JP6128730B2 - Granule inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a transfer means for transferring a granular material group as an inspection object so as to pass through a detection location, an illumination means for illuminating the detection location, a light receiving means for receiving light from the detection location, Determining means for determining whether the received light amount of the light receiving means is out of an appropriate light amount range corresponding to a normal object, whether it is a normal object or an abnormal object, and the illuminating means includes an illumination light source and The present invention also relates to a granular material inspection apparatus including a diffusion transmission member that transmits light emitted from the illumination light source toward the detection portion as diffused light.

  In the conventional granular material inspection apparatus, the fluorescence as the light source for illumination is in a state where the light from the detection location is close to the light passage route guided to the light receiving means and is distributed to both the upper and lower sides of the light passage route. A flat diffuser plate that is provided between the fluorescent lamp and the detection location, transmits the light projected from the fluorescent lamp toward the detection location as diffused light, and guides it to the detection location between the fluorescent lamp and the detection location. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-264256 A

  In the case of directly irradiating a detection location with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source such as a fluorescent lamp, as an inspection object, for example, a resin pellet having a glossy portion or a curved surface portion with a small curvature on the surface, etc. In the target, there is a possibility that reflected light stronger than the reflected light in the other part of the surface is generated in the glossy part of the surface or the curved surface part with a small curvature. Therefore, in the above-described conventional configuration, the surface as described above is glossed by illuminating the detection portion with diffused light instead of directly irradiating the detection portion with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source such as a fluorescent lamp. Even if it is a granular group with a curved surface part with a small curvature, there is no risk of strong reflected light, and by obtaining information on the original amount of light received from the object to be inspected, a normal object by the discrimination means Or an abnormal object can be properly determined.

  Since the conventional configuration irradiates the inspection object with diffused light, there is less possibility that strong reflected light is partially generated from the granular material group. However, with a transparent detection object such as a transparent resin pellet, In some cases, there is a possibility that discrimination by the discrimination means cannot be performed properly, and there is still room for improvement.

  That is, in the above-described conventional configuration, the illumination light source is provided in a state of approaching the light passing path guided from the detection location to the light receiving means, and for the inspection target positioned at the detection location, the light reception at the detection target is performed. Light is irradiated in a direction substantially along the light passage path to the side surface on the light reception target side by the means.

  And the irradiated light is not only reflected on the surface of the inspection object, but, for example, in a state where it is refracted while passing through the inside of the transparent resin pellet as the inspection object and changed in a different direction. It may be emitted and received by the light receiving means. As a result, even in the case of a normal inspection object (resin pellet) having the same transparency in all regions in practice, depending on how the light is refracted, the intensity of light is received as light reception information received by the light receiving means. Information with a particularly bright part or a shadow part with a low light intensity may be obtained, and even though it is a normal inspection object, a part with a high light intensity or a light intensity may be obtained. In some cases, the light amount of the shadow portion with a small thickness is out of the appropriate light amount range and is erroneously determined as an abnormal object, and there is a possibility that the inspection object cannot be properly determined by the determining means.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a granular material inspection apparatus capable of satisfactorily determining whether it is a normal object or an abnormal object even when a transparent granular material group is used as a detection target. The point is to provide.

The granular material inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a transfer means for transferring a granular material group as an inspection object so as to pass through a detection location, an illumination means for illuminating the detection location, and light from the detection location. light receiving means for, discriminating means for discriminating whether the abnormality thereof is normal product by determining whether the received light amount is outside the proper amount range corresponding to the normal of the light receiving means is provided, said detecting portion Is set in a straight line including a location where an extension line of the transfer path of the transfer means and the optical axis of the light receiving means intersect, and the illumination means is provided from the illumination light source and the illumination light source to the detection location. a granular material inspection apparatus is configured and a diffuse transmission member that transmits the diffused light emitted light toward the illumination means, an outer side departing from the previous SL diffuse transmission member from said detection position Curved convexly toward The illumination light source is configured to be formed in a convex curved surface, and the illumination light source is configured to be positioned along the convex curved surface at a location on the outer side of the diffusing and transmissive member. A plurality of light emitting units arranged along the convex curved surface, and the plurality of light emitting units include light emitting units in which directions of optical axes of light to be irradiated are not parallel to each other, An optical axis of light emitted from the light emitting unit is arranged in a state where it does not pass through the detection point and does not intersect at one point, and is arranged in the plurality of light emitting units close to the optical axis of the light receiving means. The first light emitting unit is disposed in a state where the optical axis of the first light emitting unit is parallel to the optical axis of the light receiving unit, and the light receiving unit receives the light receiving unit. Arranged at a position farther from the first light emitting part than the optical axis of the means The second light emitting portion is provided that, the second light emitting unit is one in which the optical axis of the second light emitting portion is disposed in a state passing between the detection portion and the diffuse transmission member.

  According to the present invention, the diffusing and transmitting member in the illuminating means is provided in a state of forming a convex curved surface that curves in a convex shape toward the outer side away from the detection location, and the illumination light source is outward from the diffusing and transmitting member. Since the light source for illumination is provided at the side location along the convex curved surface of the diffusive transmitting member, the illumination light source is directed from the location different from the location along the convex curved surface curved to the detection location to the detection location. Light is emitted, and the light emitted from the illumination light source is transmitted as diffused light by the diffusing and transmitting member and irradiated to the detection portion.

