JPH04278435A - Line inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inexpensively constitute a system by simplifying the same and to perform normal operation by accurately confirming the position data of the product moving on an inspection line even when the system becomes a non-operative state by power failure. CONSTITUTION:A discrimination number is read from the discrimination element (f) provided to the carrier (a) in an inspection line (g) along with a product number (f) provided to the carrier (a) in an inspection line (g) along with a product number (h) corresponding to a product (d) in the initial stage of the inspection line (g) and, thereafter, the product (d) is discriminated in each inspection station (i) by detecting the discrimination number. Or, the discrimination of the product (d) in each inspection station (i) thereafter is judged in the order of the discrimination number read by a host computer (c) to be allowed to correspond to inspection data.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a line inspection system in which, for example, in a factory inspection line, the product number of a product transported by a carrier such as a pallet or hanger is registered in a host computer along with the inspection results. It is related to the device.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an inspection line, when a carrier carrying a product passes through a number of inspection stations, a method was used to ensure correspondence between the product number (bar code) and inspection data. A product identification device for checking product numbers is installed at each inspection station, and the information checked by this product identification device is transmitted to a host computer.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the product identification device used in such a system configuration has a product number (
Since it is necessary to identify barcodes (barcodes), high functionality is required and it is expensive, and there was a problem that installing this at many inspection stations would cost too much equipment. . Furthermore, if work is interrupted and the system goes down due to an inconvenience such as a power outage, there is a problem in that the position information of products at each inspection station cannot be accurately recognized and the system does not operate properly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and allows the system to be simplified and configured at low cost, and even if the system goes down, the positional information of products moving on the inspection line can be accurately recognized. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a line inspection device that can be operated normally.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the line inspection device according to the present invention reads the product number h using a bar code at the initial stage of the inspection line g, and reads the product number h at each inspection station i. test data on the host computer.
In the identification system, the identification number is read from the identification element f provided on the carrier a in the inspection line g, together with the product number h, corresponding to the product d. such that product d is identified at station i by detecting the identification number, or product d is identified at each subsequent inspection station i,
It is characterized in that the identification numbers are determined in the order of the identification numbers read by the host computer c at that time and are made to correspond to the test data.

[0006]

[Operation] Each inspection station i in the inspection line g employs a simple identification device b capable of reading the identification element f, an extremely low-cost mechanism such as a photoelectric inspection device, and especially If line g is a single line and the order of introduction of carriers a into inspection line g does not change, the product number h at each inspection station i is determined by a calculation in host computer c. As a result, it is possible to effectively handle inspections of a wide variety of products in small quantities, and even if work is interrupted due to a power outage or the like and the system goes down, the system will not misread the product on the host computer and will function normally. works.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically explained below based on the illustrated embodiments. In FIG. 1, an identification element f is detachably attached to a carrier a that constantly moves on an inspection line. Identification element substrate 1 constituting the main body of this identification element f
As shown in FIG. 2, a group of binary identification marks for clock generation are arranged such that bar-shaped identification marks 2A, 2B, . . . are lined up along the moving direction A of the carrier a. 2 is provided. Further, on the identification element substrate 1, parallel to the binary identification mark group 2 for clock generation, identification marks 3A, 3B, . A binary identification mark group 3 is provided.

Here, the identification marks 2A, 2B, . . . are arranged at a predetermined pitch so that they can be read as clock pulses CP1 as shown in FIG. In synchronization with this, the identification number of carrier a is displayed as an identification mark 3A as a binary signal pulse CP2.
, 3B, . . . In particular, the identification element substrate 1 in this embodiment is made of a material such as hard paper or an acrylic board whose surface is light reflective at least, and each of the identification mark groups 2 and 3 has its own identification mark. - The blocks 2A, 2B, . . . and 3A, 3B, . And for example,
The identification marks 3A and 3B shown in FIG. 2 are clock pulses CP1 by identification marks 2A, 2B,...
corresponds to the 0 and 2 positions of (20) at each position.
and (22), and the host computer c
carrier identification number CN via photoelectric identification device b.
The position information =(20+22)=5 is transmitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the photoelectric identification device b is equipped with two rows of light emitting sections 4A and 4B made up of light emitting elements, and is also made up of a light receiving element that receives reflected light from the identification element substrate 1. It has two rows of light receiving sections 5A and 5B. In such a configuration, a product d is placed on the inspection line g.
When a product is introduced and placed on carrier a, an advanced signal identification device e is used to read the product number h (barcode) provided on product d, and a photoelectric identification device b is used to identify the carrier. The carrier identification number CN is read from the carrier identification element f provided in a. This correspondence relationship is first registered in the host computer c. Next, at each inspection station i on inspection line g, an inexpensive photoelectric identification device b is used to read only the carrier identification number CN, and host it as inspection information for each product along with the inspection data. It is transmitted to computer c. The host computer c determines the product number h of the product d placed on it from the carrier identification number CN, and writes information as inspection data for the product number h.

