JP5595634B2 - Inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article inspection apparatus for inspecting an article to be conveyed, and more particularly to an article inspection apparatus that executes control to operate a downstream sorting unit in accordance with inspection results such as weighing and foreign object detection.

  Article inspection equipment that weighs the article in the state of conveyance of the article and detects foreign matter mixed in the article is widely used in food and other various production lines. Sorting by the apparatus, sorting and discharging of defective products, etc. are performed.

  For example, in an article inspection apparatus that performs weighing, a weighing conveyor positioned between a front conveyor and a rear conveyor is supported by a weighing machine, and each time an article passes on the weighing conveyor, the mass of the article is set together with the mass of the weighing conveyor. The mass (weight) of the article can be measured by loading the weighing instrument and subtracting the weighing conveyor mass from the weighing instrument output signal.

  In such an article inspection apparatus, it is necessary to reliably execute a separation process for non-defective products and defective products according to the inspection result, or the inspected articles of each ranked rank.

  As this type of conventional article inspection apparatus, for example, a front conveyor for carrying out an article to be inspected, an article received from the front conveyor on one end side, and conveyed to the other end side, a signal corresponding to the mass of the article being conveyed For measuring the output of the weighing conveyor, the latter conveyor for receiving the articles carried out from the weighing conveyor, and the articles on the latter conveyor in a sorting and discharging direction different from the conveying direction of the latter conveyor according to the weighing result of the weighing conveyor. A sorter, a sensor that detects the passage of an article at a predetermined position before the sorter, and a length dimension in the conveyance direction of the inspected article based on an article detection signal from the sensor or a length in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A dimensional measuring means for measuring dimensions, and a sorting control means for operating the sorting machine for a required sorting and discharging time when the inspected article reaches a predetermined position on the rear conveyor, Those to the non-defective or the like can be reliably screened emissions (e.g., see Patent Document 1).

Further, in the article inspection system provided with the metal detection device, a height measurement means for measuring the height dimension of the article on the belt conveyor is provided on the upstream side of the detection frame for metal detection, and the detection frame for the article to be inspected. There is known a technique in which the detection frame is raised and lowered according to the vertical gap between the article to be inspected and the detection frame so as to make the inner passage height constant, and the required inspection accuracy is ensured (for example, a patent) Reference 2).
Japanese Patent No. 2852834 JP 2003-139865 A

  However, in the conventional article inspection apparatus as described above, it is determined that the inspection result of the inspected article is based on the detection information in the inspection section on the premise that the posture during conveyance of the inspected article is constant. Since the processing was performed uniformly, if the input article falls or its input posture is reversed up and down and the conveyance state is such that there is an overlap of articles or a deviation in the course, accurate judgment processing may not be possible. There is a risk that the defective product will flow out to a subsequent process which is a non-defective product carry-out route.

  Specifically, for example, when an undermassed product that does not satisfy a predetermined internal capacity is transported in such a way that it touches the draft shield cover of the weighing conveyor, the undermassed product is determined to be a normal product and the subsequent stage There was a risk of being carried out to the side. Also, if the transport posture of an article changes during transport, the article detection timing may differ from that in the normal transport posture. In some cases, it could not be discharged. For this reason, there is a possibility that the defective product may flow out to a subsequent process which is a non-defective product carry-out path.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and provides an article inspection apparatus capable of reliably preventing a defective product from flowing out into a subsequent process which is a non-defective product carry-out path. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, an article inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes (1) a conveyance unit having a conveyance path for conveying an article to be thrown in, and an article detection unit for sequentially detecting the articles thrown into the conveyance means. An inspection unit for inspecting the article conveyed by the conveyance unit; and an article conveyed by the conveyance unit on the downstream side of the conveyance unit in accordance with detection information of the article detection unit and an inspection result of the inspection unit And a sorting control means for outputting a sorting command signal for sorting at the first, wherein the article detecting means is separated in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the article by the conveying means. A first article detection unit and a second article detection unit that detect the article passing through the respective positions at the detection position and the second detection position, wherein the separation control means includes the first article Conveying state determination determines the transport states of the article in the transport path in accordance with the length of each ON time from each of the detection signals of the known portion and the second article detection unit is turned ON until the OFF And the classification command signal is output in accordance with the conveyance state determined by the conveyance state determination unit and the inspection result of the inspection means.

In this article inspection apparatus, according to the length of the ON time of the detection signal of the first article detection unit and the second article detection unit, the conveyance state of the article being conveyed is determined by the conveyance state determination unit, and the conveyance state is determined. In response, a classification command signal is output from the classification control means. Therefore, even when the conveyance state of the article is different from normal or when it changes during the conveyance, an accurate sorting operation is executed not only according to the inspection result of the inspection means but also according to the conveyance state determined by the conveyance state determination unit. Will be.

  In the article inspection apparatus according to the present invention, (2) the first article detection unit is disposed in a main article conveyance region that conveys a main part of the article on the conveyance path, and the second article detection unit is the main article detection unit. It is preferable to arrange it outside the article conveyance area.

  With this configuration, even when a part of the inspection object that is normally outside the main transport area is present and transported within the main transport area due to a change in the transport posture, the transport state is accurately grasped and transported. Accurate inspection / determination processing according to the state can be executed.

  In the article inspection apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that (3) the second detection position is set higher than the first detection position on the conveyance path.

With this configuration, when an article conveyance state different from normal is grasped at the first detection position and the second detection position higher than the first detection position due to upside down, overturning, overlapping, or the like of the article, based on the article detection information. Thus, an accurate inspection / determination process is performed, and a sorting operation according to the determination result can be executed.

The article inspection apparatus of the present invention, (4) the transport state determination portion, based on the ratio of the length of the ON time by the length and the second article detecting portion of the ON time by the first article detection unit The conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path is preferably determined.

  With this configuration, it is possible to accurately identify the reverse of the conveyance posture, the overturn of the article, the overlap, and the like, and it is possible to accurately determine the conveyance state of the article.

In the article inspection apparatus of the present invention, (5) the conveyance state determination unit is configured to perform the conveyance based on a comparison result between the length of the ON time and a predetermined determination threshold time by the second article detection unit. You may make it determine the conveyance state of the said article | item on a road.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily and reliably identify a change in the conveyance posture of the article to be inspected, and to accurately determine the conveyance state of the article.

The article inspection apparatus of the present invention may further include (6) a kind setting unit for setting a kind for the article in advance, and the conveyance state determination unit may determine the length of the ON time by the first article detection unit and the first time . 2 based on the ratio of the length of the oN time by the article detection unit, a first determination mode determining transfer state of the article in the transport path, the length of the oN time by the second article detecting section given Based on the comparison result with the determination threshold time, a second determination mode for determining the conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path, the length of the ON time by the first article detection unit, and the second article detection ratio of the length of the oN time by part, and on the basis of both the comparison result between the length and the predetermined determination threshold period of the oN time by the second article detecting unit, in the transport path A third judging mode determining conveyance states of the serial article, it is more preferable to perform selectively depending on the breed set by the varieties setting means.

