JPH0979986A - Device for aligning flat article, device for carrying flat article, and device for visually inspecting flat article using them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for aligning and a device for carrying a flat article and a device for visual inspection for distinguishing the flat article which is carried at a speed at a constant speed or less immediately after restarting the devices for re-inspection by preventing the shaving, crack, and cut-out of such flat articles as solid formulas and the peeling of surface coating. SOLUTION: When the amount of a flat article in the hopper of an aligning device 110 goes below a lower limit, a vibration guide 114 and a feeder 104 are driven and the flat article is replenished. When it exceeds an upper limit, they are stopped, thus constantly maintaining the amount of flat article and at the same time preventing unneeded vibration. Also, when the device stops during the appearance inspection of the flat article, a nonconforming article eliminating device 190 is stopped until a constant speed is reached after reactivation, the carrying direction of a horizontal carrying belt 211 is switched to a first direction 211a, and the flat article being carried during that period is carried to the aligning device 110 for re-inspection.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aligning device for aligning flat articles such as solid preparations in a predetermined direction, a transporting device capable of transporting flat articles in a plurality of different directions according to conditions, and those. The present invention relates to a flat article appearance inspection apparatus used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional flat article aligning apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a hopper 11 for temporarily storing the flat article 1 supplied from a bucket lift or the like, and a guide plate 1 for forming a plurality of guide grooves provided at the bottom of the hopper 11.
2, the vibration guides 13 provided on the guide plate 12 every other one, the vibration plate 14 for holding the vibration guides 13, and the motor for vibrating the vibration guides 13 via the vibration plates 14. It is composed of 15 etc. Guide plate 1
A plurality of 2 are provided at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and the space between each guide plate 12 serves as a guide groove. Further, since the guide plate 12 is fixed by penetrating the vibrating plate 14, no vibration is transmitted to the guide plate 12. Further, the end surfaces of the guide plate 12 and the vibration guide 13 are formed in a knife edge shape so that the flat article can be easily aligned with the guide groove.

A conventional flat article aligning apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
Is configured to align the flat article 1 such as a solid preparation such that the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical. That is, the width of the guide groove (gap between the guide plates 12)
Is set to be narrower than the maximum width of the flat article 1 and wider than the minimum width of the cross section substantially orthogonal to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area by a predetermined tolerance. The conveying drum 20 provided so as to face the flat article aligning device 10 also stores and conveys the flat article 1 in the pocket 21 in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical. A brush roller 16 for removing excess flat articles is provided above the transport drum 20.

On the other hand, in a flat article appearance inspection apparatus (not shown) described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 6-294176 (unpublished at the time of this application), for example, a conventional flat article alignment apparatus 10 shown in FIG. The side surface of the flat article is inspected by using the conveying drum 20 and an image pickup device facing the side surface of the conveying drum 20, and the posture is changed so that the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area becomes substantially horizontal. Both planes that are substantially parallel to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area are inspected. Flat goods,
As a conveying device that conveys a surface that is substantially parallel to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area, a conveying drum that rotates around a horizontal axis, a slat that is horizontally conveyed, and the like can be considered. Here, in the side surface inspection of the flat article, it is necessary to rotate the flat article at least one round or more in front of the imaging device, and thus the operation of the transport drum 20 is intermittent. On the other hand, in the two-plane inspection of flat articles, the operation is continuous because it is necessary to keep the speed of the transfer drum and the transfer slat constant.

[0005]

In the conventional flat article aligning apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the flat article 1 in the portion above the vibration guide 13 and the guide plate 12 of the hopper 11 is in a random state. To align with the guide groove,
Vibration is constantly applied to the vibration guide 13. However, when the flat article is, for example, an uncoated tablet (tablet as it is taken out from the tableting machine: also called a plain tablet), the tablet surface is scraped, cracked or chipped due to constant vibration in the hopper 11. Cause Further, in the case of a sugar-coated tablet whose surface is coated, the surface coat is peeled off. Furthermore, when this flat article aligning device is used in a flat article appearance inspection device,
It is said that tablet powder etc. generated by vibration adheres to the lens of the image pickup device and a correct image cannot be obtained, or it adheres to the pocket etc. of the conveyance drum, which hinders the delivery of flat articles between the conveyance devices such as the conveyance drum. I had a problem. In addition, it takes time to clean these lenses and pockets, and there is a problem that the maintainability is poor.

Generally, a flat article appearance inspection apparatus conveys a large amount of flat articles in a short time to perform an appearance inspection.
A large number of pockets are provided on the conveying drum, the conveying slats, and the like. Therefore, the mass of the transport drum or the transport slat becomes large, and it takes a certain period of time from when the apparatus is started until a predetermined steady speed is reached. However, if the device stops during the visual inspection of flat items due to trouble such as power failure or erroneous operation, restarting the device in that state will cause the flat items to move until the transport speed of the transport drum reaches a steady speed. Since the speed is slower than the steady speed, for example, the image captured by the imaging device should originally be circular (normal) as shown in FIG. 8A, but should be in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 8B. It becomes an ellipse (abnormal) that extends to. Therefore, although these flat articles were originally normal, they were judged to be abnormal and were disposed of as defective articles. In addition, the larger the transport drum and the like, the longer the time required to reach the steady speed, and the number of flat articles transported during that time increases dramatically. In particular, when the object to be inspected is an expensive drug, the loss in the inspection process cannot be ignored in terms of cost. On the other hand, after restarting, it is also possible to return what is determined to be abnormal to the hopper and to inspect again. However, there is no guarantee that re-inspection will always re-detect what is truly defective in appearance, and even if the probability is low, it is not permissible to mix in a good product once removed as a defective product.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the conventional examples as described above, and the flat articles are arranged in a predetermined direction without applying vibration except when necessary, and the flat articles are An object of the present invention is to provide a flat article aligning device capable of reducing the occurrence of scraping, cracking, chipping, peeling of a surface coat, etc. to a minimum. Further, when the apparatus is restarted after an abnormal stop due to a trouble or the like, the conveyance direction of the flat article is switched until the steady speed is reached, and the flat article conveyed during that time and the flat article conveyed after the steady speed is reached. An object of the present invention is to provide a transporting device for distinguishable flat articles. Further, by using these flat article aligning device and transporting device, it is possible to reduce the adhesion of the powder to the image pickup device and the like, the maintenance is easy, and the inspection accuracy is improved by a normal image, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a flat article appearance inspection apparatus capable of re-inspecting a flat article conveyed until a steady speed is reached after restarting.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a flat article aligning apparatus of the present invention is provided with a hopper having an opening at the top for loading a flat article, and the vicinity of the opening of the hopper. In almost the entire area except for, narrower than the maximum width of the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article,
A plurality of guide plates arranged in parallel in a substantially horizontal direction at a predetermined interval wider than a minimum width of a cross section substantially orthogonal to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area, and the opening of the hopper. A vibration sensor provided in the upper part of at least a part of the guide plate in the vicinity of the portion, and a level sensor provided so as to penetrate each of the guide plates in a substantially horizontal direction, and a gap between the guide plates. The vibration applied to the vibration guide when the height of the flat article aligned below is lower than the lower limit of the level sensor, and the vibration applied to the vibration guide when the height of the flat article exceeds the upper limit of the level sensor. It is configured to stop.

