JP2007322406A - Visual inspection apparatus for small item - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to inspect the front face and the side face for the small items, such as tablets or capsules for inspection, at the same time, using a line sensor having a single imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The images of the diagonal right back-side face and the diagonal left front-side face of an object item J for inspection are respectively reflected by first right and left reflectors 3, 4 to form the images at a line sensor 2 positioned above the object item J, and the images of the diagonal right front-side face and the diagonal left back-side face are respectively reflected by the first right and left reflectors 3, 4 and the second reflectors 5, 6 to form the images at the line sensor 2 positioned above the object article J, and the image of the front face can be directly formed at the line sensor 2 for photographing the images. As a result, the images of the visual appearances of the five faces for the front face and the side face of the object article J for inspection can be photographed, at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention inspects the appearance of articles to be inspected (hereinafter referred to as “test objects”) of small articles (tablets, capsules, bags, candies, chocolates, pellets, etc.) (foreign matter inspection, color inspection, shape inspection, The present invention relates to a technique for simultaneously inspecting the front, back, and side surfaces of an object by providing a plurality of reflectors.

  Conventionally, it is important to inspect the appearance of a test object such as a tablet, especially the appearance shape, dimensions, minute holes on the surface, dirt, scratches, dents, breakage, etc. In this case, it is necessary to take images of a total of six surfaces, that is, the front surface, the back surface, and the left and right oblique front and back side surfaces of the test object. Here, the front surface of the inspection object indicates a direct viewing surface facing the imaging apparatus, and the back surface of the inspection object indicates a non-direct viewing surface not facing the imaging apparatus.

  Imaging of the front and back of the test object is relatively simple, but it is difficult to capture the entire side of the test object without any difficulty. A mirror reflection method in which a reflector such as a mirror is installed and the front and both sides are imaged simultaneously with a line sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A direct imaging method that images the entire circumference of the side surface with a line sensor while rotating the specimen (for example, see Patent Document 2), and a special lens system that images the front and side surfaces simultaneously with an area sensor by bringing a lens close to the specimen. (See, for example, Patent Document 3) Dropping method in which a specimen is dropped and two reflectors such as mirrors are installed, and the three surfaces of the back including the front and both sides are simultaneously imaged by an area sensor (for example, patent Reference 4 System, such as has been adopted.

  JP-A-6-317415   JP-A-8-152411   JP 2005-241488 A   JP 2005-172608 A

  In the direct imaging method in which the test object is held in the pocket in the vertical direction and the test object is rotated by a rotating roller, etc., and the entire circumference of the side surface is imaged by a line sensor, a device that changes the posture of the test object in the vertical direction is required. In addition, there is a problem that there is a concern that defects such as cracking and chipping may be caused by rubbing the test object directly with a rotating roller or the like.

  In a special lens system in which the front and side surfaces are imaged simultaneously by the area sensor with a lens etc. in close proximity to the test object, the image is distorted if the test object is not at the lens center position. Cannot be used, and there is a problem that the inspection accuracy of the side surface is lowered in the case of a test object having a large thickness.

  In the drop method in which the object to be tested is dropped and two reflectors such as mirrors are installed, and the three surfaces on the back including the front and both sides are imaged simultaneously with the area sensor, only two mirrors are installed. There is a problem that the entire circumference of the side surface cannot be imaged, and in order to image the entire circumference, the test object must be imaged a plurality of times while freely rotating.

