JPH11255217A - Method and apparatus for detecting existence of article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a highly accurate detection for existence of lightweight articles even though the percentage of moisture content fluctuates at every package material and to make the structure effectively simple. SOLUTION: A conveying mechanism 18 for conveying film packs 16, an automatic weighing machine 20 for detecting the weight of the film packs 16, a weight data storage part 36 for taking in the weight detected by the automatic weighing machine 20 as weight data, a mean value operating circuit 38 that calculates a mean value of the weight data when the weight data are acumulated in a specified number, a comparator circuit 44 that compares the weight of the film packs 16 conveyed newly with the mean value, taking the mean value as a reference value, and makes judgement for existence of articles in the film packs 16, and a thrusting mechanism 24 that thrusts the film packs 16 judged as defective out of the conveying mechanism 18 are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting the presence / absence of an article for judging the presence / absence of an article in a package integrally packed by a plurality of pieces.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, when a large number of small articles are shipped, these articles are accumulated in a plurality of units to form a small package, and then the small packages are accumulated in a plurality of units to produce a large package. Products and treats this large package as a unit. For example, when a large number of cartridges containing photographic film are to be shipped, the cartridges are housed in small boxes in a state of being loaded in a plastic case, and the small boxes are packaged in a pack of several to about 100. As a result, an assembly (film pack) is obtained. Furthermore, a large number of aggregates are accumulated and accommodated in a cardboard box, and each cardboard box is handled in a state of being stacked in a plurality of stages.

In this case, in the process of packing a photographic film in a small box or a cardboard box, the weight of the contents is measured online to check whether the contents are out of stock. Specifically, a photo film is weighed in units of several to 100 using an automatic weighing machine installed on the conveyor, and when the measured value is out of the range of a preset reference value, it is regarded as an abnormal product. Emission methods are commonly used.

A small box or a cardboard box used for packaging a photo film is a printed material using paper as a base material. A variation of about 2% occurs.
However, for example, in the case of an APS film taking 15 images, the film web 1 wound in the cartridge 1
While the weight of the book is 2.9 g, when the photographic film is weighed in units of 10, the weight variation of the packaging material is about 3 g. As a result, there is a problem that a missing piece of the film web cannot be accurately detected.

[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-209, a method of measuring the weight of each article constituting the packaged object and using the sum of the weights as a reference value (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Technique 1),
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-126029, a method for identifying a missing item or an excess or deficiency in weight of a boxed article by using a weighing signal measured first time as a reference value thereafter ( Hereinafter, the related art 2 is known.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art 1, a weighing device is required for each article constituting the packaged object, and the equipment becomes complicated and the equipment cost rises considerably. The problem has been pointed out. On the other hand, in the above-mentioned prior art 2, although effective as a method of correcting a weight difference due to the type of packaging material, the water content and the printing state, etc. generated for each packaging material of the same type of product that is continuously produced are considered. There is a problem that it is not possible to cope with the variation in weight due to the difference.

The present invention solves this kind of problem. Even if the moisture content varies for each packaging material, the presence or absence of a light article can be detected with high accuracy, and the structure is effectively improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of an article that can be simplified.

[0008]

According to the method and apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of an article according to the present invention, when an aggregate formed by integrally packaging a plurality of packages is transported along a transport path, By detecting the weight for each assembly, weight data is obtained sequentially. Next, the average value of the weight data of the predetermined number of aggregates is calculated, and the average value is used as a reference value to perform a comparison process on the weight of the newly transported aggregate to determine whether there is an article in the aggregate. A determination is made. Further, when the presence of an article in the aggregate is confirmed, the weight of the aggregate is taken in as weight data for the average value calculation, while when it is determined that there is no article in the aggregate, the aggregate is It is discharged from the transport path.

