JPH09314071A - Visual inspection supporting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lessen the fatigue and danger of an inspector and to improve the yield in a system for executing the inspection of flaws, intrusion of foreign matter, packaging defects, etc., of the articles to be inspected on a production line. SOLUTION: A photoelectric sensor 4 and, if necessary, a rotary encoder 3 are mounted at the production line 1. The articles 2 to be inspected are photographed by a CCD camera 5. The images of the articles to be inspected which are subjected to image processing are projected onto an image visual inspection supervisory monitor 10. The system is provided with the effective touch switch area 11 of the touch panel on a CRT. The inspector makes inspection by viewing this supervisory monitor in a place of another environment. If the inspector discovers a defective article, etc., the inspector makes operation, such as rejection, by pushing this effective touch switch area 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visual inspection support system capable of performing visual inspection of an object to be inspected moving on a manufacturing line in a place of another environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of inspecting an object to be inspected moving on a manufacturing line for scratches, foreign matter, packaging defects, etc., a visual inspection with a naked eye of a human has been generally used. In this case, the inspector must always stare at the inspected object moving on the manufacturing line, which is accompanied by fatigue and danger, and the defective product is overlooked. In addition, there are variations in the determination of defective products due to the experience of the inspector and the difference in the determination standard.

Further, the object to be inspected is photographed by a CCD camera, binarized and gray processed by a video board or image processing software, and the data is compared with a normal product stored in advance to determine whether it is good or bad. Although there is an inspection device that automatically determines, even if such an automatic inspection device is used, a perfect inspection cannot be performed, and there are drawbacks such as poor yield and processing speed depending on the setting conditions. It was in a situation that relied on human eyes.

[0004]

As described above, as a method of inspecting the inspection object moving on the manufacturing line for scratches, foreign matter inclusion, defective packaging, etc. There was a problem such as the occurrence of danger to the inspector or the occurrence of hygiene problems depending on the occurrence of the problem and the type of the inspection object. Further, when the automatic inspection device is used, there are problems such as poor yield and slow processing speed.

The present invention is a method for inspecting an object to be inspected moving on the production line for scratches, foreign matter, packaging defects, etc. The inspection can be performed by observing the inspection object moving on the manufacturing line displayed on the CRT monitor. This reduces the fatigue and risk of the inspector and prevents overlooking of defective products. Further, since the inspection object is enlarged and depicted on the CRT monitor, it is easy to find scratches, foreign matter inclusion, packaging defects, etc., and it is possible to suppress variations in inspection due to experience of inspectors and differences in judgment criteria. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a visual inspection support system capable of improving inspection efficiency and inspection accuracy (uniformity) and improving quality (stability).

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an inspection object 2 which moves on a manufacturing line 1 with a C
The video signal 8 enlarged and photographed by the CD camera 5, the ON / OFF signal 7 output from the photoelectric sensor 4 attached to the manufacturing line mechanism, and the additional device for accurately following the inspected object 2 were attached. The high-speed pulse signal 6 output from the rotary encoder 3 is input to the image visual inspection control personal computer 9. Therefore, a mode is set so that arithmetic processing is performed, an effective touch switch area whose position accurately corresponds to the image 27 of the inspection object is obtained on the touch panel 11 of the visual inspection inspection monitor 10, and the marker 26 is displayed. For, the marker 26 is displayed. Further, the image data is processed by the video board 18 of the image visual inspection control personal computer 9 and the image processing software so that scratches, contamination of foreign matters, defective packaging, etc. are clearly drawn and displayed on the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10. . Then, the inspector can perform the inspection at a place in another environment by looking at the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, an inspector can perform an inspection at a place of another environment without performing an inspection on the production line 1 at the actual site. When the inspector finds scratches, foreign matter, defective packaging, etc. by looking at the image visual inspection monitor 10 installed on a desk or the like, the abnormality confirmation mark display area 2 at the bottom of the monitor monitor area 23 on the screen 2
4, the effective touch switch area of the marker 26 according to claim 2 or the inspected image 27 according to claim 3 is pressed. Then, the abnormality recognition mark 25a appears on the marker 26 described in claim 2, and the abnormality recognition mark 25b appears on the abnormality confirmation mark display area 24 described in claim 3. By this operation, the manufacturing line 1 can perform processing such as rejecting defective products by mechanical processing.

It is also possible to prepare a plurality of image visual inspection monitoring monitors 10 and inspect the same inspected object image 27 by several inspectors. At this time, if there is an inspector who presses the marker 26 or the effective touch switch area of the image 27 of the inspection object and an inspector who does not press it for a certain defective product, an OR process is performed if only one of them is pressed. Alternatively, it is possible to perform an AND process in which all the members press it as a defective product, and a majority process in which more than half of them press it as a defective product.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system of the present invention. Basically, it is composed of the production line 1, the image visual inspection control personal computer 9 and the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10.

