JP3986534B2 - Empty bottle inspection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection system for an empty bottle that inspects defects such as scratches, dirt, and attached foreign matter on the outer surface and inner surface of an empty bottle, and in particular, a design bottle in which decorations and stamps are formed on the body of the bottle Bottles with irregularities on the outer surface of the bottles, bottles with printed patterns and letters, etc., and even colored bottles, can be detected with high accuracy. The present invention relates to a bottle inspection system.

  In recent years, with the application of the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control System) method to the food hygiene law and the implementation of the PL (Product Liability) method, production / processing of products such as beverages, foods, and medicines, products It is obliged to prevent accidents caused by foreign matter contamination and appearance defects that may occur at all stages from storage / distribution of the product to consumption by the final consumer, and to further ensure product security It is being

  Conventionally, in a mass production line of a manufacturing plant (such as beverages, medicines, or containers thereof) for bottles, cans, PET bottles, etc., visual inspection workers are inspected for defects in the appearance of containers and contamination inspection in containers. They are deployed on the production line. However, in the case of inspection by visual inspection, not only time and labor are required for inspection, but also the inspector's visual judgment ability cannot catch up, inspection efficiency is poor, accuracy is inferior, and accuracy is lacking.

  As a method other than visual inspection, a method of photographing a container using an imaging device (with an illumination device and) and detecting the presence or absence of a defect based on the obtained image information is considered, but the shape of the container to be inspected The inspection method differs depending on the characteristics such as the material, the part of the container to be inspected, the color and transparency of the container and contents.

  Among containers before being filled with contents, containers that are collected and reused after use, such as so-called collection / reuse bottles (returnable bottles) used mainly for beer and soft drinks, are dull or chipped. There is a high incidence of defective products that cannot be used, such as cracks, cracks, and dirt that cannot be cleaned. .

  Here, various inspection methods according to the shape of the region to be inspected (body body, bottom, etc.) and the inspection object (scratch of empty bottle, attached foreign matter, etc.) will be described with reference to examples of conventional techniques.

  As an apparatus for inspecting a scratch on an empty bottle, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. The bag appearance inspection system disclosed in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter, the term “bottle” or bottle is unified as “bottle”) is a predetermined part of the bottle, for example, an upper part of the trunk and a lower part of the trunk. An inspection range is set for each area, and the image of the bottle within this inspection range is processed to evaluate the degree of scratching on the empty bottle. The bottle is determined to be inferior, and the bottle is selected as a defective product. In this appearance inspection system, for example, the illumination device 2A and the imaging device 3A are arranged as shown in FIG. 18, and a predetermined portion of the bottle 1A (for example, the body in FIG. 18 is illuminated while illuminating the bottle 1A to be inspected. A part of the lower Sb) is imaged, and from the image obtained by this imaging, the light quantity value of each pixel that varies according to the scratches on the bottle 1A is obtained by the image processing device 4A, and the obtained light quantity value and a predetermined reference The quality of the appearance of the bottle 1A is determined by comparing the values.

  On the other hand, as an apparatus for inspecting the foreign matter at the bottom of an empty bottle, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG. 19, the inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a portion (heel portion) 1c in which a body portion 1a and a bottom portion 1b are formed with a loose curved surface, and an upper portion of the heel portion 1c. Inspecting the foreign matter at the heel portion of the bottle, using the empty bottle 1B having the ring-shaped uneven portion 2B on the outer periphery in the vicinity as an inspection target. In this inspection apparatus, as shown in the figure, a diffused light source 3B that illuminates the heel 1c of the bottle from obliquely below, and a camera that images the inner peripheral portion of the bottom surface from obliquely upward (θ = 23 to 30 degrees). 4B and an image processing device 8B, a part of the bottom 1b of the bottle 1B is supported by the support plate 5B, and the body 1a is supported by the rollers 6B and 7B for rotation. Illuminating the heel portion 1c from obliquely below, refracting the light at the concavo-convex portion 2B and forming a blurred image (an image having no difference in brightness from the other portions), thereby forming a foreign object (dark image) on the heel portion 1c. ) Is detected.

JP 2001-1553813 A JP-A-11-166906

  In the above-mentioned conventional documents, the scratches are inspected in a part of the bottle, such as the upper part and the lower part of the bottle with a thicker diameter, and the appearance is poor (the appearance of the bottle is poor in appearance) depending on the degree of the abrasion. ) (Patent Document 1), and a technique (Patent Document 2) for inspecting the heel portion on the inner surface of the bottom of an empty bottle as a target. These inspection apparatuses inspect specific items for a partial area of an empty bottle, and have the disadvantage that the inspection area is limited and the inspection items are limited. Furthermore, the shape of the bottle that can be inspected is limited.

  For example, when targeting bottles with irregularities on the outer surface of the bottle, specifically, a bottle with fine scratches caused by contact between the bottle and the bottle (reused bottle), or a decoration or stamp on the body Bottles with irregularities such as threads on the mouth, bottles with diamond-cut irregularities on the shoulders, bottles with low molding accuracy and seams, on the outer surface of the lower part When targeting bottles with knurled or engraved markings, there is a risk of overlooking the outer and inner surfaces of the bottle due to bright lines and irregular reflections, dirt, and adhered foreign matter. There is a problem that a normal bottle is judged as a defective product.