  With this configuration, it is possible to store a suitable determination condition for each set product type and execute an accurate separation control.

In the article inspection apparatus of the present invention, (7) the first detection position and the second detection position may be separated in the width direction of the transport path. In this case, articles can be detected at a plurality of locations in the width direction of the transport path, and the transport state can be accurately determined.

Article inspection apparatus of the present invention, more preferably, (8) sensing information storage means for storing information of the length of the ON time according to the length of the ON time by the first article detection portion and the second article detecting section The conveyance state determination unit further includes a conveyance state that causes an inspection error in the inspection of the article by the inspection unit based on the storage information of the detection information storage unit. It may be determined that the conveyance state is abnormal.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily check the correspondence between the conveyance state in which an inspection mistake is likely to occur and the detection information of the first and second article detection units at that time based on the storage information of the storage unit, and the conveyance state Can be easily set. Further, it is possible to detect, reproduce, or confirm a change in the article conveyance state based on the stored information in the storage means.

The article inspection apparatus of the present invention, also, (9) the inspection means to meter the mass of the article together with the conveying means, and outputs a weight signal representing a metering result to the sorting control means, said sorting control A means may generate the classification command signal according to the measurement result by the inspection means and the determination result on the presence or absence of abnormality in the conveyance state by the conveyance state determination unit . With this configuration, sorting according to the measurement result is accurately performed.

The article inspection apparatus of the present invention, (10) while the inspecting means detects the foreign matter in the article from a change in the magnetic field caused by the passage of the article, and outputs a detection signal of the foreign matter in the separation control unit The detection sensitivity may be estimated in accordance with the conveyance state determined by the conveyance state determination unit, and the determination threshold switching control may be performed so as to use the determination threshold for the presence or absence of foreign matter corresponding to the estimated sensitivity . In this case, for example, the detection sensitivity is estimated according to the article conveyance state, and the threshold value switching control is performed so that the foreign substance presence / absence determination threshold corresponding to the estimated sensitivity is used, and the conveyance state changes. However, it is possible to accurately sort and inspect the inspection object mixed with foreign matters.

In the article inspection apparatus according to the present invention, (11) the inspection means irradiates the article with X-rays and detects X-rays transmitted through the article to detect foreign matters in the article; The detection signal is output to the classification control unit, while the foreign substance detection sensitivity is estimated according to the conveyance state determined by the conveyance state determination unit, and the determination threshold for determining the presence / absence of a foreign substance corresponding to the estimated sensitivity is used. The threshold value switching control may be executed . Also in this case, for example, the detection sensitivity is estimated according to the article conveyance state, and the control for switching the determination threshold value using the foreign object presence determination threshold value corresponding to the estimated sensitivity becomes possible. It can be sorted and discharged accurately.

In the article inspection apparatus of the present invention, preferably, (12) a transport unit having a transport path for transporting an article to be thrown in, an article detection unit for sequentially detecting the articles thrown into the transport unit,
Inspection means for inspecting the article conveyed by the conveyance means, separation means for selectively separating the article on the downstream side of the conveyance means, detection information of the article detection means, and inspection results of the inspection means Accordingly, in the article inspection apparatus including the separation control unit that controls the operation of the sorting unit, the article detection unit is separated in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article by the conveyance unit. A first article detection unit and a second article detection unit for detecting the article passing through the respective positions at the detection position and the second detection position, wherein the separation control means includes the first article detection unit and the second article detection unit. conveying determines conveying state of the article in the transport path in accordance with the length of each of oN time to the respective detection signals of the second article detection unit is turned OFF after becoming oN It has a status determination unit, and outputs the separation instruction signal in response to the inspection result of the inspection unit and the conveying state determined by the conveying state determination unit, the said ON time by the first article detection unit first The timing for operating the sorting means is set with reference to the start time (ti) of the detection time that starts earlier among the ON time by the two article detection unit. With this configuration, the sorting unit operates based on the start point of the detection time that starts early, and the necessary sorting operation time according to the conveyance state of the articles to be sorted is ensured.

According to the present invention, according to the length of the article detection time of the first article detection unit and the second article detection unit, the conveyance state of the article being conveyed is determined by the conveyance state determination unit, and sorting is performed according to the conveyance state. Since the command signal is output, even if the conveyance state of the article is different from the normal, the sorting operation according to the accurate determination processing result is executed, and the defective product flows out to the subsequent process which is the non-defective product unloading path. It is possible to provide an article inspection apparatus capable of reliably preventing the occurrence of the problem.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
1-3 is a figure which shows the goods inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and has shown the example which comprised the goods inspection apparatus of this invention as a part of weight selection system.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit in which a transport path 10 a extending in a predetermined transport direction is formed by a front conveyor 11, a weighing conveyor 12 (transport means), and rear conveyors 13 and 14. 10, and the articles W are sequentially supplied and placed on the upstream side of the upstream conveyor 11. Note that the article W is an arbitrary product that is manufactured in plural, for example, a product that is mass-produced and individually wrapped with a packaging material. It may be an irregular shape such as a bag product.

  The weighing conveyor 12 individually conveys the articles W sequentially fed from the front conveyor 11 at a predetermined insertion interval in the right direction in FIG. 1 and unloads them to the rear conveyor 13 side. The rear conveyor 13 is equipped with a sorting device 40 (sorting means). For example, the transport destination of a non-defective product with a measured value within a normal range and a defective product with excessive or insufficient mass is separated into different transport paths. It can be distributed.

  The plurality of conveyors 11 to 14 are rotationally driven in synchronization by a conveyance driving mechanism (not shown in detail), and the articles W are sequentially transferred from the preceding conveyor 11 to the weighing conveyor 12 (conveying means) at predetermined input intervals. Is loaded and carried out from the weighing conveyor 12 to the subsequent conveyors 13 and 14.

  Article detection that sequentially detects the articles W to be loaded into the weighing conveyor 12 at a position where the articles W are delivered and loaded from the preceding conveyor 11 to the weighing conveyor 12, that is, in the vicinity of the adjacent portions of both conveyors 11 and 12. Means 20 is installed, and the article detection means 20 is a first detection position that is separated in a direction orthogonal to the article conveyance direction by the conveyor 11, for example, in the vertical direction in FIG. 1B. A first article sensor 21 (first article detector) and a second article sensor 22 (second article detector) that detect articles passing through the respective positions at the p1 and second detection positions p2 are provided.