An inspection object 2 is placed on the manufacturing line 1 and moves on the line. A rotary encoder 3 is attached to the mechanical portion of the manufacturing line 1 as an additional device for accurately following the photoelectric sensor 4 and the inspection object 2. (If the line speed is slow or the distance between the inspection objects 2 is constant, it is not necessary to attach it.) Further, the CCD camera 5 is installed near the manufacturing line 1 and the inspection object 2 on the line is photographed. .

The personal computer 9 for visual image inspection control has an ON / OFF signal 7 from the photoelectric sensor 4, a high-speed pulse signal 6 from the rotary encoder 3, and a CCD camera 5.
The video signal 8 from is input. Further, as the option signal, the mechanical system controller signal 12 can be input and the reject signal 13 can be output.

The image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10 has its CR
A touch switch 11 is provided on the T monitor. The signal from the touch switch 11 is output as a switch signal 14 to the image visual inspection control personal computer 9. In addition, the video board 18 built in the personal computer 9 for image visual inspection control
The video signal 15 is input to display the image-processed image of the inspection object or the like.

Next, the operation of this system will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of the present invention. The image data of the inspection object 2 moving on the manufacturing line 1 captured by the CCD camera 5 is input as a video signal 8 to a video board 18 built in a personal computer 9 for image visual inspection control. Video board 18
Image processing software is used to perform image processing so that scratches, inclusion of foreign matter, defective packaging, etc., of the inspection object 2 are clearly drawn, and the video signal is output from the video board 18 again to the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10 as a video signal 15.

FIG. 4 is an example of a display screen with markers on the image visual inspection monitor of this system, and FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen without markers on the image visual inspection monitor of this system. The CRT monitor is divided into a monitoring monitor area 23 and an abnormality confirmation mark display area 24. An image 27 of the object to be inspected is displayed on the monitoring monitor area 23 by the video signal 18 subjected to the image processing described above.

In the example of the display screen with markers of the image visual inspection monitoring monitor of the present system in FIG. 4, the abnormality confirmation mark display area 24 of the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10 is
The marker 26 of the inspection object image 27 is displayed.
The inspector visually inspects the image visual inspection monitor 10 to inspect the projected image 27 of the object to be inspected for scratches or foreign matter.
When a packaging defect or the like is found, the effective touch switch area of this marker 26 is pressed with a finger. This operation information is sent as a switch signal 14 to the image visual inspection control personal computer 9, and an abnormality confirmation mark 25a appears on the marker 26.
On the personal computer 9 for visual image inspection control, this switch signal 1
In synchronization with 4, the reject signal 13 is output from the built-in digital input / output board 16. In response to this signal, processing such as discharging defective products on the line can be performed remotely by a mechanical device provided separately in the manufacturing line 1.

In the example of the display screen without markers of the image visual inspection monitoring monitor of the present system shown in FIG. 5, the abnormality confirmation mark display area 24 of the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10 includes:
Although the marker 26 of the inspection object image 27 is not displayed, the inspection object image 27 itself is an effective touch switch area, and the inspector uses this image visual inspection monitoring monitor 1.
When a visual inspection is performed at 0, and a flaw, foreign substance mixture, defective packaging, or the like is found in the projected image 27 of the object to be inspected, the image 27 of the object to be inspected is pressed with a finger. Then, the abnormality confirmation mark 25b indicating that the button has been pressed appears. The subsequent processing is the same as that described above.

Whether or not the marker 26 is displayed depends on the preference of the inspector and can be freely set by the image visual inspection control personal computer 9.

Next, a method of accurately obtaining the marker 26 and its effective touch switch area with respect to the moving speed will be described. In FIG. 2, the high-speed pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 3 is input to the high-speed counter board 17 built in the personal computer 9 for visual image inspection control. The number of pulses of this signal changes according to the line speed of the manufacturing line 1. Since the number of pulses output when the rotary encoder 3 makes one rotation is predetermined, the rotation angle of the rotary encoder 3 can be obtained by counting the number of pulses, and depending on that and the size of the manufacturing line 1, for visual image inspection control. A line speed is required by performing arithmetic processing on the personal computer 9. Further, the photoelectric sensor 3 is the inspection object 2
The presence / absence of light is optically detected and is input as an ON / OFF signal to the digital input / output board 16 built in the personal computer 9 for visual image inspection control. The position of the effective touch switch of the inspection object image 27 and the marker 26 or the inspection object image 27 and its moving speed (distance) are determined by this signal.

FIG. 3 is an example of a display screen of a personal computer for visual image inspection control of this system. ON from photoelectric sensor 4
By counting the total number of / OFF signals, the total count number is obtained. By counting the switch signal from the touch switch 11 provided in the visual inspection inspection monitor 10, the defective product count number is obtained, and the total count number is obtained. The difference between the defective product count and the defective product count is obtained as the good product count. These data are displayed in the data display area 19 to show / hide the marker 26 or display the color / display of the screen.
A mode such as black and white is displayed in the mode display area 20. In the alarm and operation message area 21, an alarm message is displayed when the inspection object 2 is not on the manufacturing line 1 for a certain period of time or when the line speed is abnormal (stopped), and the function key 22 functions. Display operation messages such as explanations and operating procedures. The function key 22 is set only in the initial stage, and normally it is not necessary to operate it.

