WO2017064917A1

WO2017064917A1 - Container investigation method and device

Info

Publication number: WO2017064917A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/073922
Authority: WO
Inventors: 英明安藤
Original assignee: キリンテクノシステム株式会社
Priority date: 2015-10-16
Filing date: 2016-08-16
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Also published as: KR20180039127A; JP6661852B2; KR102133744B1; JPWO2017064917A1

Abstract

A method for investigating a base section 101 of a beer bottle 100 comprises: an illumination step in which an investigation light IL is shone from the side and an upward slant when the beer bottle 100 is viewed from the side (direction II), toward an illumination part IP located at an edge in the left-right direction of the base section 101; and an imaging step, in which an image is taken of the base section 101, the illumination part IP of which was illuminated by the investigation light IL in the illumination step, such that the imaging range includes an image of the base section 101 that appears when the beer bottle 100 is viewed from below.

Description

Container inspection method and apparatus

The present invention relates to a container inspection method and apparatus for inspecting the bottom of a container.

As a method of inspecting the presence or absence of a foreign object such as a glass piece on the bottom of the container, an image of the bottom of the container is irradiated by irradiating an arc-shaped illumination near the bottom from both sides or irradiating a ring-shaped illumination near the bottom. A method is known in which a camera is imaged from the bottom side (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or 2).

JP-A-9-274000 JP 2004-212079 A

In the conventional inspection method, a part of the entire circumference of the bottom part becomes dark and the detection accuracy is deteriorated, or the uneven part such as the knurling formed on the bottom part is shined, so that the foreign object cannot be detected accurately. there were.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a container inspection method capable of detecting a foreign object such as a glass piece at the bottom and a container inspection apparatus that realizes the method.

The container inspection method according to an aspect of the present invention is the container inspection method for inspecting the bottom of a container, wherein the side toward the irradiation unit positioned at the left and right ends of the bottom when the container is viewed from the side. An imaging process including an illumination process of irradiating light from the side and an image of the bottom part that appears when the container is viewed from below, and imaging the bottom part of the illumination part irradiated with the light by the illumination process And an imaging step.

According to the container inspection method of the above aspect, the light irradiated on the irradiation part by the illumination process enters the bottom part. If there is no foreign object such as a glass piece in the light irradiation range, the light incident on the bottom part is refracted and exits from the bottom part. Therefore, these lights are out of the imaging range where the bottom image seen from the bottom of the container is contained. On the other hand, if there is a foreign matter within the light irradiation range, the light incident on the bottom is reflected, refracted or scattered at the foreign matter, and at least part of the light whose traveling direction has been changed by the foreign matter is an imaging range below the container. Head in. Thereby, since the light whose traveling direction has been changed by the foreign object can be imaged in the imaging process, the foreign object such as a glass piece at the bottom can be detected. In addition, since the irradiation part for irradiating light is located at the left and right ends when the container is viewed from the side, even when an uneven part such as a ring-shaped knurling is formed on the outer surface of the bottom part, It is possible to suppress the reflected light due to uneven parts such as knurling. As a result, it is possible to avoid deterioration in inspection accuracy due to the concavo-convex portion such as knurling being shined.

In one aspect of the container inspection method of the present invention, in the illumination step, the light may be irradiated from the side and obliquely upward toward the irradiation unit. According to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of inspection accuracy by irradiating light while avoiding additional elements such as engraving that are often provided at the bottom of the bottom.

In one aspect of the container inspection method of the present invention, in the illumination step, the light may be irradiated within an angle range of 5 degrees or more and 30 degrees or less with respect to a direction parallel to the bottom portion. According to this aspect, by irradiating light within this angular range, additional elements such as engravings that are often provided at the bottom of the bottom can be avoided more reliably. Can be suppressed.

1 aspect of the container inspection method of this invention WHEREIN: You may irradiate the said light toward the said irradiation part set to each of the some division | segmentation test | inspection area | region where the said test | inspection area | region of the said bottom part was divided | segmented in the said illumination process. . According to this aspect, since the range in which the bottom portion can be illuminated in one illumination process can be expanded, the number of imaging processes can be reduced.

