JP5546021B2 - Tablet inspection device and PTP packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technical field including a tablet inspection apparatus used in manufacturing a PTP sheet and a PTP packaging machine including the tablet inspection apparatus.

  Generally, a PTP sheet includes a resin packaging film having a pocket portion filled with tablets and the like, and an aluminum cover film attached to the packaging film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion. It is configured.

  In manufacturing the PTP sheet, after the pocket portion is filled with tablets or the like, the appearance abnormality relating to chipping or cracking of the tablets is inspected. In the inspection, for example, light is irradiated from the irradiation means, the transmitted light or reflected light is imaged by a camera, and a chip of the tablet is inspected based on the captured image data.

  As the inspection method, for example, the outline of a tablet as a reference (target) is set in advance. On the other hand, the contour of the tablet is extracted from the image data of the tablet actually to be inspected, the outer periphery of the contour is followed by a vector locus (tangent), and the rotation angle of the vector is measured. Then, the rotation angle of the measured vector is compared with a preset angle preset for each coordinate of the contour of the reference tablet, and if a portion where the measured angle is larger than the preset angle is found, It is determined that there is a chip (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-172608 A

  However, the technique described in the above publication is such that the rotation angle of the vector of each actually measured point is compared with the set angle preset for each point of the reference tablet contour each time. It is. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare the contour of the reference tablet and the set angle data for each point every time the type of the tablet to be inspected, that is, the shape, size, etc. changes.

  In addition, the tablets filled in the pocket portions do not always take the same posture. For example, if the tablet is stored in a slightly inclined state in the pocket portion, the outline of the tablet extracted from the image data does not necessarily match the outline of the reference tablet. For this reason, there is a concern that an accurate angle comparison may be hindered, and as a result, there is a possibility that an inaccurate inspection cannot be performed or a malfunction such as an erroneous determination may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and the like, and can flexibly and smoothly cope with changes in tablets when inspecting for chipping of tablets in the manufacturing process of a PTP sheet. One of the main objectives is to provide a tablet inspection device and a PTP packaging machine that can improve the quality of the product.

  Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above-described problem will be described separately. In addition, the effect specific to the means to respond | corresponds as needed is added.

Means 1. In the manufacturing process of the PTP sheet, a tablet inspection device for inspecting a tablet contained in a pocket portion formed in a belt-shaped packaging film to be conveyed,
Illumination means capable of irradiating light to the tablet accommodated in the pocket portion,
Imaging means capable of imaging tablets in a range illuminated by the illumination means;
An image processing device for processing an image signal output from the imaging means,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Based on image data obtained from the image signal, contour extracting means for extracting the contour of the tablet;
First and second calculating means for calculating direction information of a tangent of a first predetermined point on the outline of the tablet and calculating direction information of a tangent of a second predetermined point on the outline of the tablet;
A third computing means for obtaining tangent direction information of a third predetermined point sandwiched between the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point on the outline of the tablet;
The direction information of the tangent of the third predetermined point is compared with the direction information of the tangent of the first predetermined point and the direction information of the tangent of the second predetermined point, and the direction of the tangent of the third predetermined point When the information deviates from the allowable range based on the tangent direction information of the first predetermined point and the tangent direction information of the second predetermined point, the determination for determining the third predetermined point as a defect candidate Means, and
The first and second calculation means calculate tangential direction information for a plurality of first predetermined points and second predetermined points on the outline of the tablet, and the third calculation means also Tangential direction information is calculated for a plurality of third predetermined points on the outline of the tablet, and the determination means performs a comparison determination of the tangential direction information for the plurality of third predetermined points. A tablet inspection apparatus characterized by being performed.

  Here, the “first predetermined point” and the “second predetermined point” are set so that the central angle of both points forms an acute angle, and the “third predetermined point” is an outline within the range of the central angle. It is set to be located above.

  Further, the “direction information” can be expressed by concepts such as gradient, inclination, angle, and vector. Further, the “direction information” can be expressed by a concept orthogonal to a tangent (for example, a brightness change vector) or the like.

  Furthermore, “comparing tangent direction information of the third predetermined point with tangent direction information of the first predetermined point and tangent direction information of the second predetermined point” is a relative comparison. This means that the tangent direction information of the third predetermined point is within the allowable range based on the tangent direction information of the first predetermined point and the tangent direction information of the second predetermined point. For example, the case where the vector angle of the tangent line of the third predetermined point is between the vector angle of the tangent line of the first predetermined point and the vector angle of the tangent line of the second predetermined point can be cited.

