JP2012127936A - Appearance inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an appearance inspection apparatus capable of executing cleaning more easily than a conventional apparatus when changing a specimen.SOLUTION: An appearance inspection apparatus comprises: an aligned-specimen providing device for providing specimens K in a manner aligning them; a carrier device for carrying the provided specimens K; an imaging device 50 for taking each image of the specimens K which reach within an imaging area set at the carrying path; an image processing device for analyzing each image of the specimens K to determine whether they are non-defective or defective; and a sorting device for sorting the specimens K into a non-defective product and a defective product in accordance with a determination result. The aligned-specimen providing device, the carrier device and the sorting device are arranged within a carrying space that is a blocked space, while the imaging device and the image processing device are arranged outside the carrying space. A partition plate 7 facing the imaging area is provided with a window 65 made of a transparent member, and the imaging device 50 takes each image of the specimens K through the window 65.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting the appearance of pharmaceuticals (tablets, capsules, etc.), food, machine parts, electronic parts, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “inspected object”), and more particularly to an appearance inspection apparatus suitable for pharmaceutical inspection. .

  Conventionally, as an apparatus for inspecting the appearance of the surface of an object to be inspected, for example, an appearance inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45097 is known.

  The appearance inspection apparatus includes an alignment supply unit that supplies tablets in an aligned manner, a first conveyance unit that sucks and conveys the upper surface of the tablets supplied from the alignment supply unit, and the tablets conveyed by the first conveyance unit. A second transport unit that sucks and transports the lower surface thereof, a first camera that images the lower surface of the tablet transported by the first transport unit, and a second image that captures the upper surface of the tablet transported by the second transport unit. An imaging device having two cameras, an inspection processing unit that processes image data captured by the imaging device to determine whether the tablet is good, and a sorting that sorts the tablet into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the determination result of the inspection processing unit And a sorting department.

  According to this appearance inspection apparatus, while the tablets aligned by the alignment supply unit are transported by the first transport unit, the lower surface thereof is imaged by the first camera and then transported by the second transport unit. In the meantime, the upper surface is imaged by the second camera, and the quality is determined by the inspection processing unit on the basis of the imaged images of the upper and lower surfaces. Then, according to the discrimination result in the inspection processing unit, the sorting and sorting unit sorts the tablets into non-defective products and defective products.

  Although not described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45097, the alignment supply unit, the first transport unit, the second transport unit, the imaging device, and the sorting and sorting unit of the appearance inspection apparatus are arranged in an external atmosphere. In order to isolate it from the conventional technology, it has been conventionally stored in a predetermined housing and placed in the same space in the housing.

JP 2004-45097 A

  By the way, when the object to be inspected is a powdered punched product such as a tablet, the material powder adheres to most of the surface of the tablet after molding, although there is some amount. . Therefore, when such a tablet is inspected using the above-described appearance inspection apparatus, the tablets adhere to the surface of the tablet on each of the alignment supply unit, the first conveyance unit, the second conveyance unit, and the sorting unit through which the tablet passes. The powder will be transferred.

  In addition, since the powder has a very low specific gravity and easily floats in the air, it adheres to the inner wall of the casing. In particular, in the alignment supply unit, the collision between tablets and the collision between the tablet and the device structure are repeated, so that the powder is easily detached from the tablet, and the detached powder adheres to the device structure or in the air. Easy to float on.

  From the background described above, conventionally, when the inspection object in the above-described appearance inspection apparatus is changed to another one (when changing the product type), before that, it is disposed in the casing of the appearance inspection apparatus. It was necessary to remove the powder adhering to the alignment supply unit, the first conveyance unit, the second conveyance unit, the sorting and sorting unit, and the inner wall of the casing.

  In particular, if the tablet is a pharmaceutical product, if the powder (medicinal component) generated from the previous test object remains in the device, it adheres to the test object to be inspected next, and the medicinal component Therefore, it is necessary to control the parts and the housing of the apparatus with water so that the components derived from the previous test object are completely removed from the apparatus. .

  However, in the conventional visual inspection apparatus, main components such as the alignment supply unit, the first transport unit, the second transport unit, the imaging device, and the sorting unit are arranged in the same space in the casing. All were contaminated by the powder of the previous test object, so all of them had to be removed, cleaned and reassembled.

  Among the main components, the components such as the alignment supply unit, the first conveyance unit, the second conveyance unit, and the sorting and sorting unit are basically mechanical structural units, so that they can be easily washed, but have a camera and a light source. Since the imaging device is basically an electrical component, simple washing with water is not possible, and it requires time-consuming work such as wiping with water manually. Was.

  Further, the conventional visual inspection apparatus has the following problems.

  In other words, as described above, pharmaceutical tablets and the like can be mentioned as mentioned above. Among these pharmaceuticals, so-called highly active pharmaceuticals having high pharmacological activity and high efficacy even in a small amount. There is a medicine called "Highly active medicine", and even a small amount has a great influence on the human body. Therefore, when such a highly active pharmaceutical product is used as an object to be inspected, the space in which the object to be inspected is appropriately separated from the external space, and the powdered product does not scatter in the external space. It is necessary to take such measures so that workers are not exposed to the powder.

