JP2005181129A - X-ray inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately inspect zippers by distinguishing a state of normal engagement from a deviated state in the zippers. <P>SOLUTION: A zipper inspection region is specified (ST1). A section having an amount of X-ray transmission lower than that of X-ray transmission data of a packaging material is detected from among X-ray transmission data within the zipper inspection region, and a region surrounded with the contour of a region formed by the section is determined as a zipper region on the basis of the contour (ST2). The presence or absence of linearity in the X-ray transmission data within the zipper region is determined (ST3). When the linearity is absent (ST4), it is determined that an object to be inspected W is a defective item (ST5). When the linearity is present (ST6), and only one straight line is present within the zipper region (ST7), it is determined that the object to be inspected is a conforming item (ST8) . When a plurality of straight lines are present within the zipper region (ST9), it is determined that the object to be inspected is a defective item (ST10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of foreign matter in a test object, the presence or absence of a seal failure, the presence or absence of a missing part, etc. from the amount of X-ray transmission when X-rays are exposed, and in particular, the contents The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus having a function of inspecting presence / absence of a zipper and a meshing defect in an inspection object provided with a zipper in a container for housing the container.

  An X-ray inspection apparatus using X-rays is known as an apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of foreign matter in an inspection object conveyed on a product line. The X-ray inspection apparatus exposes X-rays to each type of inspection object (for example, raw meat, fish, processed food, medicine, etc.) that are sequentially transported on the transport line, and transmits the exposed X-rays. Based on the quantity, it is inspected whether foreign matter such as metal, glass, stone, bone, etc. is mixed in the object to be inspected.

  Further, in this type of X-ray inspection apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-65976), in the case of an inspected object in which contents are accommodated in a container such as a tray or a box The mask area where the area other than the position where the contents should originally exist is masked in advance, and the X-ray transmission data when the X-ray is exposed to the inspection object is equivalent to the contents in the mask area. Whether or not the contents are missing is inspected based on whether or not there is X-ray transmission data indicating the gray level.

  Further, in this type of X-ray inspection apparatus, for example, in the case of an inspection object in which the contents are accommodated in a container and the opening is sealed, such as a poultice, it is inspected for the presence or absence of foreign matter or missing parts. In addition, the presence or absence of a seal failure due to the biting of the contents into the seal portion is also inspected. In this case, the width of the seal portion of the object to be inspected is set in advance, and the X-ray transmission data when the X-ray is exposed to the object to be inspected shows a lightness level equivalent to the content in the area of the seal portion. The presence or absence of a seal failure is inspected based on whether or not X-ray transmission data exists.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), for example, contents Wa such as a poultice and a bag are accommodated in the container Wb, and the contents Wa are stored, taken out, and conveniently stored. There is a case where a zipper is attached to the container Wb in consideration.

Conventionally, in a zipper inspection having this type of zipper, whether or not the zipper has been tightly engaged and closed at the stage of packaging is detected by detecting the thickness with a contact-type thickness gauge such as a micrometer. It was. That is, if the thickness detection value by the thickness meter is a predetermined value or less, it is determined to be normal, and when the thickness detection value is a predetermined value or more, it is determined to be abnormal and a zipper inspection is performed.
JP 2003-65976 A

  However, since the conventional zipper inspection uses a contact-type thickness meter, the male part and female part of the zipper are normally meshed with each other, and the male part and female part of the zipper are not properly meshed with each other. The thickness was almost the same as that of the case, and it was difficult to distinguish between the two, making it difficult to perform an accurate zipper inspection.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in particular, it is possible to distinguish between a case where the zipper is normally meshed and a case where the zipper is not meshed well, and more accurate zipper inspection. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the above object, the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention sequentially conveys the inspection object W in which the contents Wa are accommodated in the accommodating body Wb composed of the packaging material and the zipper Wj. In an X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects the inspection object based on an X-ray transmission amount associated with the X-ray exposure,
Inspection region setting means 15a for setting a zipper inspection region Ej of a zipper provided on the inspection object;
A zipper extraction means 20 for extracting, as a zipper area, an area having a smaller amount of X-ray transmission than the packaging material from within the zipper inspection area;
Straight line calculating means 21 for calculating the number of straight lines from the linearity of the center line of the zipper area extracted by the zipper extracting means;
And a discriminating unit 22 for discriminating the presence or absence of the zipper and the presence or absence of poor meshing based on the number of straight lines calculated by the straight line calculating unit.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 2 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
In addition to determining the presence or absence of the zipper Wj and the presence or absence of poor meshing, the determining means 22 determines whether or not foreign matter is mixed depending on whether or not there is a different part in the X-ray transmission amount of the inspection object W compared to the surroundings. It is characterized by determining the presence or absence.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
In addition to determining whether or not the zipper Wj is present and whether or not there is a meshing defect, the determination unit 22 determines the X-ray transmission amount area of the contents Wa of the inspection object W and a preset shortage detection limit value. The presence or absence of a missing part of the contents of the object to be inspected is determined by comparison with the above.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 4 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
The discrimination means 22 is equivalent to the X-ray transmission amount of the content Wa of the inspection object in the seal portion area of the inspection object W in addition to the determination of the presence or absence of the zipper Wj and the determination of incompatibility. The presence or absence of a seal failure is determined based on whether or not the following X-ray transmission amount exists.

