JP2007278778A - Apparatus for inspecting liquid-filled container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for inspecting a liquid-filled container which optically inspects the appearance of a container filled with a liquid such as a drink and inspects the contents of a liquid such as a drink filled in a container. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus includes a conveyor 2 for transferring the container 1 filled with a liquid, an appearance inspection system 3 having a plurality of photographing stations, each of which illuminates the container 1 transferred by the conveyor 2 by a lamp 18 and photographs light from the container 1 by a camera 19, and an X-ray contents inspection section 4 which irradiates the container 1 with X-rays and detects a liquid level of the liquid in the container 1 by detecting X-rays passed through the container 1, in which they are installed in a frame 5 integrally. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for a liquid-filled container, and in particular, optically inspects the appearance of a container filled with a liquid such as a beverage, and liquid filling that inspects the amount of liquid contained in the container such as a beverage The present invention relates to a container inspection apparatus.

  In quality control of containers filled with liquids such as beverages (for example, PET beverages), in general, the appearance of the containers and the inspection of the content (contained amount) of the liquid such as beverages filled in the containers are performed. Yes. In this case, the appearance of the container filled with the beverage includes a conveyor that conveys the container, a lamp that illuminates the container disposed sideways or above the conveyor, and transmitted or reflected light from the container. Inspection is performed by an appearance inspection apparatus including a CCD camera for photographing. Since there are a plurality of inspection parts, a plurality of imaging stations are arranged along the conveyor. An apparatus for inspecting the content (contained amount) of a liquid such as a beverage filled in a container is an X-ray inspecting apparatus, and is separately installed on the downstream side of the container appearance inspection apparatus described above. Since the X-ray penetration inspection apparatus uses X-rays, the X-ray penetration inspection apparatus is configured as a single independent apparatus that is specially equipped with a shielding plate that prevents X-ray leakage.

The conventional apparatus configuration described above has various problems as listed below.
(1) The container appearance inspection device and the X-ray taste inspection device are installed separately, and each device includes a frame, an elevating mechanism, and a discharge mechanism. There is a problem.
(2) In any of the container appearance inspection apparatus and the X-ray taste inspection apparatus, it is necessary to form a fixed interval for imaging between adjacent containers conveyed by the conveyor. It is necessary to arrange a pitch indexing device separately on the upstream side of the visual inspection apparatus. Therefore, it is necessary to install a pitch indexing device, a container appearance inspection device, and an X-ray taste inspection device individually along the conveying direction of the conveyor, which is often used for checking the layout of each device and the relationship between the installation spaces. Was spending time. In addition, installation work must be performed on site for each device, and a great deal of time was spent on various operations such as anchoring and electrical wiring work during installation.
(3) The container appearance inspection device and the X-ray taste inspection device often remove defective containers using a common discharge device, and wiring and signal exchange between them are required. A lot of time was spent on the work of checking the relationship between them.
(4) In the X-ray penetration inspection device, there is a problem that the device structure is impossible because the measuring unit is cantilevered (overhang) from the lifting device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an X-ray taste for inspecting an external volume of a liquid such as a beverage filled in a container with X-rays by inspecting the external appearance of the container and an X-ray. By integrating the inspection unit, it is possible to eliminate the work of confirming the layout of each device and the arrangement of each installation space, which has been conventionally required, and simplify various operations when installing the device. An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus for a liquid-filled container.

  The present invention also detects an X-ray source and an X-ray by using an X-ray taste inspection unit (comprising an X-ray source and a sensor for detecting the X-ray) and a structure that can be moved up and down integrally. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid-filled container inspection device having an X-ray taste inspection unit that can easily adjust the height of a sensor and can very easily cope with containers of different heights. To do.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a visual inspection having a conveyor that transports containers filled with liquid, and a plurality of imaging stations that illuminate the containers conveyed by the conveyor with a lamp and capture the light from the containers with a camera. And an X-ray taste inspection unit that detects X-rays that are irradiated with X-rays through the container and detects the liquid level in the container are installed in the same frame.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the X-ray taste inspection unit includes an X-ray source that irradiates the container with X-rays, and a sensor that detects the X-ray transmitted through the container. The sensor is supported by one support, which is supported by being suspended from the frame and can be moved up and down by a lifting screw.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the appearance inspection unit includes a lamp for certifying the container and a camera for photographing the container, and the lamp and the camera are supported by one support, and this support is provided. The tool is supported by being suspended from the frame and can be lifted and lowered by a lifting screw.

