JP3992697B2 - Hole inspection system for containers with holes - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hole inspection system for a holed container for inspecting a hole opened to the outside formed in a flexible container.

  The hole inspection system for a holed container is used, for example, when inspecting whether or not a liquid injection hole formed in a resin eye dropper container has an appropriate hole size. That is, the eye drop container is used in such a form that the container is pushed from the outside with a finger and the internal chemical liquid is taken out from the liquid injection hole. At this time, if the hole size of the liquid injection hole is too large, there is a possibility that the chemical liquid will be more than necessary, and conversely if the hole size of the liquid injection hole is too small, a large force is required to discharge the chemical liquid, It takes time to discharge the chemical. Therefore, it is required that the liquid injection hole has an appropriate hole size so as not to cause such inconvenience.

As a technique related to the hole inspection system of the present invention, the following technique is disclosed, although it does not inspect the hole size of the spout of the container. That is, a technique of checking the leak by detecting the air pressure leaking from the mouth portion by pressing the vessel in a state where the periphery of the mouth portion of the sealed container is sealed with a sealing member (see Patent Document 1), and In the baby bottle nipple manufacturing process, after opening the nipple inlet, measure the amount of air that is supplied to the inside of the nipple and discharged from the inlet, and the inlet is properly opened. For example, a technique for inspecting whether there is an air flow rate (see Patent Document 2).
JP-A-7-72033 JP-A-9-122208

  In the above prior art, the hole size of the flexible holed container cannot be inspected. In addition, if the maximum value of the pressure of the gas ejected from the hole is obtained, it is possible to inspect the hole size based on this value, but in this case, since the pressure value changes with time, the size of the hole Could not be properly inspected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hole inspection system for a holed container capable of performing an appropriate inspection on the hole size of a flexible holed container with a simple configuration. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the first characteristic configuration of the hole inspection system for a container with a hole according to the present invention is that the gas present in the container is ejected from the hole by pressing the flexible container from the outside. The pressure of the gas ejected from the hole by pressing is detected, and the detected value of the ejected pressure at a predetermined time when the ejected pressure is rising is set to the upper limit pressure value corresponding to the maximum size of the hole and the minimum value of the hole. Having an inspection device that determines the size of the hole by comparing with the lower limit pressure value corresponding to the size ,
A plurality of containers placed on the rotary table are provided on the downstream side of a line for filling the molded container with a chemical solution, and a rotary table that rotates at a constant speed while placing a plurality of containers at once is provided. With respect to the above, the plurality of inspection devices are provided above the rotary table so as to be moved in a ring at the same timing as the rotary table so that the pass / fail judgment of the hole size can be sequentially performed .

  That is, the pressure of the gas ejected from the hole is detected while pressing the flexible container in which the hole opened to the outside is pressed from the outside to eject the gas from the hole, and the ejection pressure increases. The detected value of the ejection pressure is compared with the upper limit pressure value corresponding to the maximum size of the hole and the lower limit pressure value corresponding to the minimum size of the hole, and the size of the hole is determined based on the comparison. judge.

As described above, in the hole inspection system for a holed container according to the present invention, the time when the pressure of the gas discharged from the hole rises, that is, the upper limit pressure value corresponding to the maximum allowable hole size and the minimum hole size. By setting the time when the difference in the lower limit pressure value corresponding to the size is noticeable to the predetermined time, the certainty of the determination of the hole size can be improved.
Further, since the internal gas is ejected by pressing the container itself, means for injecting compressed air for inspection from the outside is unnecessary, and the inspection configuration can be simplified.
Accordingly, there is provided a hole inspection system for a holed container that can perform an appropriate inspection on the size of the hole of the flexible holed container with a simple configuration.

  In the second feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration, a pressure chamber that communicates with the hole is formed by a member that is in close contact with the outer periphery of the container around the hole, and the pressure of the gas is the pressure of the gas. The point is to detect the pressure in the room.

That is, when the gas inside the container is ejected from the hole, the ejected gas is retained in the pressure chamber communicating with the hole, so that the pressure drop of the ejected gas is suppressed and the pressure in the pressure chamber rises. Is detected as the gas ejection pressure.
Therefore, the quality of the hole is determined based on the pressure value of the ejected gas in which the rapid pressure drop is suppressed by the pressure chamber. Therefore, even when the pressure of the ejected gas is very small, an appropriate hole inspection can be performed. A preferred embodiment of a container hole inspection system is provided.

  The third characteristic configuration is that, in addition to the first or second characteristic configuration, the pressing is performed in a state where a chemical solution is present in the container.

In other words, in the case of a container with a hole that is used in such a manner that the chemical liquid contained in the container is discharged from the hole by pushing the container, the size of the hole can be accurately inspected under conditions similar to those at the time of use. In addition, since a hole can be inspected in the same container holding state after performing a pre-process for forming a hole in the upper part of the container or the like in the state where the chemical solution is present in the container, the manufacture of the above-mentioned container with a hole containing the chemical solution Suitable for hole inspection in the process. Furthermore, even when the pressing location of the container and the hole have a predetermined distance, the pressing force can be reliably transmitted to the gas by the chemical solution in the container. It is possible to reduce the influence and prevent erroneous determination.
Therefore, a preferred embodiment is provided for a hole inspection system for a container with a hole such as an eye drop container containing a liquid medicine for eye drops.

