JP2868076B2 - Method for inspecting foreign matter in particulate matter and apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in particulate matter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically detecting foreign matter in a granular material by using an image processing method, and to a foreign matter inspecting apparatus for use in the method. Especially for powders of synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and vinyl chloride, powder coatings, cement, ceramic powders, powdered detergents, instant foods such as instant coffee and powdered soups, and various powders such as powdered drugs and granular drugs. The present invention relates to a particulate matter inspection method and a particulate matter inspection apparatus for automatically detecting contained foreign matter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Industrial products include various powdery products such as powders of synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and vinyl chloride, powder coatings, cement and ceramic powders. These products include pieces of metal or glass, gravel, sand,
Foreign matter such as particles having a larger particle diameter may be mixed. The presence of these foreign substances is a problem in the quality of the product.

[0003] In the food industry, there are many products in the form of granules, such as instant coffee and powdered soup. Many pharmaceuticals are powdered or granular. These products include:
In addition to the above foreign substances, carcasses of insects and the like may be mixed. However, the presence of such foreign substances is a sanitary problem because the products are directly edible or applied to the human body.

[0004] Therefore, detection of foreign matter in a granular material is an important item in quality control.

As a method for detecting foreign matter in a granular material, a visual method has conventionally been used. According to this method, a granular material is spread thinly over a certain area, and the size and number of foreign substances are measured visually or using a magnifying glass.

However, there are various individual differences in visual weighing, such as lack of accuracy due to individual differences, difficulty in detecting minute foreign matter of 50 to 100 microns or less, time consuming, and inability to respond to automation. There are drawbacks.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, it has been considered to automatically measure foreign matter by a television camera. In such a method, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the powder 2 is spread thinly on a conveying means 41 such as a belt, and
, The image data is obtained by image processing with the image processing device 31, and foreign matter is detected.

[0008]

However, in order to carry out the above method, it is necessary to spread the granular material 2 to a uniform thickness on the conveying means 41. In this case, it is extremely difficult to spread the granular material on the conveying means 41 to a uniform thickness. Further, since the detection surface of the granular material is not completely flat, a shadow is inevitably formed as shown by S in the figure, and there is a problem that a shadow portion is counted as a foreign material although it is not a foreign material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for detecting foreign matter in a particle which can detect a foreign matter with high accuracy without detecting a shadow on the particle as a foreign matter. With the goal.

[0010]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS]
The invention described in claim 1 ofTransparent member by pressing member
Press the granules towardContacting the transparent material
The surface of the powdery material on the transparent member side
Through the member, an image is taken by the imaging means, and the
Image processing of the obtained image data to remove foreign matter in the granular material.
Detecting a corresponding image signal.Different granular material
InspectionThe invention according to claim 2 is an inspection method,
A transparent member to contact,Press the powder toward the transparent member
Pressing member to attach,With the side of the transparent member where the granular material contacts
Is provided facing the other sideShootingImaging means and the imaging
Processing for image processing the image data output from the means
Means for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material, comprising:
And In the invention according to claim 3, the position of the transparent member is fixed.
3. The particle foreign matter inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the inspection device is defined.
And According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the granular material is supplied,
An annular shape made of a transparent member at the bottom that contacts this powder
Disk with a groove on the upper surface, and the annular groove on this disk
Opposite to the side of the transparent member that contacts the powder from below
Imaging means provided toward the side, and from the imaging means
Image processing means for performing image processing on output image data, and
Collecting means for collecting the powder and granules passing over the imaging means
A particle foreign matter inspection device characterized by having a step
You.

[0011]

Granule particle inspection method of the embodiment of the present invention is,
As described above, the pressing member moves toward the transparent member.
The granular material is pressed, and the granular material is brought into contact with the transparent member, the surface of the granular material on the transparent member side is photographed by the imaging means through the transparent member, and the obtained image data is processed by the image processing means. And detects an image signal corresponding to the foreign matter.

A first aspect of the foreign matter inspection apparatus according to the present invention is directed to a transparent member which comes into contact with a granular material,
A pressing member for pressing the granular material, an imaging unit provided toward a side opposite to a side of the transparent member where the granular material contacts,
And a mode comprising the image data output from the image pickup means from the image processing means for image processing, the second embodiment,
The granular material is supplied, and the bottom part in contact with the granular material is a transparent part.
Disk with an annular groove made of material on the upper surface, this disk
The particles of the transparent member come into contact from directly below the annular groove in
Imaging means provided facing the side opposite to the touching side;
Image processing of image data output from the imaging means.
Image processing means, and
Ru aspect der consisting recovery means for recovering.