The present invention has the following effects.
(1) By integrating the appearance inspection section of the container and the X-ray taste inspection section in the same frame, the work of confirming the layout of each installation and the connection of each installation space, which has been conventionally required, is eliminated. At the same time, various operations at the time of installation of the apparatus can be simplified. In addition, since the frame, the discharge mechanism, the operation unit, and the like can be shared, it is possible to eliminate redundant components that overlap each other, thereby saving space and reducing the cost of the apparatus.
(2) Since the wiring and signal exchange between the container appearance inspection unit and the X-ray penetration inspection unit are performed within the same device, various operations such as design, assembly, adjustment, and installation can be simplified. it can.
(3) The apparatus configuration can be simplified by supporting the X-ray source and the sensor in the X-ray penetration inspection unit with a single support tool, and making the support tool a structure that can be lifted and lowered. It is possible to handle containers with different heights with a simple operation.
(4) By combining the lamp and camera support structure in the container appearance inspection unit and the X-ray source and sensor support structure in the X-ray taste inspection unit into a common unit, the parts can be shared, assembled, adjusted, etc. Various work can be unified.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an inspection apparatus for a liquid filling container according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing the overall configuration of the inspection apparatus for a liquid filling container. As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid-filled container inspection apparatus includes a conveyor 2 that transports containers 1 such as PET bottles, and a container appearance inspection unit that inspects the appearance of containers 1 filled with liquids such as beverages by imaging. 3 and an X-ray taste inspection unit 4 that inspects the content (containment amount) of a liquid such as a beverage filled in the container 1 using X-rays. The appearance inspection unit 3 and the X-ray taste inspection unit 4 are provided in the same frame 5.

  The container appearance inspection unit 3 includes a plurality of imaging stations S1, S2, S3, and S4 arranged along the conveyor 2. Each of the imaging stations S1 to S4 includes an illumination lamp and an imaging camera. And a plurality of inspection parts (body part, cap part, etc.) of the container 1 can be individually inspected. In the present embodiment, the photographing station S1 inspects the cap for scratches and dirt, the photographing station S2 inspects for label misalignment, and the photographing station S3 and the photographing station S4 inspect for label breakage. .

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the photographing station S2 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the II direction in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 5 is installed along the conveying direction with the conveyor 2 interposed therebetween. The frame 5 is composed of four beams 6 extending in the vertical direction (only two in the front are shown in FIG. 1) and two beams connecting the upper portions of the two columns 6 along the conveying direction of the conveyor 2 7, a plurality of crosspieces 8 connecting the two struts 6 adjacent to each other at the center and the lower part of the four struts 6, and a support frame 10 spanned between the two beams 7. It is configured. The position of the support frame 10 is installed above the container 1 conveyed on the conveyor 2.

  The photographing station S2 includes a lamp 18 that is disposed on one side of the conveyor 2 and illuminates the container 1, and a CCD camera 19 that is disposed on the other side and photographs the container 1. The lamp 18 and the camera 19 are supported by a single support 11. The support 11 that supports the paired lamp 18 and camera 19 is supported by being suspended by two support bars 12 and 12. Two guide rings 13, 13 are fixed to the support frame 10, and support bars 12, 12 are slidably fitted to these two guide rings 13, 13. A support plate 14 is fixed to the upper ends of the support bars 12 and 12.

  On the other hand, a lifting screw 15 is rotatably supported on the support frame 10, and a nut 16 fixed to the support plate 14 is screwed to the lifting screw 15. A sprocket 33 is fixed to the lower part of the lifting screw 15.

  A rotary shaft 20 rotatably supported by the support frame 10 is disposed on the side of the lifting screw 15, a handle 21 is fixed to the lower end of the rotary shaft 20, and a sprocket 22 is fixed to the upper end. Has been. The sprocket 33 and the sprocket 22 are connected by a chain 23.

  In the above configuration, when the handle 21 is turned, the elevating screw 15 is rotated via the two sprockets 33 and 22 and the chain 23. Since the nut 16 is screwed to the lifting screw 15, the nut 16 and the support plate 14 to which the nut 16 is fixed are lifted and lowered together with the rotation of the lifting screw 15. Since the support tool 11 is connected to the support plate 14 via the two support bars 12, 12, the support tool 11 is raised and lowered. Since the lamp 18 and the camera 19 are supported on the support 11, the height of the lamp 18 and the camera 19 relative to the container 1 can be adjusted by raising and lowering the support 11.

