JP4826041B2 - Container inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to inspection apparatus vessel for inspecting the presence or absence of leakage of the filling amount and containers of the content liquid filled in the container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional container filling amount inspection, it is common to detect the level of the liquid content.
In other words, after filling the container with the content liquid, a photoelectric tube sensor, laser sensor, or ultrasonic sensor is provided in the middle of transporting the container, and these sensors determine whether or not the content liquid in the container has reached a certain height. Thus, the quality of the content liquid is determined to be good or bad.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventional photoelectric tube sensors, laser sensors, and ultrasonic sensors only determine whether the liquid level of the content liquid has reached a certain height (a certain filling amount). It cannot be judged even if it is significantly larger than (a constant filling amount). In order to determine the upper limit, it was necessary to add another sensor and determine it in combination with these.
[0004]
Also, when using a photoelectric tube sensor or laser sensor, if the liquid level of the liquid content rises due to conveyance and rises higher than the liquid level of the actual liquid content, the sensor physically measures the liquid level. Even if the filling amount has not been reached, the phototube sensor or the laser sensor may regard the rising point as the highest point and erroneously determine that the filling amount has been reached. Such misjudgment tends to be more likely as the cross-sectional area of the container is smaller.
On the other hand, in a container with a large cross-sectional area (such as 2L), the liquid level height is wide, so the liquid level height hardly changes with slight variations in the liquid level. Dispersion cannot be determined.
In addition, the method using the photoelectric tube sensor or the laser sensor can be used only if the container can transmit light. On the other hand, the method using the ultrasonic sensor does not affect the light transmittance of the container, but the sensor is not attached to the container. There is also a restriction on the container that cannot be accommodated unless it is wider than the filling port.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to accurately and easily fill the filling amount of the inner solution regardless of the cross-sectional area difference or the liquid level. to provide an inspection device for containers which can be inspected.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the container inspection apparatus of the present invention,
An inspection head that can be moved toward and away from the opening of the container;
A container pressurizing means having a pressure accumulation chamber for storing a gas at a constant pressure, and supplying a constant pressure and a constant amount of gas stored in the pressure accumulation chamber into the container through the inspection head;
Pressure supply means for supplying a constant pressure gas to the pressure accumulating chamber of the container pressurizing means;
Pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the container pressurized by the container pressurizing means;
An electromagnetic switching valve for selectively switching the connection between the container pressurizing means, the pressure supply means and the inspection head; and the pressure in the container measured by the pressure measuring means after the pressurization by the container pressurizing means is within a reference range If it is within the range, it is determined that the filling amount is appropriate, and if it is outside the reference range, the filling amount is determined to be inappropriate. If the pressure immediately after pressurization and the pressure drop after a predetermined time have passed are within a certain threshold Determining means for determining whether there is no leak if it is within the threshold, and if there is a leak if the threshold is exceeded,
It is characterized by comprising.
[0007]
The determination means determines whether or not the peak value of the pressure measured by the pressure measurement means is within a reference range .
[0008]
A container fixing jig that holds the outer periphery of the container and suppresses the expansion of the container during pressurization is provided.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 3 shows a container inspection apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
This liquid quantity inspection apparatus has an inspection head 1 that can be brought into contact with and separated from a nozzle portion 11 of a container 10 filled with a content liquid, and a pressure accumulating chamber 2 that stores air pressure as a constant pressure gas. A container pressurizing mechanism 3 serving as a container pressurizing means for supplying a constant amount of air pressure to the container 10 through the inspection head 1, and a pressure for supplying a constant pressure gas to the pressure accumulating chamber 2 of the container pressurizing mechanism 3 A pressure supply unit 4 as a supply unit, a pressure sensor 5 as a pressure measurement unit connected to the inspection head 1, and a connection between the container pressurizing mechanism 3, the pressure supply unit 4 and the inspection head 1 are selectively used. A first electromagnetic switching valve 6 for switching.