In the above structure, the level sensor is
Two through holes provided at different height positions for each of the guide plates, and the two through holes on the side of the hopper.
It is preferable to provide an optical sensor including two sets of a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided at a position facing one through hole. Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferable to provide a flat article supply device that is activated and stopped in association with the vibration of the vibration guide near the upper portion of the opening of the hopper. Further, in the above configuration, below the guide plates, arranged so as to face the guide grooves formed between the guide plates, a width substantially equal to the interval between the guide plates and a maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article. It is preferable to provide a conveying drum having a pocket having a length longer than the maximum width of the cross section by a predetermined tolerance and rotating about an axis substantially parallel to the arrangement direction of the guide plates. Further, in the above structure, the number of the guide plates arranged is an odd number of 3 or more, and an even number of 4 or more guide grooves is configured with both side walls of the hopper, and the vibration guide is a guide facing a side wall of the hopper. It is preferable that every other plate is provided in order from the top of the plate. Further, in the above configuration, the height and shape of the guide plate not provided with the vibration guide may be substantially equal to the height and shape of the guide plate provided with the vibration guide and the vibration guide on the guide plate. preferable. Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferable that end portions of the guide plate and the vibration guide that face the opening of the hopper be inclined in a knife-edge shape.

On the other hand, the flat article transporting apparatus of the present invention comprises a horizontal transport belt movable in both directions, a first position on the horizontal transport belt, and a second position spaced from the first position by a predetermined distance. At the position, the shutter is selectively provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt, and the flat article is transported in the horizontal transport between the first position and the second position. When supplied on a belt and the shutter is in the first position, the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the first position side toward the second position side, and the shutter is moved to the second position. At one time, the horizontal transport belt is configured to be transported from the second position side toward the first position side.

In the above structure, it is preferable that the shutter is a plate-like member that slides on the horizontal conveyor belt in the conveying direction between the first position and the second position. Further, in the above configuration, when the shutter moves from the first position to the second position, the horizontal conveyor belt is moved from the first position side to the second position for a predetermined time.
Is conveyed toward the position of the
It is preferable that the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the second position side toward the first position side for a predetermined time when moving from the position to the first position.

Alternatively, another flat article conveying apparatus of the present invention is a horizontal conveying belt that is movable in both directions, a first position near one of the first end portions on the horizontal conveying belt, and the first position. And a shutter selectively provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt at a second position away from the first position to the other second end side by a predetermined distance. The article is fed onto the horizontal conveyor belt between the first position and the second position, and when the shutter is in the first position, the horizontal conveyor belt is from the first position side to the first position side. Transported toward the second position,
The horizontal transport belt is configured to be transported from the second position side toward the first position side when the shutter is at the second position.

In the above structure, it is preferable that the shutter is a plate-like member that slides on the horizontal conveyor belt in the conveying direction between the first position and the second position. Further, in the above configuration, when the shutter moves from the first position to the second position, the horizontal conveyor belt is moved from the first position side to the second position for a predetermined time.
It is preferable to convey the sheet toward the position.

Further, the flat article appearance inspection apparatus of the present invention is arranged by the aligning apparatus and the aligning apparatus for aligning the randomly inserted flat articles so that the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical. The flat article is conveyed in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, and during the conveyance, the flat article is rotated at least one or more revolutions about an axis perpendicular to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area, and the side surface therebetween. A side surface inspection device for observing the flat article, a posture conversion device for converting the flat article from a state in which a cross section having a maximum cross sectional area is substantially vertical to a state in which a cross section having a maximum cross sectional area is substantially horizontal, and the flat article A plane inspection apparatus that conveys a cross section having a cross section in a substantially horizontal state, and observes both planes substantially parallel to the cross section having the maximum cross section of the flat article during the conveyance,
A defective article removing device for removing a flat article in which an abnormality is detected on at least one of the side surface and both planes, and a carrying device capable of carrying the flat article passing through the defective article inspection device in two different directions. In the case where at least the flat surface inspection device is stopped during the appearance inspection of the flat article, the defective product removing device is stopped until the flat surface inspection device reaches a steady speed after the flat surface inspection device is restarted. , The conveyance device is switched to the first direction, the flat article conveyed during that time is conveyed to the alignment device for re-inspection, and the defective product is removed after the plane inspection device reaches the steady speed. The apparatus is restarted, the transfer device is switched to the second direction, and the non-defective product that has passed through the defective product removing device is transferred to the next step.

In the above configuration, the aligning device is preferably a flat article aligning device having any one of the above configurations. Further, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the transportation device is a transportation device for a flat article having any one of the above configurations. Further, in the above configuration, it is preferable that a bucket lift is provided between an end portion of the transport device on the first direction side and the alignment device. Further, in the above configuration, it is preferable that a flat article supply device for supplying flat articles to the alignment device is connected to the bucket lift. Further, in the above configuration, at least the side surface inspection device, the posture conversion device, the flat surface inspection device, and the defective product removal device each include a transport drum that rotates around a horizontal axis, and a rotation shaft of each of the transport drums. Are preferably arranged on the same vertical line.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, details of a flat article aligning apparatus, a conveying apparatus, and a visual inspection apparatus using the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2
Is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a flat article appearance inspection apparatus,
FIG. 1 shows a state where the device is operating at a steady speed, and FIG. 2 shows a state when the device is operating at a speed that does not reach the steady speed immediately after the device is stopped and then restarted.