  Here, the first article sensor 21 is arranged in the main article conveyance area Ap that conveys the main part (the part that makes up most of the volume) of the article W in the normal posture on the conveyance unit 10. 22 is arranged outside the main article conveyance area, for example, vertically above the main article conveyance area. The first article sensor 21 can output an article detection signal Sw1 (in) when detecting an article passing through the first detection position p1, and the second article sensor 22 is from the first detection position p1. The article detection signal Sw2 (in) can be output when an article passing through the high second detection position p2 is detected. The first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 are composed of, for example, a light projecting / receiving device including a light projecting unit 21a, 21b and a light receiving unit 21b, 22b that are separated from each other in the width direction of the front conveyor 11. It is good also as an article detection sensor which performs non-contact detection or contact detection.

  The weighing conveyor 12 is supported by a weighing table 31 that forms a part of the weighing instrument 30, and the mass of the weighing conveyor 12 and the mass of the article W put on the weighing conveyor 12 are loaded on the weighing instrument 30. It is like that. The weighing instrument 30 measures the mass of the input article W detected by the article detection means 20 together with the mass of the weighing conveyor 12 serving as a tare, and the weighing signal Mc (the article signal corresponding to the mass of the article W and the weighing conveyor 12). It is an inspection means that outputs a weighing signal related to mass.

  The article detection signals from the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 and the weighing signal Mc from the weighing instrument 30 are respectively taken into the separation control unit 50.

  The measuring device 30 is constituted by, for example, a well-known strain gauge load cell type balance (scale). In this case, the separation control unit 50 is a stable state in which high-frequency components are blocked from a measurement (mass measurement) signal obtained by the balance. Filter processing for extracting the measured output signal is performed. In addition, from the aspect of measurement accuracy, a sufficient measurement time is set so as not to be affected by delay due to filter characteristics such as filter time, cutoff frequency or time constant. Of course, the measuring instrument 30 may be a differential transformer type or electromagnetic balance type scale.

  The classification control unit 50 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output interface circuit, and functions as an inspection result determination unit and a classification control unit, thereby determining whether or not the measurement value of the article P is within an allowable weight range. The classification command signal RJ1 for commanding the sorting work by the sorting device 40 on the rear conveyor 13 side is output to the drive unit 43 of the sorting device 40 according to the judgment result. Further, the separation control unit 50 determines the conveyance state of the article W being conveyed according to the relationship between the article detection times of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 based on the detection information of the article detection means 20. It also functions as the conveyance state determination unit 51 that performs the operation.

  Specifically, the separation control unit 50 performs subtraction processing for subtracting the measurement value for the mass of the weighing conveyor 12 from the measurement value of the mass of the article W and the weighing conveyor 12 by using an internal subtractor (not shown) as mass calculation means. The weight value of the article W is calculated, the weight value is output to the display unit 59, and the weight value of the article W is within the allowable mass range as the determination unit of the mass selection system. judge. Then, according to the determination result of whether or not the measured value is within the allowable mass range, for example, when the measured value is out of the allowable mass range, the article W is removed from the transport conveyor 13 (downstream side) of the transport unit 10. A sorting command signal RJ1 is output for eliminating and sorting from non-defective products.

Further, the separation control unit 50 causes the conveyance state determination unit 51 to change the relationship between the article detection times of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 (time lengths ta and tb and detection timing tc in FIG. 4). Accordingly, the conveyance state of the article W being conveyed is determined, and when the conveyance state determination unit 51 determines that there is an abnormality in the conveyance state, the article W being conveyed is excluded from the conveyance conveyor 13 and the non-defective product A sorting command signal RJ2 for sorting from a normally conveyed product is output. That is, the sorting control unit 50 selectively and selectively sends the sorting command signal RJ1 or RJ2 according to the weighing result that is the result of the article inspection and the presence / absence of an abnormality in the conveyance state of the article W. It outputs to the drive part 43 of 40. FIG.

  The drive unit 43 of the sorting device 40 is a known unit including, for example, an air cylinder or a rotary solenoid, and is based on the proximal end side of the sorting arms 41 and 42 according to the sorting command signals RJ1 and RJ2 from the sorting control unit 50. By rotating the rotation shafts 41a and 42a within a predetermined angle range, each of the distribution arms 41 and 42 is, for example, a first distribution position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 41 only) can be selectively positioned at the second set position. An air cylinder or a rotary solenoid of the drive unit 43 is supported by a support frame (not shown) on the side of or below the transport unit 10.

  Further, the conveyance state determination unit 51 of the separation control unit 50 is configured to provide a ratio ta / tb between the length of the article detection time tb (see FIG. 4) by the first article sensor 21 and the length of the article detection time ta by the second article sensor 22. Based on the first determination mode for determining whether the article conveyance state on the conveyance path 10a corresponds to the conveyance state in which the determination condition is set in advance, and the length of the article detection time ta by the second article sensor 22 Based on a comparison result with a predetermined determination threshold time, for example, 100 msec, the second determination mode for determining the article conveyance state on the conveyance path 10a of the conveyance unit 10 and the length of the article detection time by the first article sensor 21 The ratio ta / tb between the length tb and the length ta of the article detection time by the second article sensor 22, and the length of the article detection time ta by the second article sensor 22 and a predetermined determination threshold The third determination mode for determining the article conveyance state on the conveyance path 10a based on both of the comparison results between the two is selectively selected according to the type set by the setting operation unit 55 which is a type setting unit. It is supposed to run.

  Specifically, when the first determination mode is selected and set according to the product type setting by the setting operation unit 55, the separation control unit 50 determines the length of the detection time tb of the article W by the first article sensor 21; Based on the ratio ta / tb to the length of the detection time ta of the article W by the second article sensor 22, the conveyance state of the article W on the conveyance unit 10 is determined. For example, when the ratio ta / tb of the article detection time exceeds a predetermined value, for example, 0.5 (ta / tb> 0.5), it is determined that the conveyance state is not normal, and a sorting command that is a sorting and discharging command. A determination is made to request signal RJ2.

  In addition, when the second determination mode is selected and set according to the product type setting by the setting operation unit 55, the classification control unit 50 determines the length ta of the detection time of the article W by the second article sensor 22 and the predetermined determination. Based on the comparison result with the threshold time, the conveyance state of the article W on the conveyance unit 10 is determined. For example, when the length ta of the detection time of the article W exceeds a predetermined determination threshold time 100 msec (ta> 100 msec), it is determined that the conveyance state is not normal and a sorting command signal RJ2 serving as a sorting and discharging command is requested. Make a decision.

  Alternatively, when the third determination mode is selected and set according to the type setting by the setting operation unit 55, the separation control unit 50 performs the determination process in the first determination large mode and the determination process in the second determination large mode. For example, when the ratio ta / tb of the article detection time exceeds a predetermined value or the length ta of the detection time of the article W exceeds a predetermined determination threshold time, it is determined that the conveyance state is not normal. Then, a determination is made to request a sorting command signal RJ2 that is a sorting and discharging command.

