JP3943099B2 - X-ray inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of a seal failure by detecting the biting of contents in a seal portion of an inspection object using a non-transparent packaging material such as a poultice or a seasoning. It is.

  For example, in the case of a product in which an object to be packaged is accommodated in a bag-shaped package, the opening is sealed after the object to be packaged is accommodated in the package. At that time, an article to be packaged or its waste or the like may be caught in the seal portion of the package, and it is necessary to eliminate the product having a poor seal as a defective product.

Therefore, conventionally, as a seal portion defect detection device for detecting the presence of a seal defect by detecting the biting of this type of packaged object, a light projection means and a plurality of light intensity detection means are provided, and two light intensities are provided. An image using a difference image based on the output from the detection means is known.
As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, a seal portion defect detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the seal portion defect detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

  8 includes a light projection unit 52, a plurality of light intensity detection units 53 (53a, 53b), a reference value setting unit 54, a difference detection unit 55, and a comparison determination unit 56. The light projecting means 52 projects light onto the seal portion 58 of the package 57. The plurality of light intensity detecting means 53 a and 53 b are provided at positions facing the light projecting means 52 with the seal portion 58 of the package 57 interposed therebetween. The light intensity detection means 53 a and 53 b detect light transmitted through the seal portion 58 of the package 57 by projection of light from the light projecting means 52. The reference value setting means 54 sets in advance a reference value for determining whether or not the contents are caught in the seal portion 58 of the package 57. The difference detection unit 55 calculates a difference between outputs from two of the plurality of light intensity detection units 53. The comparison determination unit 56 includes an integration circuit 56a and a comparator 56b, integrates the output from the difference detection unit 55 by the integration circuit 56a, and compares this integration output with the reference value from the reference value setting unit 54. If the integrated output is larger than the reference value from the reference value setting means 54, it is determined that the contents are caught in the seal portion 58 of the package 57.

  In this way, in the seal portion defect detection device 51 shown in FIG. 8, the difference detection means 55 takes the difference in output from two of the plurality of light intensity detection means 53, and the comparison determination means 56 uses the reference value setting means. The reference value from 54 and the output from the difference detecting means 55 are compared, and based on the comparison result, it is determined whether or not the contents are caught in the seal portion 58 of the package 57.

Further, in addition to the seal portion defect detection device 51, a light projecting unit and a CCD camera are provided. The light projected from the light projecting unit and transmitted through the seal portion of the inspection object is received by the CCD camera, and the received image is received. A device that detects a defect of a seal portion based on a signal is also known.
JP 7-146251 A

  However, in the conventional apparatus including the seal defect detection device 51 and the light projecting means and the CCD camera shown in FIG. 8, for example, an inspection using a non-transparent packaging material having a low permeation amount such as a poultice or a seasoning. When an object is an object to be inspected, most of the light projected from the light projecting means is blocked by the non-transparent packaging material, so that the seal portion cannot be accurately detected.

  Further, in the conventional seal portion defect detection device 51 of FIG. 8, when performing defect detection of a seal portion of a package having a plurality of seal portions or packages of different sizes, a light projecting means is used according to the package. 52 and the light intensity means 53 need to be provided at a plurality of locations, and the structure is complicated in order to cope with the detection of defects in the seal portions of various packages, and lacks versatility.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and detects the biting of the packaged object in the seal portion of the object to be inspected using a packaging material such as a poultice or a seasoning with high accuracy. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of inspecting for the presence or absence of a seal failure.

In order to achieve the above object, the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 described in the present invention has a seal failure of the inspection object W using the packaging material Wp transported on the transport line at a predetermined interval. An X-ray inspection apparatus 1 for inspecting
Contour region for extracting a contour region S1 shown the outline of the transmitted image or al before Symbol the inspection object by dividing the belt surface of the conveyor line and the object to be inspected when the exposure X-rays to the inspection object Extraction means 18;
Seal part area calculating means 19 for calculating a seal part area S2 based on seal part information set in advance with reference to the outline area extracted by the outline area extracting means;
And a discriminating means 20 for discriminating the presence or absence of a seal failure using a gray level of an image in the seal portion area.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 2 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
A setting input means 15 for numerically inputting seal portion dimension information of the inspection object W as the seal portion information;
The seal portion area calculating means 19 calculates a seal portion area area S2 based on seal portion dimension information numerically input by the setting input means .

