JP2008150104A - Container inspecting method and container inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container inspecting method and a container inspecting device capable of correctly inspecting the quality of a container. <P>SOLUTION: The container inspecting device includes a conveying means for continuously conveying containers 14 with a fin of a top wall of the container being folded continuously in a translation manner, a light source 30 which is arranged in a diagonal side direction of the container so as to look into an end of the fin 23 at the top wall of the container to irradiate the irradiation light, an image sensor 31 which is arranged above the fin at the top wall of the container to detect the reflected light from the end of the fin, a determining means for determining acceptance/rejection of the container from a pattern of the reflected light detected by the image sensor, and a discharging means for discharging defective products based on the output from the determining means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for containers filled with beverages and the like.

In some containers filled with liquid foods such as juice and milk, a web-like packaging laminate material with a crease line in advance is formed into a tube shape and vertically sealed in the direction of the vertical line of the tube. A horizontal seal formed by filling food in the material, sealing it with a transverse seal in the transverse direction at predetermined intervals, cutting in the middle of the transverse seal zone to obtain a pillow-shaped preform, and folding it along the crease line The flap and fin including the zone are joined to the container top wall, the container side wall, and the container bottom to obtain a final shaped container.
An outline of an example of a paper container filling and packaging machine is shown in FIG. In the filling machine shown in this example, the paper-containing packaging material web 1 having a thermoplastic material layer in the inner and outer layers and wound into a roll is unwound, conveyed inside the filling machine by a roller, and the sealing tape 2 is transferred to the sealing tape applicator. 3 is joined to one end of the packaging material web, sterilized by passing the packaging material web through the sterilant tank 4, the sterilizing agent is removed by the air knife 5, placed in the sterilization chamber 40, and tubular by the forming roller 6. The liquid food is filled from the filling pipe 7 into the tube.

Next, both edges of the tube are vertically sealed by the longitudinal seal element 8, and the tube is sandwiched by the seal jaw 10 and the opposing jaw while being sent downward by the length corresponding to one packaging container, and is moved in the transverse direction. Two horizontal seal zones are formed by horizontal sealing, and simultaneously formed into a pillow-shaped preform 12 at the same time. It cut | disconnects by each etc. and cut | disconnects to each pillow-shaped preform 13, and the upper and lower flaps of the pillow-shaped preform which were cut | disconnected in the final shaping | molding apparatus are bend | folded, and it shape | molds in the package filling container 14 of the last form.
The packaging and filling container 14 is continuously translated and conveyed by a conveying means such as a belt conveyor, and is packed by a certain quantity through a straw applicator or the like that sticks the straw to the container wall.

A mode in which the pillow-shaped preform 13 is folded by the final molding apparatus is shown in FIG. The pillow-shaped preform 13 is sealed with a vertical seal portion 26 and two upper and lower horizontal seal zones 23, and has a side wall 22 divided by a crease line. (See Fig. 4 (A))
As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the body portion of the pillow-shaped preform is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape along the crease line, and fins 23 and flaps 24 of the lateral seal band are provided at the edge of the ridge side. It is formed to stand upright from the wall. The fins 23 in the lateral seal zone stand upright from the bottom surface 20 and the top surface 21, and the flap 24 communicates integrally with the container wall via the edge 25.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), the fins 23 in the lateral seal zone are folded into the bottom surface 20 (shown upside down as a container in FIG. 4) and the top surface 21, and then the flap is centered on the edge. , The container top side flap 24 is folded into the side wall 22, and the container bottom side flap 24 is folded into the bottom surface 20.
FIG. 2A shows an external perspective view of a brick-type liquid food-filled paper container. The container has folded side seal zone fins 23, flaps 24, bottom and top walls, and container sidewalls. The fins 23 are folded into the container front wall surface 22a side opposite to the vertical seal portion 26. Furthermore, the flap 24 folded in the side wall via the edge is provided.