  According to the present invention, by using the X-ray transmission data at the time of X-ray exposure to the object to be inspected, the zipper does not mesh well and the package with the zipper poorly attached and the zipper is attached. Zipper inspection can be performed in such a way that products that are not present can be distinguished from normal products. Moreover, in parallel with the zipper inspection, various inspections such as foreign matter contamination inspection, seal part defect inspection, missing part inspection, etc. are performed, so multi-faceted inspection is performed to make the inspection object good and defective. Can be sorted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2A is a schematic transmission plan view of a poultice as an object to be inspected by the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a schematic transmission side view of the poultice, FIG. 2 (c) is a schematic plan view showing a zipper inspection area and a seal portion inspection area of the poultice, and FIG. 3 is an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the outline of a processing procedure at the time of zipper inspection in the X-ray inspection apparatus, and FIGS. 5A to 5F are diagrams showing examples of each state of the zipper part. FIG.

  The X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of the present example is provided in a part of the transport line, and performs a zipper inspection of the inspection object W that is sequentially conveyed at a predetermined interval, whether or not foreign matter is mixed in the inspection object W, and contents Various inspections such as the presence or absence of a defect in the seal portion Ws due to the biting of Wa and the presence or absence of a missing part due to the lack of the content Wa are performed.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 2 and the detection unit 3 are provided in the apparatus main body 4, and the display 5 is provided in the upper front portion of the apparatus main body 4.

  The conveyance unit 2 sequentially conveys the same type of inspection object W on the conveyance line at a predetermined interval. This conveyance part 2 can be comprised with the belt conveyor arrange | positioned horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body 4, for example. The conveyance unit 2 directs the inspection object W carried in from the carry-in port 7 at a predetermined conveyance speed set in advance by driving of the drive motor 6 shown in FIG. 1 toward the carry-out port 8 side (carrying direction X in the drawing). The belt surface 2a as a conveyance surface is conveyed.

  In this example, an inspection object W having a zipper portion attached to a part of the container is considered as an inspection object in consideration of convenience of storing and taking out the contents, such as a poultice and a bag. For example, when a poultice is used as the inspection object W, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), a plurality of poultices Wa that are the contents are contained in a container Wb made of a bag-like packaging material. Be contained. A zipper part Wj in which a male part and a female part are engaged with each other is attached to the upper part of the container Wb, and the periphery of the container Wb including the upper part of the zipper part Wj is a seal part. Sealed with Ws. In addition, as shown in FIG.2 (b), the part in which the zipper part Wj is provided is thick compared with the seal part Ws.

  The detection unit 3 emits X-rays to the inspection object W that is sequentially conveyed, and detects X-rays that pass through the inspection object W as the X-rays are exposed. 3, an X-ray generator 9 provided at a predetermined height above the transport unit 2 and an X-ray detector 10 provided in the transport unit 2 so as to face the X-ray generator 9 are provided. It is prepared for.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an X-ray generator 9 as an X-ray generation source has a configuration in which a cylindrical X-ray tube 12 provided inside a metal box 11 is immersed in an insulating oil (not shown), X-rays are generated by irradiating the anode target with an electron beam from the cathode of the X-ray tube 12. The X-ray tube 12 is provided in the transport width direction Y whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the transport direction X of the inspection object W. The X-rays generated by the X-ray tube 12 are exposed to the lower X-ray detector 10 in the form of a substantially triangular screen by a slit (not shown) along the longitudinal direction.

