JPH0570784B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a foreign object detection method and an apparatus thereof;
In particular, the present invention relates to a foreign matter detection method and apparatus for detecting foreign matter floating in a solution in a transparent container.

[Background of the invention]

Inspection of foreign objects in chemical ampoules or bottles requires visual inspection because it is difficult to automatically distinguish between foreign objects inside the bottle that could lead to product defects and scratches or stains on the bottle surface that are unrelated to product defects. I depend on it. However, this method cannot be applied to mass-produced ampoules due to delayed inspection throughput.
Furthermore, in the method using digital image processing, the size of the foreign matter inside the ampoule is as small as several tens of micrometers or less, which is approximately the same size as a scratch or stain on the surface of the ampoule bottle, so it is difficult to identify it. Therefore, normal image processing methods cannot be applied to foreign object detection.

Also, recently, after rotating the ampoule at high speed,
By applying the brakes to a sudden stop, causing the foreign object to float and rotate along with the liquid inside the ampoule, we irradiate transmitted light from the side of the ampoule to detect changes in the image (changes in the amount of light) that occur when the foreign object blocks the transmitted light. A device for sorting out defects has been developed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional method and apparatus for detecting foreign matter by rotating ampules at high speed. As shown in FIG. 5, the ampoule 70 to be inspected is
The irradiation light 74 from 2 is irradiated via the light projecting lens 76. The irradiation light 74 passes through the solution in the ampoule 70 and then passes through the imaging lens 78 to the light receiver 8.
reaches 0. Foreign matter 82 in the ampoule, surface scratches 84 on the bottle, dirt 86, etc. block the irradiation light 74 and form an image. These images are projected onto the light receiver 80.

In such a conventional foreign object detection method and apparatus, after the ampoule 70 is rotated at high speed,
The brakes are applied and the vehicle comes to a sudden stop. The foreign object 82 floats and rotates due to inertia and blocks the transmitted light 74 from the side. The image of the foreign object 82 fluctuates and is detected by the light receiver 80 as a variation in received light. In this case, foreign object 82
causes a change in the amount of light, but the scratches 84 and dirt 86 on the ampoule surface do not cause any change in the amount of light because they are stationary. Therefore, the foreign matter 82 can be distinguished from the scratches 84 and dirt 86 on the ampoule surface. Furthermore, light receiving elements 88 are installed which are divided into fixed areas corresponding to the size of the ampoule 70, and these light receiving elements 88 are made of phototubes or photodiodes, allowing for quick inspection. .

