JPH0725683Y2 - Vial bottle appearance automatic inspection device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention is intended to inspect for damage to the body part of a vial bottle excluding the freeze-dried cake part, and further to back up the inspection by another defect detection device. Regarding a detection device.

[Prior Art and its Problems] Generally, a freeze-dried vial is a sterile chamber in which a fixed amount of a drug solution is subdivided into empty vials, and then the drug solution is freeze-dried and replaced with N ₂ gas. A rubber plug is plugged in, and a ring-shaped cap is further wound and tightened. The freeze-dried vial bottle thus obtained has the following defective items that cannot be provided as a product.

(A) Damage (crack) of the vial bottle that occurs during the process of winding the cap.

(B) Billi (scratches that may grow due to small cracks) and other scratches.

(C) Poor cap tightening, protector failure, and oil baking stains generated during bottle molding.

(D) Overfilling or underfilling of the medicine, sedimentation dust mixed in the medicine,
Insufficient drying, stains on chemicals, liquid splash.

The above-mentioned defective items are checked by a visual inspection method by many trained inspectors. In this method, a visual inspection is carried out in a transfer zone where a special slat conveyor and a cap suction transfer are used to transfer at a speed of about 150 lines per minute. Naturally, such a visual inspection method has the following problems.

(A) The visual inspection work is a monotonous work involving local fatigue, and is a severe work.

(B) Although the inspector has learned the defect discrimination lens through training, it is difficult to manage because there are factors that change drastically due to physical condition, individual difference morals, and the like.

(C) The inspection work cannot be performed for a long time.

As means for solving such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
64-38640, JP 1-143947, JP 1-1523
Although the inspection device shown in Japanese Patent No. 47 is proposed,
All of these have disadvantages such as malfunctioning in defect detection due to incident ambient light.

The purpose of the present invention is to capture a plurality of images of the entire circumference of the body, excluding the freeze-dried cake part, with an electronic shutter camera in a state where the ambient light on the upper part of the vial is alleviated by the diffused light of the slit light irradiation member 67. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is capable of highly accurately detecting defects without omissions by performing image processing on this, and with high efficiency.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The structure of the present invention which solves the problems of the prior art is one side of a vial suction support carrier in which a vial supply mechanism is connected to one side and a carry-out mechanism is connected to the other side. In, with the provision of a swivel device for rotating the vial by a predetermined angle, in a vial appearance automatic inspection device in which a defect detection device for each part of the vial is arranged in a plurality of inspection zones separated by the swivel device, A drive endless belt, which is relatively long and rotates the vial bottle being transferred, is provided along one side of the vial suction support / transporter corresponding to the inspection zone, and the width of the endless belt is set to the vial. The outside surface of the freeze-dried cake portion of the bottle has a width that can be masked, and further, a diffusion shade having a V-shaped planar shape is arranged on the outer side of the endless belt with an appropriate interval. Further, a slit light irradiation member 64 elongated in the longitudinal direction is provided outside each of the diffusion shades, and further, a plurality of images of the vial body are obliquely captured from above via a prism between the diffusion shades. On the other hand, corresponding to the electronic shutter camera, and above the opposite side of the vial suction support transport body as a boundary, long in the lateral direction,
Further, a slit light irradiating member 67 for irradiating the slit light on the shoulder portion of the vial is arranged, and a defect detecting device G in which a horizontal diffusion shade is provided between the slit light irradiating member 67 and the vial. Is provided.

[Embodiment] Next, details of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view in which a part of an inspection device using the device of the present invention is omitted, FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away front view of a bottle suction support mechanism part, and FIG. 3 is a bottle suction support block for sucking a vial bottle. Partially cutaway front view showing the supported state, FIG. 4 is the same as above, partially cutaway front view with the vial open, and FIG. 5 is a defect such as a billet near the bottom and ridge of the vial. 6 is a perspective view of a slit light irradiation member of the same as above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hard mask of the same as above.
The figure shows a partially cut-away front view of the defect detecting device B such as breakage of the vial body part, chattering, and chipping, and FIG. 9 shows the defect detecting device C such as breakage of the cake part, chattering, poor drying, dust and dirt.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the slit light irradiating member, FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the inspection state of the same as above, FIG. 12 is a plan view of the vial swivel device D, and FIG. Partial cutaway front view, Fig. 14 is a partial cutaway front view of the defect detection device E such as breakage of the bottom of the vial bottle during swirling and defective cake drying, Fig. 15
The figure shows a partially cut-away front view of the device F for detecting defects such as dust and dirt on the bottom of the vial, Fig. 16 is the bottom view of the vial, and Fig. 17 is the damage to the vial body during rotation while excluding the cake part. 18 is a partially cutaway front view of the same as above. FIG. 19 is a plan view of a defect detection device H that targets insufficient defects with the above-mentioned detection devices A, E and F. FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway front view of the same as above, and FIG. 21 is a part of a defect detection device I such as the presence or absence of a resin cap on a vial, a defective winding of an aluminum protector, and the neck and shoulder of the vial. A cutaway front view, FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway front view of the same.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a large-diameter disk 2 is horizontally attached to the upper end of a rotary shaft 1 erected on a machine base (not shown). On the outer periphery of the disk 2, there is a suction surface 4a having a circular arc groove shape in plan view which fits a part of the side surface of the vertical vial 3 in the center of the outer surface, and one end of the suction surface 4a is opened. A large number of bottle suction support blocks 4 having the suction holes 4b are continuously arranged in a ring shape.