In other words, the illumination light source irradiates the detection location with light from different directions so that the light irradiation path toward the detection location is positioned substantially radially around the detection location. Various directions are greatly different, such as irradiating light in a direction substantially along the light passing path (optical axis of the light receiving means) guided to the means and irradiating light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction substantially along the light passing path. It is possible to irradiate the detection location in a state where the light in the direction of is transmitted and diffused.

  That is, not only light in a direction substantially along the light passage path guided to the light receiving means but also light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction substantially along the light passage path with respect to the inspection object located at the detection location, etc. Since it becomes possible to irradiate light from locations that are different from each other along the convex curved surface, it is possible to irradiate light that is uniformly diffused over a wide range to the inspection object located at the detection location. it can.

  By irradiating light that is diffused substantially uniformly over a wide range in this way, for example, even for a transparent inspection object such as a transparent pellet, On the other hand, the light illuminated by the irradiating means is in a state of being diffused substantially uniformly over a wide range of the outer peripheral portion of the inspection object, so that a normal inspection object (resin pellet) having the same transparency in all regions If so, the light receiving information received by the light receiving means does not cause a particularly bright part having a large light intensity or a shadow part having a small light intensity, and the risk of erroneous determination is small.

Therefore, even when a transparent granular group is used as a detection target, it is possible to provide a granular inspection apparatus that can perform a good discrimination as to whether it is normal or abnormal. It was .

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that a light amount adjusting unit is provided that can change and adjust the light amounts of the plurality of light emitting units.

  According to this configuration, the illumination light source includes a plurality of light emitting units arranged in a line along the convex curved surface, and the light amount of the plurality of light emitting units can be changed and adjusted individually by the illumination light amount adjusting unit. It is.

  For example, even if multiple light receiving units are deployed with different distances from the detection location due to restrictions on the installation of various devices, the light amounts of the multiple light emitting units are changed individually. By adjusting, it becomes possible to irradiate the inspection target located at the detection location with the same amount of light in a state of being diffused substantially uniformly over a wide range.

  Therefore, the amount of light applied to the inspection object can be adjusted to the same amount by a plurality of light receiving units, thereby avoiding the disadvantage that the determination unit misidentifies due to the difference in the light amounts of the plurality of light receiving units. As a result, it is possible to better determine whether the product is normal or abnormal.

  In the above configuration, the transfer means transfers the granular material group in a single layer state and spreads in the horizontal width direction along the moving drop path, and extends along the horizontal width direction in the middle of the moving drop path. The detection unit is configured to pass through, and the illumination unit includes one side illumination unit provided on one side of the moving fall path, and the other side illumination unit provided on the other side of the movement fall path. The diffuse transmission member in the one-side illuminating means has the convex curved surface that curves convexly outward from the detection location toward the one side and extends substantially in the lateral width direction. The diffuse transmission member in the other side illumination means has a convex curved surface that is curved in a convex shape from the detection location toward the other side outward, and is directed in the lateral width direction. It is preferable to be configured in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape extending Te.

  According to this configuration, the transfer means is in a state in which the granular material group as the inspection object is in a single layer state and extends in the horizontal width direction and passes through a detection point provided in a state extending along the horizontal width direction. Move along the moving drop path. In this way, the detection location is provided in a state extending along the lateral width direction, and the inspection is performed while simultaneously transferring the plurality of granular material groups in a side-by-side state, so that a large amount of inspection objects can be processed efficiently.

  In addition, the detection location is illuminated from both sides by the one side illumination means provided on one side of the moving fall path and the other side illumination means provided on the other side of the movement fall path. The one side surface and the other side surface of the body group can be illuminated together, and the substantially entire area of the outer peripheral portion of the granular body group can be well illuminated with the uniformly diffused light.

  The diffuse transmission member in the one side illumination means has a convex curved surface that curves convexly from the detection location toward the one side outward and is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape extending in the lateral width direction, and the other side illumination. The diffuse transmission member in the means has a convex curved surface that curves convexly from the detection location toward the outside of the other side, and is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape extending in the horizontal width direction. In any elongated detection location that extends, a convex curved surface that curves in a convex manner toward the outside can be formed at any position in the longitudinal direction, and light diffused in the same way can be formed. It can be irradiated well.

  Therefore, even if a large number of inspection objects can be efficiently processed, even if a transparent granular group is used as a detection object, is it normal or abnormal? This makes it possible to make a good discrimination.

  In the above-described configuration, the plurality of light emitting units provided in a state of being arranged along the convex curved surface in the illumination light source has the same or substantially the same width as the width along the horizontal width direction of the detection portion. It is preferable that the apparatus is composed of a long line illumination device.

  According to this configuration, a plurality of light-emitting units each including a linear illumination device that is long in the lateral width direction are arranged in a state of being aligned along the convex curved surface of the illumination light source. Is provided in a state having a width that is the same as or substantially the same as the width along the horizontal width direction, so that it can be evenly distributed over a wide range with respect to the inspection object located at the detection location at any position in the horizontal width direction at the detection location. Can be irradiated with diffused light.