In the flat article appearance inspection apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bucket lift 102 for vertically conveying a bucket 101 accommodating a flat article is provided at a side portion of a housing 100. . Housing 1
The upper part of 00 is provided with a chute 103 which is connected to the upper part of the bucket lift 102 and into which flat articles are loaded from the bucket 101. The feeder 10 is provided inside the housing 100 and below the chute 103.
4 are provided. The flat article loaded through the chute 103 is supplied from the lower end 103a of the chute 103 to the one end 104a of the feeder 104, and is conveyed in a substantially horizontal direction. The other end 104b of the feeder 104
An aligning device 110 is provided below. By controlling the start and stop of the feeder 104, the supply amount of flat articles to the aligning device 110 is controlled.

As will be described later in detail, the aligning device 110 is for aligning the flat articles randomly fed from the feeder 104 so that the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical. Below the aligning device 110, a first transport drum 120 that intermittently rotates around a horizontal shaft 121 is provided. First transport drum 12
0 receives the flat article from the aligning device 110 in a state where the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, stores the flat article in the state as it is, and conveys it. A brush roller 122 for removing excess flat articles is provided between the alignment device 110 and the first transport drum 120. Further, the first imaging device 130 is provided so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the first transport drum 120. The inside of the first imaging device 130 has a dark box shape, and is provided with a camera 131, a lighting device 132, and the like. The pocket (not shown) of the first transport drum 120 is the first imaging device 130.
When stopped at a position opposite to, the flat article accommodated in the pocket is rotated at least one revolution around an axis (horizontal axis) perpendicular to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area. In the meantime, the first imaging device 130 captures an image of the side surface of the flat article, and determines the quality of the side surface. The first conveyance drum 120 and the first imaging device 130 constitute a side surface inspection device for flat articles. It is assumed that the flat article is a tablet or the like in which the cross-sectional shape having the maximum cross-sectional area is circular and the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to it is substantially rectangular or substantially elliptical.

Below the first transport drum 120, a posture conversion device 140 that continuously rotates around a horizontal shaft 141.
Is provided. The posture changing device 140 changes the posture of the flat article received from the first conveying drum 120 in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross section is substantially vertical such that the cross section having the maximum cross section becomes substantially horizontal. It is a thing.
In the posture changing device 140, the flat article received in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical is projected from the pocket, and the inclined guide wall is provided so as to face the outer peripheral portion of the conveying drum of the posture changing device 140. (Not shown)
The flat article which is projected is brought into contact with the flat article, and the flat article is overturned so that the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially horizontal (or substantially parallel to the horizontal axis 141).

Below the posture changing device 140, the horizontal axis 1
Second transport drum 150 that continuously rotates around 51
Is provided. The second conveying drum 150 receives the flat article received from the posture changing device 140 in a state in which the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially horizontal, that is, the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area with respect to the horizontal axis 151. It is held and conveyed by negative pressure in a substantially parallel state. The second imaging device 160 is provided so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the second transport drum 150. Second imaging device 160
The inside of the box has a dark box shape, and the camera 161 and the lighting device 16
2, 163 and the like are provided. Second imaging device 160
Captures an image of the first surface (for example, the front surface) of the flat article held on the second transport drum 150 that continuously rotates. When the rotation speed of the second transport drum 150 is a steady speed, the data captured by the second imaging device 160 is reproduced, as shown in FIG. 8A.

Below the second transport drum 150, the third transport drum 1 which continuously rotates around a horizontal shaft 171.
70 are provided. The third transport drum 170 is substantially the same as the second transport drum 150, and holds the flat article by negative pressure in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis 171. , Carry. However, the rotation direction of the third transport drum 170 is opposite to the rotation direction of the second transport drum 150. When the flat article is transferred from the second transport drum 150 to the third transport drum 170, the front and back of the flat article are inverted, and the second surface (back surface) of the flat article appears. The third imaging device 180 is provided so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the third transport drum 170. The inside of the third imaging device 180 has a dark box shape,
A camera 181, illumination devices 182, 183, etc. are provided. The third imaging device 180 captures an image of the second surface (back surface) of the flat article held on the continuously rotating third transport drum 170. When the rotation speed of the third transport drum 170 is a steady speed, the third imaging device 180
When the data captured by is reproduced, it becomes as shown in FIG. 8A, as in the case of the second imaging device 160. The second transport drum 150 and the second imaging device 1
60, the third transport drum 170, and the third imaging device 18
0 constitutes a plane inspection device.

Below the third conveying drum 170, a defective product removing device 19 which continuously rotates around a horizontal shaft 191.
0 is provided. The defective product removing device 190 has a side surface,
By injecting compressed air to a flat article in which at least one of the first surface and the second surface has a defect, the defective flat article is blown into the defective product collection box 200 and removed. Below the defective product removing device 190, the carrying device 21 is provided.
0 is provided. The transport device 210 is a horizontal transport belt 2 that can transport flat articles in any of the horizontal directions.
11 and the first end portion 211a on the horizontal conveyor belt 211.
A first position in the vicinity and a second end 2 of the other from the first position
A shutter 212 that slides between the second position 11b and a second position separated by a predetermined distance is provided. Horizontal conveyor belt 21
The first end portion 211a of No. 1 is connected to the re-inspection chute 213, and the re-inspection chute 213 lowers the flat article dropped from the first end portion 211a of the horizontal transport belt 211 to the lowest position of the bucket lift 102 shown in FIG. Position bucket 101
Transport to. On the other hand, below the second end of the horizontal conveyor belt 211, in order to convey a flat article, which is a non-defective product whose defects are not found on at least any of the side surface, the first surface, and the second surface, to the next step. Container 220 is provided. Further, on the opposite side of the re-inspection chute 213 at the lowest position of the bucket 101 of the bucket lift 102, for example, a supply chute 105 for transferring the flat article conveyed from another device such as a tableting machine to the bucket 101. Is provided.

In the case of the operating state at the steady speed shown in FIG.
The shutter 212 of the transport device 210 is at a first position near the first end portion 211a of the horizontal transport belt 211,
The flat article falling from the defective article removing device 190 between the first position and the second position on the horizontal transport belt 211 may be dropped from the first end portion 211a of the horizontal transport belt 211 to the re-inspection chute 213. To prevent. At this time, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is driven to convey the flat article from left to right in the figure, that is, from the first position side to the second position side. On the other hand, in the operation state at a speed equal to or lower than the steady speed immediately after the restart shown in FIG. 2, the shutter 212 of the transport device 210 has the second end portion 2 a predetermined distance from the first position.
The defective product removing device 1 is located at the second position 11b away from the defective product removing device 1.
The flat article that has not been inspected and falls from 90 between the first position and the second position on the horizontal conveyance belt 211 is closer to the second end portion 211b than the shutter 212, that is, the flat article that has been inspected is conveyed. It prevents it from being mixed into the side where it is received. At this time, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is driven to convey the flat article from right to left in the figure, that is, from the second position side to the first position side.