The other end of the intake hole 4b of each bottle suction support block 4 communicates with one end of an intake passage 5 radially provided on the outer peripheral portion of the disk 2, and the intake passage 5 is connected to the disk. The hollow portion 2a formed in 2, the hollow portion 1a provided in the rotary shaft 1, and the suction mechanism 6 such as a blower communicate with each other through the rotary shaft 1. And, in the middle part of each of the intake passages 5,
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, it has a vertical posture axial structure,
Further, valves 7 having a detent structure are provided so as to be slidable up and down, and the intake passage 5 is opened or closed by the upward movement and downward movement of the valves 7. A through hole 8 communicating with the intake flow path 5 is horizontally formed in the middle of each valve 7, and a spring 9 constantly urges the upper part of the valve 7 to project outward. A ball 10 is provided, and this ball 10 is the above-mentioned disc 2
By forming the locking recesses 12 formed at the upper and lower portions of the outer surface of the locking piece 11 which is erected on the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of the valve 7, the valve 7 has the through hole 8 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The two-position posture is maintained such that the intake passage 5 communicates with or is blocked. In addition, at the upper and lower ends of each valve 7,
Rollers 13 and 14 rolling along the rotation direction of the disk 2 are axially supported, respectively, and the rollers 13 and 14 are connected to the cam rails 15 and 15, respectively.
The valve 7 is configured to slide in the vertical direction by contacting the valve 16.

Reference numeral 17 in FIG. 1 is a supply mechanism for sequentially supplying the vial bottle 3 to the bottle suction support block 4 arranged on the outer periphery of the disk 2.
Conveyor line 18 and a screw conveyor for separating and conveying the vials 3 on the conveyor line 18 one by one at appropriate intervals.
19, a star wheel 21 for supplying the vial bottle 3 supplied from the screw conveyor 19 to the bottle suction support block 4 in cooperation with the guide plate 20.

Further, 22 in FIG. 1 passes through the inspection zone described later in a posture in which the vial bottle 3 is sucked by the bottle suction support block 4 and receives the vial bottle 3 which has been inspected and is ready for the next work process. The carrying-out mechanism for carrying the carrying-out mechanism 22 includes a cam rail 16 for releasing the suction support of the vial suction support block 4 of the vial 3 and a guide plate 23 for the vial 3 released from the suction support. A star wheel 24 with a suction mechanism that carries out in a synergistic manner, a non-defective product transfer line 25 for carrying the vial bottle 3 carried out from this star wheel 24 to the next process, and a defective vial bottle 3 by the defective judgment signal. It is configured by a star wheel 27 with a suction mechanism for receiving the defective product from the defective product 24 and carrying the defective product to the defective product transportation pool line 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, there is an inspection zone for the vial 3 between the star wheel 21 that sequentially supplies and supports the vial 3 to the bottle suction support block 4 of the disk 2 and the star wheel 24 of the carry-out mechanism 22. , The defect detecting devices A, B, C of the vial 3 and the swiveling device D for swiveling the vial 3 by about 120 ° from the beginning to the end of the conveyance of the vial 3, again the defect detecting devices A, B, C Then, the defect detection device E for inspecting the vial 3 while rotating it by about 120 °, and then the defect detection devices A, B,
Each device is arranged in the order of C, F, G, H, and I. Although this arrangement shows the most preferable arrangement order, these orders are arbitrary and are not limited to those of the illustrated embodiment, but the swiveling devices D and E of the vial 3 are at the positions shown. It is desirable to install it.