In addition, when the container 10 is a flexible container, a container fixing jig 7 that holds the outer periphery of the container 10 and suppresses expansion during pressurization is provided in order to suppress expansion of the container during pressurization.
The pressure sensor 5 is connected to the sequencer 100, and the pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 5 is read into the sequencer 100. After the container pressurization mechanism 3 pressurizes the sequencer 100, the filling amount is appropriate when the pressure P1 in the container 10 read from the pressure sensor 5 is within the reference range, and the filling amount when the pressure P1 is outside the reference range. Functions as a determination means for determining that is inappropriate.
Further, based on the pressure P1 immediately after the pressurization is completed and the pressure decrease amount ΔP after the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, if the pressure decrease amount ΔP is within the threshold value ΔP0, there is no leakage, and if the threshold value is exceeded. The leak is judged as leaking.
That is, the pressure sensor 5 takes in the pressure data as an analog value for a certain period of time, detects the value of P1 at the timing of T1, further uses the height of P1 as a reference value, and then calculates the value of P2, and P1 -P2 derives ΔP.
The pressure sensor 5 converts a pressure value into a voltage (volt), and the sequencer 100 has a function of determining a filling amount and a leak with a voltage and displaying only a display in MPa. For example, when the pressure sensor 5 measures the pressure in the range of 1 to 5 volts, the display of the sequencer 100 is displayed in the range of 0 to 1 MPa.
[0011]
The inspection head 1 has an air passage (not shown) inside, and the inspection head 1 and the first electromagnetic switching valve 6 are connected by a pressurization line 8.
The inspection head 1 is disposed above the nozzle portion 11 of the container 10 and is moved up and down by a head lifting cylinder 12. The head lifting cylinder 12 is controlled by a second electromagnetic switching valve 13.
[0012]
The container pressurizing mechanism 3 includes a pressurizing cylinder 31 having the pressure accumulating chamber 2 and a drive cylinder 32 as an actuator for driving the pressurizing cylinder 31. In FIG. 3, the pressurizing cylinder 31 and the drive cylinder 32 are arranged in parallel to each other. Further, instead of the drive cylinder, a cam, a link, a direct acting actuator (air cylinder, ball screw) or the like connected to the pressure cylinder can be appropriately selected. The rods 31a and 32a of each cylinder are connected to each other via a connecting member 33, and move in synchronization in the same direction. That is, when the rod 32a of the drive cylinder 32 is pushed out, the rod 31a of the pressure cylinder 31 is also pushed out, the pressure accumulating chamber 2 is expanded and the air pressure is replenished, and when the rod 32a of the drive cylinder 32 is returned into the cylinder, the pressure cylinder The rod 31a of 31 is also returned to the inside of the cylinder, the pressure accumulating chamber 2 is contracted, and the internal air pressure is pushed out.
The drive cylinder 32 is a double-acting cylinder and is controlled by the third electromagnetic switching valve 14. The drive cylinder 32 is provided with a stopper 32d that can adjust the stroke of the rod 32a.
[0013]
The pressure supply unit 4 includes a pressure source 40 and first and second pressure regulating valves 41 and 42 connected to the pressure source 40, and the first constant pressure supply line 43 is regulated to a constant pressure by the first pressure regulating valve 41. The second constant pressure supply line 44 is regulated to a constant pressure by the two pressure regulating valves, the first and second pressure regulating valves 41 and 42.
[0014]
The first electromagnetic switching valve 6 is a three-position five-port valve that communicates between the second constant pressure supply line 44 of the pressure supply unit 4 and the pressure accumulating chamber 2 of the pressurizing cylinder 31 and between the pressure accumulating chamber 2 and the inspection head 1. Pressure supply position 6A for communication, neutral position N for closing all ports, container pressurization that allows communication between the pressure accumulation chamber 2 and the inspection head 1 and communication between the pressure accumulation chamber 2 and the second constant pressure supply line 44 It is possible to switch to three positions with position 6B.