Next, the flat article aligning apparatus 110 of the present invention.
Will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the aligning device 110, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an aligned state of flat articles. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hopper 111 of the aligner 110 is shown.
Is the end portion 104 of the feeder 104 shown in FIGS.
It has an opening portion 111a facing the b side and receiving the flat article supplied from the feeder 104. Hopper 1
Inside the 11, a plurality of guide plates 112 and 113 are provided at predetermined intervals in parallel with each other in a substantially horizontal direction and alternately in almost the entire area in the height direction and the width direction of the hopper 111 except for the vicinity of the opening 111a. Has been. Here, the width of the guide groove 115, that is, the distance between the guide plates 112 and 113 is narrower than the maximum width of the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article, and is substantially orthogonal to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area. It is set wider than the minimum width of the cross section by a predetermined tolerance. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in the guide groove 115, the flat articles 1 are aligned only in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area, that is, the circular cross section is substantially vertical.

The guide plate 112 and the guide plate 113 are slightly different in shape, and the end surface 112a of the guide plate 112 facing the opening 111a is a substantially flat surface, and the vibration guide 114 is provided above the end surface 112a with a predetermined gap. ing. An end surface 114a facing the opening 111a of the vibration guide 114
Is sharp with a generally knife-edge shape. On the other hand, the guide plate 1
The end surface 113a of the 13 facing the opening 111a is sharp like a knife edge like the vibration guide 114. Further, the end faces 112b and 113b of the guide plates 112 and 113 in the substantially vertical direction are also sharpened in a substantially knife edge shape. Therefore, the upper portion of the guide groove 115 is substantially funnel-shaped, and the flat article 1 can easily fall into the guide groove 115. In addition, the opening 111a of the guide plate 113
The height of the end surface 113a facing the end surface 112a of the guide plate 112 is opposite to the height of the end surface 112a of the guide plate 112 and the end surface 114a of the vibration guide 114 above the end surface 114a.
Is almost equal to the height of. Therefore, the flat article supplied from the opening 111a in the upper portion of the hopper 111 has a guide groove 115 formed between the guide plates 112 and 113.
Evenly distributed.

The number of arrangement of the guide plates 112 and 113 is an odd number of 3 or more (for example, 7 in FIG. 3), and the hopper 11
4 and even (8 in FIG. 3) guide grooves 115 are formed together with both side walls of 1. Further, the vibration guide 114 has a guide plate 112 facing the side wall 111b of the hopper 111.
Since the guide grooves 115 are provided on both sides of each vibration guide 114, the flat articles can be effectively dropped into the guide grooves 115 with the smallest number. The vibration guides 114 provided on the upper portion of every other guide plate 112 are fixed to the vibration plate 116 in a cantilever manner. The diaphragm 116 is supported independently of the hopper 111 and is connected to a motor 119 that generates vibration. That is, the vibrating plate 116 and the vibration guide 114 are vibrated integrally, and the hopper 111 and the guide plates 112 and 113 are not vibrated.

Each guide plate 112, 113 and hopper 1
The side wall 111b of 11 is provided with through holes 117a and 117b at two positions having different heights.
Further, outside the side wall 111b of the hopper 111, optical sensors 118a and 118 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided so as to face the through holes 117a and 117b, respectively.
b is provided. The light output from the light emitting element provided on one side wall 111b side of the hopper 111 penetrates all the through holes 117a or 117b and enters the light receiving element provided on the other side wall 111b side. Therefore, when the height of the flat articles aligned in all the guide grooves 115 exceeds the upper limit or falls below the lower limit,
The optical sensor 118a or 118b is activated. When the height of the flat article aligned in all the guide grooves 115 is below the lower limit of the level sensor 118b, the motor 119 is driven,
Vibration is applied to the vibration guide 114. In addition, the height of the flat article aligned in all the guide grooves 115 is determined by the level sensor 1.
When the upper limit of 18a is exceeded, the motor 119 is stopped and the vibration applied to the vibration guide 114 is stopped.

The first conveying drum 120 provided below the aligning device 110 has pockets 123 arranged so as to face the respective guide grooves 115. Each pocket 123 has a width approximately equal to the distance between the guide plates 112 and 113 and a length longer than the maximum width of the cross section of the flat article 1 having the maximum cross sectional area by a predetermined tolerance. for that reason,
As shown in FIG. 4, the flat article aligned in the guide groove 115 can be stored in the pocket 123 in a state as it is, that is, in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, and conveyed as it is. it can.

Next, the flat article conveying apparatus 210 of the present invention.
Will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the configuration of the transfer device 210, respectively. FIG. 5 corresponds to the operation state at the steady speed shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 shows the steady speed immediately after restart shown in FIG. It corresponds to the operating condition at the following speeds.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is provided such that the vicinity of the first end portion 211a thereof is located below the defective product removing device 190.
A cover 215 having an opening 215a is provided between the defective product removing device 190 and the horizontal transport belt 211. Note that the defective product collection box 200 is omitted in FIGS. 5 and 6. An air cylinder 214 is fixed to the cover 215, and the expansion and contraction of the air cylinder 214 causes the shutter 212 to move to the first position shown in FIG. 5 and the second position shown in FIG.
Slide to and from the position. The shutter 212 is a plate-shaped body provided so as to be substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt 211. The opening 215a has a first position and a second position.
Between the positions of the flat article 1 and the horizontal conveyor belt 211.
It is provided between an upper first position and a second position.

In the operation state at the steady speed shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 212 is the first end 2 of the horizontal conveyor belt 211.
At the first position near 11a, the defective product removing device 19
Flat article 1 supplied onto the horizontal conveyor belt 211 from 0
Is blocked by the shutter 212 and the first end 211a
Do not fall from the side. At this time, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is driven from the first end portion 211a side (or the first position side) to the second end portion 211b side (or the second position side) as shown by an arrow A in the figure. Then, all the flat articles 1 on the horizontal transport belt 211 drop from the second end 211b side. on the other hand,
In the operating state at a speed equal to or lower than the steady speed immediately after the restart shown in FIG. 6, the shutter 212 is at the second position that closes the opening 215b on the second end 211b side of the cover 215, and the shutter 212 is removed from the defective product removing device 190. The flat article 1 supplied onto the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is blocked by the shutter 212 and does not spill to the outside of the cover 215. At this time, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure to the second end portion 211.
The horizontal conveyor belt 21 is driven from the b side (or the second position side) to the first end portion 211a side (or the first position side).
All the flat articles 1 on 1 drop from the first end portion 211a side.

