JPS62192638A - Inspecting method for colored capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically inspect a colored capsule by a black-and-white image device by comparing the difference in level value between video signals of a TV camera corresponding to specific areas no both sides of the capsule to be inspected with a specific set value, and deciding whether or not the capsule is normal. CONSTITUTION:While a video signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal are inputted to a front area peak holding circuit 1 and a rear area peak holding circuit 2 in parallel, a front area prescribing signal is inputted to the circuit 1 and a rear area prescribing signal is inputted to the circuit 2. Then, peak-held values of the areas on every horizontal scan are outputted from the circuits 1 and 2 to a differentiator 3, which outputs their difference. This difference value is inputted to comparators 4 and 5, so that only the difference value smaller than an upper threshold value is outputted as a level-H signal from only the comparator 4 and the difference value larger than a lower threshold value is outputted from the comparator 5. Then in case the outputs of the comparators 4 and 5 are both H, an AND circuit 6 outputs H and this permissible value signal is inputted to a counter 7 together with a vertical synchronizing signal and a clock signal and the output of the counter 7 is compared 8, in case the result is positive, a conforming article decision signal is outputted.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field to which the invention pertains]

This invention compares the color combination of the body and cap of a capsule, particularly a colored pharmaceutical capsule, with a standard color combination by photoelectric imaging based on the brightness of each color and its image processing, and determines whether it is the same or different from the standard. This invention relates to an inspection method for determining whether it is good or bad.

[Prior art and its problems]

First, we will explain related matters and background circumstances regarding the colored cap inspection method. First, we will discuss capsule testing in general. Generally, empty capsules are filled with drugs at pharmaceutical companies, and after visual inspection, the products are shipped. Capsule defects mainly occur during the manufacturing process at empty capsule manufacturing companies and during the drug filling process at pharmaceutical companies. There are several dozen types of appearance defects that occur during the production of empty capsules, but their occurrence rate is extremely small. However, due to the nature of the product, all items are visually inspected by female workers in order to remove items with poor appearance. In addition, female workers visually inspect all empty capsules after filling them with drugs. This is when more defects are discovered. This is because excessive force is applied when filling the capsule body with the drug and attaching the cap. Since the capsule is cylindrical, the female worker visually inspects it while mechanically rotating it. Therefore, the eyes are easily fatigued, and some items are extremely difficult to detect depending on the content of the defect. Many of the defects that occur at pharmaceutical companies, that is, those that occur when filling empty capsules with drugs, are "hangnails",
It is a "dent". A "hangnail" is a condition in which when the capsule body and the cap are connected, the end surfaces of the openings of the two parts touch each other, causing one of them to break and enter either the outside or the inside of the other. Also, a ``dent'' literally means that a portion of the tip, such as the tip, is depressed. In addition to this, appearance defects include ``cracks'': cracks that have formed, ``holes'': where there is a hole and the filling material has blown out, and ``foreign objects (oil, dirt, etc.) on the surface of the cover. There are things that are attached, ``double caps'': those with a camp attached to the body side, ``heterogeneous capsules'': capsules with different numbers and colors, etc. One of the technical problems of automatic visual inspection is the lighting problem. By using good lighting techniques, surface imperfections can be highlighted in a way that makes them easier to detect. Conversely, if the lighting is inappropriate, defects in appearance may become invisible. Colored capsules among the above-mentioned "different types of capsules", that is, those other than the subject matter of this invention, have almost been technically solved. Next, colored capsules will be explained. Approximately 40 standard colors are used around the world for pharmaceutical capsules, and there are capsules with the same body and cap colors, and capsules with different colors, such as two-tone capsules. At the same time, a company name code or product code number may be printed on the surface. The purpose of using colored capsules is to facilitate identification and increase the commercial value of the formulation. Of course, the use of dyes other than those permitted by law is prohibited. Now, in order to automatically inspect the color combination of the capsule, if an image is taken with a color TV camera and the image is processed based on the video signal, it is accurate and in a sense it is an hour wheel. However, there are practical problems in terms of the economy and operability of the equipment. Therefore, based on the method of capturing an image with a black and white TV camera and processing the image based on the video signal, brightness among the three color attributes (tone, brightness, and saturation) is used as a substitute for color identification. Attempts have been made to consider □ as quality. In this case, attention is focused on the cap opening end, which is the boundary between the colors of the body and the cap, and "hangnails" or chips may occur at this cap opening end as other defects. Since the above-mentioned "hangnail J" is related to the inspection of color combinations, next, "hangnail" and an illumination method suitable for this will be explained. First, the shape of a normal capsule is as shown in FIG. FIG. 9(a) is a side view of the cap 20C, where CI is a protrusion provided on the periphery and protrudes inwardly, and C2 is a convex portion partially protruding inwardly. FIG. 9(b) is a side view of the body 20B, where B1 is a groove provided near the edge, B3
is a recess for air vent. FIG. 9(C) is a partially cutaway side view of the temporarily connected state of the cap and body before drug filling, and shows the cap 20C.
