JPH03248047A - Method and apparatus for inspecting conveyed material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inspect the external appearance of a conveyed material accurately by conveying a material to be conveyed with a first conveying device, inspecting one surface of the conveyed material with first visual inspection mechanism, and inspecting the other surface with second visual inspection mechanism through a second conveying device. CONSTITUTION:Material to be conveyed (m) in a hopper 16 is taken out with a vibrating feeder 17 by very small amount at a time. The material is continuously supplied through a vibrator 18, a vibrating trough 19, a tablet aligning mechanism 20 and a belt conveyer 21. One surface (a) of the material is sucked and held with a first conveying device X1. The other surface (b) is inspected with first visual inspecting mechanisms T1 - T3. Then, the other surface (b) of the conveyed material (m) is sucked and held with a second conveying device X2, and the other surface (a) of the conveyed material is inspected with second visual inspection mechanisms T4 - T6.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Industrial application field]

The present invention mainly uses small articles such as pharmaceuticals (tablets, capsules, etc.) candies, small confectionery such as candies, washers, button batteries, etc. to be transported. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting an object to be transported while visually inspecting the object. [0002]

[Conventional technology]

Previously, for example, as in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-035789,
A horizontal rotary table is arranged next to the arranging means for arranging the tablets in a single line, the peripheral part of this rotary table is configured as a transparent placing surface, and the tablets are sequentially passed onto the placing surface. There was one in which the top, bottom, and sides of the tablet on the mounting surface were visually inspected using a television camera. [0003]

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the rotary table sometimes causes the tablets to deviate from their normal orbits, making accurate visual inspection impossible. Further, the rotary table has the disadvantage that it is limited to a horizontal position and occupies a large space. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for inspecting a transported object, which can accurately transport the transported object without positional deviation, limit the transport direction to a horizontal position, and reduce the occupied space. It is. [0004]

[Means to solve the problem]

The method for inspecting a conveyed object according to a first aspect of the present invention includes causing a first conveying device to suction-grip one side of the continuously supplied conveyed object and conveying it via a first appearance inspection mechanism; The other surface of the object to be transported is inspected by the appearance inspection mechanism, and then the other surface of the object to be transported is suction-grasped by a second transport device and transported through the second appearance inspection mechanism. 2
The present invention is characterized in that the one side of the object to be transported is inspected by the appearance inspection mechanism. [0005] A conveyed object inspection apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention includes a first conveying apparatus and a second conveying apparatus that are arranged in parallel such that one ends of their conveying surfaces face each other, and a first conveying apparatus and a second conveying apparatus. Appearance inspection mechanisms each having an imaging range are provided near the conveyance surface of the second conveyance device. A third aspect of the conveyed object inspection apparatus according to the second aspect is a pair of fixed slit plates in which the first conveying device and the second conveying device are opposed to each other with a slit formed between their edges. , a guide rail formed on the edge of each of these slit plates, a conveyor cable that runs while being individually guided by these guide rails, and a suction tube that draws air into the inside of the slit plate through the slit. It is composed of means. [0006] In the conveyed object inspection apparatus according to claim 4, in claim 2, the first conveying device and the second conveying device convey in a horizontal direction, and the conveying surface of the first conveying device is directed downward, and the transport surface of the second transport device is directed upward. [0007]

[Effect]