  The X-ray detector 10 detects X-rays transmitted through the inspection object W when the X-rays are exposed to the inspection object W, and according to the detected amount of X-ray transmission. An electrical signal is being output. The X-ray detector 10 is provided along a transport width direction Y that is orthogonal to the transport direction X of the inspection object W transported on the transport unit 2 on the same plane. The X-ray detector 10 uses an array line sensor including a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a line and a scintillator provided on the photodiode.

  As shown in FIG. 3, position detection means 13 for detecting the passage of the inspection object W is provided on the carry-in entrance 7 side of the transport unit 2. The position detecting means 13 is configured by a photosensor including a pair of light projecting and receiving devices provided on the entrance side of the belt conveyor as the transport unit 2. With this configuration, an ON signal is input from the position detection unit 13 to the signal processing unit 14 as a timing signal while the inspection object W passes in front of the photosensor.

  In the X-ray detector 10 having such a configuration, X-rays are exposed from the X-ray generator 9 to the inspection object W transported on the transport unit 2. Then, the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object W with the X-ray exposure to the inspection object W is received by the scintillator and converted into light. The light converted by the scintillator is received by a photodiode disposed under the scintillator. Each photodiode converts the received light into an electrical signal and outputs it. The X-ray detector 10 outputs an electric signal having a level corresponding to the intensity of the received X-ray to the signal processing means 14.

  In FIG. 3, the signal processing means 14 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and after a predetermined time using the ON signal when the position detection means 13 detects the inspection object W as a timing signal, the X-ray detector 10. Various signal processing is performed by taking in electrical signals from

  As shown in FIG. 3, the signal processing means 14 includes a setting input means 15, a storage means (data memory) 16, an outline area extraction means 17, a contents area extraction means 18, a seal area calculation means 19, and a zipper extraction means 20. , A straight line calculation means 21 and a discrimination means 22 are provided.

  The setting input means 15 includes a plurality of keys and switches operated by the user to give various settings and instructions regarding the zipper inspection, foreign object inspection, seal defect inspection, shortage inspection and display of the inspection object W. More specifically, the setting input means 15 includes an inspection area setting means 15a for inputting and setting information (dimension information) for specifying a zipper inspection area Ej as shown in FIG. Have. In this inspection area setting means 15 a, it is determined in advance on the setting screen of the display 5, for example, the position of the inspection object W by looking at a non-defective sample and knowing where the zipper portion Wj is present on the inspection object W. The zipper inspection area Ej is set by inputting numerical values from the upper end and the left and right ends.

  Further, the setting input means 15 sets the conveyance speed of the conveyance unit 2, the detection limit value used as a reference for determining the presence or absence of foreign matter in the inspection object W, and the seal at the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W. The detection limit value used as a reference for determining the presence / absence of a defect, the area (including the allowable range) of the content Wa used to determine the presence / absence of a shortage, the quantity and area ratio of the content Wa, and the content Wa A detection limit value serving as a reference for determination can be set. These detection limit values are appropriately set according to the type of the inspection object W, the type of foreign matter to be detected, and the like.

  In addition to the above settings, the setting input means 15 sees a good sample in advance and the outer dimensions (including the allowable range) of the inspection object W and the width dimension (for example, the outer diameter of the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W). In the case of a rectangular shape, it is possible to appropriately input numerical values for the dimensions from the four sides of the outer shape toward the inside. Further, the setting input means 15 inputs the number of locations having the seal portion Ws, or designates the type of the inspection object W, thereby specifying the width of the seal portion Ws corresponding to the type of the inspection object W stored in advance. Various information related to the seal portion inspection area Es of the seal portion Ws, such as setting dimensions, can also be input.

  In the storage means 16, X-ray transmission data indicating the X-ray transmission amount for each inspection object W is stored as density data corresponding to the magnitude (the density data increases and becomes dark when the X-ray transmission amount is large). Is done. This X-ray transmission data is obtained by A / D converting an electric signal from the X-ray detector 10 by an A / D converter (not shown). To explain further, in this storage means 16, every time one inspection object W is inspected, for example, 640 pieces of X-ray transmission data per line (conveying width direction Y) of the X-ray detector 10 are at least. A predetermined number of lines (480 lines) corresponding to the length in the transport direction of the inspection object W to be transported (corresponding to a detection period from the front end to the rear end) is stored.