An overview of the method and apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 shows that both the transparent member 1 and the granular material 2 are fixed,
A schematic view showing a granular material foreign matter inspection method and granule foreign matter inspection device imaging means 3 detects the foreign matter by imaging the granular material while moving in the direction b which converts an optical image into image data is there. FIG. 2 shows that the transparent member 1 also serves as the conveying member 41 of the granular material 2, and the transparent member 1 is fixed to the imaging unit 3 whose position is fixed.
Itself is a schematic view showing a granular material foreign matter inspection method and granule foreign matter inspection apparatus for detecting foreign material by moving in the direction indicated in terms of b. FIG. 3 shows that the transparent member 1 is fixed,
The powder or granular material 2, so as to contact with the transparent member 1, the granular material foreign matter inspection method and granule foreign matter inspection instrumentation for detecting a foreign object by moving in the direction b by a conveying means 41 which is provided separately < FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a transparent member, 2 denotes a powder, and 3 denotes an imaging means for converting a light image into image data.
Reference numeral 31 denotes an image processing unit that performs image processing on image data output from the imaging unit 3. Reference numeral 41 denotes a transport unit that transports the granular material 2. “a” indicates the pressing direction of the granular material, and “b” indicates the moving direction of the imaging unit 3, the transparent member 1 and / or the granular material 2.

In the present invention, the transparent member can be brought into contact with the surface thereof by spreading a predetermined amount of the granular material in a predetermined region without any gap. Is a transparent member that can be observed by the imaging unit 3 that converts the light image into the image data. In other words, the transparent member refers to an imaging unit that converts a light image into image data, for example, a transparent member that can be regarded as a flat surface within the field of view of a television camera. There is no particular limitation on the shape and structure of the transparent member as long as it has such a function, and examples of the shape of the transparent member include a flat plate, an annular plate, a disk, and a cylindrical body. It may be a simple conveyor belt or a transparent sheet.

[0015] No particular limitation on the granular material applied in particulate xenobiotic inspection method and granule foreign substance inspection apparatus of the present invention, the particle size of the order of 0.001～1,000 micron powder And granules are preferred. Such materials include various synthetic resin powders, powder coatings, cements, ceramic powders, powdered detergents, baby powders, white powders, instant foods such as instant coffee and powdered soups, powdered seasonings, powdered medicines and granules. There are drugs etc.

The image pickup means may be any means capable of converting an optical image of the granular material photographed through the transparent member into image data. For example, an ordinary video camera or television camera is used. A video camera or a television camera may use a one-dimensional CCD element or a two-dimensional CCD element instead of converting a light image into an image signal using an image pickup tube. In addition to a video camera and a television camera, for example, an infrared detecting element is also used.

The image processing for image processing the image data output from the image pickup means is means for performing image processing on the image data to detect an image signal corresponding to a foreign substance in the powder.

Normally, the image processing means comprises a sampler for sampling the image data from the image pickup means at equal intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, an AD converter for digitizing the sampled image data, and an AD converter. The apparatus includes arithmetic means for calculating digitized data from the container and discriminating between an image signal corresponding to a granular material and an image signal corresponding to a foreign substance.

The presence of the particles in contact with the transparent member means that the particles are in contact with one surface of the transparent member without any gap. Therefore, the granular material 2 may be directly placed on the transparent member 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or the transparent member 1 may be placed on the granular material 2 as shown in FIG.
May be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transparent member 1 and a granular material 2 are fixed, and an image pickup means 3 for converting an optical image into image data is moved in a direction b. By imaging the surface of the body 2 with the imaging means 3,
Foreign matter present in the powder can be detected. As shown in FIG. 2, the transparent member 1 also serves as a conveying member for the granular material 2, and the transparent member 1 itself is moved in the direction indicated by b while the position of the imaging means 3 itself is fixed. Foreign substances present in the granules can also be detected. As shown in FIG. 3, the positions of the transparent member 1 and the imaging unit 3 are fixed, and the granular material 2 is brought into contact with the transparent member 1 in the b direction by a separately provided conveying unit 41. You may move it. As the transport means 41, any means can be used as long as it can move the granular material 2. Examples of such means include a belt conveyor and a disk provided with grooves.