Liquid food containers are continuously manufactured from a filling and packaging machine, and the appearance is inspected by an inspector. In addition, it is periodically extracted by machine operators and quality-inspected for various items. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
JP 2004-123184 A

However, if the containers that are continuously transported and the containers that are periodically removed are manually operated by the workers, even if they are the same worker due to individual differences among the workers, the difference will appear and the inspection results Is uncertain. Accurate test results are desired.
In the appearance inspection, when there is an inconvenience in the flap portion and the fin portion of the container, the visual inspection by the inspector is likely to be overlooked.
The present invention meets the above-described needs and desires, and an object thereof is to provide a container inspection method and a container inspection apparatus capable of accurately inspecting a container.

According to the container inspection method of the present invention, a web-shaped laminated packaging material having a predetermined crease line is formed into a tube shape, and both edges of the packaging material are overlapped to form an overlap. A vertical seal zone is formed by sealing, food is filled in the tubular packaging material, the packaging material is pressed in the transverse direction at predetermined intervals, and sealed by a horizontal seal to form a horizontal seal zone. About the container obtained by joining the flaps and fins formed by folding along the crease line and the flaps and fins formed on the container top wall, the container side wall and / or the container bottom, to obtain a pillow-shaped preform. This is a method for inspecting this container.
The container inspection method of the present invention is characterized in that a container in which fins on the top wall of the container are folded is continuously translated by a transporting means, and the fin end of the top wall of the transported container is looked into. A step of disposing a light source for irradiating irradiation light in an oblique direction of the container and disposing an image sensor for detecting reflected light from the fin end above the fin on the top wall of the container to be conveyed; Determining whether the container is good or bad by comparing the detected reflected light pattern with a predetermined pattern.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the method further includes the step of discharging the defective product from the obtained container by the discharging unit based on the output from the determining unit.

In the container inspection apparatus of the present invention, a web-shaped laminated packaging material having a predetermined crease line is formed into a tube shape, and both edges of the packaging material are overlapped to form an overlap. A vertical seal zone is formed by sealing, food is filled in the tubular packaging material, the packaging material is pressed in the transverse direction at predetermined intervals, and sealed by a horizontal seal to form a horizontal seal zone. Inspection of the container obtained by joining the flaps and fins formed by folding along the crease line and the flaps and fins formed on the container top wall, the container side wall and / or the container bottom. Device.
The container inspection apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a container in which fins on the top wall of the container are folded is continuously translated and transported, and a fin end of the top wall of the container to be transported is looked into. A light source for irradiating irradiation light, an image sensor for detecting reflected light from the fin end, and a reflection detected by the image sensor. A determination unit that determines the quality of the container by comparing the light pattern with the predetermined pattern, and a discharge unit that discharges the defective product from the line of the container based on the output from the determination unit. is there.

In the container inspection according to the present invention, the following containers are inspected.
The container to be inspected according to the present invention forms a web-shaped metal foil laminated packaging material having a crease line into a tube shape, overlaps both edges of the packaging material to form an overlap, and the overlap causes a vertical line in the vertical line direction. Seal to form a vertical seal zone, fill the tubular packaging material with food, press the packaging material in the transverse direction at predetermined intervals, and seal with a horizontal seal to form a horizontal seal zone. A pillow-shaped preform is obtained by cutting in the middle, and flaps and fins formed by folding along a crease line are joined to the container top wall, container side wall and / or container bottom.
This container can be manufactured continuously. It is continuously translated and transported by a transport means such as a belt conveyor, and is packed in a certain quantity through a straw applicator or the like for sticking the straw to the container wall.