  The separation control unit 50 uses the information on the article detection time tb by the first article sensor 21 and the article detection time by the second article sensor ta to be more than the delay time until the article reaches the sorting / sorting position by the sorting device 40. Are provided with a storage unit 56 (detection information storage means) for storing and storing over a long period of time.

  Note that the measurement value for the mass of the weighing conveyor 12 used for calculating the measurement value of the mass of the article W is, for example, the average value of the measurement values sampled a predetermined number of times during the no-load time, Corresponds to the zero point. The zero point is set by a setting operation unit 55 connected to a separation control unit as a mass calculating unit, and each setting information is stored in the storage unit 56.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the weighing instrument 30 measures the mass of the article to be inspected W as it passes over the weighing conveyor 12 while being conveyed by the conveying unit 10.

  At this time, at least one of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 detects the article W (see FIG. 3A), and the detection signal is taken into the separation control unit 50. In addition, the weighing signal Mc (see FIG. 3B) from the gauge load cell type balance of the weighing instrument 30 is taken into the separation control unit 50, and the high frequency component is cut off from the weighing signal Mc by the filter processing (see FIG. 3). 3 (c)).

  Then, the separation control unit 50 performs a subtraction process for subtracting the measurement value of the mass of the weighing conveyor 12 from the measurement value of the mass of the article W and the weighing conveyor 12 to calculate the measurement value of the mass of the article W and display the display unit. 59, and the article W is excluded from the transport conveyor 13 when the measured value is out of the allowable mass range, for example, according to the determination result of whether the measured value is within the allowable mass range. Accordingly, the classification command signal RJ1 is output at a predetermined timing.

  Further, in the separation control unit 50, the conveyance state of the article W is determined based on the article detection time (for example, the time length tb, ta and the detection timing tc, ti) by each of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22. It is determined whether or not it is normally maintained, and when an abnormality occurs in the conveyance state, a classification command signal RJ2 is output from the classification control unit 50.

  FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view schematically showing a change in the conveyance state of the article W conveyed on the conveyance unit 10 and a change in detection signals of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 due thereto.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the article W is in a state in which the non-defective article is normally conveyed, when the article W passes through the article detection means 20, the first article sensor 21 (in the figure). The article W is detected by “lower sensor”), but the article W is not detected by the second article sensor 22 (denoted “upper sensor” in the figure). Accordingly, only the detection signal of the first article sensor 21 (lower sensor) is turned ON (High level) as shown on the right side of FIG.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the article W is in a state where the front and rear articles are conveyed one above the other, when the article W passes through the article detection means 20, the first article sensor Article 21 is detected by both 21 and second article sensor 22. Therefore, as shown on the right side of FIG. 5B, the detection signals of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 are both ON (High level).

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4C or 4D, when the conveyance state of the article W is a conveyance state in which the article W is too close to the front and back and partially lifts, the article W causes the article detection unit 20 to move. When passing, the article W is detected by both the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22, but the time when the detection signal of the first article sensor 21 (lower sensor) is ON (High level) is long, The time for which the detection signal of the second article sensor 22 (upper sensor) is ON is relatively shortened. In this case, the detection signal of the first article sensor 21 may rise a plurality of times depending on the conveying form of the plurality of articles W in which the detection signals are integrated. In this case, the rising edge of the last detection signal from the rise of the first detection signal. By performing adjustment of the signal waveform so that the detection signal of the first article sensor 21 is always ON until the descent, comparison of article detection times of the article detection sensors 21 and 22 can be facilitated. .

  further. As shown in FIG. 4 (e) or FIG. 4 (f), the article W has, for example, a main part Wa having a large mass that occupies half or more of its own weight, and a remaining part Wb having a small mass protruding from the center of gravity of the main part Wa. When the remaining portion Wb of the article W is directed to the downstream side (traveling direction) in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 5E, the first article sensor 21 or the second article sensor 22 is first used. The remaining portion Wb is detected in any of the above, and then the main portion Wa is detected. Also, as shown in FIG. 5F, when the main portion Wa of the article W is directed to the downstream side (traveling direction) in the transport direction, either the first article sensor 21 or the second article sensor 22 is first used. The main portion Wa is detected, and then the remaining portion Wb is detected.

  When the first determination mode is selected and set, the classification control unit 50 determines the length of the article W detection time tb by the first article sensor 21 and the length of the article W detection time ta by the second article sensor 22. Based on the ratio (ta / tb), the conveyance state of the article W on the conveyance unit 10 is determined. In addition, when the second determination mode is selected and set, the classification control unit 50 compares the length ta of the detection time of the article W by the second article sensor 22 with a predetermined determination threshold time, for example, 100 msec. Based on the above, the conveyance state of the article W on the conveyance unit 10 is determined.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the article detection is performed at the first detection position p1 and the second detection position p2 that are separated in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and the conveyance state of the article W can be determined. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably identify the reverse of the transport posture of the article W to be inspected, the fall of the article W, the overlap, and the like, and it is possible to accurately determine the transport state of the article W. Therefore, even when the conveyance state of the article W is different from the normal state or changes during the conveyance, not only the output of the classification command signal RJ1 according to the inspection result in the measuring instrument 30 but also the determination by the conveyance state determination unit 51. Depending on the transported state, an accurate sorting operation is executed.

  Moreover, in the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the first article sensor 21 is disposed in the main article transport region Ap (see FIG. 1B) that transports the main portion Wa of the article W on the transport unit 10. Since the second article sensor 22 is disposed outside the article conveyance area Ap, a portion of the article W to be inspected that is usually outside the main conveyance area Ap (for example, a part of the remaining portion Wb) is changed by the change in the conveyance posture. Even in the case where it is present and transported in the main transport area Ap, the transport state is accurately grasped, and the accurate inspection / determination process according to the transport state of the article W can be executed.

  In the article inspection apparatus of the present invention, since the second detection position p2 is set to a position higher than the first detection position p1 on the conveyance path, the conveyance state of the article W is reversed upside down, overturned, and overlapped. When a different article conveyance state is grasped at the first detection position p1 and the second detection position p2 higher than the first detection position p1, etc., an accurate inspection / determination process is performed based on the article detection information, The sorting work according to the determination result can be executed.

  Furthermore, in the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the conveyance state determination unit 51 of the separation control unit 50 determines the length of the article detection time tb by the first article sensor 21 and the length of the article detection time ta by the second article sensor 22. Based on a comparison result between the first determination mode for determining the conveyance state of the article W based on the ratio ta / tb and the length of the article detection time ta by the second article sensor 22 and a predetermined determination threshold time, Since the second determination mode for determining the conveyance state of the article W and the third determination mode for executing the determination of both modes are selectively executed according to the type set by the setting operation unit 55, By simply storing a suitable determination condition for each set product on the classification control unit 50 side in advance, it is possible to execute accurate classification control quickly and accurately.