According to the method for inspecting a transported object according to claim 1, while one side of the transported object is suction-held by the first transporting device and being transported, the other surface of the transported object is inspected by the first appearance inspection mechanism. Then, one side of the object is inspected by the second visual inspection mechanism while the other side of the object is being conveyed with the other side suction-held by the second conveying device. [0008] In this case, since the object to be conveyed is conveyed while being suction-held by the first conveyance device and the second conveyance device, it is possible to perform an accurate appearance inspection by checking the position of the conveyed object, and the suction-holding method is also effective. Since there is little impact on the transported object during the transport process, it is possible to prevent damage to the transported object, and furthermore, the transport direction is not limited to horizontal. Additionally, the space it occupies can be reduced compared to a rotary table. [0009] According to the conveyed object inspection device of claim 2, the first conveying device and the second conveying device are easily assembled because the arrangement relationship between the first conveying device and the second conveying device is simple, and the first conveying device and the second conveying device It is possible to have almost the same configuration as the device. According to the conveyance object inspection device of claim 3, since the conveyance object is placed on the pair of conveyance ropes and conveyed by suction and holding, it is possible to inspect the appearance of the side surface of the conveyance object, and the conveyance device is Even if the conveyance path is lengthened, it does not take up a large amount of space unlike a rotary table. Furthermore, the conveyance rope is smaller and lighter than the rotary table, and requires less driving energy, so the cost can be reduced. [0010] According to the conveyed object inspection device of claim 4, the conveyed object is the first
The transfer device can be reliably transferred from the first transfer device to the second transfer device by falling under its own weight, and the configuration is simple. [0011]