In one aspect of the container inspection method of the present invention, the container is located on a predetermined transport path, and in the illumination step, the plurality of irradiation units set by changing positions in the circumferential direction of the bottom, The first illuminator and the second illuminator arranged across the conveyance path may share and irradiate the light. According to this, light with sufficient illuminance is applied to the plurality of irradiation units of the container by using the first illuminator and the second illuminator arranged with the conveyance path interposed therebetween so as not to disturb the conveyance of the container. Can be inspected with high accuracy.

In the above aspect, the conveyance path is set so as to include an arc-shaped portion, and in the illumination step, the first illuminator is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the arc-shaped portion, and the second illuminator is disposed on the arc-shaped portion. The number of the second illuminators may be set to be larger than the number of the first illuminators. The inner circumferential side of the arcuate portion of the transport path is narrower in physical space than the outer peripheral side, and the number of first illuminators is limited, while the outer peripheral side of the arcuate portion of the transport path is the physical space. There are few restrictions. Therefore, the illuminance of the inspection light can be further increased by setting the number of second illuminators to be larger than the number of first illuminators. However, the conveyance path may be set so as to include a linear portion, and in the illumination process, the first illuminator and the second illuminator may be disposed so as to sandwich the linear portion. .

In one aspect of the container inspection method of the present invention, in the illumination step, one light may be irradiated with the light from one side and the other side in the tangential direction of the container. By irradiating light from both sides of one irradiation unit, it is possible to further increase the illuminance of the irradiation unit and further improve the inspection accuracy.

The container inspection method and each aspect thereof described above can be implemented by the following container inspection apparatus and each aspect thereof. That is, the container inspection apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a container inspection apparatus that inspects the bottom of a container, toward the irradiation unit positioned at the left and right ends of the bottom when the container is viewed from the side. Illuminating means for irradiating light from the side and within the imaging range in which the image of the bottom that appears when the container is viewed from below is within the imaging range, Imaging means for imaging.

In one aspect of the container inspection apparatus of the present invention, the illumination unit may irradiate the light from the side and obliquely upward toward the irradiation unit.

In one aspect of the container inspection apparatus of the present invention, the illumination unit may irradiate the light within an angle range of 5 degrees to 30 degrees with respect to a direction parallel to the bottom.

In one aspect of the container inspection apparatus of the present invention, as the illuminating means, a plurality of illuminating means respectively corresponding to a plurality of divided inspection areas obtained by dividing the bottom inspection area are provided, and each of the plurality of illuminating means is The light may be irradiated toward the irradiation unit set for each of the divided inspection regions.

In one aspect of the container inspection apparatus of the present invention, a transport unit that transports the container along a predetermined transport path is provided, and as the illumination unit, a first illuminator disposed across the transport path and a first illuminator The two illuminators are provided, and the first illuminator and the second illuminator share the light with respect to a plurality of irradiation units set by changing positions in the circumferential direction of the bottom. The first illuminator and the second illuminator may be arranged so as to irradiate.

In the said aspect, the said conveyance path | route is set so that an arc-shaped part may be included, the said 1st illuminator is the inner peripheral side of the said arc-shaped part, and the said 2nd illuminator is the outer peripheral side of the said arc-shaped part And the number of the second illuminators may be set larger than the number of the first illuminators. Or the said conveyance path | route may be set so that a linear part may be included, and the said 1st illuminator and the said 2nd illuminator may be arrange | positioned so that the said linear part may be pinched | interposed.

1 aspect of the container inspection apparatus of this invention WHEREIN: The said illumination means may be provided so that the said light may be irradiated with respect to one irradiation part from each of the tangential direction one side of the said container, and the other side Good.

In the present invention, the terms “upper”, “side”, and “lower” are relative meaning the upper, side, and lower sides of the container to be inspected, and are not necessarily horizontal or It does not mean an absolute direction based on the vertical direction.

