JP3168829U - Container detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detection device suitable for detecting a greatly damaged bottle and capable of ensuring smooth operation of a transport line by detecting the inflow and outflow of a transported object. SOLUTION: A supply mechanism 1 for supplying a transported object to a transport mechanism 2, 3, 4 having a pocket 5 for holding an individual transported object, a supply detection sensor 21 for the transported object in the supply mechanism, and a transport mechanism. The pocket detection sensor 22 and the discharge detection sensor 23 of the transported object installed near the outlet of the transport line are provided. Further, a transport history acquisition means for acquiring information on the presence or absence of a transported object in each pocket based on information from the supply detection sensor and the pocket detection sensor, and collating this information with the information from the discharge detection sensor to check the status of the transported object. A determination means for confirming is provided. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a container detection device, and more specifically, a container detection device capable of easily and accurately confirming that a conveyance object has been destroyed by acquiring a conveyance history of each conveyance object in a conveyance process, Alternatively, the present invention relates to a detection device useful as a device for confirming that a conveyed product that has entered the conveying device has gone out of the device. For example, when a container such as a glass bottle for storing liquid foods such as liquor and juice is damaged during transportation, it becomes easy to detect this, and the manufacturing process for food in containers can be improved.

  In general, when manufacturing foods stored in containers, avoid the use of defective containers by detecting scratches, breakage or contamination of containers such as bottles, or detect foreign substances in foods stored in containers. In other words, the distribution of food in containers that are contaminated with foreign substances is prevented. For example, using a bottle with deposits remaining on the inner surface of the bottle due to a mistake in cleaning or a bottle with a defect such as a large scratch not only reduces the product value of the product but also reduces food hygiene. And it becomes a big safety problem. Conventionally, inspection for such defects has been performed mainly by visual inspection, but if the inside of the bottle is visually observed to determine the presence or absence of defects, the result depends on the physical condition, ability, etc. of the inspector. In many cases, visual inspections rely only on human vision, such as missing large defects, so it is inevitable that many defects will be missed. Therefore, in recent years, automation using image processing and photoelectric sensors has been performed.

For example, before filling the container with food, the bottles are washed.If the bottle is cracked or partially damaged when the bottle is supplied to the bottle washer, It may break. In addition, broken bottles may be supplied to the washing machine, so when cleaning the bottle and transporting it to the filling device, grasp the damage status of the container such as the bottle and manufacture the defective bottle. Need to be removed from the line.
Conventionally, as a technique proposed in the inspection of food filled in containers, for example, it corresponds to both a container filled with a transparent liquid and a container filled with a turbid liquid, and the container is transported. On the other hand, in a foreign substance inspection apparatus (Patent Document 1) capable of accurately inspecting the presence or absence of foreign substances in the container or a production line for producing liquid products such as beverages and medicines, foreign substances in the liquid in the containers such as bottles and plastic bottles There has been proposed a foreign matter inspection device (Patent Document 2) that can reliably and quickly detect foreign matter mixed in colored bottles, PET bottles, and colored liquids.

  In addition, as a technology for solving problems that occur when transporting bottles, for example, malfunctions such as bottle biting are detected, operation is stopped, an alarm is issued, and equipment is damaged. The purpose is to detect when the bottle or its debris is not discharged from the basket at the bin discharge position in the economical star wheel device (Patent Document 3) or the bottle washing machine to minimize. A washing machine for storing bottles in a basket of an annular conveyor, washing the bottles while circulating the baskets, and discharging the bottles to the outside. An apparatus (Patent Document 4) that includes a sensor arranged between the pick-up position and the take-in position and detects an abnormality in the basket using the sensor has been proposed.

JP 2007-10624 A JP 2003-315280 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-175648 JP 2005-296842 A

  When manufacturing foods filled in containers, bottles and other containers are moved at high speed, and in the meantime, they are filled with products through inspection, cleaning, filling, and inspection of foreign objects. Is well known. When such containers are transferred at high speed, the bottles are particularly easily damaged among the containers. In particular, containers for storing foods must be thoroughly cleaned for hygienic reasons and then filled with foods, and also when products are transported and delivered to consumers. It is required not to use damaged containers so as not to damage the containers. It is necessary to inspect such defects in containers and products at each stage of the manufacturing process. It is known that such breakage causes serious problems particularly in glass bottles. For example, if there is a defect such as a scratch in the bottle supplied to the washing machine, the bottle may be broken in the washing machine or in the bottle inspection process. In addition, broken bottles may be supplied to the washing machine, but broken bottles may get caught in the washing machine and cause problems with the washing machine, or the supply of cleaning liquid may be disturbed by debris. It may not be properly cleaned. Furthermore, the biggest problem is that broken debris enters the bottle.