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The discriminating means 2 is characterized in that the presence or absence of a seal defect is discriminated by extracting a singular point of the gray level of the image in the seal portion area S2 .

X-ray examination apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3,
The present invention is characterized in that a portion having a steep level change due to a set value is extracted as a singular point between an arbitrary portion in the seal portion region S2 and the surrounding area to determine the presence or absence of a seal failure .

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 5 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 ,
It is characterized in that the presence / absence of a seal failure is determined by extracting, as a singular point, a portion having a difference equal to or larger than a set value with respect to the average value of the light and shade levels in the seal portion region S2 .

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 6 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 ,
When the variation width of the light and shade level in the seal portion area S2 is greater than or equal to a set value, it is extracted as a singular point to determine the presence or absence of a seal failure .

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 7 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The determination means 20 is characterized and Turkey to determine the presence or absence of seal failure by comparing the concentration level of the contents Wa of the image gray level and the object W in the image in the seal portion region S2 .

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 8 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
Image extraction means 17 for extracting an image of the contents Wa from a transmission image when the inspection object W is exposed to X-rays ;
The discriminating means 20 includes a foreign matter discriminating means 20a for discriminating the presence or absence of foreign matter in the contents in the content area of the inspection object extracted by the image extracting means .

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 9 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
Image extraction means 17 for extracting an image of the contents Wa from a transmission image when the inspection object W is exposed to X-rays;
The discriminating unit 20 includes a missing item discriminating unit 20b that discriminates whether or not a content item is missing in the content area of the inspection object extracted by the image extracting unit .

According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the outer area of the inspection object is determined by dividing the inspection object and the belt surface of the transport line from the X-ray transmission data when the inspection object is exposed to X-rays. extracted, based on the extracted contour region, and calculates the sheet Lumpur region based on the preset seal portion information, whether gray levels of the calculated sealing portion region contents and the same level or higher , The presence or absence of singular points in the shade level of the image in the seal area, the presence or absence of a steep level change due to the set value in any place in the seal area and the surroundings, the density level in the seal area It is possible to accurately inspect the seal failure of the object to be inspected depending on the presence / absence of a portion having a difference greater than the set value with respect to the average value and whether the variation width of the light and shade level in the seal portion region is greater than the set value .

  In particular, even in the case of an object to be inspected using a thin film-like non-transparent packaging material such as a poultice or a seasoning, it is possible to accurately detect the biting of the contents of the seal part and seal it. The presence or absence of defects can be inspected.

  In addition, even if the inspection object is misaligned during conveyance, the outer region of the inspection object is extracted based on the X-ray transmission data, and the seal portion information set in advance is extracted based on the extracted outer region. The presence or absence of a seal failure can be accurately inspected by calculating the seal portion area based on this.

  Furthermore, if the configuration is to inspect whether there is a defect in the seal part of the object to be inspected, whether there is a foreign substance in the contents, or whether there is a missing part in the contents, different inspection items can be performed with one device, and equipment costs Can be suppressed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an object to be detected by the X-ray inspection apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an electrical configuration of the X-ray inspection apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a histogram of the entire image of the inspection object used when extracting the outer region of the inspection object in the X-ray inspection apparatus, and FIG. 5 is another view of the X-ray inspection apparatus. FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view showing a configuration example of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the gray level of an XY plane image of the inspection object used when extracting the outer region of the inspection object using the configuration of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the determination unit in FIG. 3.