However, in this method of inertial rotation of the foreign matter 82 in the solution by rotating the ampoule 70 at high speed, the foreign matter 82 in the solution with low viscosity (10 CST or less) cannot be removed.
2 can be applied, but if the foreign matter 82 is in a solution with high viscosity (100 CST or more), even if the ampoule 70 is rotated at high speed and then stopped suddenly by applying the brake, the solution inside will not rotate sufficiently inertia and will float. Foreign object 82
is not rotated sufficiently. Therefore, the foreign matter is transmitted by the transmitted light 7
Since the change in the image that occurs due to the occlusion of 4 does not occur sufficiently, the amount of light does not change and the foreign object cannot be detected. Furthermore, if the ampoule 70 is rotated at high speed (approximately 3000 rpm or more) in order to impart inertial rotation to the foreign matter 82 in a high viscosity solution (100 CST or more), the ampoule 70 may be damaged. For this reason, there is a limit to the practical ampoule rotation speed.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and particularly aims to provide a method and apparatus for detecting foreign matter in which foreign matter in a solution can be detected accurately without being affected by the viscosity of the internal solution.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a foreign matter detection method for detecting foreign matter floating in a solution in a transparent container formed in a symmetrical shape, while rotating the transparent container around an axis of rotational symmetry. Light is irradiated toward the transparent container, and the transparent container is at least
During the period of 180° rotation, the reflected light emitted from the scratches and dirt on the transparent container that received the irradiation light and the foreign matter inside the transparent container is subjected to binarized image processing and the trajectory of the reflected light is monitored on a monitor device. If at least one end of the trajectory coincides with the side surface of the transparent container while the transparent container is rotating, it is determined that the transparent container is scratched or dirty, and the trajectory is displayed on both sides of the transparent container. The feature is that if the object is far away from the object, it is determined to be a foreign object.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the foreign object detection method and device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a foreign object detection method and apparatus according to the present invention. Container 1 as shown in Figure 1
0 is formed from a transparent glass container formed into a substantially cylindrical shape (symmetrical shape). In some cases, the container 10 may be made of transparent plastic. The container 10 is rotated more than 360 degrees around the cylindrical axis of the container 10 by the rotating device 11. A light source 12 is provided below the container 10, and irradiation light 13 from the light source 12 is directed toward the container 10 and the solution within the container 10 through a projection lens. Foreign matter 14 in the solution in the container 10, surface scratches 16 and dirt 18 on the container 10 receive reflected light 15, 17, 19 after receiving the irradiation light.
emits. An image pickup tube 20 is provided on the side of the container 10, and the image pickup tube 20 is a light receiver that receives reflected light 15, 17, and 19 from the foreign object 14, surface scratches 16, and dirt 18. A monitor device 22 is connected to the image pickup tube 20 , and a data capture timing signal 24 is transmitted from the monitor device 22 to the image pickup tube 20 . Due to this timing signal 24, the data of the reflected lights 15, 17, and 19 from the image pickup tube 20 is input to the monitor device 22 as a data signal 26 for a certain period of time.
The data signal 26 is input from the time when the container 10 starts to rotate until it stops, that is, during the period when the container 10 rotates at least 360 degrees. Data signal 26 is processed by monitor device 22 from a video signal to a binarized video signal. Note that when the data signal 26 is observed on a CRT monitor or the like, as shown in FIG.
A is monitored as a two-dimensional projected image.

According to the foreign object detection method and device thereof according to the present invention configured as described above, the light source 1 is provided in the container 10.
The irradiation light 13 from 2 is irradiated. The rotation of the container 10 is started by the rotation device 11, and a data capture timing signal 24 is transmitted from the monitor device 22 to the image pickup tube 20. Reflected light 1 received by the image pickup tube 20 according to the timing signal 24
Data Nos. 5, 17, and 19 are taken into the monitor device 22 for a certain period of time as a data signal 26. These fixed period data signals 26 are sent to the monitor device 22.
The reflected light is processed two-dimensionally and monitored as a trajectory of reflected light. The monitored resolution can be at least 640 (horizontal) x 512 (vertical) x 64 (luminance) gradations.

In this case, the trajectories 16A, 18 of the reflected lights 17, 19 due to the surface scratches 16 and dirt 18 of the container
As shown in FIG. 2, the trajectory length of A is approximately the same as the diameter of the container 10. That is, scratches 16 and stains 1
The trajectories 16A and 18A of 8 are both ends of the container 10.
is displayed on the monitor device 22 in accordance with both sides of the image. On the other hand, the trajectory 14 of the reflected light 15 by the foreign object 14
A is a trajectory length shorter than the diameter of the container 10. That is, the trajectory of the foreign object 14 is displayed on the monitor device 22 while leaving both sides of the container 10. Therefore, the trajectories 16A and 18A of the reflected lights 17 and 19 due to the surface scratches 16 and dirt 18, which are measured as having approximately the same length as the diameter of the container 10, can be easily erased from the data by a check mechanism provided in the monitor device 22. can do. Therefore, the trajectory 14A of the reflected light 15 originating only from the foreign object 14 is easily detected, and the trajectory 14A of the reflected light 15 originating only from the foreign object 14
4 can be detected accurately.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment according to the present invention. The container 10, light source 12, and image pickup tube 20 shown in FIG. 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The rotating device 30 for the container 10 shown in FIG. 3 is designed to rotate the container 10 at least 180 degrees or more. Further, the monitor device 32 transmits the data capture timing signal 24 to the image pickup tube 20 as in the first embodiment, and the reflected light 15, 1 received by the image pickup tube 20 is determined based on the data capture timing signal 24.
7 and 19 are input as a data signal 26 for a certain period of time. Unlike the first embodiment, the input period of this data signal 26 is set to a period during which the container 10 rotates 180 degrees or more. Also, data signal 2
6 is subjected to two-dimensional processing by a monitor device 32 similarly to the monitor device 22 of the first embodiment, and the reflected light from the foreign object 14 and the like is monitored by the monitor device 32 as a locus of the reflected light. The monitor device 32 is the image pickup tube 20
In addition to processing the reflected light data two-dimensionally, as shown in FIG. 4, an area designation mechanism is provided which can distinguish and monitor the outer designation area 34 and the center designation area 36. The outer designated area 34 is the container 10
The central designated area 36 occupies an area corresponding to the inside of the inner diameter of the container 10 .

