCD camera 12 receives an appropriate amount of reflected light and captures a clear video signal.
[0072]
More specifically, the CCD camera 12 receives reflected light in the fixed area L1 (see FIG. 6) and performs two-dimensional imaging. In this case, under the illumination for the pocket portion 2a, the camera timing control means 26 captures the first video signal from the CCD camera 12. After that, the CCD camera 12 converts the captured two-dimensional image data from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the image memory 16.
[0073]
In step S13, binarization processing for the pocket portion for inspecting foreign matter in the pocket portion 2a is performed. In this case, a video signal, which is multi-value data stored in the image memory 16, is binarized by a certain threshold to obtain a binary image. The binary image has a bright level “1” when no light is blocked, and a dark level “0” when the light is completely blocked. When there is a large foreign matter other than an elongated foreign matter such as hair or fiber waste in the pocket portion 2a, the light is blocked and the dark level becomes “0”.
[0074]
In step S14, foreign matter detection processing for the pocket part for inspecting foreign matter in the pocket part 2a is performed. In the foreign matter detection processing of the pocket portion 2a, in the case of foreign matter other than slender foreign matter such as hair and fiber waste, since no or almost no light is transmitted, the image level is very dark level "0" and is determined to be defective. You. However, since slender foreign matter such as hair and fiber waste has a bright level "1" because of its fineness, it is necessary to determine whether it is a slender foreign matter such as hair and fiber waste.
[0075]
In the case of judging whether or not the object is a slender foreign object, a perimeter calculation process is performed based on the obtained binarized data, and it is judged whether or not the perimeter (the number of dots) of each connected component is equal to or longer than a long block judgment value dot. Is done. As a result of this determination, a connected component having a peripheral length less than the long block determination value dot is determined to be a non-long block, and the pocket portion 2a is determined to be good. However, the perimeter of the connected component corresponding to the elongated foreign matter is very long because of its slenderness, and exceeds the long lump determination value dot. Therefore, it is determined to be a long lump, and the pocket portion 2a is determined to be defective. .
[0076]
Next, the specific contents of the foreign matter detection processing of the non-pocket portion 2b will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0077]
In step S21 shown in FIG. 9, when the illuminating means 11 illuminates the background region R2 of the non-pocket portion 2b, a background region illumination condition is set. First, it is determined whether the amount of reflected light from the background region R2 is large. That is, it is determined whether or not the output signal from the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light from the background region R2 is large. When it is determined that the amount of reflected light from the background region R2 is small, the background region illumination condition is set such that the amount of illumination of the illumination unit 11 increases. Conversely, if it is determined that the amount of reflected light from the background region R2 is large, the background region illumination condition is set so that the amount of illumination of the illumination unit 11 decreases.
[0078]
In setting the background region illumination condition, if the magnitude of the output signal of the CCD camera 12 receiving the reflected light from the background region R2 is close to, for example, the maximum “255”, it is determined that the illumination light amount of the illumination unit 11 is too large. , Reduce the amount of illumination. Therefore, in this case, the illumination light amount is set so that the magnitude from the output signal of the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light from the background area R2 is smaller than the upper limit by a predetermined amount. Is set.
[0079]
Next, in step S22, a process of capturing an image for the background area captured by the CCD camera 12 is performed. At that time, the illuminating means 11 illuminates the PTP sheet 10 according to the set background area illumination condition, and the CCD camera 12 receives an appropriate amount of reflected light to capture a clear video signal. The process of capturing the image of the background region R2 for the non-pocket portion is the same as the process of capturing the image for the pocket portion.
[0080]
In step S23, binarization processing of the background region R2 is performed in order to inspect foreign matter in the background region R2 of the non-pocket portion 2b. This binarization processing of the background region R2 is the same as the binarization processing for the pocket portion, and the binarization is performed on the video signal which is the multi-value data stored in the image memory 16 to obtain a binary image. . As a binary image, a place where no light is blocked has a bright level “1”, whereas a place where light is completely blocked has a dark level “0”.