The convex portion C2 and the groove B1 of the body 20B fit together to prevent the capsule from separating from each other when the capsule is empty. Figure 9! dl shows the state of connection between the two after filling the drug, and the protrusion C1 of the cap 20C is aligned with the groove B1 of the body 20B.
In addition, the cap 20C will not come off due to compressed air even when the medicine is filled at high speed due to the action of the air vent B3. Next, the aspect of the problematic "hangnail" will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Fig. 10 shows a case where the body side is in a "hangnail" state, and Fig. 11 shows a case where the cap side is in a "hangnail" state. In addition, to make it easier to see, please use the cap. Illustrations of the protrusions, grooves, and drugs provided on the body are omitted. In FIG. 10, if the opening end surfaces of the body 20B and the cap 20C touch each other with some deviation when they are connected, the weaker one, in this case the body 20B side, is cut by the other party, and as they are inserted for connection, This cut will grow. As a result, the part 20b in the figure is the cap 2.
It protrudes to cover the outside of 0C. This 20b is “
There are various types of hangnails, such as they can be thin parallel strips as shown in this figure, or they can have angles on both sides. In Figure 11, unlike the previous example, the cap 20G is cut off, and the "hangnail" 20C is cut off on the body 2.
It takes the form of crawling inside 0B. In any case, this "hangnail" is more likely to occur during drug filling. The edge of the body 2OB has become hard due to the drug and is slightly deformed, so the cap 20 is inserted here.
This is because if you try to join C, the edges will hit each other with different edges, and the weaker one will break. Next, a conventional example of an illumination method used for inspecting this "hangnail" will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a side view of the illumination device and a block diagram of the entire automatic capsule visual inspection apparatus including the illumination device, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the illumination device. The capsule automatic visual inspection device mainly consists of a capsule transport section, an illumination section, and an imaging/judgment section. The capsule conveyance section conveys the capsules 20 to be inspected from the supply point to the inspection position, and is represented here by a conveyance drum 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a position detector that detects that the capsule 20 is at the inspection position and sends the signal to the light source power source, which will be described below. The illumination section mainly includes a light source section and a reflection/transmission section. First, the light source section will be described. 31 is an annular light source, which is an annular strobe discharge tube. Reference numeral 37 denotes a light source power source that supplies power to this, and is connected to the position detector 22. Next, regarding the reflection/transmission part, 32 is a reflection member that wraps around the outer periphery of the annular light source, and the lower part thereof is open and closed by a transmission type light diffusion member 32A. Reference numeral 33 denotes a cylindrical transmission type light diffusion member arranged coaxially with the annular light source 31, the lower opening is located directly above the target capsule 20, and the upper opening has a reflection type light diffusion member 34. is installed. This reflective light diffusing member 34 has a reflective surface on the side facing the capsule 20, and has a hole in the center. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, this cylindrical transmission type light diffusing member 33 is provided with a hollow portion 33a in a part of its outer peripheral surface, so that direct light from the annular light source 31 enters the capsule 20. It is designed to irradiate. Reference numeral 35 denotes a partial light shielding member, which is attached to the outside of the cylindrical transmission type light diffusing member 33. This partial light shielding member 3
5, as shown in FIG. 8, two places on the lower end of the outer peripheral surface in the capsule axial direction are notches 35a.
