JP3571552B2 - Automatic visual inspection system for cylindrical bodies - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic visual inspection apparatus for measuring the roughness and irregularity of the entire surface of a cylindrical body such as a photoconductor using a mechanical means or an optical means. To improve the inspection accuracy by accurately rotating the.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, it is necessary to inspect a surface defect and roughness of a photoconductor and various rollers used in a copying machine or the like and use a photoconductor or the like having no defect to form a high quality image. As an apparatus for automatically inspecting the surface of the photoreceptor or the like, for example, a surface layer defect detection apparatus described in JP-A-7-63687, JP-A-5-107196, and JP-A-7-140079 is known. It is used.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 6, a detecting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-63687 has a plurality of test object supports in which photoconductors 12 conveyed in a Y1 direction by a conveyance table 31 are sequentially arranged in an inspection section. Then, the inspection object support 32 is lifted to the inspection position by the lift device 33, and the inspection light is irradiated while rotating the photoconductor 12 at the inspection position to inspect the surface of the photoconductor. I have. As shown in FIG. 7, the detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-140079 has two sets of support rollers 36 provided at both ends of a photoreceptor 12 at both ends of a drive shaft 34 and a driven shaft 35, respectively. 37, the drive shaft 34 is rotated and the support rollers 36 and 37 are rotated to irradiate inspection light while rotating the photoconductor 12 to inspect the surface of the photoconductor 12. As shown in FIG. 8, the detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-107096 supports the photosensitive member 12 on the upper surface of the drum support member 38 with the axial direction perpendicular to the photosensitive member 12. The surface of the photoconductor 12 is inspected by irradiating slit light onto the surface of the photoconductor 12 while rotating the photoconductor 12 at a constant rotational speed by rotating the photoconductor 12 at a constant rotation speed by rotating means 39 including a stepping motor and a gear group.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the inspection apparatus disclosed in JP-A-7-63687 and JP-A-7-140079, since the surface of the photoconductor is rotated by bringing the surface of the photoconductor into contact with a test object support or a plurality of support rollers, the photoconductor is rotated. The frictional force acts between the surface of the photoconductor and the support or the support roller of the test object, and the surface of the photoconductor is rubbed, and in some cases, there is a risk that a flaw or the like may be generated at the contacting part. In addition, since the surface of the photoreceptor rotates while being brought into contact with the support or the roller to be inspected, and there is no mechanism for aligning the center axis of the photoreceptor when rotating, there is a problem that the rotation accuracy cannot be improved. . In addition, the support roller uses a rubber-based material to protect the surface of the photoreceptor. Since the body is rotated in an eccentric state, the amount of eccentricity is about 0.2 mm at the maximum, and there is a problem that the inspection accuracy is reduced.
[0005]
In the detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-107096, only the lower part of the photoconductor vertically erected is supported and rotated. This causes a problem that the rotation accuracy cannot be increased and the measurement accuracy decreases.
[0006]
Further, the inspection apparatus disclosed in JP-A-5-107096 and JP-A-7-140079 is configured such that the photosensitive members are transported one by one by a transport means such as a robot, transferred to the inspection apparatus, and the inspected photosensitive elements are transferred. Since the body is ejected by the transporting means, the transfer and ejection time enters the inspection time required for one photoreceptor as it is, and there is a problem that the inspection tact cannot be increased.
[0007]
The present invention solves such a problem, and significantly reduces the inspection time by transferring and discharging another inspected object during the inspection of the inspected object such as a photoconductor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body that can rotate stably to about 0.1 mm and inspect a surface defect or the like with high accuracy.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body according to the present invention has a cylindrical body holding unit and an inspection unit, the cylindrical body holding unit has a conveying unit and an upper pressing mechanism unit, and the conveying unit throws in the cylindrical body. A turntable positioned at each inspection and discharge station and a plurality of transport stages provided with a rotary holder rotatably supporting one end of the cylindrical body in a vertically standing state are provided on the tantable. In the indexing position, each transport stage is fed forward between each station, and the upper holding mechanism is provided on the upper part of the transport stage moved to the inspection station. A center punch that is supported and presses the other end of the cylindrical body, and a rotation driving unit that rotates the center punch and rotates the cylindrical body gripped by the rotation holder and the center punch, and the inspection unit rotates. Surface roughness of cylindrical body And measuring the irregularity.