[0081]
In step S24, foreign matter detection processing of the background area R2 for inspecting foreign matter in the background area R2 of the non-pocket portion 2b is performed. When performing a video signal process by illuminating the background region R2, a “mask” whose position has been corrected is applied, so that erroneous detection due to a shadow such as a protruding bulge of the pocket portion 2a is prevented.
[0082]
The foreign matter detection processing of the background area R2 of the non-pocket part 2b is the same as the foreign matter detection processing of the pocket part 2a. In the case of a large foreign matter, the image level becomes dark level “0” and is determined to be defective. In addition, since the elongated foreign matter has the bright level “1”, it is determined that the elongated foreign matter is an elongated foreign matter. As a result of the determination of the slender foreign matter, if the above-described non-long block is determined, the background region R2 is determined to be good, whereas if the long block is determined, the background region R2 is determined to be defective. .
[0083]
Next, in step S25, the identification area R1 in the background area R2 of the non-pocket portion 2b is specified. Since the position of the identification region R1 in the stationary state of the PTP sheet 10 is known in advance, and the transport speed of the PTP sheet 10 is also known, the current position of the identification region R1 is recognized. In the PTP sheet 10 to be conveyed, the PTP sheet 10 may be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Therefore, when discriminating between the identification area R1 and the background area R2 of the PTP sheet 10, a reference position is provided on the PTP sheet 10 for preventing a displacement occurring in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the PTP sheet. Then, the position deviation between the detected reference position and the position of the end face of the PTP sheet 10 is calculated and corrected, and the position adjustment between the identification region R1 and the background region R2 is performed.
[0084]
Next, in step S26, when the illuminating means 11 illuminates the identification region R1 of the non-pocket portion 2b, an identification region illumination condition is set. It is determined whether the amount of reflected light from the identification region R1 is large. That is, it is determined whether or not the output signal from the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light from the identification region R1 is large. When it is determined that the amount of reflected light from the identification region R1 is small, the identification region illumination condition is set so that the illumination amount of the illumination unit 11 increases. Conversely, when it is determined that the amount of reflected light from the identification region R1 is large, the identification region illumination condition is set so that the illumination amount of the illumination unit 11 decreases.
[0085]
In setting the identification area illumination condition, if the magnitude of the output signal of the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light from the identification area R1 is close to, for example, the maximum “255”, it is determined that the illumination light amount of the illumination unit 11 is too large. , Reduce the amount of illumination. Therefore, in this case, the illumination light amount is set so that the magnitude from the output signal of the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light from the identification area R1 is smaller than the upper limit by a predetermined amount. Is set. However, since the identification area R1 has a different reflectance than the background area R2, it is necessary to set an appropriate amount of light to illuminate each of them. In this case, the set lighting condition of the identification region R1 or the lighting condition of the background region R2 does not always match.
[0086]
Next, in step S27, a process of capturing an image for the identification area captured by the CCD camera 12 is performed. At that time, the illuminating means 11 illuminates the PTP sheet 10 according to the set identification area illumination conditions, and the CCD camera 12 receives an appropriate amount of reflected light to capture a clear video signal. The process of capturing the image of the identification region R1 is the same as the process of capturing the image for the pocket portion.
[0087]
In step S28, a binarization process of the identification region R1 for inspecting a foreign substance in the identification region R1 of the non-pocket portion 2b is performed. The binarization processing of the identification region R1 is similar to the binarization processing of the pocket portion, and the video signal which is the multi-value data stored in the image memory 16 is binarized to obtain a binary image. As a binary image, a place where no light is blocked has a bright level “1”, whereas a place where light is completely blocked has a dark level “0”.
[0088]
In step S29, foreign matter detection processing for the identification area for inspecting foreign matter in the identification area is performed. In addition, when performing the video signal processing by illuminating the identification region R1, a “mask” whose position is corrected is applied, so that erroneous detection due to a shadow such as a protruding bulge of the pocket portion 2a is prevented.