, 35b. The above-described annular light source 311 reflecting member 32. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the transmissive reflective member 331 and the partial light shielding member 35, each of which is arranged concentrically. In conclusion, since the imaging/judgment section has a configuration that includes 231 TV cameras and 24 image processing circuits, the operation is as follows. The light from the annular light source 31 is directed toward the central axis from all directions by the reflecting member 32. First, the partial light shielding member 35
Since the light is blocked by areas other than the notch, the light is limited to only light directed diagonally downward with the axial direction of the capsule 20 being the main direction. Therefore, when the partial light shielding member 358 shown in FIG. 8 is used, the light directed diagonally downward with the main direction of the axis of the capsule 20 from the right side of FIG. 5 is relatively strong;
The one from the left side is relatively weak. In other words, the left and right sides are unbalanced. Next, by using a transmission type light diffusing member 33A as shown in FIG. 7, relatively strong light is emitted from the annular light source 31 directly to the capsule 20 through the hollow part 33a, and light is diffused in all directions. The light that irradiates the capsule 20 is relatively weak. Further, the light directed downward from the annular light source 31 is diffused in all directions by the annular transmissive light diffusing member 32A, and a portion of the light illuminates the capsule 20 obliquely from above. As explained in more detail above, for the inspection of hangnails, combined illumination consisting of directional emphasis illumination and diffused illumination with uniform intensity in all directions is appropriate. On the other hand, for color combination inspection, diffused illumination is suitable. Next, the reason will be explained. Colored capsule 20 (body 2
12(b) and 12(C1). 1
Figure 2 (bl is for cap 20C, body 2OB is red), Figure 12 (C1 is for cap 20C, body 2
This is the case where both 0B are white. Since the brightness of white is greater than that of red, the respective video signal levels differ as shown. In addition, FIG. 12(b) and
In FIG. 2(C), the small protrusion at the middle position of the video signal is a slight increase due to reflection at the open end of the cap 20C. Therefore, the video signal is transmitted between the cap 20C and the body 2O.
When first-order differential processing is performed at the position of the boundary with B, Figure 12 (b
There is a difference between the white/red case of C1 and the white/white case of C1 in FIG. For example, "hangnails" in the case of a combination of white and white are difficult to identify.On the other hand, for color combination inspection, enhanced lighting is inappropriate for the following reasons.As shown in Figure 13(a). 20 colored capsules (body 2
Figures 13(b) and 13(e) show one video signal obtained by horizontally scanning the cap 0B and cap 20C with a TV camera in the horizontal direction of the figure under emphasized illumination from the direction of the arrow. show. In addition, in FIG. 13(b), when the cap 20C is white and the body 20B is red, No. 13117 (C1 is Camp 2
This is a case where both 0C and body 20B are white. The reason why protrusions appear in some places in the video signal is due to partially strong reflected light from the emphasis illumination. In particular, relatively strong reflection occurs at the opening end face of the cap 20C, and the video signal exhibits a large peak value at this location. Also, if the direction of the emphasis illumination is reversed left and right, although not shown,
Since a shadow is created at the opening end surface of the camp 20C, a sharp recess is created in the video signal. Note that the characteristics of the peak portion of the video signal are understood by second-order differentiation. Therefore, in any case, differences in color combinations cannot be discerned due to the influence of reflected light on the open end face of the cap 20C under enhanced illumination. In other words, inspection is impossible. It should be noted that by using enhanced illumination, "hangnails" can be better identified as described below. That is, the annular light source 31 directly irradiates the capsule 20.
