JPH0763533A - Visual inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a visual inspecting device in which even a target article to which a great amount of powder is adhered can be stably inspected without hindrance, and the inspection and the device are never interfered even by the fall of the target article from a carrying route. CONSTITUTION:Image pickup cameras C1, C2 are provided in box bodies E1, E2 having image pickup holes H1, H2. The box bodies E1, E2 are arranged so that the image pickup holes H1, H2 are opposed to a carried target article (m). A pressurizing means D for pressurizing the inner parts of the box bodies E1, E2 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting small articles such as block type chewing gum, candy, medicines, etc., for defects such as size and appearance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for inspecting the above-mentioned small articles (hereinafter referred to as target articles), there has been heretofore known JP-A-3-2480.
A device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 47 is known.

This device is provided with a pair of conveying devices for adsorbing / holding and conveying the target article and an appearance inspection mechanism for inspecting the appearance of the target article. The first conveying device of the pair of conveying devices. The downstream end of the second transport device in the transport direction and the upstream end of the second transport device in the same direction are opposed to each other, and the imaging range of the appearance inspection mechanism is near the transport faces of the first transport device and the second transport device. It was installed in.

According to this apparatus, first, one side of the target article is suction-held and conveyed by the first conveying apparatus, the appearance of the other side of the target article is inspected by the appearance inspecting apparatus, and then the first article is inspected. The target article is handed over from the transport apparatus to the second transport apparatus, the second surface of the target article is suction-held and transported by the second transport apparatus, and the appearance of the other surface of the target article is inspected by the appearance inspection apparatus.

Since the target article is suction-held and transported, the target article is not displaced and the appearance can be accurately inspected, and the impact on the target article during the transport process is small, so that the target article is damaged. It is possible to prevent the above.

[0006]

However, depending on the target article, in consideration of handling in the manufacturing process, a large amount of powder called talc is adhered to the surface of the target article to improve the sliding property. There is a problem that it cannot enter into the housing containing the camera and adheres to the lens of the camera to make a normal determination. Particularly, on the side for inspecting the lower surface of the target article (inspection side where the transport surface is facing downward), talc accumulates on the lens of the camera within a short time, obstructing the field of view of the camera, and inspection becomes impossible.

Further, even when the target article is deformed, the transport path in the post-process is clogged, or other factors, the target article collides with the lens of the camera even when the target article falls from the transport path. However, there is a problem that the object is damaged or the target article is placed on the lens and the inspection cannot be performed.

As a method for preventing these problems, it is conceivable to block the imaging hole of the housing with a glass plate or the like, but the same problem also occurs in the glass plate itself, and a cleaning mechanism for removing talc deposited on the glass plate is provided. Another problem arises in that the required equipment becomes complicated and expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even a target article to which a large amount of talc is adhered can be stably inspected for a long time without any trouble, and the target article is conveyed for some reason. It is an object of the present invention to provide a visual inspection device that does not hinder the inspection and the device even if it is dropped from the route.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an appearance inspection apparatus for carrying out a target article by a carrying apparatus and taking an image of the appearance of the target article by an image pickup camera to inspect the quality. The gist of the apparatus is to dispose the imaging camera in a housing provided with an imaging hole facing a target article being conveyed and to provide a pressurizing means for pressurizing the inside of the housing. .

The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 2 is characterized in that a detecting device for detecting a falling article and an excluding means for ejecting the falling article out of the fall path are provided above the imaging hole. Is.

[Action]

According to the appearance inspection apparatus of the first aspect, since the image pickup camera and the lens are mounted in the housing, the image pickup camera and the lens are first protected from the dust by the housing. Further, an imaging hole for imaging for imaging is provided in the housing, but since the pressure is applied to the inside of the housing, the air inside the housing is constantly ejected to the outside through the imaging hole. The air flow does not hinder the intrusion of dust such as talc into the housing, and the imaging camera and lens can be kept clean at all times.

