JP2019060805A - Mixing degree determination method and mixing degree determination device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a method for determining a mixing degree of mixed materials composed of a plurality of types of particulate matters and abnormality of the mixing degree.SOLUTION: A method for determining a mixing degree of mixed materials 50 composed of a plurality of types of particulate matters in different colors includes: a process (a) of supplying the mixed materials 50 via a conveyance part 3 to a following device; a process (b) of photographing the mixed materials 50 passing inside the conveyance part 3 via an observation window 35 to obtain a plurality of photographic images 53; a process (c) of selecting one type of particulate matters from among the plurality of types of particulate matters, and for calculating a total value of the number of pixels having the color of the selected particulate matters; a process (d) of calculating a ratio of a calculation result of the process (c) to the total value of the number of pixels included in the whole of the plurality of photographic images 53 as an actual measurement area ratio; and a process (e) of determining whether or not the actual measurement area ratio falls within a predetermined range, or for determining a mixing degree of the particulate matters on the basis of the actual measurement area ratio. Thus, it is possible to determine the mixing degree of the mixed materials and abnormality of the mixing degree.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a mixing degree determination method and a mixing degree determination device for determining the mixing degree of a mixed material composed of materials (hereinafter referred to as "particulates") composed of plural types of powder or particles.

  For example, in the stage before manufacturing a resin molded product, a process of mixing a plurality of types of powder particles such as resin pellets, a master batch, a pulverized material, and an additive may be performed. The conventional mixing process is described, for example, in Patent Document 1. In the apparatus of Patent Document 1, a plurality of powdery granular material raw materials are respectively measured and blended at a predetermined blending ratio.

  Even in the case of mixing at a predetermined ratio as a whole in the mixing process of a plurality of types of powder particles, a local uniformity (hereinafter, referred to as “mixing degree”) in the mixed material may be biased. For example, even in the case of mixing a masterbatch as a coloring agent with a predetermined ratio in a colorless resin pellet in a mixing process prior to producing a resin molded product, a local bias occurs in the degree of mixing of the masterbatch, Color unevenness may occur during resin molding in the process. Therefore, before the mixed material is supplied to the resin molding machine in the post process, a defect occurs in the resin molding of the post process by detecting and coping with the local mixing degree of the powder particles in the mixed material. There is a need to curb that. About the measuring apparatus of the mixing state of powder, it describes in patent document 2, for example.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-07520 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-300682

  The measuring device of Patent Document 2 converts the RGB color signal in each dot of the image acquired by copying the powder with a color video camera into a number, and compares the number measured for each dot to obtain Measure the degree of mixing. However, powder particles such as resin pellets, masterbatches, pulverized materials, and additives used in the production of molded resin products have a particle diameter of at least a certain level, and particles between types of these powder particles. The large difference in diameter complicates the image of the mixed material. For this reason, it is difficult to determine the degree of mixing from the analysis for each dot.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the degree of mixing of a mixed material composed of plural kinds of powder particles having a particle diameter of at least a certain level and a large difference in particle diameter between types. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus capable of determining the abnormality of the mixing degree and the mixing degree.

  1st invention of this application is the mixing degree determination method which determines the mixing degree of the mixed material comprised from several types of powder particles which mutually differ in color, Comprising: The observation which can image | photograph the inside of the said mixed material a) B) feeding the mixed material passing through the inside of the transfer unit through the observation window in the middle of the step a) of the steps of: b) supplying the subsequent device to the subsequent device through the transfer unit having at least a part of the window; And (c) selecting at least one kind of powder particles from the plurality of kinds of powder particles, and selecting the number of pixels having the color of the selected powder particles. And d) calculating a ratio of the calculation result of the step c) to the total value of the number of pixels included in the whole of the one or a plurality of photographed images as an actual measurement area ratio E) calculated in the step d) The actual area ratio has a determining step of mixing of the powder and granular material based on the actual area ratio of the calculation result in the determination whether within a predetermined range, or said step d).

  2nd invention of this application is the mixing degree determination method of 1st invention, Comprising: In the said process e), the said measurement area ratio is determined as a numerical value which shows the mixing degree of the selected granular material.

