JP2019194096A - Inspection equipment of label - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide inspection equipment of a label which can inspect simply whether or not the label exists in a predetermined region in a container, and can inspect by simply specifying a print portion where character information of the label that exists in the container is printed.SOLUTION: A judgement part, which judges whether or not a label which is stored in a container and is arranged among a plurality of eggs exists in a predetermined region in the container of an inspection object, based on length information of the container or position information of an end portion of the container, and length information of the label or a feature portion of the label or position information of an end portion, is comprised.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for a label housed in a container and disposed between a plurality of eggs.

2. Description of the Related Art A label input device that arranges labels one by one in a space between eggs accommodated in two rows in a container is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). This label loading apparatus is designed to drop labels one by one from above toward a container with a lid that is conveyed by a conveyor being opened. The label is made of relatively thin rectangular paper, and on one side of the label, information such as the egg size symbol, the producer name, and the expiration date is written. When the lid is closed, the label is sandwiched between the egg and the lid, and the information on the label becomes visible from the outside through the transparent lid.

JP 2004-10102 A

When a label is loaded from the label loading device, the space to which the label is loaded is relatively small, and the container is being transported, so that the label is reliably arranged in a predetermined position at a predetermined position. It ’s difficult. On the other hand, in recent years, in order to improve the impression to consumers when displaying packed products at retail stores, variations in label arrangement may be regarded as a problem.

In addition, character information such as the expiration date is often printed on the label, but if the printed information is wrong or a printing trouble occurs, it leads to a complaint from the consumer.

The present invention pays attention to such problems, and a label inspection apparatus that can easily inspect whether or not a label is present in a predetermined region in the container, and the character of the label present in the container An object of the present invention is to provide a label inspection apparatus that can easily specify and inspect a printed portion on which information is printed.

The label inspection apparatus of the present invention is accommodated in a container based on the container length information or the position information of the end of the container and the length information of the label or the position information of the characteristic part or end of the label. A determination unit is provided for determining whether or not a label arranged between the plurality of eggs is present in a predetermined region in the container to be inspected.

Here, “does not exist in the predetermined area” means that, for example, the label is not in the container, the label is displaced in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction in the container, and the label is inclined in the container. The state where the top and bottom of the label are upside down, the front and back sides of the label are upside down, and the label is on the egg.

Preferably, a storage unit that stores target position information of the characteristic portion of the label is provided, and the determination unit compares the position information of the characteristic portion with the target position information stored in the storage unit.

It is preferable to include a feature part detection unit that detects a feature part of the label and a feature part information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the feature part of the label using information obtained by the feature part detection unit.

An end detection unit that detects the end of the label, and a label information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the end of the label or length information of the label using information obtained by the end detection unit What is provided is preferable.

Another label inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores positional relationship information between a print portion on which character information is printed in a label and a feature portion or end portion of the label, and a feature portion or end portion of the label. Based on the positional information and the positional relationship information stored in the storage unit, the label placed between the plurality of eggs contained in the container is present in the container to be inspected with the lid open. A specifying unit for specifying the printed portion of the label to be printed.

According to the present invention, a label inspection apparatus capable of easily inspecting whether or not a label is present in a predetermined region in the container, and a print portion on which character information of the label present in the container is printed can be easily provided. It is possible to provide a label inspection apparatus that can be specifically inspected.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a label inspection apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view of the container test | inspected with the inspection apparatus of the label of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the image of the egg obtained by the inspection apparatus of the label of the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the inspection apparatus of the label of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the inspection method of the label of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the inspection method of the label of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the inspection method of the label of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the container P and the label L which are inspection targets of the label inspection apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described. In addition, this container P and the label L are examples, and are not restricted to this.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the container P includes a main body P <b> 1 and a lid P <b> 2 each having a hole that can accommodate 10 eggs E, and is integrally formed of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin. It is well known. A rectangular paper label L is arranged between the eggs E arranged in two rows in the container P.