The figure explaining the outline | summary of the container inspection method which concerns on one form of this invention. The figure which showed the state seen from the direction (side) of the arrow II of FIG. The figure which showed the state seen from the direction of arrow III of FIG. The figure which showed schematic structure of the container inspection apparatus which concerns on one form of this invention. The figure which showed an example of the test | inspection image. The figure which showed the positional relationship of a test | inspection image and knurling. The figure which showed schematic structure of the container inspection apparatus which concerns on the other form of this invention. The figure which showed schematic structure of the container inspection apparatus which concerns on the further another form of this invention. The figure which showed the modification of the container inspection apparatus of FIG. The figure which showed schematic structure of the container inspection apparatus which concerns on the further different form of this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the inspection method of this embodiment, a beer lees 100 that is a container is an inspection object. As is well known, the beer bowl 100 is made of light-transmitting glass, and has a disc-shaped bottom portion 101 and a cylindrical body that is raised from the bottom portion 101 at a substantially right angle and squeezed toward the upper end portion. Part 102. A mouth portion (not shown) is connected to the upper end portion of the trunk portion 102. The inspection method of the present embodiment is carried out in order to detect foreign matters such as glass pieces on the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100.

The inspection method of the present embodiment includes an illumination process for irradiating the bottom 101 with inspection light IL as light and an imaging process for imaging the bottom 101 irradiated with the inspection light IL in the illumination process. In the illumination process, the inspection light IL is irradiated toward the predetermined irradiation part IP by the LED illuminator 10 which is an illuminating means. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the irradiation unit IP is located at the left-right end Ed of the bottom 101 when the beer bowl 100 is viewed from the side (in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1). In the illumination step, the inspection light IL is irradiated from the side (the side facing the paper surface of FIG. 2) toward the irradiation unit IP (see also FIG. 1). Moreover, the LED illuminator 10 is arranged so that the inspection light IL is irradiated obliquely from above the irradiation unit IP. When the bottom 101 is horizontal, the irradiation direction D1 of the inspection light IL is preferably set within an angle range α of 5 degrees or more and 30 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction D0. By irradiating the inspection light IL within this angle range α, it is possible to avoid markings or the like that are often provided at the bottom of the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100. When the bottom 101 is assumed to be a perfect circle in plan view, the irradiation direction D1 of the inspection light IL can be geometrically defined as a direction inclined upward with respect to the tangential direction of the bottom 101.

In the imaging process, the bottom 101 where the inspection light IL is irradiated onto the irradiation unit IP is imaged by the camera 11 serving as an imaging unit installed so that the center line CL of the beer bowl 100 coincides with the optical axis. As a lens mounted on the camera 11, a short focus lens of about 12 mm is used instead of a fisheye lens. As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging range IR of the camera 11 is set as a range in which an image Im of the bottom portion 101 that appears when the beer bowl 100 is viewed from below. Note that the optical axis of the camera 11 does not necessarily need to coincide with the center line CL as long as the image Im is within the range. It is also possible to place the camera 11 at an arbitrary position by interposing means for changing the optical path, such as a reflecting mirror, between the beer bowl 100 and the camera 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection light IL irradiated in the illumination process is incident on the bottom 101. When the foreign matter X such as a glass piece is present in the bottom 101, the incident inspection light IL is reflected, refracted or scattered at the location of the foreign matter X, and its traveling direction changes. The light whose traveling direction has changed is directed downward, and in the illustrated example, traveled downward in a direction substantially parallel to the center line CL, and is imaged by the camera 11. The light whose traveling direction changes at the position of the foreign object X corresponds to any of reflected light, scattered light, and refracted light of the inspection light IL depending on the characteristics of the foreign object X.

On the other hand, when there is no foreign matter X in the bottom 101, the inspection light IL incident on the bottom 101 exits from the bottom 101 as shown by a broken line while being refracted. Therefore, when there is no foreign substance in the bottom 101, the reflected or refracted light is not captured by the camera 11 because it is out of the imaging range IR.

Therefore, according to the inspection method of this embodiment, the presence / absence of the foreign matter X on the bottom 101 can be detected by checking the presence / absence of a defect image caused by the foreign matter X from the image captured by the camera 11. Moreover, since the position of the irradiation part IP is set as described above, and the inspection light IL is irradiated from the side of the beer bowl 100 and obliquely from above, a ring-shaped knurling N is formed on the outer surface of the bottom 101. Even when it is formed in 100, the reflected light by the knurling N can be suppressed. Thereby, the deterioration of the inspection accuracy due to the knurling N being shining can be avoided.