  However, the conventional appearance inspection apparatus does not take any measures against such highly active pharmaceuticals. Therefore, when changing the inspection object as described above, the door provided on the housing is opened. Then, the device in the casing must be taken out. For this reason, the powder floating in the casing is scattered to the external space through the opening, and the powder adhered to the device is scattered to the external space. There was a problem.

  On the other hand, considering only the worker in such an environment, work with protective clothing can be considered, but work with protective clothing that is difficult to move is not workable, and wearing protective clothing itself Is annoying.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can perform cleaning when changing an object to be inspected more easily than a conventional apparatus, and prevents scattering of powder to the external space. An object of the present invention is to provide a visual inspection apparatus that can perform such a process.

The present invention for solving the above problems is as follows.
An alignment supply device for supplying a plurality of objects to be inspected in a line;
A transport device having a predetermined transport path and transporting the inspection object supplied from the alignment supply device along the transport path;
An imaging device that captures an image of an inspection object that has been transported by the transport device and has reached an imaging region set on the transport path;
An image processing apparatus that analyzes an image of the inspection object imaged by the imaging apparatus and determines its quality;
According to the discrimination result of the image processing apparatus, in the appearance inspection apparatus configured by a sorting device that sorts the inspection object conveyed by the conveyance device into a non-defective product and a defective product,
The alignment supply device, the transport device, and the sorting device are disposed in a transport space that is a closed space partitioned by a partition plate, while the imaging device and the image processing device are disposed outside the transport space,
The partition plate is provided with a window portion made of a transparent member at a portion facing the imaging region set on the conveyance path,
The imaging device relates to an appearance inspection device configured to capture an image of an inspection object conveyed by the conveyance device through the window.

  According to this appearance inspection apparatus, a plurality of objects to be inspected are aligned in a line by the alignment supply apparatus and supplied to the transport apparatus. The conveyance device conveys the supplied inspection object along the conveyance path, and when the inspection object reaches the imaging area, the image is captured by the imaging device. At that time, the imaging device captures an image of the object to be inspected through a transparent window provided on a part of the partition plate facing the imaging region.

  Then, the captured image is analyzed by the image processing apparatus, and the quality of the inspection object is determined. The inspection apparatus sorts the inspection object into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the determination result of the image processing apparatus. .

  By the way, as described above, when changing the inspection object to another one, it is necessary to clean the inside of the space where the inspection object is transported, but in the appearance inspection apparatus according to the present invention, Since the arrangement supply device, the transport device, and the sorting device that are in direct contact with the inspection object are arranged in the closed space (conveyance space) partitioned by the partition plate, the device components that are contaminated by the inspection object are minimized. You can hold on. Therefore, by disassembling and removing only the minimum necessary device components, it is possible to clean these device components and clean the inside of the transfer space.

  In particular, an imaging device that cannot be washed with water is provided outside the transport space, so there is no need to remove or clean the imaging device.

  As described above, according to the appearance inspection apparatus according to the present invention, cleaning when changing the inspection object can be performed in an extremely short time compared to the conventional case, and as a result, the cost required for the inspection can be reduced. be able to.

  In the appearance inspection apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that all or a part of the alignment supply device, the transport device, and the sorting device are detachably disposed in the transport space. If it does in this way, in the case of washing | cleaning, these alignment supply apparatus, a conveying apparatus, and a sorting apparatus can be removed easily, and it can reassemble easily.

  Similarly to the imaging device, an illumination device may be provided outside the conveyance space, and the imaging region may be illuminated by the illumination device through the window.

  In addition, an optical device including an imaging optical path that guides light reflected by the surface of the inspection object located in the imaging region to the imaging device through the window may be provided in the transport space, or In addition to the imaging optical path, an optical apparatus including an illumination optical path that guides light emitted from the illumination device to an imaging region through a window may be provided in the transport space.

  In this case, it is preferable that all or part of the optical device is detachably disposed in the transport space.

  Further, the transport space is a sealed space, the window portion is disposed so as to be airtight to the partition plate, a discharge means for discharging liquid into the transfer space, and a liquid is supplied to the discharge means. It is good also as a structure provided with the supply means. The discharge means discharges the liquid in the form of a mist or a shower.

  In this way, the powder floating in the transfer space can be strictly contained. Furthermore, when the liquid is ejected in a mist form from the ejection means, the floating space is moistened with the mist liquid so that the floating powder is collected by the liquid and deposited on the bottom of the transport space. The powder adhering to the inner wall of the transfer space and each device in the transfer space can be wetted by the liquid to prevent scattering. As a result, when cleaning the inside of the transport space, it is possible to prevent the powder from scattering to the external space, and there is no risk of the operator inhaling the floating powder, and the inside of the transport space can be removed without wearing protective clothing. Can be washed. Further, when the liquid is discharged in a shower form, the powder adhering to the inner wall of the transfer space and each device can be washed away with the liquid. Examples of the discharge means include those fixed in the conveyance space and those that can be operated by hand. Liquids discharged from the discharge means include inspected objects in addition to common liquids such as water. In the case of pharmaceuticals, liquids containing components that inactivate the activity are included.