Here, when a predetermined number of weight data are taken, an average value of the predetermined number of weight data is calculated, and the calculated latest average value is updated as a reference value. Also, each time each weight data is taken in, the average value is calculated and the reference value is sequentially updated. As a result, even if the weight varies due to a change in the moisture content, printing state, or the like for each packaging material within the same lot, the variation in the weight does not affect the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of an article.

Therefore, the width from the reference value to the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the allowable range can be set narrow.
When a cartridge containing a photographic film is used as an article, the presence or absence of each light photographic film can be detected with high accuracy.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 10 for detecting the presence or absence of an article according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration.

The presence / absence detecting device 10 is a film formed by integrally packing a plurality of small boxes (packaged goods) 14 containing a cartridge 12 in which a photographic film as an article is wound, for example, 10 pieces at a time. Pack (aggregate) 16
A transport mechanism 18 that transports the film along a transport path in the direction of arrow A, an automatic weighing device (weight detection mechanism) 20 that is provided in the transport mechanism 18 and sequentially detects the weight of each film pack 16, Based on the weight data from the automatic weighing machine 20, the cartridge 12 in each film pack 16 is
And an extruding mechanism 24 for discharging the film pack 16 from the transport mechanism 18 when it is determined that there is no photo film in the film pack 16. And

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 1
Reference numeral 8 includes first to fifth conveyors 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 disposed from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the film pack 16 (the direction of arrow A). First to first
The third conveyors 26, 28, and 30 each have a single film pack 16 placed thereon and sequentially transported in the direction of arrow A, and the second conveyor 28 is placed on the automatic weighing machine 20. Fourth and fifth conveyors 32, 34
Can be transported in the direction of arrow A by arranging a plurality of film packs 16 at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic sorting control mechanism 22
The weight data storage unit 36 captures the weight of each film pack 16 detected by the automatic weighing machine 20 as weight data, and a predetermined number n, for example, 10 weight data is stored in the weight data storage unit 36. An average value calculating circuit 38 for calculating an average value of the predetermined number of weight data; and an average value obtained by the average value calculating circuit 38. An allowable upper / lower limit determining circuit 42 for determining a reference value by adding an allowable upper limit value and an allowable lower limit value to the average value; a reference value signal output from the allowable upper / lower limit determining circuit 42; Detected film pack 1
A comparison circuit 44 for comparing the weight of the cartridge 6 with the weight of the cartridge 6 and determining the presence or absence of the photo film in each cartridge 12.

When the comparison circuit 44 determines that the detected weight of the film pack 16 is within the reference value, the comparison circuit 44
While outputting an OK signal to the K display unit 46, if it is determined to be outside the reference value, it outputs an exclusion instruction signal to the pushing mechanism 24 and outputs a weight data deletion signal to the weight data storage unit 36.

The push-out mechanism 24 is disposed on the third conveyor 30 and pushes the film pack 16 in a direction intersecting the direction of arrow A to discharge the film pack 16 out of the conveying path. A pusher drive controller 50 that receives the exclusion instruction signal from the circuit 44 and drives the pusher 48;

The operation of the presence / absence detection device 10 thus configured will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 in relation to the presence / absence detection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the first to fifth conveyors 2 in which the film pack 16 constitutes the transport mechanism 18 are used.
The film packs 16 placed on the second conveyor 28 are sequentially weighed by the automatic weighing machine 20 while being sequentially conveyed in the direction of arrow A via 6, 28, 30, 32, and 34 ( Step ST1). The weight of each film pack 16 measured by the automatic scale 20 is
The weight data for calculating the average is stored in the weight data storage unit 36 (step ST2), and it is determined whether the number of the weight data has reached a predetermined number n, for example, 10 (step ST3).

If the weight data corresponds to the first to ninth film packs 16, step S
Proceeding to T4, it is compared with the last reference value calculated last time in the production of the same type. This reference value is stored in a memory (not shown) in advance. If the weight of the film pack 16 measured by the automatic weighing machine 20 is within the reference value (YES in step ST5), the process proceeds to step ST6, in which an OK display is displayed on the OK display section 46, and further, the film pack 16 ends. Is determined (step ST7).