The third electromagnetic switching valve 14 is also a three-position five-port valve, and communicates between the rod push chamber 32b of the drive cylinder 32 and the first constant pressure supply line 43, and the rod push position 14A communicates between the rod return chamber 32c and the open port. Three positions: a rod return position 14B that communicates between the rod return chamber 32c of the drive cylinder 32 and the first constant pressure supply line 43 and communicates between the rod push chamber 32b and the open port, and a neutral position N that closes all the ports. Can be switched to.
[0015]
Throttle valves 34a and 34b for speed adjustment are provided in a passage connecting the third electromagnetic switching valve 14 and the rod push chamber 32b of the drive cylinder 32 and the third electromagnetic switching valve 14 and the rod return chamber 32c.
The second electromagnetic switching valve 13 is also a three-position five-port valve. The rod pushing position 13A communicates between the rod pushing chamber 12b in the head elevating cylinder 12 and the first constant pressure supply line 43 and communicates the rod return chamber 12c with the open port. The rod return chamber 12c and the first constant pressure supply line 43 communicate with each other and the rod push chamber 12b and the open port communicate with each other, and a return position 13B and a neutral position N that closes all the ports can be switched to three positions. It has become.
Throttle valves 15a and 15b for speed adjustment are also provided in a passage connecting the second electromagnetic switching valve 13 and the rod push chamber 12b of the head lifting cylinder 12 and the second electromagnetic switching valve 13 and the rod return chamber 12c.
These first, second and third electromagnetic switching valves 6, 13 and 14 are controlled by the sequencer 100.
As shown in FIG. 4, the sequencer 100 controls the first, second, and third electromagnetic switching valves 6, 13, and 14 based on a predetermined control program, and stores measurement information from the pressure sensor 5 in a memory. Based on a predetermined determination program stored in 101, the CPU 102 obtains a pressure peak value and determines whether or not this peak value is within a predetermined reference range.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the container inspection apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The pressure accumulating chamber 2 of the pressurizing cylinder 31 is previously filled with a constant pressure of air pressure P0, and both the pressurizing cylinder 31 and the rods 31a and 32a of the drive cylinder 32 are pushed out (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). ).
[0017]
First, the container 10 is set.
Next, the second electromagnetic switching valve 13 is switched to the rod pushing position 13A, air pressure flows into the rod pushing chamber 12b of the head lifting cylinder 12, and the rod 12a is pushed downward.
The inspection head 1 is lowered by the rod 12a of the head raising / lowering cylinder 12, and is closely sealed to the nozzle portion 11 of the container 10. The container 10 is filled with a predetermined amount of content liquid, and an inner plug or the like is set in the nozzle portion 11.
[0018]
Next, the first and third electromagnetic switching valves 6 and 14 are switched.
The first electromagnetic switching valve 6 switches to the container pressurizing position 6A, the accumulator chamber 2 of the pressurizing cylinder 3 communicates with the inspection head 1, and at the same time, the third electromagnetic switching valve 14 switches to the rod return position 14B. The rod 32a of the drive cylinder 32 is returned into the cylinder, the rod 3a of the pressurizing cylinder 31 connected to the rod 32a is returned into the cylinder, and the air pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 2 is increased in the pressurization line 8 and the inspection head 1. Is supplied into the container 10 through the passage.
After a certain time has elapsed from the start of air supply (= when air supply is completed), the first and second electromagnetic switching valves 3 and 14 are switched to the neutral position N, and the head space 10a of the container 10 is sealed. The sealed range includes the pressurization line 8 between the first electromagnetic switching valve 3 and the inspection head 1, the air passage in the inspection head 1, and the entire interior of the head space 10 a of the container 10. The pressure is the same.
[0019]
The pressure in the container 10 is detected by the pressure sensor 5, and the detected value is sequentially read into the sequencer 100.