[0089]
The foreign substance detection processing of the identification region R1 is the same as the foreign substance detection processing of the pocket portion 2a. In the case of a large foreign substance, the image level becomes dark level “0” and is determined to be defective. In addition, since the elongated foreign matter has the bright level “1”, it is determined that the elongated foreign matter is an elongated foreign matter. As a result of the determination of the slender foreign substance, if the above-described non-long block is determined, the identification region R1 is determined to be good, whereas if the above-described long block is determined, the identification region R1 is determined to be defective. .
[0090]
In step S30, a comprehensive determination of the foreign object detection processing is performed. This comprehensive determination is performed by comprehensive determination of the inspection result of the foreign matter attached to the pocket portion 2a and the inspection result of the foreign material attached to the identification region R1 and the background region R2 of the non-pocket portion 2b. In this case, if there is a foreign substance anywhere in the identification region R1, the background region R2, and the pocket portion 2a, it is determined to be defective. Hereinafter, when the PTP sheet 10 is conveyed, the appearance inspection device K1 inspects all the PTP sheets 10 for foreign substances attached to the pocket portions 2a and the non-pocket portions 2b.
[0091]
As described in detail above, the visual inspection apparatus K1 of this embodiment illuminates the PTP sheet 10 using the illumination means 11 to inspect the presence or absence of foreign matter in the pocket 2a and the non-pocket 2b of the PTP sheet 10. The CCD camera 12 serving as an image pickup unit receives the reflected light of the PTP sheet 10 and processes a signal obtained from the CCD camera 12. Then, the CPU 20 as the foreign matter inspection means of the background region R2 sets the illumination condition of the background region R2 (S21 of FIG. 9), the image capturing process (S22 of FIG. 9), the binarization process (S23 of FIG. 9), and Foreign matter detection processing (S24 in FIG. 9) is performed. Then, the CPU 20 as the area discriminating means and the foreign matter inspection means for the discriminating area R1 specifies the discriminating area R1 of the PTP sheet 10 (S25 in FIG. 9), and sets the illumination condition of the discriminating area R1 (S26 in FIG. 9). The image capturing process (S27 in FIG. 9), the binarization process (S28 in FIG. 9), and the foreign object detection process (S29 in FIG. 9) are performed, and based on these, the foreign object inspection (S30 in FIG. 9) is performed. Therefore, even if the reflectances from the identification region R1 and the background region R2 are different, the visual inspection device K1 determines whether the identification region R1 and the background region R2 are based on the illumination condition of the identification region R1 or the illumination condition of the background region R2. Each attached foreign substance can be inspected accurately.
[0092]
The illumination for the pocket 2a is performed before the illumination for the non-pocket 2b, the foreign substance inspection for the pocket 2a is performed before the foreign substance inspection for the non-pocket 2b, and the foreign substance inspection for the non-pocket 2b is performed. At the time of image data processing, the influence of the foreign substance inspection result of the pocket portion 2a is removed. This can prevent erroneous detection due to the shadow of the protruding bulge of the pocket portion 2a.
[0093]
Further, one illumination means 10 alternately illuminates the pocket portion 2a and the non-pocket portion 2b, and one CCD camera 12 receives reflected light from the PTP sheet 10 and outputs a video signal output from the CCD camera 12. The image processing apparatus 13 processes the image data based on the above, and alternately performs the foreign substance inspection of the pocket 2a and the foreign substance inspection of the non-pocket part 2b. Thereby, the foreign substance inspection of the entire PTP sheet 10 having the pocket portions 2a and the non-pocket portions 2b alternately can be smoothly performed. Further, only one illuminating means 10 and one CCD camera 12 are required, and the manufacturing cost of the visual inspection apparatus K1 is reduced.
[0094]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made. For example, the CCD camera 12 and the illuminating means 11 constituting the visual inspection apparatus K1 are mounted inside the PTP packaging machine P1 in FIGS. 1 and 2, but may be outside the PTP packaging machine P1.
