JPH02241581A - Can identification apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit an automatic separation of an acceptable can from the rejected by providing a sensor for reading the color distribution of the can and a comparative evaluation means for comparing the color distribution of the can with that of a reference can which has previously been recorded by a memory. CONSTITUTION:A specific kind of cap is preselected and its color distribution is fed in a disk 17 as reference. A can 2 to be inspected is sent in direction D and picked up in position G by a notch 27 of a rotary body 25 and brought to a stop in position H. The can 1 is then irradiated with light beam from optical fiber guides 3a-3c, the light reflected thereby is read by sensors 9a-9c and the color data of the can 1 is sent through preamplifiers 11a-11c and an A/D converter 13 to a control part 21. This control part 21 calculates the color distribution of the can 1 and evaluates this can in comparison with the color distribution of the reference can which has previously been fed in the disk 17 as an acceptable can, whereby permitting an automatic identification of rejected can.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a can identification device that can identify different types of aluminum cans as defective products in the manufacturing process of cans such as aluminum cans. It is.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in the manufacturing process of cans such as aluminum cans, aluminum cans of different types sometimes mix with the same type of aluminum cans flowing on a conveyance line. In such cases, humans would identify the aluminum can and remove the different type of aluminum can.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In this way, in the conventional can manufacturing process, if a different type of aluminum can mixes with another type of aluminum, a human must identify and remove it. There was a problem that it was not possible.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a can identification device that can automatically determine whether other types of aluminum cans are mixed in as defective products. There is a particular thing.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage means for storing the color distribution of cans in advance, a rotation means for rotating the can to be inspected, A sensor that reads the color distribution of the rotating can to be inspected compares the color distribution of the can to be inspected read by the sensor with the color distribution stored in the storage means to determine whether the can to be inspected is in advance. The present invention is characterized by comprising a determining means for determining whether or not the can is the same type as the stored can.

(Function) In the present invention, when different types of aluminization are mixed, the color distribution differs from that of a good can. Therefore, this is determined to be a defective product.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a can identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an aluminum can, such as a beer can, to be inspected.

The fiber light guides 3as 3b, 3C transmit the light beams sent from the DC light source devices 5as 5b, 5C to the can 1.
Irradiate one point on sections A, B, and C.

The light source interruption detection sensor 7 a s 7 b s 7 c is
When no light beam is generated from the DC light source devices 5a, 5b, and 5c, this is detected and transmitted to the control section 21.

Sensors 9a, 9b, and 9c are in section ASB of can 1.

This is a color sensor that reads the reflected light of the light beam irradiated onto C and outputs a signal according to the color of that part.

The preamplifiers lla, llb, llc are the sensor 9 as
9 bs 9 Amplify the signal sent from c and use A/D
It is sent to converter 13.

The A/D converter 13 includes preamplifiers lla, 11b, ll
The analog signal sent from c is converted into a digital signal and sent to the control section 21 and the like.

The DI/DO 15 sends a good product/defective product determination signal and a mechanical system control signal to the mechanical system control section 23 based on a command from the control section 21 .

The disk 17 stores, for example, the color distribution of a certain type of can. The color distribution of this can is the color distribution within three sections A, B, and C of the can 1, as shown in FIG.

The console 19 displays data and also issues commands manually.

The control unit 21 compares the color distribution of the can to be inspected sent from the A/D converter 13 with the color distribution stored in the disk 17, and if they do not match, the can to be inspected is determined to be a defective product. In addition to making the determination, it also drives the mechanical system control section 23.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a mechanical system for reading the color distribution of the can 1.

The rotary body 25 can rotate in the E direction in the figure around a shaft 26, and has a large number of grooves 27 around its periphery that fit into the can 1.

Further, a support frame 29 is disposed adjacent to the rotating body 25.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the support frame 29 and its vicinity.

As shown in the figure, the support body 37 is
are screwed together with a screw 39. Fiber optical guides 3a13b and 3c are fixed to this support body 37.

At the tips of the fiber light guides 3a, 3b, 3c, synchrotron radiation 43a, 43bs 4'3c for irradiating a light beam is provided.
is provided.