In the container inspection feature of the present invention, the container in which the fins on the container top wall are folded is continuously translated by the conveying means and conveyed.
The fins folded on the container top wall are folded on the container top wall along a crease line attached in advance. However, there are the following modes depending on the direction in which the fold is folded.
FIG. 2A shows a brick container having fins that are normally folded. In the container, the fins 23 of the folded horizontal seal zone are folded to the container front wall surface 22a side opposite to the vertical seal portion 26, and the flap 24 is folded to the side wall via the ridge.
FIG. 2B shows an example of a container having fins that are folded badly. In the container, the flap 24 a is folded into the side wall, but the fin 23 a is folded into the same side as the vertical seal portion 26. The vertical seal portion may overlap, causing a large stress on the container wall to cause leakage, and the vertical seal portion is bulky, and the container appearance / shape is unsatisfactory.
FIG. 2C also shows an example of a second defective container having fins that are folded defectively. In the container, the flap 24 is folded in the normal direction on one side wall, while the flap 24a on the other side wall is folded in the opposite direction. The fins 23 appear to be twisted at the container top 21, and particularly stand up near the vertical seal portion 26.

In the container inspection according to the present invention, a light source for irradiating irradiation light in an oblique direction of the container is arranged so as to look into the fin end of the top wall of the container to be transported, and above the fin on the top wall of the container to be transported. An image sensor for detecting reflected light from the fin end is provided.
A light source is disposed in the oblique direction of the container to emit irradiation light. The rays illuminate the fins on the top wall of the container, especially the fin ends. Usually, the packaging laminate material consists of a flexible laminate in which a polyethylene film outer layer laminated on both sides of a plastic film or paper substrate, and an aluminum foil or the like is interposed between the substrate and the outer layer. A barrier layer or the like is formed, and further, exterior printing is performed in advance on a portion corresponding to the surface of the packaging container.

An end face of a paper base material, a plastic layer, an aluminum foil, an ink layer, or the like is exposed at the fin end, and when the light from the light source directly hits the end face, it is substantially irregularly reflected. The reflected light from the fin end can be detected by an image sensor arranged above the fin on the top wall of the container.
On the other hand, if the light from the light source does not hit the end surface, the image sensor is totally reflected from the top wall surface and the fin surface of the container without being diffusely reflected, and is disposed from the fin end by the image sensor disposed above the fin on the top wall of the container Does not detect reflected light.

In the container inspection according to the present invention, the determination unit determines the quality of the container by comparing the reflected light pattern detected by the image sensor with a predetermined pattern.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, there are good and bad aspects of the fin depending on the direction in which it is folded, and the fin end pattern also has each aspect, as can be easily understood from the figure. There is a correlation between the fin end pattern and the reflected light pattern from the fin end. Based on the relationship, a predetermined pattern is set, and the reflected light pattern detected by the image sensor is compared with the predetermined pattern. The quality of the bonding state and sealing state of the fins of the container can be determined.

In the container inspection apparatus of the present invention, the defective product is discharged from the obtained container by the discharge means based on the output from the determination means.
Inspecting continuously transported containers and regularly extracted containers and automatically discharging defective products with the equipment, so there is no need for manual work by workers, there are no individual differences or differences among workers, Accurate inspection results are possible.
With this container inspection device, it is possible to accurately inspect the container.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the container inspection apparatus example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of a container example to be inspected by the container inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a pattern diagram of reflected light by the container inspection apparatus example of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a molding process of a container example to be inspected by the container inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging and filling apparatus including a container inspection apparatus according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the web-like (band-like) packaging laminate material 1 is accommodated in a packaging filling device in a reel state. The packaging laminate material 1 comprises a paper base material and a flexible laminate in which polyethylene resin is laminated on both sides of the paper base material, and a barrier layer such as an aluminum foil is formed between the paper base material and the film. Then, exterior printing is performed in advance on a portion corresponding to the surface of the packaging container 14.