Next, the operations of the flat article aligning apparatus, the conveying apparatus, and the visual inspection apparatus using them, which are configured as described above, will be described. When each device is operated at a constant speed as shown in FIG. 1, a bucket 10 full of flat articles is provided.
1 is lifted to the uppermost position by the bucket lift 102 and supplies the flat article to the feeder 104 via the chute 103. The feeder 104 is driven in conjunction with the vibration guide 114 of the alignment device 110 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and supplies flat articles from the opening 111a of the hopper 111 of the alignment device 110 when the vibration guide 114 is vibrated. .

In the aligning device 110 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the flat article supplied to the hopper 111 falls into the guide groove 115 due to the vibration of the vibration guide 114 so that the cross section having the maximum cross sectional area becomes substantially vertical. Are aligned to. When the height of the flat article aligned in all the guide grooves exceeds the upper limit of the level sensor 118a, the vibration of the vibration guide 114 is stopped and the feeder 104 is stopped at the same time.
On the other hand, when the height of the flat article aligned in all the guide grooves 115 falls below the lower limit of the level sensor 118b, the vibration guide 114 is vibrated again and the feeder 104 is restarted. By repeating these operations, the guide groove 11
The height (quantity) of the flat articles arranged in 5 is kept within a certain range. As a result, the hopper 11 of the aligner 110 is
No more flat article is fed into the inside of 1 and the possibility of forming a bridge on the upper part of the vibration guide 114 is extremely low. Further, since the bridge is not formed, the flat article is uniformly supplied to each guide groove 115, and the occurrence of pocket omission (a phenomenon in which the flat article is not stored in the pocket) in the first transport drum 120 hardly occurs. . Further, since the vibration guide 114 does not vibrate except when necessary, the flat article is not vibrated more than necessary, and the flat article is hardly scraped, cracked, chipped, or peeled off the coat.

The side surface inspection device and the posture conversion device 14 which are composed of the first transport drum 120 and the first image pickup device 130.
0, second and third transport drums 150, 170 and second
And the flat article that has reached the defective product removing apparatus 190 through the plane inspection apparatus including the third image pickup apparatuses 160 and 180 has an abnormality in at least one of the side surface, the first surface, and the second surface. Is judged as a defective product, and a defective product collection box 2
Collected at 00. The flat article in which no abnormality is found on any of the side surface, the first surface, and the second surface is a conveying device 210.
On the horizontal conveyor belt 211 of the horizontal conveyor belt 2
11 is conveyed toward the second end portion 211b and is collected in the container 220.

On the other hand, when the appearance inspection device for flat articles, particularly the second and third conveying drums 150 and 170 constituting the flat inspection device are stopped and then restarted due to a power failure or erroneous operation, etc., as shown in FIG. Then, the bucket 101 is lowered. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6, the air cylinder 21
4 is driven to move the shutter 212 to the second position. At this time, all the flat articles 1 on the horizontal conveyor belt 211 are non-defective articles that have passed through the defective article removing apparatus 190. Therefore, all the flat articles 1 in the cover 215 are pushed out of the cover 215 by the shutter 212, and the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is kept for a certain time (the horizontal conveyor belt 2).
The time required for all the flat articles 1 on 11 to fall from the second end portion 211b into the container 220) The first end portion 2
It drives from the 11a side to the 2nd end part 211b side. As a result, all the good products on the horizontal transport belt 211 are collected in the container 220.

After the restart of each device, the flat articles falling on the horizontal conveyor belt 211 before the steady speed is reached are the ones whose appearance inspection has been discontinued halfway, or
The plane inspection device, in particular the second and third conveying drums 15
Since the speed of 0,170 is slow, it may be judged to be abnormal although it is originally normal. Therefore, during that time, the defective product removing device 190 is stopped and the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is driven from the second end portion 211b side to the first end portion 211a side. As a result, after the apparatus is restarted, the flat article is not subjected to the visual inspection until the steady speed is reached, and the flat article is subjected to the bucket from the first end portion 211a side of the horizontal transport belt 211 via the re-inspection chute 213. Recovered at 101. When each device reaches the steady speed, the air cylinder 214 is driven to drive the shutter 21.
2 is returned to the first position, the defective product collecting device 190 is restarted, and the bucket 101 is raised. Further, the uninspected flat article is re-inspected through the operation shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the horizontal conveyor belt 2
11, the first end portion 211a thereof is a defective product removing device 19
Although it is configured to be positioned below 0, the present invention is not limited to this, and the defective product removing device 190 can be provided so as to face any part of the horizontal transport belt 211, and the same effect can be obtained. In this case, in order to collect all the flat articles 1 remaining on the conveyor belt 211, the shutter 2
When 12 moves from the first position to the second position, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is conveyed from the first position side to the second position side for a predetermined time. Similarly, the shutter 212
Moves from the second position to the first position, the horizontal conveyor belt 211 is conveyed from the second position side toward the first position side for a predetermined time. Further, it is needless to say that the flat article aligning apparatus and the conveying apparatus of the present invention can be used not only as a visual inspection apparatus but also as other apparatuses such as a printing apparatus and a PTP (press through package) packaging apparatus.

[0038]

As described above, the apparatus for aligning flat articles according to the present invention has a hopper having an opening for inserting the flat article in the upper portion, and the flat article in almost the entire area except the vicinity of the opening of the hopper. Are narrower than the maximum width of the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area, and are wider than the minimum width of the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area by a predetermined tolerance, and are arranged in parallel in a substantially horizontal direction. A plurality of guide plates, a vibration guide provided in the upper part of at least a part of the guide plate in the vicinity of the opening of the hopper, and a level sensor provided so as to penetrate each guide plate in a substantially horizontal direction. When the height of the flat article aligned in the gap between the guide plates falls below the lower limit of the level sensor, vibration is applied to the vibration guide, and when the height of the flat article exceeds the upper limit of the level sensor, the vibration guide The vibration added to is configured to stop.

Therefore, when the number of flat articles aligned in the guide grooves formed between the guide plates decreases, the level sensor detects the state and vibrates the vibration guide. The flat article supplied to the opening of the hopper is vibrated by the vibration guide and falls into the guide groove. At this time,
The interval between the guide plates, that is, the width of the guide groove is smaller than the maximum width of the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article, and is a predetermined width smaller than the minimum width of the cross section substantially orthogonal to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area. Since the difference is wide, the flat article is aligned in the guide groove such that the cross section having the largest cross-sectional area is not substantially horizontal, but the cross-section having the largest cross-sectional area is substantially vertical.

