JPH1149287A - Device for inspecting cap floating - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deterioration in detective precision resulting from decrease of resolution. SOLUTION: After the image of a PET bottle A has been taken by a camera, a controller scans the inspection area α of the image data laterally to datect the end point P1 (the underfacre of the collar face Aa). And after a measuring line β separated from the end point P1 by a specified distance has been set, end points P2, P3 (the underface of the cap C) are detected by investigation of image elements along the measuring line β. And then 'P2-P3' is operated. In this way, after the distance between the underface of the cap C and the underface of the collar Aa has been calculated, judgment on cap floating is done bored on whether the calculated result is within an allowable range or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cap floating inspection device for determining the floating state of a cap.

[0002]

In FIG. 5, PET is used.
When the cap C is screwed (screwed) into the outer peripheral surface of the neck B of the bottle A in an inclined state, the amount of tightening of the cap C becomes insufficient, and the cap C floats with respect to the PET bottle A. become. Therefore, an image of the tightened state of the cap C is taken by a camera, and the floating state of the cap C is detected based on image processing of image data from the camera.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the processing contents of a cap floating inspection apparatus. Here, when capturing the image data from the camera, the inspection apparatus searches for the end point P of the cap C and sets a reference line α passing through the end point P. And
The inclination amount θ of the upper surface of the cap C with respect to the reference line α is detected, and when the inclination amount θ does not fall within the allowable range, it is determined that the cap is floating.

However, in the case of the above-described conventional configuration, since it is necessary to capture the entire image of the cap C, the resolution of the captured data deteriorates, and the detection accuracy decreases. In addition, since the floating state of the cap C is detected based on the end point P of the cap C, for example, when the upper surface of the cap C is not inclined and only the tightening amount is insufficient, the floating of the cap C is accurately performed. Can not be determined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the detection accuracy from deteriorating due to the reduction in resolution, and to accurately determine the floating state of the cap regardless of the state of the cap. An object of the present invention is to provide a cap floating inspection device that can be distinguished.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap floating inspection apparatus, wherein: an imaging means for imaging an attachment state of a cap to a bottle; It is characterized in that it comprises a measuring means for measuring the distance between the caps, and a judging means for judging the floating state of the cap based on comparing the measurement result from the measuring means with a reference value. .

According to the above means, when an image of the mounted state of the cap is taken, the distance between the flange portion of the bottle and the cap is measured based on the image data, and the cap is obtained based on a comparison between the measurement result and the reference value. Floating is determined. For this reason, it is only necessary to image a narrow area including a part of the cap and the flange, so that the resolution of the image data is increased and the detection accuracy of the cap floating is improved. Moreover, even when the upper surface of the cap is not inclined and only the tightening amount is insufficient, the floating of the cap can be accurately determined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap floating inspection apparatus.
Transport means for transporting the bottle to the image capturing means; bottle detecting means for detecting that the bottle has been transported to the image capturing means; and imaging by the image capturing means based on a bottle detection signal being output from the bottle detecting means. Signal output means for outputting a command signal.

According to the above means, when the bottle is conveyed to the imaging means and a bottle detection signal is output from the bottle detection means, an imaging command signal is output from the signal output means to the imaging means, and the imaging means is provided with a cap for the bottle. The wearing state of is imaged. For this reason, the floating state of the cap can be determined while transporting a plurality of bottles, so that the floating inspection of the cap is performed efficiently.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 2, a plurality of PET bottles A are set on conveyors D, D corresponding to the conveying means. When each conveyor D operates, the plurality of PET bottles A are moved in the depth direction of the paper (arrows in FIG. 3). (A direction).

As shown in FIG. 3, a frame 1 is provided on the floor so as to correspond to each conveyor D. Each of these frames 1 is composed of round pipes 1a and 1b extending vertically.
And two round pipes 1c for connecting between the round pipes 1a and 1b.
The lamp house 2 is mounted on the upper end of the lamp housing a. Each of the lamp houses 2 accommodates a planar lighting device 3 using a fluorescent lamp as a light source. When each of the lighting devices 3 emits light, white light is projected through the lamp house 2 to the tip of the PET bottle A. Is done.

A camera house 4 is mounted on the upper end of each round pipe 1b. In each of these camera houses 4, a reflection type photoelectric sensor 5 is stored.
When the PET bottle A enters the detection area of, the projection light from each photoelectric sensor 5 is reflected by the PET bottle A,
Light enters the photoelectric sensor 5. Thereby, each photoelectric sensor 5
Detects a PET bottle A and outputs a bottle detection signal. Incidentally, the photoelectric sensor 5 corresponds to a bottle detecting means.