The fourth characteristic configuration is that a reference pressure of pressure detecting means for detecting the ejection pressure is reset before the pressing.
That is, since the reference pressure is reset (zero set) every time the ejection pressure is detected, even if the air pressure in the area where the production line for the perforated container or the hole inspection line for the perforated container fluctuates, The ejection pressure can be accurately measured without being affected by fluctuations. When a pressure chamber communicating with the hole is formed by a close member and the pressure in the pressure chamber is detected as a gas ejection pressure, reset is performed after the pressure chamber is formed and before pressing. It ’s fine.

The fifth characteristic configuration is that the predetermined time is in a range from 7 ms to 20 ms after gas starts to be ejected from the hole by the pressing.

  An embodiment of a hole inspection system for a holed container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the hole inspection system is applied to a liquid injection hole of a resin eye drop container.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hole inspection system for a holed container according to the present invention presses a flexible container 1 having a hole 1a opened to the outside (same as the liquid injection hole) from the outside. The pressure sensor 4 detects the jet pressure of the gas A while jetting the gas A existing in the hole 1a, and the detected value of the jet pressure at a predetermined time when the jet pressure of the gas A is rising, The size of the hole 1a is determined by comparing the upper limit pressure value corresponding to the maximum size of the hole 1a and the lower limit pressure value corresponding to the minimum size of the hole 1a. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an inspection apparatus used in a hole inspection system for a holed container according to the present invention. The vertically long eye drop container 1 is placed on the examination table 7 in a vertical posture. That is, the chemical liquid L exists in the lower part in the container, the air A exists in the upper part in the container, and the hole 1a is located on the upper part side of the container. Incidentally, the production line of the perforated container in which the inspection apparatus is installed or the area including the perforation inspection line of the perforated container is slightly more than the outside air for the purpose of preventing the entry of dust and bacteria from the outside. Pressurized to the side.

  Next, the inspection head 2 descends from above the container 1, comes into close contact with the container outer peripheral part 1 b around the hole 1 a at the top of the container, and the sealed pressure chamber 3 communicating with the hole 1 a is connected to the container 1. It is formed between the inspection heads 2. A portion of the inspection head 2 that comes into contact with the container outer peripheral portion 1b is made of silicon resin as a sealing material. The pressure chamber 3 in the inspection head 2 is conducted to the pressure sensor 4 via the conduit portion 8, and the detection signal of the pressure sensor 4 is input to the display determination device 10. That is, the pressure chamber 3 communicating with the hole 1a is formed by the member 2 (inspection head 2) in close contact with the container outer peripheral portion 1b around the hole 1a, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 3 is detected as the gas A ejection pressure. In order to keep the inside of the container 1 in a sterile state, a filter 5 is provided in the middle of the conduit portion 8. The display determiner 10 includes a display screen 10a for displaying a pressure detection signal and various operation buttons 10b.

  Then, the pair of chucks 6 press the lateral wall 1c of the container 1, and the pressure sensor 4 detects the ejection pressure of the air A in the upper part of the container ejected from the hole 1a. That is, the container 1 is pressed in a state where the chemical liquid L exists in the container 1. The pressure measurement can be arbitrarily set up to 2000 times / second, and the display determination unit 10 displays the result. The pressure width of the chuck 6 is set to about 10 mm when the diameter of the container 1 is about 20 mm, and the pressure is set to 0.5 MPa. After the measurement is completed, the pressure on the container 1 is released.

  In practice, in order to more accurately detect the ejection pressure, the reference pressure of the pressure sensor 4 (an example of pressure detection means for detecting the ejection pressure) is reset each time the ejection pressure is measured. ing. More specifically, the reset is performed after the pressure chamber 3 is formed by the inspection head 2 and before the pressing by the pair of chucks 6. Therefore, for example, even if the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the inspection apparatus tends to fluctuate due to the influence of the means for pressurizing the above area slightly to the positive side of the outside air, the ejection pressure is not affected by this fluctuation. Accurate measurement is possible.

  FIG. 2 shows the results of an ejection experiment performed on the large-diameter test hole 1a corresponding to the maximum allowable hole size and the small-diameter test hole 1a corresponding to the minimum allowable hole size. As can be seen from the graph, the pressure detection signal BP of the large-diameter test hole 1a is a pressure waveform that gradually decreases after the pressure value suddenly rises and reaches a peak after the start of ejection, while the small-diameter test hole In the pressure detection signal SP of 1a, the pressure value gradually rises after the start of ejection, and finally becomes larger than the pressure value of the large diameter test hole 1a.