Next, the configuration and operation of each defect detection device A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I and the turning device D will be described.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the structure of the defect detecting device A for the bottom portion of the vial bottle 3 and the vicinity of the ridge, such as chattering and breakage, will be described. Generally, at the bottom, ridges, and lower side surfaces of the vial bottle 3, the conveyor, the guide, and the collision of bottles with each other are repeated between the steps after the bottle making step and during the bottle making process. Since there are many variations in wall thickness,
The occurrence of billet-like defects is higher than in other parts. Further, when the freeze-dried cake portion 3a is inside, the reflected light from the boundary surface becomes unstable due to the thickness variation. 28 is an L-shaped side surface, and a hard mask 28 having a window 28c having an L-shaped cross section formed across the vertical side 28a and the horizontal side 28b is disposed outside the bottle suction support block 4. The vial 3 suction-supported by the suction surface 4a is allowed to pass in a state of being close to the inner surface of the vertical side 28a and the upper surface of the horizontal side 28b constituting the hard mask 28. The window portion 28c exposes the bottom and outer lower portion of the vial bottle 3 and masks other portions, but the window portion 28c facing the bottom portion is larger than the radius of the vial bottle 3 and the outer lower portion. Window part 28c facing the
Is a height slightly lower than the upper surface of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a in the vial bottle 3, and the width of the window portion 28c can be a length that allows at least 1/3 or more of the vial bottle 3 to be seen through. It is desirable to set the degree.

29 has a size that completely covers the range of the window portion 28c formed on the hard mask 28, and the window portion 28c
An electronic shutter camera 30 having a lens portion 30a whose axis is aligned with the optical axis of the prism 29 is disposed obliquely below the prism 29, which is a prism that is obliquely and downwardly approached. Reference numeral 31 denotes a slit light irradiation member having a condenser lens 31a for sharply condensing the slit light at the tip portion. The slit light emitted from the slit light irradiation member 31 is applied to the neck portion of the vial bottle 3 (aluminum protector is tightened). (Part), the irradiation is performed upward from a little lower than horizontal. The defect detection device A is configured as described above.

Next, the operation of the defect detection device A will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the obliquely upward slit light is sharply focused and the slit light is irradiated to the bottle neck, the light incident on the inside of the glass forming the vial 3 is refracted and diffused, and the bottom of the bottle is refracted. If it goes inside and if there is a defective part to be detected, that part will shine brighter than other parts. And
The hard mask 28 has a function of cutting ambient light other than the lower outer portion of the vial 3 facing the window portion 28c which is the detection target area and the bottom portion, and is the bottle bottom portion, the ridge side portion, the outer portion which is the inspection target area. The light incident on the lower portion is captured by the electronic shutter camera 30 as an image via the prism 29. That is, the vial bottle 3 that has reached the center position of the electronic camera 30 by an external sensor signal is instantly captured as an image without deviation. The captured image is transferred to the video memory, and the image processing apparatus receives the image from the video memory, performs various kinds of processing suitable for the image, and determines pass / fail.

This will be described in more detail. An electronic shutter camera 30 installed at a position where the bottom, ridge, and outer lower portion of the vial bottle 3 are projected through the window 28c of the hard mask 28.
A sensor (not shown) detects that the vial 3 is passing before, and a timing signal at that time is transmitted to the electronic shutter camera 30 and the image processing device (not shown). Electronic shutter camera by the above timing signal
Numeral 30 instantly captures an image of the inspection target area of the vial bottle 3 without any positional deviation at that time, transfers it to the video memory, and the video memory stores the image. The image processing device
After 1/60 seconds or more has elapsed after receiving the timing signal, various image processings are performed on the image of the inspection target area of the vial bottle 3 already sent from the video memory to determine the quality.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the structure of the defect detecting device B for breaking the body of the vial bottle, chattering, and chipping of the mouth will be described. Generally, during a large number of processes performed after the bottle making process, the conveyor, the guide, and the bottles collide with each other repeatedly, resulting in damages to the body and defects such as chattering. In addition, it is difficult to detect the chipping of the mouth that occurs when the aluminum protector is wound in the horizontal direction relative to the bottle axis. Further, the body has different shapes and brightness in the freeze-dried cake portion 3a, the cavity portion, the shoulder, and the neck portion, and defect detection is impossible with simple uniform illumination.