[0095]
When setting the identification region exposure condition (illumination condition) for exposing the identification region R1 or the background region exposure condition (illumination condition) for exposing the background region R2, the exposure time (the illumination time of the illumination means 11) is set. May be adjusted, or the aperture of the CCD camera 12 that receives the reflected light may be adjusted. In such a case, when the amount of reflected light from the identification region R1 or the background region R2 is small and the foreign matter inspection is not performed accurately, the exposure time is increased or the amount of aperture of the light received by the CCD camera 12 is reduced. The identification region exposure condition or the background region exposure condition is set so as to decrease. Conversely, when the amount of reflected light from the identification area R1 or the background area R2 is large and the foreign substance inspection is not performed accurately, the exposure time is reduced, or the aperture of the light received by the CCD camera 12 is increased. The identification area exposure condition or the background area exposure condition is set.
[0096]
In particular, the exposure time (including the illumination time) may be adjusted so that the magnitude of the output signal of the CCD camera 12 does not approach the upper limit ("255" level). The aperture of the camera 12 may be adjusted. In addition, not only one of the illumination light amount of the illumination unit 11, the illumination time of the illumination unit 11, and the aperture amount of the light of the CCD camera 12, but two or more of them may be adjusted comprehensively. In short, the identification region exposure condition and the background region exposure condition are set so that the foreign substance inspection of the identification region or the background region is accurately performed.
[0097]
As the identification information 2c of the non-pocket portion 5b, an ink having transparency to infrared light may be used. In that case, the illumination unit 11 can irradiate infrared light, and the CCD camera 12 as the imaging unit is changed to have sensitivity to infrared light. As an ink having a transmittance to infrared light, for example, an ink such as Alcolor VA (trade name) manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc. is used.
[0098]
With this configuration, when the reflected light of the identification information irradiated with the light including the infrared light by the illumination unit 11 is imaged by the CCD camera 12 having sensitivity to the infrared light, the identification information 2c is described. Regardless of the color of the PTP sheet 10, a video signal in which the brightness of the identification information 2c itself is higher than that of the foreign matter in the identification area 2c where the identification information 2c exists is output. Therefore, there is no need to change the illumination color tone or apply a color filter according to the color of the identification information 2c, and it is possible to simplify optical settings.
[0099]
Further, the appearance inspection device K1 may be arranged on the upstream side of the seal roller 9.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a PTP sheet packaging machine.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the PTP packaging machine and showing a sheet being conveyed.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a PTP sheet appearance inspection apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a PTP sheet in a state where a tablet is placed in a pocket portion.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a relationship between an output value from a CCD camera and a threshold.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing a relationship between conveyance of a PTP sheet and imaging by a CCD camera.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a foreign substance detection process of the PTP sheet appearance inspection apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating foreign matter detection processing of a pocket portion of a PTP sheet.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a foreign object detection process for a non-pocket portion of a PTP sheet.
[Explanation of symbols]
2a: Pocket portion, 2b: Non-pocket portion, 5: Tablet, 7: Film, 10: PTP sheet, 11: Illumination means, 12: CCD camera as imaging means, 14: Shading correction means, 13: Image data processing means Image processing apparatus, 16 image memory, 18 shading correction table, 20 CPU as exposure control means and image data processing means, 22 determination memory, 23 input / output interface, 24 inspection results and statistical data Memory, 25 monitor, 26 camera timing control means, P1 PTP packaging machine, K1 appearance inspection device, Q1 threshold as a threshold condition, Q2 threshold as a threshold condition, S1 pocket area foreign matter inspection, S2 ... Non-pocket area foreign matter inspection, S11. Setting of illumination conditions for pocket, S12. Capture process, S13: binarization process for pocket portion, S14: Foreign object detection process for pocket portion, S21: Illumination condition setting of background region of non-pocket portion, S22: Capture process of image of background region of non-pocket portion, S23 ... Binarization processing of the non-pocket part background area, S24... Foreign object detection processing of the non-pocket part background area, S26... Lighting condition setting of the non-pocket part identification area, S27. Import processing, S28: binarization processing of the non-pocket part identification area, S29: foreign substance detection processing of the non-pocket part identification area, S30: comprehensive judgment.