With reference to Figures 10 and 11, we will explain how the light (emphasizing lighting) is reflected at the hangnail part and how that information is input to the TV camera. . The direct light from the annular light source 31 hits the cap side of the capsule 20 in the directions of arrows P and R, but depending on whether it hits the capsule 20 from the opposite side or in the directions of arrows Q and S, it may directly hit the opening end surface of the cap. Or, conversely, the light may be irradiated from the back side of the opening end face. In the former case, the TV camera 23 receives strong reflected light from the corner of the end face of the cap opening. Therefore, the 10th
If there is a "hangnail" 20b in the form of a part of the body side being cut off and riding up on the cap side as shown in the figure, the reflected light from this part is weaker than that from other normal opening end corners, and is reflected to the TV camera 23. is input. Due to the difference between the two,
The presence and extent of hangnails can be detected. Moreover, in the latter case, the TV camera 23 will capture the shadow produced at the end face of the cap opening. Therefore, if there is a "hangnail" 20b as shown in FIG. 10, a shadow will appear in this area that is shifted from the position of the other normal opening end surface, or the shadow will almost disappear. . And “hangnail” 20b
There is strong reflected light at the corner of the end face. On the other hand, in the case of a "hangnail" 20c in which a part of the camping side is cut off and goes inside the body side as shown in Fig. 11, the light in the direction of arrow R will cause the "hangnail" to appear on the other normal end surface. The reflected light is weaker than that from the outside. Conversely, depending on the light in the direction of the arrow S, strong reflected light can be obtained from the corner of the body end face, which is the tip of the "hangnail" 20C. There is no shading at the end of the camp, which is the base of the "hangnail" 20c. On the other hand, of course, a normal end face of the cap produces a shadow. Originally, the aim of conventional lighting devices was to make it easier to detect "hangnail" defects on the capsule, or in other words, to highlight the "hangnail" defects. In addition to applying strong direct light from a light source, □ also using diffused light with uniform intensity in all directions in order to reduce the emphasis caused by this strong direct light. In reality, cases of poor capsule color combinations, that is, cases of ``different types of capsules'' regarding color, are extremely rare compared to cases of ``hangnail'' defects. Lighting elements are more strongly woven than diffuse lighting elements. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish the color combinations of the capsules.

[Purpose of the invention]

The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of the conventional method, and to inspect the color combination of the body and cap of a colored capsule based on the brightness of the color using a black and white TV camera. Our goal is to provide the following.

[Key points of the invention]

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object is based on the following idea. That is, the locations where color combinations are tested based on brightness are set at positions slightly apart from the cap opening end of the capsule, that is, on both sides of the cap opening end surface of the capsule along the axial direction. Then, the difference between the video signal levels corresponding to the detection points on both sides is taken, and the value of this difference is compared with the reference color combination difference (set value) to determine whether it is good or bad. Therefore, the configuration of the present invention is as follows. The locations where the color combination of the capsule is inspected are two predetermined areas on both sides of the capsule in the axial direction, with the cap opening end face in between. This predetermined region has a predetermined width in the axial direction of the capsule and a predetermined vertical width including a slight margin in the outer diameter of the capsule. Then, the horizontal scanning direction of the black and white TV camera is made to coincide with the direction of the axis of the capsule. This T
The video signal of the V camera is peak-held for each of the widths, and the peak-hold values for each predetermined area on both sides are determined. The difference between these peak hold values is compared with a set value determined by a reference combination of colored capsules. It is good if the difference between these values is within the set value.
If it exceeds the set value, it is determined to be defective. □ Also, by including a highlighting lighting element as illumination, it is also possible to simultaneously inspect for "hangnails" at the opening end of the capsule cap. Note that by determining the peak hold value of the video signal in the above-mentioned predetermined area, it is possible to remove the influence of characters, marks, etc. printed in black or dark colors on the capsule surface.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a peak hold area of a video signal regarding a capsule to be inspected, in which 20 is a colored capsule;
C is the cap, 20B is the body. 200 is the opening end surface of the camp 20C, U and V are the front and rear regions selected to partially include the cap 20C and the body 2OB, respectively, and x and y are the horizontal scanning directions of the white and black TV cameras, respectively, which are the imaging devices. , in the vertical scanning direction. The color combination to be identified is white camp.
An example will be explained in which a red body and a white camp/white body are used as standards. Note that the capsules are always transported so that the cap side is at the top in the transport direction, so the combination of red cap and white body can be easily identified. Further, the illumination for imaging may be either diffuse illumination, one emphasis illumination, or a combination of both for inspection of colored capsules, but at least an emphasis illumination element is included for "hangnail" inspection. Next, the peak hold value of the video signal in areas U and V for each horizontal scan is plotted on the vertical axis, and the vertical scanning time is plotted on the horizontal axis.