That is, the pressure in the head space 10a gradually increases as the rod 31a of the pressurizing cylinder 31 moves, and the air supply is completed when the rod 32a of the drive cylinder 32 hits the stopper 32d. Becomes a peak. It is determined whether this pressure is within the reference range.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the relationship between the content liquid filling amount of the container and the pressure.
The upper limit of the filling amount is m, the lower limit is n, the pressure during pressurization when the filling amount is the upper limit m is Pm, and the pressure during pressurization when the filling amount is the lower limit n is Pn. If the pressure at the time of pressurization is between Pm and Pn, it can be determined that the liquid amount is appropriate.
[0020]
FIG. 1A is an example in which the filling amount of the content liquid is in an appropriate range (m to n), and the peak pressure P1 is within the reference range (Pm to Pn) as shown in FIG.
FIG. 1B shows a case where the amount of liquid in the container is too large. As shown in FIG. 1D, the peak pressure P1 ′ exceeds the upper limit Pn of the reference range and is determined to be inappropriate.
FIG. 1 (C) shows a case where the amount of liquid in the container is too small. As shown in FIG. 1 (D), the peak pressure P1 ″ is smaller than the lower limit Pm of the reference range, and is determined to be inappropriate.
[0021]
Further, after a fixed time has elapsed from the time of filling amount determination (T1) (at time T2), the pressure (P2) in the container 10 is measured again to obtain a differential pressure ΔP from the peak value P1. It is compared whether or not the obtained differential pressure Δ = P1−P2 is within a certain threshold value ΔP0, and if it is within the threshold value, the leak is within an allowable range and a non-defective product is determined.
On the other hand, even if the filling amount of the solution is appropriate, if the differential pressure ΔP ′ exceeds the threshold value ΔP0 as shown in FIG.
Next, the first electromagnetic switching valve 6 is switched, and the pressure in the container 10 is released through the pressure relief valve 9 connected to the first electromagnetic switching valve 6.
Further, the third electromagnetic switching valve 14 is switched to the rod pushing position 14B, the rod 32a of the drive cylinder 32 is pushed out, and at the same time the rod 31a of the pressurizing cylinder 31 is pushed out into the pressure accumulating chamber 2 from the second constant pressure supply line 44. The air pressure of the constant pressure P0 regulated by the first and second pressure regulating valves 41 and 42 is filled.
[0022]
Next, the third electromagnetic switching valve 13 is switched, the rod 12a of the head lifting cylinder 12 is returned, the inspection head 1 is lifted away from the container 10, and the container 10 is taken out.
Then, based on the content liquid filling amount and the leakage determination result determined earlier, when the filling amount is appropriate and there is no leakage, it is determined as a non-defective product, and the process proceeds to the next step.
If at least one of the liquid amount and the leak is determined to be defective, it is determined as a defective product, and the product is discharged from the line.
[0023]
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to display the failure factor (leakage, filling amount failure) of the discharged product.
Further, among the products with poor filling amount, for example, there are products that do not reach P1 because the leakage amount is too large although the filling amount is originally proper. Such a thing can also be distinguished and displayed as shown in FIG. Here, the failure of P2 basically means a failure of the pressure drop amount.
As this determination procedure, for example, as shown in a simplified manner in FIG. 7B, even when P1 is not within a certain range, P2 is read and whether ΔP (= P1−P2) is equal to or less than a reference position. What is necessary is just to perform the determination of a leak.
[0024]
【Example】
An eye drop container (with a stopper) with a filling amount of 14 ml was prepared.
Then, the inspection head 1 is lowered and brought into close contact with the nozzle portion 11 of the container 10, and a constant pressure (0.5 MPa) of air is blown into the container 10 by the container pressurizing mechanism 3. 10a was in a pressurized state.
Thereafter, the pressure in the container 10 was measured by the pressure sensor 5, the measured value was converted into an analog signal, and the value at the time when the air blowing was completed was read into the sequencer 100 as the peak value (P1).
Then, the filling amount was determined based on whether the peak pressure P1 is within the reference value (0.5 Mpa ± 0.05 Mpa).