[0009]
The transfer stage has a rotary holder rotatably supporting one end of the cylindrical body in a state where the cylindrical body is vertically set, a transfer guide, and an inner-diameter gripping mechanism, and the rotary holder has one end of the cylindrical body. The portion that comes into contact with the inner diameter of the portion is formed in a tapered shape, the conveyance guide is formed so that the diameter can be reduced and enlarged, and the outer peripheral surface contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical body to hold the cylindrical body. It is preferable to reduce and increase the diameter of the conveyance guide.
[0010]
The transport guide, which is reduced in diameter and increased in diameter by the inner diameter gripping mechanism, has a tapered end, and is set in a reduced diameter state when the cylindrical body is loaded at the loading station. Good to guide.
[0011]
It is preferable that the transport means circulates a plurality of transport stages in the order of charging, inspection, and discharging.
[0012]
Further, it is desirable that a portion of the center punch of the upper holding mechanism that comes into contact with the cylindrical body is formed in a tapered shape. Further, it is preferable to have a pressing force adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the force pressing the cylindrical body against the upper pressing mechanism.
[0013]
Further, it is desirable to detect the number of rotations of the rotation driving means for rotating the center punch and the number of rotations of the rotation holder when the cylindrical body held by the rotation holder and the center punch is rotating.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The photoconductor automatic appearance inspection apparatus of the present invention has a photoconductor holder and an inspection unit. The photoreceptor holding unit has a transport unit and an upper pressing mechanism, and the transport unit has stations for loading, inspecting, and discharging the photoreceptor, and a plurality of transport stages. Each of the transfer stages rotatably supports one end thereof in a state where the photosensitive member is vertically set by a rotatable rotary holder. Then, the transport means sequentially sends the transport stage holding the photoconductor loaded at the loading station from the inspection station to the discharge station, and moves the photoconductor without touching the outer surface of the photoconductor.
[0015]
The upper holding mechanism is provided above the transport stage that has moved to the inspection station, and is rotatably supported by moving up and down to support the other end of the photoreceptor, and to rotate the center punch. And a rotation holder and a rotation drive means for rotating the photoconductor held by the center punch, and when the transport stage holding the photoconductor is sent to the inspection station, the center punch is lowered and one of the rotation holders is moved by the rotation holder. The other end of the photoconductor whose end is supported is pressed, and the center punch is rotated by the rotation driving means, and the photoconductor held by the rotary holder and the center punch is rotated at a constant rotation speed. The roughness and irregularity of the rotating cylindrical surface of the photoreceptor are measured by inspection means. The photoconductor having undergone this inspection is sent to a discharge station and discharged.
[0016]
【Example】
1 and 2 show the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view and FIG. 2 is a side view. As shown in the figure, a photoconductor appearance inspection apparatus 1 has a photoconductor holder 2 and an inspection head 3. The photoreceptor holding unit 2 is turned by a rotary drive actuator 4 at, for example, four index positions, a transport table 6 a to 6 d provided at the four index positions of the tontable 5, and a turntable. It has an upper holding mechanism 7 provided above the table 5. At the four index positions of the turntable 5, a loading station 8, an inspection station 9, a waiting station 10, and a discharging station 11 are sequentially provided.
[0017]
The transfer stages 6a to 6d support the photoconductor 12 in a vertical direction and support the photosensitive member 12 in a vertical direction. As shown in a cross-sectional view of FIG. It has an inner diameter gripping mechanism 63 provided and a plurality of, for example, three divided transport guides 64 along the circumferential direction. The bearing 61 provided on the upper part of the bearing support cylinder 62 has a rotatable rotary holder 65 which has a tapered surface on the outer periphery of the upper end and supports the photoreceptor 12. The inner-diameter gripping mechanism 63 is composed of, for example, a three-jaw mechanical chuck, a chuck using air pressure, or the like, and is provided with a transport guide 64 divided into three parts, and moves the transport guide 64 in the radial direction. The transport guide 64 positions and fixes the photoconductor 12. An angle detection sensor 66 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotary holder 65.