  Furthermore, the partition plate is provided with an outlet and an operation port formed so as to communicate the transport space and a space outside the transport space, and a bag member having airtightness has airtightness at the outlet. It is good also as a structure which connected and the protective member which has airtightness connected with the said operation port with airtightness.

  In this case, the alignment supply device, the optical device, and the like disposed in the transport space are removed through the protective member connected to the operation port, and are moved from the transport space into the bag member through the outlet. This enables so-called bug-out, in which the device in the transport space is taken out of the transport space without being exposed to the external space. Therefore, the apparatus can be taken out without scattering the powder floating in the conveyance space or the powder attached to the alignment supply device or the optical device to the external space. In addition, since the powder does not scatter, the operator can safely perform the removal work without wearing protective clothing. Note that the apparatus in the conveyance space may be removed through the bag member connected to the outlet and moved into the bag member as it is.

  The optical device may further include an airtight housing, the optical path may be housed in the housing, and an air supply device that sends gas into the housing may be further provided.

  In this way, the pressure inside the housing can be made higher than the pressure inside the transport space, and powder floating in the transport space can be prevented from entering the housing.

  As described above, according to the appearance inspection apparatus according to the present invention, cleaning when changing the inspection object can be performed in a very short time compared to the conventional case, and the cost required for inspection can be reduced. it can. In addition, it can be applied to visual inspections of highly active agents, etc., and by placing and moistening in a sealed inspection room to prevent the scattering of the drug, more advanced containment specifications can be achieved. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the powder from being scattered when the apparatus is taken out from the examination room.

It is the front view which showed the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. In the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, in order to wash | clean the inside of conveyance space, it is a front view which shows the state which removed the internal structure. It is sectional drawing of the arrow BB direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the window part which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the arrow AA direction in FIG. It is the top view which showed the 1st conveying apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the arrow CC direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the arrow DD direction in FIG. It is the front view which showed the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is the front view which showed the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which extracted the E section in FIG. 9, and is explanatory drawing explaining the taking-out of an apparatus. In the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on other embodiment, in order to wash | clean the inside of conveyance space, it is a front view which shows the state which removed the internal structure.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an appearance inspection apparatus 1 of this example includes a frame structure composed of a lower frame 2, an intermediate plate 4 and an upper frame 3, and an alignment supply apparatus 10 disposed in the frame structure. , First and second transport devices 20, 40, first, second, third and fourth imaging units 50, 75, 82, 86, first, second, third and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88, a sorting device 90, an image processing device 92, and the like.

  Each of the lower frame 2 and the upper frame 3 is a frame structure that defines a prismatic space. The intermediate plate 4 is fixed on the upper surface of the lower frame 2, and the upper frame 3 is fixed on the intermediate plate 4. Yes.

  Further, a cover plate (not shown) is provided on the outer peripheral side surface and the bottom surface of the lower frame 2, and similarly, a cover plate (not shown) is also provided on the outer peripheral side surface and the upper surface of the upper frame 3. The space is closed by a cover plate (not shown).

  In a space formed by the upper frame 3 and a cover plate (not shown) surrounding the upper frame 3, an internal storage chamber 6 including an upper plate 9, a bottom plate 7, and four side plates 8 is provided. The upper plate 9 is fixed to a member constituting the top portion of the upper frame 3 and is suspended from the upper frame 3.

  Thus, the transport space 5 partitioned by the upper frame 3 and a cover plate (not shown) surrounding the upper frame 3, the intermediate plate 4, the upper plate 9, the bottom plate 7 and the side plate 8 constituting the internal storage chamber 6 is formed. In this transport space 5, the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, the second transport device 40, the first, second, third and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88 and sorting are formed. A device 90 is provided.

  The alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, and the second transport device 40 are components for transporting the inspection object K, and transport the inspection object K onto the intermediate plate 4 in the upper frame 3. From the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction (arrow direction), the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, and the second transport device 40 are sequentially arranged in this order.

  Although the specific structure of the alignment supply device 10 is not shown, the alignment supply device 10 has a rotating ball 11, and a plurality of inspection objects K supplied in the ball 11 are aligned in a line to form the first transfer device 20. To supply.

  The first transport device 20 has the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, and the second transport device 40 has the same configuration although not particularly shown. Therefore, here, only the configuration of the first transfer device 20 will be described, and the description of the second transfer device 40 will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the first transport device 20 includes a rectangular parallelepiped external box 23 whose upper surface is open, a negative pressure box 21, a transport belt 25, and 2 disposed in the external box 23. The four guides 24, 24 and the four pulleys 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d and the motor 31 fixed to the outer surface of the external box 23 are included.

