JP4708060B2 - Quality inspection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a quality inspection system that inspects an article to eliminate defective products.

When an error or the like occurs in the inspection apparatus, the production line is temporarily stopped and then restarted. At the time of such restart, an uninspected product (remaining article) may remain on the quality inspection system. Such remaining articles include inspected articles, but defective products may not be discharged normally upon restarting, so it is necessary to inspect them again as uninspected products.
In addition, uninspected products are generated rarely compared to defective products because they are generated when the production line is stopped. On the other hand, defective products occur more frequently than the uninspected products. Therefore, if uninspected products and defective products are discharged to the same location outside the system, uninspected products will be mixed into a large number of defective products. .
Therefore, conventionally, an operator removes an article on the quality inspection system before restarting. However, an uninspected product may be handled as a non-defective product because the worker forgets it.

On the other hand, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known as related to the error handling of the sorting by the conventional inspection equipment.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-238218 (FIGS. 1 and 2) JP-A-2004-230376 (FIGS. 1 and 5)

The article sorter disclosed in Patent Document 1 relates to the discharge of defective products, and the items that are missed by the first exclusion conveyor are distributed by the downstream second exclusion conveyor.
The distribution device of Patent Document 2 distributes all signals other than normal signals. Therefore, sorting errors and uninspected items are not transported downstream. However, since many normal inspection devices emit abnormal signals, they are not versatile.
In addition, depending on the sorting device, a defective product and an uninspected product are mixed, and re-inspection takes a very long time.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a quality inspection system capable of reliably preventing uninspected products (remaining products) from being conveyed to a normal line and separating re-inspected products from defective products. is there.

In order to achieve the above object, a quality inspection system of the present invention is a quality inspection system including a sorting device that receives a failure signal from an inspection device and removes the defective product from a normal conveyance line. When the quality inspection system is stopped and restarted with a first discharge means for discharging from the normal transfer line and a second discharge means for distributing uninspected products from the normal transfer line in a direction different from the defective product Regardless of whether or not there is an uninspected product on the sorting device, the second discharging means performs a predetermined sorting operation, and after the sorting operation of the second discharging means is started, the second discharging means Until the product returns to its original state, the upstream conveying device is stopped so that articles are not carried into the inspection device from the upstream conveying device.

According to the present invention, not only defective products but also uninspected products can be reliably prevented from being transported to a downstream normal transport line.
Also, if the discharge direction of defective products is the same as the discharge direction of uninspected products, both will be mixed and many objects including defective products will need to be re-inspected. Since the article is distributed to a place different from the defective product, the number of items to be re-inspected later is reduced, so that the work efficiency is improved.
Further, since the upstream conveying device is stopped until the second discharging means is restored, the uninspected product can be more reliably distributed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that after the restart, the second discharging means continues the sorting operation for a predetermined time.
According to this aspect, by continuing the sorting operation for a predetermined time, the certainty of sorting of uninspected products is increased.

In the present invention, after the restart, the inspection apparatus detects an article from the upstream, the inspection of the article is performed in the inspection apparatus, and the article subjected to the inspection is conveyed to the sorting apparatus. During this period, it is preferable that the second discharging means continues the sorting operation.
According to this aspect, the certainty of sorting of uninspected products is enhanced by the second discharging means continuing the sorting operation until the tested article is conveyed to the sorting device.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the sorting device conveys non-defective products and defective products in a generally horizontal direction, and distributes the uninspected products downward from the non-defective products and defective products.
According to this aspect, even if the article is stopped in the middle of arm distribution or the like, the article can be reliably distributed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the first and second discharge means are provided on a single conveyor.
According to this aspect, since it is not necessary to provide a plurality of exclusion conveyors, the system can be made compact.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 show a first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the present system includes a transport device 1, an inspection device 2, and a sorting device 3 from upstream to downstream. As the inspection device 2, for example, a weight detector, a metal detector, a seal checker, and the like, and a checker for the shape and color of an article can be used. In the following description, the inspection device 2 is used. The weight detection device will be described as an example.

  The upstream transfer device 1, the inspection device 2, and the sorting device 3 include a first conveyor 10, a second conveyor 20, and a third conveyor 30, respectively. If the article M to be transported is not defective and is not an uninspected product, which will be described later, the article M is transported in a generally horizontal direction from the first to third conveyors 10, 20, 30 to the fourth transport conveyor 40 downstream. The line is transported.