On the floor, as shown in FIG.
Is installed. An operation box 7 is mounted on the upper end of the stand 6, and in the operation box 7, control devices 8, 8 are housed, as shown in FIG. Each of these control devices 8 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and a bottle detection signal from each photoelectric sensor 5 is input to the control device 8. The control device 8
Corresponds to measuring means, discriminating means, and signal output means.

As shown in FIG. 3, a camera 9 of a random shutter system is housed in each camera house 4. Each of these cameras 9 has a telecentric lens 9a
Each of the control devices 8 outputs an imaging command signal to the camera 9 when the photoelectric sensor 5 outputs a bottle detection signal. Then, each camera 9 is driven, and PET
After the transmitted light of the bottle A is imaged through the telecentric lens 9a, the imaged data is output to the control device 8.
Note that each camera 9 corresponds to an imaging unit, and
It is arranged so as to be substantially 90 ° sideways with respect to the T bottle A.

A cap floating inspection program is stored in the internal RAM of each control device 8, and each control device 8
When the image data from the camera 9 is captured, the image data is processed based on the inspection program, and the distance H from the lower surface of the cap C to the lower surface of the flange portion Aa (see FIG. 5).
Is measured, and the degree of floating of the cap C is determined based on the comparison of the measurement result H with the reference value.

In the operation box 7, as shown in FIG.
Monitors 10 and 10 are mounted, and each control device 8
Displays the image data from the camera 9, the cap floating inspection result, and the like on the monitor 10. FIG. 1A shows a screen of the monitor 10, in which a hatched portion (black pixels) is a data image of the PET bottle A and a white portion (white pixels) is a background image.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sub-pixel card 11 is selectively connected to each control device 8, and each control device 8 has a configuration in which the sub-pixel card 11 is connected. High-speed processing and sub-pixel processing (higher resolution) of imaging data.

A teach unit 13 is connected to both control devices 8 via a changeover switch 12. The teach unit 13 is composed of a plurality of operation keys. When the user operates the teach unit 13 after operating the changeover switch 12 to specify the control device 8, the control device 8 specified by the changeover switch 12 is activated. In accordance with the operation content of the teach unit 13, the “type No.”, “binary level”, “inspection range”, “number of end point recognition pixels”, “measurement line”, “judgment allowable value” and the like are set.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. <Confirmation of Settings Before Inspection> In performing the cap floating inspection, a PET bottle A is supplied into the imaging area of each camera 9 to perform an inspection, and the following items (1) to (3) are acquired. Adjust based on

(1) The binarization level is set so that the PET bottle A is displayed in black on the screen of the monitor 10 and the background is displayed in white (so that an image as shown in FIG. 1A is obtained). adjust. (2) The inspection range is adjusted so that the end points P1 and P2 fall within the inspection area α of FIG. (3) The left end of the measurement line β is located to the left of the end point P2,
The length of the measurement line β is adjusted so that the right end of the measurement line β is located to the right of the end point P3.

<Execution of Inspection> A start key (not shown) is mounted on the control box 7. When the start key is operated, an operation start command signal is output to each control device 8. Then, each control device 8 executes step S in FIG.
It is determined as "YES" in 1 and the process proceeds to step S2 to detect an output signal from the photoelectric sensor 5. Here, when the PET bottle A enters the detection area of the photoelectric sensor 5 and a bottle detection signal is output from the photoelectric sensor 5, step S2 is performed.
Is determined as "YES", and the process proceeds to step S3. Then, when an imaging command signal is output to the camera 9, PE
After the tip of the T bottle A is imaged, the image data from the camera 9 is captured, and the process proceeds to step S4.

When the control device 8 proceeds to step S4, in step S4a, the inspection area α of the imaging data is determined.
Is scanned in the horizontal direction to search for black pixels. Then, after storing the end point P1 in which the set number of black pixels is first detected in the work area (internal RAM), the process proceeds to step S4b. The number of black pixels serving as a search criterion for the end point P1 is:
This is set in accordance with the operation of the teach unit 13.

When the control device 8 proceeds to step S4b, the control device 8 sets the measurement line β at a position away from the end point P1 by a predetermined amount, and then proceeds to step S4c. Then, as the pixel is searched from the left end to the right end of the measurement line β, an end point P2 (= the lower surface of the flange portion Aa) at which the pixel changes from white to black is detected and stored in the work area. Next, the process proceeds to step S4d, where a pixel is searched from the right end to the left end of the measurement line β, and an end point P3 (= the lower surface of the cap C) at which the pixel changes from black to white is detected and the work area is detected. To memorize.