  In the above-described configuration, a projection member that projects light toward the light receiving unit from a position opposite to the light receiving unit of the detection position in the light receiving direction of the light receiving unit, and a background light amount capable of changing and adjusting the light amount of the projection member It is preferable that an adjusting means is provided.

  According to this configuration, light is directed toward the light receiving means at a position opposite to the light receiving means at the detection position in the light receiving direction of the light receiving means, that is, when the detection position is viewed from the light receiving means. Is provided, and the light quantity of the projection member can be changed and adjusted by the background light quantity adjusting means.

  For example, if the light intensity of the projection member is adjusted to the same light intensity as that obtained from the inspection object as a normal object, and the appropriate light intensity range is set for the light intensity by the light receiving means, the light intensity of the background is measured. Even if the abnormal object exists as the inspection object, it is possible to determine that the light amount is out of the appropriate light amount range and is an abnormal object.

  And even if the amount of light obtained from the inspection object as a normal object differs if the type of inspection object is different, it can be handled by changing and adjusting the light amount of the projection member to match that light amount, For example, each time the type of inspection object is different, there is no need for the trouble of changing to a projection member having a different amount of light, and the convenience is improved.

It is a whole side view. It is a vertical side view of an optical measurement part. It is a top view of an optical measurement part. It is a perspective view of an optical measurement part. It is a perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a light-receiving means and an illumination means. It is a top view which shows the measurement state in a front side light-receiving part. It is a figure which shows the light reception state of a light-receiving means. It is a figure which shows the output voltage of a light-receiving means. It is a control block diagram. It is a vertical side view of the optical measurement part of another embodiment. It is a perspective view of the light source for illumination of another embodiment. It is a perspective view of the light source for illumination of another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the embodiment of the granular material inspection apparatus according to the present invention, when a large number of resin pellets are transferred as inspection objects, while performing determination processing of whether it is normal or abnormal and separation processing thereof This will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a shooter 1 having an inclined posture for guiding the pellet group k to flow down in a single layer and in a wide state so as to pass the detection point J, and from a storage hopper 2 provided on the upper side of the shooter 1. While the pellet group k conveyed and supplied by the vibration feeder 3 is caused to flow down the upper surface of the shooter 1, the normal product and the abnormal product can be selected and separated from each other.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the storage hopper 2 that is supplied and stored with the pellet group k from the outside is formed in a tapered shape toward the lower end in a side view, and the vibration feeder 3 is discharged from the lower part of the storage hopper 2. The receiving placement unit 4 that receives the pellet group k to be received and the vibration generator 5 that applies vibration to the receiving placement unit 4 are provided. The vibration generator 5 vibrates the receiving placement unit 4. The pellet group k is fed out from one end thereof, and the pellet group k is fed out onto the shooter 1 so as to flow down in a single layer extending over the entire width of the shooter 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the shooter 1 is a flat shooter formed on a flat guide surface over the entire width in the width direction. In this case, since it is intended to flow down in a single layer state, even if grains partially overlap with each other due to the flow state, a two-layer state is included in the concept of a single layer state.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a detection point J for the pellet group k is set in a moving and dropping route IK in which the pellet group k is guided by the shooter 1, and the detection point J is guided by the shooter 1 and passed through the detection point J. The normal pellet group k is dropped and recovered as it is in the lower normal collection unit 6, and the abnormal product is separately collected by changing the path by a blowing action by an air blowing device 7 to be described later. .

  Therefore, the storage hopper 2, the vibration feeder 3, the shooter 1, and the like transfer the pellet group k along the moving drop path IK in a state where the pellet group k is spread in the horizontal width direction and in the middle of the moving drop path IK. The transfer means S which passes the detection location provided in the state extended along a horizontal width direction is comprised.

  Further, the vibration feeder 3 changes the conveying speed of the pellet group k due to the vibration of the vibration generator 5, thereby supplying the pellet group k fed to the shooter 1, that is, the transfer flow rate of the pellet group k by the shooter 1. It is configured to be able to change and adjust.

  An optical measuring unit 8 is provided at a position corresponding to the detection location J. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the optical measuring unit 8 includes an illuminating unit 9 that illuminates the detection location J, a light receiving unit 10 that receives light from the detection location J, and a pellet group than the detection location J. k is provided with an air blowing device 7 or the like as a separating means for separating a separation target particle (abnormal material) from another normal pellet group k (normal material) at a separation point on the lower side in the transfer direction of k. The unit is configured to be stored in the storage case 11.

Next, the configuration of the light receiving means 10 will be described.
The light receiving means 10 is positioned on the front side of the apparatus as one side with respect to the detection position J in the transfer direction view of the pellet group k or in the apparatus side view, and serves as one side light reception means for receiving light from the detection position J. The front side light receiving unit 12 and the other side that receives light from the detection point J, located on the rear side of the device as the other side of the detection point J in the transfer direction view of the pellet group k or in the side view of the device A rear side light receiving portion 13 as a light receiving means is provided.