  Therefore, at a predetermined time when the ejection pressure is rising (specifically, between 7 ms and 20 ms after the ejection starts), the detected value of the ejection pressure is set to the upper limit pressure value UL corresponding to the maximum size of the hole 1a and The size of the hole 1a is determined by comparing with the lower limit pressure value LL corresponding to the minimum size of the hole 1a.

  Specifically, the pressure value lower than the pressure detection signal BP of the large diameter test hole 1a by a predetermined value is set as the upper limit pressure value UL, and the pressure value higher than the pressure detection signal SP of the small diameter test hole 1a by a predetermined value. The lower limit pressure value LL is used. Then, the pressure value of the ejected gas from the hole 1a to be inspected is the upper limit pressure value UL and the lower limit pressure value throughout the predetermined period (between 7 ms and 20 ms after the start of ejection) as shown by the curve a in FIG. Only when it is between LL, it is determined that the hole size is appropriate. On the other hand, if the pressure value of the gas ejected from the hole 1a to be inspected deviates from the range between the upper limit pressure value UL and the lower limit pressure value LL even during a part of the predetermined time, the hole size is inappropriate. Judge that there is. For example, in the example of the curve b in FIG. 2, the pressure value is lower than the lower limit pressure value LL at the beginning of the predetermined time, and in the example of the curve c in FIG. 2, the pressure value is higher than the upper pressure value at the end of the predetermined time. Since it exceeds UL, in these two examples, it is determined that the hole size is inappropriate.

By the way, the said inspection apparatus performs the resin eye drop container containing the chemical | medical solution L by giving several processes to each container 1, flowing continuously the many flexible containers 1 shape | molded. It is provided in a part of the production line to be produced. More specifically, the inspection apparatus may be provided in an inspection line located on the downstream side of the line in which the container 1 is filled with the chemical liquid L by forming a hole 1 a that opens to the outside in each container 1. For example, a circular rotary table that rotates at a constant speed while placing a large number (specifically, for example, twelve) of containers 1 at the same time is provided on the inspection line. The twelve containers 1 placed on the rotary table are provided with the twelve inspection devices above the rotary table so that the pass / fail judgment of the hole size can be sequentially performed. It can be configured to be moved.
[Another embodiment]

In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined time for determining the size of the hole 1a is set to a period between 7 ms and 20 ms after the start of ejection, but can be set as appropriate to other periods.
Also, the time for determining the size of the hole 1a is set not at a period having a predetermined width, but, for example, at a certain point (instant) after the start of ejection, and at a certain point after the start of the ejection, It may be determined whether the pressure value is between the upper limit pressure value UL and the lower limit pressure value LL.

  In the above embodiment, the pressure in the pressure chamber 3 formed by the member 2 in close contact with the container outer peripheral portion 1b around the hole 1a is detected as the gas ejection pressure from the hole 1a. Without forming, the pressure of the gas ejected from the hole 1a may be directly detected by making the detection surface of the pressure sensor 4 close to the hole 1a.

  In the above embodiment, the hole inspection system for a holed container according to the present invention is applied to the inspection of the liquid injection hole of the eye drop container, but can be applied to the hole inspection of other various holed containers.

  The hole inspection system for a holed container according to the present invention can be applied to a production line for a flexible container having holes opened to the outside, such as a resin eye drop container in which a liquid injection hole is formed.

Overall configuration diagram of an inspection apparatus used in the hole inspection system of the present invention Waveform diagram showing pressure detection signal of ejected gas

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 1a Hole 1b Outer peripheral part 2 Member 3 Pressure chamber A Gas (air)
L chemical

Claims (5)

A hole inspection system for a container with a hole for inspecting a hole formed in a flexible container and opened to the outside, wherein the gas present in the container by pressing the flexible container from the outside Is detected from the hole, the pressure of the gas ejected from the hole by the pressing is detected, and the detected value of the jet pressure at a predetermined time when the jet pressure is rising is determined as the maximum size of the hole. Having an inspection device for determining the size of the hole by comparing the upper limit pressure value corresponding to the lower limit pressure value corresponding to the minimum size of the hole ,
A plurality of containers placed on the rotary table are provided on the downstream side of a line for filling the molded container with a chemical solution, and a rotary table that rotates at a constant speed while placing a plurality of containers at once is provided. A plurality of the inspection devices above the rotary table so as to be moved and operated in an annular manner at the same timing as the rotary table so that the pass / fail judgment of the hole size can be sequentially performed . Hole inspection system.   The hole inspection of the container with a hole according to claim 1, wherein a pressure chamber communicating with the hole is formed by a member in close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the container around the hole, and the pressure in the pressure chamber is detected as an ejection pressure of the gas. system.   The hole inspection system for a container with holes according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing is performed in a state where a chemical is present in the container.   The hole inspection system for a container with a hole according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a reference pressure of a pressure detecting means for detecting the ejection pressure is reset before the pressing. 5. The hole inspection system for a container with a hole according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is in a range from 7 ms to 20 ms after gas starts to be ejected from the hole by the pressing.

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