[0018]
The upper holding mechanism 7 is provided above the inspection station 9 of the turntable 5, and moves up and down along a linear guide 72 provided on the fixed stage 71 as shown in the front view of FIG. 4 and the side view of FIG. A movable stage 73 provided movably, an actuator 74 for moving the movable stage 73 up and down, a drive motor 75 attached to the movable stage 73, and a bearing holder 76 for the movable stage 73. It has a center punch 77 attached to the lower end to guide and hold the photoconductor 12. The drive motor 75 incorporates an encoder 78, and a pulley 79 attached to a rotating shaft is connected to a pulley 80 attached to the rotating shaft at the upper end of the center punch 77 by a belt 81. Is rotated at a constant rotation speed. At the upper end of the fixed stage 71, a tension length adjustment plate 82 that moves up and down by an adjustment mechanism such as an adjustment screw is provided, and a coil spring 83 is provided between the tension length adjustment plate 82 and the movable stage 73. ing.
[0019]
The inspection head 3 is provided on the turntable 5 at a position facing the inspection station 9 and irradiates the photoconductor 12 with slit light to detect a defect, roughness, or the like on the surface of the photoconductor 12. Here, as the inspection head 3, a mechanical inspection device may be used instead of an optical inspection device.
[0020]
The operation of inspecting the surface of the photoconductor 12 with the appearance inspection apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
[0021]
First, at the loading station 8 of the turntable 5, the photosensitive member 12 to be inspected is transferred and supported on the transport stage 6a at the position of the loading station 8 by using a transfer means such as a robot. When the photoconductor 12 is transferred to the transport stage 6a, the outer diameter is reduced by moving the transport guide 64 in the radial direction by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63, and the lower end of the photoconductor 12 is moved along the transport guide 64. Is inserted, and the inserted photoconductor 12 is placed on the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65. Thereafter, the diameter of the transport guide 64 is expanded by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63, and the inner peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12 is held by the transport guide 64. In this state, the turntable 5 is rotated by the rotary drive actuator 4, and the transfer stage 6a into which the photosensitive member 12 has been loaded at the loading station 8 is moved to the inspection station 9 for positioning. When the transport stage 6a into which the photosensitive member 12 has been loaded is moved in the loading station 8, the lower end of the photosensitive member 12 is supported by the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65 and the inner surface of the photosensitive member 12 is moved. Since the photosensitive member 12 is pressed by the transport guide 64, the photosensitive member 12 can be moved to the inspection station 9 stably. Further, the photosensitive member 12 can be moved without touching the outer surface thereof, and the outer surface of the photosensitive member 12 can be prevented from being scratched or stained.
[0022]
The movable stage 73 of the upper pressing mechanism 7 provided above the photoconductor 12 supported by the transport stage 6a moved to the inspection station 9 is lowered, and the tapered end of the center punch 77 is It is inserted inside the upper end, and the upper end of the photoconductor 12 is pressed by the center punch 77. When the upper end of the photosensitive member 12 is pressed by the center punch 77 in this manner, the photosensitive member is moved by the thrust of the actuator 74 moving the movable stage 73, the force obtained by adding the weight of the movable stage 73, and the tensile force of the coil spring 83. The position of the tension length adjusting plate 82 is adjusted in advance so that an appropriate pressing force required for rotating the body 12 is applied.
[0023]
The upper end of the photoconductor 12 is pressed by the center punch 77 provided on the movable stage 73, the diameter of the conveyance guide 64 is reduced by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63 of the conveyance stage 6 a, and the inner surface of the photoconductor 12 is pressed by the conveyance guide 64. Then, the photosensitive member 12 is gripped by the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65 of the movable stage 73 and the center punch 77 of the movable stage 73. In this state, the drive motor 75 of the movable stage 73 is rotated to rotate the photosensitive member 12 at a constant speed. When the photoconductor 12 is rotated as described above, the photoconductor 12 is gripped by the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65 and the center punch 77, so that the rotation axis of the photoconductor 12 can be fixed, and Can be rotated stably without any shaft runout or eccentricity. When the photoconductor 12 is being rotated, the photoconductor 12 is gripped with an appropriate pressing force, and an output of an angle detection sensor 66 provided on the outer periphery of the rotation holder 65 and an encoder 78 built in the drive motor 75 are output. Can be checked to see if the photoconductor 12 is rotating correctly without slipping, and the photoconductor 12 can be rotated with high accuracy. It is possible to detect whether or not slippage or the like has occurred, to accurately grasp whether or not the inspection data is accurately measured, and to improve the inspection accuracy.