Next, an example of a container inspection apparatus that realizes the inspection method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the container inspection device 1 divides the inspection region of the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100 that is the container to be inspected into a plurality of parts, here, eight. Then, each of the divided inspection areas is set as a divided inspection area, and eight LED illuminators 10 are arranged so that the inspection light IL can be irradiated to each divided inspection area. Specifically, the eight LED illuminators 10 are arranged in the circumferential direction so as to surround the beer bowl 100 and are respectively associated with the eight divided inspection regions. Each of the eight LED illuminators 10 irradiates light from the side and obliquely upward toward the irradiation unit IP set for each divided inspection region. The arrangement of each LED illuminator 10 is as shown in FIGS. The irradiating unit IP that each LED illuminator 10 irradiates the inspection light IL is also set for each divided inspection region as shown in FIGS. The number of divisions of the inspection area is appropriately determined according to the inspection object.

The camera 11 is arranged so that the optical axis coincides with the center line CL of the beer bowl 100 as shown in FIG. Each LED illuminator 10 and camera 11 are connected to a control device (not shown) which is a computer, and the operation is controlled by the control device. Specifically, the control device controls each LED illuminator 10 so that each LED illuminator 10 irradiates the inspection light IL, and the camera so that the bottom 101 in the illuminated state is imaged in one shot. 11 is controlled. The control device stores image data captured by the camera 11. Implementation of processing on the image is optional. For example, the control device may perform binarization processing, inversion processing, and the like on the image obtained by imaging to perform image processing so that an image accompanying a defect in the bottom portion 101 becomes clear.

An example of a defect image appearing in an image obtained by the container inspection apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. The ring depicted in the image of FIG. 5 is an inspection region R set with reference to the outermost periphery of the beer bowl 100. By analyzing the defect image existing inside the inspection region R, the presence or absence of foreign matter is detected. In the image of FIG. 5, a defect image X corresponding to a glass piece that is a foreign substance on the bottom 101 is shown. This glass piece has a size of about 1 × 1 × 1 mm. FIG. 6 is an image obtained by using auxiliary illumination (not shown) that shines the knurling N in a situation where the same foreign matter as that in FIG. 5 exists. As is apparent from the image of FIG. 6, it can be seen that the glass piece and the knurling N are in an overlapping position. That is, according to the present embodiment, the foreign matter can be detected without causing the knurling N to shine.

The present invention is not limited to the above form, and can be implemented in various forms. In the said form, the bottom part 101 is illuminated using the some LED illuminator 10 without moving the beer bowl 100 which is a container to be examined, and the inspection range of the bottom part 101 is expanded. That is, although the said form reduces the frequency | count of an imaging process by expanding the range which can illuminate the bottom part 101 by one illumination process, this invention is not limited to the inspection method and apparatus of each form mentioned above.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, while supporting the body 102 of the beer bowl 100, which is the container to be inspected, with the belt 30, the inspection light IL is rotated while rotating the beer bowl 100 around the center line CL. The present invention can be implemented in the form of irradiation in the irradiation direction D1 and imaging with the camera 11 at every predetermined rotation angle. In this case, since the number of the LED illuminators 10 is sufficient, the number of the LED illuminators 10 can be reduced.

FIG. 8 shows one form of the container inspection device 20 provided with the star wheel transport device 21 as an example of the transport means of the beer bowl 100. The star wheel transport device 21 rotates the disk-shaped star wheel 22 provided with recesses 22a at equal intervals on the outer periphery around its central axis by a drive mechanism (not shown), While the beer bowl 100 is taken into the recess 22a at P1, the beer bowl 100 is taken out from the recess 22a at the carry-out position P2, so that the beer bowl 100 is transferred in an arc shape between the carry-in position P1 and the carry-out position P2. This is a well-known transport device that transports along a center line (shown by a one-dot chain line). That is, the star wheel transport device 21 is an example of a transport unit that is set so that the entire transport path CP is curved in an arc. An inspection position Pi is set at an intermediate position between the carry-in position P1 and the carry-out position P2 as an example in the middle of the transport path CP. The container inspection device 20 uses the camera 11 while irradiating the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100 located at the inspection position Pi with the inspection light IL (shown by a thick arrow, and only a part thereof is provided with reference numerals). Imaging is performed by looking up the bottom 101 from directly below. Processing of the obtained image may be the same as that of the container inspection apparatus 1 in FIG.