The fed packaging laminate material 1 is continuously conveyed by a feeding device as a conveying means, is sent to a sealing tape adhering device 3 through a bending roller, a damper roller, and the like, and is wrapped by the sealing tape adhering device. The sealing tape 2 is stuck along one edge of the.
When the sealing tape 2 is joined to the edge of the belt-shaped packaging laminate material 1, the pressure roller is arranged and pressed on one side with the belt-shaped packaging laminate material and the sealing tape 2 being sandwiched, and the pressure by the pressure roller is applied to the other side. The counter roller is disposed so as to be opposed to and pressed and supported.
As the packaging laminate material is conveyed, the pressure roller and the counter roller are pressed and rotated with the packaging laminate material and the sealing tape sandwiched therebetween, and the mating surfaces of the vertical seal portions are sealed and bonded.

Subsequently, the pulling tab of the packaging laminate material 1 is stuck by a pull tab sticking device as necessary. The packaging laminated material 1 is sent to the sterilization tank 4 and sterilized with a sterilization liquid such as hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization tank 4. The packaging laminate material 1 is sent to the air knife 5, dried by the air knife 5, and then sent to the sterilization chamber 40. The packaging laminate material 1 is gradually deformed by the upper molding ring 6 and other molding rings into a tube shape (tubular shape). The packaging laminate material 1 is sealed in the longitudinal direction by the longitudinal sealing device 8, and the flowable food supplied via the filling pipe 7 is filled into the packaging laminate material 1.

When both sides of the packaging laminate material formed into a tube shape are pressed together with the sealing tape by a longitudinal seal device and vertically sealed, sandwiching one edge and the other edge of the strip packaging laminate material, On one side, a pressure roller is rotatably arranged and pressed, and on the other side, a counter roller is rotatably arranged to receive pressure from the pressure roller so as to oppose and support the pressure roller. The face is sealed and glued.

The tubular packaging laminate material is guided by a roller, sent to a lateral sealing device 10, sandwiched and sealed laterally, and the laterally sealed packaging laminate material 12 is cut with a knife or the like to be a pillow-shaped preform. 13 is formed.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the pillow-shaped preform 13 is sealed with fins 23 and vertical seal portions 26 in the horizontal seal zone, and has side walls 22 that are separated by crease lines. Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), along the crease line, the main body portion of the pillow-shaped preform is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Is formed upright from the vessel wall. Finally, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), after the fins 23 of the lateral seal zone are folded into the bottom surface 20 and the top surface 21, the container top side flap 24 is on the side wall 22 and the container bottom side flap 24 is The bottom surface 20 is folded.
The pillow-shaped preform 13 is formed into a final shape by a final forming apparatus, and a packaging container 14 for containing a fluid food is completed.

The example of the packaging and filling apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes a container inspection apparatus.
The container continuously manufactured from the packaging and filling apparatus is inspected by the container inspection apparatus, and the determination means 17 determines the quality. Based on the output from the determination means 17, the discharge means 18 determines the defective product from the production line. Drain the container.

In FIG. 1, the conceptual diagram explaining operation | movement of the container inspection apparatus example of this invention is shown. FIG. 2 shows an external view of a container example to be inspected by this container inspection apparatus example. FIG. 3 is a pattern diagram of reflected light of the container example shown in FIG. 2 according to this container inspection apparatus example.
FIG. 2A shows a normal brick-type liquid food-filled paper container. The container includes the fins 23 and the container walls of the folded horizontal seal zone, and the fins 23 are folded to the container front wall surface 22 a side opposite to the vertical seal portion 26. Furthermore, the flap 24 folded in the side wall via the edge is provided.
FIG. 2B shows an example of a defective container. In the container, the flap 24 a is folded into the side wall, but the fin 23 a is folded into the same side as the vertical seal portion 26. There is a risk of causing a great stress on the container wall to create a cause of leakage, and the appearance / shape of the container becomes unfinished.
FIG. 2C shows an example of a second defective container. In the container, the flap 24 is folded in the normal direction on one side wall, while the flap 24a on the other side wall is folded in the opposite direction. The fins 23 appear to be twisted at the container top 21 and rise up in the vicinity of the vertical seal portion 26.