  A third invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination method of the first invention, wherein before the step e), the selection is performed on the total value of the number of pixels included in the entire one or more photographed images. The result of predicting the ratio occupied by the total value of the number of pixels having the color of powder particles is recorded as a predicted area ratio, and in the step e), based on the result of comparing the predicted area ratio and the actual area ratio It is determined whether the measured area ratio is within a predetermined range.

  A fourth invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination method according to any one of the first invention to the third invention, wherein in the step e), it is determined whether the measured area ratio is within a predetermined range, If it is determined that the measured area ratio is not within the predetermined range, a step of outputting f) abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality of the value of the measured area ratio is further performed.

  A fifth invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination method of any one of the first invention to the fourth invention, wherein the area of the photographed image is such that 100 or more particles of the powder are adjacent to each other on a plane. It has a plane area which the said granular material occupies when arranging side by side.

  A sixth invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination method according to any one of the first invention to the fifth invention, wherein in the step b), a plurality of the photographed images are obtained, and in the step c), A total value of the number of pixels having the color of the selected powder particles is calculated for each of the photographed images, and in the step d), the total value of the number of pixels included in the entire photographed image is calculated for each of the photographed images. A ratio occupied by the calculation result of the step c) is calculated, and an average value of the calculated ratio over the plurality of photographed images is calculated as the measured area ratio.

  A seventh invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination method of the sixth invention, further comprising: g) the total value of the number of pixels included in the entire photographed image for each photographed image calculated in the step d). Calculating the amount of change of the ratio of the calculation result of step c) over the plurality of photographed images, and determining that the amount of change calculated in step g) is not within the predetermined range, And h) executing a step of outputting abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality in the change amount of the measured area ratio.

  An eighth invention of the present application is a mixing degree determination device for determining the mixing degree of a mixed material composed of plural kinds of powder particles having different colors, and an observation window capable of photographing the inside of the mixed material. By supplying a supply unit to a subsequent apparatus through a conveyance unit at least partially and photographing the mixed material passing through the inside of the conveyance unit through the observation window, one or a plurality of photographed images can be obtained. It has an image acquisition unit to acquire, and an image analysis unit to analyze the one or more photographed images acquired by the image acquisition unit, and the image analysis unit selects in advance from the plurality of types of powder particles. A second total value which is a total value of the number of pixels included in the whole of the one or a plurality of photographed images, calculated as a first total value of the total number of pixels having the color of the particular type of powdered material Accounted for by the first total value relative to the value Proportion, calculated as the measured area ratio determines the degree of mixing of the measured area ratio is determined whether within a predetermined range, or the actual area ratio the powder or granular material on the basis of the calculation result of.

  A ninth invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination device according to the eighth invention, wherein the observation window is fitted in a through hole communicating the inside and the outside of the transport unit provided in at least a part of the transport unit. It is a transparent or semi-transparent board combined or covering the said through-hole.

  A tenth invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination device of the eighth invention or the ninth invention, wherein the image acquisition unit is a camera having a lens and an imaging element, and the observation window is a portion of the image acquisition unit. It spreads in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

  An eleventh invention of the present application is the mixing degree determination device according to the eighth invention or the ninth invention, wherein the image acquisition unit is a camera having a lens and an imaging element, and the observation window is an image acquisition unit It spreads like a curved surface to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

  According to the first to eleventh inventions of the present application, the degree of mixing of a plurality of types of powder particles supplied to the subsequent apparatus is determined, or it is determined inline and in real time whether the degree of mixing is within a predetermined range. be able to. Thereby, the malfunction in a subsequent apparatus (injection molding machine etc.) can be suppressed.

  In particular, according to the fourth invention of the present application, an abnormality in the value of the mixing degree can be recognized immediately.

  In particular, according to the sixth invention of the present application, blurring of the determination result of the mixing degree and the abnormality of the mixing degree can be suppressed.

  In particular, according to the seventh invention of the present application, it is possible to immediately recognize the abnormality in the change of the mixing degree.