In the container inspection apparatus 20, as an example of illumination means for irradiating the inspection light IL, four inner illuminators 23A to 23D disposed on the inner peripheral side of the transport path CP and the outer peripheral side of the transport path CP are disposed. Six outer illuminators 24A to 24F are provided. The inner illuminators 23A to 23D and the outer illuminators 24A to 24F are arranged so as to sandwich the conveyance path CP so as not to disturb the conveyance of the beer bowl 100 along the conveyance path CP. The inner illuminators 23A to 23D are examples of first illuminators, and the outer illuminators 24A to 24F are examples of second illuminators. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the inner illuminators 23A to 23D, they are referred to as the inner illuminator 23, and when it is not necessary to distinguish the outer illuminators 24A to 24F, they are referred to as the outer illuminator 24. Each of the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24 is an illuminator that emits spot light using an LED as a light source as an example.

A plurality (six in the illustrated example) of irradiation units IP1 to IP6 are set on the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100 while changing positions in the circumferential direction. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the irradiation units IP1 to IP6, they may be referred to as irradiation units IP. The irradiation unit IP is set as shown in FIGS. That is, the irradiation part IP is set so as to be positioned at the end Ed in the left-right direction of the bottom 101 when the beer bowl 100 is viewed from the side (in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1). In FIG. 8, the position of the irradiation unit IP is indicated by a dashed arc, but the actual irradiation unit IP is set as shown in FIG.

Each of the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24 is provided so as to irradiate the inspection light IL in a shared manner with respect to the plurality of irradiation units IP. That is, the inner illuminator 23A and the outer illuminator 24A irradiate the irradiation part IP1 with the inspection light IL, and the inner illuminator 23B and the outer illuminator 24B irradiate the irradiation part IP2 with the inspection light IL, and the inner illuminator 23C and the outer illuminator 24C. The illuminator 24C irradiates the irradiation part IP3 with the inspection light IL, and the inner illuminator 23D and the outer illuminator 24D are provided so as to irradiate the irradiation part IP4 with the inspection light IL. The correspondence between the irradiation units IP1 to IP4, the inner illuminators 23A to 23D, and the outer illuminators 24A to 24D is a tangential direction of the beer bowl 100 with respect to one irradiation unit IP (may be regarded as a circumferential direction). The inspection light IL is set to be irradiated from each of the one side and the other side. That is, when the beer bowl 100 is viewed from directly above, the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24 associated with one irradiation unit IP are arranged to face each other with the irradiation unit IP interposed therebetween. The irradiation unit IP is irradiated with the inspection light IL from both sides thereof.

Also, the two irradiation units IP5 and IP6 set at the outermost position of the transport path CP are irradiated with the inspection light IL from one

outer illuminator

24E and 24F, respectively. The physical space on the inner circumference side of the transport path CP is narrower than that on the outer circumference side, and the number of installed inner illuminators 23 is limited. However, the physical space on the outer circumference side of the transport path CP is less restricted. Therefore, if the number of the outer illuminators 24 is set to be larger than the number of the inner illuminators 23, the illuminance of the inspection light IL applied to the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100 can be increased. In addition, with respect to the direction of the center line CL of the beer bowl 100, each of the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24 is arranged to irradiate the inspection light IL obliquely from above with respect to the irradiation unit IP. This point is as shown in FIG. 1, and the angle range α may be the same as described above.

According to the container inspection apparatus 20 described above, the inspection light IL is irradiated from the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24 to the illumination unit IP set on the bottom 101 of the beer bowl 100, and the inspection light IL is irradiated. By imaging the bottom 101 with the camera 11, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of a defect image due to the foreign matter X in the bottom 101 by performing the above-described illumination process and imaging process. In this case, with respect to each of the irradiation parts IP1 to IP4, the illuminance is increased by irradiating the single irradiation part IP with the inspection light IL from both sides in the tangential direction, and the knurling of the bottom part 101 and the rising part of the inner wall are illuminated. The bottom 101 can be illuminated so that only the outermost periphery of the beer bowl 100 shines clearly while suppressing inconveniences. Thereby, the inspection area in the image acquired by the camera 11 can be stabilized, and the inspection area can be tracked more accurately.