  According to the means 1, the direction information of the tangent lines of the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point on the outline of the tablet is obtained by the first and second calculating means. Further, the third computing means obtains tangent direction information of the third predetermined point sandwiched between the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point. Then, the tangent direction information of the third predetermined point is compared with the tangent direction information of the first predetermined point and the tangent direction information of the second predetermined point, and the tangent direction information of the third predetermined point. Is deviated from the allowable range based on the tangent direction information of the first predetermined point and the tangent direction information of the second predetermined point, the determination unit determines that the third predetermined point is a defect candidate. The The tangent direction information of the first to third predetermined points is calculated in a plurality of ways, and the comparison determination by the determination means is performed on the plurality of third predetermined points. Here, when there is no chip or the like in the tablet, since the outline of the tablet is continuous, the tangent direction information of the third predetermined point is the tangential direction information of the first predetermined point and the tangent direction information of the first predetermined point. If it is within the allowable range based on the tangent direction information of the predetermined point 2 and deviates from the allowable range, the outline of the tablet is not continuous between the first and second predetermined points. It can be said.

  As described above, the means 1 can extract the outline of the tablet based on the image data obtained from the image signal, and perform the determination based on the extracted outline of the actual tablet, as described in the prior art. It is not necessary to prepare a separate reference tablet contour and set angle data for each point. For this reason, it is possible to respond flexibly and smoothly to changes in tablets, and it is possible to perform an accurate inspection. In addition, even if the tablet is stored in a slightly inclined state in the pocket portion, this means that the determination is made from the standpoint of the continuity of the contour of the tablet, so that the posture of the tablet is different every time. However, it does not cause misjudgment. Also in this respect, the determination of the defect candidate becomes more accurate, and as a result, the inspection accuracy can be drastically improved.

  Mean 2. The means 1 is characterized in that the first predetermined point and the third predetermined point, and the third predetermined point and the second predetermined point are set at equal intervals or equal angular intervals. Tablet inspection device.

  Here, “equal spacing” means that the contour lengths between the predetermined points are equal, and “equal angular spacing” means when a line segment from each predetermined point to the center of gravity or the center is drawn. It means that the angles formed by each line segment are equal.

  According to the means 2, it is possible to perform inspection with higher accuracy than when the third predetermined point is set to be biased toward the first predetermined point side or the second predetermined point side.

Means 3. The direction information of the tangent line of the first predetermined point or the second predetermined point calculated by the first and second calculation means is calculated by the third calculation means to be calculated by the third calculation means in another comparison determination. Can be used as tangent direction information for a given point, or
The direction information of the tangent line of the third predetermined point calculated by the third calculating means is used as the first predetermined point or the second predetermined value to be calculated by the first and second calculating means in another comparison determination. Can be used as tangent direction information for a given point, or
The direction information of one tangent of the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point calculated by the first and second calculating means is calculated by the first and second calculating means in another comparison determination. The tablet inspection apparatus according to means 1 or 2, characterized in that it can be used as direction information of the other tangent line among the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point to be performed.

  According to the means 3, what is information on the tangent direction of the first predetermined point, the second predetermined point, or the third predetermined point in a certain comparison determination is different from that in another determination. Can be used as tangent direction information. For this reason, the trouble of calculating the direction information of each tangent line can be omitted, and as a result, the inspection speed can be improved.

  Means 4. As the third predetermined point, at least 12 types are set at equal intervals or at equal angular intervals, and the determination unit performs comparison determination of tangent direction information regarding at least 12 third predetermined points. The tablet inspection device according to any one of means 1 to 3, wherein the tablet inspection device is a device.

  According to the means 4, it is possible to perform a more uniform inspection over the entire range on the contour, and it is possible to prevent problems caused by inspecting only specific biased parts. The third predetermined point is more preferably set at least 24, more preferably at least 72, and even more preferably at least 360. Further, for the purpose of further improving the inspection accuracy, it is desirable that all the points (pixel points) on the contour are compared and determined.