  Moreover, the separation control unit 50 stores and accumulates information on the detection time tb of the article by the first article sensor 21 and the detection time ta of the article W by the second article sensor 22 in the storage unit 56 together with their detection timing. Therefore, for example, the correspondence between the conveyance state in which an inspection mistake is likely to occur and the detection information of the first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 at that time is easily confirmed based on the storage information of the storage unit 56. It is possible to greatly facilitate the setting of conditions for determining the article conveyance state as abnormal. Further, it is possible to detect a change in the article conveyance state based on the information stored in the storage unit 56, and to easily reproduce and confirm a specific conveyance state.

  On the other hand, in the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the first detection position p1 and the second detection position p2 that are separated in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article W by the conveyance unit 10 pass through the respective positions. The first article sensor 21 and the second article sensor 22 that detect the article W are provided, and the separation control unit 50 detects the article W detection time tb by the first article sensor 21 and the article W detection time ta by the second article sensor 22. The timing for operating the sorting device 40 (sorting means) is set with reference to the start time (timing indicated by ti in FIG. 4) of one of the detection times tb or ta that starts early. Therefore, the sorting device 40 is operated with reference to the start point of the detection time that starts early, and the sorting operation time according to the conveyance state of the article to be sorted W is secured.

In the above-described embodiment, the first detection position p1 and the second detection position p2 are separated in the height direction. However, in the present invention, the first detection position p1 and the second detection position p1 are separated from each other. The second detection position p2 may be spaced apart in the width direction (road width direction) of the conveyance path orthogonal to the conveyance direction. In addition, a second detection position p2a that is separated in the height direction and a second detection position p2b that is separated in the width direction of the conveyance path (road width direction) are provided with respect to the first detection position p1. Alternatively, three or more article detection sensors that are separated in each direction may be provided.
[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an article inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example in which the article inspection apparatus of the present invention is configured as a part of a weight selection system.

  In the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first detection position p <b> 1 and the second detection position p <b> 2 at a predetermined height above the transport unit 10 are transported. Detection heads 23 and 24 that are separated from each other in the width direction (road width direction) of the conveyance path orthogonal to the direction and that have the functions of article detection means and height detection means are arranged at both article detection positions p1 and p2, respectively. Yes. These detection heads 23 and 24 can detect the height of the upper surface of the article W conveyed from the front conveyor 61 to the weighing conveyor 12 within a predetermined range in the width direction of the front conveyor 61, for example. The sensor 231 includes a laser light source 232, a light receiving unit 233, and a detection signal generation unit 235 in a case 231 having a predetermined shape.

  Further, a downward concave portion 231a is formed on the lower surface side of the case 231, the laser light source 232 is on one side (left side in FIG. 1) of the concave portion 231a, and the light receiving portion 233 is on the other side of the concave portion 231a (see FIG. 5 (c) on the right side. When the article surface is positioned on the detection center line 23c of the detection head 23, the light reflected from the article surface out of the incident light from the laser light source 232 is received by the light receiving section 233 including a photoelectric conversion element. The photocurrent signal from 233 is converted into a voltage signal by the detection signal generator 25 and amplified, and a plurality of height detection signals in a predetermined range in the width direction of the front conveyor 61 are output.

  On the other hand, the post-stage conveyor 13 is a dropper type, for example, with the upstream end 13a side as a rotation fulcrum, the downstream end 13b side is rotated downward as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. It is a system that can be discharged. Since the sorting and discharging (separation) method for raising and lowering the conveyor end and the means therefor are well known, the configuration of the drive unit 43 that drives the dropper in this case will not be described in detail.

  In the article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the first detection position p1 and the second detection position p2 are separated in the conveyance path width direction of the conveyance unit 10 (the vertical direction in FIG. 5A). Height detection can be performed at a plurality of locations in the width direction of the conveyance path, and the conveyance state of the article W can be accurately determined.

  Also in the present embodiment, the separation control unit 50 detects the article detection time tb by the detection head 23 that functions as the first article detection unit and the detection time of the article W by the detection head 24 that functions as the second article detection unit. Since the information on ta is stored in the storage unit 56, for example, the correspondence between the conveyance state in which an inspection mistake is likely to occur and the detection information of the detection heads 23 and 24 at that time is easily based on the storage information in the storage unit 56. This can be confirmed, and the setting of conditions for determining the conveyance state as abnormal can be facilitated. Further, it is possible to detect, reproduce, or confirm a change in the article conveyance state based on the stored information in the storage unit 56.

  In addition, since the weighing instrument 30 weighs the mass of the article W together with the weighing conveyor 12 and outputs a weighing signal indicating the weighing result to the sorting control unit 50, the sorting according to the weighing result can also be accurately executed. .

In each of the above-described embodiments, the article inspection apparatus has been described as weighing (mass measurement). However, the present invention can be applied to a foreign object detection device such as a metal detector or an X-ray foreign object detection device. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to various other inspection apparatuses that inspect the article being conveyed using an electrical, magnetic, or optical inspection method.
[Third embodiment]
6 and 7 are views showing an article inspection apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and show an example in which the article inspection apparatus of the present invention is configured as a part of a metal detection type foreign matter inspection system. ing.

  The article inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment detects metallic foreign matter mixed in commodities such as food in the production line. As shown in FIG. 6, the article W to be inspected is transported by conveyors 61, 62, and 63. Metal foreign matter (a foreign matter containing metal or a metal component containing a foreign substance or a missing part) is transported in a predetermined direction on the transport path 60a by the section 60 and mixed in the article W in a predetermined inspection region 62a in the transport direction of the conveyor 61. In the case of product detection, it is detected not as a foreign substance but as a constituent element). In the vicinity of the entrance of the inspection area 62a, a pair of optical article detection sensors 64 and 65 that detect the entry of the article W into the inspection area 62a, for example, are separated from each other vertically.

  In the vicinity of the inspection area 62a of the article W, a detection unit 70 that detects a metallic foreign object in the article W is provided. The detection unit 70 includes a signal generation unit 71 that generates a transmission signal having a preset amplitude and frequency, and a magnetic field generation unit 72 (magnetic field generation unit) that current-drives the transmission coil 72a using a signal from the signal generation unit 71. , And a magnetic field detector 73 composed of a differential detector or the like. Although details are not shown, the signal generation unit 71 includes a reference signal generator that responds to the one of the article detection sensors 64 and 65 that detects the article first, a timer for specifying the measurement period, a power amplifier, a tuning circuit, and the like. When the article W passes through the inspection region 62a, a transmission signal having a set frequency is generated and the transmission coil 72a of the magnetic field generation unit 72 is current-driven. The transmission coil 72a of the magnetic field generation unit 72 is housed in the frame 70f of the detection unit 70 so as to surround the conveyor 61, for example. When the transmission coil 72a is excited by current driving from the signal generation unit 71, the transmission signal is set. An alternating magnetic field corresponding to the frequency can be generated in the inspection region 62a.