In addition, the illuminance of the inspection light IL irradiated on the bottom 101 can be further increased by providing more outer illuminators 24 than the inner illuminators 23 by taking advantage of the physical space on the outer peripheral side of the transport path CP. Thereby, it is possible to further increase the contrast between the foreign object X and the other part in the image acquired by the camera 11 to improve the detection accuracy. It should be noted that the metal or black foreign matter can be easily detected because it appears as a darker shadow than the knurling by the inspection light IL. In addition, depending on the shape and the incident angle of the inspection light, a glass piece or white foreign substance may shine as a bright part or a shadow as a dark part. In either case, the contrast with the part other than the foreign substance is relatively low. Because it becomes large, it can be easily detected.

The correspondence relationship between the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24 and the irradiation unit IP illustrated in FIG. 8 is an example, and the correspondence relationship may be changed as appropriate. FIG. 9 shows a container inspection apparatus 20 according to the modification. In the container inspection apparatus 20 of this example, the four inner illuminators 23A to 23D and the four outer illuminators 24A to 24D share the inspection with respect to the plurality of irradiation units IP1 to IP6 set on the bottom 101. It is comprised so that light IL may be irradiated. That is, the inner illuminator 23A and the outer illuminator 24A irradiate the irradiation part IP1 with the inspection light IL, and the inner illuminator 23B and the outer illuminator 24B are provided so as to irradiate the irradiation part IP2 with the inspection light IL. The correspondence relationship between the irradiation parts IP1, IP2 and the

inner illuminators

23A, 23B and the

outer illuminators

24A, 24B is as follows. Is set to be irradiated with the inspection light IL. Further, the inspection light IL is irradiated from one

inner illuminators

23C and 23D to the two irradiation units IP3 and IP4 set at the innermost peripheral position of the transport path CP, respectively. The two irradiation units IP5 and IP6 set at the outermost position of the transport path CP are irradiated with the inspection light IL from one

outer illuminator

24C and 24D, respectively. 9, the irradiation unit IP may be appropriately set along the periphery of the bottom 101, and how the irradiation unit IP is shared by the inner illuminator 23 and the outer illuminator 24. The illumination can be selected as appropriate.

In each of the above embodiments, the irradiation direction of the inspection light IL (the direction of the dashed line D1 in FIG. 1) is set so that the inspection light IL is irradiated obliquely from above the bottom 101. Depending on the state, it is not always necessary to irradiate the inspection light IL obliquely from above. For example, when there is no additional element such as a marking that disturbs the optical path of the inspection light IL at the bottom 101, the inspection light IL may be irradiated from the side of the container, that is, from the direction orthogonal to the center line CL.

The conveyance path CP is not limited to an example in which the whole is formed in an arc shape. When the conveyance path is set to include an arc-shaped portion and the container is inspected at the arc-shaped portion, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first is formed on the inner peripheral side of the arc-shaped portion of the conveyance path. The second illuminator may be disposed on the outer peripheral side of the illuminator, and the illumination units may be appropriately assigned to irradiate the plurality of irradiation units with light. In addition, when the conveyance path is set to include a linear portion and the container is inspected at the linear portion, the first illuminator and the second illumination are sandwiched between the linear portions. It is only necessary to irradiate light by arranging a vessel and sharing the light with the illuminators for a plurality of irradiation portions of the container. FIG. 10 shows an example of a form in which the container is inspected at the straight portion of the transport path. In the inspection apparatus 20A shown in FIG. 10, a conveyance apparatus 21A is provided so that at least a part of the conveyance path CP extends linearly, and an inspection position Pi is set in the middle of the straight line portion of the conveyance path CP. Has been. As an example, the transport device 21A is configured to transport along the transport path CP while holding the barrel 102 (see FIG. 1) of the beer bowl 100 between a pair of belts. On both sides of the inspection position Pi, the inner illuminators 23A to 23D in FIG. 9 are used as the first illuminator, and the outer illuminators 24A to 24D in FIG. 9 are used as the second illuminator. It arrange | positions so that the path | route CP may be pinched | interposed. The correspondence relationship between the irradiation units IP1 to IP6 of the beer bowl 100 and the illuminators 23 and 24 is set similarly to the example of FIG. In addition to the above, the transport path CP may be set to various shapes in which a linear portion and an arc-shaped portion are appropriately combined, and the inspection position can be set to an appropriate position.