  The front side light receiving unit 12 receives light traveling outward from the detection point J toward the front side of the apparatus, and the rear side light receiving unit 13 receives light traveling outward from the detection point J toward the rear side of the apparatus, By providing the light receiving parts 12 and 13 on both sides of the front part, it is possible to appropriately detect abnormality in both the front and rear side parts of the pellet group k.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the front-side light receiving unit 12 includes two front-side light receiving devices 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B that are arranged in a state of being aligned along the horizontal direction of the device. Similarly to the front side light receiving unit 12, the rear side light receiving unit 13 is also configured to include two rear side light receiving devices 15A and 15B arranged in a state of being aligned along the horizontal direction of the device.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the light receiving devices 14A, 14B, 15A, and 15B includes a plurality of unit light receiving portions t that receive light from the detection point J in a state of being juxtaposed along the device lateral width direction. It is configured to receive light in a resolution state in which a range smaller than the size of the pellet k is a unit light receiving target range.
That is, each of the light receiving devices 14A, 14B, 15A, and 15B has a range p smaller than the size of the pellet k (for example, a range smaller than 1/10 of the size of the pellet) as the respective light receiving target range. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of unit light-receiving portions t, which are light-receiving target ranges corresponding to the plurality of light-receiving target ranges, are juxtaposed in a line-like manner in correspondence with a wide detection point J. 16 and a condensing lens 17 that guides light received in a state having a viewing angle in the lateral direction of the apparatus to a plurality of unit light receiving portions t.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the two front-side light receiving devices 14A and 14B in the front-side light receiving unit 12 respectively target the right half and the left half of the entire width of the detection location J in the device lateral width direction. An image of the pellet group k located at the detection point J is provided in a state of being formed on each unit light receiving unit t of the CCD sensor unit 16, and each light receiving information is sequentially extracted from each unit light receiving unit t. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the detection target areas U by the two front-side light receiving devices 14A and 14B are provided so as to overlap in the vicinity of the central portion, and all the detection locations J in the device lateral width direction are provided. Light measurement information is obtained in the region, so that no detection omission occurs. However, only the light reception data of either one of the left and right front light receiving devices 14A and 14B is used as the light reception data of the portion to be measured redundantly.

  The rear side light receiving unit 13 is only reverse in the light detection direction, and has the same configuration as that of the front side light receiving unit 12, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Further, such discrimination processing based on the detection information of the light receiving means 10 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light axis CL1 (the optical axis of the light receiving means) of the light guided from the detection point J to the front side light receiving devices 14A and 14B, and the light from the detection point J as the rear side light receiving device 15A. , 15B, the optical axis CL2 of light (the optical axis of the light receiving means) is not inclined in the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of the pellet group k, but is inclined more toward the pellet transfer direction than in the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction. The front-side light receiving devices 14A and 14B and the rear-side light receiving devices 15A and 15B are configured to be able to simultaneously detect light from the same detection location J.

Next, the illumination means 9 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the illuminating means 9 is located on the front side of the apparatus as one side with respect to the detection position J in the transfer direction view of the pellet group k or in the side view of the apparatus. The front side illumination unit 18 as one side illumination means for illuminating J, and the detection point J located on the rear side of the device as the other side with respect to the detection point J in the transfer direction view or the side view of the pellet group k And a rear side illumination unit 19 as the other side illumination means for illuminating.

The front-side illumination unit 18 includes an illumination light source 20 that emits toward the detection location J, and a diffuse transmission member 21 that transmits light emitted from the illumination light source 20 toward the detection location J as diffused light. It is prepared for.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the diffuse transmission member 21 has a convex curved surface Q that curves from the detection point J toward the outside of the front side of the apparatus as one side outward. It has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape that extends in the width direction. The diffuse transmission member 21 is formed by bending a plate-shaped member made of a general light diffusion member that transmits light incident from the outside of one side of the plate as diffused light so as to have a semi-cylindrical shape. It is comprised by doing.

  The illumination light source 20 includes a plurality of line illumination devices 23 as a plurality of light emitting units in a state of being aligned along the convex curved surface Q of the diffusing and transmitting member 21. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a plurality of long line-shaped illumination devices 23 are convex in the width direction in a state having the same or substantially the same width as the width along the width direction of the detection location J. It is configured to be arranged along the curved surface Q.

  Specifically, the plurality of line-like illuminating devices 23 in the front side illuminating unit 18 distributes light vertically from the detection point J to the optical axis CL1 of the light guided to the front side light receiving devices 14A and 14B. Each line illumination device 23 is attached so as to emit light toward the detection portion J. The diffuse transmission member 21 has a convex curved surface Q that curves in a convex shape from the detection point J toward the outside of the front side of the apparatus as one side outward, and has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape that extends in the lateral width direction. Has been. A light passage hole 70 for guiding the light from the detection point J to the front side light receiving devices 14A and 14B is formed at the center in the width direction of the diffuse transmission member 21.