  Means 5. Based on the third predetermined point determined as a defect candidate, the area or length of the missing region is obtained, and when the area or length exceeds a predetermined specified value, the defective product is determined. The tablet inspection apparatus according to any one of means 1 to 4, which is characterized.

  According to the means 5, it is not determined that an error or an extremely fine chip or the like of an allowable level is defective, and as a result, deterioration of the non-defective product error rate can be suppressed.

  Means 6. A PTP packaging machine comprising the tablet inspection device according to any one of means 1 to 5.

  By providing the tablet inspection apparatus in the PTP packaging machine as in the means 6, there is a merit that defective products can be efficiently excluded in the manufacturing process of the PTP sheet.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure, such as a PTP packaging machine in one Embodiment. (A) is a perspective view which shows a PTP sheet, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view which shows a PTP sheet. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a tablet inspection apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an "inspection routine." It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline of the tablet used as a test object, and is a figure explaining the concept of a comparison. (A) is a schematic diagram of the outline of a tablet showing chipping of the tablet and the like (b) is an enlarged schematic diagram. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating another embodiment. (A), (b) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the PTP sheet is inspected for defects in the PTP packaging machine by installing the tablet inspection device in the PTP packaging machine.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the PTP sheet 1 is attached to the container film 3 as a packaging film having a plurality of pocket portions 2 and the container film 3 so as to close the pocket portions 2. And a sealing film 4 as a covered cover film.

  The container film 3 is made of, for example, a relatively hard thermoplastic resin material having a predetermined rigidity, such as PP (polypropylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and has light transparency (here, transparent). Presents). The sealing film 4 is made of aluminum.

  Each pocket portion 2 accommodates one tablet 5 having, for example, a disc shape (circular shape in plan view). Although the tablet 5 of this embodiment has a color close to white, the color is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the PTP packaging machine 7 automatically packages the tablets 5 on the container film 3. Specifically, a belt-shaped resin film such as PP or PVC is fed to the heating device 12 and the molding device 13 by the film feed roll 9 and the tension rolls 10 and 11, and the pocket portion 2 for filling the tablet 5 is used as the resin film. Mold. And if the container film 3 in which the pocket part 2 was shape | molded by the resin film is sent to the bottom of the filling apparatus 14, the filling apparatus 14 will fill each pocket part 2 with the tablet 5 automatically.

  On the other hand, the sealing film 4 formed in a belt shape is guided toward the film receiving roll 18 via the tension rolls 16 and 17. A heating roll 19 can be pressed against the film receiving roll 18, and a lattice-like line (not shown) formed in a slightly convex shape is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 19. The container film 3 and the sealing film 4 are fed between the rolls 18 and 19. The sealing film 4 is attached to the container film 3 by passing both the films 3 and 4 between the rolls 18 and 19 in a heated and pressed state. Thus, a long PTP film 20 in which the tablet 5 is filled in each pocket portion 2 is manufactured.

  Now, on the downstream side of the filling device 14 and on the upstream side of the film receiving roll 18 and the heating roll 19, a tablet inspection device 21 for inspecting a defect of the tablet 5 along the transfer path of the container film 3. Is arranged. The tablet inspection device 21 performs an inspection mainly for detecting cracks and chippings in the peripheral edge of the tablet 5.

  After the inspection, after the sealing film 4 is attached to the container film 3, the PTP film 20 is cut into one PTP sheet by a punching device (not shown). When a defective product is determined by the tablet inspection device 21, the PTP sheet that has been determined to be defective is separately discharged by a defective sheet discharge mechanism (not shown).

  The outline of the PTP packaging machine 7 is as described above. In the following, the tablet inspection apparatus 21 will be described more specifically based on FIG.

  The tablet inspection device 21 includes an illumination device 22 as illumination means, a camera 23 as imaging means, an image processing device 24, a monitor 25, a keyboard 26, and the like.

  The illuminating device 22 is provided on the pocket portion 2 side of the container film 3 (see FIG. 1) and can emit light.

