JP2018031707A - Inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device which can inspect a sealing failure of a back attachment part if the back attachment part is hidden by a content.SOLUTION: The inspection device includes a light detection unit for emitting a beam of light to an item while carrying the item and detecting transmitting light. The inspection device generates a transmissive image based on light detected by the light detection unit and inspects a defect of the item based on the gray-scale level of the transmissive image. The inspection device measures the length S1 of a lateral seal part and the length S2 of the center part of the item from the transmissive image, compares the two measurement results, and determines a defective sealing of the back attachment part Q3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for inspecting a seal failure of a back pasting portion of a pillow packaged bag.

  In a transportation line that continuously stores food, etc. in a bag while forming the bag, the contents are caught in the seal part of the bag, the contents are damaged, foreign matter is mixed in the bag, etc. In order to inspect, various inspection apparatuses using X-rays or near infrared rays have been introduced.

  As one of such inspection apparatuses, for example, an inspection apparatus described in the following patent document is known. This inspection apparatus irradiates a bag with near infrared rays, and inspects the bending of the seal portion of the bag based on a transmission image of the bag.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-232460

  By the way, in such a bag-packed product, in addition to the above-described phenomenon, a seal failure may occur at the back pasting portion of the bag. When this occurs, not only is the sealing performance of the bag impaired, but sometimes the contents are exposed from the bag. Therefore, for such a bag-packed product, an inspection for a defective seal is also required for the back pasting portion. However, the conventional inspection apparatuses have a problem that the back-pasted portion overlaps with the contents, and therefore, the back-pasted portion of the bag cannot be inspected for a seal failure. Therefore, an operator has to inspect for a sealing failure of the back-attached portion by visual inspection, and labor saving in that respect has been demanded.

  This invention responds to this request, and makes it a subject to provide the new test | inspection apparatus which can test | inspect the sealing failure of the back pasting part of a bag.

An inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a light irradiation unit that irradiates light to a bag having a back pasting portion in which contents are stored, a light detection unit that detects light transmitted through the bag, and the light detection unit. An image generation unit that generates a transmission image of the bag based on the light detected in step B, and a determination unit that determines whether there is a seal failure in the back-pasted portion of the bag based on the density of the transmission image. ,
The determination unit compares each bag width in a direction intersecting with the back pasting portion at a portion closer to the center than the end portion of the bag and the end portion of the bag on the transmission image, and determines the bag width of the end portion. When the length is shorter, it is determined that the back-pasted portion has a seal failure.

  In the back-wrapped bag packaged in the pillow, a back-attached portion is formed at the center portion of the bag, and lateral seal portions are formed at both ends of the bag in a direction orthogonal to the back-attached portion. When the contents are stored in such a bag, the central portion of the bag (hereinafter referred to as the belly portion) swells into a pillow (pillow) state. When a transmission image is generated by irradiating the bag in that state, on the transmission image, as shown in FIG. 1, the belly portion of the bag Q1 appears thinner than the lateral seal portion Q2. However, when a seal failure occurs in the back pasting portion Q3, the packaging material of the back pasting portion Q3 spreads. Therefore, on the transmission image, as shown in FIG. 2, the bag width of the abdomen is larger than the lateral seal portion Q2. It looks thick. Utilizing this characteristic, the determination unit determines the bag width S1 in the direction intersecting the respective back-pasted portions Q3 at the end portion of the bag (lateral seal portion Q2) and the portion closer to the center (abdomen portion). S2 is compared, and if the bag width at the end (the length S1 of the lateral seal portion Q2) is longer, it is determined to be normal, and if it is shorter, the back-pasted portion Q3 is determined to be defective.

In the comparison of the bag widths S1 and S2, there are a method of obtaining a difference between them and a method of obtaining a ratio thereof. When obtaining the difference, it can be determined which bag width is longer depending on whether the difference is positive or negative. Further, when the ratio is obtained, it can be determined which bag width is longer depending on whether the ratio is larger or smaller than one. Further, when the bag is inclined with respect to the transport direction, an error occurs in the bag widths S1 and S2. Therefore, when obtaining the difference, it is necessary to correct the inclination of the bag on the transmission image. When obtaining, there is no effect even if the bag is inclined with respect to the transport direction. In this case, it is not necessary to correct the inclination of the bag on the transmission image. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to obtain the ratio.