  The negative pressure box 21 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped housing having a slit hole 22 formed along the longitudinal direction at the center of the upper surface, and the upper surface is substantially the same as the upper end surface of the external box 23. It is accommodated in the external box 23 so as to be a surface, and both outer side surfaces thereof are fixed to the inner wall surface of the external box 23. The inside of the negative pressure box 21 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown), and the inside of the negative pressure box 21 is a negative pressure.

  The conveyor belt 25 is composed of an endless annular timing belt, and an annular groove 26 along the longitudinal direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface side. Similarly, an annular groove 27 along the longitudinal direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface side. Is formed. Also, a plurality of suction holes 29 penetrating into the outside are formed in the groove 26 at a predetermined interval.

  The pulleys 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d are rotatably supported in the outer box 23 in a state where they are laid across the inner walls of the outer box 23, and the upper pulleys 30a and 30b sandwich the negative pressure box 21. The pulley 30c is disposed below the pulley 30a, and the pulley 30d is disposed below the pulley 30b. The pulley 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d is wound around the conveyor belt 25, one of which (pulley 30a in this example) is driven by the motor 31, and the conveyor belt 25 travels in the direction of the arrow. To do.

  Further, on the upper surface of the negative pressure box 21, guides 24, 24 are respectively provided along the longitudinal direction on both sides of the slit hole 22, and the transport belt 25 between the pulleys 30a, 30b is In the state where the positional relationship between the groove 27 and the slit hole 22 coincides, both side surfaces thereof are in sliding contact with these guides 24, 24, and the inner peripheral surface thereof is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the negative pressure box 21, the guide 24, 24 is guided and travels.

  Thus, according to the first conveying device 20, the negative pressure acting in the negative pressure box 21 from the negative pressure source travels between the pulleys 30 a and 30 b via the slit hole 22. Acting on the groove 27, the suction hole 29 and the groove 26. At that time, the groove 27 functions as an accumulator.

  When the inspection object K is supplied onto the groove 26 of the conveyor belt 25, in other words, the inspection object K is supplied so as to straddle the two ridges 28, 28 formed on both sides of the groove 26. Then, the inspection object K is sucked onto the transport belt 25 by the negative pressure acting on the groove 26 and is transported in the moving direction by the travel of the transport belt 25.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first transport device 20 having such a configuration is supported by a support base 15 fixed on the intermediate plate 4, and moves up the transport path formed by the transport belt 25. Thus, the upstream end of the transport is fixed on the support base 15 so as to be connected to the discharge portion of the alignment supply device 10.

  On the other hand, the second transport device 40 is supported by the support mechanism 35 shown in FIG. 2 in a state where the top and bottom of the first transport device 20 is inverted, that is, in a state where the transport path is down. . As shown in FIG. 2, the support mechanism 35 includes two support posts 36 erected on the intermediate plate 4 and a support plate 37 fixed on the support post 36. 2 The transport device 40 is provided with an appropriate fixture (not shown) so that a space through which the inspection object K can pass is opened and the transport upstream end is located above the transport downstream end of the first transport device 20. Is fixed on the support plate 37.

  Thus, according to the series of conveyance units configured by the alignment supply device 10, the first conveyance device 20, and the second conveyance device 40, first, the alignment supply device 10 aligns the inspected objects K in a line. 1 is supplied to the conveying device 20. Next, the first transport device 20 transports the inspection object K supplied onto the transport belt 25 to the transport downstream end while adsorbing the test object K onto the transport belt 25. When the inspection object K reaches the transport downstream end, the upper surface of the inspection object K is adsorbed by the second transport device 40 and transported to the transport downstream end by the second transport device 40.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second imaging units 50 and 75 are disposed in an internal storage chamber 6 provided above the first transfer device 20, and the third and fourth imaging units. 82 and 86 are fixed to the lower surface of the intermediate plate 4 located below the second transport device 40.

  These four imaging units 50, 75, 82, 86 have the same configuration. Therefore, the specific configuration of only the first imaging unit 50 will be described, and the description of the second, third, and fourth imaging units 75, 82, and 86 will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first image pickup unit 50 is housed in the camera housing portion 52 so that the storage case 51 including the camera housing portion 52 and the light source housing portion 53 and the lens portion face downward. And the two light sources 55 and 55 housed in the light source housing portion 53 so that the irradiation direction faces downward.

  A through hole 52a is formed at the bottom of the camera housing 52 facing the camera 54, and similarly, through holes 53a and 53a are formed at the bottom of the light source housing 53 facing the light sources 55 and 55. .

  Further, the camera 54 is not particularly limited as long as it can image the inspection object K, but a color CCD line sensor camera can be exemplified as an example. The light source 55 is not particularly limited as long as it can illuminate the imaging region set on the conveyance path of the first conveyance device 20, but as an example, a plurality of LEDs are provided. Can be exemplified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first optical unit 70 is disposed between the first imaging unit 50 and the first transport device 20, and the second optical unit 80 is connected to the second imaging unit 75 and a first one. They are arranged between the transfer device 20 and fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 7 constituting the internal storage chamber 6.