  The camera 23 is provided on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 1) to the lighting device 22 through the container film 3, and the light transmitted from the lighting device 22 is transmitted through the container film 3. Imaging is possible. In the present embodiment, a CCD camera is employed as the camera 23.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the light irradiated from the illuminating device 22 illuminates the container film 3 and the tablet 5, and the light transmitted therethrough is configured to be two-dimensionally imaged by the camera 23. The image data captured by the camera 23 is converted into a digital signal inside the camera 23 and then input to the image processing device 24 in the form of a digital signal.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing device 24 includes an image memory 41 corresponding to the camera 23, a binarizing unit 43, a determination memory 44, an inspection result and statistical data memory 45, a camera timing control unit 46, and a CPU. And an input / output interface 47 and the like, and can perform image data processing, defect determination (inspection), and the like as described later.

  The two-dimensional image data captured by the camera 23 is converted into a digital signal and then stored in the corresponding image memory 41. Further, the image data is binarized by the binarizing means 43 at the time of inspection, and then stored in the image memory 41 again.

  The CPU and the input / output interface 47 execute various processing programs while using the storage contents of the determination memory 44 to be described later, and send a control signal to the PTP packaging machine 7 or an operation signal from the PTP packaging machine 7. It is for transmitting and receiving various signals. Thereby, for example, the defective sheet discharge mechanism of the PTP packaging machine 7 can be controlled. The CPU and input / output interface 47 also has a function of sending display data to the monitor 25. With this function, binary or grayscale image data, defect inspection results, and the like can be displayed on the monitor 25. Further, the CPU and input / output interface 47 has a function of inputting data from the keyboard 26.

  The determination memory 44 stores data related to an allowable range of tangent direction information used for comparison and determination, which will be described later, and also stores data related to a predetermined defect area determination value So used for defective product determination. .

  The inspection result and statistical data memory 45 stores data such as coordinates relating to image data, inspection result data, statistical data obtained by probabilistically processing the inspection result data, and the like. These inspection result data and statistical data can be appropriately displayed on the monitor 25 together with each data stored in the determination memory 44 based on the control of the CPU and the input / output interface 47. Further, the CPU and the input / output interface 47 can send a control signal to the PTP packaging machine 7 based on these inspection result data and statistical data.

  Further, the camera timing control means 46 controls the timing at which image data captured by the camera 23 is taken into the image memory 41. Such timing is controlled based on a signal from an encoder (not shown) provided in the PTP packaging machine 7, and every time the container film 3 is fed by a predetermined amount, imaging is performed in units of sheets by the camera 23 (for example, PTP sheets to be punched). .

  Next, the procedure of the defect inspection (inspection of the chip of the peripheral portion of the tablet 5) executed mainly in the image processing device 24 will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in the figure, in the “inspection routine”, first, in step S101, binarization processing is executed. Specifically, the binarization unit 43 performs binarization processing on the image data stored in the image memory 41.

  In step S102, chunk processing is executed. Specifically, the tablet area corresponding to the tablet 5 is recognized based on the binarized data obtained in step S101.

  In step S103, a contour extraction process for extracting the contour shape of the tablet region obtained in step S102 is executed. Specifically, relative coordinate data of pixel points constituting the outline R1 of the tablet region is obtained. The processing in step S103 or the main body (CPU) that performs the processing corresponds to “contour extraction processing means”.

  In step S104, tangent direction information at each point is obtained based on the extracted contour R1 data.

  More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the center of gravity G of the contour R of the tablet 5 is specified. A reference straight line BL is set from the center of gravity G to a predetermined point BP on the contour R. In this example, since the tablet 5 has a circular shape in plan view, the predetermined point BP and the reference straight line BL can be arbitrarily set. Then, the direction information of the tangent SL3 about the predetermined point (third predetermined point P3) on the contour R to be determined this time is obtained. Further, an angle θ1 (θ1) obtained by increasing or decreasing a minute angle (δ: δ = 5 °, for example) with respect to an angle θ3 formed by the straight line L3 connecting the third predetermined point P3 and the center of gravity G and the reference straight line BL. = Θ3 + δ), θ2 (θ2 = θ3-δ), straight lines L1 and L2 passing through the center of gravity G are drawn for each angle θ1 and θ2, and each of the straight lines L1 and L2 and the extracted contour R is drawn. The intersection points are set as first and second predetermined points P1 and P2. Then, the orientation information of the tangent lines SL1 and SL2 is obtained for the first and second predetermined points P1 and P2. Note that the orientation information of the tangent lines SL1, SL2, and SL3 of the points P1, P2, and P3 is represented by a vector angle in this example.