  The X-ray inspection apparatus 1 (1A, 1B) of this example is provided in a part of the transport line, and has a seal portion defect due to biting of the contents of the inspection object W that is sequentially transported at a predetermined interval. The presence / absence and presence / absence of foreign matter in the inspection object W are detected.

  In particular, the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of the present example has a seal portion Ws (on the four sides indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2) in an inspection object W such as a poultice or a seasoning using a non-transparent packaging material Wp that is difficult to transmit light. Suitable for detecting defects in the frame-like part). In this example, an object to be inspected made of a non-transparent material (such as printing or translucent material that is difficult to transmit light and cannot be inspected with a camera) is used. Inspected. Further, the defect of the seal portion Ws includes, for example, biting of contents, biting other than contents such as insects, poor adhesion due to wrinkling of the seal portion, and breakage.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 </ b> A shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 2 and the foreign matter detection unit 3 are provided inside the apparatus main body 4, and the display 5 is provided at the upper front of the apparatus main body 4.

  The transport unit 2 sequentially transports the same type of inspection object W at a predetermined interval. This conveyance part 2 can be comprised with the belt conveyor arrange | positioned horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body 4, for example. The conveyance unit 2 directs the inspection object W carried in from the carry-in port 7 at a predetermined conveyance speed set in advance by driving of the drive motor 6 shown in FIG. 1 toward the carry-out port 8 side (carrying direction X in the drawing). Transport.

  The foreign matter detection unit 3 detects the defect of the seal portion Ws and the presence or absence of foreign matter in the middle of the conveyance path of the inspection object W to be conveyed, and generates X-rays provided above the conveyance unit 2 at a predetermined height. And an X-ray detector 10 provided opposite to the X-ray generator 9 in the transport unit 2.

  The X-ray generator 9 has a configuration in which a cylindrical X-ray tube 12 provided in a metal box 11 is immersed in insulating oil (not shown), and an electron beam from the cathode of the X-ray tube 12 is an anode target. X-rays are generated by irradiation. The X-ray tube 12 is provided in a direction (Y direction) whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the conveyance direction X of the inspection object W. The X-rays generated by the X-ray tube 12 are exposed to the lower X-ray detector 10 in the form of a substantially triangular screen by a slit (not shown) along the longitudinal direction.

  The X-ray detector 10 detects X-rays transmitted through the inspection object W when the X-rays are exposed to the inspection object W, and according to the detected amount of X-ray transmission. An electrical signal is being output. The X-ray detector 10 is provided along the Y direction orthogonal to the transport direction X of the inspection object W transported on the transport unit 2. The X-ray detector 10 uses an array line sensor including a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a line and a scintillator provided on the photodiode.

  As shown in FIG. 3, position detection means 13 for detecting the passage of the inspection object W is provided on the carry-in entrance 7 side of the transport unit 2. The position detecting means 13 is configured by a photosensor including a pair of light projecting and receiving devices provided on the entrance side of the belt conveyor as the transport unit 2. With this configuration, an ON signal is input from the position detection unit 13 to the signal processing unit 14 as a timing signal while the inspection object W passes in front of the photosensor.

  In the X-ray detector 10 having such a configuration, X-rays are exposed from the X-ray generator 9 to the inspection object W transported on the transport unit 2. Then, the X-ray transmitted through the inspection object W with the X-ray exposure to the inspection object W is received by the scintillator and converted into light. The light converted by the scintillator is received by a photodiode disposed under the scintillator. Each photodiode converts the received light into an electrical signal and outputs it. The X-ray detector 10 outputs an electric signal having a level corresponding to the intensity of the received X-ray to the signal processing means 14.

  In FIG. 3, the signal processing means 14 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and after a predetermined time using the ON signal when the position detection means 13 detects the inspection object W as a timing signal, the X-ray detector 10. Various signal processing is performed by taking in electrical signals from

  As shown in FIG. 3, the signal processing unit 14 includes a setting input unit 15, a storage unit (data memory) 16, an image extraction unit 17, an outline region extraction unit 18, a seal area calculation unit 19, and a determination unit 20. Yes.