[0024]
In this state, the surface roughness and irregularity of the photoconductor 12 are measured by the inspection head 3. When the surface of the photoconductor 12 moved to the inspection station 9 is being inspected, the photoconductor 12 to be inspected next is loaded into the transport stage 6d provided downstream of the transport stage 6a at the loading station 8. When the inspection of the photoconductor 12 moved to the inspection station 9 is completed, the rotation of the drive motor 75 is stopped, the diameter of the transport guide 64 is expanded by the inner diameter gripping mechanism 63, and the inner surface of the photoconductor 12 is moved by the transport guide 64. The presser and the movable stage 73 are raised, and the press of the upper end of the photoconductor 12 by the center punch 77 is released. Thereafter, the turntable 5 is rotated, and the transport stage 6a holding the photoconductor 12 inspected at the inspection station 9 is moved to the standby station 10 to hold the newly loaded photoconductor 12. The transport stage 6d is moved to the inspection station 9, and the surface of the newly loaded photoconductor 12 is inspected in the same manner as described above. This operation is sequentially repeated, and when the transfer stage 6a having the inspected photosensitive member 12 moves to the position of the discharge station 11, the photosensitive member 12 provided on the transfer stage 6a is gripped by a transfer means such as a robot, and the inner diameter gripping mechanism section After the conveyance guide 64 is reduced in diameter by 63 and the pressing of the inner surface of the photoconductor 12 by the conveyance guide 64 is released, the photoconductor 12 is discharged from the conveyance stage 6a by the transfer means and sent to the next step.
[0025]
While the photoconductor 12 is inspected at the inspection stations 9 provided at the four index positions of the turntable 5 in this way, the photoconductor 12 to be inspected next is input at the input station 8 and inspected at the discharge station 11. Since the photoconductor 12 is discharged, it is not necessary to add the charging and discharging times to the inspection time of one photoconductor 12, and the inspection time of the photoconductor 12 can be greatly reduced.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the case where four index positions are provided on the turntable 5 has been described. However, at least three index positions of the input station 8, the inspection station 9, and the discharge station 11 may be provided.
[0027]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tapered surface of the center punch 77 is used for guiding when pressing the upper end of the photoconductor 12 has been described, but the tapered surface of the rotary holder 65 and the tapered surface of the center punch 77 are used for the photoconductor 12. , The photoconductor 12 can be stably gripped, the axis of the photoconductor 12 can be aligned with the axis of the center punch, and the photoconductor 12 can be stably rotated. .
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a cylindrical body as an object to be inspected is inserted at an input station, sent to an inspection station, inspected for its surface condition, and then sent to an ejection station and ejected. The loading and unloading of other cylinders can be performed at the loading and unloading stations while one cylinder is being inspected, which significantly reduces the inspection time per cylinder and improves inspection efficiency. it can.
[0029]
In addition, when the cylinder is moved in the order of the loading, inspection, and discharge stations, one end of the cylinder is held upright by the transport stage. Can be moved without touching the surface of the cylindrical body, thereby preventing the outer surface of the cylindrical body from being damaged or stained.
[0030]
Further, the center punch was lowered at the inspection station, the other end of the cylindrical body having one end supported by the rotary holder of the transport stage was pressed, and the center punch was rotated and gripped by the rotary holder and the center punch. By rotating the cylinder at a constant rotation speed, the rotation axis of the cylinder can be kept constant, and the cylinder can be rotated stably without touching the shaft and eccentricity, and the surface of the cylinder can be rotated. The state can be accurately detected. Also, since the cylindrical body is rotated by pressing the upper part of the cylindrical body with the center punch provided at the upper part of the inspection station, there is no need to provide a rotating means for the cylindrical body in the transporting means for moving the cylindrical body to each station. The cylindrical body can be easily moved while being simplified.
[0031]
In addition, when the cylindrical body is sequentially moved for each station, the inner surface of the cylindrical body is stably held by expanding and holding a transport guide capable of reducing the diameter and increasing the diameter by the inner diameter gripping mechanism. You can move.
[0032]
Furthermore, since the cylindrical body moved to the inspection station is supported by the tapered surface of the rotary holder and the inner surface is held by the transport guide, the other end of the cylindrical body is pressed by the tapered surface of the center punch. Can be grasped. Further, when rotating the cylindrical body, the holding of the inner surface of the cylindrical body is released, and the cylindrical body is gripped by the rotation holder and the center punch, so that the cylindrical body can be smoothly rotated.