Figure 2 shows the respective diagrams when the camp is white and the body is red. That is, -1 corresponds to the white camp, and R1 corresponds to the red body. In this case, the level of the video signal corresponds to the brightness of the color. The reason for taking the peak hold value of the video signal in the U and V regions is to remove the influence of printed marks or characters (usually black or dark colors). . It is brightest when the capsule is viewed directly from above, and it gets darker toward both ends in the diametrical direction, so as shown in Figure 2 (al), both Wl and R1 form an upwardly convex curve at approximately the center. There is a peak-shaped part slightly to the right, which indicates that the reflected light from the partially glossy part is strongly affected by the emphasis illumination.Next, the value obtained by subtracting R1 from the old value in Fig. 2 (a). The curve shown in FIG. 2(b) shows the upper and lower threshold values for binarization for each combination of white cap/red body, white cap/white body, 2.Kl and G2.G1 are shown in Figure 2 (C). Figure 2 (C) shows the difference in peak hold values for each region U and V in Figure 2 (b) for the combination of white cap and red body. This is a diagram in which R2 represents those within the range of the upper and lower thresholds, and L represents those outside the range.
V is a diagram in which the difference in peak hold values for each region is within the upper and lower threshold ranges for the combination of white cap and white body as R1, and that outside the range as L. The meaning of FIG. 2 (C) and FIG. 2 (d+ is as follows)
It is as follows. In other words, if the standard color combination is a white cap and a red body, the color combination shown in Figure 2 (bl
For the peak hold value difference curve, 1. is applied to each of the lower and upper threshold values. Apply the 2nd ruler to . In this case, there may be some gloss and a peak in the video signal, but if the threshold value Kl is within the range of 2, then the threshold value Kl is within the range of 2 as shown in Figure 2 (
This section corresponds to level H in C) and occupies most of the vertical scanning period. Therefore, in the combination of colors to be inspected, if the ratio of the section corresponding to level 1 to the vertical scanning period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it can be determined that the object is a white cap/red body. Conversely, when the reference color combination is white cap and white body, the lower and upper threshold values G1. Apply G2's ruler. In this case, there may be some parts that are glossy and the video signal has a peak, and some irregular parts may appear, but those within the range of the thresholds Gl and G2 are
This is the section corresponding to level H in FIG. 3(d), which occupies only a portion of the vertical scanning periphery. Therefore, if the color combination to be inspected is white cap/red body as shown in Fig. 2(a), in the section corresponding to level H,
Since the ratio to the vertical scanning periphery is less than a predetermined value, it is not determined to be a white cap/white body. Next, looking at the case where the capsule to be inspected is a white camp/white body, the vertical axis is the peak hold value of the video signal for each horizontal scan, and the horizontal axis is the vertical scanning time. , Wl and W2 in Fig. 3 (al).Then, the difference between -1 and W2 becomes as shown in Fig. 3 (b). In addition, as in Fig. 2 (bl), the white camp・Upper and upper threshold values for binarization for each combination of red body, white camp, and white body, K2.Kl,
G2. Try overlapping Gl. Then, as shown in Figure 3 (Figure 3), if the difference in peak hold values for each region of bl is within the range of 1 to 2 for the upper and upper thresholds for the combination of white cap and red body, then Figure 3 (C1) is obtained, in which the outside of the range is expressed as L. Similarly, the difference in peak hold values for each UV region in Figure 3 (b) is determined by the difference between the white cap and white body. Figure 3(d) is obtained, in which upper and upper threshold values G2 and G1 are expressed as H1 for the combination, and L is outside the range. If the combination is a white cap and a red body, apply a 2.Kl ruler to each of the lower and 1 thresholds on the peak hold value difference curve in Figure 3 (b). Although the video signal may be glossy and have a peak, if the threshold Kl is within the range of 2, the vertical scanning period is the section corresponding to level H in Figure 3(C). Therefore, in the case of -1 and -2 in Fig. 3(a), which are the color combinations to be inspected, it can be determined that they are different from the reference combination. In addition, when the reference color combination is white cap and white body, in Figure 3 (for the curve of the difference in peak hold value of bl, the lower and 1 threshold values Gl, G2
Apply the measuring stick. In this case, the video signal may be partially glossy and have peaks, and irregular areas may appear, but those within the range of thresholds Gl and G2 are at level H as shown in Figure 3(d). , which occupies most of the vertical scanning period. Therefore, the color combinations to be tested are shown in Figure 3 (al