When the flat article is aligned with the guide groove and its height exceeds the upper limit of the level sensor, the vibration applied to the vibration guide is stopped. Therefore, the flat article remaining in the upper portion of the vibration guide without entering the guide groove is not further subjected to vibration, and the flat article is hardly scraped, cracked, chipped, or peeled off the coat.

Further, the level sensor is provided with two through holes provided at different height positions for each of the guide plates, and two sets of the level sensors provided at positions facing the two through holes on the side of the hopper. Since it is configured to include an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, the number (or height) of flat articles aligned in the guide groove can be detected without contact, and a mechanical level sensor or the like can be used. It is possible to prevent the flat article from being cracked or chipped.

Further, by providing a flat article supply device which is started and stopped in association with the vibration of the vibration guide in the vicinity of the upper portion of the opening of the hopper, it is possible to intermittently supply the flat article. Flat articles hardly remain on the upper part of the vibration guide in the hopper. As a result, due to the excessive supply of the flat article, the flat article does not form a bridge at the upper portion of the vibration guide, and the flat article can be uniformly aligned in each guide groove.

Below the guide plates, the maximum width of the cross section having a width substantially equal to the interval between the guide plates arranged to face the guide grooves formed between the guide plates and the maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article. The flat article aligned in the guide groove is kept as it is by providing the conveying drum which has a pocket having a length longer than the predetermined tolerance by rotating about an axis substantially parallel to the arrangement direction of the guide plates. Status,
That is, the flat article can be delivered to the transport drum in a state where the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, and can be transported as it is.

Further, the number of guide plates arranged is an odd number of 3 or more, and even numbered guide grooves of 4 or more are formed with both side walls of the hopper, and one vibration guide is arranged in order from the upper part of the guide plate facing the side wall of the hopper. By providing the vibration guides at intervals, the vibration guides can be arranged at the centers of the two guide grooves adjacent to each other. Therefore, the flat article can be effectively dropped into the guide groove with the smallest number of vibration guides. Further, by making the height and shape of the guide plate not provided with the vibration guide substantially equal to the combined height and shape of the guide plate provided with the vibration guide and the vibration guide on the guide plate, It is possible to uniformly supply flat articles. Further, by sloping the end face portion of the guide plate and the vibration guide facing the opening of the hopper into a knife edge shape, the upper portion of the guide groove becomes substantially funnel-shaped, which facilitates falling and direction control of flat articles. .

On the other hand, the flat article carrying apparatus of the present invention comprises a horizontal carrying belt which is movable in both directions and a second position which is a predetermined distance from the first position and the first position on the horizontal carrying belt.
The shutter is selectively provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt at the position (4), and the flat article is supplied onto the horizontal transport belt between the first position and the second position. When the shutter is at the first position, the horizontal transport belt is transported from the first position side toward the second position side, and when the shutter is at the second position, the horizontal transport belt is at the second position. It is configured to be conveyed from the position side toward the first position side. Therefore, when the shutter is at the first position, the flat article supplied between the first position and the second position is not transported by the shutter to the outside in the transport direction from the first position. Instead, all are transported from the end on the second position side to another device or the like. Similarly, when the shutter is in the second position, the flat articles supplied between the first position and the second position are all conveyed from the end on the first position side to another device or the like. It By connecting the end portion on the first position side and the end portion on the second position side of the horizontal conveying device to different devices, flat articles conveyed from the same device are different according to conditions. Can be selectively transported to.

Further, by forming the shutter as a plate-like member which slides on the horizontal conveyor belt between the first position and the second position in the conveying direction, the shutter is moved from the first position to the second position.
The flat article on the horizontal conveyor belt between the first position and the second position when moving to the position of vice versa or vice versa, either the first position or the second position as seen from the shutter. Is extruded to the side of. Therefore, the flat articles supplied before and after the shutter movement does not mix.

When the shutter moves from the first position to the second position, the horizontal conveyor belt is moved to the first position for a predetermined time.
When the shutter moves from the second position side to the second position side and the shutter moves from the second position to the first position, the horizontal conveyance belt moves from the second position side to the first position side for a predetermined time. By conveying toward the conveyor belt, all flat articles remaining on the conveyor belt can be collected. for that reason,
Even if a flat article is newly supplied onto the horizontal conveyor belt and the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed in the opposite direction, the flat article remaining on the horizontal conveyor belt does not get caught in the shutter, and the No scraping, cracking, chipping, peeling of coat, etc. due to collision.

On the other hand, the flat article conveying apparatus of the present invention comprises a horizontal conveying belt which is movable in both directions, and a first position and a first position in the vicinity of one first end of the horizontal conveying belt. The flat article is provided with a shutter selectively provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt at a second position separated from the other second end by a predetermined distance. When the shutter is in the first position, the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the first position side toward the second position side, and the shutter is supplied on the horizontal conveyor belt between the position and the second position. Is in the second position, the horizontal transport belt is configured to be transported from the second position side toward the first position side. Therefore, when the shutter is at the first position, the flat article supplied between the first position and the second position does not fall from the first end side by the shutter, and the flat article is entirely at the second position. Is conveyed from the end side to another device or the like. On the other hand, when the shutter is in the second position,
The flat articles supplied between the first position and the second position are all conveyed from the first end side to another device or the like. By connecting the first end side and the second end side of the horizontal transfer device to different devices, flat articles conveyed from the same device can be selectively transferred to different devices according to conditions. Can be transported. In particular, since the first position is provided near one end of the horizontal conveyor belt, it is possible to effectively use the conveyor stroke (conveyance stroke) of the horizontal conveyor belt. Etc. can be provided.

Further, the shutter is a plate-like member that slides on the horizontal conveyor belt in the conveying direction between the first position and the second position, so that the shutter is moved from the first position to the second position.
The flat article on the horizontal conveyor belt between the first position and the second position when moving to the position of vice versa or vice versa, either the first position or the second position as seen from the shutter. Is extruded to the side of. Therefore, the flat articles supplied before and after the shutter movement does not mix. In particular, the first
Is provided near one end of the horizontal transport belt, so that when moving the shutter from the second position to the first position, the flat article between the first position and the second position is , And then falls from the first end to another device.