It is sectional drawing which shows typically a mode that the mixing degree of the mixed material comprised from multiple types of granular material is determined. It is sectional drawing which shows typically a mode that the mixing degree of the mixed material comprised from multiple types of granular material is determined. It is a schematic diagram showing typically a situation of analyzing a photography picture. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the feed ratio of powder and granular material and the predicted area ratio. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process of determining the degree of mixing of the mixed material composed of a plurality of types of powdery particles and the abnormality in the degree of mixing.

<1. Preferred Embodiments of the Present Invention>
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing how the degree of mixing of a mixed material 50 composed of a plurality of types of powder particles is determined. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing how the degree of mixing of the mixed material 50 composed of a plurality of types of powder particles is determined, as viewed from a direction different from that in FIG. 1. The mixing degree determination device 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a device that determines the degree of mixing and the degree of mixing of at least two types of powder and grains in the mixed material 50 in which a plurality of types of powder and grains are mixed. . The mixing degree determination device 1 includes a supply unit 2, a conveyance unit 3, an image acquisition unit 4, and an image analysis unit 5. The supply unit 2, the transport unit 3, the image acquisition unit 4, and the image analysis unit 5 are fixed to a common frame.

  The supply unit 2 is a device that stores the mixed material 50 inside and discharges the mixed material 50 downward by an open / close structure (not shown) in the lower part. The supply unit 2 has a storage tank 20 and a discharge unit 21. The storage tank 20 is a container which stores the mixed material 50 inside. The lower portion of the reservoir 20 has a funnel-like shape that gradually converges downward. The storage tank 20 is formed of, for example, a metal such as SUS (stainless steel). The details of the discharge unit 21 will be described later.

  In the storage tank 20, there is stored a mixed material 50 in which a first powder particle 51 and a second powder particle 52, which are two types of powder particles, are mixed. The first powder particle 51 is a colorless and transparent resin pellet which is a main raw material of a resin molded product. The second granular material 52 is a masterbatch used as a coloring agent for coloring a resin molded product. The first powder 51 and the second powder 52 are different in color and particle size from each other. In addition, the 2nd granular material 52 may be granular materials, such as a crushed material or an additive etc. which are thrown in at the front step which manufactures a resin-molding article. Moreover, the mixed material 50 may be comprised from three or more types of granular material. In the following, as an example, the second powder particle 52, which is a master batch, is selected in advance among two types of powder particles, and the degree of mixing and the degree of mixing of the second powder particle 52 in the mixed material 50 are determined. I decided to.

  The first powder particles 51 and the second powder particles 52 are respectively weighed in advance to a predetermined weight or volume amount in an external supply source (not shown) of the mixing degree determination device 1 and a predetermined weight ratio or It mixes in volume ratio and is prepared as mixed material 50. Hereinafter, the weight ratio or volume ratio of the second powder particles 52 selected in advance in the mixed material 50 will be referred to as “input ratio R”. The mixed material 50 prepared at the supply source is introduced into the interior of the storage tank 20 by, for example, a manual operation of an operator. However, the mixed material 50 may be introduced into the storage tank 20 by mechanically connecting the supply source and the storage tank 20 and transporting. Further, the mixed material is obtained by mixing the first powder particles 51 and the second powder particles 52 previously measured to a predetermined weight or volume in the storage tank 20 at a predetermined weight ratio or volume ratio. You may prepare 50.

  The discharge part 21 is comprised from the discharge valve (illustration omitted) which opens and closes the opening provided in the lower end part of the storage tank 20, and opening. The discharge valve is driven by manual or automatic control. Below the opening, a transport unit 3 described later is continuously provided. When the opening is opened, the mixed material 50 stored inside the storage tank 20 is supplied to the resin molding machine 6 which is a subsequent device via the inside of the transport unit 3.

  The transport unit 3 is a hollow member extending in the vertical direction. When the above-mentioned opening is open, the internal space of the transport unit 3 communicates with the internal space of the storage tank 20. Further, the internal space of the transport unit 3 communicates with the internal space of the resin molding machine 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper portion of the transport unit 3 gradually becomes smaller in diameter upward. The lower portion of the transport unit 3 gradually decreases in diameter downward. Furthermore, the central portion of the transport unit 3 has a rectangular solid three-dimensional shape having a rectangular cross section. The outer peripheral surface of the central portion of the transport unit 3 is constituted by a pair of first surfaces 31 facing each other and a pair of second surfaces 32 facing each other. The area of the first surface 31 is larger than the area of the second surface 32. However, the shape of the transport unit 3 is not limited to this. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the transport unit 3 may be partially circular.