  Further, instead of obtaining the bag width S1 (length of the lateral seal portion Q3) at the end portion of the bag, the determination unit determines the lateral width S3 (see FIG. 2) of the contents R1 in the direction intersecting with the back pasting portion Q3. The obtained lateral width S3 may be compared with the bag width S2 of the portion closer to the center of the bag Q1. In this case, the ratio between the lateral width S3 and the bag width S2 is obtained, and if the obtained ratio falls within the allowable range, it is determined that it is normal, and if it deviates from that, it is determined that the back-pasted portion has a poor seal. Here, the ratio is obtained because the posture of the contents R1 in the bag Q1 is not constant, and even if the bag Q1 is tilted, it is not necessary to correct it on the transmission image. . But you may judge from the difference of lateral width S3 of the content R1, and bag width S2 of the site | part near the center of the bag Q1.

In addition, when the bag width is abnormal when the bag width is obtained, the determination unit performs a defect process on the assumption that the bag is regarded as a content.
When the back pasting portion of the bag is poorly sealed, sometimes the bag is removed and only the contents are sent to the inspection device. In such a case, the determination unit proceeds with the process assuming that the content is a bag. However, when the obtained bag width, for example, the length S1 of the horizontal seal portion is substantially constant, if it is an abnormally small value, it is assumed that it is not the bag but the contents. be able to. Therefore, when the obtained bag width is abnormal, the determination unit performs the defect processing assuming that the bag is regarded as the contents. The defective process in that case is, for example, a process of removing the defective product from the transport line.

The light irradiated here is near infrared rays or X-rays. By using near-infrared rays, even a thin and transparent wrapping material can be used to project the region of the molded bag. Further, if X-rays are used, even if the bag is formed of an aluminum vapor deposition film, the contents area can be copied together with the bag area. Therefore, it is preferable to use near infrared rays or X-rays properly according to the inspection object.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect a sealing failure of the back-pasted portion of the bag even if the back-pasted portion of the bag is projected on the transmission image of the bag so as to overlap the contents. Therefore, it is possible to save labor by automating the conventional seal defect inspection that relies on the visual inspection.

It is a figure which shows an example of the permeation | transmission image of a normal back pasting bag. It is a figure which shows an example of the permeation | transmission image when a back sticking part becomes a seal defect. It is a front view of the near-infrared inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a top view of the conveyance line in which the near-infrared inspection apparatus of FIG. 3 was installed. FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a control system of the near-infrared inspection apparatus in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows an image when the transmission image of FIG. 1 is binarized with the brightness of the packaging material. It is explanatory drawing in the case of measuring the bag width of the both ends and belly part of a bag. It is explanatory drawing in the case of measuring the width of the content. It is explanatory drawing in the case of measuring the bag width | variety of the both ends of the bag which the belly part swelled by the seal | sticker defect of the back sticking part, and the belly part. It is explanatory drawing when measuring the bag width of the both ends when a bag inclines, and an abdominal part. It is a figure which shows an image in case an article | item is reflected longer than actual by a conveyance state. It is explanatory drawing in the case of measuring the bag width of the belly part of the bag of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of overlapping parts will be omitted. The following embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) Overall Configuration FIG. 3 is an example of a near-infrared inspection apparatus 1 that inspects a bag-packed product (hereinafter referred to as an article) G in which contents are stored in a back-attached bag formed of a resin film. FIG. 4 shows an example in which it is incorporated in a transport line. In these drawings, this inspection apparatus 1 is for inspecting the quality of an article G such as a bag of confectionery in a production line for processed foods, for example. The packaging material of the present embodiment is made of a light-transmitting material, and the material itself has a color (colored). The packaging material may be a transparent material, a translucent material, or the like, or the package may be colored by printing or the like.