In order to avoid the use of such defective containers, especially in the manufacturing process of foods using containers such as glass bottles that are easily damaged during transportation, inspect the container for internal and external contamination and damage such as cracks in the container itself. An inspection process is provided for this purpose. Up until now, inspection of bottles for scratches and partial breakage has been easy by detecting them by image processing. However, conventional image processing can be used for bottles that have been shattered and disappeared in the inspection machine. I couldn't. Thus, there has been a demand for the appearance of an inspection machine that can easily detect broken bins that are largely damaged and cannot be detected by conventional inspection equipment.
The present invention compensates for such deficiencies in the prior art. By providing sensors that detect the status of the entrance, exit, and transport mechanism, the presence of a severely damaged bin is detected near the exit of the transport line. The purpose is to ensure the smooth operation of the transport line.

Moreover, in the conveyance in the inspection of the container, the container does not always flow continuously, and an empty pocket may occur in the middle. For example, when the supply of the container to the inspection device is intermittent, or when empty pockets are continuous on the transfer device at the start of operation. When these empty pockets pass through the inspection device, it is difficult for conventional container inspection devices to automatically determine whether there is only a container or because the container is damaged by image processing. It was. Then, every time an empty pocket passes through the inspection device, a warning of container breakage is issued, a visual judgment is required each time, and the conveyor device is frequently stopped, making it impossible to carry out an efficient inspection process There was a risk of occurrence. In view of the above, the present invention is intended to accurately determine the state of the containers conveyed to the inspection apparatus in the conveyance apparatus and prevent malfunction of the inspection apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to reliably confirm that the container supplied to the transport line has been carried out of the line.

(1) In the detection device of the conveyed product conveyed on the conveying line, (1) a conveying mechanism having a pocket for holding each conveyed item, (2) a supply mechanism for supplying the conveyed item to the conveying mechanism, (3) (6) Supply detection sensor, provided with a supply detection sensor for the conveyed product in the supply mechanism, (4) a pocket detection sensor in the conveyance mechanism, (5) a discharge detection sensor for the conveyed product installed near the exit of the conveyance line And a transport history acquisition means for acquiring information on the presence / absence of a transported object in each pocket based on information from the pocket detection sensor, and (7) comparing this information with information from the discharge detection sensor to determine whether the transported object is damaged. A device for detecting a conveyed product, comprising: a breakage judging means for judging.
(2) The apparatus for detecting a conveyed product according to (1), wherein a supply interval of the conveyed product is obtained by a supply detection sensor of the conveyed product.
(3) The transported object detection apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the number of times the pocket has entered the transport path is measured by a pocket detection sensor that stores the transported object.
(4) When the conveyed product measured by the conveyed product supply detection sensor reaches the discharge detection sensor by the determination means, the information from the discharge detection sensor and the conveyance history are collated to confirm the conveyed product (1 ) To (3).
(5) The transported object detection apparatus according to (4), wherein the transport history regarding the pockets that have passed through the discharge detection sensor and are determined to be transported are sequentially deleted.
(6) When the conveyance object measured by the supply detection sensor of the conveyance object reaches the discharge detection sensor, the conveyance history regarding the conveyance object between the discharge detection sensor and the supply detection sensor is collectively transferred to the determination unit, The apparatus for detecting a conveyed product according to (4), wherein the original conveyance history is deleted.
(7) The conveyance mechanism according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the conveyance mechanism having a pocket for holding each conveyance object is a star wheel type conveyance mechanism, a screw conveyor, or a bucket conveyor. apparatus.
(8) The conveyed product detection device according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the supply mechanism that supplies the conveyed product to the conveyance mechanism is a screw conveyor or a bucket conveyor.
(9) The transported object detection apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the transported line is detected in the transport line for damage.

  As described above, the transport object detection device of the present invention acquires a transport history related to transport of a transport object located in each pocket of the transport mechanism, and relates to each pocket that has reached the discharge detection sensor based on the transport history. It is possible to reliably determine whether the conveyed product supplied to the conveying line has been discharged out of the line. In addition, when an empty pocket is detected by the discharge detection sensor, it is accurately determined whether the transported object is damaged and emptied, or whether it was originally an empty pocket that is not supplied with the transported object. Therefore, it is possible to provide an efficient broken container detection device without malfunction.