  In the mirror reflection method in which reflectors such as 2 to 6 mirrors are installed on the front and rear sides of the test object and imaged using a line sensor, the front and left and right side surfaces of the test object are halved (for example, the front right 45 ° direction). And the left rear diagonal 45 ° direction) 2 planes are imaged, and the back and left and right side surfaces 4 half (for example, right rear diagonal 45 ° direction and left front diagonal 45 ° direction) 2 through the front and back surface conversion device of the test object 2 It captures 3 faces in total and captures a total of 6 faces in the front, back, and side 4 directions, but it is determined whether or not the entire side imaging range has been imaged via the front and back conversion device. The accuracy of the foreign matter inspection and shape inspection of the test object is low. Therefore, in order to reliably image the entire circumference of the test object, it is necessary to configure a complicated optical system by combining reflectors such as a dozen mirrors so far, which increases the product cost. There was a problem that it was inferior in economic efficiency.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and is a visual inspection that uses a simple device to inspect the front, back, and side surfaces of the test object with high accuracy at low cost. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is arranged to be inclined at two positions diagonally to the left and right with respect to the conveyance direction of the object to be conveyed. And a pair of first reflectors that reflect the image of the object to the front side of the test object, and a target that is disposed perpendicularly to the left and right diagonal two directions that are different from the left and right diagonal directions with respect to the conveyance direction of the test object. A pair of second reflectors that reflect the image of the side surface of the specimen to the first reflector and are reflected to the front side of the specimen, the image of the first reflector, the image of the second reflector, and the object to be examined The image forming apparatus includes a line sensor that forms an image of the front of the inspection object at the same time across a pair of first reflectors in the upward direction.

  Moreover, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is arranged so as to be inclined at two positions diagonally to the left and right with respect to the falling direction of the object to be dropped. A pair of first reflectors to be reflected to the front side, and an image of a side surface of the test object arranged perpendicularly to the left and right diagonal two directions different from the left and right diagonal two directions with respect to the test object falling direction. A pair of second reflectors that are reflected to the first reflector and reflected to the front side of the specimen; a bent third reflector that reflects an image of the back side of the specimen to the front side; A line sensor that simultaneously forms an image of one reflector, an image of the second reflector, an image of the third reflector, and an image of the front of the test object straddles a pair of the first reflector and the third reflector. It is comprised with the imaging device prepared in the horizontal direction.

  According to the invention of claim 1, in the first stage, the oblique rear side surface of the test object obtains an image directly from the first reflector, and the oblique front side surface on the same side as the side surface in the transport direction of the test object is An image is obtained from the first reflector by reflecting from the second reflector to the oblique front side first reflector on one side opposite to the conveyance direction of the test object. Next, in the second stage, an image in front of the test object is directly obtained without going through a reflector. Next, in the third stage, the oblique front side opposite to the first stage in the direction of transport of the test object directly obtains an image from the first reflector, and what is the first stage in the direction of transport of the test object? The opposite oblique rear side surface is reflected from the second reflector to the first reflector on the first stage one side in the conveyance direction of the test object, and an image can be obtained from the first reflector.

  The side image and the front image of the test object are simultaneously formed on the line sensor positioned in the upward direction of the test object. By processing the video signal of the imaging device, the first reflector pair and the second reflector pair of four reflectors can be installed to simultaneously inspect the front surface and the four side surfaces of the test object in total.

  In addition, in the front inspection and the rear inspection of the test object, a total of eight images of the side surface of the test object can be captured by making the installation configurations of the first reflector and the second reflector opposite to each other. An apparatus with high inspection accuracy can be provided at a low cost without providing a complicated mechanism for rotating the object.

  According to the invention of claim 2, it is an apparatus for dropping and transporting the test object without holding it, and in the first stage, the oblique rear side surface of the test object directly obtains an image from the first reflector, The oblique front side on the same side as the side surface in the falling direction of the test object is reflected from the second reflector to the diagonal front side first reflector on the opposite side of the test object in the falling direction, and an image is formed from the first reflector. obtain. Next, in the second stage, an image in front of the test object is directly obtained without going through a reflector. Next, in the third stage, the oblique front side opposite to the first stage in the falling direction of the test object obtains an image directly from the first reflector, and what is the first stage in the transport direction of the test object? The opposite oblique rear side surface is reflected from the second reflector to the first reflector on the first stage one side in the falling direction of the test object, and an image can be obtained from the first reflector. In the fourth stage, it can be obtained by reflecting the back surface of the test object in the front direction with a third reflector bent at a substantially right angle.