  The third optical unit 84 is disposed between the third imaging unit 82 and the second transport device 40, and the fourth optical unit 88 is between the fourth imaging unit 86 and the second transport device 40. The intermediate plates 4 are respectively disposed on the upper surface of the intermediate plate 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first optical unit 70 includes a storage case 71 fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 7, and an optical path formation fixed to the inner wall surface of the lower end portion of the storage case 71. The mechanism 73 includes two connectors 75 and 75 fixed to the lower surface of the top plate of the storage case 71, and two optical fiber bundles 74 and 74 that connect the optical path forming mechanism 73 and the connectors 75 and 75. .

  The lower part of the storage case 71 is open at the entire surface, and is formed with a notch 72 through which the inspection object K transported by the first transport device 20 can pass. The optical path forming mechanism 73 is transported. The belt 25 is disposed above the belt 25.

  The connectors 75 and 75 are provided at positions facing the light sources 55 and 55, respectively, through holes 53 a and 53 a formed in the light source storage portion 53, and window portions 60 and 60 provided in the bottom plate 7. Light emitted from the light sources 55 and 55 is received through through holes 71 b and 71 b formed in the top plate portion of the storage case 71.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the window 60 is formed on a through hole 7 a and a counterbore 7 b formed in the bottom plate 7, an annular push lid 62 having a through hole 62 b, and an end face of the push lid 62. An O-ring 63a provided on the inner peripheral side of the annular projecting portion 62a, an O-ring 63b provided on the outer peripheral side, and a circular glass plate 61 fitted in the O-ring 63a. Then, the push lid 62 on which the O-rings 63a and 63b and the glass plate 61 are mounted is inserted into the counterbore 7b with the protruding portion 62a facing upward, and is screwed onto the lower surface of the bottom plate 7. Yes.

  Thus, the window 60 separates the upper and lower spaces sandwiching the bottom plate 7 in a liquid-tight manner, and transmits light between the two spaces through the through hole 7a, the glass plate 61, and the through hole 62b. Providing a transparent environment. Thereby, the light emitted from the light sources 55 and 55 passes through the through holes 53a and 53a formed in the light source storage part 53, the through holes 7a of the window parts 60 and 60, the glass plate 61 and the through holes 62b, respectively. After entering the connectors 75 and 75, the light is guided to the optical path forming mechanism 73 through the optical fiber bundles 74 and 74.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom plate 7 is provided with a window portion 65 having the same configuration as the window portion 60 at a position facing the camera 54, and the top plate of the storage case 71. A through hole 71a is formed in a portion facing the window portion 65, and light in the storage case 71 is transmitted through the through hole 52a formed in the camera storage portion 52 and the window portion 65 and the through hole 71a. 54 receives light.

  The optical path forming mechanism 73 guides the light guided through the optical fiber bundles 74 and 74 to an imaging area set on the conveying path of the conveying belt 25, and illuminates the inspection object K located in the imaging area. And an imaging optical path that guides light reflected by the surface of the inspection object K to the camera 54 through the through hole 71a, the window 65, and the through hole 52a.

  Thus, according to the first image pickup unit 50 and the first optical unit 70, the light emitted from the light sources 55 and 55 passes through holes 53a and 53a, windows 60 and 60, connectors 75 and 75, and optical fibers. The light is guided to the optical path forming mechanism 73 through the bundles 74 and 74, and the inspection object K located in the imaging region on the conveyor belt 25 is illuminated by the illumination light, and the reflected light passes through the optical path forming mechanism 73 and penetrates. The light is received by the camera 54 through the hole 71a, the window portion 65, and the through hole 52a, and an image of the inspection object K is taken by the camera 54.

  The second, third, and fourth optical units 80, 84, 88 have the same configuration as the first optical unit 70 except that the imaging optical path of the optical path forming mechanism 73 is different. . The imaging optical path of the first optical unit 70 guides the images of the upper surface of the inspection object K and the front side surface in the transport direction to the first imaging unit 50, and the imaging optical path of the second optical unit 80 is the inspection optical path. The image of the rear side surface of the object K is guided to the second imaging unit 75, and the imaging optical path of the third optical unit 84 guides the images of the lower surface and the rear side surface of the object K to the third imaging unit 82, The imaging optical path of the fourth optical unit 88 is configured to guide the image of the front side surface of the inspection object K to the fourth imaging unit 86.

  Thus, the first imaging unit 50 captures images of the upper and front side surfaces of the inspection object K, the second imaging unit 75 captures an image of the rear side surface of the inspection object K, and the third imaging unit K. The imaging unit 82 captures images of the lower surface and the rear side surface of the inspection object K, and the fourth imaging unit 86 captures an image of the front side surface of the inspection object K.

  The image processing device 92 receives images taken by the first, second, third, and fourth imaging units 50, 75, 82, and 86, analyzes the received images, and determines the quality. .

  The sorting device 90 sorts the inspection object K transported by the second transport device 40 into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the determination result determined by the image processing device 92.