In this manner, the visual inspection of the object 2 to be inspected moving on the production line 1 is performed by the inspector on the actual production line 1.
Alternatively, it can be performed by observing the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 9 on a desk or the like in a place of another environment.
This can reduce the fatigue and risk of the inspector. Further, since the inspection to the reject processing can be performed remotely, it is hygienic even when the inspection object 2 is a food, a medicine or the like.

It is also possible to prepare a plurality of image visual inspection monitoring monitors 9 and inspect the same inspected object 2 by several inspectors. At this time, the above-mentioned marker 2 for a certain defective product
6 or if there is an inspector who presses the effective touch switch area of the image 27 of the object to be inspected and an inspector who does not press it, an OR process determines that the product is defective if at least one of them is pressed, and an inferior product if all are pressed AND It is possible to carry out processing and a majority processing in which if more than half of the products are pressed, it is determined as a defective product. As a result, the variation due to the experience of the inspector and the difference in the judgment standard is reduced, and the yield of the inspection can be improved.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image visual inspection monitoring monitor 10 is used in the system for inspecting the inspection object 2 moving on the manufacturing line 1 for scratches, inclusion of foreign matters, defective packaging and the like. Therefore, the inspection can be performed even in an environment apart from the site. Visual inspection monitoring monitor 1
The inspected object image 27 displayed at 0 is an enlarged depiction of the inspected object 2. For this reason, the occurrence of fatigue and danger is reduced as compared with the case of in-situ inspection. In addition, if multiple monitors are prepared and the inspection is performed by a few people, the inspection accuracy is improved, and the yield and the work efficiency are improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a display screen of a personal computer for image visual inspection control of this system.

FIG. 4 is an example of a display screen with markers on an image visual inspection monitoring monitor of the present system.

FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen without markers on an image visual inspection monitoring monitor of the present system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Manufacturing line 2 Object to be inspected 3 Rotary encoder 4 Photoelectric sensor 5 CCD camera 6 High-speed pulse signal 7 ON / OFF signal 8 Video signal (from CCD camera) 9 Image visual inspection control personal computer 10 Image visual inspection monitoring monitor 11 Touch switch 12 Mechanical controller signal 13 Reject signal 14 Switch signal 15 Video signal (from video board) 16 Digital I / O board 17 High-speed counter board 18 Video board 19 Data display area 20 Mode display area 21 Alarm and operation message area 22 Function key 23 Surveillance monitor area 24 Abnormality confirmation mark display area 25a Abnormality confirmation mark 25b Abnormality confirmation mark 26 Marker 27 Inspected object image

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Image data obtained by photographing an object to be inspected (2) moving on a production line (1) with a CCD camera (5) and a photoelectric sensor (4) attached to a mechanism of the production line. Visual inspection of high-speed pulse signal (6) output from rotary encoder (3) mounted as an additional device for accurately following ON / OFF signal (7) output from inspection object (2) A computer for control (9) performs arithmetic processing, and an image visual inspection monitoring monitor (10)
The effective touch switch area corresponding to the image (27) of the object to be inspected is sought on the touch panel (11) of the inspector directly, and the inspector directly inspects the object (2) on the production line (1) with scratches, foreign substances, packaging defects. It is possible to reduce the fatigue and risk of the inspector by performing the inspection with the image visual inspection monitor (10) in a place of another environment without performing the inspection of the image. An operation method in which a plurality of inspection monitoring monitors (10) are prepared and inspection is performed by a plurality of inspectors to prevent defective products from being overlooked and to reduce variations in inspection due to differences in experience and judgment criteria of each inspector. A visual inspection support system characterized by improving inspection accuracy and improving quality. 2. The effective touch switch area of the touch switch (11) in the abnormality confirmation mark display area (24) provided below the inspected image (27) displayed on the image visual inspection monitor (10). The marker (2
6), and when a defective product is found, an abnormality confirmation mark (25a) is attached to the marker (26) by pressing the marker (26) immediately below the inspected image (27), and the mechanical system is displayed. The visual inspection support system according to claim 1, wherein processing is possible. 3. The image visual inspection monitor (10), the marker (26) is not displayed in the abnormality confirmation mark display area (24), and the inspection object image (27) itself is displayed on the touch switch (11). This is the effective touch switch area, and if a defective product is found, this inspection object image (2
By pressing 7), the error confirmation mark display area (2
The visual inspection support system according to claim 1, wherein an abnormality confirmation mark (25b) is displayed in 4) and mechanical processing can be performed.