  The above-described front, back and side images of the test object are simultaneously formed on a line sensor positioned in the horizontal direction of the test object. By processing the video signal of the imaging device, the first reflector pair, the second reflector pair, and the third reflector are installed, so that a total of six surfaces including the front surface, the back surface, and the four side surfaces of the test object can be obtained. Can be inspected at the same time.

  Accordingly, a necessary image can be acquired by one imaging without having a complicated mechanism such as posture change for rotating and inverting the test object, and the imaging apparatus and the image can be greatly simplified. The processing apparatus can be halved and an inexpensive apparatus can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an example is described based on Drawing 1-Drawing 11 as a desirable embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention of claim 1. 2 to 5 are explanatory views of an embodiment of the invention of claim 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport device 1, the line sensor 2, the first reflector 3 on the right side in the transport direction, the first reflector 4 on the left side in the transport direction, and the second reflector 5 on the right side in the transport direction, It is comprised from the 2nd reflector 6 of the conveyance direction left side. 2 to 4 indicate the imaging range S of the line sensor 2.

  FIG. 2 shows a position where the right side surface in the conveyance direction of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The image of the side surface of the tablet J in the 45 ° oblique direction on the right rear side is directly reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 3 on the right side in the conveyance direction, and the image on the side surface in the oblique 45 ° front right direction of the tablet J The light is reflected by the first reflector 4 on the left side in the transport direction by the two reflectors 5 and further reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 4 on the left side in the transport direction. The above side image is formed by the upward line sensor 2 of the tablet J.

  FIG. 3 shows a position where the front of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The front image of the tablet J is directly formed by the line sensor 2.

  FIG. 4 shows a position at which the left side surface in the conveyance direction of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The image of the side surface of the tablet J in the 45 ° direction diagonally left front is reflected directly to the front by the first reflector 4 on the left side in the conveyance direction, and the side image in the diagonal direction 45 ° diagonally rear left of the tablet J The light is reflected by the first reflector 3 on the right side in the transport direction by the two reflectors 6 and reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 3 on the right side in the transport direction. The above side image is formed by the upward line sensor 2 of the tablet J.

FIG. 5 is a five-sided image obtained by imaging the tablet J in the three stages of FIGS. That is, a front image J ₁ , a side image J ₂ obliquely 45 ° direction rearward rightward in the transport direction of the tablet J, a side image J ₃ obliquely forward right 45 ° direction sidewise image J ₄ , a side image J ₄ obliquely left forward in the transport direction 45 it can be obtained rear oblique 45 ° direction side face image J _5. This image is inspected by a known image processing means. After the conversion by a device (not shown) for converting the front and back surfaces, the same imaging is repeated. By processing as described above, it is possible to reliably inspect the front surface, the back surface, and the entire side surface of the test object.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention. 7 to 11 are explanatory views of an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the line sensor 2, the first reflector 3 on the right side in the dropping direction, the first reflector 4 on the left side in the dropping direction, the second reflector 5 on the right side in the dropping direction, and the first reflector on the left side in the dropping direction. 2 reflectors 6 and a back third reflector 7. 7 to 10 indicate the imaging range S of the line sensor 2.

  FIG. 7 shows a position where the right side surface in the falling direction of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The image of the side surface of the tablet J in the 45 ° direction diagonally right rearward of the falling direction of the tablet J is directly reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 3 on the right side of the falling direction. It is reflected by the first reflector 4 on the left side in the falling direction by the two reflectors 5 and further reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 4 on the left side in the falling direction. The above side image is formed by the horizontal line sensor 2 of the tablet J.

  FIG. 8 shows a position where the front of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The front image of the tablet J is directly formed by the line sensor 2.

  FIG. 9 shows a position at which the left side surface in the falling direction of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The image of the side surface of the tablet J in the 45 ° direction diagonally to the left in the dropping direction is directly reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 4 on the left side in the dropping direction. The light is reflected by the first reflector 3 on the right side in the dropping direction by the two reflectors 6 and further reflected in the front direction by the first reflector 3 on the right side in the dropping direction. The above side image is formed by the horizontal line sensor 2 of the tablet J.