The label L is supported by the protrusion P3 and the egg E provided in the center part of the container P as shown in FIGS. The label L includes information such as the egg size symbol, the producer name, and the expiration date. In this embodiment, the size symbol printed on the left side of the label L is set to a “characteristic portion L1” to be described later, and the printable area including the expiration date printed on the right side of the label L is set to “printing portion L2” to be described later. Set to. There are various positions and sizes of the characteristic portion L1 and the print portion L2 depending on the type of the label L. When the inspection is performed by the label inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, for each type of the label L. It is necessary to switch various settings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the label inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has a label L accommodated in a container P and disposed between a plurality of eggs E in a state where a lid P2 is opened. It is inspected whether it exists in the predetermined area | region in the container P to be examined. By this inspection, the container P in which the label L is not contained, the container P in which the label L is displaced, the container P in which the label L is tilted, etc. are found out. Further, the label inspection apparatus 10 of the present embodiment specifies the print portion L2 of the label L present in the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 open, and determines whether or not the printing is performed appropriately. inspect. Specifically, the label inspection apparatus 10 performs an inspection using an image of the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 opened. The label inspection apparatus 10 includes an irradiation unit 1, a detection unit 2, and a control unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the irradiation unit 1 is installed above a transport unit (not shown) on which a container P to be inspected is placed. The irradiating unit 1 irradiates light above the egg E and the label L contained in the container P.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the detection unit 2 is for obtaining information on the container P or the label L. In this embodiment, the detection unit for the container and the detection unit for the label are separately provided. In preparation.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the container detection unit is a container detection unit 21 for obtaining the length information 43 of the container P, specifically, a photoelectric sensor provided on the transport unit. . The container detection unit 21 detects the container P by projecting toward the upper part of the hole of the container P containing the egg E.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the label detection unit is a feature part detection unit 22 for obtaining the position information 44 of the feature part L1 of the label L, and is specifically installed above the transport unit. Imaging device. The characteristic part detection unit 22 detects the characteristic part L1 of the label L by photographing the entire container P containing the egg E.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the container detection unit 21 and the characteristic part detection unit 22, a sensor (not shown) that detects that the top of the container P has arrived on the transport unit is also provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 3 includes a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as a CPU, an internal memory, an input / output interface, and an AD conversion unit. The function as the control unit 3 is exhibited by the cooperation of the CPU and other peripheral devices according to the program stored in the internal memory. The control unit 3 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 31, a container information acquisition unit 32, a characteristic part information acquisition unit 33, a determination unit 34, and a specification unit 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 31 stores target position information 41 of the characteristic portion L1 of the label L. Specifically, the target position information 41 is obtained by presetting the coordinates of the characteristic portion L1 corresponding to the length of the container P. Further, the storage unit 31 stores positional relationship information 42 between the print portion L2 on which character information is printed in the label L and the feature portion L1 of the label L. Specifically, the positional relationship information 42 is set in advance with the coordinates of the print portion L2 when the feature portion L1 is used as a reference.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container information acquisition unit 32 acquires the length information 43 of the container P. In this embodiment, the container information acquisition unit 32 uses the information obtained by the container detection unit 21 to determine the length of the container P. Is calculated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the feature portion information acquisition unit 33 acquires position information 44 of the feature portion L1 of the label L. In this embodiment, the feature portion information acquisition unit 33 uses the information obtained by the feature portion detection unit 22. The coordinates of the feature portion L1 are calculated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the determination unit 34 is arranged between the plurality of eggs E accommodated in the container P based on the length information 43 of the container P and the position information 44 of the characteristic portion L1 of the label L. It is determined whether or not the arranged label L is present in a predetermined region in the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 opened. Further, the determination unit 34 compares the position information 44 of the characteristic portion L1 with the target position information 41 stored in the storage unit 31.

As shown in FIG. 4, the specifying unit 35 is stored in the container P based on the positional information 44 of the characteristic portion L1 of the label L and the positional relationship information 42 stored in the storage unit 31. For the label L arranged between them, the print portion L2 of the label L existing in the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 opened is specified.

