JP3021775B2 - Brush inspection method and device - 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 and an apparatus for inspecting the quality of a flocked state of a brush such as a toothbrush.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an appearance inspection for checking a flocking state of a flocking portion such as a toothbrush is usually performed visually.
In addition to the labor and time required, much labor is required, the skill of the inspector is also required, and there is a problem in quality control due to individual differences in the inspection results. For this reason, recently, an application in the field of image processing has been adopted. An image captured using a TV camera is binarized, and the area of a white or black portion is determined to obtain an arbitrary shape, for example, an entire frame or a grid shape. Attempts have been made to inspect each hair bundle including an image by setting a window such as a frame or a parallel arrangement of a vertical frame and a horizontal frame.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image processing, when the bristle bundle of the brush is captured in the image, there is an error of about 20% in the total number of the transplanted hairs, and the number of the transplanted hairs is considerably small. There is a danger of overlooking poor planting, such as bundles or ones with no planted holes. It is considered best to set a window for each bristle bundle in order to accurately detect these poor hair transplantation, but the positioning accuracy of a normal machine ± 0.5 to 1.0 mm cannot be ignored. The probability of discharging non-defective products and overlooking defects is increasing. In addition, in the setting of the block method where positioning can be neglected to some extent, it is effective for non-flocked ones, but the accuracy of discrimination of those with a small number of flocked is not improved.
In addition, in the case of implanting multicolored hair such as red, blue, green, yellow, etc. in addition to white hair, it is not possible to perform treatment by color, and even if the color sensor is used to determine the color, In addition to the need to input data corresponding to colors in advance, there is a further problem in terms of accuracy, and the adjustment of the color sensor is also complicated and time-consuming, which is undesirable in terms of labor. The present invention is intended to eliminate these conventional drawbacks, and makes it possible to carry out an inspection of the appearance of the flocked portion of the brush with remarkably high accuracy and convenience. It is an object of the present invention to provide a brush inspection method and an apparatus thereof that can easily cope with the problem.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an inspection camera for photographing a flocked portion by illuminating a flocked portion of a brush held on a turntable for supplying a brush, and using the camera to capture an image captured by the camera. In a brush inspection method for performing a binarization process, the image processing mechanism sets a window in a camera image, adds the density values of the window image in the X direction and the Y direction, and stores a total value. Using the total value of the directions, a start position and a pitch that become the maximum when the number of peaks is added are obtained, and the previously input start positions and the pitches in the X and Y directions are stored as reference values for the window of the reference image. In addition, the difference between the reference value and the start position and pitch of the image is added to the window position of the reference image to obtain the window of the image. A brush inspection method characterized by binarizing process compares the area value and the reference value for each window. Further, in the present invention, a carry-in mechanism for supplying a brush, a turntable for brush transport connected to the carry-in mechanism, a good-goods carry-out mechanism connected to the turntable and a defective-goods discharge chute; Inspection device for illuminating the flocked portion of the brush held by the camera, an inspection camera for photographing the illuminated flocked portion, and an image processing mechanism for binarizing an image captured by the camera A window setting unit in which the image processing mechanism sets a window in a camera image;
A memory unit for storing the total value by adding the density values of the window image in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively, and starting the operation such that the maximum value is obtained when adding the number of peaks using the total value in the X and Y directions. The position and pitch are obtained, and the input start position and pitch in the X and Y directions input in advance are stored as reference values for the window of the reference image,
A position correction unit that adds a difference obtained by comparing the reference value with a start position and a pitch of the image to a window position of the reference image to make a window of the image;
One of the important features of the brush inspection apparatus is that the brush inspection apparatus is configured to perform a value process to compare the area value of each window with a reference value.