The top view of an example of the conveyance line of this invention is shown. It is an example of the data which a supply detection sensor and a pocket detection sensor output, Comprising: The case where the container is supplied continuously is shown. It is an example of the data which a supply detection sensor and a pocket detection sensor output, Comprising: The case where some containers are not supplied is shown. The external relationship of a supply mechanism and a supply detection sensor, and the positional relationship with the bin which is a conveyed product are shown. A photoelectric sensor is installed in the square. The arrangement of the switch on the control panel of the container breakage detector is shown. The arrangement of the broken bottle detection abnormality display lamp on the display panel of the container breakage detection device is shown.

The present invention relates to a detection device for a transported object that can confirm that the transported material supplied to the transport line has been discharged out of the line. Specifically, the transport is carried on the transport line. 1. A transport object detection device for detecting the state of an object near the exit of a transport line, comprising: (1) a transport mechanism having a pocket for holding each transport object; and (2) a supply mechanism for supplying the transport object to the transport mechanism (3) a supply detection sensor for the conveyed product in the supply mechanism, (4) a pocket detection sensor in the conveyance mechanism, (5) a discharge detection sensor for the conveyed product installed near the downstream outlet of the conveyance line, 6) Conveyance history acquisition means for acquiring information on the presence / absence of a conveyance in each pocket based on information from the supply detection sensor and the pocket detection sensor, and (7) collating this information with information from the discharge detection sensor. Determination means conveyed relates to a sensing apparatus conveyed with a, there is provided a sensing device for accurate and efficient container. Further, the present invention can accurately determine the presence or absence of breakage of the conveyed product in the conveyance line, and is suitable for detecting breakage in conveyance of fragile bottles as a typical example. Needless to say, the fragile containers to which the present invention is applied are not limited. Further, the present invention can be applied to anything that can be detected by a photoelectric sensor or the like regardless of the material, structure, type, etc. of the conveyed product.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described as a transported object, and a bottle destructive inspection will be described as a specific example.

  In the present invention, a conveyance line formed by a conveyance mechanism having pockets for holding individual conveyance objects is a conveyance mechanism in which a large number of pockets (storage locations) each holding a single conveyance object are arranged continuously. Conveyance line of articles consisting of, for example, a transport mechanism that is synchronized with equipment such as a star wheel type transport mechanism, a screw conveyor, a bucket conveyor, etc., and is a first-in first-out and the order of transported goods is not changed during the transport. Preferably exemplified. In addition, the supply mechanism that supplies the conveyed product to the conveying mechanism is preferably a mechanism that can individually convey the conveyed product at a certain interval, or a mechanism that can supply the material without changing the order of the conveyed items. A conveyor and a bucket conveyor are exemplified. The feed detection sensor for the transported object in the supply mechanism, the pocket detection sensor in the transport mechanism, and the discharge detection sensor may be any conventional sensor for detecting the transported object, but usually an optical sensor. by. The transfer history acquisition unit and the determination unit are performed by an arithmetic processing unit such as a computer.

[Outline of the present invention]
An example in which the present invention is constructed as a damage detection device will be described. The present invention detects a damaged transported object as described below.
The supply detection sensor for detecting the supply interval of the conveyed product detects the supply interval of the conveyed product supplied to the conveyance mechanism, and distinguishes the location where the conveyed product exists and the location where the conveyed product does not exist in time series. Is sent to the transfer history acquisition means. The pocket detection sensor of the transport mechanism counts the number of pockets that have entered the transport path and sends it to the transport history acquisition means. In the star wheel type transport mechanism, for example, counting is performed by detecting the tip (fin) of the star hole. The transport history acquisition means distinguishes a pocket storing a transported object and an empty pocket from the information obtained from the supply detection sensor and the pocket detection sensor, and stores the information as a transport history. The discharge detection sensor detects the presence or absence of a conveyed product in the pocket that has reached the discharge detection sensor, and sends the information to the determination means. In the judging means, if the discharge detection sensor detects a pocket without a transported object (the pocket is empty), information is obtained from the transport history acquisition sensor, and if the pocket is empty from the time of supply, there is no damage. Determination is made, and if a conveyed product has been stored in the pocket from the time of supply, it is determined that there is damage. If it is determined that there is damage, stop the transport line and remove the broken containers and debris. The data is deleted after judging the damage.