  According to the appearance inspection apparatus 1 of the present example having the above configuration, first, a plurality of inspection objects K are thrown into the balls 11 of the alignment supply apparatus 10. The input inspection objects K are aligned in a line by the alignment supply device 10 and sequentially discharged, and are supplied onto the conveyance belt 25 of the first conveyance device 20.

  The lower surface of the inspection object K supplied onto the conveyor belt 25 is adsorbed on the conveyor belt 25, and is conveyed in the moving direction by the movement of the conveyor belt 25, and reaches the conveyance end of the first conveyor device 20. Then, the upper surface of the inspection object K is sucked by the second transport device 40 and delivered to the second transport device, and then transported to the transport end by the second transport device 40.

  While being transported by the first transport device 20, images of the upper surface and front side surface of the inspection object K are captured by the first imaging unit 50, and the rear part of the inspection object K is captured by the second imaging unit 75. While the image of the side surface is captured and then transported by the second transport device 40, the third image capturing unit 82 captures the image of the lower surface and the rear side surface of the inspection object K and the fourth image capturing unit 86. An image of the front side surface of the inspection object K is taken.

  In this way, each captured image is transmitted to the image processing device 92, and the image processing device 92 determines the quality of the imaged inspection object K.

  When the discriminated inspection object K reaches the sorting device 90, the sorting device 90 sorts the inspection object K into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the discrimination result of the image processing device 92. .

  By the way, in the appearance inspection apparatus 1 of this example, when the inspection object K is changed to another one, it is necessary to clean the inside of the conveyance space 5 in which the inspection object K is conveyed, In the appearance inspection apparatus 1 of the present example, the alignment supply apparatus 10 that directly contacts the inspection object K, the first conveyance apparatus 20, the second conveyance apparatus 40, the sorting apparatus 90, the first, second, third, and fourth. While the optical units 70, 80, 84, and 88 are disposed in the conveyance space 5, the first, second, third, and fourth imaging units 50, 75, 82, and 86 and the image processing device 92 are as follows. Is disposed outside the transfer space 5, the apparatus components that are contaminated by the inspection object K can be minimized.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, the second transport device 40, the sorting device 90, and the first, second, third and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, By removing only the minimum necessary apparatus components such as 88, these apparatus components can be cleaned and the inside of the transfer space 5 can be cleaned. In FIG. 2, the alignment supply device 10 shows a state in which only the balls 11 are removed.

  The first, second, third, and fourth imaging units 50, 75, 82, and 86 are mainly electric products such as the light source 55 and the camera 54 that cannot be washed with water. Are disposed outside the conveying space 5, so that they can be prevented from being contaminated by the inspection object K, and cleaning thereof can be omitted.

  The first transport device 20 and the second transport device 40, the first, second, third and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88 and the sorting device 90 are unitized, respectively. Since the units can be attached and detached as a unit, the operation of reassembling each unit after removing them and cleaning the inside of the transfer space 5 can be carried out in a very short time.

  In particular, the first, second, third, and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88 have complicated optical paths such as an imaging optical path and an illumination optical path, and these are not unitized. However, it takes a long time not only to remove it but also to reassemble it, and it cannot perform a quick operation.

  As described above, according to the appearance inspection apparatus 1 of this example, cleaning when changing the inspection object K can be performed in an extremely short time compared to the conventional case, and the cost required for inspection can be reduced. Can do.

  Further, the first, second, third and fourth imaging units 50, 75, 82, 86 arranged outside the conveyance space 5 are first, second, second arranged in the conveyance space 5. Since the illumination light and the imaging light are projected and received through the liquid-tight windows 60, 60, 65 between the third and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88, these In addition to the first, second, third, and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88, the inside of the transport space 5 is removed with the first transport device 20, the second transport device 40, and the sorting device 90 removed. The first, second, third, and fourth imaging units 50, 75, 82, and 86 are not likely to be contaminated by the washing water even if the washing is performed.

  By the way, when the inspected material K is a highly active pharmaceutical product or the like, even if a small amount of powder is produced, it has a great influence on the human body, so it is necessary to more precisely prevent the powder from scattering.

  Therefore, when a highly active pharmaceutical product or the like is used as the inspection object K, the first, second, third and fourth optical units 70, 80 are added to the appearance inspection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. , 84, 88 are provided with a blower mechanism for sending air, a discharge mechanism for discharging a mist-like liquid in the transport space 5, and a recovery mechanism for recovering the device in the transport space 5, and the transport space 5 in the upper frame. 3 and a space surrounded by the cover plate, the intermediate plate 4, the upper plate 9, the bottom plate 7 and the side plate 8 surrounding it, and the window 60 is sandwiched between the intermediate plate 4 and the bottom plate 7. It is preferable that the appearance inspection apparatus 1 ′ is configured so that the spaces on both the upper and lower sides are separated in an airtight manner.