  In one of the pair of first surfaces 31, a through hole 30 penetrating the transport unit 3 in the direction perpendicular to the first surface 31 is provided. The through holes 30 communicate the internal space of the transport unit 3 with the external space. A colorless and transparent resin plate is fitted in the through hole 30. Thereby, the observation window 35 is formed. As a result, the mixed material 50 passing through the inside of the transport unit 3 can be visually recognized and photographed from the outside through the observation window 35. The observation window 35 may be formed by covering the through hole 30 with a colorless and transparent plate. The plate used for the observation window 35 may be translucent. The plate used for the observation window 35 may be a member other than resin (for example, a member made of glass). Furthermore, the observation window 35 may be provided on at least a part of the first surface 31, and the position, the size, and the number are not limited.

  The observation window 35 extends in a planar manner perpendicular to the optical axis 40 of the image acquisition unit 4 described later. Thereby, as described later, it is possible to planarly capture an image of the mixed material 50 passing through the inside of the transport unit 3. As a result, errors in image analysis can be suppressed. However, the observation window 35 may extend in a curved shape with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis 40 of the image acquisition unit 4.

  The image acquisition unit 4 is an apparatus for photographing the mixed material 50 passing through the inside of the transport unit 3 from the outside through the observation window 35. The image acquisition unit 4 is a camera having a lens and an imaging device. The image acquisition unit 4 is fixed to the transport unit 3 via the frame 74. The optical axis 40 of the image acquisition unit 4 perpendicularly intersects the observation window 35 in a state where the image acquisition unit 4 is fixed to the transport unit 3. The frame 74 has a bottom portion 741 and a light shielding portion 742. The image acquisition unit 4 is fixed to the bottom portion 741. The light shielding portion 742 extends from the bottom portion 741 in the direction of the optical axis 40, and is connected to the transport portion 3 at the peripheral edge portion of the observation window 35. The light shielding portion 742 is formed of black paper, black resin, or the like, and covers the periphery of the lens of the image acquisition unit 4. Thereby, the approach of the light from the outside to the image acquisition part 4 is interrupted | blocked. However, the light shielding portion 742 may be any as long as it can block the entry of light from the outside, and the color is not limited to black.

  The image acquisition unit 4 photographs the mixed material 50 passing through the inside of the conveyance unit 3 at predetermined time intervals, and acquires a plurality of photographed images 53. In addition, the time interval to image | photograph is preset, for example as every 0.1 second or every 5 minutes etc., and is memorize | stored in the image acquisition part 4. FIG. Further, the number of acquired captured images 53 is set in advance as, for example, three or 1000, and stored in the image acquisition unit 4. However, the number of captured images may be only one.

  The image analysis unit 5 is an apparatus that analyzes a plurality of photographed images 53 acquired by the image acquisition unit 4. The image analysis unit 5 is configured by, for example, a computer operable according to a program. In the image analysis unit 5, data of the color (in the present embodiment, black) of the second granular material 52 previously selected as an analysis target is stored. FIG. 3 is a schematic view schematically showing how the acquired photographed image 53 is analyzed. As shown in FIG. 3, the image analysis unit 5 first calculates the color value of each pixel 54 by calculating the luminance values of the plurality of pixels 54 included in the plurality of acquired photographed images 53 and comparing them with each other. Figure out. Then, based on the result of determining the color of each pixel 54, the image analysis unit 5 sets the first total value of the number of pixels having the color (black) of the second powder particles 52 in the entire plurality of photographed images 53. Calculated as the total value D1. Next, the image analysis unit 5 calculates a total value of the number of pixels included in the entire plurality of photographed images 53 as a second total value D2. Then, the image analysis unit 5 calculates a ratio of the calculation result of the first total value D1 to the calculation result of the second total value D2 as an actual measurement area ratio C. If the second total value D2 is already known before being calculated by the image analysis unit 5, it may be stored in the image analysis unit 5 in advance.