【Example】

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIG. 1, the conveyed object inspection method is such that one side a of the conveyed object m that is continuously supplied is sucked and gripped by the first conveying device X1, and the conveyed object is passed through the first appearance inspection mechanisms T1 to T3. The object m is transported, and the other side of the transported object m is inspected by the first appearance inspection mechanisms T1 to T3. Next, the other side of the object m to be transported is suction-grasped by the second transport device X2, and transported through the second visual inspection mechanism T-T.
One side a of the transported object m is inspected by the appearance inspection mechanisms T4 to T6.
This is to inspect. That is, when transferring the transported object m from the first transport device X to the second transport device X2,
Since the suction surface of the conveyed object m is reversed and delivered, the other side of the conveyed object m can be sufficiently inspected in the first conveying device One side a of object m can be sufficiently inspected. [0012] In the conveyed object inspection apparatus shown in FIG.
The first and second transport devices X2 are arranged in parallel so that one ends of the transport surface A face each other. Further, the appearance inspection mechanism T −T is arranged so as to have an imaging range in the vicinity of the transport surface A of the first transport device X1 and the second transport device X2, respectively. 16 is a hopper for storing tablets; 17 is a vibration feeder 18 for taking out the conveyed object m in the hopper 16 little by little; 19 is a vibration trough;
20 is a tablet straightening mechanism that aligns and sends out the objects m to be conveyed in a line as shown in FIG. 2; 21 is a belt conveyor; 22
2 is a tablet sorting mechanism, 23 is a duct for collecting good products, and 24 is a duct for collecting defective products. [0013] Although FIGS. 3 and 4 show the second transport device X2, the first transport device X also has the same structure. That is,
This second conveyance device x2 has a slit 3 between the edges.
A pair of fixed slit plates 1 facing each other to form a
, 2, guide rails 4, 5 formed on the edges of each of these slit plates 1, 2, and these guide rails 4,
Conveyance cables 6 and 7 that run while being individually guided by the cables 5 and 5.
and a suction means 12, which is an example of a pump that sucks air into the inside of the slit plates 1 and 2 through the slit 3. [0014] Furthermore, the transport directions of the first transport device X and the second transport device X2 are horizontal and parallel to each other, and the slit 3 of the first transport device X and the slit 3 of the second transport device X2 are in the same vertical plane, the conveying surface A of the first conveying device X1 faces downward, and the conveying surface of the second conveying device X2 faces upward. The most upstream end of the slit 3 of the second transport device X2 is located directly below the downstream portion of the slit 3 of the first transport device X1. This opposing position is the delivery point P. Further, the first conveying device X 1 and the second conveying device X 2 have the same conveying direction, but their rotating directions are opposite, and their conveying speeds are equal to each other and always constant. In this way, the conveyed object m, which had been attracted to the suction surfaces of the conveying cables 6 and 7 of the first conveying device X1, is transferred to the conveying cables 6 and 7 of the second conveying device
At this time, the object to be conveyed m is transferred from one side a to the other side. Also the first
The most upstream end of the conveying device X1 is located directly above the belt conveyor 21. [0015] Reference numeral 9 denotes an air box, and the inside of this air box 9 is formed into an intake passage 10. An intake passage 10 of the air box 9 is connected to a suction means 12 via an intake pipe 11. The air box 9 communicates with the outside only at the slit 3, and the other parts are kept airtight. Moreover, each of the conveyance ropes 6 and 7 is connected to a pair of pulleys 13 and 1, respectively.
It is strung between 4 rooms. One pulley 13 is a drive pulley, and its drive shaft 15 is interlocked and connected to a motor or other drive mechanism (not shown) via a speed reduction mechanism. The other pulley 14 is a driven pulley. In addition, each transport rope 6
The outward path B at 7 is fitted into the guide rail 4.5, while the return path B is arranged to pass through the intake passage 10 in the air box 9. The inner surface of each slit plate 1, 2 has a tapered surface 1a that becomes more slanted as it moves away from the slit 3.
, 2a. [0016] Note that a separation mechanism (not shown) such as a scraper, a suction mechanism, and a blow-off mechanism is provided at a predetermined position on the travel locus of the conveyance ropes 6 and 7, so that the object m to be conveyed is attached to the conveyance ropes. Article 6,
It is configured so that it can be separated from the conveyed object suction surface of No.7. Further, the friction coefficient of the object suction surface is adjusted depending on conditions such as the type of object m and the purpose of transportation. [0017] The operation of the transport device will be explained. The drive mechanism is activated to rotate the drive shaft 15 and to drive the suction means 12. Negative pressure is applied to the slit 3 through the intake path 10 by suction by the suction means 12, and outside air is sucked from the slit 3. When the conveyed object m approaches or comes into contact with the slit 3, the conveyed object m is moved by the conveying cables 6 and 7 by negative pressure.
The conveyed object is attracted to the attraction surface of the object and is held there. Even if the conveyance cables 6 and 7 are run at high speed, if the suction force is made strong enough, there is no risk that the conveyed object m will fall off the conveyed object suction surface due to centrifugal force, and the conveyed object m remains suctioned and held, and is transported along the normal activation as the transport cables 6, 7 guided by the guide rails 4, 5 run. Since the endless belts constituting the conveyance cables 6, 7 are round belts, the arc-shaped conveyed object suction surfaces of the conveyance cables 6, 7 and the one side a or the other side of the conveyed article m A certain amount of gap is created between the surfaces a and b of the transported object m.