  As described above, in the conventional inspection apparatus, when the bottles having various shapes as described above are inspected by the same inspection method, there is a problem that there is a portion where a defect cannot be detected, such as a portion where unevenness is formed or its vicinity. there were. Moreover, the thing of patent document 1 employ | adopts the system which compares the light quantity value of each pixel of a test | inspection range, and a reference value, and test | inspects an external appearance defect, and the thing of patent document 2 is refracted by an uneven part. However, although a method of inspecting by forming a blurred image is employed, there is a drawback that small defective portions cannot be detected. Furthermore, in the conventional inspection apparatus, what has a pattern or a character printed on the surface cannot be inspected, and has not been inspected.

  The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and the object of the present invention is to print a bottle, a pattern, a character, or the like on which an unevenness representing decoration, engraving, etc. is formed on the outer surface of the bottle. A bottle inspection system that can reliably and quickly detect defects (scratches, dirt, attached foreign matter, etc.) in an empty bottle without being affected by the unevenness or printing. It is to provide.

The present invention relates to an inspection system for an empty bottle that optically inspects a defect of an empty bottle that is an object to be inspected. Optical inspection from each direction including above, below and around the empty bottle is possible with each region including the side surface portion, body portion, bottom portion, and inner surface portion as the inspection region, and the conveyance speed on the production line can be increased. A rotary inspection table that rotates synchronously at a high speed is provided, and each empty bottle is sequentially placed in an upright state on a placing portion made of a translucent member that is provided around the rotation shaft of the inspection table. An empty bottle inspection system that inspects all defects in each empty bottle in real time without causing the empty bottles to rotate at high speed along an annular path, It has a ring-shaped light emitting surface corresponding to the cross-sectional shape, below the mounting portion Placed thick portion of the body side wall portion leading to the inner surface of the side wall from the side wall surface of the body portion of the empty bottle by irradiating the vertical direction of the light beams with respect to the bottom surface of the air bottles of the ring-shaped from the light emitting surface A body illuminating means for illuminating the entire area, a dark field forming means for forming a dark background disposed on the side of the empty bottle, and an imaging unit facing the dark field forming means across the empty bottle are arranged, the barrel uneven portion wall thickness portions entire region meets with light is formed in the body portion outer surface of the empty bottle sidewall by ray bundle from the light emitting surface of the barrel illuminating means, printing picture, printing An optical phenomenon in which characters disappear and a dark field background is darkened by the dark field forming means , and an area including the body of the empty bottle is used as a first inspection area from the side of the empty bottle being conveyed at high speed. imaging means for barrel inspection for capturing captures each light ray is parallel light Illuminating means for inspecting the mouth to illuminate the mouth of the empty bottle by irradiating the bundle from the side of the mouth of the empty bottle to the side of the mouth, and the mouth with the mouth of the empty bottle sandwiched between An imaging unit is disposed on the opposite side of the inspection illumination unit, and the empty bottle is illuminated by a light bundle from the light emitting surface of the inspection unit for illumination of the mouth. The mouth inspection imaging means for capturing and imaging the mouth region including the mouth top surface of the empty bottle and the inner surface thereof as a second inspection region from above the mouth top surface at an inclined angle, The image signal from the body inspection imaging means is processed to inspect defects including scratches on the body of the empty bottle, and the image signal from the mouth inspection imaging means is processed to process the mouth of the empty bottle. To provide an inspection means for inspecting a defect including a top surface, contour portions of the outer periphery and inner periphery thereof, and chipping of the inner surface of the mouth portion This is achieved.

Furthermore, it has a ring-shaped light-emitting surface corresponding to the mouth cross-sectional shape of the empty bottle, and a ring-shaped light beam corresponding to the mouth cross-sectional shape from the light-emitting surface arranged above the mounting portion. The body portion further includes mouth illumination means for illuminating the whole area of the mouth side wall portion from the side wall surface of the mouth portion of the empty bottle to the inner surface of the side wall by irradiating perpendicularly to the top surface of the mouth portion of the empty bottle. The inspection imaging means has a thick portion of the side wall including the mouth and body of the empty bottle by the light bundle from the light emitting surface of the body illuminating means and the light bundle from the light emitting surface of the mouth illuminating means. This is achieved more effectively by imaging the first examination region in a state filled with light.

Furthermore, the mounting portion made of light-transmitting member, by being formed of a transparent plate of hard having a filter function to prevent irregular reflection, it is more effectively achieved.

In the invention according to claim 1 (the inspection method shown in the first and third embodiments of [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]) , in the defect inspection including the scratches on the body of the empty bottle , the empty bottle A ring-shaped light beam corresponding to the cross-sectional shape is irradiated so that the entire thick part of the side wall is filled with light, in other words, the container itself is illuminated like a light emitter. ing. In such a state, an optical phenomenon occurs in which irregularities (decorations, engravings, etc.) formed on the outer surface of the bottle and pictures, characters, etc. printed on the outer surface disappear. On the contrary, images such as chipping and cracking of the outer and inner surfaces of the bottle are clearly formed. Therefore, according to the present invention, a defect that cannot be detected by a conventional inspection apparatus and difficult to recognize visually, for example, a chip or crack that could not be detected due to the influence of decoration or engraving, a bottle hidden on the printing surface, etc. It becomes possible to reliably detect foreign substances adhering to the inner surface. Furthermore, in the defect inspection including the top surface of the mouth part of the empty bottle, the contours of the outer and inner peripheries and the chip on the inner surface of the mouth part, the dot-like chipping at the edge part of the mouth part of the empty bottle Since the image is formed as a white dot-like image in the edge portion of the mouth, the lack of the mouth area is clear, including the lack of the edge portion, the lack of the wide mouth top surface, and the lack of the inner surface of the mouth. It is possible to reliably identify a chipped portion or a flaw that is imaged and affects the sealing performance.