  Furthermore, based on the calculation result of the actual measurement area ratio C, the image analysis unit 5 determines or outputs a numerical value indicating the degree of mixing of the second granular material 52. At this time, the image analysis unit 5 may determine or output the calculation result of the actual measurement area ratio C itself as a numerical value indicating the degree of mixing of the second granular material 52.

  Here, “input ratio R” indicating the ratio of the input amount of the second granular material 52 to the above-mentioned mixed material 50 and the color (black) of the second granular material 52 in the photographed image 53 of the mixed material 50 occupy The relationship with the "area ratio" will be described. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the feeding ratio R of powder and powder and the area ratio in the photographed image. As shown in FIG. 4, in the mixed material 50 in which a plurality of types of powdery particles are mixed at a predetermined weight ratio or volume ratio, when various types of powdery particles are uniformly distributed, a specific type of powder is selected. The relationship between the charging ratio R of the particles and the area ratio occupied by the color of the specific type of powder particles in the photographed image 53 of the mixed material 50 is approximated by a linear expression. In the example of FIG. 4, when the input ratio of the second granular material 52 in the mixed material 50 is 8%, the color of the second granular material 52 with respect to the total number of pixels of the photographed image 53 obtained by photographing the mixed material 50 ( The ratio of the number of pixels having black) is approximately 9%.

  The graph shown in FIG. 4 is created based on a plurality of actual measurement values, for example, in a stage prior to determining the degree of mixing of powder particles and abnormality in the degree of mixing when actually manufacturing a product. Then, the area ratio of the specific type of granular material in the photographed image 53 is predicted based on the input ratio R of the specific type of granular material to be analyzed and the approximate expression (linear expression) shown in FIG. Calculated as “predicted area ratio P”. For example, when the input ratio R of the second powder 52 is 8%, the predicted area ratio P is calculated as 9%. Further, a predicted photographed image 53P corresponding to the calculated predicted area ratio P is prepared as a sample image based on data obtained in the past measurement.

  Return to FIG. The image analysis unit 5 further determines whether the measured area ratio C is within a predetermined range based on the result of comparing the calculated measured area ratio C with the predicted area ratio P calculated in advance. For example, when the measured area ratio C of the second powder particles 52 in the photographed image 53 of the mixed material 50 in which the input ratio R of the second powder particles 52 is 8% is 10%, compared to the predicted area ratio 9%. Deviation of more than 10% has occurred. If it is set in advance that “determine that the difference of the measured area ratio C with respect to the predicted area ratio P is 10% or less, it is determined to be within the predetermined range”, the measured area ratio C is 10%. In the example, it is determined that a deviation exceeding a predetermined range has occurred.

  When determining whether the deviation of the measured area ratio C with respect to the predicted area ratio P is within a predetermined range, the operator may compare the photographed image 53 and the predicted photographed image 53P visually. Good. When a large difference occurs between the photographed image 53 and the predicted photographed image 53P, an abnormality can be found at a glance.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that the calculation result of the actual measurement area ratio C is not within the predetermined range, the image analysis unit 5 outputs abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality of the value of the actual measurement area ratio C. As a result, the operator can immediately recognize the abnormality in the degree of mixing of the granular material.

  As described above, the mixing degree determination device 1 determines the mixing degree and the abnormality of the mixing degree of the specific type of powder particles in the mixed material 50 in line and in real time. Further, when an abnormality is determined, the abnormality determination information is output. Thereby, it is possible to detect and cope with the local mixing degree deviation of powder particles in the mixed material 50 before introducing the mixed material 50 into the apparatus in the post process. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem in the post process. In addition, the ratio of the total value (first total value D1) of the number of pixels having a specific type of powder particle color to the total value (second total value D2) of the number of pixels included in the entire photographed image 53 Based on the determination of the degree of mixing and the degree of mixing of a particular type of powder and particulate matter. As a result, even if the photographed image becomes complicated by the mixed material 50 being composed of a plurality of types of powder particles having a particle diameter of at least a certain level and a large difference in particle diameter between types, the degree of mixing and An abnormality in the degree of mixing can be determined.

  FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process of determining the degree of mixing of the mixed material 50 composed of a plurality of types of powder particles and abnormality in the degree of mixing. As described above and as shown in FIG. 5, in the mixing degree determination method of the present embodiment, first, various conditions such as the time interval of shooting of the mixed material 50, the number of captured images 53, and the shooting range (area) Setting is performed (step S1). Next, one or a plurality of photographed images 53 are obtained by photographing the mixed material 50 passing through the inside of the transport unit 3 through the observation window 35 (step S2). At this time, photographing is repeated until a predetermined number of sheets are obtained as the photographed image 53 (step S3). Furthermore, the ratio of the total value (first total value D1) of the number of pixels having the color of the specific type of powder to the total value (second total value D2) of the number of pixels included in the entire photographed image 53 The measured area ratio C is calculated (step S4). Then, it is determined whether the calculation result of the measured area ratio C is within a predetermined range (step S5), and when it is determined that the calculation result is not within the predetermined range, abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality is output (step S6). However, the calculation result itself of the actual measurement area ratio C may be determined or output as a numerical value indicating the degree of mixing of the specific type of powdery particles.

  In addition, the area per one sheet of the photographed image 53 set in step S1 has a plane area occupied by powder particles when the powder particles of 100 particles or more are arranged adjacent to each other on a plane. desirable. Most of the mixed materials 50 used for resin molding are formed by mixing powder particles such as a masterbatch having a weight or volume of 1% or more with resin pellets of the main raw material. When the photographed image 53 has an area of powder particles of 100 particles or more per sheet, there is a possibility that at least one kind of powder particles different from the other is included in one photographed image 53. Get higher. Thus, the measured area ratio C can be calculated more accurately.

<2. Modified example>
As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention was described, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image analysis unit 5 calculates the total value of the number of pixels having the color (black) of the second powder particles 52 selected in advance in the entire plurality of photographed images 53 (first total value D1). Was calculated. Then, the image analysis unit 5 calculates the ratio of the calculation result of the first total value to the total value (second total value D2) of the number of pixels included in the entire plurality of photographed images 53 as the measured area ratio C. did. However, the image analysis unit 5 may calculate, for each captured image 53, a total value (first total value D1b) of the number of pixels having the color (black color) of the second powder 52 selected in advance. Then, the image analysis unit 5 captures, for each captured image 53, the ratio of the calculation result of the first total value D1b to the total value (second total value D2b) of the number of pixels included in the entire captured image 53. The calculated area ratio Cb may be calculated for each image 53. Furthermore, the image analysis unit 5 may calculate an average value of the measured area ratio Cb of each of the calculated photographed images 53 across the plurality of photographed images 53 as the average measured area ratio Ca. Thereby, blurring of the determination result of the mixing degree of the mixed material 50 and the abnormality of the mixing degree can be suppressed.

  In addition, the image analysis unit 5 may calculate the amount of change of the measured area ratio Cb of each photographed image 53 over the plurality of photographed images 53. Furthermore, when it is determined that the calculated amount of change in the measured area ratio Cb is not within the predetermined range, abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality in the amount of change in the measured area ratio Cb may be output. Thereby, the abnormality of the change of the mixing degree of granular material can be recognized immediately. For example, it is possible to immediately grasp the situation in which the deviation in the degree of mixing of the powder particles has changed, which can be useful for investigating the cause.

  Also, two or more types of powdery particles may be selected in advance as a target for determining the degree of mixing and the abnormality in the degree of mixing.

  The detailed configuration of the mixing degree determination device may be different from the configuration shown in each drawing of the present application.

  In addition, each element appearing in the above-described embodiment and modification may be combined arbitrarily as long as no contradiction occurs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 mixing degree determination apparatus 2 supply part 3 conveyance part 4 image acquisition part 5 image-analysis part 6 resin molding machine 20 storage tank 21 discharge part 30 through hole 31 1st surface 32 2nd surface 35 observation window 40 light axis 50 mixed material 51 First granular material 52 Second granular material 53 Photographed image 53P Predicted photographed image 54 pixels 74 Frame 741 Bottom 742 Light shielding portion C Measured area ratio Ca Average measured area ratio Cb Measured area ratio for each photographed image D1, D1b First total Value D2, D2b Second total value P Predicted area ratio R Input ratio

Claims (11)