  The contour area extraction unit 17 obtains density data based on the entire grayscale image (entire image for each inspection object W including the belt surface 2a of the transport unit 2) from the X-ray transmission data (density data) stored in the storage unit 16. An outline region indicating the inner area is extracted from the outline of the inspection object W in the created density data of the entire image. More specifically, the outer shape region extracting unit 17 obtains the entire histogram from the gray level of the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage unit 16. Then, the density data D1 of the inspection object W and the density data D2 other than the inspection object W (actually, the belt surface of the transport unit 2) are divided into binary values from the obtained entire histogram. For example, the density data D1 of the inspection object is set to 255, and the density data D2 other than the inspection object is set to 0. Then, binarized inspection object density data D1 is extracted as an outer region.

  The content area extraction unit 18 extracts the area of the content Wa of the inspection object W from the X-ray transmission data of one inspection object W stored in the storage unit 16. When extracting the area of the content Wa, a detection limit value is set in the vicinity of a substantially intermediate level between the X-ray transmission amount (concentration data) of the packaging material of the container Wb and the content Wa by the setting input means 15 in advance. Keep it. In general, the content Wa has a lower X-ray transmission than the packaging material of the container Wb. Therefore, the content area extracting unit 18 compares the density data based on the X-ray transmission data in the storage unit 16 with the detection limit value, and uses the X-ray transmission data whose density data is lower than the detection limit value as the X-ray transmission data of the content. An area of X-ray transmission data having density lower than the detection limit value is extracted as the area of the content Wa.

  The seal area calculation means 19 calculates the seal area from the outline area extracted by the outline area extraction means 17. For this seal portion area, when the seal portion inspection area Es is set from the setting input means 15, information on the seal portion Ws, for example, a numerical value of the width dimension of the seal portion Ws is input, and the seal portion inspection area Es is specified, The extracted image of the outer region is reduced by the width dimension of the seal portion Ws set and input. Then, the seal portion area is calculated by subtracting the image reduced by the width dimension of the seal portion Ws from the image of the outline region.

  The zipper extraction unit 20 reads out the entire grayscale image (overall image for each inspection object W including the belt surface 2a of the transport unit 2) from the X-ray transmission data (density data) stored in the storage unit 16, and reads this Among the X-ray transmission data, the X-ray transmission data in the zipper inspection area Ej set by the inspection area setting means 15a has a smaller X-ray transmission amount than the packaging material of the container Wb (area having a low concentration). In order to extract the image, an edge indicating a sharp density change in the grayscale image is extracted, and an area surrounded by the edge is extracted as a zipper area. Thereby, when the zipper part Wj exists in a zipper area | region, the grayscale image of the part corresponded to the zipper part Wj is extracted as a zipper area | region. In addition, when there is a sufficient contrast difference (light / dark level difference) between the X-ray transmission amount of the packaging material of the container Wb and the X-ray transmission amount of the zipper portion Wj, the X-ray transmission amount of the packaging material The zipper area can also be extracted by comparing the above. That is, an area lower than the X-ray transmission amount (density level of density data) of the packaging material in the zipper inspection area Ej set and input from the setting input means 15 is extracted as a zipper area.

  The straight line calculating means 21 calculates the center line of the zipper area by thinning the zipper area (area surrounded by the outline) extracted by the zipper extracting means 20 or degenerating the area, and calculates the linearity of the calculated center line. Judging and calculating the number of straight lines. The thinning or degeneration of the area when calculating the number of straight lines is processed so that the zipper area does not become any thinner.

  The discriminating means 22 includes a zipper defect discriminating means 22a, a foreign matter discriminating means 22b, a seal portion defect discriminating means 22c, and a missing part discriminating means 22d. A sorting signal for sorting the inspection object W as a non-defective product or a defective product according to the combination of the presence / absence and the presence / absence of a missing product is externally output.