According to the appearance inspection apparatus of the second aspect, when the object article is separated from the conveying apparatus and dropped, the detecting apparatus detects it and removes it by the excluding means before it enters the housing through the imaging hole. Also, there is no possibility that a falling article collides with a lens inside the housing or is placed on the lens to make it impossible to inspect.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the outline of the entire apparatus,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the apparatus according to the embodiment has a loading section conveyor (7) and a first transfer apparatus (X
1), the second transport device (X2), the discharge section conveyor (8), and the first discharge means (provided at the transfer section between the second transport apparatus (X2) and the discharge section conveyor (8) ( 6)
And the first transfer device (X1) and the second transfer device (X
2) Appearance inspection mechanisms (B1) and (B2) which are arranged so as to oppose each conveyance surface, and detection devices (4a), (4b) and second detectors provided above the appearance inspection mechanism (B2). Excluding means (5), pressurizing means (D), and appearance inspection mechanism (B
1), a processing device (not shown) for processing the data from (B2) and a control device (not shown) for controlling the driving of the entire device.

1 and 2, only a schematic structure is shown, and the specific structure is not shown, but the first transfer device (X1) and the second transfer device (X2) have slit-shaped openings at one end. Air box (A1), (A
2), a pair of endless conveying ropes provided on both ends of the slit and traveling on a traveling path, and pulleys (11) and (12) for driving the same. And
The downstream end of the first transporting device (X1) in the transporting direction and the upstream end of the second transporting device (X2) in the transporting direction are provided side by side.

Thus, the air boxes (A1), (A
Negative pressure acts between a pair of transport cords traveling on the traveling path provided at both ends of the slit of 2), and the negative pressure causes the target article to be suction-held on the pair of transport cords. Be transported.

Except for the air boxes (A1) and (A2), the loading section conveyor (7) and the discharging section conveyor (8) are configured with a first transfer device (X1) and a second transfer device (X2). It is the same, and the first transfer device (X1)
The feeding section conveyor (7) is provided on the front side of the above, and the discharging section conveyor (8) is provided on the rear side of the second transfer device (X2). The first transfer device (X1), the second transfer device (X2), the loading conveyor (7), and the discharging conveyor (8) are connected to the control device (not shown).

The appearance inspection mechanisms (B1) and (B2) have a housing (E) having imaging holes (H1) and (H2) on one side surface.
1) and (E2), and cameras (C1), (C2) and a lens (L) housed in the housings (E1) and (E2).
1) and (L2), the imaging hole (H
1) and (H2) are opposed to the transport surfaces of the first transport device (X1) and the second transport device (X2).

The pressurizing means (D) is composed of a pump (1), a reservoir tank (2) and a flow rate adjusting valve (3) which are sequentially connected by piping. The casings (E1) and (E2) are connected to the flow rate adjusting valve (3) by a pipe (7).

The detection device (4) is a light emitting and receiving type photoelectric sensor, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing (E)
The issuing section (4a) and the light receiving section (4b) of the photoelectric sensor are arranged on each side of the imaging hole (H2) of 2), and the photoelectric sensor is connected to the control device (not shown). ing.

The first discharging means (6) and the second discharging means (5) are equipped with solenoid valves (not shown) and are connected to a pressurizing device (not shown) such as a compressor. The solenoid valve (not shown) is connected to the control device (not shown).

The processing device (not shown) includes a dedicated processor and the like, and is connected to the cameras (C1) and (C2) of the visual inspection mechanisms (B1) and (B2) and the control device (not shown), The image data from the cameras (C1) and (C2) is processed, and when an abnormality is found in the target article, an abnormality signal is output to the control device, and the first discharging means (6) is driven to cause a defect. Select and exclude the target articles of.

Next, the operation of the embodiment apparatus having the above configuration will be described. First, the target article (m) is supplied from the vibrating feeder or other supply device (not shown) onto the input section conveyor (7), is placed on the pair of transfer cords, and the supply pitch and posture are constant. It is conveyed while being kept at, and delivered to the first conveying device (X1). Then, the target article (m) is similarly placed on the two carrying ropes (R1) of the first carrying device (X1), and the carrying rope (R1)
Although it moves in the direction of arrow A with the movement of 1), the target article (m) is suction-held on the carrying cord (R1) in the air box (A1) part in the middle. Next, after the top surface of the target article (m) is imaged when passing under the camera (C1), the facing portion (P) between the first transport device (X1) and the second transport device (X2). Move up to. Then, when the target article (m) moves to the air box (A2), the target article (m) is suction-held and transported by the transport cord (R2) of FIG. 2 by the suction force of the air box (A2).
Then, when the target article (m) passes above the camera (C2), its lower surface is imaged.