In addition, since a rotary inspection table is used for continuous and high-speed inspection, it is possible to inspect all defective bottles after processing and manufacturing in a high-speed mass production line and for defects in the collected empty bottles. And reliability and yield can be improved .

  In the present invention, the following inspection method is adopted so that a defect inside an empty bottle conveyed at high speed in synchronization with the conveyance speed on the production line can be detected with high accuracy. The first inspection method is to inspect defects such as chipping and cracking of the outer surface portion and attached foreign matter on the inner surface portion with the entire body portion of the bottle as the inspection region, so that the bottle container itself becomes a light emitter. The whole body part of the bottle is imaged in the state of light irradiation, and the image signal is processed and inspected. For example, in the case of an annular bottle, the ring-shaped light bundle is vertically applied to the bottom surface from the bottom of the bottle to the bottom surface of the bottle (outer surface and inner surface). In this state, the body of the empty bottle is imaged from the side. In this way, when the barrel is viewed from the side while the container itself is shining like an optical fiber, irregularities (decorations, engravings, etc.) formed on the outer surface, patterns and characters printed on the outer surface, etc. An optical phenomenon that disappears occurs. On the other hand, scratches on the outer surface or inner surface of the barrel portion, that is, scratches that bite into the barrel side wall (thick portion) in the form of an optical fiber appear as a white image. In addition, by installing a light absorbing member (for example, a black plate-like member) for darkening the background of the empty bottle 1 as the object to be inspected on the opposite side of the imaging camera across the bottle, the background of the bottle is obtained. The image such as chipping and cracking appears clearly without being affected by the above. In the first inspection method, this phenomenon is used to inspect scratches on the body of an empty bottle. Patterns and irregularities on the surface of the body and bottles that are generated during transportation (reused bottles) It is possible to inspect for the presence or absence of defects (defects such as chipping and cracking) in the body of the empty bottle without being affected by scratches or the like that do not hinder the surface of the bottle. In addition, in the inspection system of the empty bottle which employ | adopted this 1st test | inspection system, it is possible to test | inspect also about the damage | wound of a mouth part by the same system about the bottle which has a long mouth part.

  The second inspection method mainly inspects stains on the inner surface part by using the entire inner surface part of the bottle from the inner surface of the mouth part to the bottom of the bottle as an inspection region, and forms an image of the entire inner surface part of the bottle. Inspect with a special lens for. In this second inspection method, an image of the surface inside the bottle from the bottle mouth to the bottle bottom is formed through a lens system so as to look into the inside of the bottle from the top opening of the bottle. , Inspect for dirt and foreign matter adhering to the inner surface of the bottle (the entire inner surface of the bottle such as the inner surface of the mouth, the inner surface of the body, the bottom, etc. that enters the field of view through the lens system). By adopting this inspection method, it is possible to inspect for defects in the empty bottle (mainly dirt and foreign matter on the inner surface of the bottle) without being affected by the pattern, irregularities, scratches, etc. on the outer surface of the bottle. Yes. The lens used in this inspection method is a lens having a deep focal depth (a long focal length). When the bottle bottom is captured from the bottle mouth side through a lens arranged above the bottle mouth, the lens is moved from the bottle mouth to the bottle bottom. It is a lens capable of forming an image of the entire inner surface part. In this inspection method, it is preferable to take an image in a state where a bottle is placed on a hard transparent plate having a filter function for preventing irregular reflection and illuminated from the bottom side with a flat light.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the defect of the empty bottle is inspected by the first inspection method or the second inspection method, but the inspection is continuously performed by both inspection methods. More preferred. In addition, by checking the mouth top surface and the defects of the mouth including the outer and inner contours of the mouth and defects of the mouth including adhering foreign substances, an inspection item can be inspected by an inspection method for an empty bottle mouth to be described later. A comprehensive inspection system can be realized.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an empty bottle inspection system employing the first inspection method is referred to as “first embodiment”, and an empty bottle inspection system employing the second inspection method is referred to as “second embodiment”. An inspection method for inspecting a defect in the mouth of an empty bottle including a flaw on the top surface will be described as a “third embodiment”. In the present invention, “inside the empty bottle” refers to the inner surface, the bottom inner surface, the inner surface of the mouth, and the like of the empty bottle, and “defect” refers to scratches, dirt, foreign matter, and the like. The foreign substance is an arbitrary foreign substance such as an insect, a substance caused by a chemical change, or a substance remaining without being cleaned by recycling. Moreover, it is suitable to apply to a comparatively thick empty bottle such as a beer bottle or a drink bottle, particularly a recovery reuse bottle (returnable bottle) which is cleaned and sterilized and reused as an object to be inspected. It is. Further, in a second embodiment (an embodiment in which an image of the inner surface of the bottle is taken to inspect dirt and foreign matter inside the bottle), the present invention is applicable not only to thick bottles but also to thin containers. be able to.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example in the first embodiment of an inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and inspects a defect in a body part of an empty bottle (particularly, a crack such as a chipping or cracking of the inner surface of a container). An example is shown. In FIG. 1, the empty bottle 1 is placed in an upright state on a placement portion 11 of an inspection table, and a first light projecting means 20 (20 a) is disposed below the placement portion 11. The first light projecting means 20a is a light projecting means for body illumination (hereinafter referred to as body illumination means), and a first light beam in which each light beam is parallel to the body side surface of the empty bottle 1. L1 is irradiated so that the entire side wall portion of the empty bottle 1 can be illuminated, so that the body (the irregularities such as decorations and engravings formed on the surface of the empty bottle body) are parallel to the bottom of the empty bottle. The light emitting surface 21 (21a) has a shape that matches the cross-sectional shape when the portion 1a is cut. The mounting portion 11 is formed of a translucent member (such as a hard glass filter) that also serves as an optical filter for preventing irregular reflection, and the light from the body illuminating means 20a is composed of the translucent member. The empty bottle 1 is irradiated through the unit 11.