On the other hand, if the weight of the film pack 16 measured by the automatic weighing machine 20 is outside the reference value (NO in step ST5), the process proceeds to step ST8, where a pusher drive signal and a weight data deletion signal are output. Is done. As shown in FIG. 1, the pusher drive signal is transmitted to the pusher drive controller 5.
When 0 is input, the pusher 48 is driven. For this reason, the film pack 16 weighed on the second conveyor 28 and determined to be defective is discharged from the third conveyor 30 via the pusher 48 to the outside of the transport path when the film pack 16 is transferred to the third conveyor 30. You. In the weight data storage unit 36, the weight data of the defective film pack 16 sent from the automatic weighing machine 20 is deleted.

After the above-described processing is performed on the tenth film pack 16, the process proceeds to step ST9 to proceed to step ST9.
The average value of the weight data of the film packs 16 is calculated, and this average value is updated as a reference value (step S).
T10). The average value is sent from the average value calculation circuit 38 to the allowable upper / lower limit determination circuit 42, and a predetermined swing value is set above and below the average value as a center value to obtain a reference value. Here, the upper limit is a value for judging whether or not foreign matter has entered, and the lower limit is a value for judging whether or not there is a photo film in one cartridge 12. .

The updated latest reference value is the eleventh reference value.
The weight is compared with the weight of the film pack 16 (step ST11), and the steps after step ST5 are performed similarly. After the twentieth film packs 16 have been subjected to the film presence / absence detection processing based on the updated reference value, the twenty-first to thirty-third film packs 16 have the eleventh to twentieth film packs. The presence or absence of the film is determined using the average value calculated based on the weight data measured from the film pack 16 up to the reference value as a reference value.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the reference value of the weight comparison is set using the weight data of the film pack 16 immediately adjacent to the film pack 16 transported via the transport mechanism 18. Next, the reference value is compared with the measured weight of the film pack 16 to be conveyed to detect missing parts in the film pack 16, and the weight data of the film pack 16 determined to be good is calculated as an average value. Is stored in the weight data storage unit 36 as the weight data for the data. Then, when a predetermined number n of good weight data is accumulated, for example, ten, the quality of the next ten film packs 16 is determined by using the average value of the ten weight data as a reference value. I have.

For this reason, even if the weight of the small box 14 is changed due to a change in the water content or the printing state of the small box 14 itself, which is a packaging material, in the same lot, the nearest 10 minutes to the film pack 16 to be measured. The film pack 1 based on the reference value obtained from the weight data of the film packs 16
By performing the pass / fail judgment of No. 6, the change in the weight of the small box 14 does not affect the accuracy of the pass / fail judgment.
Therefore, the width of the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the allowable range can be set narrower than the reference value, and shortage of lightweight articles such as one photographic film housed in the cartridge 12 can be easily and accurately selected. The effect that it becomes possible is obtained.

Further, the film packs 16 need only be weighed one by one by a single automatic weighing machine 20 on which the second conveyor 28 is placed. Thereby, there is an advantage that the configuration of the entirety of the presence / absence detection device 10 is effectively simplified, and a rise in equipment costs can be avoided.

Next, the presence / absence detection method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment, the automatic weighing machine 20
When the film pack 16 is weighed (step ST1a), the weight of the film pack 16 is accumulated as weight data (step ST2a).
The calculation of the average value is performed sequentially (step ST3a).
Next, a reference value is sequentially determined based on the calculated average value,
It is updated (step ST4a), and the reference value is compared with the weight of the film pack 16 detected by the automatic weighing machine 20 (step ST5a).