  The magnetic field detection unit 73 is configured to detect a metal foreign object in the article W with respect to a plurality of articles W (inspection object) in cooperation with the signal generation unit 71 and the magnetic field generation unit 72, and differential connection And a pair of receiving coils 73a and 73b, a tuning circuit and an amplifier. This magnetic field detection unit 73 is adjusted so that the induced voltages of the pair of receiving coils are equally balanced with respect to only the alternating magnetic field from the magnetic field generation unit 72 and the differential output of both is zero.

  The magnetic metal that passes through the magnetic field attracts more magnetic flux in proportion to the magnitude of the magnetic flux density, and the nonmagnetic metal that passes through the magnetic field swirls in such a direction as to cancel the change in the magnetic flux density due to the movement. An electric current is generated and Joule heat is consumed. Therefore, when the article W on the conveyor 61 passes through the inspection region 62a, the balanced state of the output between the receiving coils of the magnetic field detector 73 is lost.

  When the output balanced state between the two receiving coils is lost due to the movement of the article W on the conveyor 61 as described above, the magnetic field detector 73 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field. The detection signal has a signal form in which a low-frequency signal component that changes due to the passage of the magnetic field of the article W is superimposed on an AC signal component having a set frequency of the transmission signal corresponding to an alternating magnetic field from the magnetic field generation unit 72 side. .

  The detection signal of the magnetic field detection unit 73 is taken into the signal level measurement unit 74. The signal level measurement unit 74 is not shown in detail, but a pair of synchronous detectors, phase shifters, which perform quadrature detection, A band pass filter, an amplifier, an A / D converter, and the like are included.

  A pair of synchronous detectors of the signal level measuring unit 74 takes in a signal obtained by adjusting the phase of the reference signal for quadrature detection, and generates a detection output by removing a high-frequency component corresponding to a transmission signal from the detection signal. The signal level measurement unit 74 outputs a signal obtained by further applying noise removal and A / D conversion to the detection output to a control unit 80 (separation control unit) serving as a metal presence / absence determination unit.

  The output of the quadrature detection is, for example, a detection signal in which the influence of a non-magnetic metal causing an external magnetic field change is larger as the magnetic flux density change is larger, and a detection in which the influence of the magnetic metal causing an external magnetic field change is larger as the magnetic flux density is larger. Signal. The low-frequency component detection signal output from the signal level measurement unit 74 is, for example, a waveform of an envelope connecting instantaneous values of a predetermined phase position of the differential detection signal, and 1/1 of the transmission signal cycle from the predetermined phase position. A waveform of an envelope connecting instantaneous values whose phases are shifted by 90 degrees, that is, 90 degrees, is formed.

  On the other hand, the control unit 80 executes arithmetic processing according to a predetermined control program based on a detection signal of the detection unit 70 and a user operation input from an operating device (not shown), and outputs a control signal according to the processing result. It outputs to the generation part 71 and the magnetic field detection part 73, respectively.

  The control unit 80 has a microcomputer configuration including, for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an I / O interface. The control program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU while exchanging data with the RAM. A known metal detection process is executed based on a signal from the signal level measurement unit 74 taken in via the I / O interface, and a means for setting the amplitude and detection frequency of the generated signal, a magnetic field detection unit. It also functions as control means, storage means, detection frequency selection means, and the like.

  By the way, in the case of the metal detection method as in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the metal detection sensitivity differs depending on the passing height H of the foreign matter that passes through the detection unit 70 even if it is the same metallic foreign matter.

  Therefore, the control unit 80 estimates the detection sensitivity in accordance with the conveyance state of the article W, and executes determination threshold value switching control using a foreign object presence / absence determination threshold value corresponding to the estimated sensitivity. And like the classification control part 50 of 1st, 2nd embodiment mentioned above, in addition to outputting the classification command signal RJ1 at the time of foreign material detection according to an article inspection result, the detection information of the article detection sensors 64 and 65 In the case of a conveyance state that cannot be dealt with by switching the determination threshold value for determining the presence or absence of foreign matter according to the conveyance state (a plurality of conveyance states as shown in FIG. 4) of the article W corresponding to Or the sorting discharge signal RJ2.

Therefore, even if the conveyance state changes, it is possible to accurately sort out and discharge the defective inspected article W mixed with foreign matters.
[Fourth embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an article inspection apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example in which the article inspection apparatus of the present invention is configured as a part of an X-ray foreign matter inspection system.

  In the article inspection apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the inspected article W is conveyed in a predetermined direction by a conveyance unit 90 that forms a conveyance path 90 a by a front conveyor 91, an inspection unit conveyor 92, and a rear conveyor 93. In a predetermined inspection area 92a in the transport direction of the transport unit 90, metal foreign matter (a foreign matter made of metal, a foreign matter containing a metal component, or a component in the case of missing goods detection) is detected. Detection is performed.

  As shown in a schematic block configuration in FIG. 8, the article inspection apparatus of the present embodiment inspects an article W passing through an inspection area 92 a on a belt conveyor 92 that conveys the article W to be inspected by X-rays. The inspection unit 100 includes an X-ray source 101 that irradiates X-rays, and a pair of upper and lower entrance detection sensors 102 each configured by, for example, a light projecting and receiving device that detects the entry of the article W into the inspection region 92a. 103 and X-rays transmitted through the article W in each of a plurality of transmission areas adjacent in the conveyance path width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction in the inspection area 92a, and data of accumulated transmission amount per predetermined time in each transmission area X-ray detection unit 104 (X-ray detection means) that can output as detection information, and a data processing unit that processes the detection data from the X-ray detection unit 104 to generate display data. And bets 106 is configured to include a display unit 120 for the screen capture and display display data from the data processing unit 106. Further, the conveyors 91 to 93 and the X-ray source 101 of the transport unit 90 are controlled to operate at predetermined timings by a transport and X-ray irradiation control unit (not shown).

  Here, the conveyance unit 90 conveys an article W of an individual (which may be a regular or flexible irregular shape) to be, for example, food or medicine at a predetermined constant conveyance speed corresponding to the product type, and In the middle of conveyance, the article W is passed through the predetermined inspection region 92a in the apparatus housing (not shown) and passes between the X-ray source 101 and the X-ray detection unit 104.

  The X-ray source 101 of the inspection unit 100 includes, for example, an X-ray tube that generates X-rays by causing thermal electrons from a cathode filament to collide with an anode target by a high voltage between the cathode and the anode. X-rays are directed toward the lower X-ray detector 104 and shaped and irradiated into a fan-shaped beam that spreads in the direction of the width of the conveyance path by a slit (not shown). That is, the X-ray source 101 and the X-ray detector 104 constitute a so-called X-ray fan beam optical system.