  In step S104, all the points (pixel points) on the contour R1 are set as the third predetermined point P3, and the tangent SL3 orientation information is calculated for all the points (pixel points) on the contour R1. Is done. Corresponding to the third predetermined point P3, the orientation information of the tangents SL1 and SL2 is calculated also for the first and second predetermined points P1 and P2. However, for all points (pixel points) on the contour R1, the orientation information of the tangents SL1, SL2, and SL3 is obtained for the sake of convenience. It can also correspond to the first or second predetermined points P1 and P2, and at some point what was the first or second predetermined points P1 and P2 is a third place at another time. It may happen that it corresponds to the fixed point P3, and one of the first and second predetermined points P1 and P2 at one time may be the first and second predetermined points at another time. It may happen that one of P1 and P2 corresponds to the other. For this reason, in the present embodiment, in some cases, the direction information of the tangent lines SL1, SL2, SL3 of the first predetermined point P1, the second predetermined point P2, or the third predetermined point P3 At the time of determination, it can be used as orientation information of tangents SL1, SL2, and SL3 of predetermined points P1, P2, and P3 different from the above.

  Next, in step S105, a comparison process is executed for the orientation information of the tangent line SL3 of the plurality of third predetermined points P3 obtained in step S104. That is, the direction information of the tangent SL3 of the third predetermined point P3 is compared with the direction information of the tangent SL1 of the first predetermined point P1 and the direction information of the tangent SL2 of the second predetermined point P2, and the third place It is determined whether or not the orientation information of the tangent SL3 of the fixed point P3 deviates from an allowable range based on the orientation information of the tangent SL1 of the first predetermined point P1 and the orientation information of the tangent SL2 of the second predetermined point P2 ( For example, whether the vector angle of the tangent SL3 of the third predetermined point P3 is between the vector angle of the tangent SL1 of the first predetermined point P1 and the vector angle of the tangent SL2 of the second predetermined point P2 or not. judge). And when it has deviated from the allowable range, the third predetermined point P3 is determined as a defect candidate. On the other hand, when the orientation information of the tangent SL3 of the third predetermined point P3 does not deviate from the allowable range, the third predetermined point P3 is not determined as a defect candidate.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), if no chip 51 is generated (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 (b)), the orientation information (3) of the tangent SL3a of the third predetermined point P3a ( The vector angle) should be between the direction information (vector angle) of the tangent SL1 of the first predetermined point P1 and the direction (vector angle) of the tangent SL2 of the second predetermined point P2, and deviates from the allowable range. Don't be jealous. On the other hand, as shown by the solid line in the figure, in the region where the chip 51 is generated (see the solid line in FIG. 6B), the orientation information (vector angle) of the tangent SL3b of the third predetermined point P3b is: It is not between the direction information (vector angle) of the tangent SL1 of the first predetermined point P1 and the direction (vector angle) of the tangent SL2 of the second predetermined point P2, that is, it should depart from the allowable range. In step S105, such comparison and determination processing is executed for the orientation information of the tangent SL3 of the plurality of third predetermined points P3 obtained in step S104.

  Next, in step S106, a process of calculating a chipped area is executed based on the third predetermined point P3 that is continuously determined as a defect candidate in the comparison process of step S105. As described above, in the region where the chip 51 is generated, the orientation information of the tangent SL3 of the third predetermined point P3 should deviate from the allowable range. For this reason, when the number of the third predetermined points P3 that are continuously determined as defective candidates exceeds a specified value, it can be said that a chip 51 having a size larger than a predetermined value has occurred.

  In subsequent step S107, it is determined whether or not the area Sx of the missing region calculated in step S106 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined determination specified value So. If the area Sx of the missing region is equal to or smaller than the determination specified value So, a non-defective product determination is performed in step S108, and this process ends. On the other hand, if there is at least one missing area Sx larger than the specified determination value So, a failure determination is made in step S109, and the process is temporarily terminated. These inspection results are output to the monitor 25 and the PTP packaging machine 7 (including the defective sheet discharge mechanism).