The near-infrared inspection apparatus (inspection apparatus) 1 includes a light irradiation unit 2, a light detection unit 3, and a control computer 4, and a distribution mechanism 7 shown in FIG. It has been.
The light irradiation part 2 is arrange | positioned below between the conveyors 11 and 12, and the light detection part 3 is arrange | positioned in the perpendicular upper direction. The light irradiation unit 2 and the light detection unit 3 face each other vertically through a gap provided between the conveyors 11 and 12.

  The light irradiation unit 2 includes a near-infrared irradiator 13 that irradiates near-infrared rays toward the light detection unit 3 from the gap between the conveyors 11 and 12. This near infrared ray spreads in a direction crossing the conveyance path of the article G. Therefore, when the article G passes between the conveyors 11 and 12, near infrared rays are irradiated toward the article G from the gap. Moreover, the near-infrared wavelength used here is 780 nm to 1100 nm.

  The light detection unit 3 includes a near-infrared line sensor 14 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the article G, vertically above the conveyance conveyors 11 and 12. The near-infrared line sensor 14 detects near-infrared transmitted light irradiated on the article G passing between the conveyors 11 and 12, and the detection signal is converted into a digital quantity and input to the control computer 4. .

  The near-infrared line sensor 14 has a plurality of light detection elements 14a arranged in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction of the article G, and the output of these detection elements 14a is scanned at a constant period, whereby the article G A transmission signal over the entire region is output.

  The light irradiation unit 2 and the light detection unit 3 are supported in a cantilever manner on a column 6 erected on the pedestal 5 so that the optical path from the light irradiation unit 2 to the light detection unit 3 is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere. It has become. Therefore, in order to reduce the influence of disturbance due to natural light or illumination light, the exposed region may be covered with a shield box or the like.

  The control computer 4 is housed in the column 6 and controls the near-infrared inspection apparatus 1 and performs various signal processing. A touch panel provided with a liquid crystal display (not shown) and an input device is provided at an appropriate location of the column 6, and the touch panel is electrically connected to the control computer 4. However, the control computer 4 and the touch panel may be integrally provided in a control box different from the support 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the distribution mechanism 7 is arranged on the downstream side of the near-infrared inspection apparatus 1, and is designated as a defective product by a failure signal from the control computer 4. To eliminate. The sorting mechanism 7 is configured to, for example, operate the arm 70 that moves in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article G to discharge defective products to the collection box 90.

(2) Configuration of Control Computer The control computer 4 is a part that controls the operation of each part of the near-infrared inspection apparatus 1, and is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. Has been. The control computer 4 reads the program from the ROM and executes it to develop the transmission signal output from the light detection unit 3 into a two-dimensional transmission image, and based on the gray value of the article region on the transmission image. It is determined whether there is a sealing failure in the seal portion, whether foreign matter is mixed in the bag, whether the contents are cracked or chipped, whether the contents are bitten into the seal portion, a sealing failure in the back-attached portion, and the like. Since the processes other than the determination of the sealing failure of the back-pasted portion are conventionally performed, a case where the control computer 4 determines whether or not there is a sealing failure of the back-pasting portion will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a control system of the near-infrared inspection apparatus 1. In this figure, the control computer 4 implements the functions of the image generation unit 31, the width measurement unit 33, and the determination unit 35 by reading and executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown). Of course, the control computer 4 also performs other processing such as a sealing failure of the lateral seal portion, the presence or absence of foreign matter in the bag, the presence or absence of cracks in the content, the presence or absence of biting of the content into the lateral seal portion, etc. Also execute.

(2-1) Image Generating Unit The image generating unit 31 transmits the transmission signal transmitted from the near-infrared line sensor 14 two-dimensionally on the memory, thereby transmitting the article G as shown in FIG. Generate an image. Moreover, the image generation part 31 adjusts the brightness, when the brightness of the image developed in two dimensions is low. The control computer 4 specifies the region of the bag Q1 of the article G and the region of the content R1 based on the transmission image generated by the image generation unit 31.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the normal article G is copied as a bag Q1 in which the content R1 is sealed and the center is constricted. This bag Q1 is formed with a back pasting portion Q3 along the longitudinal direction, and seal portions Q2 (lateral seal portions) are formed at both ends of the back pasting portion Q3 in a direction perpendicular to the back pasting portion Q3. Has been. On the other hand, when the back-pasted portion Q3 is poorly sealed, the belly portion of the bag Q1 spreads with the contents R1, so that the image of the belly portion of the bag Q1 swells as shown in FIG.