When the shutter moves from the first position to the second position, the horizontal conveyor belt is moved to the first position for a predetermined time.
By transporting from the position side to the second position side, it is possible to collect all the flat articles remaining on the transport belt on the second end side of the shutter. Therefore, flat articles are newly supplied on the horizontal conveyor belt,
Even if the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed in the opposite direction, the flat articles remaining on the horizontal conveyor belt will not be caught in the shutter, and will not be scraped, cracked, chipped, or peeled off the coat due to the collision with the shutter. Does not occur. Particularly, since the first position is provided in the vicinity of one end of the horizontal conveyor belt, when the shutter is moved from the second position to the first position, it is located between the first position and the second position. One flat article is
Since it falls from the first end to another device as it is, the control becomes simple.

Further, the flat article appearance inspection apparatus of the present invention comprises an aligning apparatus for aligning randomly inserted flat articles so that the cross-section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, and the flat article aligned by the aligning apparatus. The article is transported in a state where the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, and during transportation, the flat article is rotated at least one revolution around an axis perpendicular to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area, and the side surface is observed during the rotation. A side surface inspection device, a posture conversion device for converting a flat article from a state in which a cross section having a maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical to a state in which a cross section having a maximum cross-sectional area is substantially horizontal, and a cross-section having a flat article with a maximum cross-sectional area And a flat surface inspection apparatus for observing both planes substantially parallel to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article during conveyance, and at least one of the side surface and both planes.
A defective article removing device that removes a flat article in which one abnormality is detected, and a transport device that can transport the flat article that has passed through the defective article inspection device in two different directions, and at least during the appearance inspection of the flat article. When the flatness inspection apparatus is stopped, the defective product removing apparatus is stopped until the flatness inspection apparatus reaches a steady speed after the flatness inspection apparatus is restarted, and the conveyance apparatus is set to the first position.
Direction, the flat articles conveyed during that time are conveyed to the aligning apparatus for re-inspection, and after the plane inspection apparatus reaches the steady speed, the defective article removing apparatus is restarted and the conveying apparatus is moved to the second position. It is configured so that the non-defective product that has passed through the defective product removing device is transferred to the next step.

Therefore, when the apparatus or at least the plane inspection apparatus is stopped due to a power failure or an erroneous operation during the appearance inspection, the appearance inspection is not actually performed until the speed of the plane inspection apparatus reaches the steady speed after restart. The flat articles conveyed in the meantime are returned to the aligning apparatus for re-inspection via the conveying apparatus. Therefore, what is originally normal will not be mistakenly judged as a defective product due to the low transport speed of the apparatus, and the loss in the inspection process can be reduced. Further, since the defective product removing device is stopped during this period, there is no possibility that the defective product already determined to be defective will be mixed in the re-inspected product.

Further, by using the aligning device for aligning the flat article having any one of the above-mentioned configurations, the flat article is not subjected to unnecessary vibration, and the flat article is not scraped, cracked, chipped, peeled off the coat, or the like. It hardly happens. Therefore, the powder or the like due to the abrasion of the flat article is extremely rarely attached to the lens or the like of the imaging device used in the appearance inspection apparatus for the flat article, and the erroneous determination due to the dirt of the lens hardly occurs.

Further, by using the transporting device as the transporting device for flat articles having any of the above-mentioned configurations, the flat articles sent to the transporting device after passing through the defective product removing device are already transferred before the device is stopped. It is possible to distinguish between flat articles that have undergone a visual inspection and flat articles that require re-inspection because the apparatus stops during the visual inspection, and can be selectively conveyed to different apparatuses.

Further, by providing a bucket lift between the end portion of the conveying device on the first direction side and the aligning device, the aligning device, the side surface inspecting device, the posture converting device, which constitutes the appearance inspecting device of the flat article, The flat surface inspection device, the defective product removing device, and the carrying device can be arranged in the vertical direction. Therefore, the size of the device in the horizontal direction is reduced, and the space for installing the device in a clean room or the like can be saved.
In addition, the action of gravity can be utilized for the delivery of the flat article between the devices, which simplifies the configuration of the device and improves the reliability of the delivery operation.

Further, by connecting the flat article supply device for supplying the flat article to the aligning device to the bucket lift, one bucket lift is supplied with the flat article in the normal operation and the re-inspection is performed after the apparatus is stopped. Can also be used for the same, and the configuration of the appearance inspection device for flat articles can be simplified.

At least the side surface inspection device, the posture conversion device, the flat surface inspection device, and the defective product removal device each include a conveying drum that rotates around a horizontal axis, and the rotation axes of the respective conveying drums are on the same vertical line. By arranging them, the delivery of the flat article between the devices is performed between the lowermost part and the uppermost part of each device, which simplifies the structure of the device and improves the certainty of the delivery operation. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a flat article appearance inspection apparatus of the present invention in a state of being operated at a steady speed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a flat article appearance inspection device of the present invention in a state of being operated at a speed equal to or lower than a steady speed immediately after restarting.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a flat article aligning device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an aligned state of flat articles in the flat article aligning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a flat article transporting device of the present invention in an operating state at a steady speed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a flat article transporting device of the present invention in a state of being operated at a speed equal to or lower than a steady speed immediately after restarting.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing an aligned state of flat articles in a conventional flat article arranging apparatus.

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an image captured by the imaging device when the transport speed of the transport drum or the like is a steady speed;
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an image captured by the imaging device when the transport speed of the transport drum or the like is equal to or lower than the steady speed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Flat article 100: Housing 101: Bucket 102: Bucket lift 103: Chute 104: Feeder 105: Supply chute 110: Alignment device 111: Hopper 111a: Opening 111b: Side wall 112: Guide plate 113: Guide plate 114: Vibration guide 115: Guide groove 116: Vibration plate 117a: Through hole 117b: Through hole 118a: Level sensor 118b: Level sensor 119: Motor 120: First conveying drum 121: Horizontal shaft 122: Brush roller 123: Pocket 130: First Imaging device 131: Camera 132: Illumination device 140: Posture conversion device 141: Horizontal axis 150: Second transport drum 151: Horizontal axis 160: Second imaging device 161, Camera 162: Illumination device 163: Illumination device 1 0: 3rd conveyance drum 171: Horizontal axis 180: 3rd imaging device 181: Camera 182: Illumination device 183: Illumination device 190: Defective product removal device 191: Horizontal axis 200: Defective product collection box 210: Conveyor device 211 : Horizontal conveyor belt 211a: First end portion 211b: Second end portion 212: Shutter 213: Re-inspection chute 214: Air cylinder 215: Cover 215a: Opening 220: Container