  The setting input means 15 includes a plurality of keys and switches operated by a user for giving various settings and instructions regarding inspection and display of the seal portion Ws in the inspection object W. The setting input means 15 appropriately inputs the numerical value of the width dimension of the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W (for example, if the outer shape is a rectangular shape, the dimension is directed inward from the four sides of the outer shape). The setting input means 15 inputs the number of locations having the seal portion Ws (four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right sides in the example of FIG. 4) or designates the type of the inspection object W to store the object to be stored in advance. Various information related to the seal portion Ws can be input, such as setting the width dimension of the seal portion Ws corresponding to the type of the inspection object W.

  Further, in addition to the above settings, the setting input means 15 sets a detection limit value as a reference for determining the setting of the conveyance speed of the conveyance unit 2 and the presence or absence of a seal failure in the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W. Yes. Further, the setting input means 15 sets detection limit values that serve as a reference for determining the presence or absence of foreign matter in the inspected object W and the presence or absence of missing contents when performing a plurality of inspections to be described later. It is possible. These detection limit values are appropriately set according to the type of the inspection object W, the type of foreign matter to be detected, and the like.

  The storage means 16 stores X-ray transmission data for each inspection object W. This X-ray transmission data is obtained by taking in data obtained by A / D converting the electrical signal from the X-ray detector 10 by an A / D converter (not shown) at the detection timing of the position detecting means 13. More specifically, every time one inspection object W is inspected, for example, 640 pieces of X-ray transmission data per line (Y direction) of the X-ray detector 10 are conveyed to the storage means 16 at least. A predetermined number of lines (480 lines) corresponding to the length of the inspection object W in the transport direction (corresponding to a detection period from the front end to the rear end) is stored.

  The image extraction unit 17 creates an entire grayscale image (overall image for each inspection object W including the belt surface of the transport unit 2) from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage unit 16, and the created whole image A gray image of the content Wa is extracted from the gray image.

  Although not shown, the signal processing means 14 includes a filter means. When the contents Wa are accommodated in the extremely thin packaging material Wp such as a poultice, for example, as the inspection object W, the storage means 16 is stored. A predetermined filtering process is applied to the X-ray transmission data of the inspection object W stored in. In this filter processing, for example, a feature extraction filter such as a differential filter (Roberts filter, Prewitt filter, Sobel filter) or a Laplacian filter is used. Thus, the entire image is emphasized to facilitate edge detection, and foreign object information to be detected is more emphasized to facilitate extraction.

  The outer region extraction unit 18 extracts an outer region S1 indicating the inner area from the contour of the inspection object W from the entire image based on the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage unit 16. Further, with reference to FIG. 4, the outer region extraction unit 18 first obtains the entire histogram from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage unit 16. Then, the data D1 of the inspection object W and the data D2 other than the inspection object W (actually the belt surface of the conveyance unit 2) are divided into binary values from the obtained entire histogram. Here, the data D1 of the inspection object is set to 255, and the data D2 other than the inspection object is set to 0. Then, the binarized inspection object data D1 is extracted as the outer region S1.

  The seal area calculation means 19 calculates the seal area S2 from the outline area S1 extracted by the outline area extraction means 18. The seal area S2 is reduced by the set width dimension when the information about the seal area Ws, for example, the numerical value of the width dimension of the seal area Ws is input from the setting input means 15, the image of the extracted outline area S1. To do. Then, the reduced image is subtracted from the image of the outer region S1 to calculate the seal portion region S2.

  The discriminating means 20 compares the gray level of the image of the seal portion area S2 calculated by the seal portion calculating means 19 with the gray level of the image of the contents Wa of the inspection object W extracted by the image extracting means 17 to determine a seal failure. And a selection signal indicating whether the seal is normal or defective is output from the determination result.

