JP5337086B2 - X-ray inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus that irradiates an inspection object with X-rays and detects foreign matter in the inspection object.

  Conventionally, an X-ray inspection apparatus or the like has been used to detect foreign matter in an inspection object. R & D is being conducted daily on these X-ray inspection apparatuses.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an X-ray inspection apparatus. This X-ray inspection apparatus is an X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects an inspection object having a seal portion on at least one side in which contents are accommodated in a non-transparent packaging material, and the product size of the inspection object and the seal portion On the screen of the display, the setting items for setting at least the product size and the seal width of the seal portion are associated with the identifier together with the outline image of the inspected object to which the identifier specifying the position and length of the seal width is assigned. Display control means for controlling display.

  Also in Patent Document 2, an X-ray inspection apparatus is disclosed. This X-ray inspection apparatus irradiates an inspection object whose contents are stored in a container with X-rays, and inspects the inspection object based on the amount of X-ray transmission associated with the irradiation of the X-ray. A non-existing area setting means for setting a predetermined area other than the area where the content exists as a non-existing area, and whether there is an unnecessary object in the non-existing area set by the non-existing area setting means Defect determining means for determining whether or not there is a defect.

JP 2005-91015 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-127862

  However, in the above conventional X-ray inspection apparatus, some packaging materials are difficult to be reflected in an X-ray transmission image, and therefore, it may be impossible to accurately perform a shortage inspection or the like. Further, the conventional X-ray inspection apparatus does not estimate the outer shape of the packaging material for packaging the inspection object from the X-ray transmission image.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of accurately estimating the outer shape of a packaging material.

(1) An X-ray inspection apparatus according to one aspect is an X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects an object to be inspected packaged with a packaging material using X-rays irradiated from an X-ray source. A detector that generates detection data by detecting X-rays that have been irradiated and transmitted through an object to be detected, an acquisition unit that acquires a reference image serving as a reference for estimating the outer shape of the packaging material from the detection data, and a reference image And an estimation unit for estimating the outer shape of the packaging material. The reference image is an image of another region that is thicker than the thickness of one region.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to one aspect, X-rays that have passed through the inspection object are detected by a detector, and detection data is generated by the detector. A reference image serving as a reference for estimating the outer shape of the packaging material is acquired from the detection data by the acquisition unit. And based on the acquired reference | standard image, the external shape of the said packaging material is estimated by the estimation part.

  In this case, the outer shape of the packaging material can be estimated with high accuracy based on the reference image, even if the outer shape of the packaging material cannot be directly grasped in the X-ray transmission image depending on the material of the packaging material. . Thereby, based on the estimated outer shape of the packaging material and the reference image, it is possible to reliably recognize problems such as biting of the inspection object into the packaging material. Therefore, product defects can be prevented from occurring.

The reference image here is an image of another region that is thicker than the thickness of one region. Depending on the packaging material, a zipper or tray that is thicker than the thickness of the bag portion may be provided. Since the zipper or tray has a considerable thickness, it is easily reflected in an X-ray transmission image. Therefore, by acquiring an image of a zipper or a tray, the outer shape of the packaging material can be estimated with high accuracy in consideration of the known seal width.

  (2) The X-ray inspection apparatus may further include a determination unit that determines the bite of the inspection object based on the outer shape of the packaging material estimated by the estimation unit.

  In this case, the seal width (seal bite) can be determined based on the accurately estimated outer shape of the packaging material. Then, based on the presence / absence of intrusion of the inspection object with respect to the seal width, the determination unit determines whether the inspection object is bitten. As a result, the occurrence of product defects can be reliably prevented.

( 3 ) The estimation unit may estimate the outer shape of the packaging material by calculating an approximate line with respect to the reference image. In this case, depending on the material of the packaging material, the outline of the packaging material may appear in an incomplete state in the X-ray transmission image, if not completely. Therefore, the external shape of the packaging material can be estimated by approximating the external shape of the packaging material in an incomplete state with an approximate line.

According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the outer shape of the packaging material can be estimated with high accuracy based on a reference image that is an image of another region thicker than the thickness of one region . Thereby, based on the estimated outer shape of the packaging material and the reference image, it is possible to reliably recognize problems such as biting of the inspection object into the packaging material. Therefore, product defects can be prevented from occurring.

