JPH0376872B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention is a method for inspecting whether a predetermined number of cans of soft drinks, etc. packed in a cardboard box or the like are stored in a sealed state using an electromagnetic induction sensor. This article relates to a product inspection method and device.

Conventional technology Conventionally, the missing item inspection method for checking whether a predetermined number of canned soft drinks etc. packed in cardboard boxes etc. is stored is an indirect method of checking the weight of the entire box. There are two known methods: one that uses electromagnetic induction sensors to detect the presence or absence of individual cans.

The method of measuring the weight of the entire box is to calculate the weight of the entire box from the weight of one can, and detect shortages based on whether the entire box has a predetermined weight. However, if the cumulative value of the errors in the weights of individual cans exceeds the weight of one can, there is a problem that even if one can is missing, the total weight is still the specified weight, so the missing item cannot be detected. be. For example, in the case of youth cans with a content capacity of 250 g, 30 cans can be stored in one box, but the tolerance for filling amount is 10 g.
Since problems arise when the filling amount is small, the filling amount is usually adjusted to be positive within a margin of error. In this case, each can has a maximum of 10g
If too much is filled, even if one can is missing, the entire box will be filled with an extra 290g, which exceeds the weight of one can, so even if one can is missing, it will be detected. I can't.

On the other hand, the method of detecting missing items using electromagnetic induction sensors can accurately detect missing items when the cans are lined up accurately in the box, but if there is a missing item, there may be gaps in the box. Therefore, the cans may move during transportation and become irregularly arranged as shown in Figure 3. In this case, the detection position shifts, making it impossible to accurately detect missing items. There is.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the problems in the conventional method of detecting missing items using an electromagnetic induction sensor. A missing item inspection method and device that can accurately detect missing cans in a box by arranging regular cans in a simple manner and then detecting them with an electromagnetic induction sensor. It provides:

Means for Solving the Problems First, the principle of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Normally, the boxes that are transported from the packaging position to the detection position are stored with the cans upright, that is, with the top and bottom of the cans aligned with the top and bottom of the box. If a gap is created in the box, the cans will move freely within the box due to the vibration of the box, resulting in an irregular arrangement as shown in Figure 3. If a sensor detects the cans in this state, the detection position will shift and satisfactory detection will not be possible. However, if the box is turned over from the state shown in Figure 3, the cans will fall sideways inside the box, so since the cans are cylindrical, their own weight fills the gap at the bottom and aligns them as shown in Figure 4. If there is a missing item, a void will be created only in the upper part.
Therefore, if only the upper part is detected by the sensor, accurate missing item inspection is possible. The present invention has been made with attention to this point.

As shown in FIG. 1, the missing item inspection method of the first invention involves turning a box conveyed on a conveyor with cans standing upright by 90 degrees using a first reversing device. Make sure the inner gap is at the top.
Next, the box is inspected for missing items by passing the lower part of the electromagnetic induction sensor installed at the top of the conveyor to detect the topmost can in the box, and then a second reversing device is used to inspect the initial can. The box is then inverted and carried out on a conveyor.

The missing item inspection device of the second invention is a device for carrying out the method of the first invention, and includes a conveyor for transporting boxes, and a first conveyor for inverting the boxes 90 degrees on the conveyor. a reversing device, and an electromagnetic induction sensor installed at an upper downstream part of the first reversing device so that the inverted box can pass therethrough, and detecting the topmost can in the box. The detector is characterized in that it further comprises a second reversing device downstream of the detector.

Operation A box with stored cans in an upright state is transported on the conveyor by the first reversing device 1 while being transported, one side is gradually lifted up and turned over 90 degrees, and the cans inside the box are turned over by 90 degrees. are arranged in a dense manner, leaving a gap at the top of the box. When the item passes under the detector in this state, the electromagnetic induction sensor of the detector accurately detects whether there is a missing item. After passing the detector, the box is reversed onto the conveyor by a second reversing device to its initial state and transported out.

Embodiment The apparatus and method used in the present invention will be described below according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 5 is a belt conveyor for conveying the boxes A conveyed from the packaging device. A reversing device 1, a missing item detector 2, and a second reversing device 3 are arranged.

The first reversing device 1 includes a drive pulley 12 provided on the conveyor side frame 6 and a driven pulley 12' that is pivotally supported by a bracket 13 fixed to the conveyor side frame 6.
It is constituted by a reversing belt 11 stretched between them. The driven pulley 12' has an outer diameter located approximately in the center of the width of the conveyor 5, and
The height of the box A from the transport surface is approximately the same as the length of the box A. Therefore, the reversing belt 11 is rotated diagonally upward from the side of the conveyor side frame 6 toward the center of the conveyor 5.

Next, the configuration of the detector 2 will be explained.

21 is a T-shaped frame of the detector, and a plurality of guide rollers 22 for guiding the box A are rotatably supported on both sides of the web 24 of the T-shaped frame 21. A plurality of electromagnetic induction sensors 25 are arranged between the guide rollers 22 in a positional relationship corresponding to the arrangement of cans in the box when the box A is overturned. Further, at the front position of the web 24, a box A is provided.
A sensor 28 such as a phototube is provided for detecting that the item has arrived at the missing item detection position. These sensors 25 and 28 are connected to a control circuit to determine the presence or absence of missing items. A stacking rod 26 is provided on the upper surface of the T-shaped frame 21, and the detector 2 is suspended from a supporting rod 27 so that the height position of the detector 2 can be adjusted. Further, on the conveyor 5 below the missing item detector 2, a guide 7 is provided at the upper center in the width direction of the conveyor, and a support rod 9,
9', and the other guide 8 is provided on the side of the conveyor. Box A is aligned and guided by guides 7 and 8.