  That is, in this determination means 20, when there is a light and dark level equal to or higher than the light and dark level of the image of the content Wa of the object W in the seal portion area S2, the object W has a seal failure. Discrimination is performed, and a selection signal indicating a seal failure is output externally. On the other hand, when there is no gray level equal to or higher than the gray level of the image of the content Wa of the inspection object W in the seal portion area S2, it is determined that the inspection object W has no seal failure, and the seal is normal. A sorting signal indicating is output externally.

  On the display screen of the display 5, the image of the contents of the inspection object W extracted by the image extraction unit 17, the image of the outer region S 1 extracted by the outer region extraction unit 18, and the seal calculated by the seal area calculation unit 19. An image of the partial area S2, an X-ray transmission image obtained by planarly viewing the inspection object W based on the determination result of the determination means 20, the pass / fail determination result of “OK” or “NG”, the total number of inspections, the number of non-defective products, the total number of NG, etc. Is displayed based on a predetermined key operation from the setting input means 15.

  When the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W is inspected by the X-ray inspection apparatus 1A having the above configuration, the following processing is executed in the signal processing means 14. First, an entire grayscale image (entire image including the inspection object W and the belt surface of the transport unit 2) is created from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage means 16, and the contents are created from the created grayscale image. A gray image of Wa is extracted.

  Next, an outer region S1 indicating the inner area from the contour of the inspection object W is extracted from the whole grayscale image. In extracting the outline region S1, a histogram of the entire inspection object W as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage means 16. Subsequently, the data D1 of the inspection object W and the data D2 other than the inspection object W (the belt surface of the conveyance unit 2) are divided into binary values from the obtained entire histogram. FIG. 4 shows an overall histogram in which the poultice is the inspection object W. In this entire histogram, the data D1 of the inspection object W is set to 255, the data D2 other than the inspection object W is set to 0, and the data is displayed. It is binarized. Of the binarized data, the data D1 of the inspection object W is extracted as the outer region S1.

  When the outer region S1 is extracted, the seal portion region S2 is calculated from the outer region S1. The calculation of the seal portion area S2 is performed based on information on the seal portion Ws from the setting input unit 15. That is, for example, when a numerical value of the width dimension of the seal portion Ws is input from the setting input unit 15, the image of the extracted outer region S1 is reduced by the width dimension set and input. Then, the reduced image is subtracted from the image of the outer region S1 to calculate the seal portion region S2.

  When the seal portion area S2 is calculated as described above, the contrast level of the image of the seal section region S2 is compared with the contrast level of the image of the contents Wa of the inspection object W extracted by the image extraction means 17. To determine if there is a seal failure.

  If there is a light and dark level equal to or higher than the light and dark level of the image of the content Wa of the inspection object W in the seal portion area S2, it is determined that the inspection object W has a sealing failure and indicates a sealing failure. Output the sorting signal externally. On the other hand, if there is no gray level equal to or higher than the gray level of the image of the contents Wa of the inspection object W in the seal portion area S2, it is determined that the inspection object W has no seal defect, and the seal A selection signal indicating normality is output externally.

  Next, another configuration of the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention and another example of the seal portion defect detection process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Compared with the X-ray inspection apparatus 1A in FIG. 1, the X-ray inspection apparatus 1B in FIG. 5 is a process of extracting the inspection object W and the outer area of the inspection object W (outer area extraction means 18 in FIG. 3). The other contents and operations are the same. In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 </ b> B, the inspection object W is transported on the transport unit 2 while being guided by the guide member 31.

  The guide members 31 are provided in pairs along the X direction (transport direction) on both sides of the transport unit 2. The guide member 31 is made of a material having a small frictional resistance that does not hinder the conveyance of the inspection object W. At least one of the pair of guide members 31 can be adjusted in the Y direction. Thereby, the guide member 31 can be adjusted in the Y direction according to the width of the inspection object W. Then, the inspection object W is conveyed in the X direction (conveyance direction) without being displaced by being guided by the guide member 31 on both sides.