1 is a schematic external view showing an example of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure part in connection with an image process in an X-ray inspection apparatus. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the biting test | inspection of a to-be-inspected object. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the biting test | inspection of the to-be-inspected object which concerns on another example. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the biting test | inspection of the to-be-inspected object which concerns on another example. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the biting test | inspection of the to-be-inspected object which concerns on another example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of an external shape estimation result.

  Hereinafter, an X-ray inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic external view showing an example of the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the internal structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 has an X-ray inspection chamber 300 formed therein. An X-ray irradiation apparatus 200 is built in the X-ray examination room 300. A belt conveyor 800 is provided so as to penetrate the X-ray examination room 300.

  An X-ray leakage prevention curtain 500 that prevents X-ray leakage from the opening of the X-ray examination room 300 is provided. In addition, the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 is provided with a touch panel type input display unit MT for an operator to operate. The operator drives the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 by operating the input display unit MT.

  The operator places the inspection object 900 (FIG. 2) on the belt conveyor 800. The inspection object 900 includes a packaging material and contents packaged by the packaging material. In this embodiment, the inspection 900 placed on the belt conveyor 800 is subjected to an inspection (hereinafter referred to as a biting test) as to whether or not the contents are biting into the sealing portion of the packaging material. . Details will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the X-ray examination room 300 mainly includes an X-ray irradiation apparatus 200, a line sensor 220, an X-ray leakage prevention curtain 500, and a belt conveyor 800. The X-ray leakage prevention curtain 500 includes an X-ray leakage prevention curtain 510 on the entrance side of the X-ray examination room 300 and an X-ray leakage prevention curtain 520 on the exit side.

  The belt conveyor 800 is configured by winding an endless belt around a pair of rollers. A line sensor 220 that includes a scintillator and a photodiode element and detects X-rays is provided inside the belt conveyor 800. The line sensor 220 includes a plurality of detection elements that detect X-rays.

  In FIG. 2, the inspection object 900 is placed on the belt conveyor 800. When the belt conveyor 800 is driven, the inspection object 900 is conveyed along the direction of the arrow d1. The inspection object 900 being transported first passes through the X-ray leakage prevention curtain 510 and moves into the X-ray inspection room 300.

  Next, X-rays 210 are irradiated from the X-ray irradiation apparatus 200 to the inspection object 900 being conveyed. Then, the X-ray 210 that has passed through the inspection object 900 enters the line sensor 220.

  The line sensor 220 generates detection data based on the incident X-ray 210. The bite inspection is performed based on the detection data generated by the line sensor 220.

  The inspected object 900 that has been subjected to the biting inspection is continuously conveyed by the belt conveyor 800, and then moves outside the X-ray inspection chamber 300 after passing through the X-ray leakage prevention curtain 520. Thereafter, the inspection object 900 is conveyed to the next process.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components related to image processing in the X-ray inspection apparatus 100, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the biting inspection of the inspection object 900.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described line sensor 220, A / D converter 230, detection processing unit FS, and the above-described input display unit MT as components related to image processing. Is provided.

  The detection processing unit FS includes a luminance data acquisition unit 240, a summation unit 250, an acquisition unit 260, an estimation unit 270, a storage unit 271, a determination unit 280, and a display data creation unit 290. Each component of the detection processing unit FS is functionally realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a processing program stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read-Only Memory). The Such a processing program can be installed from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM in which the processing program is recorded, or can be downloaded from a server via a network. The storage unit 271 stores in advance outline data for selecting a reference image by the acquisition unit 260 described later. Hereinafter, the bite inspection will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 3, first, X-rays 210 that have passed through the inspection object 900 are incident on the line sensor 220, and the line sensor 220 generates detection data KDa that is analog data based on the X-rays 210. The detection data KDa is converted into detection data KDd which is digital data by the A / D converter 230.

  The brightness data LD1 is acquired by the brightness data acquisition unit 240 based on the detection value of the detection data KDd. The luminance data LD1 corresponds to one line of the image. Then, the luminance data LD2 corresponding to all lines of the image is generated by adding the plurality of luminance data LD1 by the adding unit 250.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the acquisition unit 260 acquires, as a reference image, an image of an opening / closing unit 902 such as a zipper from the luminance data LD2. Here, the reference image is an image that is easily reflected in an X-ray transmission image (including an image of another region that is thicker than the thickness of one region). In FIG. 4, the contents 901 packaged in the packaging material 903 are illustrated as a single object, but a plurality of contents (for example, potato chips) may be packaged with the packaging material 903.