  A second light projecting means 20 (20b) is disposed above the top of the mouth of the empty bottle 1. This second light projecting means 20b is a light projecting means for mouth illumination (hereinafter referred to as mouth illumination means), and is a beam-like second light beam in which each light beam is parallel to the mouth side surface of the empty bottle 1. In order to illuminate the entire thick portion of the side wall of the mouth of the empty bottle by irradiating the light bundle L2, the cross-sectional shape when the mouth 1b is cut in the horizontal direction with respect to the top surface of the empty bottle is matched. It has a light emitting surface 21 (21b). These light projecting means 20 are composed of, for example, a light source and an optical fiber that guides light from the light source to the light emitting surface. In the case of a container having a cylindrical section and a mouth section, FIG. ) And ring-shaped (annular) light emitting surfaces 21a and 21b as shown in FIG. 1B and the annular light bundles L1 and L2 as shown in FIG. The entire side wall portion including the portion 1b is filled with light. The shape of the light emitting surface 21 (21b) is a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the bottle, and in the present embodiment, an annular shape is taken as an example. However, in the case of a rectangular container, the shape is adapted to the cross-sectional shape. Non-annular ones are also included in the present invention.

  The imaging means 30 (30a) is arranged on the side of the empty bottle 1, and the dark field forming means 50 is arranged on the opposite side of the imaging means 30 with the empty bottle 1 in between. The dark field forming means 50 is a means for forming an image of the empty bottle in a dark field state by forming a dark background, and is composed of, for example, a black plate-like member that absorbs light.

  Then, in the state where the annular light bundle is irradiated and the container of the empty bottle is shining like an optical fiber, the imaging region including the body of the empty bottle is laterally moved by the imaging means 30 (30a). When the image is taken from (substantially perpendicular to the side surface of the body), a high-luminance image in which the container of the empty bottle (the side wall portion excluding the uneven portion formed on the surface) itself becomes a light emitter is taken, and the side wall portion Appears in the image as a scratch on the illuminant. Further, since the dark field forming means 50 is provided, the background portion of the empty bottle becomes darker than the bright image of the empty bottle, and an image that is not affected by the background can be obtained.

  In the example of the empty bottle 1 shown in FIG. 1, the scratches M1 and M2 on the inner surface side of the trunk portion 1a and the scratch M2 ′ on the outer surface side are white images as shown in FIG. Appears as M1, M2, M2 ′. 3 schematically shows a screen obtained by imaging the empty bottle 1 in FIG. 1 from the direction of the letter “A” for the sake of convenience. The letter “A” formed in a convex shape on the body surface. Disappears and a portion of the scratch M1 hidden behind the letter “A” also appears. That is, it is possible to obtain an image that is not affected by irregularities such as decoration on the outer surface of the bottle. The inspection means 40 (40a) processes image signals from the image pickup means 30a comprising a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor or the like to inspect defects such as scratches or bubbles in the body of the empty bottle 1.

  In the first embodiment described above, the case of illuminating both the body part and the mouth part of the empty bottle has been described as an example. However, it is sufficient to illuminate at least the body part. Since the bundle is transmitted to the trunk part to some extent, the defect of the trunk part can be inspected.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example in the second embodiment of the inspection apparatus according to the present invention, which is an inspection apparatus for inspecting a surface defect (dirt or foreign matter) inside the bottle from the bottle mouth to the bottle bottom. An example is shown. In the second embodiment, as described above, an inner surface portion (at least from the inner surface of the body portion to the inner surface of the bottom portion) extends from the inner surface of the mouth portion to the inner surface of the bottom portion so as to look into the inside of the bottle from the top opening portion of the bottle. An optical lens that forms an image of the inner surface), and the surface inside the bottle is imaged and inspected through this optical lens. In FIG. 4, the empty bottle 1 is placed in an upright state on the placement portion 11 of the inspection table, and below the bottom surface portion of the placement portion 11, a light projecting unit 20 c (hereinafter referred to as a third light projection). Means). The third light projecting means 20c irradiates a light bundle L3 in which each light beam is parallel from the lower side of the mounting portion 11 substantially perpendicularly to the bottom surface of the empty bottle 1, and includes an inner surface portion of the empty bottle 1. A means for illuminating an area, and in this example, it is composed of one or a plurality of flat lights that have a flat light projecting surface and each light beam irradiates a parallel light bundle.