Can be held by suction with a part of it floating. Furthermore, since the inner surfaces of each of the slit plates 1 and 2 are formed into outwardly tapered surfaces 1a and 2a, air resistance in the slit 3 is small. Therefore, the suction force is strong, and the conveyed object m can be automatically centered in the slit 3. When the conveyed object m reaches the separation mechanism provided at a predetermined position on the travel trajectory of the conveying cable 6.7, the adsorption of the conveyed object m is released, and the conveyed object m is separated from the conveying cable 6. , will be withdrawn from 7. Since the guide rails 4 and 5 are fitted with halves of the transport cables 6 and 7, the travel routes of the transport cables 6 and 7 are ensured, and both transport cables 6 and 7 are mutually connected by suction. This prevents adsorption (the adsorption effect disappears). When the return path B of the conveyance cables 67 passes through the air box 9, dirt adhering to the conveyance cables 6 and 7 is removed by suction. That is, a cleaning effect is exerted on the conveyance cables 6 and 7. [0018] The first appearance inspection mechanisms T1 to T3 and the second appearance inspection mechanisms T4 to T6 have gate-shaped outer shapes, and have a pair of slit plates in the first conveyance device X1 and the second conveyance device X2. 1,
2 and is attached to a fixed frame (not shown). In addition, these appearance inspection mechanisms T-
T is the transport cable 6. on both sides of the slit 3.
A light source (not shown) that irradiates light onto the transported object m that is attracted to the suction surface of No. 7, and a television camera (not shown) that images the transported object m that is irradiated with light. ) and a counter (
(not shown) is built-in. The first visual inspection mechanisms T-T are configured to image the other side, right side, and left side of the object m to be transported, respectively, and transmit video signals to a monitor television and an analyzer (not shown). . Second appearance inspection mechanism T4~
T6 is configured to image one side (the upper surface after the suction surface is reversed) a, the right side, and the left side of the conveyed object m, respectively, and transmit video signals to the monitor television and analyzer. That is, in the case of this visual inspection device, the transported object m held by suction on the suction surfaces of the transport cables 6 and 7 in both the first transport device X1 and the second transport device X2
is floating over a fairly wide range from the side to the bottom, so that it is difficult to irradiate the object m with light or to take an image of the object m with a television camera. It can be carried out over a wide area. [0019] The analyzer performs analysis of non-defective product data or defective product data by comparing the appearance data of the transported object m transmitted from each television camera with the appearance data of the standard transported object m, It is configured to transmit the non-defective product data or defective product data to the sorting mechanism 22. The tablet rectifying mechanism 20 described above includes a turntable 25 that is rotationally driven, a fixed peripheral wall 26 on which the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 25 comes into sliding contact, a fixed shaft 27 passing through the center of the turntable 25, and this fixed shaft 27. A plurality of rectifying guides 28 are attached to and in sliding contact with the mounting surface of the turntable 25.
, a thickness gate 29 attached to the upper edge of the peripheral wall 26 in the vicinity of the vibrating feeder 17;
The width gate 30 includes a linear peripheral wall 26a that constitutes a part of the peripheral wall 26a, and a linear peripheral wall 26b that constitutes a part of the peripheral wall 26 and faces parallel to the inner side of the peripheral wall 26a. Further, the upstream end of the belt conveyor 21 is located directly below the width gate 30. 31 and 32 are pulleys that stretch the belt conveyor 21, and 33 and 34 are their shafts. [00203] The objects m fed onto the turntable 25 by the vibrating feeder 17 are subjected to the rectifying action of the rectifying guide 28 as the turntable 25 rotates, and are gradually aligned along the peripheral wall 26. The objects m to be transported that have reached the thickness gate 29 are sorted using a predetermined thickness as a boundary, and the objects m that are less than or equal to that thickness pass through the thickness gate 29 and are separated by a width gate (30).
leading to. The conveyed objects m that have reached the width gate 30 are sorted using a predetermined width as a boundary, and the conveyed objects m that are less than that width are transferred to the belt conveyor 21 and are transferred from the end of the belt conveyor 21 through the width gate 30 to the first conveyed object m. It is sent to device X1. This belt conveyor 21 has a function (accumulator effect) of automatically correcting even if the arrangement pitch of the tablets m is disturbed in the tablet straightening mechanism 20. That is, the rotational speed of the peripheral portion of the turntable 25 is set higher than the rotational speed of the belt conveyor 21. Therefore, blank spaces are less likely to occur among the m rows of objects to be transported, and even if they occur, they can be fed satisfactorily with few blank spaces. [0021] The sorting mechanism 22 separates good items from defective items based on the data transmitted from the analyzer, and selects good items to be transported at timings based on count signals from each of the visual inspection mechanisms T1 to T6. When the item m reaches the sorting mechanism 22, the conveyed item m is sent to the non-defective item recovery duct 23 by blowing with a blower, and the defective item m is sent to the defective item recovery duct 24. It is composed of As the sorting mechanism 2, there are a solenoid bush type, a mechanical sorting means such as an impeller using a pulse motor, and an air flow sorting means such as suction air or jet air. [0022] Furthermore, the running speed of the conveyance cables 6 and 7 and the belt conveyor 2
The relationship with rotation speed 1 may be set arbitrarily. That is, the speed relationship is set depending on the type of the transported object m. When the conveyor cables 6 and 7 are run at higher speeds,
The pitch of the conveyed object m from the belt conveyor 21 to the conveyance cables 6 and 7 increases at the transfer point. If the speed is the same, there will be no increase or decrease in pitch. Transport rope 6,
7 is run at a lower speed, the pitch of the conveyed objects m becomes smaller at the transfer point, and depending on the conditions, all the conveyed objects m can be fed in a contact state. [0023] Also, the first conveyance device X and the second conveyance device X2
Although the transport direction is horizontal, the transport direction is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, vertical. Moreover, it is not limited to a straight line, but may be curved or inclined, and the facing direction of the first conveying device X1 and the second conveying device X2 is not limited to the vertical direction, but may be, for example, the horizontal direction. [0024]