[0005]

In the brush inspection apparatus of the present invention, when an appropriate number of brushes accumulate in the entrance guide of the brush carry-in mechanism 1, the brush is moved by the rotation of the sub-table 2, and one of the brushes is moved by the chucking head 30 provided on the turntable 3. The illumination mechanism 7 is gripped and conveyed at a time, and becomes a measurement position during the conveyance.
And an image of the flocked portion of the brush B at a certain position with the inspection camera 8. Next, the position correction unit 9 including the window setting in the image processing mechanism 9 connected to the inspection camera 8
Image processing is performed through the image memory unit 91 for comparing 0 and the inspection result, and non-defective and defective products are determined. That is, after checking for the presence or absence of a work, the image is taken in, a mapping operation is performed, and the image captured after the position correction is set to 2
The area value for each window is counted, compared with the reference value of the image memory unit, and if it is within the reference value, an OK signal is output, and if it is not the reference value, an NG signal is output. Thus, in the case of a non-defective product, it is discharged to the next process from the exit guide of the brush unloading mechanism 6 via the sub-table 5, and in the case of a defective product, the chucking head 30 is opened on the discharge chute 4 so that the defective product brush is removed. Is dropped, guided by the chute and discharged, so that the appearance inspection of the brush B can be efficiently performed with high accuracy, and quality control can be remarkably improved.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
A brush loading mechanism 1 having an entrance guide for intermittently supplying brushes, a brush transport turntable 3 connected to the loading mechanism 1 via a subtable 2, and a subtable 5 on the turntable 3. A non-defective product unloading mechanism 6 having an exit guide and a defective product discharge chute 4 connected and arranged via a chucking head 30 on the turntable 3
An infrared illuminating mechanism 7 for illuminating the flocked portion of the brush B held by the camera, an inspection camera 8 with an electronic shutter for photographing the illuminated flocked portion, and image processing for binarizing an image captured by the camera 8 A brush inspection apparatus including a mechanism 9, wherein the image processing mechanism 9 adds a window setting unit 93 for setting a window in a camera image to a density value of the window image in the X direction and the Y direction. A memory unit for storing the total value, for example, a video buffer unit 92
And a projection calculation unit 94 which calculates and calculates a start position and a pitch which become the maximum when the number of peaks is added using the respective total values in the X and Y directions in the video buffer unit 92; An image memory unit 91 for storing the start position and pitch in the X and Y directions as a reference value for the window of the reference image, and comparing the difference between the reference value and the start position and pitch for the image with the reference image. And a position correction unit 90 that adds the window position to the window position and sets the window as the window of the image. The image processing unit 95 compares the area value of each window with a reference value by performing binarization processing. Necessary processing is performed on the window to obtain the inspection result.

In this case, in image processing, a window necessary for the reference image in the video buffer 92 is set in the window setting section 93 in the window setting, and the density values of the reference image in the video buffer are set to X and X. Y
For each direction, X total buffer and Y
Store in the grand total buffer. Next, using the values of the total buffers of X and Y in the mapping operation unit 94, the starting position and the pitch that become the maximum when adding by the number of certain peaks are obtained for X and Y. The X and Y start positions and the X and Y pitches are stored as reference values for the window of the reference image. On the other hand, in the inspection, the density values of the inspection image in the video buffer 92 are added in the X and Y directions, respectively, stored in the respective total buffers, and the values of the respective total buffers of X and Y are used to determine a certain peak value. A start position and a pitch that become the maximum when the number is added are obtained for X and Y, and the obtained start positions of X and Y and the pitches of X and Y are compared with a reference value for the window of the reference image, respectively. ,
After obtaining the difference, the difference from the reference value is added to the window position of the reference image, and the obtained new window position is subjected to position correction as a window for the current image. The processing is performed on the window, and the result of the inspection can be efficiently obtained.

In the brush inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1, when an appropriate number of brushes accumulate in the entrance guide of the carry-in mechanism 1, the brush moves over by turning the sub-table 2 and is moved one by one by a chucking head 30 provided on the turntable 3. The brush B is picked up and conveyed, and an image of the flocked portion of the brush B is taken in a position where the illumination mechanism 7 and the inspection camera 8 which are the measurement positions during the conveyance. Next, a position correction unit 90 including a window setting in the image processing mechanism 9 connected to the inspection camera 8 and an image memory unit 91 for comparing inspection results are provided.
Image processing is performed to determine good and defective products. That is, after checking the presence or absence of the work, the image is taken in, the calculation is performed by the mapping calculation unit 94, the image captured after the position correction is binarized, and the area value for each window is counted. The signal is compared with the reference value of the image memory unit 91, and if it is within the reference value, an OK signal is output, and if it is not the reference value, an NG signal is output. Thus, in the case of a non-defective product, it is discharged to the next process from the exit guide of the brush unloading mechanism 6 via the sub-table 5, and in the case of a defective product, the chucking head 30 is opened on the discharge chute 4 so that the defective product brush is removed. Are dropped and discharged, and the appearance inspection of the brush B can be performed efficiently with high accuracy.