[0021] In the first aspect, in order to ensure contact between the powdery grains and the transparent member, so as to press the granular material toward the transparency member, Ru added a pressing force to the powder particles . The pressing force may be applied directly to the granular material 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or may be applied to the transparent member 1. Further, a pressing force may be applied to the granular material 2 via the conveying means 41.

The light image detected by the imaging means for converting the light image into image data may be either reflected light from the light source or transmitted light. As the light source, various lamps such as a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, and an infrared LED are used. The transparent member 1 may be directly irradiated with a light source, or may be irradiated through a lens system optical system, a fiber light guide, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Is converted into image data, and is divided into pixels by the image processing means 31. For the detection of a foreign substance, light / dark information of each pixel is used, and a pixel having low brightness can be used as an image signal corresponding to the foreign substance. However, this image processing method is preferably used when the powder is light-colored.

FIG. 4 shows an example of this image processing method. FIG.
The middle A shows an image of the granular material viewed through the transparent member 1, and the B shows an image obtained by image-processing this image. Numeral 2 indicates a powdery substance for which foreign matter is to be detected, and 2 'indicates a foreign matter. 20 and 20 '
Is a pixel, the pixel 20 corresponds to the powder 2, and the pixel 20 ′ corresponds to the foreign substance 2 ′.

Here, since the powder 2 has a light color, the brightness of the pixel 20 is high. On the other hand, the foreign substance 2 '
Therefore, the brightness of the pixel 20 'is also lower.
Therefore, if there is a pixel with low brightness, it means that the particle has foreign matter. When the granular material 2 is colored or dark like instant coffee, if the foreign matter is light, a bright pixel may be set to correspond to the foreign matter. In addition, color information can be used, and infrared light can be used.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the inspection apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an example using a transparent cylinder as the transparent member 1, and FIG. 6 shows an example using a transparent belt as the transparent member 1. FIG. 7 shows an example in which a plate-shaped member is used as a transparent member. In the inspection apparatus of FIGS.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a circulating belt. 8 to 10 show an example in which the transparent member 1 is a transparent belt and also serves as the transport unit 41. FIG. 11 shows an example of an inspection apparatus in which the transport means 41 is a disk provided with a groove 43 and the transparent member 1 is fitted into the bottom of the groove 43.

In the figure, 1 is a transparent member, 2 is a powder,
Denotes a unit for converting a light image into image data, 31 denotes a unit for performing image processing on the image data from the imaging unit 3, and 4 denotes
1 is a conveying means of the granular material, a is a pressing direction of the granular material, b
Shows the moving direction of the imaging means 3, the transparent member 1 and / or the granular material 2, as in FIGS. Reference numeral 12 denotes a means for driving the transparent member 1 when the transparent member 1 has a belt shape. Reference numeral 42 denotes a driving unit that drives the conveying unit 41 when the conveying unit 41 is a belt.
Reference numeral 43 denotes a groove provided in the transport means 41 when the transport means 41 has a disk shape. Reference numeral 5 denotes a receiving tray for receiving the granular material 2 which has been detected. 6 is powder 2
, A cleaning unit, and a pressing member 8 for pressing the granular material 2 against the transparent member 1.

Hereinafter, the inspection apparatus shown in each figure will be described in detail.

In the apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical transparent member 1 has a transport means 4 which is a belt.
1 and is provided so as to have a predetermined gap. Further, a pressing member 8 is provided so as to face the transparent member 1 with the transport means 41 interposed therebetween.

The transport means 41 is driven in the direction b in FIG. 5 by drive means 42, for example, drive wheels driven by a motor. The transparent member 1 may be fixed, but in this example, the transparent member 1 is rotated in the direction of b in accordance with the moving speed of the transporting means 41 so that no slippage occurs with the transporting means 41. ing.

The transparent member 1 may be formed so as to be rotatable in accordance with the movement of the conveying means 41 by holding the rotation axis of the transparent member 1 free, or the transparent member 1 may be driven by an appropriate driving means (not shown). May be formed so as to be able to rotate forcibly. It is preferable that the transparent member 1 is formed so as to be forcibly rotated in synchronization with the conveying means 41.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the pressing member 8 is a rotatable roll provided so as to face the transparent member 1 with the conveying means 41 interposed therebetween, and rotates while contacting the conveying means 41. . The pressing member 8 does not need to be particularly transparent.

An imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data is fixed inside the transparent member 1. This imaging means 3
Are arranged so that the granular material 2 on the conveying member 1 can be imaged through the transparent member 1 from inside the transparent member 1.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 7 designates a cleaning means for removing the powder 2 attached to the surface of the transparent member 1.

As a material of the transparent member 1, various kinds of glass,
Polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, poly 4-
A transparent and highly rigid material such as methylpentene-1, polystyrene and poly-α-methylstyrene is used. The thickness of the cylinder is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 1 to 5 mm from the viewpoint of a balance between strength in the circumferential direction and transparency.

As the transport means 41, an ordinary belt conveyor or the like can be used. Various materials such as a rubberized cloth can be used as the material, and an appropriate material may be selected according to the granular material 2.

The powder 2 is transferred from the hopper 6 to the conveying means 41.
It is supplied upward and moves in the direction of arrow b. The moving granular material 2 is pressed by the pressing member 8 to the transparent member 1 via the conveying means 41. Thereby, the granular material 2 comes into contact with the transparent member 1. The powder 2 is photographed from the inside of the transparent member 1 by the imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data. The obtained image data is subjected to image processing by the image processing means 31.

FIG. 6 shows that the transparent member 1 is circulated instead of the transparent cylinder in the apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in the granular material shown in FIG.
This is an example in which a transparent belt formed so as to be able to move in parallel so as to have a predetermined gap from the surface of the conveying means 41 on a predetermined conveying surface is used.

In this powder / particle foreign matter inspection apparatus, a flat pressing member 8 is provided opposite to the transparent member 1 with the conveying means 41 interposed therebetween. The transport means 41 moves while contacting the pressing member 8. The pressing member 8 does not need to be particularly transparent. The imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data is fixed to a surface of the transparent member 1 opposite to the surface in contact with the granular material 2.

As the material of the transparent member 1, any material can be used as long as it is transparent and can be processed into a belt. Examples of such a material include thermoplastic elastomers such as polyester-type elastomers, polyamide-polyester-based elastomers, polyurethane-type elastomers, and styrene-butadiene copolymer elastomers, and soft vinyl chloride transparent materials. The thickness of the transparent member 1 is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 2 mm.

The transparent member 1 is driven in the direction shown by b in FIG. As the driving roll, a driving roll usually used for driving a belt conveyor can be employed. It is preferable that the driving speed of the transparent member 1 is matched with the moving speed of the transport unit 41.

The powder 2 is transferred from the hopper 6 to the conveying means 41.
It is supplied above and moves in the direction b shown in FIG. Then, the granular material 2 is pressed by the transparent member 1 by the pressing member 8 via the conveying means 41, whereby the granular material 2 moves while being in contact with the transparent member 1. And the powder 2
Is photographed from the inside of the transparent member 1 by the imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data in a portion sandwiched between the transparent member 1 and the transport means 41.

FIG. 7 shows an apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material in which the transparent member 1 is replaced by a transparent flat plate-shaped transparent member in the apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material shown in FIG. 7, the position of the transparent member 1 is fixed, and the granular material 2 dropped on the transporting means 41 moves while contacting the transparent member 1. In this powder / particle foreign matter inspection apparatus, the conveying means 4
A pressing member 8 in the form of a flat plate is provided opposite to the transparent member 1 with the holding member 1 interposed therebetween. Imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data
Are fixed toward the surface of the transparent member 1 opposite to the surface in contact with the granular material 2.

In the particle foreign matter inspection apparatus, the material of the transparent member 1 is the same as that used for the transparent cylinder, that is, various kinds of glass, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, poly 4-methylpentene-1, Polystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene and the like are used. If the thickness of the end of the transparent member 1 on the powder supply side is gradually reduced as shown in the figure, the powder is smoothly supplied to the gap between the transparent member 1 and the conveying means 41. Is preferred.

In this apparatus for inspecting foreign matter of a granular material, the granular material 2 supplied by the transport means 41 is photographed by the imaging means 3 through the transparent member 1.