32 is arranged on the outer lower surface of the bottle suction support block 4,
Moreover, the hard mask 32 is in a horizontal posture that is close to the lower bottom surface of the vial bottle 3, and the hard mask 32 is formed with a round window 32a having a diameter smaller than the body diameter of the vial bottle 3. A spot light irradiating member 33 having a condenser lens (not shown) is vertically arranged along the central axis of the round window 32a, and an upward spot light is emitted at the center of the bottom surface of the vial 3. It can be irradiated. Further, an electronic shutter camera 34 having a lens portion 34a at its tip is disposed in a horizontal posture on the outer side of the hard mask 32 corresponding to the vial 3, and an image of the outer circumference 1/3 or more of the vial 3 is displayed. It can be taken in. Further, 35 is a color filter which is arranged close to the outside of the vial bottle 3 and has a width wider than the body diameter of the vial bottle 3. The lower end edge of this color filter 35 is the upper surface of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a. It has the same or a slightly lower height, and further, the color filter 35
Is a color tone that matches the color of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a, that is, the content drug, to mitigate the effect of liquid splash. In addition, in order to detect the looseness of the mouth of the vial bottle 3, a prism 36 is provided on the outer upper part of the color filter 35, specifically, on the upper outer part of the color filter 35 corresponding to the neck near the aluminum protector, and the prism 36 I am trying to get the image. The defect detection device B is configured as described above.

Next, the operation of the defect detection device B will be described based on the above-described embodiment.
When the central portion of the bottom surface of the vial bottle 3 passing over the hard mask 32 is irradiated through the round window 32a of 32, light is refracted and diffused inside the glass forming the vial bottle 3, and if there is a defective portion, this portion will be It shines brighter than the surrounding area. Then, a sensor (not shown) detects that the vial bottle 3 is passing in front of the electronic shutter camera 34, and the timing signal at that time is transmitted to the electronic shutter camera 34 and the image processing device (not shown). . In response to the timing signal, the electronic shutter camera 34 instantly sends an image of the side surface of the vial bottle 3 which is at least 1/3 round without any positional deviation at that time to the video memory, and the video memory stores the image. After 1/60 seconds or more has elapsed after receiving the above timing signal, the image processing apparatus performs various image processing on the image of the side surface of the vial bottle already sent from the video memory to determine pass / fail.

In the color filter 35, the freeze-dried cake portion 3a is left as it is, and the hollow portion of the vial bottle 3 is colored to match the content drug, thereby alleviating the influence of liquid splash and preventing malfunction. Further, the prism 36 obtains an image of the neck portion of the vial 3 from an obliquely downward direction so as to complete the trapping of mouth-chall.

Next, the structure of the defect detecting device C will be described with reference to FIGS. In this defect detection device, the body portion of the vial bottle 3 is damaged and loosened, and the freeze-drying case portion 3a is poorly dried, dust,
Defects such as dirt are to be detected, but it is difficult for the defect detection device B and the like to detect oil baking, mixed foreign matter, lyophilization defects, dirt, etc., which generally occur during bottle making. Since there is a variation in the thickness of the glass that constitutes the vial bottle 3, the reflected light from the surface of the freeze-dried cake portion may be affected, and accurate detection cannot be achieved.

On the outer side of one side of the swirl revolving flow path of the vial bottle 3, there is provided a rectangular tube shade 38 having a plurality of laterally long diffusion shades 38a, 38b inside the tip of the slit light irradiating member 37. The irradiation member 37 is tilted downward so that the diffusion slit light passing through the diffusion shades 38a and 38b is irradiated to the range of two images of the 1/3 peripheral surface of the freeze-drying cake portion 3a in the vial 3. It is a thing. The camera field of view is divided into two below the slit light irradiation member 37,
An electronic shutter camera 39 having a lens portion 39a capable of projecting each vial 3 is horizontally arranged so that two images of the outer circumference 1/3 or more of the vial 3 corresponding to the slit light irradiation range can be captured. The defect detection device C is configured as described above.

Next, the operation of the defect detection apparatus C will be described based on the above embodiment. The field of view of the electronic shutter camera 39 arranged at a position where two freeze-dried cake portions of the freeze-dry 3 of the vial 3 can be projected. For example, one of the sensors 40a detects that the right half of the visual field is passing through the vial 3, and the timing signal at that time is transmitted to the electronic shutter camera 39 and the image processing device (not shown). Then, in response to the timing signal, the electronic shutter 39 instantly sends the image of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a of the vial bottle 3 which is not displaced at that time to a video memory (not shown), and the video memory stores the image. After 1/60 seconds or more has elapsed after receiving the timing signal, the image processing apparatus performs various image processing on the image of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a sent from the video memory.

During this time, the vial 3 moves as shown by the arrow in FIG. The other sensor 40 indicates that the vial 3 is passing through the left half of the visual field of the electronic shutter camera 39.
Detected in b, various image processing is performed in the same manner as the above operation. A pass / fail judgment is performed on both images obtained in this way.