  When the X-ray inspection apparatus 1B adopting the configuration of FIG. 5 is used to inspect the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W, the signal processing means 14 performs the following processing. First, an entire grayscale image (entire image including the inspection object W and the belt surface of the transport unit 2) is created from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage means 16, and the contents are created from the created grayscale image. A gray image of Wa is extracted.

  Next, an outer shape corresponding to the contour portion of the inspection object W is extracted from the whole grayscale image. As shown in FIG. 6, the extraction of the outer shape is performed by adjusting the density level of the image in the conveyance direction (arrow X direction) of the inspection object and the gradation of the image in the direction (arrow Y direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the inspection object. Based on the level. In the example of FIG. 6, the outermost image of the XY direction captured at a timing after a predetermined time from the detection timing from the position detection means 13 (time required for the inspection object W to reach the foreign object detection unit 3). Is determined as the belt surface of the conveying unit 2, and the inner one is determined as the gray level of the outer shape of the inspection object W, and the four XY directions determined as the gray level of the outer shape are connected. A straight line is extracted as an outline.

  When the outer shape is extracted, the seal portion region S2 is calculated from the outer shape. The calculation of the seal portion area S2 is performed based on information on the seal portion Ws from the setting input unit 15. That is, when, for example, a numerical value of the width dimension of the seal portion Ws is input from the setting input means 15, the contour is reduced by the dimension set and input from the extracted outer shape. Then, a region sandwiched between the reduced contour and the outer shape is calculated as the seal portion region S2.

  When the seal portion area S2 is calculated as described above, the contrast level of the image of the seal section region S2 is compared with the contrast level of the image of the contents Wa of the inspection object W extracted by the image extraction means 17. To determine if there is a seal failure.

  If there is a light and dark level equal to or higher than the light and dark level of the image of the content Wa of the inspection object W in the seal portion area S2, it is determined that the inspection object W has a sealing failure and indicates a sealing failure. Output the sorting signal externally. On the other hand, if there is no gray level equal to or higher than the gray level of the image of the contents Wa of the inspection object W in the seal portion area S2, it is determined that the inspection object W has no seal defect, and the seal A selection signal indicating normality is output externally.

  By the way, in the above-described form, the entire histogram of the inspection object W is obtained from the X-ray transmission data stored in the storage means 16, and the data of the inspection object W and the data other than the inspection object W are obtained from the obtained entire histogram. The data D1 of the object to be inspected W is binarized by dividing it into data, and the data D1 of the object to be inspected is extracted as the outer region S1, but as shown by the two-dot chain line (threshold) in FIG. In addition, the first valley of the entire histogram can be used as a threshold value for separating the data of the inspection object W from the data other than the inspection object W.

  In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the seal failure determination using the light and shade level in the seal portion area, the seal of the object to be inspected is determined depending on whether or not a light shade level equal to or higher than the content is present in the seal portion area. Although the presence or absence of a defect is determined, a singular point in the seal portion region can be extracted, and the presence or absence of a seal defect can be determined based on the presence or absence of this singular point.

  In this case, the singular point in the seal portion region is extracted by, for example, a concentration distribution, a difference from an average value, variation, and the like. In the extraction of singular points by density distribution, the density level of an arbitrary location is compared with the surrounding density level in the seal area, and when a steep level change due to the set value is observed between the optional location and the surrounding area, Arbitrary points are extracted as singular points. In the extraction of the singular point based on the difference from the average value, a portion having a difference equal to or larger than the set value with respect to the average value of the gray level in the seal portion region is extracted as the singular point. In the extraction of singular points due to variation, a portion where the variation width (dispersion value) of the gray level in the seal portion region is equal to or larger than a set value is extracted as a singular point. Note that the setting values used for extracting each singular point described above are input in advance from the setting input means 15. Then, when a singular point is extracted in the seal portion region, the determination unit 20 determines that the inspection object W has a seal failure and outputs a selection signal indicating the seal failure to the outside. On the other hand, if no singular point is extracted in the seal portion region, it is determined that the inspection object W has no seal failure, and a selection signal indicating normal seal is output to the outside. According to the seal failure determination based on the presence or absence of singular points in the seal area, it is possible to detect seal failures that are not related to the content level, such as biting, adhesion failure, and breakage other than the contents such as insects. it can.