Next, the pressure (P2) in the container 10 was further determined in the same manner as when the peak pressure P1 was determined after a predetermined time (t) while the pressurized state of the container 10 was maintained.
Then, the differential pressure ΔP was determined, and it was determined whether or not the product had an air leak based on whether or not the determined value was equal to or less than a certain reference value (threshold value).
[0025]
(result)
In the above inspection test, it was found that the pressure changed by about 10 kpa when the content liquid was 0.2 ml different. From this, it was found that the amount of the content liquid can be measured in units of about 0.2 ml.
Moreover, even in the leak inspection, it was possible to determine without any problem.
[0027]
[ Effect of the invention ]
As described above , according to the container inspection apparatus of the present invention , the container pressurizing means having a pressure accumulation chamber for storing a constant pressure gas and supplying a constant amount of gas into the container, and the container pressurization By supplying pressure supply means for supplying a constant pressure gas to the pressure accumulating chamber of the means and pressure measurement means for measuring the pressure in the container pressurized by the container pressurizing means, the pressure is accurately supplied And the filling amount of the content liquid can be accurately determined. Further, by providing determination means for determining the suitability of the filling amount based on the measurement information from the pressure measuring means, the filling amount of the content liquid can be automatically determined. Further, since the leak determination is performed by the determination unit, the determination of the filling amount and the determination of the leak can be automatically performed.
In addition , since it is determined whether or not the peak value of the pressure measured by the pressure measuring means is within the reference range, it is possible to accurately cope with variations in space volume.
Furthermore , by providing a container fixing jig that holds the outer periphery of the container and suppresses the expansion of the container during pressurization, the influence of a pressure drop due to the expansion of the container can be eliminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are principle diagrams of a container inspection method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1D is a graph showing pressure changes in (A) to (C). is there.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a pressure change in the leak failure determination of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of the liquid amount inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a control block diagram of the inspection apparatus in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an inspection procedure.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an inspection procedure in which a failure factor is displayed.
FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram for displaying defect factors in more detail, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a determination procedure for performing the display of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 inspection head, 2 accumulator,
3 container pressurization mechanism (container pressurization means), 31 pressurization cylinder, 32 drive cylinders 31a, 32a rod, 32d stopper 4 pressure supply part (pressure supply means),
40 pressure source,
41, 42 1st, 2nd pressure regulating valve, 43, 44 1st, 2nd constant pressure supply line 5 Pressure sensor (pressure measuring means),
6 first electromagnetic switching valve,
6A Pressure replenishment position, 6B Container pressurization position, N Neutral position 7 Container fixing jig 10 Container, 10a Head space 11 Nozzle part 12 Head lift cylinder 12a, 12b Rod push chamber, rod return chamber 13 Third electromagnetic switching valve 14 2 Solenoid switching valve 100 Sequencer

Claims (3)

An inspection head that can be moved toward and away from the opening of the container;
A container pressurizing means having a pressure accumulation chamber for storing a gas at a constant pressure, and supplying a constant pressure and a constant amount of gas stored in the pressure accumulation chamber into the container through the inspection head;
Pressure supply means for supplying a constant pressure gas to the pressure accumulating chamber of the container pressurizing means;
Pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the container pressurized by the container pressurizing means;
An electromagnetic switching valve for selectively switching the connection between the container pressurizing means, the pressure supply means and the inspection head; and the pressure in the container measured by the pressure measuring means after the pressurization by the container pressurizing means is within a reference range If it is within the range, it is determined that the filling amount is appropriate, and if it is outside the reference range, the filling amount is determined to be inappropriate . Determining means for determining whether there is no leak if it is within the threshold, and if there is a leak if the threshold is exceeded,
A container inspection apparatus comprising: The container inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines whether or not a peak value of the pressure measured by the pressure measurement unit is within a reference range. Inspection device container of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a container fixing jig holding the outer periphery of the container holding the expansion of the container during pressurization.

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