In the case of a white cap/white body, as in the case of the white cap/white body, the ratio of the section corresponding to level H to the vertical scanning period is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, so it is determined to be a white cap/white body. Next, the operation of the colored capsule automatic appearance inspection apparatus will be explained in detail based on the block circuit diagram shown in FIG. 4 showing the image processing and determination functions of the apparatus. Note that this block circuit diagram shows the functions of the image processing circuit 24 and determination circuit 25 in FIG. 5. In Figure 4, 1 is a circuit for extracting the peak hold value of the front area U, 2 is a circuit that also extracts the peak hold value of the rear area V, and 3 is a difference device that outputs the difference between the two input values. , 4.5.8 is a comparator that compares the magnitude of two inputs and outputs level H if positive and level L if negative,
6 is a so-called AND circuit that outputs H if both of its two inputs are at level H. 7 is a counter, which has a function of counting the total duration of a certain state. Next, the input/output flow state of various signals will be explained together with the coupling relationship of each circuit described above. First, a video signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal are respectively input to the front area peak hold circuit 1. The signals are input in parallel to the rear region peak hold circuit 2, and at the same time, the front region definition signal is input to the front region peak hold circuit 1, and the rear region definition signal is input to the rear region peak hold circuit 2. The front region defining signal and the rear region defining signal are signals for capturing only those belonging to the frontal region U and the rear region V of the video signal, and are input to the 0N input section (not shown) of each peak hold circuit. - Activates the OFF switch. Therefore, the peak hold values of the U and V regions for each horizontal scan are determined by the previous region peak hold circuit 1. It is output from the rear region peak hold circuit 2. These two peak hold values are input, and the differentiator 3 outputs the difference value. This difference value is then input to the comparator 4.5, to which the upper threshold value and the lower threshold value are simultaneously input, respectively, to the comparator 5. Therefore, only the difference value smaller than the upper threshold value is output from the comparator 4 at the level H.
Similarly, only the difference value larger than the lower threshold value is outputted from the comparator 5 as an H level signal. Next, only when both of the outputs from the comparators 4.5 are H, the ANDN0 circuit outputs as ■]. In other words, only those within the range between the upper threshold value and the lower threshold value are output, and in this sense, this output is a signal □Tolerance value signal□ indicating that it is an allowable value. This tolerance signal is input to the carantuff together with the vertical synchronization signal and the clock signal. Here, the number of tolerance signals is counted and subjected to time conversion by a clock signal to output the total duration of the tolerance state. Moreover, the period during which this sum is taken is one vertical scanning period defined by the vertical synchronizing signal, that is, one frame period. In this way, the output of the counter 7 is a signal representing the period of the permissible value - the permissible value period. This allowable value period is compared with a period threshold value, which can also be called a set value for good/bad judgment, by a comparator 8, and a good judgment signal is output only if it is positive. As described above, image processing is performed by setting predetermined upper and lower thresholds and period thresholds based on the camp of the colored capsule and the combination of each color of the body based on the image signals of the black and white TV cameras. It is possible to judge whether the color combination of the colored capsule to be inspected is good or bad. Note that if the illumination conditions are a combination of diffused illumination and emphasized illumination, it is possible to simultaneously inspect not only the combination of capsule colors but also defects such as hangnails in the cap, which is extremely effective in practice.

【Effect of the invention】

The main points of this invention are as follows. In other words, the points where the combination of colors of the capsule are detected are two predetermined areas in the front and back in the axial direction of the capsule with the cap opening end face in between □ A predetermined width in the axial direction of the capsule and the outside diameter of the capsule. An area with a specified vertical width including some margin □
shall be. Then, the horizontal scanning directions of the black and white TV cameras are made to coincide with the direction of the axis of the capsule, and the video signals of the TV cameras corresponding to the brightness of the capsule are peak-held for each of the widths. The difference between these peak hold values is compared with the upper and lower threshold values determined by the combination of reference colored capsules, and the difference between the values before and after the upper and lower thresholds is calculated.