Further, when the can 1 is in the position shown in FIG. 3 (position H in FIG. 2), the can 1 is rotated once by a rotation mechanism (not shown).

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 31 indicates a rotating piece, and this rotating piece 31 is rotated in the α direction in the figure by the mechanical system control section 23. As shown in FIG. That is, when the can is determined to be a good product, it is controlled to the position shown by the solid line, and when it is determined that the can is defective, it is controlled to the position shown by the dotted line.

Reference numeral 33 is a belt conveyor that conveys cans determined to be non-defective in the direction F in the figure, and reference numeral 35 is a defective product case that stores cans determined to be defective.

Further, in FIG. 2, there is a suction mechanism (vacuum) not shown that suctions the can 1 in the direction of the axis 26 of the rotating body 25 until the can 1 is at the position G to the position 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

For example, when the can identification device according to this embodiment is used in a can manufacturing process, it is necessary to identify only cans of a certain type because different types of cans may be mixed together.

For this purpose, a specific can type must be selected in advance in step 40.
1) Pre-disk color distribution of the selected can
7 (step 402). Furthermore, the names of the selected cans are registered in the disk 17 for each non-defective product (step 403).Next, it is determined whether the can to be inspected is the same type as the previously registered can or a different type. It will be done.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the can 1 to be inspected is transported by a transport mechanism (not shown) in the downward direction in the figure, and fits into the groove 27 of the rotating body 25 at position G in the figure.

Since the rotating body 25 moves in the E direction, the can 1 moves in conjunction with the rotating body 25 and reaches the position H in the figure. When reaching position H in the figure, the rotating body 25 stops, and at this position, the can 1 is rotated once in the J direction in the figure by a rotation mechanism (not shown).

At this time, from the fiber light guides 3a, 3b, 3c to the can 1
A light beam is irradiated to the sensor 9a, 9b and the reflected light is
, 9C reads and sends the color data of can 1 to preamplifier 11.
a s 11 b s 11 c and A/D conversion 2
513 to the control unit 21 (step 404).

The control unit 21 selects the can 1 to be inspected from this color data.
The color distribution of cans is calculated (step 405), and compared with the color distribution of cans registered in advance as non-defective cans on the disk 17, and it is determined whether they match (step 406). Then, a signal for determining whether the product is good or defective is output to the mechanical system control section 23 (step 407).

In FIG. 2, when the can 1 rotates once at the position H in the figure and its color distribution is read, the rotating body 25 begins to rotate again in the direction E in the figure, and the can 1 reaches the position I. At this position, the suction mechanism (not shown) stops its suction, so that the can 1 falls in the vertical direction.

The rotating piece 31 is controlled by instructions from the control unit 21 so that if the can 1 is a good product, it is at the position shown by the solid line, and when it is a defective product, it is located at the position shown by the dotted line.

Therefore, if the can 1 is determined to be good, the rotating piece 31 receives the can 1, and the can 1 is conveyed in the F direction by the belt conveyor 33.

Further, if the can 1 is determined to be a defective product, the can 1 directly falls to the defective product case 35 and is stored in the defective product case 35.

Thus, according to this embodiment, a can having a color distribution different from the color distribution of cans registered in advance is stored in the defective product case 35 as a defective product, and these operations are automatically performed.

In this embodiment, the color distribution of the can 1 is divided into three sections, but it is also possible to divide the can into three or more sections.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a can identification device that can automatically determine a can as a defective product when other types of aluminization are mixed in.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a can identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a mechanical system for reading the color distribution of cans, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the vicinity of the support frame 29. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment. 1...Cans 3a, 3b, 3c...Fiber light guides 5a, 5b,
5c...DC light source devices 9a, 9b, 9cm...Sensor 17...Disk 21...Control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A storage means that stores the color distribution of the can in advance, a rotation means that rotates the can to be inspected, a sensor that reads the color distribution of the can that is being rotated, and the color distribution of the can that is read by the sensor. determining means for comparing the color distribution of the inspected can with the color distribution stored in the storage means to determine whether the can to be inspected is of the same type as a pre-stored can; A can identification device characterized by: (2) The can identification device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor reads the color distribution between three sections of the can to be inspected.