  The X-ray detection unit 104 adjusts the sensitivity of a known X-ray line sensor (not shown in detail), a data storage unit that temporarily holds detection information from the X-ray line sensor, and the X-ray line sensor. It consists of a sensitivity adjustment unit. The X-ray line sensor is a known sensor in which detection elements including a scintillator that is a phosphor and a photodiode or a charge coupled device are arranged at a predetermined pitch in an array shape in the width direction of the conveyance path. Line detection can be performed. Further, the data storage unit A / D converts X-ray detection signals from a plurality of detection elements of the X-ray line sensor, and conveys the data every predetermined unit conveyance time corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the detection elements. For all n (for example, 640) transmission regions in the road width direction, data of accumulated transmission X-ray dose (hereinafter simply referred to as transmission amount) within the unit time is transmitted, for example, representing gradations from 0 to 1023. An operation for writing data as quantity level data (hereinafter referred to as line scanning) can be executed, and an A / D converter, a program, and a memory (not shown) are provided.

  The detection sensitivity adjustment unit is not shown in a specific hardware configuration, but includes a microcomputer having, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O interface. The detection sensitivity adjustment unit is a predetermined sensitivity stored in the ROM. In accordance with the sensitivity adjustment program, the detection sensitivity of the X-ray detection unit 104 is adjusted so that the X-ray transmission amount in each transmission region only on the belt surface becomes equal when the article W is not on the conveyance unit 90. It is like that.

  Although the data processing unit 106 does not show a specific hardware configuration, the data processing unit 106 is used to exhibit functions of, for example, a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O interface and a plurality of processing function units described later. The auxiliary storage device that stores the control program in a readable manner in cooperation with the ROM, and a timer circuit, etc., and the CPU is connected between the RAM and the like according to the control program stored in the ROM. The control program is executed while executing predetermined arithmetic processing while exchanging data.

  The data processing unit 106 includes an area extraction processing unit 108, an X-ray image generation unit 111, a mass calculation unit 113, and a determination output unit 115 (separation control unit) as a plurality of processing function units. X-ray image data generation processing and physical quantity calculation processing are executed based on detection information from the X-ray detection unit 104, respectively. The “physical quantity” referred to here is a physical quantity related to the size and mass (weight) such as mass, volume, area, thickness, length, width, etc., but the physical quantity calculation process in this embodiment is an example. It is a calculation process of mass of.

  The region extraction processing unit 108 extracts a part of the detection information from the X-ray detection unit 104, and removes at least a portion corresponding to the background of the X-ray image, and X-rays in the mass measurement region (physical quantity measurement region) It is a region extraction means for causing the X-ray image generation unit 111 to generate an image, and has a program and a working memory (not shown) for that purpose.

  The X-ray image generation unit 111 captures the density data extracted by the region extraction processing unit 108 every predetermined time, and is an X-ray image corresponding to the transmission amount data for the entire area of each article W, and there is no article W. The portion where the X-ray transmission amount is the maximum and the X-ray absorption amount by the article W is zero, the minimum density value is the minimum, the X-ray transmission amount value is the minimum, and the X-ray absorption amount by the article W is the maximum The image generating means generates a digital X-ray image of each article W having the maximum density.

  On the other hand, the mass calculation unit 113 includes a density data conversion unit, a volume measurement unit, and a mass conversion unit. In the density data conversion unit, for example, the background density value in the X-ray image and the foreground ( The representative density of the image corresponding to the mass measurement area) and the maximum density of the equivalent thickness image are set and inputted from a setting device (not shown), and stored in an internal setting value memory (not shown). Based on this, the conversion process from the density data of the X-ray image to the density data of the equivalent thickness image in each transmission region of the article W is executed. The equivalent thickness image is an image in which the thickness of the article W is equivalently shown by density data generated from the X-ray transmission amount data. Further, by associating the value of the equivalent thickness directly indicating the X-ray absorption amount by the substance transmitted from the X-ray source 101 until it is detected by the X-ray detection unit 104 with the image density value, An equivalent thickness image having a larger density value can be created for a substance having a higher X-ray absorption rate or a thicker part in the X-ray transmission direction.

  In the determination output unit 115, for example, the density data of the equivalent thickness image for each slice data, or the density data of the equivalent thickness image of the entire transmission region of the article W, the density data between a plurality of adjacent transmission regions is steep. A differential process or the like is performed to find a change to identify a transmission area of the foreign substance candidate point in the entire transmission area of the article W, and determine whether or not the X-ray absorption amount exceeds a predetermined threshold for the candidate point. The presence or absence of foreign matter is determined.

  Further, in the determination output unit 115, in addition to outputting the classification command signal RJ1 at the time of detecting a foreign object according to the result of the article inspection, in the same manner as the classification control unit 50 of the first and second embodiments described above, the article detection sensor In the switching of the determination threshold, the determination threshold value for determining the presence or absence of a foreign object is switched according to the conveyance state (a plurality of conveyance states as shown in FIG. 4) of the article W corresponding to the detection information 64, 65. In the case of a conveyance state that cannot be dealt with, the sorting discharge signal RJ2 is output. Therefore, even if the conveyance state changes, it is possible to accurately sort out and discharge the defective inspected article W mixed with foreign matters.

  As described above, in the article inspection apparatus according to this embodiment, the X-ray detection unit 104 of the inspection unit 100 irradiates the article W with X-rays and detects X-rays transmitted through the article W to detect foreign matter in the article W. And a sorting command signal is output to the drive unit 43 of the sorting device 40 when the foreign object is detected. Therefore, even if the conveyance state of the article W changes, the article W to be inspected in which foreign matters are mixed can be accurately discharged out of the conveyance path.

  As described above, according to the present invention, according to the article detection time of the first article detection unit and the second article detection unit, the conveyance state determination unit determines the conveyance state of the article being conveyed, and according to the conveyance state. Since the sorting command signal is output, even if the conveyance state of the article is different from normal, the sorting operation is executed according to the accurate determination processing result, and the defective product flows out to the subsequent process which is the non-defective product unloading path. It is possible to provide an article inspection apparatus that can reliably prevent the occurrence of an article inspection apparatus that measures the mass of an article to be conveyed, particularly by filtering the output signal of the weighing means. This is useful for general article inspection apparatuses having a function of calculating a measured value.