Next, the structure of the swivel device D for the vial bottle 3 in the suction support state will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. This vial swivel device D is suction-supported by the bottle suction support holder 4 and is being revolved. 3 is rotated about 120 ° and the detection surface is changed so that the entire circumference of the vial 3 can be inspected.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a fixed frame having a U-shaped side surface, and a plurality of guide rods 42 arranged along the radial direction of the disk 2 are provided on the lower horizontal side 41a of the fixed frame 41. The lower part of the slider 43 is slidably guided. On the upper surface of the slider 43, two pulleys 44a, 44b, whose center axis is aligned with the radius of the disk 2, are horizontally supported, and the pulleys 44a, 44b both have a toothed timing belt. The endless belt 45 is suspended around the endless belt 45 such that the outer surface of the endless belt 45 corresponding to the one pulley 44a is pressed against the peripheral surface of the vial bottle 3, and the other pulley 44b and the fixed frame 41 are connected. The forward and reverse variable speed motors 46 provided on the upper horizontal side 41b of the universal joint 47
The endless belt 45 can be rotated by the forward / reverse variable speed motor 46, and the peripheral speed of the endless belt 45 is variable. The rotation angle of the vial bottle 3 that rotates by itself can be freely selected.

In addition, a standing edge 43a is formed on the outer end of the slider 43, and a vertical side 41c of the fixed frame 41 is formed on the standing edge 43a.
Loosely insert the tip of the regulating rod 49 that is horizontally screwed into
The rising edge 43 is provided on the collar 50 provided at the tip of the regulating rod 49.
While contacting the inner side surface of a, between the rising edge 43a and the vertical side 41c of the fixed frame 41, the restriction rod 4
The spiral ridge 51 fitted in the 9 is elastically mounted, and the regulation rod 49 is moved and adjusted in the left-right direction of the drawing in accordance with the body diameter of the vial bottle 3 to be inspected. In the figure, reference numeral 52 is a positioning double nut. Further, 53 is a tip of the slider 43, that is, a bottle guide provided on the upper surface at the left end of the paper,
The bottle guide 53 is, as shown in FIG.
It is configured to surround the left end of a and
As shown in the figure, the flat end surface of the bottle guide 53 has a vial 3
The guide inclined surface 53a is formed. Also, this bottle guide 5
In order to make the contact surface of the vial 3 against the vial 3 slippery and prevent the vial 3 from rotating unintentionally due to contact resistance, the vial guide 53 has high abrasion resistance and sufficient slipperiness. It is made of a synthetic resin material. Also,
When the target vial 3 is a blow-molded product, the bottle guide 53 has a variation of the body diameter of about ± 0.5 mm, and each section is also deformed, so that the regulation rod 49, the spiral rib 51, etc. In combination with a buffer slide mechanism using spring pressure, it plays a role of reducing an error with respect to a target rotation angle, which is particularly effective in the case of a small diameter bottle, and further limits the contact length of the vial bottle 3 and the endless belt 45. Also plays a role. Also, vial 3
The reason why the endless belt is used as the member for rotating is for the purpose of extending the life and maintenance-free. The vial swivel device D is configured as described above.

Next, referring to FIG. 14, a defect detecting device B for detecting the damage of the bottom surface of the vial bottle 3 and the poor drying of the freeze-drying rake part 3a.
The configuration of will be described. This defect detection device E is also intended to reduce the number of vial swivel devices D by incorporating it in the vial swivel device D in addition to the above-mentioned detection target. A cylindrical shade having a relatively large diameter, which is disposed on the lower side of the device D and has a central axis directed obliquely with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the vial 3, and the lower end of the cylindrical shade 54 has: Ring illumination member 55 that illuminates the light source toward the bottom of the vial 3.
With the provision of, in the central portion of this ring irradiation member 55,
An electronic shutter camera 56 having a lens portion 56a at its tip is arranged. In addition, a ring-shaped shade 54a is arranged between the outer periphery of the upper end of the lens portion 56a and the cylindrical shade 54 so that uniform light diffused obliquely downward toward the bottom surface of the bottle can be irradiated.

This defect detection device E captures the image of one vial bottle twice, like the defect detection device C described above.
Since the image capturing and image processing means is the same as the means of the defect detection apparatus C, detailed description of the operation is omitted.

Next, the configuration of the defect detection device F will be described with reference to FIGS. This defect detection device F mainly detects dust that has settled on the bottom of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a on the bottom of the bottle, and oil baking and foreign matter generated during bottle making.
The bottom surface of the freeze-dried cake part 3a may have some color unevenness and cracks. Also, on the bottom surface of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 16, a convex portion 3b such as a bottle maker's mark or model number.
Are formed, and there are variations in wall thickness during bottle making, and it is necessary to eliminate these effects during inspection.