In other words, in the state of being close to the optical axis CL1, it is substantially equally distributed in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axis CL1, and is substantially perpendicular to the transfer direction of the pellet group k (the optical axis of the first light emitting unit). And a pair of horizontal light emitting line illumination devices 23a that emit light toward the optical axis CL1 in a state of being separated from the optical axis CL1 and approximately equally distributed in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axis CL1. There are a pair of vertical light emitting line illumination devices 23b that emit light in a direction substantially along the transport direction of the group k (the direction of the optical axis of the second light emitting unit) , for a total of four line illuminations The apparatus 23a and 23b are provided.

The rear side illumination unit 19 has the same configuration as the front side illumination unit 18 although the arrangement state is reversed between the front and the back so that the light emitting direction is different between the front and the rear of the apparatus. In other words, the illumination light source 24 is emitted toward the detection location J, and the diffusion transmission member 25 is configured to transmit the light emitted from the illumination light source 24 toward the detection location J as diffused light. .
In other words, the diffusing and transmitting member 25 has a convex curved surface Q that curves in a convex shape from the detection point J toward the outer side of the rear side of the apparatus as the outer side of the other side, and extends substantially in the lateral width direction. It is configured in a cylindrical shape. A light passage hole 71 for guiding light from the detection point J to the front light receiving devices 14A and 14B is formed at the center in the width direction of the diffuse transmission member 25.

  The illumination light source 24 is configured to include a plurality of line illumination devices 27 as a plurality of light emitting units in a state of being aligned along the convex curved surface Q of the diffuse transmission member 25. In other words, the linear illumination device 27 that is long in the horizontal width direction is arranged along the convex curved surface Q in a state having the same or substantially the same width as the width along the horizontal width direction of the detection location J.

Specifically, in the state of being close to the optical axis CL2, it is distributed and arranged substantially evenly in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axis CL2, and a direction substantially orthogonal to the transfer direction of the pellet group k (the optical axis of the first light emitting unit). A pair of horizontal illuminating line illumination devices 27a that emit light toward the direction) , and a group of pellets arranged substantially equally in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axis CL2 in a state of being separated from the optical axis CL2. There are a pair of line illumination devices 27b for vertical light emission that emit light in a direction substantially along the transfer direction of k (the direction of the optical axis of the second light emitting unit) , for a total of four line illumination devices 27 is provided.

  The line illumination devices 23 and 27 in each of the front side illumination unit 18 and the rear side illumination unit 19 are not described in detail, but the white LED light emitting elements are elongated in the horizontal width direction in three rows on the substrate. In addition to being provided side by side, the light emitting device includes a light collecting member that collects light emitted from the plurality of white LED light emitting elements, a diffusion plate that diffuses light, and the like.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the respective light amounts of the four linear illumination devices 23 in the front side illumination unit 18 and the respective light amounts of the four linear illumination devices 27 in the rear side illumination unit 19 are obtained. Illumination light quantity adjustment means 28 that can be changed and adjusted individually is provided.
The illumination light amount adjusting means 28 includes four front-side illumination light amount adjustment circuits 29 that individually act on the four line illumination devices 23 in the front-side illumination unit 18, and the rear-side illumination unit 19. The four line-shaped illumination devices 27 in FIG. 4 are configured with four rear-side illumination light amount adjustment circuits 30 that act separately.

  As described above, the pair of horizontal light emitting line illumination devices 23a and 27a that emit light in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transfer direction of the pellet group k, and the direction substantially along the transfer direction of the pellet group k. And a pair of vertical illuminating line illuminators 23b and 27b for emitting light, and semi-cylindrical diffusing and transmitting members 21 and 25 for transmitting the light emitted therefrom as diffused light. Therefore, the light illuminated on the pellet located at the detection point J is in a state of being diffused substantially uniformly over a wide range of the outer peripheral portion of the pellet k.

  As a result, even if the pellet k is formed of a transparent material, if the pellet k is a normal pellet k that does not have an abnormal part, the light intensity is particularly large or the light intensity is small. This is less likely to occur.

  Although a detailed mounting structure will not be described in detail, a total of four line lighting devices 23 in the front side lighting unit 18 are detachably screwed mounting plates on both lateral sides of the storage case 11. 31. When the side cover 11A in the storage case 11 and the respective attachment plates 31 on both sides in the lateral width direction are removed, the attachment plates 31 on the both sides and the four line illumination devices 23 are integrated. The state that is supported by can be removed to the outside. This facilitates maintenance work such as repair and replacement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front side of the front side light receiving unit 12 projects light toward the front side light receiving unit 12 from the side opposite to the front side light receiving unit 12 of the detection point J in the light receiving direction. The projection member 32 is provided in a state of being positioned between the lower horizontal light emitting line illumination device 23 a and the lower vertical light emitting line illumination device 23 b in the front side illumination unit 18. Yes.
Further, the rear side projection member 33 that projects light toward the rear side light receiving unit from the side opposite to the rear side light receiving unit 13 in the light receiving direction of the rear side light receiving unit 13 is provided in the rear side lighting unit 19. Are arranged between a line illumination device 27a for horizontal light emission located on the lower side and a line illumination device 27b for light emission on the lower side.