Next, an inspection method using the label inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The container P to be inspected is transported to the inspection area by the transport unit, with the side on which two eggs E are arranged leading. First, as shown in FIG. 5, when the sensor detects that the top of the container P has arrived on the transport unit (step S1), the container detection unit 21 starts detecting the container P (step S2). The container detection unit 21 detects the container P by turning on when the light is shielded by the container P and turning off when the container P is interrupted. The container information acquisition part 32 calculates the length of the container P using the ON time information obtained by the container detection part 21 and the speed information of the transport part (step S3). The determining unit 34 acquires the target position information 41 from the storage unit 31 based on the length of the container P obtained in step S3 (step S4). The target position information 41 includes range information indicating how much an error from the target coordinates of the characteristic portion L1 is allowed, and is referred to as a target coordinate area (A) here.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the head of the container P is detected (step S11), the feature portion detection unit 22 photographs the container P containing the label L at a predetermined timing (step S12). And the characteristic part L1 set beforehand is extracted from the image image | photographed by step S12 (step S13). Various methods well known in this field can be used as the method for extracting the characteristic portion L1. The feature part information acquisition unit 33 calculates the coordinates (B) of the extracted feature part L1 (step S14). When the feature portion L1 cannot be extracted in step S6, the determination unit 34 determines that the label L is abnormal (step S15). If the characteristic portion L1 cannot be extracted, there is a possibility that the label L is not in the container P.

Then, the determination unit 34 determines whether or not the coordinates (B) of the feature portion L1 calculated in step S14 are included in the target coordinate area (A) acquired in step S4 (step S16). If the coordinates (B) of the characteristic portion L1 are included in the target coordinate area (A), it is determined that the label L is correctly arranged in a desired state in the predetermined area of the container P (step S17). . On the other hand, if the coordinate (B) of the characteristic portion L1 is out of the target coordinate area (A), it is determined that the label L is abnormal (step S15). Specifically, it is conceivable that the label L is arranged to be shifted to the right or left side from the planned position, or the label L is inclined. In such a case, it is preferable that the control unit 3 stops the transport unit, transports the container P to a predetermined transport path, or gives some indication or notification to the operator.

Next, a method for confirming the expiration date printing using the information obtained in steps S12 to S14 will be described with reference to FIG.

The specifying unit 35 acquires the positional relationship information 42 corresponding to the label L type from the storage unit 31 (step S21). The positional relationship information 42 indicates the degree of separation between the feature portion L1 and the print portion L2, and is an expected coordinate (C) where the print portion L2 is expected when the feature portion L1 is used as a reference.

The specifying unit 35 specifies that the position separated from the coordinate (B) of the feature portion L1 calculated in step S14 by the predicted coordinate (C) acquired in step S21 is the print portion L2 (step S22). Then, the print portion L2 specified in step S22 is extracted from the image photographed in step S12 (step S23). Thereafter, the date printed on the print portion L2 is collated with the date set in advance and stored in the storage unit 31 (step S24).

As described above, the label inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is accommodated in the container P based on the length information 43 of the container P and the position information 44 of the characteristic portion L1 of the label L. A determination unit 34 is provided for determining whether or not the label L arranged between the eggs E is present in a predetermined region in the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 open. Therefore, it is possible to easily inspect the label L insertion error, the label L misalignment, the inclination, and the like, and it is possible to improve the quality of the packed product.

The label inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 31 that stores target position information 41 of the characteristic portion L1 of the label L. The determination unit 34 stores the position information 44 of the characteristic portion L1 and the storage unit 31. The target position information 41 is compared. Also, a feature portion detection unit 22 that detects a feature portion L1 of the label L, and feature portion information acquisition that acquires position information 44 of the feature portion L1 of the label L using information obtained by the feature portion detection unit 22 The unit 33 is provided. Therefore, a white-based label L is often placed in the white egg E, and can be suitably used for an egg pack in which the end L3 of the label L is difficult to detect.