If it is within the lower threshold, it is determined to be good, and if it exceeds the upper and lower thresholds, it is determined to be defective. Therefore, the present invention has the following superior effects compared to the conventional one. (1) Automatic inspection of the color combinations of colored capsules, which was conventionally considered difficult to do without a color imaging device including a color TV camera, has become possible using a black-and-white imaging device. As a result, the automation of colored capsule inspection will make great progress by solving this problem, which has hitherto been unprofitable due to the high cost of equipment and has been a barrier to widespread use. (2) According to an embodiment, under the same lighting conditions,
Since it is possible to simultaneously inspect the color combination of colored capsules and inspect for hangnails, it is possible to prevent the entire inspection device, including the lighting device, from becoming heavily equipped. (3) The production capacity of the entire capsule manufacturing line will be significantly improved by completely automating the inspection process, which has been an obstacle to automating the capsule manufacturing line. (4) The image processing procedure is relatively simple;
It does not increase the risk of failure or sacrifice processing speed, and incremental costs can be kept low.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the peak hold area of the capsule to be inspected. Figure 2 is a plan view of the capsule to be inspected when the capsule is white and the body is red.
An explanatory diagram of a video signal, a difference signal, and a binary signal; FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a video signal, a difference signal, and a binary signal when the camp is white and the body is also white; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing the image processing/judgment function of the automatic visual inspection device for colored capsules to which the embodiment according to the present invention is applied; FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the illumination section; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a transmissive light diffusion member of the visual inspection device; FIG. 8 is a partial light shielding member of the visual inspection device. FIG. 9 is a perspective view, FIG. 9 is a side view of the cap and body of the drug capsule and when these are fitted together, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a plan view showing two embodiments of the "hangnail" state. Figure 12(a) is a side view of the colored capsule, Figure 12(a) is a side view of the colored capsule;
bl is a video signal diagram for one horizontal scanning line in the combination of white camp and red body under diffused illumination, and Figure 12 (C) is a video signal diagram for one horizontal scanning line in the combination of white cap and white body. Video signal diagram, 1st
Figure 3 (al is a side view of the colored capsule under emphasis illumination in the direction of arrow P, Figure 13 (bl is l horizontal scanning line segment in the combination of white cap and red body under the emphasis illumination) Figure 13 (C) is a video signal diagram for one horizontal scanning line in the same combination of white can, knob, and white body. Threshold value, G2: Same upper threshold value, 1: Lower threshold value for the combination of white cap and red body, K2: Same upper threshold value, -1: Each horizontal value regarding the area in front of the white cap A curve representing the peak hold value of the video signal for each scan on the vertical axis and the vertical scanning time on the horizontal axis; R1: A curve that represents the vertical scanning time on the horizontal axis, R1: A curve that represents the peak hold value of the video signal for each horizontal scan regarding the rear area of the red body on the vertical axis, and vertical scanning time on the horizontal axis, U: Front Area, ■: Rear area, l: Front area peak hold circuit, 2: Rear area peak hold circuit, 3: Differentiator, 4, 5.8: Comparator, 6: ND circuit, 7
: Counter, 20: Colored capsule, 20B Two-color body, 20C: Colored cap, 20D: Cap opening end surface.托;Hitori Ihei and Yamaguchi Kami 1st 12th Seki gj! 3rA Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 5b Gi 8 Guan fal fb1 army 9 section fossa around 10 vfII Figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) The color combination of the body and cap fitted together of the colored capsule is determined under illumination by a white/black T whose optical axis is approximately normal to the surface of the cylindrical portion of the capsule.
In the method of detecting and inspecting quality based on the brightness of each color using a V-camera, the detection points of each color are set at two locations on both sides in the axial direction of the capsule across the cap opening end surface of the capsule. and the TV for each predetermined area on both sides of the capsule to be inspected.
1. A method for inspecting colored capsules, characterized in that the difference in level values of each video signal of a camera is compared with a predetermined set value to determine whether the capsule is good or bad. 2) In the method according to claim 1, the illumination illuminates the capsule at least substantially parallel to a plane formed by the capsule axis and the optical axis of the TV camera, and in substantially one direction from the TV camera side. A method for inspecting colored capsules characterized by using light that 3) In the method according to claim 1 or 2, the predetermined region has a predetermined width in the axial direction of the capsule and at least the capsule outer diameter dimension when viewed from the optical axis direction of the TV camera. A method for inspecting a colored capsule, characterized in that it is rectangular with a vertical width of . 4) In the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, each video signal for each predetermined area on both sides is a peak hold value in the direction of the capsule axis. How to test colored capsules.