【Effect of the invention】

In the method for inspecting a transported object according to claim 1, since the transported object is transported while being sucked and held by the first transport device and the second transport device, the appearance of the transported object can be accurately inspected without shifting the position of the transported object. In addition, since there is little impact on the transported object during the transport process for suction and holding, it is possible to prevent damage to the transported object, and furthermore, the transport direction is not limited to the horizontal direction. It also has the effect of occupying a smaller space than a rotary table. [00253 The conveyed object inspection device of claim 2 includes a first conveying device and a second conveying device.
Since the arrangement of the conveying devices is simple, assembly is easy, and the first conveying device and the second conveying device can have substantially the same configuration. In the conveyed object inspection device according to claim 3, since the conveyed object is placed on the pair of conveyance cables and is suction-held and conveyed, it is possible to visually inspect the side surface of the conveyed object, and the conveyance path of the conveyance device can be inspected. Even if it is made longer, it does not take up as much space as a rotary table. Furthermore, the conveyance rope is smaller and lighter than the rotary table, and requires less driving energy, so the cost can be reduced. [0026] In the conveyed object inspection device of the fourth aspect, the conveyed object can be reliably transferred from the first conveying device to the second conveying device by falling under its own weight, and the structure is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an entire conveyed object inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged plan view of a rectifying part for objects to be transported and a transport device.

[Figure 3] It is a front view of a 2nd conveyance device.

[Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a vertical side view of the second conveyance device.

[Explanation of symbols]

m Object to be transported Xl First conveyance device X2 29th conveyance device T1-T3 First appearance inspection mechanism

[Document basis]

[Figure 1] drawing m-...Object to be transported Xl...first conveyance device X2...4 second transport device T1 to T3...first appearance inspection mechanism T4~T,...Second appearance inspection mechanism

[Figure 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4] ■Kaihei 3-248047 (14)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first conveying device sucks and grips one side of the continuously supplied object to be conveyed, and conveys the object through a first appearance inspection mechanism, and the first appearance inspection mechanism inspects the object. The other surface of the object to be transported is inspected, and then the other surface of the object to be transported is sucked and gripped by a second transport device and transported through a second visual inspection mechanism, and the second surface of the transported object is transported through a second visual inspection mechanism. A method for inspecting a transported object, comprising inspecting the one side of the transported object. 2. A first conveyance device and a second conveyance device arranged in parallel such that one ends of their conveyance surfaces face each other;
A conveyed object inspection device comprising: an appearance inspection mechanism having an imaging range in the vicinity of the conveyance surface of the first conveyance device and the second conveyance device. 3. The first conveyance device and the second conveyance device include a pair of fixed slit plates facing each other with a slit formed between their edges, and the edge of each of these slit plates. guide rails formed in the same way, and transport cables that run while being individually guided by these guide rails;
3. The conveyed object inspection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a suction means for sucking air into the inside of the slit plate through the slit. 4. The first conveyance device and the second conveyance device convey in a horizontal direction, the conveyance surface of the first conveyance device faces downward, and the conveyance surface of the second conveyance device 3. The conveyed object inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the surface faces upward.