[Conveying line by star wheel type conveying mechanism]
Next, the present invention will be described based on a specific example in which a star wheel type transport mechanism is adopted to construct a bottle breakage detection device.
FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a conveyance line that combines three star wheel type conveyance mechanisms. Bin inspection devices 7 and 8 are provided in the middle of the conveyance line and adhere to the inside and outside of the bin. Fine damage such as dirt and cracks is detected by image processing. This transfer line includes a supply mechanism 1 including a screw conveyor that supplies bins to a star wheel type transfer mechanism, continuous star wheel type transfer mechanisms 2, 3, and 4, and a bin transfer conveyor 6 that has been inspected. . The positions of the bins transported on this transport line are represented by gray circles, and the numbers from M100 to M127 are given to the positions of the respective bins. The supply mechanism 1 is provided with a supply detection sensor 21, and the supply interval of the bins is obtained by detecting the movement of the bin at the position of M100 in time series. The star wheel type transport mechanism 2 is provided with a pocket detection sensor 22 for detecting the movement of the pocket, and detects the passage of the pocket in time series to pass the pockets S0, S1, S2, S3,. Count sequentially. The bins M100, M101, M102, M103,... Supplied from the supply mechanism 1 are accommodated in the pockets S0, S1, S2, S3,. The bins stored in the pockets of the star wheel pass through the inspection devices 7 and 8 while being sequentially conveyed by the star wheels 2, 3, and 4, and then arrive at the outlet and pass through the discharge detection sensor 23. The presence / absence of a bin is determined. The presence or absence of breakage at this time is detected as breakage occurring until the bin that has passed through the supply detection sensor 21 reaches M127 of the discharge detection sensor 23.

  For example, when the bins are continuously supplied and there is no interruption, the data as shown in FIG. 2A is extracted from the supply detection sensor 21 and the data as shown in FIG. 2B is acquired from the pocket detection sensor. Is taken out and sent to the conveyance history acquisition means. Then, the conveyance history acquisition means determines that the bins are stored in all the pockets up to S3. When S3 reaches the discharge detection sensor, data indicating that S3 is empty is sent from the discharge detection sensor 23 to the damage determination means. It is determined that the bin has been damaged by collating with the data.

Further, when the bin is not supplied to the position of M102 in FIG. 1, the data from the supply detection sensor is blank at the position of M102 as shown in FIG. Then, since no container is stored in the pocket S2, data that the pocket S2 is empty is stored in the transport history acquisition means. Thus, by matching the data obtained from the supply detection sensor at the entrance with the data obtained from the pocket detection sensor, a conveyance history consisting of the pocket position and the presence / absence of bin storage is acquired, and is located near the exit of the conveyance line. The pocket states up to the installed discharge detection sensor 23 are sequentially stored. The conveyance history acquisition sensor is an arithmetic sensor that compares both data, and a normal arithmetic sensor is used, but is not shown in the drawing. In FIG. 1, since the discharge detection sensor is provided at the position of M127, data from M100 to M126 is stored in the transfer history acquisition unit, and the data acquired by the discharge detection sensor 23 is collated with the transfer history in the determination unit. To determine if there is damage. The determined data is sequentially erased and replaced with new data. The data may be erased in the order in which the determination is completed, or when the pocket S0 reaches the discharge detection sensor 23, the data up to that point is sent to the determination unit in a lump and is in the conveyance history acquisition unit. All data may be erased.
Only when the container is supplied at the entrance and the bottle is not detected at the exit, it is determined that the container has been damaged, and the conveyance line is stopped to remove the damaged object.
In the case illustrated in FIG. 3, the discharge detection sensor 23 indicates that there is no bin in the pocket S2, but since it is understood from the conveyance history acquisition means that no bin is supplied to the pocket S2, It is determined that there is no transfer line, and the transfer line is not stopped.

  In the above, the breakage of the conveyed product (bin) according to the present invention has been described as an example, especially the breakage that cannot be detected by image processing, but the conveyed product supplied to the conveyance line according to the present invention is discharged from the line. Whether or not it has been done can be reliably determined. In the present invention, the position of the transported object on the line is confirmed, so it is confirmed based on the detection result of the supply detection sensor and the detection result of the discharge detection sensor that the individual transported object enters and exits the line. can do. That is, if the detection by the supply detection sensor is ON and the detection by the discharge detection sensor is ON, it is confirmed that the conveyed product is supplied and discharged. If the detection by the supply detection sensor is ON and the detection by the discharge detection sensor is OFF, the transported object is supplied but not discharged, so the transported object on the transport line is damaged or lost for some reason. It will be doubted. If the detection by the supply detection sensor is OFF and the detection by the discharge detection sensor is OFF, it can be confirmed that the conveyed product has not been supplied.