The illuminating mechanism is provided on a gantry 10 and illuminates the flocked portion with an infrared ray using an infrared light emitting LED. Can be performed accurately. Further, the mapping operation unit uses the total buffer value of each of X and Y, and obtains a start position and a pitch that become the maximum when adding a certain number of peaks for X and Y. The difference from the reference value is added to the window position of the reference image, and the new window position obtained is subjected to position correction processing to the window for the current image, making it easy to accurately correct any errors in the mechanical system of positioning. It is considered to be.

According to the present invention, there is provided a brush for binarizing an image captured by a camera using an inspection camera for illuminating a flocked portion of the brush held on a turntable for supplying the brush and photographing the flocked portion. In the inspection, the image processing mechanism sets a window in the camera image, adds the density values of the window image in the X direction and the Y direction, stores a total value, and stores the total value in the X and Y directions. The starting position and the pitch which become the maximum when the number of peaks are added are obtained, and the input starting position and the pitch in the X and Y directions are stored in advance as reference values for the window of the reference image. A position correction unit for adding a value and a difference compared with a start position and a pitch for the image to a window position of the reference image to make a window of the image; Provided with binarization processing and comparison of the area value of each window with the reference value, even if there is some error in the mechanical positioning of the brush, the appearance inspection of the flocked portion of the brush is extremely accurate. In addition, the inspection workability is greatly improved, and it is possible to easily handle multicolored hair, and it is possible to accurately distinguish between good and bad brushes and significantly improve quality control. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a use state of a brush inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of image processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a position correction flow of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a video buffer showing a reference image window for window setting according to the embodiment, and an X and Y total buffer in which a total value is converted into a histogram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B Brush 1 Brush carry-in mechanism 2 Sub-table 3 Turntable 4 Defective product take-out chute 5 Sub-table 6 Brush carry-out mechanism 7 Lighting mechanism 8 Inspection camera 9 Image processing mechanism 30 Chucking head 90 Position correction unit 91 Image memory unit 92 Video Buffer unit 93 Window setting unit 94 Mapping operation unit 95 Image processing unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A brush inspection method for illuminating a flocked portion of a brush held on a turntable for supplying a brush and photographing the flocked portion, and binarizing an image captured by the camera. In the above, the image processing mechanism sets a window in the camera image, adds the density values of the window image in the X direction and the Y direction, stores a total value, and uses the total value in the X and Y directions. A starting position and a pitch that become the maximum when the number of peaks is added are obtained, and the starting positions and the pitches in the X and Y directions that are input in advance are stored as reference values for the window of the reference image. The difference between the start position and the pitch of the image is compared with the window position of the reference image to obtain a window of the image, and the binarization process is performed to obtain each window. A brush inspection method comprising comparing an area value of each dough with a reference value. 2. A carry-in mechanism for supplying a brush, a brush-conveying turntable connected to the carry-in mechanism, a good-goods carry-out mechanism connected to the turntable and a defective-goods discharge chute, and the turntable. An illumination mechanism for illuminating the flocked portion of the brush held by the camera, an inspection camera for photographing the illuminated flocked portion, and an image captured by the camera.
In a brush inspection apparatus having an image processing mechanism for performing a value processing, the image processing mechanism adds a window setting unit for setting a window in a camera image and a density value of the window image in the X direction and the Y direction. A start position and a pitch that are maximum when the number of peaks is added using the total values in the X and Y directions, and the X and Y values previously input
The start position and the pitch in the direction are stored as reference values for the window of the reference image, and the difference between this reference value and the start position and the pitch for the image is added to the window position of the reference image to add the image. And a position correcting unit for setting the window as a window, and performing a binarization process to compare an area value of each window with a reference value. 3. The brush inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the illumination mechanism illuminates the flocked portion with an infrared ray using an infrared light emitting LED.