The front-side projection member 32 and the rear-side projection member 33 are not described in detail, but a large number of LED light-emitting elements are arranged side by side on a long substrate in the width direction, and the LED light-emitting elements are arranged. In the state where the light emitted from the light is diffused by the diffusion plate, the light is projected to the front side light receiving unit 12 and the rear side light receiving unit 13 through the detection point J.
As shown in FIG. 9, the front-side projection member 32 and the rear-side projection member 33 are the same as the reflected light from the normal material in the pellet group k by the background light amount adjusting device 34 as the background light amount adjusting means. Alternatively, the amount of light is adjusted so as to project light having substantially the same brightness.

  In other words, projection members 32 and 33 that project light toward the light receiving means 10 from a position opposite to the light receiving means 10 of the detection position J in the light receiving direction of the light receiving means 10 are provided. A background light amount adjustment device 34 that can be changed and adjusted is provided. This background light quantity adjusting device 34 changes and adjusts the light quantity projected to the light receiving means 10 by changing and adjusting the current value supplied to the LED light emitting elements constituting the front side projection member 32 and the rear side projection member 33. It is possible to do this.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pellet passage space C <b> 1 penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the front and rear central portion of the storage case 11 so that the pellet group k guided by the shooter 1 passes therethrough. A front side storage space C2 for storing the front side illumination unit 18 and the front side projection member 32 is formed on the front side of the device in the space C1, and a rear side is provided on the rear side of the device in the pellet passage space C1. A rear side storage space C3 for storing the illumination unit 19 and the rear side projection member 33 is formed.

  Between the pellet passage space C1 and the front-side storage space C2, a front-side partition portion 35 provided in the storage case 11 and a glass light transmission window 36 provided so as to be continuous therewith are provided. Between the pellet passage space C1 and the rear-side storage space C3, a rear-side partition portion 37 and a glass light transmission window 38 provided so as to be continuous therewith are provided. Thus, the front side storage space C2 and the rear side storage space C3 are partitioned from the pellet passage space C1 so that dust and the like do not enter.

  As described above, the optical axis CL1 of the light from which the light is detected from the detection point J to the front side light receiving devices 14A and 14B, and the optical axis of the light from which the light is guided from the detection point J to the rear side light receiving devices 15A and 15B. CL2 is set so as to be inclined to the upper side of the pellet transfer direction from the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of the pellet group k, but in order to efficiently detect the light from the detection point J, Since the transmission windows 36 and 38 are provided so as to be orthogonal to the respective optical axes CL1 and CL2, the pellet passage space C1 in which the detection point J is located is widened downward toward the lower side. Will be formed.

From the detection point J to the lower side of the pellet transfer direction, for abnormal substances (for example, pellets burned and colored in the resin treatment process, pellets of different colors, etc.) determined based on the light reception information at the detection point J An air blowing device 7 is provided for blowing air to separate the normal pellet group k from the moving direction.
This air spraying device 7 has a plurality of spray nozzles 7a juxtaposed in a state corresponding to each section formed by dividing the entire width of the detection location J into a plurality of sections with a predetermined width, and a section where abnormal objects are present. The spray nozzle 7a is activated to blow away abnormal objects.

  And as shown in FIG. 1, the normal thing collection | recovery part 6 which collects the normal pellet k which progresses as it is, without receiving the blowing of the air from the injection nozzle 7a, and the normal pellet k which receives the blowing of air And an abnormal material recovery unit 39 for recovering abnormal materials separated in the horizontal direction from the flow of the normal material, the normal material recovery unit 6 is formed in a long and narrow cylindrical shape in the horizontal width direction, and collects the pellets k that have been blown off by air blowing As described above, an abnormal object recovery unit 39 is formed.

Next, the whole support structure of a granular material inspection apparatus is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, a bottom 41 having legs 40, a front vertical frame 42 erected from the bottom 41, a rear vertical 43, diagonal horizontal frames 44, 45 connecting them at the left and right sides, etc. The machine frame is constructed, and the vibration generator 5 for the vibration feeder 3 is supported by a substantially box-shaped frame portion 47 that is installed and supported across the horizontal frames 44 on both the left and right sides. A pressure adjusting device 48 for adjusting the pressure of air from an air supply source (not shown) for supplying air is provided.

  A storage case 11 for storing the optical measurement unit 8 is supported by a box-shaped support base 49 that is installed and supported across the horizontal frames 45 on both the left and right sides. The shooter 1 is supported by the frame 47 on the upper side and the storage case 11 on the lower side. An operation panel 46 for displaying and inputting information is installed on a front cover 50 covering an upper oblique portion of the front vertical frame 42, and a circuit provided with a control circuit as will be described later in the rear cover 51. A substrate is provided. Although not shown, the front cover 50 and the rear cover 51 are configured to be openable and closable in the left-right direction so that the inside of the apparatus can be inspected.

Next, the control configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9, a control device 52 using a microcomputer is provided. The control device 52 includes two front light receiving devices 14A and 14B and two rear light receiving devices 15A and 15B. Each light reception signal and operation information from the operation panel 46 are input.
On the other hand, from the control device 52, a display drive signal for the operation panel 46, drive signals for the four front side illumination light amount adjustment circuits 29, and four rear side illumination light amount adjustment circuits 30. A drive signal, a drive signal for a plurality of solenoid valves 53 for turning on and off the air supply to each injection nozzle 7a, a drive signal for the vibration generator 5, and a projection member 32 on the front side and a projection member 33 on the rear side Drive signal is output.