  The zipper defect determination means 22a determines whether or not there is a zipper defect (the presence or absence of the zipper portion Wj or the presence or absence of a meshing defect) based on the number of straight lines calculated by the straight line calculation means 21 in the zipper area extracted by the zipper extraction means 20. Judging. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the zipper defect determination means 22a is one in which the zipper portion Wj of the inspection object W is normally meshed when the number of straight lines in the zipper area is one. The inspection object W is determined as a non-defective product (OK product). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5B to 5E, when the number of straight lines in the zipper area is plural (two or more), the zipper portion Wj of the inspection object W is normally engaged. It is determined that there is no object, and the inspection object W is determined as a defective product (NG product). The example of FIG. 5B shows a state where the number of straight lines is two and the zipper portion Wj is completely open. In the example of FIG. 5C, the number of straight lines is three and one end side of the zipper portion Wj is open in a V shape. In the example of FIG. 5D, the number of straight lines is five and the zipper portion Wj is shifted in an X shape and overlapped. In the example of FIG. 5E, the number of straight lines is two (the central portion is not determined to be a straight line due to a curve), and the central portion of the zipper portion Wj is open.

  When the number of straight lines in the zipper area calculated by the straight line calculating means 21 is determined to be zero as shown in FIG. 5F, the zipper defect determining means 22a has a zipper portion. It is determined that Wj is missing, and the inspection object W is determined as a defective product (NG product).

  The foreign matter discriminating means 22b compares the X-ray transmission amount (density data density level) of the inspection object W with the surroundings and discriminates whether or not foreign matter is mixed. That is, when the X-ray transmission amount (density data density) at a certain position of the inspection object W is lower than the X-ray transmission quantity (density data density) of other parts, the portion with the low X-ray transmission quantity is regarded as a foreign object. Deciding. More specifically, the foreign matter determination means 22b compares the X-ray transmission amount (density data density level) at a position where the inspection object W is present with the foreign matter detection limit value preset by the setting input means 15, When the X-ray transmission amount (concentration of density data) is less than or equal to the foreign matter detection limit value, it is determined that foreign matter is mixed in the inspection object W, and a selection signal indicating the presence of foreign matter is output. Further, the X-ray transmission amount (density data density) of the zipper part Wj is lower than the content Wa, and the X-ray transmission quantity (density level) equivalent to the X-ray transmission quantity (density data density) of the zipper part Wj. In the case of detecting the foreign matter, the foreign matter may be determined by comparing the X-ray transmission amount (density data density level) only in the content area of the inspection object W. The foreign object detection limit value can be set from the setting input unit 15 as appropriate for each inspection object W according to the contents.

  The seal portion defect determination means 22c compares the X-ray transmission amount (density data density level) of the seal portion region with the X-ray transmission amount (density data density level) of the contents of the inspection object W to determine a seal failure. And a selection signal indicating whether the seal is normal or defective is output from the determination result. That is, in this seal portion defect discrimination means 22c, when there is an X-ray transmission amount (lightness level) equal to or less than the X-ray transmission amount (lightness level) of the contents of the inspection object W in the seal portion region. The inspection object W is determined to have a seal failure, and a selection signal indicating the seal failure is output.

  The missing item determination means 22d compares the area of the contents region of the inspection object W with the missing item detection limit value set in advance from the setting input means 15, and the area of the contents region is determined from the missing item detection limit value. Is smaller, it is determined that the content Wa in the container Wb is missing, and a selection signal indicating that there is a missing item is output. Also, the shortage determination means 22d uses the shortage detection mask area set in advance from the setting input means 15, and determines whether or not there is a content according to the area for each content area of the shortage detection mask area. It can also be determined. It should be noted that the shortage detection limit value and the shortage detection mask area can be set and input from the setting input unit 15 as appropriate for each inspection object W according to the contents.

  By the way, although not shown in the figure, the signal processing means 14 includes a filter means, and the contents are accommodated as an inspected object W in a very thin non-transparent film-like container such as a poultice. The X-ray transmission data of the inspection object W stored in the storage means 16 is subjected to a predetermined filtering process. In this filter processing, for example, a feature extraction filter such as a differential filter (Roberts filter, Prewitt filter, Sobel filter) or a Laplacian filter is used. This enhances the entire image to facilitate edge detection, and further enhances and facilitates extraction of foreign object information and biting information to be detected. Therefore, the foreign matter determination means 22b is not limited to the comparison between the X-ray transmission amount (density data density level) of the inspection object W and the foreign matter detection limit value, and the inspection is performed on the image in which the foreign matter information after filtering is emphasized. The presence / absence of foreign matter may be determined by comparing the density data of the object W with a foreign matter detection limit value set in advance. Further, the seal portion failure determining means 22c may determine a seal failure based on the presence or absence of an edge component in the seal portion region after the filtering process.