Claims (18)

The illuminating means irradiates light on the PTP sheet provided with the pocket portion and the non-pocket portion other than the pocket portion, the imaging means receives the light from the illuminated PTP sheet, and the obtained image data is used as the foreign matter inspection means. In a visual inspection device that processes and inspects for the presence of foreign matter,
The foreign substance inspection unit is configured to perform a foreign substance inspection based on an identification area condition for an identification area to which identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached, and to perform a foreign substance inspection on a background area to which the identification information of the non-pocket part is not attached. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized by switching between a foreign substance inspection based on a background area condition and performing the inspection. The illuminating means irradiates light on the PTP sheet provided with the pocket portion and the non-pocket portion other than the pocket portion, the imaging means receives the light from the illuminated PTP sheet, and the obtained image data is used as the foreign matter inspection means. In a visual inspection device that processes and inspects for the presence of foreign matter,
An identification area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached, and an area determination unit that determines a background area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is not attached,
Under the judgment of the area discriminating means, the foreign matter inspection means performs a foreign matter inspection based on an identification area condition for an identification area to which the identification information of the non-pocket portion is attached, and attaches the identification information of the non-pocket portion. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized by switching between a background area that has not been subjected to a foreign substance inspection based on background area conditions. The visual inspection according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter inspection unit includes a binarization unit that binarizes the identification area based on an identification area condition or the background area based on a background area condition. apparatus. 4. A threshold condition for determining an identification area having a foreign substance and identification information having no foreign substance at a level of image data obtained from the imaging unit as the identification area condition. Appearance inspection equipment. 4. A threshold condition for discriminating a background area having a foreign substance and a background area having no foreign substance at a level of image data obtained from the imaging means as the background area condition. Appearance inspection equipment. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter inspection unit grasps in advance an output value of the imaging unit corresponding to a reflected light amount of the identification area. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area determination unit includes a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position when determining the identification area and the background area. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter inspection unit switches between illumination based on an identification region illumination condition for illuminating the identification region and illumination based on a background region illumination condition for illuminating the background region. 7. The visual inspection device according to any one of 7. 2. An illumination area condition for illuminating the identification area or a background area illumination condition for illuminating the background area is set by adjusting an illumination light amount of the illumination unit. 9. The visual inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The identification signal for illuminating the identification area or the illumination condition for the background area for illuminating the background area is set by adjusting the output signal of the imaging unit. 10. The visual inspection device according to any one of claims 9 to 9. 11. The visual inspection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the identification region illumination condition or the background region illumination condition is set, an output signal of the imaging unit is set so as not to approach an upper limit value. Exposure time when the imaging unit is exposed to light from the PTP sheet is adjusted so that an identification area exposure condition for exposing the identification area or a background area for exposing the background area The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein exposure conditions are set. The light from the PTP sheet is used to adjust the aperture of the light when the imaging unit is exposed, so that the identification area exposure condition for exposing the identification area or the exposure area for exposing the background area is performed. 13. The visual inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a background area exposure condition is set. When the PTP sheet is continuously conveyed, the foreign matter inspection unit may detect a positional shift between the image data based on the illumination of the identification area and the image data based on the illumination of the background area due to the conveyance of the PTP sheet. 14. The visual inspection device according to claim 1, wherein: Illumination for the pocket portion under the illumination condition of the pocket portion for inspecting the foreign material in the pocket portion and illumination for the non-pocket portion under the illumination condition of the non-pocket portion for inspecting the foreign material of the non-pocket portion are alternately performed. The visual inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting control unit. The image data processing by the illumination for the pocket portion is performed before the image data processing by the illumination for the non-pocket portion, and when performing the image data processing by the illumination for the non-pocket portion, the influence of the illumination for the pocket portion is reduced. 16. The visual inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising an image data processing unit for removing the image data. The identification information uses ink having a transparency with respect to infrared light, the illumination means can irradiate infrared light, and the imaging means has sensitivity to infrared light. Item 17. An appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 16. A PTP packaging machine comprising the appearance inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

Images