  Then, by using the control device 52, the received light amount of each of the light receiving devices 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B is sampled at a set time interval, and the sampled received light amount is detected light from a normal object in the pellet group k. A determination unit 100 is configured to determine whether or not the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2 is out of the range.

  Specifically, the discriminating means 100 samples the received light amount of each unit light receiving unit t of the front side light receiving devices 14A and 14B at a predetermined time interval, and the sampled light amount value corresponds to the reflected light on the front side. Whether or not the appropriate light amount range ΔE2 set for each unit light receiving unit t is deviated is determined for each unit light receiving unit t, and the amount of light received by each unit light receiving unit t of the rear side light receiving devices 15A and 15B is predetermined. Sampling is performed at time intervals, and it is determined for each unit light receiving unit t whether the sampled light amount value is outside the appropriate light amount range ΔE1 set for each unit light receiving unit t with respect to the reflected light on the rear surface side. In both the above determinations, the presence of an abnormal object is detected when the amount of light received by any one of the unit light receiving portions t is out of the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2.

  The above-mentioned abnormal material will be described. For example, an abnormal portion having a concentration different from that of a normal material in a part of the outer periphery of the pellet k, specifically, a black portion or a contamination due to burning generated in the resin treatment process on the surface of the pellet k. In the case where there is a contaminated portion, the amount of light received by the unit light receiving unit t that has received the reflected light from the abnormal portion deviates from the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2, and the presence of an abnormal object is detected.

An abnormal signal is illustrated in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of the waveform of the received light output voltage, and in order to make the explanation easier to understand, a state in which there are more abnormalities than actual is shown.
In FIG. 8, e0 is an output voltage level with respect to standard reflected light from a normal pellet. When the output voltage of the light receiving element 5a is smaller than the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2, e1 and e2 are higher than normal pellets. Also, the presence of abnormal pellets with low reflectance (for example, burned portions), resin pellets of different colors, etc. are determined, and when e3 is larger than the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2, e3 has a higher reflectance than normal pellet k. The presence of foreign matter such as resin pellets of different colors (for example, white resin pellets with high brightness) is determined.

  And when the presence of an abnormal thing is discriminated among the pellet groups k which passed the detection location J, the control apparatus 52 conveys the pellet group k from the detection location J to the injection position of the injection nozzle 7a. As the time interval required for this elapses, air is blown from the respective injection nozzles 7a in the section corresponding to the position of the abnormal object to separate it from the normal pellet k path.

  In this inspection apparatus, various adjustment processes as described below are executed before the selection process is started for a large number of pellet groups k as inspection objects.

First, the appropriate light quantity ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 are set and stored.
That is, for example, with respect to the pellet group k as an inspection object, a set number of abnormal objects that have been determined to be abnormal in advance by human judgment are prepared, and the abnormal object is caused to flow down the shooter 1 to receive all light. The amount of light is sequentially measured, and based on the measurement result of the amount of received light, the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2 is determined by setting the light intensity setting threshold to be determined as abnormal, and the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 are not illustrated. When it is stored in the memory and detection is performed for a large number of pellet groups k as inspection objects, detection processing is executed using the stored appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2.

In addition, before starting the sorting process for a large number of pellet groups k, the illumination light quantity adjusting process by the illumination light quantity adjusting means 28 acting on each of the plurality of line illumination devices 23 and 27 is performed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the pellet passage space C <b> 1 in which the detection point J is located is formed so as to expand downward so that the lower side of the front side illumination unit 18 is horizontal. The line illumination device 23a for light emission and the line illumination device 23a for horizontal light emission on the upper side are different from each other in the distance from the detection point J. Even if the same amount of light is emitted, the detection point The amount of light that irradiates J is slightly different. The same applies to the line illumination devices 23b for vertical light emission on both the upper and lower sides. Therefore, the operator changes and adjusts the light amount of each linear illumination device 23 using the operation panel 46 so that the light amount of light irradiating the detection spot J by each linear illumination device 23 becomes the same.
Similarly, with respect to the rear side illumination unit 19, the light amount of each line illumination device 27 is changed and adjusted.

  Before starting the sorting process for a large number of pellet groups k, an error in detection values caused by individual differences between the two front light receiving devices 14A and 14B does not occur, that is, the same detection values for the same pellets. Thus, output gain adjustment processing is performed for the detection values of the two front light receiving devices 14A and 14B. Similarly, for the detection values of the two rear light-receiving devices 15A and 15B, output gain adjustment processing is performed so as not to cause an error in the detection values.

  Further, before starting the sorting process for a large number of pellet groups k, a background light amount adjustment process for adjusting the light amounts of the front projection member 32 and the rear projection member 33 is performed. That is, the operator uses the operation panel 46 to change and adjust the light amounts of the front-side projection member 32 and the rear-side projection member 33 so as to correspond to the normal amount. Since the background light amount becomes equal to the light amount of the normal object in this way, even when the pellet k does not exist at the detection location J, the presence of an abnormal object is not detected based on the amount of light received by the light receiving means 10, The air blowing device 7 does not operate unnecessarily and performs a useless operation.