  The blower mechanism includes a blower 100 provided outside the frame structure, and blows air into the optical units 70, 80, 84, and 88 through, for example, a duct. As a result, the inside of each optical unit 70, 80, 84, 88 has a higher pressure (positive pressure) than the inside of the transport space 5, and the powder generated when transporting the object K is transported to each optical unit 70, 80. , 84, 88 can be prevented from entering.

  The discharge mechanism includes a liquid discharge unit 110 that discharges a mist-like liquid into the transport space 5 and a liquid supply unit 111 that supplies liquid to the liquid discharge unit 110. The liquid discharge unit 110 is constituted by, for example, a nozzle that discharges the supplied liquid in the form of a mist, and is arranged at four corners of a cover plate provided on the upper surface of the upper frame 3 in this example.

  The recovery mechanism includes an extraction part 120 provided on each of the left and right cover plates among the cover plates provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the upper frame 3, and an airtight recovery connected to the extraction part 120. Bag 122.

  The take-out part 120 has a take-out port formed on each of the cover plates on the left and right side surfaces so as to communicate the transport space 5 and the external space, and a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the take-out port. A cylindrical member having a connecting member 121 fixed to the outer space side of the cover plate on both the left and right side surfaces so that its axis is coaxial with the axis of the outlet, and the collection bag 122 is connected The member 121 is connected with airtightness.

  In addition, auxiliary plates 123 are extended from the position below the position where the outlet is formed toward the transport space 5 side on the transport space 5 side of the cover plates on the left and right side surfaces.

  On the other hand, among the cover plates provided on the upper frame 3, the front and back cover plates are made of transparent members, and as shown in FIG. 10, the cover plate includes the transport space 5 and the external space. Two pairs of operation ports 130 are formed so as to communicate with each other. Further, a protective glove 131 having airtightness is attached to the transport space 5 side of the front and back cover plates with airtightness so as to cover the respective operation ports 130.

  A process from taking out each device to cleaning the inside of the transfer space 5 in the appearance inspection apparatus 1 ′ having the above configuration will be described below.

  First, the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, the second transport device 40, and the sorting device 90 to which the powder adheres, the first, second, third, and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88, Is moved out of the transport space 5 into the collection bag 122, and the collection bag 122 is sealed to be taken out in a state of being isolated from the external space. As an example, a process of taking out the second transport device 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 11A, the operator removes the second transport device 40 from the support plate 37 through the operation port 130 through the protective glove 131 and places it on the auxiliary table 123. Next, as shown in FIG. 11B, the second transport device 40 placed on the auxiliary table 123 is moved into the collection bag 122 through the outlet.

  Subsequently, the part shown with the broken line of FIG.11 (c) is heat-sealed, and the collection | recovery bag 122 is sealed. The method of sealing the recovery bag 122 is not limited to heat fusion, but when sealing by heat fusion, a recovery bag made of a material capable of heat fusion is selected.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11 (d), the second transport device 40 is isolated from the external space by the recovery bag 122 by cutting the recovery bag 122 at the heat-sealed portion. Take out from. Similarly, other devices are also taken out from the transport space 5 while being isolated from the external space. In addition, when the apparatus to remove is light, you may move to the collection bag 122 not via the auxiliary | assistant table 123. FIG.

  Thus, the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, the second transport device 40, the sorting device 90, and the first, second, third, and fourth optical units 70, 80, 84, 88 are provided in the external space. It is taken out from the conveyance space 5 without being exposed, and is isolated from the external space by the collection bag 122.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 111 to the liquid discharge unit 110, and the liquid discharge unit 110 sprays mist-like liquid into the transport space 5. As a result, the inside of the transport space 5 is moistened, and the floating powder P is collected and aggregated by the liquid, and is deposited on the support plate 37 and the intermediate plate 4.

  After sufficiently reducing the floating powder P, the conveyance space 5 is released and the inside is cleaned. Further, each device taken out from the transfer space 5 to the external space is carried to a cleaning room or the like while being separated from the external space by the collection bag 122, and is cleaned there.

  As described above, according to the appearance inspection apparatus 1 ′, since the inside of the transfer space 5 is a sealed space, the powder generated when the inspection object K is transferred can be strictly enclosed in the transfer space 5. Contamination of the external space during transportation can be prevented.

  Furthermore, the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, the second transport device 40, the sorting device 90, and the first, second, third, and fourth optical units 70, 80 to which the powder generated from the inspection object K adheres. , 84, 88 can be taken out from the conveyance space 5 by a so-called bag-out method. Therefore, for example, even if a highly active pharmaceutical product that can greatly affect the human body even in a small amount is the test object K, it can be safely removed without contaminating the external space. In addition, since the worker is not exposed to the powder, the worker can work without wearing protective clothing, and the workability can be improved.

  Further, since the inside of the transfer space 5 is so-called stationary wet so that the powder does not float, when the transfer space 5 is released to clean the inside, the powder is scattered to the external space. Can be prevented. Thus, the cleaning operation can be performed without contaminating the external space with the powder generated from the inspection object K. In addition, even if the worker who performs the work does not wear protective clothing, the safety of the body can be ensured, so that both safety can be ensured and workability can be improved.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the specific aspect which this invention can take is not limited to these at all.

