JPS61167841A - Inspecting method of external surface of article - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the inspection efficiency by projecting light from a strobe, etc. momentarily when an object body reaches a specific image pickup position and storing image information in image pickup equipment, and reading the image information after the end of the next blanking signal. CONSTITUTION:Image pickup devices 4 and 5 and light sources (strobe, etc.) 6 and 7 are arranged in the middle of a conveyance path where the object body A is conveyed continuously, and position detecting means 8 and 9 which detect the object body A reaching the image pickup position are provided. When the object body A reaches the image pickup position, the position detecting means 8 and 9 operate to turn on the strobes 6 and 7 and a still picture is obtained by and stored in the image pickup devices 4 and 5. When the picture information is taken out, scanning is made after a vertical blanking signal is generated. Thus, the correct information is taken out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an outer surface inspection method for inspecting the outer surface Ms of small articles (hereinafter referred to as specimens) such as tablets and capsules that are continuously conveyed and the presence or absence of flaws. .

Conventional technology Conventionally, anchor agents, etc. are manufactured using a tablet press.

Intuitive judgment ability varies depending on physical condition and fatigue level.

The test base is not necessarily constant. For this reason, it is difficult to expect accurate and complete testing.

It is also inefficient and costly. As a means to improve this problem, a method of optical inspection using a TV camera or the like has been proposed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in this case, the migration speed of the specimen and the configuration of the travel line of the TV camera are unrelated. Therefore, the specimen reaches the photographing position facing the TV camera.

When the shutter of a TV camera momentarily opens to obtain a still image, it may overlap with the vertical retrace line, making accurate scanning impossible. For this reason, a method of synchronizing the transport speed and the TV camera can be considered, but controlling the 4m transport speed is complicated and difficult. Another method that can be considered is to perform the irradiation during the blanking time, but in this case there are problems such as the specimen moving out of the imaging position and one image being deviated from the fixed position of the camera.

The present inventor has previously proposed an inspection method that solves the above problems (see Tokusho Sho 1i11-111gil 1). This method uses a constantly illuminated light source for continuously transported specimens. irradiation, and when the specimen reaches a predetermined photographing position, the %TVTV camera shutter is opened to obtain a still image, this image is stored, and scanning is performed at a point shifted by one field from the field at the time of the shutter opening. It is.

The present invention relates to an improvement of this, and instead of obtaining a still image using mechanical means such as a shutter, it aims to increase the speed of rapid feed by capturing a still image one time using instantaneous irradiation such as a strobe light, and to increase the speed of scanning. The present invention for achieving the above object will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to FSII diagrams corresponding to the embodiments.

During the transport route of the specimen, which is continuously photographed.

A position detection means 8. includes an imaging device 4.6 and a light source 6.1, and detects when the subject reaches the photographing position.
11 are provided. Imaging device-1#I is 1 normal television camera or CCD camera, and light source 4.
．． Reference numeral 6 uses a lamp such as a strobe that emits light instantaneously (hereinafter simply referred to as a strobe).

As a result, when the person in charge reaches the photographing position, the position detecting means 8.9 operates, the strobe 6.1 emits light, and a still image is obtained on the photographing device 4.6.

And remember this.

When extracting image information, scanning is performed after a primary vertical feedback signal is emitted from the time when the strobe flashes at dawn, that is, from the time when a still image is obtained by the image pickup device.

When updating the working W image information, scanning is performed after the vertical feedback signal is issued, so correct information can be extracted without being affected by loss of information extraction due to the vertical blanking period. It is.

Embodiment FIG. 2 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an inspection machine for inspecting the outer surface of a mulch agent (hereinafter referred to as a specimen) sent out from a key press.The inspection machine 1 has no counterpart.

And adsorption drums installed adjacent to each other! , L, each suction drum has a recess for storing the specimen, and the specimen A is sucked and stored in this recess by a suction action. It is transferred to wealth upside down. Each suction drum 2
An imaging device (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera) 4.5 and a light source 6.1 are installed opposite each other in the field. It is designed to photograph the back side of a person. The camera 6 and the light source 6.1 each have the same structure, and one of the cameras 4 and the light source will be described below.

A TV camera or the like is used as the camera 4, but preferably a C
A camera consisting of a CD type solid-state image sensor is used. This CCD type camera is more convenient than a normal TV camera in storing and retrieving image signals.