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Taguchi 3-1-48 Kashiwaza, Ageo-shi, Saitama Park 1-1006 Park Ageo (72) Inventor Shin-ichi Ito 4-72 Sohara Kiyosumicho, Kakamigahara-shi, Gifu Fumiyasu Kojima 3-13-201 Suga, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A flattened article having a maximum cross-sectional area of 1) a hopper having an opening through which a flat article is loaded, and 2) an entire area of the hopper except for the vicinity of the opening of the hopper. A plurality of guides arranged in parallel in a substantially horizontal direction at a predetermined interval narrower than the maximum width of the cross section and wider than the minimum width of the cross section substantially orthogonal to the cross section having the maximum cross sectional area by a predetermined tolerance. A plate, 3) a vibration guide provided on the upper part of at least a part of the guide plate in the vicinity of the opening of the hopper, and 4) a level sensor provided through the guide plates in a substantially horizontal direction. And the height of the flat article aligned in the gap between the guide plates is below the lower limit of the level sensor, vibration is applied to the vibration guide, and the height of the flat article is the upper limit of the level sensor. A flat article aligning device for stopping the vibration applied to the vibration guide when the flat article is exceeded. 2. The level sensor is provided at two through holes provided at different height positions on each of the guide plates, and at a position facing the two through holes on a side portion of the hopper. The flat article aligning device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor including two sets of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. 3. The flat article aligning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flat article supply device provided near the upper portion of the opening of the hopper, the flat article feeding apparatus being started and stopped in association with the vibration of the vibration guide. 4. The guide plate is arranged below the guide plates so as to face the guide grooves formed between the guide plates, and has a width substantially equal to an interval between the guide plates and a maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article. 4. A transport drum having a pocket having a length longer than a maximum width of a cross section by a predetermined tolerance and rotating about an axis substantially parallel to the arrangement direction of the guide plates. An apparatus for aligning flat articles according to item 1. 5. The number of arrayed guide plates is an odd number of 3 or more, and an even number of 4 or more guide grooves is formed with both side walls of the hopper, and the vibration guide is a guide plate facing a side wall of the hopper. The flat article aligning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the flat article aligning apparatus is provided in order from the top of the sheet. 6. The height and shape of the guide plate not provided with the vibration guide are substantially the same as the height and shape of the guide plate provided with the vibration guide and the vibration guide on the guide plate. 7. The flat article aligning device according to any one of 1 to 5. 7. The flat article aligning device according to claim 1, wherein end portions of the guide plate and the vibration guide that face the opening of the hopper are inclined like a knife edge. 8. A horizontal conveyor belt movable in both directions,
Shutters selectively provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt at a first position on the horizontal transport belt and a second position separated from the first position by a predetermined distance. The flat article is provided on the horizontal transport belt between the first position and the second position, and when the shutter is at the first position, the horizontal transport belt is moved to the first position. When the shutter is in the second position, the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the second position side toward the first position side. Flat article transport device. 9. The apparatus for transporting flat articles according to claim 8, wherein the shutter is a plate-like member that slides on the horizontal transport belt in the transport direction between the first position and the second position. . 10. The horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the first position side toward the second position side for a predetermined time when the shutter moves from the first position to the second position. 10. The horizontal transport belt is transported from the second position side toward the first position side for a predetermined time when the shutter moves from the second position to the first position. Flat article transport device. 11. A bidirectionally movable horizontal conveyor belt, a first position near one first end of the horizontal conveyor belt, and a second end side of the other from the first position. And a shutter selectively provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the horizontal transport belt at a second position separated by a predetermined distance from the first position to the second position. When the shutter is in the first position, the horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the first position side toward the second position side, The flat article transporting device, wherein the horizontal transport belt is transported from the second position side toward the first position side when the shutter is at the second position. 12. The apparatus for transporting flat articles according to claim 11, wherein the shutter is a plate-like body that slides on the horizontal transport belt in the transport direction between the first position and the second position. . 13. The horizontal conveyor belt is conveyed from the first position side toward the second position side for a predetermined time when the shutter moves from the first position to the second position. The flat article transporting device according to claim 12. 14. An aligning device for aligning randomly inserted flat articles such that a cross section having a maximum cross-sectional area is substantially vertical, and a flat article aligned by the aligning apparatus has a cross-section having a maximum cross-sectional area. A side surface inspection apparatus that conveys the flat article in a vertical state, rotates the flat article at least one revolution about an axis perpendicular to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area during the transportation, and observes a side surface during the rotation, and the flat article. A posture changing device for converting a state having a maximum cross-sectional area from a substantially vertical state into a state in which a cross-section having a maximum cross-sectional area becomes substantially horizontal, and a state in which the flat article has a cross-section having a maximum cross-sectional area substantially horizontal. Plane inspection apparatus for observing both planes substantially parallel to the cross section having the maximum cross-sectional area of the flat article during conveyance, and a flat plane in which an abnormality is detected in at least one of the side surface and both planes. A defective product removing device for removing articles,
The flat article passing through the defective article inspection apparatus is provided with a conveyance device capable of conveying the flat article in two different directions, and at least when the plane inspection apparatus stops during the appearance inspection of the flat article, the flat article inspection apparatus is re-activated. After the start-up, the defective product removing device is stopped until the flatness inspection device reaches a steady speed, the conveying device is switched to the first direction, and the flat article conveyed during the period is re-inspected. After being conveyed to the aligning device and the plane inspection device has reached the steady speed,
A flat article appearance inspection apparatus for restarting the defective product removing device, switching the carrying device to a second direction, and carrying a good product that has passed through the defective product removing device to the next step. 15. The flat article aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aligning apparatus is the flat article aligning apparatus.
Appearance inspection device for the flat article described. 16. The conveyance device for a flat article according to claim 8, wherein the conveyance device is a conveyance device for a flat article.
4. A flat article appearance inspection apparatus according to 4 or 15. 17. The appearance inspection apparatus for a flat article according to claim 14, wherein a bucket lift is provided between an end portion of the transfer device on the first direction side and the alignment device. . 18. The flat article appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a flat article supply device for supplying flat articles to the aligning device is connected to the bucket lift. 19. At least the side surface inspection device, the posture conversion device, the flat surface inspection device, and the defective product removal device each include a conveyance drum that rotates around a horizontal axis, and the rotation axis of each of the conveyance drums is The flat article appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the apparatus is arranged on the same vertical line.