The container inspection apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 includes a conveyor means 19 such as a belt conveyor that continuously translates and conveys the container 14 in which the fins of the container top wall are folded, and the top wall of the container to be conveyed. It is arranged in the oblique direction of the container so as to look into the fin end of the container, and is disposed above the fins on the top wall of the container to be conveyed, and detects reflected light from the fin end. Based on the output of the image sensor 31 and the determination unit 17 that determines the quality of the container by comparing the pattern of the reflected light 32 detected by the image sensor 31 with a predetermined pattern, And a discharge means 18 for discharging defective products.
In the example of the container inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the container 14 is transported by a transport means (not shown) from the back to the front on the surface of the drawing.

The operation of the inspection apparatus example of the container example shown in FIG. 1A is an operation function when inspecting a normal container (FIG. 2A) in which the fins 23 are folded into the container front wall surface 22a. The container 14 is conveyed vertically from the back to the front on the surface of the drawing.
A light source 30 is disposed in the oblique direction of the container 14 to emit irradiation light 34. The light beam 34 illuminates the fin 23 on the top wall of the container, particularly the fin end. The packaging laminate material consists of a paper base material and a polyethylene resin outer layer laminated on both sides of the base material and an aluminum foil, and the fin end 23 exposes end faces of the paper base material, plastic layer, aluminum foil, ink layer, This end face is sharply cut by a knife or the like, and when the light from the light source 30 directly hits this end face, it is strongly diffusely reflected. The reflected light 32 can be detected from the fin end by the image sensor 31 disposed above the fin on the top wall of the container.

The image sensor that can be used in the present invention is a simple image with high contrast, for example, an image sensor that is used in a normal image processing system because it recognizes an image having one bright line in a darkness. Is not required. For example, a surveillance black and white camera is sufficient.

The operation of the inspection apparatus example of the container example shown in FIG. 1B is an operation function when inspecting a defective container (FIG. 2B) in which the fins 23a are folded into the vertical seal portion 26 side. The container 14 is conveyed vertically from the back to the front on the surface of the drawing.
A light source 30 is disposed in the oblique direction of the container 14 to emit irradiation light 34. The light beam 34 illuminates the top surface of the container and the surface of the fin 23a. The packaging laminate material is substantially totally reflected when an ink layer is printed on the outer surface and the light from the light source 30 directly hits the surface. The image sensor 31 disposed above the fin on the top wall of the container hardly detects this reflected light from the end of the fin.

The operation of the inspection apparatus example of the container example shown in FIG. 1 (C) is the same as that of FIG. 1 (A), and inspects a normal container (FIG. 2 (A)) in which the fins 23 are folded into the container front wall surface 22a. Is an operation function.
In the image sensor 31 of the inspection apparatus example, the visual field 33 of the camera 31 is a small window 33 for photographing only the fins of the normal container. By setting such a visual field, it is possible to clearly distinguish and determine from the case of reverse folding (the container example shown in FIG. 2B) and twist (the container example shown in FIG. 2C).

FIG. 3 shows a pattern of reflected light detected by the inspection apparatus example of the container example shown in FIG.
FIG. 3A shows a reflected light pattern when inspecting a normal container (FIG. 2A) in which the fins 23 are folded into the container front wall surface 22a. Since the fin ends are straight, a single bright line is detected.

FIG. 3B shows a reflected light pattern when inspecting a reverse folding failure container (FIG. 2B) in which the fins 23 are folded into the vertical seal side. No reflected light is detected and only a black image is obtained.
In FIG. 3C, the flap is folded in the normal direction on one side wall, but the flap on the other side wall is folded in the opposite direction. This is a pattern of reflected light when inspecting a defective container (FIG. 2C) in which fins appear to be twisted at the top of the container and rise in the vicinity of the vertical seal portion 26. As the fin bends in the camera's field of view, the bright line moves to the edge of the window and appears as a tilted line.