  According to the present embodiment, the four photographing stations S <b> 1 to S <b> 4 employ a configuration in which the support tool 11 that supports the paired lamp 18 and camera 19 is lifted and lowered by the lifting screw 15. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the same configuration is adopted for the four photographing stations S1 to S4. When the distance from the lamp 18 and the camera 19 to the container 1 is changed in each photographing station, the handle 21 is operated to move up and down. The mounting screw 15 can be rotated to move the nut 16 and the support plate 14 up and down to change the mounting position of the support 11. Note that the positions of the lamp and the camera of the photographing station S4 are opposite to those of the photographing station S3.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the X-ray penetration inspection unit 4, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view seen from the III direction of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the structure which raises / lowers the support tool 11 in the X-ray taste inspection part 4 is the same as that of the external appearance inspection part 3 of the container shown in FIG. That is, the structure of the elevating screw 15 and nut 16 for raising and lowering the support tool 11, the support bars 12 and 12 for supporting the support tool 11, the guide rings 13 and 13, the support plate 14, etc. is shown in FIG. 2. It is the same as that of the structure of the external appearance test | inspection part 3 of a container.

  In the X-ray taste inspection unit 4 shown in FIG. 3, an X-ray source 31 that is disposed on one side of the conveyor 2 and irradiates the container 1 with X-rays and a transmitted X-ray amount that is disposed on the other side and transmitted through the container 1 are measured. And a sensor 32 made of a scintillator. The X-ray source 31 and the sensor 32 are supported by one support tool 11.

  In the above configuration, in order to inspect the amount of taste in the container 1, the container 1 is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray source 31, and transmitted through the sensor 32 installed on the opposite side of the container 1 across the container 1. This is done by measuring the amount of X-rays. If the level of the liquid level in the container 1 is high, the liquid absorbs X-rays, so that the transmitted X-ray dose decreases. That is, the level of the liquid level and the transmitted X-ray dose are correlated. Therefore, if the transmitted X-ray dose is measured by the sensor 32 made of a scintillator, the level of the liquid level can be detected. In this way, it is possible to inspect the internal volume (contained amount) of a liquid such as a beverage filled in the container 1.

  In the present embodiment, the X-ray source 31 uses low energy X-rays (trace X-rays) having an acceleration voltage (X-ray tube voltage) of 60 kV or less. The line taste inspection unit 4 can be installed in the same frame 5 together with the container appearance inspection unit 3. More specifically, the usable voltage range of the X-ray source 31 is 10 to 60 kV, and the use voltage at the time of inspection is 48 kV.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when changing the distances of the X-ray source 31 and the sensor 32 from the container 1, the handle 21 is operated to rotate the lifting screw 15 to move the nut 16 and the support plate 14 up and down. The mounting position of the support 11 can be changed.
In the present embodiment, the case of performing a taste inspection of a PET bottle has been described. However, the present invention can also perform a taste inspection of a paper container, a can, or the like.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing the overall configuration of the inspection apparatus for a liquid filling container. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the photographing station S2 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the II direction in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing the X-ray penetration inspection unit 4, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view seen from the III direction of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Conveyor 3 Appearance inspection part 4 X-ray penetration inspection part 5 Frame 6 Support | pillar 7 Beam 8 Yokogi 10 Support frame 11 Support tool 12 Support bar 13 Guide ring 14 Support plate 15 Lifting screw 16 Nut 18 Lamp 19 Camera 20 Rotating shaft 21 Handle 22, 33 Sprocket 23 Chain 31 X-ray source 32 Sensor

Claims (3)

  A conveyor that transports containers filled with liquid, an appearance inspection unit that has a plurality of imaging stations that illuminate the containers transported by the conveyor with lamps and photograph the light from the containers with a camera, and irradiate the containers with X-rays An inspection apparatus for a liquid-filled container, wherein an X-ray penetration inspection unit that detects X-rays transmitted through the container and detects the liquid level of the liquid in the container is installed in the same frame.   The X-ray penetration inspection unit includes an X-ray source that irradiates the container with X-rays and a sensor that detects X-rays transmitted through the container, and the X-ray source and the sensor are supported by one support. 2. The apparatus for inspecting a liquid-filled container according to claim 1, wherein the support is supported by being suspended from the frame and can be moved up and down by a lifting screw.   The appearance inspection unit includes a lamp that certifies the container and a camera that photographs the container. The lamp and the camera are supported by one support, and the support is supported by being suspended from the frame. The liquid filling container inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid filling container can be moved up and down by a lifting screw.

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