  The mounting portion 11 is formed of a translucent member (such as a hard glass filter) that also serves as an optical filter for preventing irregular reflection, and light from the third light projecting means 20c is transmitted through the translucent member. The empty bottle 1 is irradiated through

  Here, the characteristics of the lens system according to the present invention will be described. The lens system 31 in FIG. 1 has at least an optical lens having a property (a property of positive distortion) that extends a peripheral image as compared with the central portion and a deep focal depth (long focal length). For example, when a square object as shown in FIG. 5A is captured through the optical lens, a pincushion image as shown in FIG. 5B is formed. Although the captured image is distorted, it does not affect the detection of dirt or foreign matter. In the present embodiment, the lens system 31 having the above-described positive distortion property and forming an image of the entire inner surface portion from the inner surface of the mouth side wall of the empty bottle to the inner surface of the bottom portion is provided. The surface inside the bottle is imaged through 31. This lens system 31 is mounted as a constituent element of the imaging means 30 (30b) in a separate housing that can be mounted or removed.

  When the empty bottle 1 is imaged from above the top surface portion by the imaging means 30b composed of a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor or the like through the lens system 31 as described above, compared with FIG. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 6B, an image in which the side wall is developed outward from the center of the bottle is formed, and the surface inside the bottle is visible. That is, it is possible to obtain an image of the inner surface of the container that is not affected by unevenness or printing on the outer surface of the empty bottle, and as shown in FIG. 6B, a part of the inner surface of the container from the mouth to the bottom of the empty bottle 1 It is possible to detect dirt M3 and foreign matter M4 adhering to the surface. The inspection means 40 (40b) processes the image signal from the imaging means 30b to inspect for defects such as dirt on the inner surface of the empty bottle 1 and foreign matter. When determining the presence or absence of a defect using the size as a determination factor, a lens having a negative distortion aberration is incorporated in the lens system 41 to correct the distortion, or the distortion is corrected by signal processing of the captured image. It is preferable to make a determination from

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention (an inspection method for the mouth of an empty bottle) will be described. The inspection apparatus described below uses as inspection items minute openings in the mouth top surface and outer and inner contours of the mouth and defects in the mouth including attached foreign matter.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an inspection device for inspecting a defect (particularly, chipping) in the mouth portion of an empty bottle. In the present embodiment, a portion that engages with a stopper of an empty bottle (drink bottle, etc.) The mouth including (in particular, the vicinity of the top of the mouth) is set as the inspection region. Note that the hardware configuration of the imaging unit 30 (30c) and the inspection unit 40 (40c) is the same as that of the inspection apparatus in the first and second embodiments described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 7, the light projecting means 20d is means for illuminating the inspection area by irradiating the light beam from the side of the mouth part 1b of the empty bottle 1 to the side face of the mouth part. It consists of one or more flat lights that illuminate parallel light bundles. Refraction of light when passing through the outside air and the container by irradiating the side of the mouth with such a bundle of rays parallel to each other with the incident angle with respect to the side of the mouth being 0 degree (± 10 degrees). Thus, interference due to multiple reflected light can be avoided, the empty bottle mouth is filled with uniform light, and a clear image can be formed. In such a state of irradiating the light bundle, an image captured from obliquely above the top surface of the empty bottle is obtained as an outer contour portion R1 and an inner contour portion R2 (substantially linear edges) of the mouth top surface. The portion is formed as a band-like image having a width (a dark image corresponding to the curvature of the edge portion).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the light receiving unit of the imaging unit 30c receives the intersection of the light beam L11 in the diameter direction on the top of the mouth and the edge portion R2 on the imaging unit side of the top of the mouth. It is set as the structure arrange | positioned on the opposite side of the light projection means 20d on both sides of the opening | mouth part of an empty bottle so that an axis | shaft may pass. The angle θ formed between the light receiving axis and the top of the mouth of the empty bottle is an angle at which the contour portions R1 and R2 are formed as images (dim images) having a width as described above. The angle θ described above is an angle at which the edge portion is imaged with brightness and width that can reliably determine the lack of the edge portion on the top surface of the mouth, and the mouth wall on the imaging means side does not overlap the inspection region. I need it. Specifically, it may be about 30 degrees to 45 degrees, and desirably around 45 degrees.

  FIG. 8 schematically shows an image captured by the imaging means 30c, and the mouth of the empty bottle has edge portions R1 and R2 on the top of the mouth in FIG. 8 (the back side as viewed from the viewpoint of the imaging camera). The substantially linear curved surface portion R1 and the substantially linear curved surface portion R2) are formed as a band-shaped image. And since the dot-like chippings of the edge portions R1, R2 are imaged as white dot-like images P1, P2 in the dark strip-like edge portions R1, R2, the chippings P1, P2, The chip of the mouth area is clearly imaged including the chip M1 on the top of the wide mouth and the chip M2 on the inner surface of the mouth. It becomes. In contrast, when the angle θ formed between the light receiving axis and the top of the mouth of the empty bottle is brought closer to 0 degrees, the top of the mouth and the edge portions R1 and R2 are black as shown in FIG. The image is formed as a line, and the point-shaped chipping (P1, P2) or the line-shaped chipping of the edge portions R1 and R2 cannot be identified. The above M1) cannot be identified.

