JPS62217381A - External form inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the inspection capacity of a product by providing a synchronizing signal generator for generating a synchronizing signal corresponding to plural image pickup devices, respectively, and eliminating an idle time for switching an image input. CONSTITUTION:A synchronizing signal generator 8 applies a synchronizing signal to an A/D converter 3 and sets a conversion timing, and also, sends a signal to ITV cameras 1A, 1B and 1C, and makes the synchronization of three sets coincide with each other. A product image from the camera 1A is stored in an image memory 5A through the converter 3, and thereafter, processed in an image processor 6, and an image pattern is generated. Its pattern is compared with the pattern of a non-deflective registered in advance and the quality is detected. On the other hand, a multiplexer 2 inputs the image of the camera 1B in parallel with the processing of the processor 6. In this way, the image input and the image processing are executed simultaneously and no idle time is generated. In this way, the inspection capacity of a product can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention uses an industrial television camera (hereinafter referred to as ``rlTV camera'') and a digital image processing device as an imaging device to produce industrial products, etc. The present invention relates to an external shape inspection device that inspects external shape conditions.

(Prior Art) As factory automation (FA) is promoted, external inspections that were conventionally performed visually by workers are also becoming automated. Such external shape inspection equipment uses an ITV camera to obtain two-dimensional image information of a product, digitizes this, and then performs appropriate digital image processing such as inspection target extraction to obtain a desired image pattern. There is a device that is configured to compare the image pattern of the product to determine the quality of the product.

FIG. 3 shows a blower A showing an example of the conventional configuration of this type of external shape inspection device. In FIG. 3, IA.

IB and IC each obtain a two-dimensional image of a product (not shown) using an ITV camera. 2 is ITV camera 1A, 1B, I
Multiplexer 3 selects the video signal input from C, 3 is one IT selected by multiplexer 2
An A/D converter that digitizes the video signal from the V camera (IA or 1B or IC), 4 a synchronization separation circuit that separates a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal from the video signal, and 5 an A/D converter 3 6 is an image processor that reads the image data stored in the image memory 5 and performs spatial filtering processing, etc. on it; 7 is an image processor that supervises each of the above-mentioned elements. This is the system controller that controls the system.

Next, the operation of the conventional external shape inspection apparatus configured as described above will be explained. That is, when, for example, the ITV camera 1A is selected according to the image processing sequence set in the system controller 7 in advance, an image of the product is input from the TTV camera 1A, and then the A/D converter 3
The video signal is digitized and the frame image is stored in the image memory 5. In that case, it is necessary to distinguish between the start and end of one frame (vertical synchronization) and the start and end of one scanning line (horizontal synchronization), and the synchronization separation circuit performs this processing. That is, a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal are separated from a video signal, and the vertical synchronization signal and horizontal synchronization signal are used to instruct timing control of A/D conversion.

Next, the image data stored in the image memory 5 is subjected to, for example, spatial filtering processing by the image processor 6 to generate a desired image pattern. Then, this image pattern is compared with a pre-registered image pattern of a non-defective product, and a mismatched portion is detected.

The system controller 7 receives the degree of discrepancy data from the image processor 6, determines whether the product is good or bad, sends a determination signal to an inspection line (not shown), and executes processing such as removing defective products from the line.

Next, when the multiplexer 2 selects the ITV camera 1B in response to a command from the system controller 7, the ITV
An image of the product is input in the same way as the images from the camera 1A, and the frame image is stored in the image memory 5 and subjected to the same processing as the previous time.

In this way, m images of the product are input one after another from the ITV camera, processed, and a determination is made as to whether the product is good or defective.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional external shape inspection apparatus as described above, the synchronization signals of the ITV cameras do not match. Therefore, assuming that the processing speed per frame of the image processor 6 is, for example, 1/30 second, the processing timing will be as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the thick line indicates the processed image. According to FIG. 4, it takes 1/30 second to input an image to the ITV camera 1A, and further 1/30 second to process. After that, the image is input to the ITV camera 1B.

In this case, since the video signals of the ITV cameras are not synchronized, images cannot be input to the next ITV camera 1B immediately after the processing of the previous ITV camera 1A (up to 1/2
(You may have to wait 30 seconds). As described above, in the conventional apparatus, idle time occurs when switching between ITV cameras.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an external shape inspection apparatus that can inspect many products per unit time without creating idle time when switching between image inputs of a plurality of image pickup/imaging devices.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problems) 5. The present invention is characterized by taking the following measures in order to solve the above problems and achieve the object. That is, the external shape inspection apparatus according to the present invention is configured to include a synchronization signal generator that generates synchronization signals corresponding to each of a plurality of imaging devices.