57 is disposed near the lower side of the vial bottle 3 in the suction-supported state, and has a relatively short shade inner cylinder 57a having a central axis that matches the central axis of the vial bottle 3, and a relatively long shade inner tube 57a. A shade outer cylinder 57b and a shade outer cylinder 57b, the outer surface of the shade inner cylinder 57a and the inner peripheral surface of the shade outer cylinder 57b are provided with unevenness for light diffusion, and the upper portion of the shade outer cylinder 57b. Is tilted inward so that the diffused light is concentrated at the bottom of the bottle. Then, the shade inner cylinder 57
A ring-shaped semi-transparent color filter 58 is horizontally stretched between the upper surface of a and the shade outer cylinder 57b. Further, a ring illumination member 59 for irradiating a light source upward is interposed between the lower ends of the shade inner cylinder 57a and the shade outer cylinder 57b, and at the center of the ring illumination member 59, and the shade. An electronic shutter camera 60 having a lens portion 60a at the upper end is arranged below the inner cylinder 57a. Also,
On the outer side of the vial bottle 3, there is provided a spot light irradiating member 61 for projecting and irradiating a sharp spot light onto the center of the surface of the freeze-drying cake portion 3a from obliquely above. The defect detection device F is configured as described above.

Explaining the operation of the defect detecting device F, the convex portion 3b as shown in FIG. 16 cannot be judged as a detection target due to the influence of refraction by simple uniform illumination, and therefore it is diffused over the entire bottle bottom from all directions. The colored light is emitted to reduce the difference in brightness due to the effects of uneven color and convex portions. Further, by shining a sharp spot light on the upper surface of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a to lighten the lightness and darkness of the cracked portion of the freeze-dried cake portion 3a, the difference in brightness from other portions is reduced. Under such a condition, a sensor (not shown) detects that the vial 3 is passing above the electronic shutter camera 60, and sends a timing signal at that time to the electronic shutter camera 60 and the image processing apparatus. .
By this timing signal, the electronic shutter camera 60 instantly sends the image of the bottom surface of the vial bottle, which is not displaced at that time, to the video memory, and the video memory stores the image. The image processing device, after receiving the timing signal,
After 1/60 seconds or more, the image on the bottom of the vial that has already been sent from the video memory is subjected to various image processing to determine pass / fail.

Next, the configuration of the defect detecting device G will be described with reference to FIGS. This defect detecting device G targets the damage of the body of the vial 3 excluding the freeze-dried cake part 3a as an inspection object, and the above-mentioned defect which is insufficiently inspected under the condition of the defect detecting device B described above is being moved. It is intended to improve the detection accuracy by giving rotation to 3.

62 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the disk 2, for example, has a length that covers the range of about four bottle suction support blocks 4 and is close to the outside of the bottle suction support block 4. A variable speed motor (not shown) is connected to one of the pulleys 62a arranged at both ends of the endless belt 62 arranged and rotating in the opposite direction to the disc 2.
By changing the speed of the endless belt 62, the rotation angle of the vial bottle 3 pressed against the endless belt 62 can be arbitrarily adjusted. In addition, this defect detection device G
Since the body part excluding the freeze-dried cake portion 3a is the detection target range, the width of the endless belt 62 is set to a width that can be masked by the freeze-dried cake portion 3a as shown in FIG. And
As shown in FIG. 17, the planar shape is V-shaped at three positions on the outer side of the upper end, the intermediate portion, and the lower end of the endless belt 62.
The character-shaped diffusion shades 63 are arranged at equal intervals, and
Outside each of the diffusion shades 63, a slit light irradiation member 64 that is elongated in the vertical direction is provided in a horizontal posture in which slit light is emitted toward the corners of the diffusion shades 63, and the diffusion shades are provided.
The diffused light is evenly applied to the body of the vial 3 via 63. Further, at two positions between the diffusion shades 63, electronic shutter cameras 65 each having a lens portion 65a at a tip end for taking in an image of a body portion from obliquely above are respectively arranged, and further, as shown in FIG. On the optical axis of the electronic shutter camera 65, prisms 66 are provided respectively close to the outside of the vial bottle 3.

Further, slit light irradiating members 67 for irradiating long slit light in the lateral direction are respectively arranged above the outer peripheral portion of the disk 2 corresponding to each of the electronic shutter cameras 65, and the slit light irradiating member 67 and the vial bottle are arranged. A horizontal diffusion shade 68 is provided between the vials 3 and 3, and the diffused light is evenly applied to the R portion of the shoulder of the vial 3.

Furthermore, the camera condition in this defect detection device G is about 180 while moving in the camera field of view of one vial bottle 3.
The electronic shutter camera 65 continuously captures multiple images during that time so that the defective part can obtain a brighter image than other parts. , And to prevent interference with the endless belt mechanism for rotating the vial bottle 3 and to view both the straight surface of the body and the shoulder surface. Further, the vial bottle 3 that has started contact with the endless belt 62 may temporarily release the suction support means by the bottle suction support block 4 until it escapes from the endless belt 62, thereby facilitating rotation. is there. The defect detection device G is configured as described above.