  Since the packaging material 903 for wrapping the contents 901 is made of a transparent thin film, it is difficult to appear in an X-ray transmission image. As a result, it is difficult to recognize the outer shape of the packaging material 903. Therefore, as described above, an image of the opening / closing unit 902 that has a considerable thickness and is easily reflected in an X-ray transmission image is selected.

  Next, the estimation unit 270 estimates the outer shape of the packaging material 903 and the seal unit 904 based on the reference data SD related to the image of the opening / closing unit 902 acquired by the acquisition unit 260. In this case, the estimation unit 270 can estimate the outer shapes of the seal unit 904 and the packaging material 903 based on, for example, the interval (interval as a design value) from the end of the opening / closing unit 902 stored in the storage unit 271. .

  Subsequently, the determination unit 280 determines the biting of the contents 901 based on the outer shape data GD related to the outer shape of the packaging material 903 estimated by the estimation unit 270. In FIG. 4, since a part of the contents 901 has entered the seal portion 904 in the region R1, the determination unit 280 has a part of the contents 901 bitten by the seal portion 904 (with biting). ). Further, the display data creation unit 290 creates display data for display on the input display unit MT. In this case, an image as shown in FIG. 4 may be displayed on the input display unit MT. Hereinafter, another example of the inspection object 900 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  5, 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams for explaining a biting inspection of an inspection object according to another example.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the inspection object 900a includes a tray 905 and a packaging material 903 for storing the contents 901. In this example, the outer frame 905b of the tray 905 is difficult to appear in the X-ray transmission image, but the storage surface 905a for storing the contents 901 has a depth, as shown in the side view of FIG. That is, since it has the thickness t1, it is easily reflected in the X-ray transmission image.

  Therefore, the acquisition unit 260 (FIG. 3) acquires an image of the storage surface 905a of the tray 905 as a reference image. Then, the estimation unit 270 (FIG. 3) stores, for example, the outer frame 905b of the tray 905 and the outer shape of the packaging material 903 based on the distance from the storage surface 905a of the tray 905 stored in the storage unit 271 (FIG. 3). Is estimated. The processing by the determination unit 280 (FIG. 3) is the same as described above.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the inspected object 900b includes a content (not shown) and a packaging material 903 for packaging the content. In this example, as in FIG. 4, the packaging material 903 made of a transparent thin film is difficult to appear in the X-ray transmission image. Therefore, the acquisition unit 260 acquires an image of the registration mark RM provided on the packaging material 903 as the reference image. In this case, an image of the registration mark RM can be acquired by applying a coating agent (ink) having a high X-ray absorption rate to the registration mark RM.

  Then, the estimation unit 270 estimates the outer shapes of the seal unit 904 and the packaging material 903 based on, for example, the interval from the registration mark RM stored in the storage unit 271. Processing by the determination unit 280 is the same as described above.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), depending on the material of the packaging material that wraps the contents 901 as the object to be inspected 900c, the outer shape in an incomplete state (if not completely in the X-ray transmission image) ( (Hereinafter referred to as the outline) 930 is reflected. In this example, the acquisition unit 260 acquires an image of the outline 930 as a reference image.

  Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the estimation unit 270 estimates the outer shape of the packaging material 903 by calculating the approximate line NL with respect to the approximate outer shape 930 acquired by the acquisition unit 260. Processing by the determination unit 280 is the same as described above.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of the outline estimation result on the input display unit MT. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the reference image is, for example, the opening / closing part 902, the outer shape of the packaging material 903 and the estimated image of the seal part 904 are displayed above the input display part MT. Further, the seal widths of the left, right, upper and lower seal portions 904 are respectively displayed in the box portions B1 to B4 below the input display portion MT.

  For example, when it is desired to change the setting of the right seal width, the operator touches the region R2 (region near the right seal width) R2 in FIG. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8B, an input unit TK for changing the seal width is displayed. The operator can change the value of the box part B2 by using the input part TK.

(Effect in this embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a reference image (each image of the opening / closing unit 902, the storage surface 905a of the tray 905, the registration mark RM, and the general outer shape 930) serving as a reference for estimating the outer shape of the packaging material 903 is acquired from the luminance data LD2 by the acquisition unit 260 Obtained by Based on the acquired reference image, the outer shape of the packaging material 903 is estimated by the estimation unit 270.