  In the inspection means 40c that receives the image signal picked up by the image pickup means 30c, for example, the analog image signal is differentiated and compared with a predetermined threshold value. By comparing the signal level obtained by emphasizing the rapidly changing portion with the reference level (or the total value obtained by binarizing each pixel in the inspection region and the reference value), the top of the mouth and its edge portion Inspect for mouth defects including chipping. Thus, in this invention, it is set as the inspection method according to the shape of the mouth peculiar to the empty bottle, and from the image of one frame, the point on the top edge of the mouth and the substantially linear edge portion of the outer periphery and the inner periphery. It is possible to detect a chipped portion or a scratch that affects the sealing performance, including a chip or a line chip, with high accuracy. In this embodiment, in order to inspect the mouth portion at high speed and with high accuracy, all the mouth portions that engage with the stopper that seals the subject to be examined (empty bottle) without rotating the subject to be examined. The light projecting means 20d and the imaging means 30c are arranged at predetermined positions so that the area can be projected and imaged, and the image signal from the imaging means imaged from a plurality of directions is processed by the mouth inspection means 40c. The whole area of the mouth is inspected.

  Next, an application example of the present invention to a production line will be described.

  An inspection system applied to an empty bottle manufacturing / processing factory, or a factory that collects empty bottles after use and reuses the empty bottles is an inspection comprising the above-mentioned light projecting means, imaging means, and inspection means. System control panel for controlling and monitoring the entire system, housing the machine, inspection machine, rejection device to eliminate defective products, operation panel, monitoring monitor, control device, and each inspection machine body, etc. And FA (factory automation) server (additional configuration) having support functions such as remote centralized control, remote maintenance, and intranet.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the main part of the inspection system will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, the inspection by the inspection apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 will be described, and description of other inspections (defect inspection of the mouth top surface and the mouth side surface) will be omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a configuration example of the inspection transporter of the inspection system according to the present invention. At the inspection stage for inspecting the defect of the empty bottle, a rotary type inspection conveyor 100 as shown in FIG. 10 is installed. The inspection conveyor 100 includes a rotary inspection table 10 that rotates at a high speed in synchronization with the conveyance speed on the production line, and a mounting portion 11 made of a translucent member is provided around a rotation shaft. ing.

  In FIG. 10, an empty bottle 1 (or processed empty bottle) that has been subjected to cleaning, sterilization, etc. on the production line is subjected to a screw (worm gear) 12 before a step of filling a product such as a liquid agent or a beverage. Is continuously conveyed at predetermined intervals from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 10 to the inspection stage. The inspection transport machine 100 installed on the inspection stage includes a loading / unloading star wheel board 14a, 14b connected to the conveyor 13, and an inspection table 10 composed of a large diameter star wheel board for inspection. Each empty bottle flowing to the inspection stage is transported along these paths R1, R2, and R3 in FIG. In this inspection stage, a defect of an object to be inspected during transportation at a high speed (about 1200 / min) on the annular path of R2 (in this example, scratches, dirt, foreign matter, etc. on the outer and inner surfaces of the empty bottle 1). All products are inspected for presence / absence in real time.

  In the configuration as described above, the body illuminating means 20a (and the mouth illuminating means 20b) and the imaging means 30a related to the defect inspection such as scratches on the body of the empty bottle, and dirt and foreign matter on the entire inner surface of the container of the empty bottle The light projecting means 20c and the imaging means 30b related to the defect inspection are arranged at predetermined positions on the annular transport path R2 of the inspection transport machine 100 in the arrangement configuration shown in FIGS. A device for defect inspection on the top of the mouth and a device for defect inspection on the side of the mouth are also arranged at predetermined positions, so that a comprehensive inspection of empty bottles is performed on the same stage.

  An example of the operation of the system configuration as described above will be described. The inspection unit 40 (40a, 40b) of the inspection system inputs an analog video signal from the imaging unit 30 (30a, 30b) that images the corresponding inspection area of the empty bottle that is being transported. Differentiating and comparing with a predetermined threshold, comparing a signal level obtained by emphasizing a portion where the change amount of the differential value is large with a reference level, and detecting a defect in real time. At that time, in the inspection means 40b for detecting dirt and foreign matter, two different slices (white foreign matter band and black foreign matter zone) are simultaneously applied to obtain two different brightnesses for black and white foreign matters. By detecting simultaneously at the level, it is possible to detect a variety of foreign matters and dirt adhering to an empty bottle as an object to be inspected. If the inspection means 40a, 40b determines that there is a defect such as a scratch or a foreign object, the inspection means 40a, 40b determines that the defect is a defective product, and the inspection result (numerical data for the defective inspection item) as a defective product via the A / D converter. Etc.) is output. In the inspection system according to the present invention, the inspection result is transmitted to and recorded on a control means comprising a computer or the like, and a defective product is automatically detected by a removal mechanism (not shown) without stopping the production line under the control of the control means. It is the composition which is excluded automatically.

  Here, in the inspection system described above, examples of actual images captured by the imaging cameras 30a and 30b of the inspection apparatuses illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 and examples of images obtained by binarizing the images are shown. The following explains how scratches such as chipping and cracking of the outer surface and inner surface of an empty bottle and dirt on the inner surface appear in the image. Hereinafter, an image example of a conventional inspection apparatus and an image example of the apparatus of the present invention will be described using an empty bottle whose outer surface is engraved and printed as an object to be inspected. The “conventional inspection apparatus” here refers to a general inspection apparatus in which an illumination device and an imaging camera are installed facing each other with an object to be inspected in between.