It is a block block diagram including the schematic side view of the article inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic plan view of an article inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a timing chart which shows the article input detection signal in the article inspection device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention, a measurement signal, the waveform after filter processing, etc. It is explanatory drawing explaining the aspect of the output signal of the 1st article detection part and the 2nd article detection part in the some conveyance state in the article inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the state. It is a schematic plan view (a), a side view (b), and a block configuration diagram (c) of a control system of an article inspection apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a block block diagram including the schematic side view of the article inspection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a detection sensitivity characteristic figure of the article inspection device concerning a 3rd embodiment. It is a block block diagram including the schematic side view of the article inspection apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Conveying section (conveying means, conveyor)
10a Conveyance path 11 Pre-stage conveyor 12 Weighing conveyors 13 and 14 Post-stage conveyor 20 Article detection means 21 First article sensor (first article detector)
22 2nd article sensor (2nd article detection part)
23, 24 Detection head 23c Detection center line 30 Weighing device (inspection means)
31 Weighing table 40 Sorting device (sorting device)
41, 42 Arm 43 Drive unit 50 Sorting control unit (sorting control means)
51 Transport state determination unit 55 Setting operation unit ( product type setting means)
56 Storage section (detection information storage means)
59 Display unit 60 Conveying unit (conveying means)
60a Conveying path 61 Pre-stage conveyor 64, 65 Article detection sensor 70 Detection unit (inspection means)
70f Frame 71 Signal generating unit 72 Magnetic field generating unit 72a Transmitting coil 73 Magnetic field detecting unit 74 Signal level measuring unit 80 Control unit (sorting control means)
90 Conveying section (conveying means)
90a Conveying path 91 Pre-stage conveyor 92 Inspection section conveyor 93 Post-stage conveyor 100 Inspection section (inspection means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 X-ray source 102,103 Approach detection sensor 104 X-ray detection part 106 Data processing unit 108 Area extraction processing part 111 X-ray image generation part 113 Mass calculation part 115 Judgment output part 120 Display part 231 Case 231a Concave part 232 Laser light source 233 Light reception Unit 235 detection signal generation unit p1 first detection position p2, p2a, p2b second detection position RJ1, RJ2 classification command signal Sw1, Sw2 article detection signal W article, article to be inspected

Claims (6)

Conveying means (10) having a conveying path (10a) for conveying the article (W) to be charged;
Article detection means (20) for sequentially detecting articles put into the transport means;
Inspection means (30) for inspecting the article conveyed by the conveyance means;
Product setting means (55) for setting the product in advance for the article;
Separation for separating the articles conveyed by the conveying means on the downstream side of the conveying means according to the type set by the kind setting means, the detection information of the article detecting means and the inspection result of the inspection means An article inspection apparatus comprising: a separation control means (50) for outputting a command signal;
The article passing through the respective positions at the first detection position (p1) and the second detection position (p2) that are separated in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article by the conveyance means. A first article detector (21) and a second article detector (22) for detecting
The first article detection unit is arranged in a main article conveyance area (Ap) that conveys a main part (Wa) of an article on the conveyance path, and the second article detection unit is arranged outside the main article conveyance area. And
The second detection position is set to a position higher than the first detection position on the conveyance path;
The separation control means includes a length of the first ON time from when the detection signal of the first article detection unit is turned on to when it is turned off and after the detection signal of the second article detection unit is turned on. A conveyance state determination unit (51) that determines a conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path based on a ratio of the lengths of the second ON times until the second ON time is turned off, and conveyance determined by the conveyance state determination unit Output the classification command signal according to the state and the inspection result of the inspection means ,
A first determination mode in which the conveyance state determination unit determines a conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path based on a ratio between the length of the first ON time and the length of the second ON time; Based on a comparison result between the length of the second ON time and a predetermined determination threshold time, a second determination mode for determining the conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path, and the length of the first ON time And the second ON time length, and the comparison result between the second ON time length and the predetermined determination threshold time, the conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path is determined. 3. An article inspection apparatus , wherein a third determination mode for determination is selectively executed according to the product type set by the product type setting means . A detection information storage means (56) for storing information on the length of the first ON time and the length of the second ON time;
The conveyance state determination unit determines whether the conveyance state is abnormal when the conveyance state of the article is a conveyance state that causes an inspection error in the inspection of the article by the inspection unit, based on the storage information of the detection information storage unit. The article inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The inspection means (30) measures the mass of the article together with the transport means, and outputs a weighing signal representing the weighing result to the separation control means,
The classification control unit generates the classification command signal according to the measurement result by the inspection unit and a determination result by the conveyance state determination unit regarding whether or not the conveyance state is abnormal. 3. The article inspection apparatus according to 1 or 2. The inspection means (70) detects a foreign substance in the article from a change in the magnetic field accompanying the passage of the article, and outputs a detection signal of the foreign substance to the separation control means, while the conveyance state determination unit determines it. The article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the foreign matter detection sensitivity is estimated in accordance with a conveyance state, and the judgment threshold switching control is executed so as to use a foreign matter presence / absence judgment threshold corresponding to the estimated sensitivity. Inspection device. The inspection means (100) irradiates the article with X-rays, detects X-rays transmitted through the article, detects foreign matter in the article, and outputs a detection signal of the foreign matter to the classification control means. On the other hand, the foreign substance detection sensitivity is estimated according to the conveyance state determined by the conveyance state determination unit, and switching control of the determination threshold value is performed so as to use the determination threshold value of the presence or absence of foreign substances corresponding to the estimated sensitivity. The article inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Conveying means (10) having a conveying path (10a) for conveying the article (W) to be charged;
Article detection means (20) for sequentially detecting articles put into the transport means;
Inspection means (30) for inspecting the article conveyed by the conveyance means;
Sorting means (40) for selectively sorting the article downstream of the transport means;
Product setting means (55) for setting the product in advance for the article;
Article inspection comprising: a classification control means (50) for controlling the operation of the sorting means according to the kind set by the kind setting means, the detection information of the article detection means and the inspection result of the inspection means. In the device
The article passing through the respective positions at the first detection position (p1) and the second detection position (p2) that are separated in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article by the conveyance means. A first article detector (21) and a second article detector (22) for detecting
The first article detection unit is arranged in a main article conveyance area (Ap) that conveys a main part (Wa) of an article on the conveyance path, and the second article detection unit is arranged outside the main article conveyance area. And
The second detection position is set to a position higher than the first detection position on the conveyance path;
The separation control means includes a length of the first ON time from when the detection signal of the first article detection unit is turned on to when it is turned off and after the detection signal of the second article detection unit is turned on. A conveyance state determination unit (51) that determines a conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path based on a ratio of the lengths of the second ON times until the second ON time is turned off, and conveyance determined by the conveyance state determination unit The classification command signal is output according to the state and the inspection result of the inspection means, and the start time of the ON time that starts earlier among the first ON time and the second ON time is used as a reference. , Set the timing for operating the sorting means,
A first determination mode in which the conveyance state determination unit determines a conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path based on a ratio between the length of the first ON time and the length of the second ON time; Based on a comparison result between the length of the second ON time and a predetermined determination threshold time, a second determination mode for determining the conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path, and the length of the first ON time And the second ON time length, and the comparison result between the second ON time length and the predetermined determination threshold time, the conveyance state of the article on the conveyance path is determined. 3. An article inspection apparatus, wherein a third determination mode for determination is selectively executed according to the product type set by the product type setting means.

Images