(Function) By taking such measures, it becomes possible to synchronize each of the plurality of imaging devices, and as a result,
It is possible to input images one after another from an imaging device without any idle time.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the external shape inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 1, in which the same parts as in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment uses ITV cameras IA and IB in place of the synchronization separation circuit 4 downstream of the multiplexer 2 in FIG.

A synchronization signal generator 4 is provided for supplying a synchronization signal to each of the first and second circuits. Second image memory 5A.

5B is provided.

Next, we will discuss the operation of this embodiment configured as described above in the second section.
This will be explained with reference to the figures. In FIG. 2, thick lines indicate processed images. In FIG. 2, when the ITV camera 1A is selected by the image processing sequence set in the system controller 7, the ITV camera 1A is selected.
The product image (video signal) is input from A/
The D converter 3 digitizes the video signal (not including the synchronization signal) and stores the frame image in the image memory 5A. In that case, it is necessary to distinguish between the start and end of one frame (vertical synchronization) and the start and end of one scanning line (horizontal synchronization). Here, the synchronization signal generator 8 gives a synchronization signal to the A/D converter 3, and the A/D converter 3 sets the timing of A/D conversion based on this synchronization signal. In addition, the synchronization signal generator 8 transmits the synchronization signal to the ITV camera IA, 18.1
Ck: Feed, the synchronization of the three units is consistent.

Next, the image data stored in the image memory 5A is subjected to, for example, spatial filtering processing by the image processor 6 to generate a desired image pattern. and,
This image pattern is compared with a pre-registered image pattern of a non-defective item, and a mismatched portion is detected.

In the above, the multiplexer 2 selects the ITV camera 1B in parallel with the image data stored in the image memory 5A being processed by the image processor 6. Then, an image of the product is input in the same way as the image from the ITV camera 1A, A/D converted based on the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generator 8, and the frame image is stored in the image memory 5.
B and undergoes the same processing as the previous time.

That is, at the same time that the image data of the ITV camera 1A stored in the image memory 5A is being processed by the image processor 6, the video signal of the ITV camera 1B is being processed by the A/D
The image is converted and stored in the image memory 5B. The input time of one frame from the ITV camera is 1/30 second according to the standard television system.

Also, the image processor 6 processes one frame of image data into one
If processing is performed in /30 seconds, image input and image processing start at the same time and end at the same time.

The system controller 7 receives the degree of discrepancy data from the image processor 6, determines the quality of the product, sends a determination signal to an inspection line (not shown), and executes processing such as removing defective products from the line.

When the image processor 6 finishes processing the image memory 5A and the image data of the ITV camera 1B is stored in the image memory 5B, in the next 1/30 seconds, the multiplexer 2 selects the ITV camera 1C and outputs the video signal. is digitized by the A/D converter 3, and the image data is stored in the image memory 5A. In addition, in parallel with the above operations, the image processor 6 also processes the ITV stored in the image memory 5B.
Process the image data of camera 1B.

In this way, images of products are inputted one after another from the ITV camera, processed, and a determination is made as to whether the products are good or defective.

As described above, according to the external shape inspection apparatus of this embodiment, the video signals from each ITV camera can be perfectly matched by the synchronization signal generator 8, so that no idle time occurs when switching the ITV cameras.

In addition, as in this embodiment, there are two image memories (5A, 5B).
), image input and image processing can be performed simultaneously.

Therefore, if it takes 1/3o seconds to input an image,
It can process up to 30 frames of images and inspect 30 products per second.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the external shape inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a synchronization signal generator that generates synchronization signals corresponding to each of a plurality of imaging devices.

According to this configuration, it is possible to match the synchronization of each of the plurality of imaging devices, and thereby, it is possible to input images one after another from the imaging devices without any idle time. 10= It is possible to provide an external shape inspection device that can inspect many products per unit time without wasting time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the external shape inspection device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the processing timing of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional external shape inspection apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing processing timing of the conventional apparatus. IA, 1B, IC...ITV camera, 2...Multiplexer, 3...A/D converter. 5A, 5B...
Image memory, 6... Image processor, 7... System controller, 8... Synchronization signal generator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an external shape inspection device that has a plurality of imaging devices and determines the external state of the object to be inspected by processing and analyzing the object to be inspected collected from the imaging device, a synchronization signal corresponding to each of the plurality of imaging devices is provided. 1. An external shape inspection apparatus comprising: a synchronization signal generator that generates a synchronization signal, synchronizes each of the plurality of imaging devices, and inputs images from the imaging devices without idle time.