First, an image example of the inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIGS. 11A and 11B show examples of an image (raw image) captured by a conventional inspection apparatus and an image after binarization processing (binarized image), respectively. 12A and 12B show images (raw images) captured by the imaging camera 30a of the inspection apparatus (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment, and images after binarization (binary). An example of a converted image) is shown. In addition, in order to show the illumination effect by the illumination means 20a, FIG. 11 (A) is an example of an image captured in an unlit state, and FIG. 12 (A) is an example of an image captured in an illuminated state. Show. In the empty bottle of this example, there are “small scratches” at positions away from the stamps and patterns indicating the product names and the like formed on the outer surface. In the conventional inspection apparatus, FIGS. 11 (A) and (B) As shown, a stamp or a picture appears in the image, so that a scratch cannot be detected.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, an image illuminated by the illumination means 20a and captured in a dark field state has an amount of light such as an inscription formed on the outer surface, a printed pattern or character, or a contour portion of the bottle. In the binarized image obtained by processing the signal of each pixel greater than the reference light amount, as shown in FIG. 11 (B), since the light amount is smaller than the light amount of the wall portion (thick portion), an image of only the scratch M is obtained. Appear clearly. For this reason, the determination unit of the inspection unit 40a can reliably determine defects such as scratches.

  The above example is the same when there is a scratch on the pattern or the stamped portion. In this case, in the conventional inspection apparatus, the raw image and the binarized image are images as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, and a defect such as a scratch M cannot be detected. On the other hand, in the present invention, even if the scratch overlaps with the pattern portion, as shown in the example of the image (binarized image) in FIG. Since the image appears clearly, even fine scratches can be reliably detected.

  Next, an image example of the inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIGS. 15A and 15B show examples of an image (raw image) captured by a conventional inspection apparatus and an image after binarization processing (binarized image), respectively. FIGS. 16A and 16B show an image (raw image) captured by the imaging camera 30b of the inspection apparatus (see FIG. 4) in the second embodiment, and an image after binarization (binary). An example of a converted image) is shown. This example is an example of an image of an empty bottle in which dirt is present on the inner surface, and in the conventional inspection apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 15 (A) and 15 (B), the mouth top surface A1 and the bottom surface A4 of the empty bottle. However, since the inner surface of the mouth and the inner surface of the body are hardly imaged, the dirt on the inner surface of the mouth and the inner surface of the body cannot be detected. Further, since the knurling N portion formed on the lower outer surface appears in the image, the dirt M on the bottom surface A4 cannot be detected.

  In contrast, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 16A, since the entire area of the mouth inner surface A2, the trunk inner surface A3, and the bottom inner surface A4 is imaged, the entire inner surface can be inspected. . Also, the illumination effect from below the bottom of the bottle causes the knurling image to disappear and only the portion of dirt M to appear clearly, so even with small dirt M, as shown in FIG. Can be detected.

  In this embodiment, an infrared light source that emits predetermined infrared light is used as the light source of the light projecting means, and the irradiation light cannot be viewed from the outside by using predetermined infrared light. Foreign matter and scratches can be detected. Examples of using predetermined infrared light for foreign object inspection are described in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2000-357665 and 2001-18055 by the present applicant. That is, infrared light having a wavelength of 750 to 1000 nm is irradiated from an infrared light source in a power range of 0.7 mW to 100 W, and transmitted light from an object to be inspected is collected by an objective lens and received by a CCD sensor. Can be detected. The CCD sensor has a wide and high wavelength sensitivity characteristic (wavelength and sensitivity in a range in which the light receiver responds) extending from blue to the near infrared, and has a high quantum efficiency for capturing photons. The quantum efficiency of a photograph is at most 2-3%, but it reaches 90% with a CCD sensor. In addition, the CCD sensor has a feature that the ratio between the lowest and highest brightness (dynamic range) that can be measured simultaneously is large and the linearity is good.

  As a result of this characteristic, electrons are stored in the compartment by utilizing the phenomenon (photoelectric effect) that free electrons are generated when the transmitted light hits the CCD sensor, and the electrons are stored after a certain period of exposure. In the case of molecules having a high light transmittance such as an aqueous solution only by reading in order, it has been found that even if the aqueous solution is colored or black, it has the effect of changing the aqueous solution to transparent. The same applies to the case where the aqueous solution is transparent and the container is colored, and this is also effective in a system in which a colored empty bottle is used as the object to be inspected, as in this embodiment.

  Further, in the configuration example of the inspection transport machine described above, the one having one annular transport path (rotary type inspection table) has been described. However, when there are many inspection items, a star wheel board having a larger diameter is used. Although it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions each apparatus, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 17, for example, as a structure which has a some cyclic | annular conveyance path | route, the rotary type test | inspection table in which the mounting part which consists of a transparent plate was provided around 10A and 10B may be provided, and the inspection machines of the respective units may be arranged at predetermined positions of the inspection tables 10A and 10B. In the example of FIG. 17, in the inspection area of A1 in the drawing, the defect inspection of the mouth top surface part, in the inspection area of A2 the defect inspection of the mouth side surface part, in the inspection area of A3, the defect inspection of the body part, and the inspection of A4 In the area, the defect inspection of the trunk and the bottom (inner surface contamination, foreign matter inspection) is continuously performed using one or a plurality of imaging means 30 (CCD camera or the like) as shown in FIG. The FIG. 17 shows the arrangement configuration of the imaging camera 30 of each defect inspection machine, but the number and arrangement configuration are not limited to this example.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example in 1st Embodiment of the test | inspection apparatus concerning this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a shape of the light emission surface of the light projection means in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the captured image in the defect (scratch) test | inspection of the trunk | drum inner surface and mouth part inner surface in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example in 2nd Embodiment of the test | inspection apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the lens system used for 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the captured image in the defect (dirt | contamination, foreign material inspection) inspection of the container inner surface in 2nd Embodiment. It is a partial side sectional view showing typically an example of a mouth inspection device in a 3rd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the captured image in the mouth test | inspection in 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the captured image in the mouth test | inspection in a general test | inspection apparatus. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the conveying machine for a test | inspection of the test | inspection system which concerns on this invention. It is an image figure which shows the 1st example of the captured image in a common test | inspection apparatus. It is an image figure which shows the 1st example of the captured image in 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the 2nd example of the captured image in a common test | inspection apparatus. It is an image figure which shows the 2nd example of the captured image in 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the 3rd example of the captured image in a common test | inspection apparatus. It is an image figure which shows an example of the captured image in 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the other structural example of the conveying machine for a test | inspection of the test | inspection system which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 1st example of the conventional test | inspection apparatus which test | inspects the abrasion of a part of empty bottle trunk | drum. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 2nd example of the conventional test | inspection apparatus which test | inspects the foreign material of an empty bottle bottom part.