When each control device 8 detects the end point P3,
The process proceeds to step S4e, where the storage data P2 and P3 are subjected to arithmetic processing (P2-3), and the distance H between the lower surface of the cap C and the lower surface of the flange Aa (the floating amount of the cap C).
Is calculated. Then, the process shifts to step S4f to determine whether or not the calculation result H falls within an allowable range.
Note that the allowable range is stored in the internal RAM of the control device 8 in advance.

When each control device 8 determines that the calculation result H falls within the allowable range, it determines that the cap C has been properly screwed into the PET bottle A and ends the inspection processing.
Move to step S5. If it is determined that the calculation result H is not within the allowable range, the process shifts from step S4f to S4g. Then, a message indicating that the tightened state of the cap C is abnormal is displayed on the monitor 10 to notify the detection of the defective product, and then the process proceeds to step S5.

When proceeding to step S5, each control device 8 determines whether there is an operation stop command signal. Here, if there is no operation stop command signal, the determination is “NO” and the process returns to step S2. When the bottle detection signal from the photoelectric sensor 5 is detected, the above series of operations is repeated. When the operation stop command signal is detected, "YES" is determined in the step S5, and the process is terminated. The control box 7 is provided with a stop key (not shown), and an operation stop command signal is output in response to the operation of the stop key.

According to the above embodiment, the floating state of the cap C is determined based on the comparison of the distance H from the lower surface of the cap C to the lower surface of the flange Aa with the reference value. For this reason, since it is possible to cope only by imaging a narrow area including the lower portion of the cap C and the flange portion Aa, the resolution of the imaging data is increased, and the detection accuracy of the cap floating is improved. Moreover,
Even when the upper surface of the cap C is not inclined and only the tightening amount is insufficient, the degree of cap floating can be accurately determined.

Further, the photoelectric sensor 5 detects that the PET bottle A has been transported to the camera 9, and outputs an imaging command signal to the camera 9. For this reason, while the plurality of PET bottles A are being conveyed, the floating state of the cap C can be continuously determined, so that the cap floating inspection is efficiently performed.

In the above embodiment, the distance H between the lower surface of the cap C and the lower surface of the flange Aa is measured. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Measuring the distance between the upper surface of the portion Aa and the distance between the upper surface of the cap C and the upper surface of the flange portion Aa,
The distance between the upper surface of the cap C and the lower surface of the flange Aa may be measured. In short, the distance between the cap C and the flange Aa may be measured. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that the transmitted light of the PET bottle A is imaged by the camera 9, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Light may be projected onto the ET bottle A, and the light reflected by the PET bottle A may be imaged.

Further, in the above embodiment, when obtaining the image data of the PET bottle A, the camera 9
Although the bottle A is transported, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the camera 9 may be transported to the PET bottle A. In the above embodiment, PET was used as the bottle.
Although the bottle A has been illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a glass bottle. In this case, a bottle in which the cap C is pushed into the inner peripheral surface of the neck may be used.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by the cap floating inspection apparatus of the present invention. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the floating state of the cap is determined based on comparing the distance between the cap and the flange with the reference value, so that the detection accuracy of the floating of the cap is improved and the mounting state of the cap. The floating condition can be accurately determined regardless of the condition. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is detected that the bottle has been conveyed to the imaging means, and the imaging instruction signal is output to the imaging means. For this reason, the floating state of the cap can be determined while transporting a plurality of bottles, so that the floating inspection of the cap is performed efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (a is a diagram showing a captured image from a camera, and b and c are flowcharts showing the control contents of a control device)

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a camera house and a lamp house.

FIG. 4 shows an operation box.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a tip portion of a PET bottle.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional example and is equivalent to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

A is a PET bottle (bottle), Aa is a collar, C is a cap, D is a conveyor (conveying means), 5 is a photoelectric sensor (bottle detecting means), 8 is a control device (measuring means, discriminating means, signal output means). , 9 indicate a camera (imaging means).

Claims (2)

[Claims] An imaging unit that captures an image of a cap attached to a bottle; a measuring unit that measures a distance between a flange portion of the bottle and the cap based on imaging data from the imaging unit; And a determination unit for determining a floating state of the cap based on comparing a measurement result from the reference value with a reference value. 2. A transport unit for transporting a bottle to an imaging unit, a bottle detection unit for detecting that a bottle has been transported to the imaging unit, and a bottle detection signal output from the bottle detection unit. 2. A cap floating inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: signal output means for outputting an imaging command signal to said imaging means.