  Thus, in the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of this example, the outer region of the object to be inspected is extracted from the X-ray transmission data, and the seal region is calculated from the outer region based on the preset seal portion information. Performs a high-accuracy inspection of the seal failure of the object to be inspected based on whether or not there is a lightness level equal to or higher than the content level in the calculated seal area and the presence or absence of singular points extracted in the seal area. be able to.

  And according to the X-ray inspection apparatus of this example, even in the case of an inspection object W using a thin non-transparent packaging material such as a poultice or a seasoning, the contents of the seal portion Ws The presence or absence of a seal failure can be inspected by detecting the biting of the object Wa with high accuracy.

  Further, in the X-ray inspection apparatus 1A, even if the inspection object W conveyed on the conveyance unit 2 is displaced in the middle of the conveyance, the outline region S1 of the inspection object W is extracted based on the X-ray transmission data. The seal portion region S2 is calculated on the basis of the preset seal portion information with the extracted outer shape region S1 as a reference. Then, depending on whether or not there is a level equal to or higher than the shade level of the content Wa of the inspection object W in the calculated seal portion area S2, or the presence or absence of a singular point extracted in the seal portion area S2. It is possible to accurately inspect whether there is a seal failure.

  By the way, in the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 (1A, 1B) of each example described above, X-rays are exposed to the inspection object W in parallel with the inspection of the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W. From the amount of X-ray transmission at that time, an inspection for the presence or absence of foreign matter in the inspected object W (foreign matter inspection) and an inspection for the presence or absence of missing contents (out of stock inspection) are also performed. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the discriminating means at that time. The other configuration of the X-ray inspection apparatus provided with the discrimination means of FIG. 7 is the same as that of FIG.

  The discriminating means 20 shown in FIG. 7 includes a foreign matter discriminating means 20a for discriminating the presence or absence of foreign matter in the contents of the inspected object W in addition to the above-described determination of the presence or absence of the seal portion, And a shortage determining means 20b for determining the presence or absence of the item.

  When inspecting the presence or absence of foreign matter in the inspected object W, the foreign matter discriminating means 20a is in the contents area of the inspected object W obtained as an image of the contents of the inspected object W extracted by the image extracting means 17. In the content area, a part having a different density level is determined as a foreign object (in FIG. 6, when a part having a higher density level than the other part exists in the content area, the higher density level part is determined. Judged as a foreign object). More specifically, the foreign matter determination means 20a includes the density level of the X-ray transmission data of the contents area of the inspection object W extracted by the image extraction means 17, and the foreign matter detection limit value preset by the setting input means 15. When the X-ray transmission data exceeds the foreign object detection limit value, it is determined that the foreign object is mixed in the inspection object W. The foreign object detection limit value can be set from the setting input unit 15 as appropriate for each inspection object W according to the contents.

  When inspecting the presence or absence of a missing item in the inspected object W, the missing item determining means 20b has a density level lower than a preset missing item detection limit value in the content area of the inspected object W (X-ray transmission). When the amount is large), it is determined that, for example, the number of poultices in the packaging material Wp has decreased. In addition, the shortage determination means 20b uses a preset shortage detection mask area, and according to the area where the density level equivalent to the content exists for each content area of the shortage detection mask area. The presence or absence of contents is determined. It should be noted that the shortage detection limit value and the shortage detection mask area can be set and input from the setting input unit 15 as appropriate for each inspection object W according to the contents.