The label inspection apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes a storage unit 31 that stores positional relationship information 42 between a print portion L2 on which character information is printed in the label L and a feature portion L1 of the label L, and a feature of the label L. Based on the positional information 44 of the part L1 and the positional relationship information 42 stored in the storage unit 31, the lid P2 is opened for the label L accommodated in the container P and arranged between the plurality of eggs E. A specifying unit 35 for specifying the print portion L2 of the label L present in the container P to be inspected is provided. Therefore, it is possible to inspect the label L for which it is difficult to directly specify the print portion L2.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Hereinafter, parts that are the same as or equivalent to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated unless necessary.

<Modification 1>
The label inspection apparatus 10 according to the first modification uses the fact that the label L protrudes above the egg E when the container P is viewed from the front, and the end portion P3 of the container P and the label Focus on the end L3 of L. The label inspection apparatus 10 includes a detection unit 2 and a control unit 3.

The detection unit 2 includes a container detection unit and a label detection unit separately. The container detection unit is the container detection unit 21 for obtaining the position information 45 of the end P3 of the container P, and specifically, a photoelectric sensor provided on the transport unit. The container detection unit 21 projects light toward the container P containing the egg E, and detects an end P3 of the container P (a part of the outline of the container P). The label detection unit is an end detection unit 23 for obtaining the position information 46 of the end L3 of the label L, and is specifically a photoelectric sensor provided on the transport unit. The end detection unit 23 projects light toward the label L and detects the end L3 of the label L (a part of the outline of the label L).

The control unit 3 includes a storage unit 31, a container information acquisition unit 32, a label information acquisition unit 36, and a determination unit 34. The storage unit 31 stores the target distance between the end L3 of the label L and the end P3 of the container P as a threshold value. The container information acquisition unit 32 acquires the position information 45 of the end P3 of the container P using the information obtained by the container detection unit 21. The label information acquisition unit 36 acquires the position information 46 of the end L3 of the label L using the information obtained by the end detection unit 23. Based on the position information 45 of the end portion P3 of the container P and the position information 46 of the end portion L3 of the label L, the determination unit 34 is a label that is accommodated in the container P and disposed between the plurality of eggs E. It is determined whether L is present in a predetermined region in the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 opened. Specifically, the distance between the end portions P3 and L3 obtained from the position information 45 of the end portion P3 of the container P and the position information 46 of the end portion L3 of the label L and the target distance stored in the storage unit 31 Make a comparison.

Instead of using a photoelectric sensor as the container detection unit and the label detection unit, at least one of them is replaced with an imaging device, and the position information 45 of the end portion P3 of the container P or the end portion L3 of the label L is detected from the image. The position information 46 may be acquired. Further, instead of the spot sensor, an area sensor such as parallel light may be used.

Furthermore, instead of comparing the measured distance with the target distance stored in the storage unit 31, the determination unit 34 determines whether or not the label L exists based on whether or not the end L3 of the label L is detected, The positional deviation of the label L may be determined based on whether or not the end portion L3 of the label L is detected before the end portion P3 of the container P. As another example, the determination unit 34 determines that the distance X between the end L3 on one side of the label L and the end L3 on one side of the container P, the other end L3 on the other side of the label L, and the other of the container P. The positional deviation of the label L may be determined by comparing the distance X ′ with the side end L3.

<Modification 2>
The label inspection apparatus 10 according to the second modification focuses on the length of the container P and the length of the label L, and includes a detection unit 2 and a control unit 3. Since the detection unit 2 is the same as the detection unit 2 described in Modification 1, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The control unit 3 includes a container information acquisition unit 32, a label information acquisition unit 36, and a determination unit 34. The container information acquisition unit 32 acquires the length information 43 of the container P using the information obtained by the container detection unit 21. The label information acquisition unit 36 acquires the length information 47 of the label L using the information obtained by the end detection unit 23. Based on the length information 43 of the container P and the length information 47 of the label L, the determination unit 34 determines that the label L accommodated in the container P and arranged between the plurality of eggs E is the lid P2. It is determined whether or not it exists in a predetermined area in the container P to be inspected in the open state. Specifically, a comparison is made between the center of the length of the container P and the center of the length of the label L.