The light source 6 is an instantaneous light projector such as a strobe (hereinafter simply referred to as a strobe), and when the subject reaches the photographing position facing the camera 4.1, the suction drum 4.
Equipped with position detection means 8.9 such as a sensor for detecting this,
When the subject reaches the photographing position, the strobe 6.1 is activated, causing the camera 4 or 6 to remain stationary at approximately the center position.
1 image a (m s image).

The camera 4 is equipped with a scanning time selector 1910, and the image signal of the camera 4 is taken out at a predetermined time as will be described later.

Next, we will explain the test procedure for the test subject.

When the suction drum rotates and the subject reaches the shooting position of camera 4, the first position is detected by vj! 1 is activated, the strobe is activated and light is emitted. As a result, a still image of fli fish containing the specimen is stored in the camera as shown in @l flash.

As is well known, the camera 4 forms an image using horizontal scanning lines, and the outline thereof is shown in Figure @3.

That is, the naval scanning line forms one frame E by the odd field 110 and the even field e, returns upward from the lower end point of the odd field O by the vertical retrace line d, starts (p% field C, and loops this back). When the above-mentioned vertical blanking signal is generated, the light is emitted, and when scanning is performed, the vertical blanking period rtrt <Usually 1 MINOS
Errors occur due to the influence of G ~140 (145).

The scanning timing selection means 10 is configured to issue a command to scan while avoiding vertical retrace rather than scanning immediately when light is emitted.
Figure @1 shows.

In the diagram! O is the activation signal from the position detection means 8,! The goose is in strobe lighting season! The goose indicates the scanning operation time.

Figure 1 11) is the strobe lighting time! When +1 is set in field O or e, and Ib), the strobe light is a vertical retrace signal (hereinafter referred to as vertical signal)! In both cases, scanning is performed in the field following the field in which the strobe emitted light. Figure 14 shows the timing error between the strobe light emission timing and the vertical signal. Some setting range type 5 degrees before and after 1! 6 and vertical signal in that range! When superposition occurs, scanning is performed from the first-order vertical signal.

Although the above description has been made regarding the method of inspecting the front side of the subject who is attracted to one of the suction drums 2, the same applies to the inspection of the back side of the subject who is attracted to the other suction drum.

Scanning starts from the end of the vertical signal following strobe light emission. However, in this case, the shadow period, that is, the strobe light emission period is set to 1.
This is done by shifting the fields. The outline is shown in Figure @1. However, S is for the front inspection camera A, IL is for the back inspection camera 5 side, suffix 2 is for the front inspection side, and suffix b is for the front inspection camera 5 side.
indicate the respective operating periods on the back side WItf side.

Although the above embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a fine transport means using a suction drum, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to most other transport means, for example, as long as the specimen is continuously transported. It can also be applied to turntables, belt conveyors, etc.

The procedure is the same as above, and the explanation will be omitted.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, when the specimen reaches a predetermined photographing position, light is emitted instantaneously using a strobe or the like and the image information is stored in the imaging device, so that the movement of the specimen is reduced. Even if the image changes, it is possible to follow this change and obtain image information without deviation, making it suitable for high-speed transport of specimens and improving inspection efficiency.

In addition, since the image information of the above-mentioned image pickup device is extracted from the end of the primary vertical retrace signal, it is not affected by loss of information extraction due to the single blanking period, and all information can be accurately grasped and inspected. This has the advantage of preventing mistakes from occurring.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a waveform diagram, and Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of photographing procedures. ＠Diagram II is an explanatory diagram of the imaging device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the inspection procedure, and FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram of another embodiment. 4.6 is r! & image machine, 6.1 is the light source, ! 3 is a vertical retrace signal, %2 is a still image. Patent originator Akebono Mutual Co., Ltd. and 1 other person

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) When a continuously transported specimen reaches a predetermined position, it is instantaneously irradiated with a strobe etc. using the position signal as a reference to form a still image on the imaging device, which is stored and used as a reference at the irradiation time. A method for inspecting the outer surface of an article, characterized by performing scanning from the end of the next vertical feedback signal and extracting image status information. (2) The outer surface of the article according to claim 1, wherein if there is a vertical feedback signal within a predetermined time period before and after the irradiation time, scanning is performed from the end of the next vertical feedback signal. Inspection method. (3) A method for inspecting the outer surface of an article according to claim 1, in which when the front and back surfaces of the specimen are respectively imaged by image pickup devices, the imaging time of each image pickup device is shifted by one field.