  As described above, the X inspection apparatus of the present example is different if it is configured to inspect the presence or absence of a defect in the seal portion Ws of the inspection object W, the presence or absence of foreign matter in the content Wa, and the presence or absence of a shortage in the content Wa. Inspection items can be performed with a single device, and equipment costs can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the X-ray inspection apparatus by this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the to-be-inspected object used as the detection target of the X-ray inspection apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the X-ray inspection apparatus by this invention. It is the schematic which shows the histogram of the whole image of the to-be-inspected object used when extracting the external shape area | region of to-be-inspected object in the X-ray inspection apparatus by this invention. It is the elements on larger scale which show the other structural example of the X-ray inspection apparatus by this invention. It is the schematic which shows the lightness and darkness level of the XY plane image of a to-be-inspected object used when the structure of FIG. 5 is employ | adopted and the external shape area | region of a to-be-inspected object is extracted. It is a block diagram which shows the other structure of the discrimination | determination means of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of the conventional seal | sticker part defect detection apparatus disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 7-146251.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray inspection apparatus 13 Position detection means 14 Signal processing means 15 Setting input means 16 Storage means 17 Image extraction means 18 Outline area extraction means 19 Seal part area | region calculation means 20 Discrimination means W Inspected object Ws Seal part Wa Contents S1 Outline Area S2 Seal area

Claims (9)

An X-ray inspection apparatus (1) for inspecting the presence or absence of a seal failure of an object to be inspected (W) using a packaging material (Wp) conveyed on a conveyance line at a predetermined interval ,
The extracts a contour region showing the outline of the object to be inspected by dividing the transmitted image or al the previous SL inspection object and a belt surface of the conveying line when the exposure X-rays to the object to be inspected (S1) An outline area extracting means (18);
A seal area calculation means (19) for calculating a seal area (S2) based on seal area information set in advance with reference to the outline area extracted by the outline area extraction means;
X-ray examination apparatus is characterized in that a discrimination means (20) for determining the presence or absence of poor sealing with gray levels of the image of the seal portion in the region. Setting input means (15) for numerically inputting seal portion dimension information of the inspection object (W) as the seal portion information;
The X-ray examination according to claim 1, wherein the seal portion area calculating means (19) calculates a seal portion area area (S2) based on seal portion dimension information numerically input by the setting input means. apparatus. 3. The X-ray according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating means (2) discriminates the presence or absence of a seal defect by extracting a singular point of the gray level of the image in the seal portion area (S 2). Inspection device. 4. The X according to claim 3 , wherein a portion having a steep level change due to a set value is extracted as a singular point between an arbitrary portion in the seal portion region (S 2) and the surrounding area to determine the presence or absence of a seal failure. Line inspection device. The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a portion having a difference equal to or greater than a set value with respect to the average value of the light and shade levels in the seal portion region (S2) is extracted as a singular point to determine the presence or absence of a seal failure . The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein when there is a variation width of the light and shade level in the seal portion region (S 2) showing a set value or more, the X-ray inspection apparatus is extracted as a singular point to determine the presence or absence of a seal failure . The discriminating means (20) discriminates whether or not there is a seal failure by comparing the gray level of the image in the seal portion area (S2) with the gray level of the image of the contents (Wa) of the inspection object (W). X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized and to Turkey. Image extraction means (17) for extracting an image of the content (Wa) from a transmission image when the inspection object (W) is exposed to X-rays ;
The discriminating means (20) comprises a foreign matter discriminating means (20a) for discriminating the presence or absence of foreign matter in the contents in the content area of the inspection object extracted by the image extracting means. X-ray inspection apparatus in any one of claim | item 1 -7 . Image extraction means (17) for extracting an image of the content (Wa) from a transmission image when the inspection object (W) is exposed to X-rays;
The discriminating means (20) comprises a missing item discriminating means (20b) for discriminating whether or not the contents are missing in the content area of the inspection object extracted by the image extracting means. X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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