<Other variations>
The combination of the information on the container P and the information on the label L used by the determination unit 34 for the determination is not limited to the above example, and the length information 43 on the container P and the position information 46 on the end L3 of the label L Combination, the combination of the position information 45 of the end portion P3 of the container P and the length information 47 of the label L, the combination of the position information 45 of the end portion P3 of the container P and the position information 44 of the characteristic portion L1 of the label L, It can implement according to embodiment and the modification which were mentioned above.

In the above-described embodiment, the label inspection apparatus 10 including both the determination unit 34 and the specifying unit 35 has been described. However, the label inspection apparatus 10 including the determination unit 34 specifies the print portion L2 of the label L. The portion 35 may not be provided. Conversely, the label inspection apparatus 10 including the specifying unit 35 may not include the determination unit 34.

The label information acquisition unit 36 is not limited to the method using the photoelectric sensor or the imaging device as a method for acquiring the length information 43 of the container P. For example, the length information from the packing process or the upstream process is used. 43 may be received or set manually by the operator each time the type of the container P is switched and stored in the storage unit 31.

The container detection unit 21, the characteristic portion detection unit 22, and the end detection unit 23 may be configured by separate detection devices, or may be a single detection device that has the functions of a plurality of detection units.

When an imaging device is used as the feature part detection unit 21 and the end part detection unit 22, not only the whole container P containing the eggs may be photographed, but only a part of the container P may be photographed.

The positional relationship information 42 may be the positional relationship between the end portion L3 of the label L, the printed portion L2, and the end portion L3 of the label L, instead of the positional relationship between the characteristic portion L1 of the label L and the printed portion L2. .

The determination unit 34 may set the container P with the lid P2 closed as the inspection target. There is a high possibility that the label L accommodated in the container P is further moved from the position where the label L is once inserted by the movement of closing the lid P2. Therefore, based on the length information 43 of the container P or the position information 45 of the end portion P3 of the container P, and the length information 47 of the label L or the position information 44 and 46 of the characteristic portion L1 or the end portion L3 of the label L. A determination unit that determines whether or not the label L accommodated in the container P and disposed between the plurality of eggs E is present in a predetermined region in the container P to be inspected with the lid P2 closed. If it is provided with 34, not only the presence / absence inspection of the label L with the lid P2 closed, but also the positional deviation and inclination of the label L can be easily inspected.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an inspection apparatus for a label that is accommodated in a container and disposed between a plurality of eggs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Label inspection apparatus 22 ... Feature part detection part 23 ... End part detection part 31 ... Storage part 33 ... Feature part information acquisition part 34 ... Determination part 35 ... Identification part 36 ... Label information acquisition part 41 ... Target position information 42 ... Position information 43 ... (container) length information 44 ... (label features) position information 45 ... (container end) position information 46 ... (label end) position information 47 ... (label ) Length information P ... container P2 ... lid L ... label L2 ... printed part E ... egg

Claims (5)

Based on the container length information or the position information of the end of the container and the length information of the label or the position information of the characteristic part or end of the label, the container is placed between a plurality of eggs. A label inspection apparatus comprising a determination unit for determining whether or not a label is present in a predetermined region in a container to be inspected. 2. The label according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores target position information of the characteristic portion of the label, wherein the determination unit compares the position information of the characteristic portion with the target position information stored in the storage unit. Inspection device. The feature part detection part which detects the feature part of the said label, The feature part information acquisition part which acquires the positional information on the feature part of the said label using the information obtained by this feature part detection part or Claim 1 or 2. The label inspection apparatus according to 2. An end detection unit that detects the end of the label, and a label information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the end of the label or length information of the label using information obtained by the end detection unit The label inspection apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3. A storage unit for storing positional relationship information between a print part on which character information is printed in the label and a characteristic part or end part of the label;
Based on the positional information of the characteristic part or end of the label and the positional relationship information stored in the storage unit, the label opened between the plurality of eggs contained in the container is in a state where the lid is opened. A label inspection apparatus comprising a specifying unit for specifying the printed portion of a label existing in a container to be inspected.

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