  In this example, the mist-like liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge unit 110 to wet the inside of the transport space 5, but the liquid is discharged in a shower-like manner to the inner wall of the transport space 5 or the inside of the transport space 5. You may make it wash away the powder adhering to each of these apparatuses.

  The discharge mechanism may be, for example, a handy type spray that is held and operated by hand. In this case, it is possible to operate over the protective glove 131 and discharge the liquid toward an arbitrary location in the transfer space 5.

  Further, when each device is taken out from the conveyance space 5, each device is gripped and held through the protective glove 131 through the operation port 130, but each device is gripped and held through the collection bag 122 through the outlet. You may make it do.

  Further, the inside of the transport space 5 is moistened after each device is taken out from the transport space 5, but the inside of the transport space 5 may be moistened before taking out each device. In this way, scattering of the powder adhering to each device can be prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the appearance inspection apparatus 1 ′ of this example, when a sterilized part is installed in the transport space 5 in order to transport and inspect the inspection object in the transport space 5 in a sterilized state or the like. The bug-in method can also be adopted.

  Further, for example, an air supply port and an exhaust port are provided in the plate forming the transfer space 5, and gas is supplied from the outside of the transfer space 5 into the transfer space 5 through the supply port, and the inside of the transfer space 5 is supplied through the exhaust port. The gas may be exhausted out of the transfer space 5. At this time, the gas supply amount is made smaller than the exhaust amount, so that the pressure in the transfer space 5 is lower (negative pressure) than the external space, and the supplied gas and the exhausted gas are separated from the HEPA filter ( Clean through a high performance filter.

  In this way, an air flow is generated in the conveyance space 5, and the suspended powder is sucked together with the air from the exhaust port and removed by the HEPA filter. Therefore, the amount of powder floating in the transfer space 5 can be reduced as much as possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Appearance inspection apparatus 2 Lower frame 3 Upper frame 4 Intermediate plate 5 Transfer space 6 Internal storage chamber 7 Bottom plate 10 Alignment supply apparatus 20 First transfer apparatus 40 Second transfer apparatus 50 First imaging unit 54 Camera 55 Light source 60, 65 Window Unit 70 First optical unit 75 Second imaging unit 80 Second optical unit 82 Third imaging unit 84 Third optical unit 86 Fourth imaging unit 88 Fourth optical unit 90 Sorting device 92 Image processing device 1 ′ Appearance inspection device 100 Device 110 Liquid discharge unit 120 Extraction unit 122 Collection bag 131 Protective glove

Claims (9)

An alignment supply device for supplying a plurality of objects to be inspected in a line;
A transport device having a predetermined transport path and transporting the inspection object supplied from the alignment supply device along the transport path;
An imaging device that captures an image of an inspection object that has been transported by the transport device and has reached an imaging region set on the transport path;
An image processing apparatus that analyzes an image of the inspection object imaged by the imaging apparatus and determines its quality;
According to the discrimination result of the image processing apparatus, in the appearance inspection apparatus configured by a sorting device that sorts the inspection object conveyed by the conveyance device into a non-defective product and a defective product,
The alignment supply device, the transport device, and the sorting device are disposed in a transport space that is a closed space partitioned by a partition plate, while the imaging device and the image processing device are disposed outside the transport space,
The partition plate is provided with a window portion made of a transparent member at a portion facing the imaging region set on the conveyance path,
The visual inspection apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to capture an image of an inspection object conveyed by the conveyance apparatus through the window portion.   The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all or a part of the alignment supply device, the transport device, and the sorting device are detachably disposed in the transport space.   The visual inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an illumination device that illuminates an imaging region on the conveyance path through the window is provided outside the conveyance space.   An optical device having an imaging optical path that guides light reflected by the surface of the inspection object located in the imaging region to the imaging device through the window is provided in the conveyance space. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1.   An imaging optical path that guides light reflected by the surface of the inspection object located in the imaging region to the imaging device through the window, and light emitted from the illumination device through the window, the imaging region. The visual inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an optical apparatus including an illumination optical path that guides the light is provided in the conveyance space.   6. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein all or part of the optical device is detachably disposed in the conveyance space.   The transport space formed by the partition plate is an airtight sealed space, the window portion is disposed so as to be airtight to the partition plate, and is provided in the transport space. 7. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a discharge unit that discharges the liquid; and a supply unit that supplies the liquid to the discharge unit.   An outlet formed in the partition plate so as to communicate the transport space formed by the partition plate and a space outside the transport space, and an airtight bag connected to the outlet in an airtight manner A member, an operation port formed to communicate the transfer space and the space outside the transfer space with the partition plate, and an airtight protective member connected to the operation port in an airtight manner The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the appearance inspection apparatus is provided. The optical device has an airtight casing, and the optical path is formed in the casing.
7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising air supply means for sending gas from the outside to the internal space of the housing, wherein the internal space of the housing is set to a positive pressure. Any visual inspection device.

Images