Explanation of symbols

1 Inspected object (empty bottle)
10 Inspection table 11 Placement part (hard glass filter)
12 Screw 13 Conveyor 14a, 14b Star wheel board 15 Clamping means (clamp)
15a Top plate (transparent plate)
15b Support member 20 Light projecting means 20a First light projecting means (trunk illumination means)
20b Second light projecting means (mouth illumination means)
20c Third light projecting means (light projecting means for inner surface inspection)
20d Fourth light projection means (illumination means for mouth inspection)
30 imaging means 30a imaging means for body inspection 30b imaging means for inspection of bottle inner surface part 30c imaging means for inspection of mouth part 40 inspection means 40a trunk part inspection means 40b bottle inner surface part inspection means 40c mouth part inspection means 50 dark field forming means 100 Inspection conveyor

Claims (3)

Optical from each direction including above, below and around the above-mentioned empty bottle, with each area including the mouth top surface, mouth side surface, body, bottom, and inner surface of the empty bottle to be inspected. A rotary type inspection table that can be inspected and rotated at high speed in synchronism with the transport speed on the production line, and is composed of a translucent member that is provided around a rotation axis of the inspection table. The empty bottles are sequentially placed in an upright position on the section and are transported at high speed along an annular path, and the empty bottles are inspected for defects in real time in real time without rotating each empty bottle. A bottle inspection system,
It has a ring-shaped light emitting surface corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the body portion of the empty bottle, and the ring-shaped light bundle is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the empty bottle from the light emitting surface arranged below the mounting portion. A body illuminating means for illuminating the entire thick portion of the body side wall from the side wall surface of the body of the empty bottle to the inner surface of the side wall by irradiating in the direction;
Dark field forming means disposed on the side of the empty bottle to form a dark background;
Wherein the sides of the empty bottle dark field forming means opposite to be arranged imaging unit, and meet in the light of the thicker portion the whole area of the barrel side wall by the ray bundle from the light emitting surface of the barrel illuminating means An area including the body portion of the empty bottle in a state where an uneven phenomenon formed on the outer surface of the body portion of the empty bottle, a printed pattern, and an optical phenomenon in which printed characters disappear and a dark field is darkened by the dark field forming means. a first body portion for inspection imaging means for imaging captured from the side of the empty bottles in the high-speed conveyor as an inspection area,
Illuminating means for mouth inspection for illuminating the mouth part of the empty bottle by irradiating the side of the mouth part from the side of the mouth part of the empty bottle with a bundle of rays parallel to each other,
An imaging unit is arranged on the opposite side of the mouth inspection illumination unit across the mouth of the empty bottle, and the empty bottle is illuminated by a light beam from the light emitting surface of the mouth inspection illumination unit Then, the mouth region including the mouth top surface and the inner surface of the empty bottle from the obliquely upper side of the mouth top surface at an angle inclined with respect to the mouth top surface of the empty bottle is regarded as a second inspection region. Imaging means for mouth inspection for imaging,
The image signal from the body inspection imaging means is processed to inspect defects including scratches on the body of the empty bottle, and the image signal from the mouth inspection imaging means is processed to process the image of the empty bottle. An inspection system for an empty bottle, comprising an inspection means for inspecting a defect including a mouth top surface, contour portions of the outer periphery and inner periphery thereof, and chipping of the inner surface of the mouth . A ring-shaped light emitting surface corresponding to the mouth cross-sectional shape of the empty bottle is provided, and a ring-shaped light beam corresponding to the mouth cross-sectional shape is emitted from the light-emitting surface disposed above the mounting portion. It further includes mouth illumination means for illuminating the entire side wall portion of the mouth from the side wall surface of the mouth of the empty bottle to the inner surface of the side wall by irradiating perpendicularly to the top of the mouth of the bottle . The image pickup means is configured such that the entire thickness portion of the side wall including the mouth part and the body part of the empty bottle is light by the light bundle from the light emitting surface of the body part illumination part and the light bundle from the light emission surface of the mouth part illumination means. The empty bottle inspection system according to claim 1 , wherein the first inspection area is imaged in a filled state. The empty bottle inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the placing portion made of the translucent member is formed of a hard transparent plate having a filter function for preventing irregular reflection.

Images