If the detected weight is within the reference value (YES in step ST6a), the process proceeds to step ST6.
7a and proceed to step ST8a. On the other hand, if the measured weight is outside the reference value (in step ST6a, N
O), the process proceeds to step ST9a, where a pusher drive signal and a weight data deletion signal are output.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the weight of each film pack 16 measured by the automatic weighing device 20 is input to the weight data storage unit 36 as weight data, and further transmitted to the average value calculation circuit 38. Then, the calculation of the average value is sequentially performed. Therefore, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained, for example, the reference value is updated for each film pack 16, and the quality judgment of the film pack 16 is performed with high accuracy.

[0030]

According to the method and the apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of an article according to the present invention, when an aggregate is transported along a transport path, the weight of each aggregate is detected and the weight of a predetermined number of aggregates is detected. The average value of the data is calculated, and the average value is compared with the weight of the newly transported aggregate using the average value as a reference value, thereby determining the presence or absence of an article in the aggregate. At that time, since the weight of the aggregate determined to be non-defective is taken in as weight data for the average value calculation, the aggregate to be transported is compared with a reference value based on the latest weight data, Even if the moisture content or the printing state changes for each packaging material within the same lot, the accuracy of the presence / absence determination of the article is not affected, and the presence / absence determination work can always be performed with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a presence / absence detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of a transport mechanism constituting the presence / absence detection device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a presence / absence detection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a presence / absence detection method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Presence detection device 12 ... Cartridge 14 ... Small box 16 ... Film pack 18 ... Transport mechanism 20 ... Automatic weighing device 22 ... Automatic sorting control mechanism 24 ... Extrusion mechanism 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 ... Conveyor 36 ... Weight data Accumulator 38 ... Average calculation circuit 40 ... Permissible swing width setting circuit 42 ... Permissible upper / lower limit determination circuit 44 ... Comparing circuit 48 ... Pusher 50 ... Pusher drive controller

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A step of transporting an aggregate formed by integrally packaging a plurality of packages each containing articles along a transport path, and determining the weight of the aggregate to be transported by each For each aggregate, sequentially detecting and obtaining as weight data; and, when a predetermined number of the aggregates are detected, calculating an average value of the weight data of the predetermined number of the aggregates, With the average value as a reference value, by performing a comparison process on the weight of the newly transported aggregate, a step of determining the presence or absence of an article in the aggregate, and the presence or absence of the article in the aggregate in the presence or absence determination Taking into account the weight of the aggregate as weight data for calculating the average value, and discharging the aggregate from the transport path when the presence / absence determination determines that there is no article in the aggregate; And a step of: Whether or not the detection method of the goods. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined number of said weight data are taken, an average value of said predetermined number of weight data is calculated; Updating a value as the reference value. 3. The presence / absence detection of an article according to claim 1, further comprising a step of calculating the average value each time each weight data is taken in and sequentially updating the reference value. Detection method. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said article is a cartridge containing a photographic film. 5. A transport mechanism for transporting, along a transport path, an aggregate formed by integrally packaging a plurality of packaged articles each containing an article, the transport mechanism being provided in the transport path, A weight detection mechanism for sequentially detecting the weight of the body for each aggregate, and a weight data storage unit that captures the weight of the aggregate detected by the weight detection mechanism as weight data for calculating an average value. When a predetermined number of the weight data is stored in the weight data storage unit, an average value calculation circuit that calculates an average value of the predetermined number of weight data, and a set that is newly conveyed using the average value as a reference value. A determination circuit that performs a comparison process on the weight of the body to determine the presence / absence of an article in the aggregate, and that removes weight data of the aggregate determined as having no article from the weight data storage unit; In the circuit When it is determined that there is no article in the serial aggregate, presence detection device of the article, characterized in that it comprises a pushing mechanism for discharging the aggregate from the conveying path, the. 6. An article according to claim 5, further comprising an allowable swing width setting circuit for setting an allowable upper limit value and an allowable lower limit value to the average value calculated by said arithmetic circuit. Presence detection device. 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said article is a cartridge containing a photographic film.