In the container inspection example, the determination unit 17 determines the quality of the container by comparing the reflected light pattern detected by the image sensor 31 with a known predetermined pattern.
As described above, depending on the direction of folding, there are good and bad aspects of the fin, the fin end patterns also have their respective aspects, and there is a correlation between the fin end pattern and the reflected light pattern from the fin end. Based on the relationship, a predetermined pattern is set, and the quality of the bonding state or sealing state of the fins of the container is determined by comparing the reflected light pattern detected by the image sensor with the predetermined pattern.

Next, in this container inspection apparatus example, based on the output from the determination means 17b, the defective product is discharged from the manufactured container line by the discharge means 18, as shown in FIG.
Inspecting continuously transported containers and regularly extracted containers and automatically discharging defective products with the equipment, so there is no need for manual work by workers, there are no individual differences or differences among workers, Accurate inspection results are possible.

As demonstrated above, the container inspection apparatus and method of the present invention can accurately inspect a container.
Further, when a normal CCD camera is used, a malfunction may occur due to the light and darkness of the container design and the metallic luster, and it is necessary to change the setting. However, by arranging the light source at a specific position as in the present invention, measurement can be performed without being affected by the above.
In addition, since the present invention only recognizes a simple image with high contrast, an expensive image sensor of a normal image processing system is not required.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

By the method / apparatus of the present invention, packaging containers such as beverages such as milk, juice, mineral water, and liquid foods can be produced.

It is a conceptual diagram explaining operation | movement of the container inspection apparatus example of this invention. It is an external view of the container example of the object which the container inspection apparatus of this invention inspects. It is a pattern figure of the reflected light by the container inspection apparatus example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the formation process of the container example of the object test | inspected with the container inspection apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the packaging filling apparatus provided with the container inspection apparatus of one Example.

Explanation of symbols

14 Container 17 Determination means 23 Fin 30 Light source 31 Image sensor

Claims (3)

A web-like laminated wrapping material having a predetermined crease line is formed into a tube shape, and both edges of the wrapping material are overlapped to form an overlap. The tubular packaging material is filled with food, and the packaging material is pressed in the transverse direction at predetermined intervals, sealed by a transverse seal to form a transverse seal zone, and cut in the middle of the transverse seal zone. A pillow-shaped preform is obtained, and the container obtained by joining flaps and fins formed by folding along the crease line to the container top wall, the container side wall and / or the container bottom is used as the container. A method of inspecting,
Transporting the container, in which the fins of the container top wall are folded, by continuously translating the container by a transport means;
A light source that irradiates irradiation light in an oblique direction of the container is arranged so as to look into the fin end of the top wall of the container to be transported, and from above the fin end above the fin of the top wall of the container to be transported. Disposing an image sensor for detecting reflected light of
A step of determining whether the container is good or bad by comparing the reflected light pattern detected by the image sensor with a predetermined pattern;
Container inspection method. The container inspection method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of discharging a defective product from the container by a discharge unit based on an output from the determination unit. A web-like laminated wrapping material having a predetermined crease line is formed into a tube shape, and both edges of the wrapping material are overlapped to form an overlap. The tubular packaging material is filled with food, and the packaging material is pressed in the transverse direction at predetermined intervals, sealed by a transverse seal to form a transverse seal zone, and cut in the middle of the transverse seal zone. This is a container inspection apparatus obtained by joining a flap and a fin formed by folding along a crease line to a container top wall, a container side wall and / or a container bottom. And
Transport means for continuously translating and transporting the container with the fins of the container top wall folded;
A light source that is disposed in an oblique direction of the container so as to look into the fin end of the top wall of the container to be conveyed, and irradiates irradiation light;
An image sensor that is disposed above the fin on the top wall of the container to be conveyed and detects reflected light from the end of the fin;
A determination means for determining the quality of the container by comparing the pattern of the reflected light detected by the image sensor with a predetermined pattern;
Based on the output from the determination means, discharge means for discharging defective products from the container;
Including container inspection equipment.