The image data obtained by picking up images with the cameras (C1) and (C2) is transmitted to the processing device (not shown) and processed by the processing device (not shown).
If the target article (m) is defective, an abnormal signal is output to the control device (not shown).

The target article (m) is the second transfer device (X2).
Is transferred to the discharge section conveyor (8), but the drive device (not shown) receives the abnormal signal and receives the first discharge means (6).
Output a control signal to a solenoid valve (not shown) of the first discharge means (6), and the solenoid valve (not shown) outputs O from the nozzle of the first discharge means (6).
After reaching N, high-pressure air is ejected, and the defective target article (m) that has just passed through the same portion is discharged to the outside of the transport path. On the other hand, if the target article (m) is non-defective, it is transferred to the discharge section conveyor (8) as it is and sent to the next step.

Air pressurized by the pump (1) passes through the reservoir tank (2) and the flow rate adjusting valve (3) to the casings (E1) and (E2) of the visual inspection mechanisms (B1) and (B2). Is supplied. And the housing (E1), (E2)
Pressurized air flows out from the imaging holes (H1) and (H2). This outflowing airflow prevents the talc separated from the target article (m) from entering the housing. still,
The amount of air flowing out from the imaging holes (H1) and (H2) may be such that talc can be prevented from entering, and the flow rate adjusting valve (3)
Is adjusted according to the diameters of the imaging holes (H1) and (H2).

Further, for example, when the thickness of the target article (m) is extremely smaller than the regulation or when there is a concave portion in the central portion, the suction force does not sufficiently act on the target article (m), and this is for transportation. It may not be held properly by the cord (R2). In this case, the target article (m) may fall by drawing a parabola whose transport speed is the horizontal initial speed, and may jump from the imaging hole (H2) into the housing (E2) in some cases. Further, the target article (m) may drop when the target article (m) is accumulated or full on the conveyor (8) in the subsequent process due to a trouble or the like. In such a case, the detection device (4) provided on the upper part of the housing (E2) detects the falling target article (m) and eliminates it by the second excluding means (5). That is, when the detection light of the detection device (4) is blocked by the falling target article (m), a detection signal is input from the detection device (4) to a control device (not shown). In response to this, the control device (not shown) outputs a drive signal to the solenoid valve (not shown) of the second excluding means (5) to open it. As a result, the compressed air is ejected from the nozzle of the second excluding means (5), and the target article (m) just passing through the same section is eliminated from the falling path.

[0029]

According to the appearance inspection apparatus of the first aspect, since the image pickup camera is provided inside the housing and the inside of the housing is pressurized by the pressurizing means, an air flow is generated from the image pickup hole to the outside. The airflow does not interfere with talc entering the housing. Therefore, the camera and the lens can always be kept clean, and normal inspection can be maintained.

According to the appearance inspection apparatus of claim 2,
When the target article falls off from the transport device or when another foreign object is about to enter the housing, the detection device detects it and removes it by the excluding means before entering the housing from the imaging hole. The object or foreign matter will not collide or be placed on the lens, and the inspection will not be impossible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pump 2 Reservoir Tank 3 Flow Control Valve 4 Detector 5 Second Exclusion Means 6 First Exclusion Means B1 First Appearance Inspection Mechanism B2 Second Appearance Inspection Mechanism X1 First Transfer Device X2 Second Transfer Device C1 camera C2 camera L1 lens L2 lens E1 housing E2 housing H1 imaging hole H2 imaging hole A1 air box A2 air box

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for conveying a target article by a conveying device and inspecting whether the appearance of the target article is good or bad by picking up an image of the appearance of the target article in a casing provided with an imaging hole facing the target article during conveyance. A visual inspection apparatus comprising the image pickup camera and a pressurizing unit for pressurizing the inside of the housing. 2. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detection device for detecting a falling article and an excluding means for ejecting the falling article out of the fall path are provided above the imaging hole.