[0033]
In addition, the inner diameter gripping mechanism can be reduced in size by holding it with the inner diameter gripping mechanism that has both the loading guide function and the diameter reduction and diameter increasing functions at the loading station, and stabilizes the cylindrical body with a small inner diameter. Hold and move.
[0034]
Further, by circulating a plurality of transport stages in the order of charging, inspecting, and discharging, the transport means can be reduced in size and easily moved.
[0035]
In addition, by adjusting the force with which the center punch presses the cylindrical body, it is possible to prevent excessive force from being applied to the cylindrical body and transmit an appropriate rotational force to the cylindrical body. can do.
[0036]
Further, when the cylindrical body held by the rotary holder and the center punch is being rotated, the cylindrical body is rotated by detecting the number of rotations of the rotation driving means for rotating the center punch and the number of rotations of the rotary holder. Sometimes it is possible to detect whether or not slippage or the like has occurred, and it is possible to accurately grasp whether or not the inspection data is accurately measured, thereby improving the inspection accuracy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a transfer stage.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration of an upper holding mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a configuration of an upper holding mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional example.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second conventional example.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a third conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Appearance inspection apparatus 2 Photoreceptor holding part 3 Inspection head 4 Rotation drive actuator 5 Turntable 6 Transfer stage 7 Upper holding mechanism part 8 Input station 9 Inspection station 10 Standby station 11 Ejection station 12 Photoconductor 61 Bearing 62 Bearing support cylinder 63 Inner diameter Gripping mechanism 64 Transport guide 65 Rotary holder 66 Angle detection sensor 71 Fixed stage 73 Movable stage 75 Drive motor 76 Bearing holder 77 Center punch 78 Encoder 82 Tension length adjusting plate 83 Coil spring

Claims (7)

Having a cylindrical body holding part and an inspection means,
The cylindrical body holding section has a transporting means and an upper holding mechanism. The transporting means includes a turntable positioned at each station for loading, inspecting, and discharging the cylindrical body, and one of the turntables in a state where the cylindrical body is vertically set. A plurality of transfer stages provided with a rotary holder rotatably supporting an end portion are provided at an indexing position of the tan table, and each transfer stage is sequentially fed between the respective stations;
The upper holding mechanism is provided on the upper part of the transport stage moved to the inspection station, and is vertically rotatably supported by a rotatable shaft. The center punch presses the other end of the cylindrical body, and the center punch is rotated. Having a rotation holder and a rotation driving means for rotating the cylindrical body gripped by the center punch,
An automatic appearance inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body, wherein the inspection means measures the roughness and irregularity of the surface of the rotating cylindrical body. The transfer stage includes a rotary holder rotatably supporting one end of the cylindrical body in a state where the cylindrical body is set upright, a transfer guide, and an inner diameter gripping mechanism, and the rotary holder includes one end of the cylindrical body. The portion that comes into contact with the inner diameter of the portion is formed in a tapered shape, the conveyance guide is formed so that the diameter can be reduced and enlarged, and the outer peripheral surface contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical body to hold the cylindrical body. 2. The automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the conveyance guide is reduced and the diameter of the conveyance guide is expanded. The transport guide, which is reduced in diameter and expanded by the inner diameter gripping mechanism, has a tapered end, and is used to guide the loading operation by reducing the diameter when loading the cylindrical body at the loading station. An automatic visual inspection device for a cylindrical body according to claim 1. 4. The automatic visual inspection apparatus for a cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein said transport means circulates a plurality of transport stages in the order of charging, inspecting, and discharging. 5. The automatic outside inspection device for a cylindrical body according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the center punch of the upper holding mechanism, which comes into contact with the cylindrical body, is formed in a tapered shape. 6. The automatic visual inspection device for a cylindrical body according to claim 5, wherein said upper pressing mechanism has a pressing force adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a force pressing said cylindrical body. 7. The automatic visual inspection of a cylindrical body according to claim 6, wherein when the cylindrical body held by the rotary holder and the center punch is being rotated, the number of rotations of the rotation driving means for rotating the center punch and the number of rotations of the rotary holder are detected. apparatus.

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