FIG. 8 shows a transparent belt in which the transparent member 1 is a transparent belt circulating and moving on an endless track, which also serves as the conveying means 41 and in which the pressing member 8 directly presses the granular material 2. 1 shows an example of a particle foreign matter inspection apparatus.

In this powder and particle foreign matter inspection apparatus, the pressing member 8 is a rotatable roll. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a plate-shaped second transparent member. The second transparent member 11 is disposed so that the transport means 41 passes over the upper surface thereof while being in contact therewith, and is opposed to the pressing member 8 with the transport means 41 interposed therebetween. It is fixed so that it does not change. The transparent member 1 is moved in the direction b shown in FIG.
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 42A denotes the transport unit 4
1 is a driving roll for driving the remaining three driving means 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a driven roll 42B having no driving force itself. Then, the transparent member 1 is connected to the second transparent member so as to prevent the portion of the transparent member 1 that is bridged between the drive roll 42A and the driven roll 42B from sagging downward, and to allow the transporting means 41 to proceed smoothly. 11 is held. The imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data includes a second transparent member 1
1 is disposed on the opposite side of the transporting means 41 and is fixed so that an image of the granular material in contact with the transporting means 41 through the second transparent member 11 and the transporting means 41 can be taken.

As shown in FIG. 8, in this apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material, the granular material 2 is moved from the hopper 6 to the transparent member 1.
Is supplied on the conveying means 41 which is The granular material 2 supplied from the hopper 6 is moved in the direction b in the drawing by the conveying means 41. The granular material 2 is conveyed by the pressing means 8 to the conveying means 4.
1 directly.

The powder 2 on the conveying means 41 is
The image is taken by the imaging means 3 through the transport means 41 and the second transparent member 11. As a result, foreign matter in the granular material 2 is detected.

As the material of the transparent member 1, any material can be used as long as it can form a transparent belt. As such a material, for example, a polyester-type elastomer, a polyamide / polyester-based elastomer, a polyurethane-type elastomer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer elastomer, or the like, and a soft vinyl chloride transparent material are used. The thickness of the transparent member 1 is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm.

As the material of the second transparent member 11, any material can be used as long as it has high transparency and rigidity and a mirror surface can be easily formed. Examples of such a material include various glasses, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, poly-4-methylpentene-1, polystyrene, and poly-α-methylstyrene.

FIG. 9 shows a belt 81 driven by a drive roll 82 so as to circulate on an endless track instead of a rotatable roll 8 as a pressing member 8 in the granular foreign matter inspection apparatus of FIG. Fig. 3 shows an apparatus for inspecting foreign matter of a granular material used.

As the belt 81, the same belt as that used as the conveying means 41 can be used.

FIG. 10 shows an apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material using the fixed pressing member 8 in place of the cylindrical pressing member 8 in the apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in the granular material shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows an apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a granular material using a disk provided with a groove 43 as the transport means 41. FIG.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view in the AA direction of the granular foreign material inspection device shown in FIG. 11.

11 and 12, the conveying means 41 is a disk, and an annular groove 43 for conveying the granular material 2 is formed on the upper surface thereof. . As shown in FIG. 12, the bottom of the groove 43 is formed of the transparent member 1. Immediately below the groove 43, the imaging means 3 for converting a light image into image data is fixed upward. As shown in FIG. 11, the conveying means 41
Is rotated in the direction shown by b by the rotating means shown by.

In the conveying means 41, the ring-shaped part outside the groove 43 and the disc-shaped part inside the groove 43 are formed of an opaque material, and the bottom of the groove 43 is fitted with the transparent member 1 separately. It may be glued or welded. Further, the entire transporting means 41 may be formed integrally with the transparent member 1. Examples of the material of the transparent member 1 include various transparent materials having high rigidity such as glass, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, poly-4-methylpentene-1, polystyrene, and poly-α-methylstyrene.
A polyester-type elastomer, a polyamide / polyester-based elastomer, a polyurethane-type elastomer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer elastomer, and the like, and a transparent and flexible material such as a soft vinyl chloride and a transparent material can be used.

In the powder / particle foreign matter inspection apparatus shown in FIG.
The detection of foreign matter in the granular material 2 is performed as follows. The powder 2 is supplied to the groove 43 by the hopper 6. The granular material 2 supplied to the groove 43 rotates together with the conveying means 41,
The light passes over the imaging means 3 for converting the light image into image data. The imaging means 3 for converting the light image into image data captures the powder 2 passing above through the transparent member 1 at the bottom of the groove 43. The powder 2 that has passed over the imaging unit 3 is collected by the collection unit 11. The collecting means 11 is a vacuum suction device in the inspection device shown in this figure, but a screw conveyor, a belt conveyor or the like can also be used.