  FIG. 10 shows a position where the back of the tablet J (test object) reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started. The image on the back surface of the tablet J is reflected in the front direction by the third reflector 7 bent at a substantially right angle. An image on the back of the tablet J is formed by the horizontal line sensor 2 of the tablet J.

FIG. 11 is a six-sided image obtained by imaging the tablet J in four stages of FIGS. That is, the front image J ₁ , the side image J _{2 in} the 45 ° direction diagonally right rear of the dropping direction of the tablet J, the side image J _{3 in} the 45 ° direction diagonal front right of the falling direction, the side image J _{4 in} the 45 ° direction diagonal left front of the drop direction, the left in the falling direction. A rear oblique 45 ° side image J ₅ and a rear image J ₆ can be obtained. This image is inspected by a known image processing means. By processing as described above, it is possible to reliably inspect the front surface, the back surface, and the entire side surface of the test object.

In the present embodiment, the flat surface of the test object is the direct viewing surface of the line sensor, but it is also possible to take an image with the flat side surface being the direct viewing surface of the line sensor depending on the characteristics of the test object.
Further, in this embodiment, the test object is dropped, but it is sufficient that the entire surface can be imaged without holding the test object, and the test object may be tilted downward, diagonally upward, or horizontally. A similar effect can be obtained even in a free state in which the specimen is not accelerated and held.

The perspective view which shows the structure of invention of Claim 1 Explanatory drawing which shows the position where the right side surface of the conveyance direction of the tablet J reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2, and imaging is started. Explanatory drawing which shows the position where the front of the tablet J reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started Explanatory drawing which shows the position which reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 or the left side surface of the conveyance direction of the tablet J, and starts imaging. Explanatory drawing of the image of 5 sides which imaged tablet J The perspective view which shows the structure of invention of Claim 2 Explanatory drawing which shows the position where the right side surface of the conveyance direction of the tablet J reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2, and imaging is started. Explanatory drawing which shows the position where the front of the tablet J reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started Explanatory drawing which shows the position where the left side surface of the conveyance direction of the tablet J reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2, and imaging is started. Explanatory drawing which shows the position where the back surface of the tablet J reaches the imaging range S of the line sensor 2 and imaging is started Explanatory drawing of the 6-sided image of tablet J

Explanation of symbols

1 Conveying device 2 Line sensor 3 First reflector (right side of conveying / falling direction)
4 First reflector (left side of transport / drop direction)
5 Second reflector (right side of transport / drop direction)
6 Second reflector (left side of transport / drop direction)
7 3rd reflector J Tablet (test object)
J _1-6 Captured image S Imaging range of line sensor

Claims (2)

  A pair of first reflectors that are arranged obliquely in two left and right oblique directions with respect to the conveyance direction of the object to be conveyed and reflect the image of the side surface of the object to the front side of the object, and the object The image of the side surface of the test object is reflected perpendicularly to the position of the two left and right diagonal directions that are different from the two left and right diagonal directions with respect to the object conveyance direction, and reflected to the first reflector to the front side of the test object A line sensor that simultaneously forms a pair of second reflectors to be reflected, an image of the first reflector, an image of the second reflector, and an image of the front of the test object straddles the pair of first reflectors. And a visual inspection apparatus for small articles comprising an imaging device provided in an upward direction.   A pair of first reflectors that are arranged obliquely in two diagonal directions with respect to the falling direction of the test object to be dropped and reflect the image of the side surface of the test object to the front side of the test object, and the test The image of the side surface of the object to be examined is reflected to the first reflector and perpendicular to the position of the two oblique directions that are different from the left and right diagonal directions with respect to the falling direction of the object, to the front side of the test object. A pair of second reflectors to be reflected, a bent third reflector for reflecting an image of the back side of the test object to the front side, an image of the first reflector, an image of the second reflector, A small article comprising a line sensor that simultaneously forms an image of a third reflector and a front image of a test object, and an imaging device provided in a horizontal direction across the pair of the first reflector and the third reflector. Appearance inspection device.

Images