Next, the operation will be described.
A sensor (not shown) detects that this vial 3 is passing through the field of view of the first electronic shutter camera 65, and the timing signal at this time is transmitted to an image processing device (not shown). . After receiving the timing signal, the image processing apparatus performs image processing for continuously capturing a plurality of images during the movement of the vial 3 and performing image processing for extracting the brightness of light when there is a breakage to determine pass / fail.

Next, the configuration of the defect detection device H will be described with reference to FIGS. This defect detection device H is intended for backup of the defect detection devices A, E, and F described above, and 69 is
An endless belt which is arranged on the outer periphery of the disk 2 and is relatively long and which is pressed against the body of the vial bottle 3 that is revolving in the central portion and rotates the vial bottle 3 by 360 ° or more.
A variable speed motor (not shown) is connected to one of the pulleys 70 disposed at both ends of the endless belt 69, and the rotation angle of the vial bottle 3 pressed against the variable speed motor (not shown) is changed by changing the speed of the endless belt 69. Is that it can be adjusted arbitrarily. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, in the defect detecting device H, the width of the endless belt 69 is set so that the body portion above the freeze-drying cake portion 3a can be masked. Then, the central portion of the endless belt 69, that is,
A slit light irradiation member 71 having a condenser lens portion 71a for irradiating a horizontally long slit light is arranged symmetrically with respect to a portion that gives a rotation to the vial bottle 3, and the slit light is a freeze-dried cake of the vial bottle 3. The part 3a can be irradiated. Further, a line sensor camera 72 having a lens portion 72a for capturing an image of the bottom of the vial bottle 3 and the ridge portion below the middle portion of the two slit light irradiation members 71.
Is placed diagonally upward. The defect detection device H is configured as described above.

Next, the operation will be described. The vial 3 is rotated by 360 °, and while the vial 3 is rotating and revolving, the line sensor camera 72 is used to detect the bottom of the vial 3 and
A plurality of images of the ridge portion are continuously taken in, the brightness of light when there is a break is extracted, and the quality is judged.

Next, the configuration of the defect detection device I will be described with reference to FIGS. This defect detection device I is for inspecting the presence / absence of a resin cap, the winding failure of the aluminum protector, and the neck / shoulder of the vial bottle 3 which cannot be detected by the defect detection devices B and G. Reference numeral 73 denotes an endless belt similar to that of the defect detection device H.
An electronic shutter camera 74 having a lens portion 74a at its tip is horizontally arranged, and the electronic shutter camera 74
A cross-sectional shape is an elongated triangle on the upper surface of the bottle suction support block 4, and a diffusion shade 75 is provided for diffusing the slit light and avoiding the influence of the spot mark formed at the time of manufacturing the resin cap, and above the diffusion shade 75. Is provided with a downward slit light irradiation member 76 for irradiating the upper surface of the diffusion shade 75 with the horizontally long slit light 76a. Further, on the outside of the vial bottle 3, a color filter 77 for masking the body portion of the vial bottle 3 is arranged so as to alleviate the influence of the liquid drop adhering to the rubber stopper and the inner wall of the body portion. . The defect detection device I is configured as described above.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. The vial 3 is rotated about 360 ° and a sensor (not shown) detects that the vial 3 is passing through the visual field of the electronic shutter camera 74. The timing signal at that time is transmitted to an image processing device (not shown). After receiving the timing signal, the image processing apparatus performs various image processing while taking in a plurality of images while the vial bottle 3 is rotating, and determines the quality.

In the above embodiment, the disc 2 is used to convey the vial bottle 3 in the radial direction. However, the bottle suction support block 4 is connected to one side of a conveyer such as an endless chain or a belt to linearly convey the vial. It is also possible to carry out the inspection while transporting the vial bottle 3, so that it is not limited to the one described in the embodiment.