  On the display screen of the display device 5, an entire gray-scale image (entire image for each inspection object W including the belt surface 2 a of the transport unit 2), an image of the outer area of the inspection object W, and an outer area of the content Wa are displayed. An image, an image of the seal area, an X-ray transmission image in plan view of the inspection object W based on the determination result of the determination means 22, the OK / NG determination result, the total number of inspections, the number of non-defective products, NG Inspection results such as the total number are displayed based on a predetermined key operation from the setting input means 15.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus having the above configuration, the zipper inspection is performed according to the processing procedure of the flowchart of FIG. In this zipper inspection, the area (including a certain allowable range) where the zipper part Wj of the inspection object W is attached is set in advance from the inspection area setting input means 15a as the zipper inspection area Ej, and the zipper inspection area Ej is specified. (ST1). When the zipper inspection area Ej is specified, the zipper extraction means 20 extracts the zipper area from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage means 16. This zipper area is the X-ray transmission data read from the storage means 16 and the X-ray transmission data of the packaging material of the container Wb from the X-ray transmission data in the zipper inspection area Ej set by the inspection area setting means 15a. The contour of the region (the state where there is a hole) formed by finding a portion where the X-ray transmission amount is lower than the X-ray transmission amount (density level) of the data (density data) From this, it is obtained by obtaining a region surrounded by the outline (filled state) (ST2).

  Next, when the zipper area is extracted, the straight line calculation means 21 obtains a center line by thinning the extracted zipper area or degenerating the area, and determines whether or not the center line is linear (ST3). Then, the straight line calculating means 21 calculates the number of straight lines determined to have linearity. Subsequently, the zipper defect determining unit 22a determines the presence / absence of the zipper portion Wj of the inspection object W and the presence / absence of a meshing defect from the number of straight lines calculated by the straight line calculating unit 21.

  In the determination of the presence / absence of linearity (ST3), if the number of straight lines in the extracted zipper area is determined to be zero (ST4), it is determined that there is no zipper portion in the zipper area (FIG. 5 (f)). Then, the inspection object W is determined as a defective product (NG product) (ST5), and a selection signal indicating the defective product is output.

  Further, in the determination of the presence or absence of linearity (ST3), if it is determined that there is a straight line in the extracted zipper area (ST6), it is further determined how many straight lines are in the zipper area and the state thereof. If it is determined that only one straight line exists in the zipper region (ST7), it is determined that the zipper portion Wj exists in the zipper region and that the zipper portion Wj is normally meshed (FIG. 5A). ). Then, the inspection object W is determined as a non-defective product (OK product) (ST8), and a selection signal indicating the non-defective product is output.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there are a plurality of straight lines in the zipper area (at least a part of the plurality of straight lines is separated) (ST9), the zipper portion Wj exists in the zipper area. It is determined that the zipper portion Wj is not normally engaged. Then, the inspection object W is determined as a defective product (NG product) (ST10), and a selection signal indicating the defective product is output. Specifically, since the zipper part Wj is composed of a male part and a female part, if the zipper part Wj is not normally meshed, are two straight lines completely separated in the zipper region (FIG. 5 ( In b), the two straight lines are separated substantially in parallel), or a part of the two straight lines is separated in the zipper region. The state in which a part of the two straight lines are separated in the zipper region is a state in which one end side of the two straight lines overlaps and the other end side is separated as shown in FIG. As shown in d), the two straight lines cross in the middle part and both sides are separated, as shown in FIG. 5E, both sides of the two straight lines are in contact and the central part is separated. State.