In the foreign object detection device according to the present invention configured as described above, the data signal 26 is transmitted to the monitor device 3 at least during the period when the container 10 is rotated by 180 degrees or more.
2 is input. Since the surface scratches 16 and dirt 18 on the surface of the container 10 are formed on the outside of the container 10, the trajectories 16A and 18A of the reflected light are such that at least one end 16B and 18B is located in the outside designated area 34 as shown in FIG. It may be located in That is,
The trajectories 16A and 18A of the scratches 16 and stains 18 have one end aligned with the side surface of the container 10 and are monitored by the monitor device 22.
displayed above. On the other hand, the trajectory 14A of the light reflected by the foreign object 14 does not enter the outer designated area 34 and always remains within the central designated area 36. Therefore, the trajectories 16A and 18A of the reflected light that enter the outer specified area 34, that is, the trajectories 16A and 18A of the reflected light from the surface scratches 16 and dirt 18, can be easily distinguished from the trajectory 14A of the reflected light originating from the foreign object 14. . Thereby, only the foreign object 14 can be easily detected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the method and apparatus for detecting foreign matter according to the present invention, the transparent container is rotated and light is irradiated onto the transparent container, and the trajectory of the reflected light emitted from the foreign matter in the solution is monitored by the monitor device. Since the foreign matter inside the container can be clearly distinguished from scratches or dirt on the surface of the container without being affected by the viscosity of the solution, the foreign matter can be detected reliably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the foreign object detection method and device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the foreign object detection method and device thereof according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a two-dimensional projected image of a CRT monitor when a data signal is processed by the monitor device of the second embodiment. A dimensional projection image diagram, FIG. 5, is an explanatory diagram of a conventional foreign object detection device. 10... Container, 11... Rotating device, 12... Light source, 1
4... Foreign object, 20... Image pickup tube, 22, 32... Monitor device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a method for detecting foreign substances floating in a solution in a transparent container formed in a symmetrical shape, the method comprises: rotating the transparent container around an axis of rotational symmetry; While the transparent container is rotating at least 180 degrees, reflected light emitted from scratches and dirt on the transparent container that received the irradiated light and from foreign objects inside the transparent container is reflected by 2.
The trajectory of the reflected light is displayed on a monitor device through digital image processing, and if at least one end of the trajectory coincides with the side surface of the transparent container while the transparent container is rotating, the trajectory of the reflected light is displayed on a monitor device. A method for detecting a foreign object, characterized in that it is determined to be a scratch or dirt, and if the trajectory is far from both sides of a transparent container, it is determined to be a foreign object. 2. A foreign object detection device that detects foreign objects floating in a solution in a transparent container formed in a symmetrical shape, comprising: a rotation device that rotates the transparent container around an axis of rotational symmetry of the transparent container; and the rotation device. a light receiver that receives and detects reflected light emitted from scratches and dirt on the container that received the irradiated light from the light source and from foreign objects in the container during a period when the transparent container is rotated by at least 180 degrees by the light source; displaying the trajectory of the reflected light detected by the light receiver through binary image processing, and displaying the trajectory of scratches and dirt on the transparent container so that at least one end thereof coincides with the side surface of the transparent container; A foreign object detection device comprising: a monitor device that displays the trajectory of a foreign object within a transparent container from both sides of the transparent container;