(2-2) Width Measurement Unit The width measurement unit 33 binarizes the transmission image of FIG. 1 generated by the image generation unit 31 with the threshold value of the bag Q1 other than the contents R1. FIG. 6 shows an image obtained by the binarization.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for measuring the width of each bag at the end portion and the belly portion of the back pasting portion of the bag Q1. As shown in FIG. 7, the width measuring unit 33 measures the bag width S1 at one end (lateral seal portion) and the bag width S2 at the abdomen. Specifically, a labeling process or the like is performed to determine the positions in the X-axis direction at both ends of the image area of the bag Q1. Next, the number of pixels at one end is counted in the Y-axis direction to determine the end bag width S1. Subsequently, an intermediate position between both ends is set as the central portion (belly portion) of the bag Q1, and the number of pixels in the Y-axis direction of the belly portion is counted to obtain the bag width S2 of the belly portion.

(2-3) Judgment Unit Judgment unit 35 determines whether or not there is a sealing failure in back-pasted portion Q3 based on bag width S1 at one end obtained by width measurement unit 33 and bag width S2 at the abdomen. to decide. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, in the non-defective product, the bag width S1 at the end is longer than the bag width S2 in the abdomen, and in the defective product, as shown in FIG. 2, the bag width S1 at the end. Becomes shorter than the bag width S2 of the abdomen. Accordingly, the determination unit 35 compares the bag width S1 at one end with the bag width S2 at the abdomen, and determines that the bag width S2 at the abdomen is normal and the seal is defective when the bag width S2 is longer.

  However, the bag width S1 at both ends may be different. At this time, the bag width S1 at the longer end is adopted. In addition, instead of obtaining the difference between the bag width S1 at the end and the bag width S2 at the abdomen, the determination unit 35 obtains the ratio between the bag width S1 at the end and the bag width S2 at the abdomen and seals the result. You may judge a defect. Specifically, the ratio (C1) = the bag width at both ends (S1) ÷ the bag width at the abdomen portion (S2) is normal if the result is within a preset allowable range. It is determined that the seal is defective. In this case, the allowable range is determined based on the ratio of multiple times obtained for normal good products and the ratio of multiple times obtained for various defective seals. The inspection apparatus 1 is set beforehand.

  In the above embodiment, the presence / absence of a seal failure is determined by measuring the bag widths S1 and S2 of the bag Q1, but FIG. 8 is an explanation of determining the presence / absence of a seal failure by measuring the lateral width of the contents R1. FIG. In this figure, the area of the content R1 is obtained by the label ring process or the like as described above, and the number of pixels in the Y-axis direction sandwiched between the upper end and the lower end in the Y-axis direction of the area is counted. The width S3 of the content R1 is obtained. The width measuring unit 33 outputs the obtained lateral width S3 of the content R1 and the bag width S2 of the belly portion of the bag Q1 to the determination unit 35.

The determination part 35 detects the sealing defect of a back sticking part by comparing these bag width S2 and horizontal width S3. For example, in the non-defective product, the ratio between the bag width S2 of the belly portion of the bag Q1 and the horizontal width S3 of the contents R1 is within a substantially constant range, but in the defective product, the bag width S2 of the belly portion of the bag Q1 is the content. It becomes larger than the lateral width S3 of the object R1. Therefore, in this case as well, the allowable range is determined based on the ratio of the plurality of times obtained for the normal non-defective product and the ratio of the plurality of times obtained for the various defective seals. Then, the ratio (C2) = the bag width of the abdomen (S2) / the width of the contents (S3) is obtained, and if the ratio is within a preset allowable range, the product is non-defective, and if it does not fit, the back is pasted. It is determined that the seal is defective. The determination unit 35 outputs the determination result to the distribution mechanism 5.