[Explanation of Operation] Vial bottle 3 sequentially supplied from vial supply mechanism 17
Are orbitally moved along with the rotation of the disk 2 while being sequentially sucked and supported by the bottle suction support block 4. Then, after passing through the defect detection devices A, B, and C, about 1/3 of each vial 3 was inspected, and then about 120 ° by the vial swivel device D.
After being rotated and the new inspection area due to this rotation is again inspected by the defect inspection devices A, B, C, the vial 3 is rotated again by about 120 ° in the defect inspection device E, and further, the defect inspection devices A, B, C are rotated. , F, G, H, I are inspected in order, good products are supplied from the suction mechanism equipped star wheel 24 to the good product conveyor line 25, and defective products are determined by the defect determination signals of the respective defect inspection devices. It is delivered to the star wheel 27 with a suction mechanism, and is transferred to the defective product transfer pool line 26 for transfer.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the configuration of the present invention as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(A) In the inspection zone, the vial suction-supported by the suction-supporting and transporting body has the outer surface and the bottom surface of the freeze-dried cake portion captured by an electronic shutter camera,
In addition, the vials placed at various places swivel the vial at a required angle to automatically and continuously perform defect inspections on the entire inspection area, which greatly saves labor (b) With the slit light that is long in the direction and diffused by the diffusion shade, the ambient light from the cap and shoulder of the vial is alleviated and erased, and the vertically long diffusion slit light is above the freeze-dry cake portion. The defect detection of the body portion of the device is effectively performed, and the defect detection can be performed with high accuracy.

(C) Since a large number of images to be inspected are captured and image processing is performed, the inspection accuracy can be further improved.

(D) Due to the presence of the prism, images can be captured on both the straight surface of the body and the curved surface of the shoulder, and there is no detection unevenness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view in which a part of an inspection device using the device of the present invention is omitted, FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away front view of a bottle suction support mechanism part, and FIG. 3 is a bottle suction support block for sucking a vial bottle. Partially cutaway front view showing the supported state, FIG. 4 is the same as above, partially cutaway front view with the vial open, and FIG. 5 is a defect such as a billet near the bottom and ridge of the vial. 6 is a perspective view of a slit light irradiation member of the same as above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hard mask of the same as above.
The figure shows a partially cut-away front view of the defect detecting device B such as breakage of the vial body part, chattering, and chipping, and FIG. 9 shows the defect detecting device C such as breakage of the cake part, chattering, poor drying, dust and dirt.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the slit light irradiating member, FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the inspection state of the same as above, FIG. 12 is a plan view of the vial swivel device D, and FIG. Partial cutaway front view, Fig. 14 is a partial cutaway front view of the defect detection device E such as breakage of the bottom of the vial bottle during swirling and defective cake drying, Fig. 15
The figure shows a partially cut-away front view of the device F for detecting defects such as dust and dirt on the bottom of the vial, Fig. 16 is the bottom view of the vial, and Fig. 17 is the damage to the vial body during rotation while excluding the cake part. 18 is a partially cutaway front view of the same as above. FIG. 19 is a plan view of a defect detection device H that targets insufficient defects with the above-mentioned detection devices A, E and F. FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway front view of the same as above, and FIG. 21 is a part of a defect detection device I such as the presence or absence of a resin cap on a vial, a defective winding of an aluminum protector, and the neck and shoulder of the vial. A cutaway front view, FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway front view of the same. G ... Defect detection device, 1 ... Rotation axis, 2 ... Disk, 3 ... Vial bottle, 4
… Bottle suction support block, 17… Vial bottle supply mechanism, 22…
Unloading mechanism, 62 ... Endless belt, 63 ... V-shaped diffusion shade in plan view, 64 ... Vertical slit light irradiation member, 65 ... Electronic shutter camera, 66 ... Prism, 67 ... Horizontal slit light irradiation member, 68 ... Horizontal Diffusion shade.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Masato Nakamura 1-18-17 Nishishimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo NISSEI CORPORATION (72) Creator Sadahisa Inoue 1-18-17 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Nissei stock company (56) Reference JP-A-1-152347 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A vial suction support / conveyor having a vial supply mechanism on one side and a carry-out mechanism on the other side.
In the vial appearance automatic inspection device, in which a turning device for rotating the vial by a predetermined angle is provided, and defect detecting devices for each part of the vial are arranged in a plurality of inspection zones divided by the turning device, On one side of the vial suction support carrier corresponding to the zone, a relatively long drive endless belt for rotating the vial being transferred is provided along with the width of the endless belt of the vial. The outside surface of the freeze-dried cake part has a width that can be masked, and further, a diffusion shade having a V-shaped plane is arranged on the outer side of this endless belt with an appropriate interval, and a vertical length is provided outside each diffusion shade. Slit light irradiation member (6
4) are provided respectively, and further, an electronic shutter camera for taking in a plurality of images of the vial body from diagonally above is provided between the both diffusion shades through a prism, while corresponding to the electronic shutter camera, and Above the opposite side with the vial suction support carrier as a boundary, long in the lateral direction,
In addition, a slit light irradiation member (67) for irradiating slit light is arranged on the shoulder portion of the vial, and a horizontal diffusion shade is provided between the slit light irradiation member (67) and the vial. An apparatus for automatically inspecting the appearance of a vial, which is provided with a defect detection device G.