  Note that the processing from step S101 to step S109 is executed for each tablet 5 on the PTP film 20, and when one of the tablets 5 determined as defective on the same sheet is cut into the PTP sheet 1 later. If it is included, the sheet is judged to be defective and discharged.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the orientation information of the tangent SL3 of the third predetermined point P3 is the orientation information of the tangent SL1 of the first predetermined point P1 and the tangent SL2 of the second predetermined point P2. When it deviates from the allowable range based on the orientation information, the third predetermined point P3 is determined as a defect candidate. Further, the direction information of the tangent lines SL1 to SL3 of the first to third predetermined points P1 to P3 is calculated in a plurality of ways along the outline R of the tablet 5, and the comparison determination is performed in a plurality of ways (for all points). This is performed with respect to the third predetermined point P3. Thus, in this embodiment, determination can be performed based on the contour R of the actual tablet 5 extracted based on the image data, and the contour of the reference tablet as described in the prior art, There is no need to prepare setting angle data separately. For this reason, even if the tablet 5 to be inspected is changed, it is possible to respond flexibly and smoothly, while performing an accurate inspection.

  Even if the tablet 5 is accommodated in the pocket portion 2 in a slightly tilted state, in the present embodiment, the determination is made from the viewpoint of the continuity of the contour R of the tablet 5. Therefore, even if the posture of the tablet 5 is different each time, no erroneous determination is caused thereby. Also in this respect, the determination of the defect candidate becomes more accurate, and as a result, the inspection accuracy can be drastically improved.

  In the present embodiment, the third predetermined point P3 is set at an intermediate position between the first predetermined point P1 and the second predetermined point P2. That is, the first predetermined point P1 and the third predetermined point P3, and the third predetermined point P3 and the second predetermined point P2 are set to be at equal intervals or equal angular intervals. Therefore, it is possible to perform inspection with higher accuracy than when the third predetermined point is set to be biased toward the first predetermined point or the second predetermined point.

  Further, in the present embodiment, all points (pixel points) on the contour R1 are set as the third predetermined point P3, and the orientation information of the tangent SL3 is calculated for all the points (pixel points) on the contour R1. Is done. Corresponding to the third predetermined point P3, the direction information of the tangents SL1 and SL2 is calculated for the first and second predetermined points P1 and P2, and is used for comparison and determination. By performing such detailed setting, what was one of the first and second predetermined points P1 and P2 at one time is different from the first and second predetermined points P1 at another time. , P2 may correspond to the other. For this reason, the orientation information of the tangent lines SL1, SL2, and SL3 of the first predetermined point P1, the second predetermined point P2, or the third predetermined point P3 is sometimes different from that in another determination. It can be used as orientation information of tangent lines SL1, SL2, and SL3 of different predetermined points P1, P2, and P3. For this reason, the trouble of calculating the direction information of each tangent line can be omitted, and as a result, the inspection speed can be improved. In addition, more uniform inspection can be performed over the entire range on the contour R1, and problems caused by inspecting only specific biased parts can be prevented.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, a part of the configuration can be appropriately changed as follows. Of course, other modifications not exemplified below are also possible.

  (A) In the above embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the center of gravity G of the contour R of the tablet 5 and the reference straight line BL are set. However, if it is configured to perform relative comparison of the orientation information of the tangent lines SL1 to SL3 for each of the predetermined points P1 to P3, the center of gravity G, the reference straight line BL, and the like need not be set.

  (B) In the said embodiment, when inspecting the flat disk-shaped tablet 5, it shall be materialized. On the other hand, for example, it is possible to inspect even tablets such as so-called lens locks having different thicknesses at the central portion and the peripheral portion.

  (C) In addition, even a non-circular tablet in plan view can be inspected. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, even a tablet 5A having an elliptical shape in plan view or a tablet having an elliptical shape in plan view can be inspected. For example, in the case of the tablet 5A having an elliptical shape in plan view as shown in the figure, when the reference straight line BL is set, the straight line passing through the point BP having the longest distance from the center of gravity or the center [or conversely, the closest A straight line passing through the point (minor axis)] is suitably set as the reference straight line BL.

  (D) Furthermore, even a tablet 5B having a substantially triangular shape in a plan view shown in FIG. 8A or an annular tablet 5C typified by a troche tablet shown in FIG. 8B can be inspected. . In the latter case, not only the contour of the outer peripheral edge but also the contour of the inner peripheral edge can be inspected.