  The distribution mechanism 5 excludes defective products from the transport line based on the defective signal transmitted from the determination unit 35. Specifically, at the timing when the defective product reaches the distribution mechanism 5, the arm 70 is operated, and the defective seal product is discharged from the line conveyor 80 to the collection box 90. The distribution mechanism 7 also outputs other determination results output from the control computer 4, such as, for example, a defective seal in the lateral seal portion, presence or absence of foreign matter in the bag, presence or absence of cracks in the contents, The non-defective product is conveyed to the line conveyor 80 as it is, and the defective product is similarly discharged to the collection box 90 and distributed.

  As described above, if there is a seal failure in the back pasting portion Q3, the bag width S2 of the abdominal portion, which is the center portion of the bag, in the transmission image of the pillow-wrapped bag Q1 is closer to the end portion of the bag. It becomes longer than the bag width S1. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the bag width S1 at the end of the bag Q1 is compared with the bag width S2 at the abdomen, and if the bag width S2 at the abdomen is longer, it is determined that the back-pasted portion has a poor seal. To do.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the ratio between the bag width S1 at one end of the bag Q1 and the bag width S2 at the abdomen is determined, and the presence or absence of a sealing failure at the back-attached portion is determined from the ratio. In this case, even when the article G is conveyed in a state inclined with respect to the conveyance direction, the correction of the inclination can be made from the ratio of the bag widths S1 and S2 in the Y-axis direction, It is possible to accurately determine the seal failure.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, when the bag width S1 and S2 of the bag Q1 are obtained, if the obtained bag width is abnormal, it can be determined that it is not a bag but a content. In that case, it is determined that the defective item is only the content R1 without the bag Q1, and is excluded from the conveyance line.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, although the near-infrared line sensor 14 is used as the light detection unit 3 in the above embodiment, a near-infrared area sensor may be used instead. Further, the light detection unit 3 may have a filter that allows near infrared rays to pass through and blocks visible light. Thereby, when the near-infrared optical path from the light irradiation unit to the light detection unit is exposed to the ambient atmosphere, visible light enters the near-infrared line sensor or near-infrared area sensor from the ambient atmosphere, and the visible light is It is possible to prevent disturbance light.

  In the above embodiment, near infrared light is used as the light emitted from the light irradiation unit. However, the light may be visible light, near infrared light, X-rays, ultraviolet light, terahertz waves, or the like. Light can be appropriately selected according to the article G to be inspected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inspection apparatus 2 Light irradiation part 31 Image generation part 33 Width measurement part 35 Judgment part G Goods Q1 Bag R1 Contents Q2 Horizontal seal part Q3 Back sticking part

Claims (6)

Based on the light irradiation unit that irradiates light to the bag having the back pasting portion in which the contents are stored, the light detection unit that detects light transmitted through the bag, and the light detected by the light detection unit, An image generation unit that generates a transmission image of the bag, and a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a sealing failure of the back-pasted portion of the bag based on the density of the transmission image,
The determination unit compares the respective bag widths in the direction intersecting with the back-pasted portion of the end portion of the bag on the transparent image and the portion closer to the center than the end portion of the bag, and the bag width of the end portion An inspection apparatus characterized by determining that the back-pasted portion has a poor seal when the length is shorter. Based on the light irradiation unit that irradiates light to the bag having the back pasting portion in which the contents are stored, the light detection unit that detects light transmitted through the bag, and the light detected by the light detection unit, An image generation unit that generates a transmission image of the bag, and a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a sealing failure of the back-pasted portion of the bag based on the density of the transmission image,
The determination unit obtains the width of the contents in the direction intersecting with the back pasting portion, and if the ratio between the obtained lateral width and the bag width at the central portion of the bag deviates from the allowable range, the back pasting portion is An inspection apparatus characterized by determining that the seal is defective.   The bag width at the end of the back pasting portion is the length of the lateral seal portion of the bag, and the bag width of the portion closer to the center is the lateral width of the central portion of the bag parallel to the lateral seal portion. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection apparatus is characterized.   The inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit is near infrared rays.   The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein light emitted from the light irradiation unit is X-rays. 6. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein, when the bag width is obtained, if the bag width is abnormal, the determination unit performs a defect processing assuming that the bag is regarded as a content. The inspection device according to any one of the above.