  As described above, in the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of this example, whether or not the zipper portion Wj exists in the zipper area extracted from the X-ray transmission data when the inspection object W is exposed to X-rays, It is inspected whether or not the zipper part Wj is normally engaged. Whether or not the zipper part Wj exists is determined based on the X-ray transmission data (density data) in the zipper area having a lower X-ray transmission amount (lower density) than the X-ray transmission data (density data) of the packaging material. Depending on whether or not there is a part. Then, if the X-ray transmission data in the zipper region has a portion whose X-ray transmission amount is lower than the X-ray transmission data of the packaging material, it is determined that the zipper portion Wj exists, and if not, it is determined that the zipper portion Wj does not exist. . The determination as to whether or not the zipper portion Wj is normally engaged is made by finding a portion having a lower X-ray transmission amount than the X-ray transmission data of the packaging material in the X-ray transmission data in the zipper region, and the X-ray transmission amount. The linearity of the low part is judged, and if it is linear, it is determined by whether or not the linear part is composed of a plurality of straight lines. If the X-ray transmission data in the zipper area is composed of one straight line with a portion having a lower X-ray transmission amount than the X-ray transmission data of the packaging material, it is determined that the zipper portion Wj is normally engaged. In the case of a plurality of straight lines, the zipper portion Wj does not mesh properly and it is determined that the fitting is poor.

  Therefore, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present example, the zipper portion that is packaged with the zipper portion being displaced without being meshed well by using the X-ray transmission data (concentration data) at the time of X-ray exposure to the inspection object. A product with a poorly attached part can be distinguished and distinguished from a normal product, and a product without a zipper part can be distinguished and distinguished from a normal product for zipper inspection. Moreover, in parallel with the zipper inspection, various inspections such as foreign matter contamination inspection, seal part defect inspection, missing part inspection, etc. are performed, so multi-faceted inspection is performed to make the inspection object good and defective. Can be sorted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the zipper inspection of the inspection object W has been described as an example. However, the inspection object W can be inspected with the same configuration even if it corresponds to the zipper portion Wj, for example, a fastener. it can.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention. (A) It is a general | schematic permeation | transmission top view of the poultice medicine as a to-be-inspected object in which various test | inspections are performed by the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. (B) It is a schematic permeation | transmission side view of the same poultice. (C) It is a schematic plan view which shows the zipper test | inspection area | region and seal part test | inspection area | region of the same poultice. It is a block block diagram of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the process sequence at the time of a zipper test | inspection in the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A)-(f) It is a figure which shows the example of each state of a zipper part, and is a figure which shows the relationship between a zipper extraction area | region and a centerline.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray inspection apparatus 15 Setting input means 15a Inspection area setting means 20 Zipper extraction means 21 Straight line calculation means 22 Determination means 22a Zipper defect determination means 22b Foreign matter determination means 22c Seal part defect determination means 22d Missing item determination means W Inspected object Wa Contents Wb Container Wj Zipper part Ws Seal part Ej Zipper inspection area Es Seal part inspection area

Claims (4)

X-rays are irradiated while sequentially inspecting objects (W) containing the contents (Wa) in a container (Wb) composed of a packaging material and a zipper (Wj), and accompanying the X-ray exposure. In an X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects the inspection object based on an X-ray transmission amount,
Inspection region setting means (15a) for setting a zipper inspection region (Ej) of a zipper provided on the inspection object;
Zipper extraction means (20) for extracting, as a zipper area, an area having a smaller amount of X-ray transmission than the packaging material from within the zipper inspection area;
Straight line calculating means (21) for calculating the number of straight lines from the linearity of the center line of the zipper area extracted by the zipper extracting means;
An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising: a discriminating unit (22) for discriminating the presence / absence of the zipper and the presence / absence of meshing failure based on the number of straight lines calculated by the straight line calculating unit. In addition to determining whether the zipper (Wj) is present and whether there is a mesh failure, the determining means (22) determines whether there is a difference between the X-ray transmission amount of the inspection object (W) and the surroundings. The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presence / absence of foreign matter is determined based on whether or not. In addition to determining whether or not the zipper (Wj) is present and whether or not there is a poor meshing, the determining means (22) determines in advance the area of the X-ray transmission amount of the contents (Wa) of the inspection object (W). The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein presence / absence of a shortage of the contents of the inspection object is determined by comparison with a set shortage detection limit value. The discriminating means (22), in addition to the presence / absence of the zipper (Wj) and the presence / absence of incoherence, determines the contents of the inspection object in the seal portion area (Es) of the inspection object (W). The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of a seal failure is determined based on whether or not an X-ray transmission amount equal to or less than an X-ray transmission amount of an object (Wa) exists.

Images