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above embodiment, the line-shaped illumination devices 23 and 27 are formed independently as the plurality of light emitting units 22 and 26 in a state where the illumination light source 20.24 is arranged along the convex curved surface Q. However, instead of this configuration, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the illumination light sources 20 and 24 have a substantially arc shape along the convex curved surface Q. It may be configured by a single lighting device 60 formed integrally. In this configuration, since the illumination light sources 20 and 24 are integrally formed along the convex curved surface Q, light is directed toward the light receiving means 10 from the detection point J at the center. The light passage holes 73 and 74 for allowing the light to pass therethrough are formed.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 12, what is comprised by the one illuminating device 61 integrally formed in polygonal shape etc. may be sufficient.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the illumination light sources 20 and 24 are configured to include LED light emitting elements. However, the illumination light source is not limited to the LED light emitting elements, but may be other fluorescent lamps or the like. Various types of lighting lamps can be used.

(3) In the said embodiment, although the projection members 32 and 33 which project light toward the light-receiving means 10 showed what comprised a LED light emitting element, as a projection member, it is restricted to a LED light emitting element. Instead, it may be configured by a reflector having a predetermined light reflectance.

(4) In the above embodiment, the light receiving means 10 includes two front light receiving devices 14A and 14B (15A and 15B) arranged in a state of being aligned along the device width direction. It is good also as a structure which detects the full width direction of this with one light receiving device.

  The present invention can be applied to a granular material inspection apparatus that determines whether a granular material group is normal or abnormal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Illuminating means 10 Light receiving means 18 One side illumination means 19 The other side illumination means 20, 24 Illumination light source 21, 25 Diffuse transmission member 22, 26 Light emission part 23, 27 Line-like illuminating device 28 Illumination light quantity adjustment means 32, 33 Projection member 34 Background light quantity adjusting means IK Moving drop path Q Convex curved surface

Claims (5)

Transfer means for transferring the granular material group as the inspection object so as to pass through the detection point; and
Illuminating means for illuminating the detection location;
A light receiving means for receiving light from the detection location;
A determination means for determining whether the light receiving amount of the light receiving means is normal or abnormal depending on whether the amount of received light is out of an appropriate light amount range corresponding to a normal object,
The detection location is set in a straight line including a location where an extension line of a transfer path of the transfer means and an optical axis of the light receiving means intersect,
The illuminating means is a granular material inspection apparatus configured to include an illumination light source, and a diffusion transmission member that transmits light emitted from the illumination light source toward the detection location as diffused light,
Wherein said illuminating means, together comprise a state of forming a convex curved surface that is curved in a convex shape in front Symbol diffuse transmission member toward the outer side away from the detection position, the illumination light source than the diffuse transmission member It is configured to be provided in a state located along the convex curved surface at a location on the outer side,
The illumination light source is configured to include a plurality of light emitting units in a state of being arranged along the convex curved surface,
The plurality of light emitting units include a light emitting unit in which the directions of the optical axes of the light to be irradiated are not parallel to each other, and the optical axes of the light irradiated by all the light emitting units do not pass through the detection location, and It is arranged in a state that does not intersect at one point,
The plurality of light emitting units are provided with a first light emitting unit arranged close to the optical axis of the light receiving means,
The first light emitting unit is disposed in a state where the optical axis of the first light emitting unit is parallel to the optical axis of the light receiving unit,
The plurality of light emitting units includes a second light emitting unit disposed at a position away from the first light emitting unit with respect to the optical axis of the light receiving means,
The second light emitting unit is a granular material inspection apparatus arranged such that the optical axis of the second light emitting unit passes between the diffuse transmission member and the detection location . The granular material inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light amount adjustment device capable of changing and adjusting light amounts of the plurality of light emitting units. The transfer means is provided in a state where the granular material group is transferred in a single layer state and spread in the horizontal width direction along the moving drop path, and is extended in the horizontal width direction in the moving drop path. Configured to pass through the detection points,
The illumination means is configured to include one side illumination means provided on one side of the moving fall path and the other side illumination means provided on the other side of the movement fall path,
The diffuse transmission member in the one-side illuminating means has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape that has the convex curved surface that curves convexly from the detection location toward one side outward and extends in the lateral width direction. ,
The diffuse transmission member in the other-side illumination means has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape having the convex curved surface that curves convexly from the detection location toward the other side and extending in the lateral width direction. The granular material inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . A plurality of light emitting units provided in a state of being arranged along the convex curved surface in the illumination light source is long in the horizontal width direction in a state of having the same or substantially the same width as the width of the detection location along the horizontal width direction. The granular object inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the granular object inspection apparatus is configured by a line illumination device. A projection member that projects light toward the light receiving means from a position opposite to the light receiving means of the detection position in the light receiving direction of the light receiving means;
The granular material inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a light amount adjusting unit capable of changing and adjusting a light amount of the projection member.

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