[0060]

According to the foreign matter inspection apparatus of the present invention, the foreign matter can be detected with high accuracy without the need to strictly spread the thickness of the granular material on the conveying means. Therefore, an inspection apparatus for a granular material can be configured using a normal feeder such as a belt conveyor. Further, since the powder and the granular material are photographed by a video camera or the like through the transparent member, no shadow is formed on the image. Therefore, even if the detection sensitivity of the foreign matter is increased, the shadow is hardly counted as the foreign matter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing the principle of a particulate matter inspection apparatus and method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing the principle of a particulate matter foreign matter inspection apparatus and a particulate matter foreign matter inspection method according to the present invention, and showing a case where a transparent member also serves as a conveying means.

FIG. 3 shows the principle of a particulate foreign matter inspection apparatus and a particulate foreign matter inspection method according to the present invention, and is conveyed by a conveying means between a fixed transparent member and a conveying means. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a case where a powder or a granular material is imaged by an imaging unit through the transparent member.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of image processing by an image processing means in the particulate matter inspection apparatus and the method according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing one example of a granular foreign material inspection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a granular foreign material inspection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a granular foreign material inspection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a granular foreign matter inspection apparatus according to the present invention, in which a transparent member is a transparent belt, also serves as a conveying means, and a pressing member is rotatable. It is a roll and is schematic explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the granular material foreign substance inspection apparatus which pressed the granular material directly.

FIG. 9 is an example of a particulate foreign matter inspection apparatus according to the present invention. In the granular foreign matter inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the pressing member is changed to a rotatable roll and driven by a driving roll. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a granular foreign material inspection device using a belt to be used.

FIG. 10 is an example of a granular foreign material inspection device according to the present invention, and in the granular foreign material inspection device shown in FIG. 8, powder using a flat plate-shaped member fixed as a pressing member; It is a schematic explanatory view showing a granular foreign substance inspection device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a particulate matter inspection apparatus according to the present invention, which is an example of a particle foreign matter inspection apparatus using a disk provided with a groove as a conveying means.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the particulate matter inspection apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partially longitudinal sectional explanatory view cut in a −A direction.

FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory view showing an outline of a method for detecting foreign matter in a granular material using a conventional television camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transparent member, 2 ... Pulverized material, 2 '... Foreign matter, 3 ... Imaging means for converting a light image into image data,
5 ・ ・ ・ Receiver for powder 2, 6 ・ ・ ・ Hopper, 7
... Cleaning means, 8 ... Pressing means, 12 ...
Means for driving the belt-shaped transparent member, 20, 2,
0 ': pixel, 31: image processing means for performing image processing of image data from the image pickup means, 41: conveying means of powder and granular material, 42: driving means for driving the conveying means which is a belt , 43 ... grooves cut by the disc-shaped transport means 41, a ... pressing direction of the granular material, b ... moving direction of the imaging means, the transparent member or the granular material.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 21/84-21/90

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A powder or granule which is pressed toward a transparent member by a pressing member.
To make the granular material exist in contact with the transparent member, the surface of the granular material on the transparent member side is photographed by the imaging means through the transparent member, and the image data obtained by the imaging means is imaged. treated, granular material foreign matter detection査方method you and detects the image signal corresponding to the foreign matter in the powder granules. 2. A transparent member in contact with a granular material, said transparent portion
A pressing member for pressing the granular material toward the material, imaging means provided on the opposite side of the transparent member from which the granular material contacts, and image processing of image data output from the imaging means A particle foreign matter inspection device, comprising: 3. Before the position of the transparent member is fixed.
The particle foreign matter inspection device according to claim 2. 4. A granular material is supplied and comes into contact with the granular material.
An annular groove made of transparent material is provided on the upper surface.
Disc, the transparent part from just below the annular groove in this disc
Is provided on the side opposite to the side where the material
Imaging means, and image data output from the imaging means.
An image processing means for performing image processing;
Characterized by having a collecting means for collecting the spent powder and granules
Particle inspection equipment.