In this embodiment, a plurality of electromagnetic induction sensors are provided corresponding to the arrangement of cans when box A is overturned, but only one electromagnetic induction sensor is provided to detect the overturned state of the box. It is also possible to detect the presence or absence of a predetermined number of cans by sequentially detecting and counting the cans in the top row as the case passes, thereby detecting the presence or absence of a predetermined number of cans. In this case, if another sensor such as a phototube that detects the arrival of boxes is installed near the upstream of the sensor, and the electromagnetic induction sensor is activated and counted only when this sensor is activated, the boxes will be closer to each other. No malfunctions will occur even if the product is transported.

Further, the second reversing device 3 includes a reversing receiving belt 31 that is stretched between a driving pulley 32 and a driven pulley 32' symmetrically with the reversing belt 11 of the first reversing device 1;
It is constituted by a reversing rod 24. As shown in FIG.
The box A is supported in the upper part of the conveyor by support rods 25, 25' at a height slightly lower than the length of the box A, so as to be located between the side of the conveyor belt on the opposite side of the box A and the center of the conveyor.

The missing item inspection method in the embodiment configured as above will be explained based on its operation.

The box A containing canned goods is conveyed by the boxing device on the conveyor 5 in an upright state, and when it reaches the position of the first reversing device, the lower side surface of the box A is placed on the reversing belt 11. Since the reversing belt 11 moves diagonally upward toward the center of the conveyor 5 in synchronization with the conveyor 5, the lower side of the box A is gradually lifted as the conveyor 5 moves forward.
It is inverted once. The inverted box A is conveyed along the side of the conveyor by a guide 7 on the conveyor, and arrives at the detection position while being guided upward by the guide roller 22 of the detector 2. When the tip of the case is detected by the sensor 28 of the detector 2, the electromagnetic induction sensor 25 is activated and detects the presence or absence of a can at the lower detection position of the electromagnetic induction sensor. In this case, the case A is accurately guided by the guides 7 and 8 provided on the conveyor 5 and the guide roller 22 of the detector 2, so that the detection position does not shift.

When the inspected box A arrives at the second reversing device, the front side of the box A is pushed by a reversing rod located at the center of the conveyor 5 in the direction of travel. As the conveyor 5 advances, the box A is gradually pushed down toward the front side in FIG. 1, is turned over 90 degrees while being supported by the reversing receiving belt 31, and is conveyed on the conveyor 5 in the initial state. Box A where missing items were detected by detector 2
is automatically branched and discharged from the conveyor 5 by an appropriate discharge device (not shown) in the next step.

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, the present invention performs a missing item inspection with the box stored upside down and the cans lying on its side, so it is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of cans in the upper part of the box. This makes it possible to carry out thorough inspections for missing items, and also to reduce the number of electromagnetic induction sensors. Further, since the first reversing device simply drives the reversing belt obliquely upward in synchronization with the conveyor belt, it has a simple structure and can perform accurate reversing. Furthermore, since the second reversing device combines a reversing rod and a reversing receiving belt,
The case can be reversed to its initial state without impacting the case.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the missing item inspection device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, Figure 3 is a plan view showing the irregular arrangement of cans in an upright box when there is a missing item, and Figure 4 is from the state shown in Figure 3.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arrangement of cans inside the box when the box is turned over 90 degrees. 1: First reversing device, 2: Missing item detector, 3: Second
Reversing device, 5: Belt conveyor, 11: Reversing belt, 21: T-shaped machine frame, 22: Guide roller, 2
5: Electromagnetic induction sensor, 31: Reversing receiving belt, 3
4: Inverted rod, A: Box.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A box in which cylindrical cans are stored in an upright state and is conveyed on a conveyor is reversed 90 degrees so that the cans are laid down in the box, and the box is placed in the highest position in the box. Inspecting for missing items by detecting the topmost can in the box by passing it through the lower part of a missing item detector equipped with an electromagnetic induction sensor installed at the top of the conveyor to detect cans on the upper tier; A missing item inspection method characterized in that the box is then reversed to its initial state. 2. A space between a conveyor for transporting boxes, a first reversing device provided on the conveyor for reversing the boxes 90 degrees, and an upper downstream part of the first reversing device through which the inverted boxes can pass. a second missing item detector installed downstream of the missing item detector and equipped with an electromagnetic induction sensor for detecting the topmost can in the box; A missing item inspection device comprising a reversing device. 3. The missing item inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the first reversing device comprises a reversing belt that rotates obliquely upward from the conveyor side frame toward the center of the conveyor. 4. The second reversing device is characterized by comprising a reversing receiving belt that rotates diagonally downward from the upper center of the conveyor toward the side frame of the conveyor, and a reversing rod disposed at a position facing the reversing receiving belt. A missing item inspection device according to claim 2 or 3.