  (E) In the said embodiment, it has the structure which inspects the tablet 5 by imaging with the camera 23 the transmitted light irradiated from the illuminating device 22 and permeate | transmitted the container film 3. FIG. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration may be adopted in which reflected light reflected from the tablet 5 is imaged and the inspection is performed. According to the inspection using reflected light, the tablet 5 can be inspected even after the sealing film 4 is attached to the container film 3.

  (F) In the above embodiment, binarization processing is executed in step S101, chunk processing is executed in step S102, and contour extraction processing is executed in step S103. The contour extraction process may be executed by a technique. For example, instead of the binarization process, the contour extraction process can be executed by executing a so-called differentiation process.

  (G) In the embodiment described above, defective product determination is performed when the area Sx of the chipped region is larger than the determination specified value So, but the length (peripheral length) of the chipped region is larger than the specified value. In addition, the defective product may be determined.

  (H) In the above embodiment, all the points (pixel points) on the contour R1 are set as the third predetermined point P3, and the comparison and determination are performed. The comparison does not have to be performed. However, from the viewpoint of inspection accuracy, it is more preferable that the third predetermined points are set at least 24 (at intervals of 15 ° when the contour R is circular), and at least 72 (the contour R is It is more desirable that the angle is set at 5 ° intervals in the case of a circular shape, and it is even more desirable that at least 360 patterns are set (at intervals of 1 ° when the contour R is circular).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PTP sheet, 2 ... Pocket part, 3 ... Container film, 4 ... Sealing film, 5 ... Tablet, 7 ... PTP packaging machine, 21 ... Tablet inspection device, 22 ... Illumination device, 23 ... Camera, 24 ... Image processing Device, 44 ... Memory for determination.

Claims (6)

In the manufacturing process of the PTP sheet, a tablet inspection device for inspecting a tablet contained in a pocket portion formed in a belt-shaped packaging film to be conveyed,
Illumination means capable of irradiating light to the tablet accommodated in the pocket portion,
Imaging means capable of imaging tablets in a range illuminated by the illumination means;
An image processing device for processing an image signal output from the imaging means,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Based on image data obtained from the image signal, contour extracting means for extracting the contour of the tablet;
First and second calculating means for calculating direction information of a tangent of a first predetermined point on the outline of the tablet and calculating direction information of a tangent of a second predetermined point on the outline of the tablet;
A third computing means for obtaining tangent direction information of a third predetermined point sandwiched between the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point on the outline of the tablet;
The direction information of the tangent of the third predetermined point is compared with the direction information of the tangent of the first predetermined point and the direction information of the tangent of the second predetermined point, and the direction of the tangent of the third predetermined point When the information deviates from the allowable range based on the tangent direction information of the first predetermined point and the tangent direction information of the second predetermined point, the determination for determining the third predetermined point as a defect candidate Means, and
The first and second calculation means calculate tangential direction information for a plurality of first predetermined points and second predetermined points on the outline of the tablet, and the third calculation means also Tangential direction information is calculated for a plurality of third predetermined points on the outline of the tablet, and the determination means performs a comparison determination of the tangential direction information for the plurality of third predetermined points. A tablet inspection apparatus characterized by being performed.   2. The first predetermined point and the third predetermined point, and the third predetermined point and the second predetermined point are set to be at equal intervals or equal angular intervals. The tablet inspection apparatus described. The direction information of the tangent line of the first predetermined point or the second predetermined point calculated by the first and second calculation means is calculated by the third calculation means to be calculated by the third calculation means in another comparison determination. Can be used as tangent direction information for a given point, or
The direction information of the tangent line of the third predetermined point calculated by the third calculating means is used as the first predetermined point or the second predetermined value to be calculated by the first and second calculating means in another comparison determination. Can be used as tangent direction information for a given point, or
The direction information of one tangent of the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point calculated by the first and second calculating means is calculated by the first and second calculating means in another comparison determination. The tablet inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tablet inspection apparatus can be used as direction information of the other tangent line of the first predetermined point and the second predetermined point to be performed.   As the third predetermined point, at least 12 types are set at equal intervals or at equal angular intervals, and the determination unit performs comparison determination of tangent direction information regarding at least 12 third predetermined points. The tablet inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the tablet inspection device is a device.   Based on the third predetermined point determined as a defect candidate, the area or length of the missing region is obtained, and when the area or length exceeds a predetermined specified value, the defective product is determined. The tablet inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   A PTP packaging machine comprising the tablet inspection device according to claim 1.

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