[Appearance of the main part of the detection device of the present invention]
An example of the appearance of the present invention will be described below with reference to an example of a damage inspection of a conveyed product. The supply mechanism includes the screw conveyor 61 shown in FIG. 4, and the supply detection sensor 21 measures the vicinity of the upper end of the bin 31 by a photoelectric sensor to determine the presence or absence of a container. The star wheel pocket detection sensor measures the passage of the fin portion of the star wheel by means of a U-shaped photoelectric sensor provided on the pedestal. The discharge detection sensor 23 mainly measures presence / absence of an upper portion of the container by a photoelectric sensor. The conveyance history acquisition means and the damage determination means are composed of an arithmetic unit (not shown), and are installed, for example, in another conveyance line control apparatus. The operation panel is provided with a bottle break inspection on / off select switch shown in FIG. 5 to inspect the bottle for breakage as necessary. Further, the display panel of FIG. 6 is provided with a broken bin detection abnormality display lamp. When a bin detection abnormality occurs, the broken bottle inspection detection abnormality lamp is lit, the control abnormality lamp is lit, the patrol light and the buzzer are sounded on the rinser side, and the inspection apparatus is stopped at the same time. The patrol light of the inspection device lights red. After confirming that there are no abnormalities by manually removing broken bins and debris from the transfer line, press the reset button or switch the broken bin detection on / off select switch to release the stop state and resume the line. .

  The present invention relates to a transported object detection device particularly suitable for easily confirming a damaged transported object by acquiring a transport history of each transported object in the transport process, for example, liquid food such as liquor and juice. Manufacturing process of foods in containers by making it easier to find broken containers on the transfer line, because it can reduce the malfunction of the detection device that informs you that containers such as bottles that contain food are damaged during transfer In addition, there is no fear that a broken container will be mixed into the container, and it is possible to remove the obstacles in the manufacturing process and ensure the hygiene safety of the product.

1: Conveyed material supply mechanism (screw conveyor)
2, 3, 4: Starwheel type transport mechanism 5: Pocket 6: Transfer conveyor 61: Scree conveyor 7, 8: Bin inspection device 21: Conveyance supply detection sensor 22: Pocket detection sensor 23: Discharge detection sensor 31: Bin M : Bin position M100: Bin position where supply is detected M127: Bin position where discharge is detected M100 to M102: Bin being supplied to the transport mechanism S: Pocket for storing bin S0: Pocket where pocket is detected S0-S2: Pocket before the bin is stored

Claims (9)

  In the detection device of the conveyed product conveyed on the conveyance line, (1) a conveyance mechanism having a pocket for holding each conveyed product, (2) a supply mechanism for supplying the conveyed product to the conveyance mechanism, and (3) a supply mechanism. (4) a pocket detection sensor in the transport mechanism, (5) a discharge detection sensor for the transport object installed near the exit of the transport line, and (6) a supply detection sensor and a pocket detection. A conveyance history acquisition unit that acquires information on the presence or absence of a conveyance item in each pocket based on information from the sensor; and (7) a determination unit that checks the conveyance item by comparing this information with the information from the discharge detection sensor. The conveyed product detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The transport object detection device according to claim 1, wherein a transport object supply interval is obtained by a transport object supply detection sensor.   The transport object detection device according to claim 1, wherein the number of times the pocket has entered the transport path is measured by a pocket detection sensor that stores the transport object.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the transported object measured by the transported object supply detection sensor reaches the discharge detection sensor, the determination means checks the transported object by comparing the information from the discharge detection sensor with the transport history. The detection apparatus in any one.   The conveyance object detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyance history relating to the pocket in which the conveyance object is confirmed after passing through the discharge detection sensor is sequentially deleted.   When the transported object measured by the transport detection sensor reaches the discharge detection sensor, the transport history related to the transported object between the discharge detection sensor and the supply detection sensor is transferred to the judging means in a batch, and the original transport is performed. The apparatus for detecting a conveyed product according to claim 4, wherein the history is erased.   The conveyance object detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conveyance mechanism having a pocket for holding an individual conveyance object is a star wheel type conveyance mechanism, a screw conveyor, or a bucket conveyor.   The apparatus for detecting a conveyed product according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the supply mechanism for supplying the conveyed product to the conveying mechanism is a screw conveyor or a bucket conveyor. The apparatus for detecting a conveyed product according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the presence or absence of breakage of the conveyed product in the conveyance line is detected.