A mixing degree determination method for determining the degree of mixing of mixed materials composed of a plurality of types of powder particles different in color from each other,
a) supplying the mixed material to a subsequent apparatus through a transport unit having at least a part of an observation window capable of imaging the inside thereof;
b) obtaining one or more photographed images by photographing the mixed material passing through the inside of the transfer unit through the observation window in the middle of the step a);
c) selecting at least one powder particle from the plurality of powder particles, and calculating a total value of the number of pixels having the color of the selected powder particle,
d) calculating, as a measured area ratio, a ratio of the calculation result of the step c) to the total value of the number of pixels included in the entire one or more photographed images;
e) It is determined whether or not the actually measured area ratio calculated in the step d) is within a predetermined range, or the degree of mixing of the particles is determined based on the calculation result of the actually measured area ratio in the step d) Process,
The method for determining the degree of mixing. The mixing degree determination method according to claim 1, wherein
The mixing degree determination method which determines the said measurement area ratio as a numerical value which shows the mixing degree of the said selected granular material in the said process e). The mixing degree determination method according to claim 1, wherein
Prior to the step e), the ratio of the total value of the number of pixels having the color of the selected powder to the total value of the number of pixels included in the whole of the one or a plurality of photographed images was predicted Record the result as the predicted area ratio,
In the step e), it is determined whether or not the measured area ratio is within a predetermined range based on the result of comparing the predicted area ratio and the measured area ratio. The mixing degree determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
In the step e), it is determined whether or not the actually measured area ratio is within a predetermined range, and when it is determined that it is not within the predetermined range, f) outputting abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality of the value of the actually measured area ratio The mixing degree determination method which performs the process to be done. The mixing degree determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The mixing degree determination method, wherein the area of the photographed image has a plane area occupied by the powder particles when the powder particles of 100 particles or more are arranged adjacent to each other on a plane. The mixing degree determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
In the step b), a plurality of the photographed images are acquired,
In step c), a total value of the number of pixels having the color of the selected powdery particles is calculated for each of the photographed images,
In the step d), the ratio of the calculation result of the step c) to the total value of the number of pixels included in the entire photographed image is calculated for each photographed image, and the plurality of photographings of the calculated ratio are further performed. The mixing degree determination method which calculates the average value over an image as said measurement area ratio. The mixing degree determination method according to claim 6, further comprising: g) calculating the total value of the number of pixels included in the entire photographed image for each photographed image, calculated in the step d). Calculating a variation of the ratio of the calculation result over the plurality of photographed images;
H) a step of outputting abnormality determination information indicating an abnormality of the change amount of the measured area ratio, when it is determined that the change amount calculated in the step g) is not within the predetermined range; . A mixing degree determination device that determines the mixing degree of a mixed material composed of a plurality of types of powder particles different in color from each other, comprising:
A supply unit for supplying the mixed material to a subsequent apparatus via a conveyance unit having at least a part of an observation window capable of imaging the inside thereof;
An image acquisition unit configured to acquire one or a plurality of photographed images by photographing the mixed material passing through the inside of the conveyance unit through the observation window;
An image analysis unit that analyzes the one or more captured images acquired by the image acquisition unit;
Have
The image analysis unit
Calculating a first total value of the number of pixels having the color of the specific type of powder selected in advance from the plurality of types of the powder,
The ratio of the first total value to the second total value, which is the total value of the number of pixels included in the whole of the one or a plurality of photographed images, is calculated as a measured area ratio.
A mixing degree determination device that determines whether the measured area ratio is within a predetermined range, or determines the degree of mixing of the particles based on the calculation result of the measured area ratio. The mixing degree determination apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The observation window is a transparent or translucent plate fitted in a through hole communicating the inside and the outside of the transfer unit provided in at least a part of the transfer unit, or covering the through hole. , Mixing degree determination device. The mixing degree determination apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
The image acquisition unit is a camera having a lens and an imaging device,
The mixing degree determination device, wherein the observation window extends in a plane shape perpendicular to the optical axis of the image acquisition unit. The mixing degree determination apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
The image acquisition unit is a camera having a lens and an imaging device,
The mixing degree determination device, wherein the observation window extends in a curved shape with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the image acquisition unit.

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