In the above embodiment, the surface of the identification element substrate 1 as the carrier identification element f is made of a light-reflecting material, and each identification mark 2A, 2B, . . . , 3A,
3B, . It may be made of a light reflective material. Further, the carrier identification element f is not limited to the above structure in which a mark is formed on a substrate, as long as it can be constructed simply. For example, a mechanism having a protrusion corresponding to a mark on the shaft may be attached to the carrier a, and the position information of the product may be obtained based on the presence or absence of the protrusion.

Furthermore, when the photoelectric identification device b is of a transmissive type instead of a reflective type, the identification element substrate 1 is made of a light-transmissive material, and the identification marks of each identification mark group are It may be made of a light-blocking material. In this case, a general configuration of a photodetector is adopted in which light from the light emitting section passes through the identification element substrate 1 and is captured by the light receiving section on the opposite side.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the case where the inspection line branches into a double line in the middle as shown in FIG. 1 is explained, but as in the embodiment shown in FIG. If the order in which products d are introduced is the same as the order in which they pass through each inspection station i, a signal identification device e and a photoelectric identification device are installed at the entrance stage where the products are first introduced. After reading the product number h and carrier a identification number CN using b, the host computer
The carrier identification number at each inspection station i at that time, in other words, the product number h
can be determined and test data can be registered accordingly. In this case, the photoelectric identification device b only needs to be provided at the entrance where the product is introduced, and does not need to be placed at each inspection station i, so the system can be further simplified.

As shown in FIG. 5, if a photoelectric identification device b is placed at one or several locations of inspection stations other than the entrance, even if the system at the entrance goes down, other inspection stations will be able to detect the product. Since the device recognizes the location information of the device, it can operate normally and ensure safety.

[0014]

As explained above, the inspection line device according to the present invention reads the product number and the identification number from the identification element provided on the carrier in the inspection line corresponding to the product at the initial stage of the inspection line. , the product identification at each subsequent inspection station is performed by detecting the identification number, or the product identification at each subsequent inspection station is performed by reading the identification number on the host computer at that time. Since the determination is made in the order of the identification numbers and made to correspond to the inspection data, the identification device at each inspection station can be omitted, so the system can be simplified and constructed at low cost. Further, even if an identification device is used, an extremely low-cost mechanism can be adopted, and it can effectively correspond to inspections of products of a wide variety of products in small quantities. Furthermore, even if the system goes down due to interruptions such as a power outage, there is no risk of misreading the product on the host computer, and when the system is restarted, the product at the inlet or other inspection station will be Since the location information of all products can be recognized from the location information, the system can always operate normally.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a line inspection device according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2] A perspective view of a carrier identification element in the same line inspection device.

[Figure 3] Time chart diagram showing signals when reading each mark in the carrier identification element of the same line inspection equipment

[
Figure 4: Schematic configuration diagram for explaining the functions of the optical identification device

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Identification element board 2 Identification mark group 2A, 2B,... Identification mark 3 Identification mark group 3A, 3B,... Identification mark 4A, 4B,... Light emitting part 5A, 5B,... Light receiving section a Career b Identification device c Host computer d Product e Signal identification device f Carrier identification element g Inspection line h Product number i Inspection station

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A line inspection device that reads a product number using a bar code at the initial stage of an inspection line and registers it in a host computer together with inspection data from each inspection station. Along with the identification number, the identification number is read from the identification element provided on the carrier in the inspection line corresponding to the product, and each subsequent inspection stage
1. A line inspection device characterized in that product identification in a production process is performed by detecting the identification number. 2. A line inspection device that reads a product number using a bar code at the initial stage of the inspection line and registers it in a host computer together with inspection data from each inspection station. Along with the identification number, the identification number is read from the identification element provided on the carrier in the inspection line corresponding to the product, and each subsequent inspection stage
1. A line inspection apparatus, characterized in that product identification at a certain point in time is determined in the order of the identification numbers read by a host computer at that time, and is made to correspond to inspection data.