  In this case, even if the external shape of the packaging material 903 cannot be directly grasped in the X-ray transmission image depending on the material of the packaging material 903, the external shape of the packaging material 903 is estimated with high accuracy based on the reference image. be able to. Thereby, based on the estimated outer shape of the packaging material 903 and the reference image, it is possible to reliably recognize defects such as biting of the inspection object 900 with respect to the packaging material 903. Therefore, product defects can be prevented from occurring.

  In this embodiment, the seal region (seal bite) can be determined from the outer shape of the packaging material 903 accurately estimated by the estimation unit 270 and the seal width stored in the storage unit 271. Then, based on whether or not the inspection object 900 has entered the seal area, the determination unit 280 determines whether the inspection object 900 is bitten. As a result, the occurrence of product defects can be reliably prevented.

  Further, the image of the opening / closing portion 902, the storage surface 905a of the tray 905, or the registration mark RM, which has a thickness larger than the thickness of the bag portion and is easily reflected in the X-ray transmission image, is used as the reference image. The reference for estimating the outer shape can be obtained with certainty. Therefore, the outer shape of the packaging material 903 can be estimated reliably and with high accuracy.

  Further, depending on the material of the packaging material 903, the outline of the packaging material 903 (general outline 930) may appear in an incomplete state in the X-ray transmission image, if not completely. In the present embodiment, the outer shape of the packaging material 903 can be estimated by approximating the approximate outer shape 930 with the approximate line NL.

(Correspondence between each component of claims and each part of the embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the X-ray inspection apparatus 100 corresponds to an X-ray inspection apparatus, the X-ray irradiation apparatus 200 corresponds to an X-ray source, the packaging material 903 corresponds to a packaging material, and the inspection objects 900, 900a, 900b and 900c correspond to the inspected object, X-ray 210 corresponds to the X-ray, detection data KDa and KDd and luminance data LD1 and LD2 correspond to the detection data, and line sensor 220 corresponds to the detector, Each image of the opening / closing unit 902, the storage surface 905a, the registration mark RM, and the outline 930 corresponds to a reference image, the acquisition unit 260 corresponds to an acquisition unit, the estimation unit 270 corresponds to an estimation unit, and the determination unit 280 determines The approximate line NL corresponds to the approximate line.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, the outline of the packaging material 903 is estimated by approximating the approximate outline 930 with the approximate line NL. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The outer shape of the packaging material 903 may be estimated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the images of the opening / closing part 902, the storage surface 905a, the registration mark RM, and the outline 930 are used as the reference images. Other examples include the following. That is, there may be a region where the end portions of the packaging material 903 are overlapped with each other, for example, in the vicinity of the center of the packaging material 903 to increase the thickness. Since the region with the increased thickness is easily reflected in the X-ray transmission image, the image in the region can be used as the reference image.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the inspection of the biting of the contents 901 with respect to the seal portion 904 is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and whether or not foreign matter such as debris is mixed in the seal portion 904 is also checked. It can be similarly examined.

  Furthermore, although one preferable embodiment of the present invention is as described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood that various other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the effect | action and effect by the structure of this invention are described, these effect | actions and effects are examples and do not limit this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 X-ray inspection apparatus 200 X-ray irradiation apparatus 210 X-ray 220 Line sensor 260 Acquisition part 270 Estimation part 280 Determination part 900, 900a, 900b, 900c Inspected object 901 Contents 902 Opening / closing part 903 Packaging material 904 Seal part 905 Tray 905a Storage surface 930 Outline KDa, KDd Detection data LD1, LD2 Brightness data MT Input display NL Approximate line RM Registration mark

Claims (3)

An X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects an object to be inspected packaged with a packaging material using X-rays irradiated from an X-ray source,
A detector that generates detection data by detecting X-rays irradiated from the X-ray source and transmitted through the inspection object;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a reference image from the detection data;
An estimation unit that estimates the outer shape of the packaging material based on the reference image;
Equipped with a,
The X-ray inspection apparatus , wherein the reference image is an image of another region that is thicker than the thickness of the one region .   The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines the biting of the inspection object based on the outer shape of the packaging material estimated by the estimation unit. The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the estimation unit estimates an outer shape of the packaging material by calculating an approximate line with respect to the reference image.