In each of the above embodiments, the LED illuminator 10 is used as the light source of the inspection light IL, but the light source and the wavelength of the light are not particularly limited. An appropriate light source may be selected according to the properties of the container to be inspected. In each of the above embodiments, beer lees are to be inspected, but as a container that can be inspected by the inspection method and apparatus of the present invention, as long as it is a container that has a bottom and is made of a material having a light projecting property, There is no limit. Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting also in the shape of a bottom part. For example, a container having a non-circular bottom such as a polygonal shape in plan view can be used as an inspection target of the inspection method and apparatus of the present invention.

As described above, according to the container inspection method and apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, when there is a foreign matter within the light irradiation range, the light incident on the bottom is reflected, refracted or scattered at the location of the foreign matter. However, at least a part of the light whose traveling direction has been changed by the foreign object goes to the imaging range below the container. Thereby, since the light whose traveling direction has been changed by the foreign object can be imaged in the imaging process, the foreign object such as a glass piece at the bottom can be detected.

Claims

In a container inspection method for inspecting the bottom of a container,
An illumination step of irradiating light from the side toward an irradiation unit located at an end in the left-right direction of the bottom when the container is viewed from the side;
In an imaging range where an image of the bottom that appears when the container is viewed from below is within an imaging range, an imaging step of imaging the bottom of the illumination unit irradiated with the light;
A container inspection method comprising:
The container inspection method according to claim 1, wherein, in the illumination step, the light is irradiated from the side and obliquely upward toward the irradiation unit.
The container inspection method according to claim 2, wherein, in the illumination step, the light is irradiated within an angle range of 5 degrees or more and 30 degrees or less with respect to a direction parallel to the bottom portion.
The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the illumination step, the light is irradiated toward the irradiation unit set in each of a plurality of divided inspection areas obtained by dividing the inspection area of the bottom. Inspection method.
The container is located on a predetermined transport path;
In the illumination step, the first illuminator and the second illuminator arranged across the transport path share a plurality of irradiation units set by changing positions in the circumferential direction of the bottom. The container inspection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light is irradiated.
The transport path is set to include an arcuate portion;
In the illuminating step, the first illuminator is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the arc-shaped portion, the second illuminator is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the arc-shaped portion, and the number of the first illuminators. The container inspection method according to claim 5, wherein the number of the second illuminators is set to be larger than that of the second illuminator.
The transport path is set to include a straight portion,
The container inspection method according to claim 5, wherein in the illuminating step, the first illuminator and the second illuminator are arranged so as to sandwich the linear portion.
The container inspection method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the illumination step, the light is irradiated from one side and the other side in the tangential direction of the container with respect to one irradiation unit.
In a container inspection device for inspecting the bottom of a container,
Illuminating means for irradiating light from the side toward the irradiating unit located at the end in the left-right direction of the bottom when the container is viewed from the side;
An imaging means for imaging the bottom portion in which the light is irradiated on the irradiation section by the illumination means within an imaging range in which an image of the bottom portion that appears when the container is viewed from below is included;
A container inspection apparatus comprising:
The container inspection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the illumination unit irradiates the light from the side and obliquely upward toward the irradiation unit.
11. The container inspection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the illumination unit irradiates the light within an angle range of 5 degrees or more and 30 degrees or less with respect to a direction parallel to the bottom portion.
As the illuminating means, a plurality of illuminating means respectively corresponding to a plurality of divided inspection areas obtained by dividing the bottom inspection area are provided, and each of the plurality of illuminating means is set for each of the divided inspection areas. The container inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the light is irradiated toward an irradiation unit.
Comprising transport means for transporting the container along a predetermined transport path;
As the illuminating means, a first illuminator and a second illuminator arranged across the conveyance path are provided,
The first illuminator and the second illuminator share the first illuminator and irradiate the light to a plurality of illuminating units set in different positions in the circumferential direction of the bottom. The container inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein an illuminator and the second illuminator are arranged.
The transport path is set to include an arcuate portion;
The first illuminator is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the arc-shaped portion, the second illuminator is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the arc-shaped portion, and the second illuminator is greater than the number of the first illuminators. The container inspection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the number of the illuminators is set to be large.
The transport path is set to include a straight portion,
The container inspection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first illuminator and the second illuminator are arranged so as to sandwich the linear portion.
The illuminating means is provided so as to irradiate the light from one side and the other side in the tangential direction of the container with respect to one irradiation unit. The container inspection apparatus as described.