Control configuration:
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 1, the inspection device 2, and the sorting device 3 are respectively connected to a main control device 7 composed of a microcomputer (microcomputer) via an interface (not shown). On the other hand, the main controller 7 is connected to a restart button 70 that is pressed to restart when the mechanical operation of the system is temporarily stopped.
Each of the devices 1 to 3 is provided with local control means 15, 25, and 35 made of, for example, a microcomputer.

Transport device 1:
The first conveyor 10 is connected to the first local control means 15 of the transport apparatus 1.

Inspection device 2:
The second conveyor 20, the weight detection means 21, the passage detection means 22, and the like are connected to the second local control means 25 of the inspection apparatus 2.
The passage detection means 22 includes, for example, an optical sensor, and is provided on the upstream side of the second conveyor 20 as shown in FIG. When the article M crosses the passage detection means 22, the passage detection means 22 transmits a detection signal of the article M to the second local control means 25.

The weight detection unit 21 detects the weight of the article M conveyed on the second conveyor 20, and transmits a weight detection signal to the second local control unit 25.
After receiving the detection signal of the article M from the passage detection means 22, the second local control means 25 calculates the weight of the article M based on the weight detection signal from the weight detection means 21. The second local control means 25 determines whether or not the calculated weight is within a predetermined allowable range, and transmits a failure signal to the main control device 7 when it deviates from the predetermined range. .

Sorting device 3:
As shown in FIG. 1, a first discharge means 31 is provided on one side of the sorting device 3. When the main control device 7 receives the failure signal from the inspection device 2, the main control device 7 causes the sorting device 3 to perform the first discharge. That is, the third local control unit 35 causes the first discharge unit 31 to discharge air, thereby moving the article M being conveyed on the third conveyor 30 in an oblique lateral direction, and the horizontal direction of the sorting device 3. The defective product is discharged out of the system from the normal conveyance line.

On the other hand, the sorting device 3 performs the second discharge at a timing described later.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the sorting apparatus 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, the third conveyor 30 is provided with a downstream end 30 a that is movable up and down around the upstream end 30 o of the third conveyor 30. From the normal conveyance state indicated by the solid line, The posture can be changed up to a tilted state shown in FIG.
As for the 3rd conveyor 30, the above-mentioned normal conveyance state and the inclination state in which the 3rd conveyor 30 inclined were selectively set by expansion-contraction of the rod 34a of the air cylinder 34 provided in the distribution apparatus 3 main body.

  The second discharge is performed by moving the third conveyor 30 to an inclined state. That is, in the inclined state, the discharge of the air from the first discharge means 31 is stopped, while the downstream end 30a of the third conveyor 30 is inclined downward, so that the article M is moved from the downstream end 30a to the fourth in FIG. They are sorted into an uninspected product box 6 provided below the conveyor 40.

A third conveyor 30, a first discharge means 31, a solenoid valve 33, an air cylinder 34, and the like are connected to the third local control means 35 of the sorting apparatus 3 shown in FIG.
The cylinder rod 34a (FIG. 3) of the air cylinder 34 is advanced and retracted by the electromagnetic valve 33. When the electromagnetic valve 33 opens and closes, the air cylinder 34 operates at a predetermined timing, which will be described later, and the attitude of the third conveyor 30 is set to either the normal conveyance state or the inclined state. Therefore, the 3rd conveyor 30, the electromagnetic valve 33, and the air cylinder 34 comprise the 2nd discharge means 32 which performs 2nd discharge.

  This system includes a steady mode in which the first discharge means 31 performs the first discharge as required, and a distribution mode in which the second discharge means 32 performs the second discharge.

Quality inspection system operation:
Steady mode;
In the steady mode, the third conveyor 30 shown in FIG. 1 is set to the normal conveyance state. In the steady mode, the non-defective product is transported in the horizontal direction X toward the fourth transport conveyor 40. If the second local control means 25 in FIG. 2 detects the weight of the article M and determines that it is a defective product, a defective signal is transmitted to the main controller 7. The main controller 7 discharges air from the first discharge means 31. 1 is conveyed laterally or obliquely laterally on the third conveyor 30, the article M is discharged out of the system (first discharge is performed), and the article M Falls into the defective box 5.

Distribution mode;
On the other hand, when an error or the like occurs in the inspection device 2 or the sorting device 3, the system is automatically or manually stopped. At this time, the article M may remain on the conveyors 20 and 30. For example, the defective product M may remain on the sorting device 3 before the discharge operation by the first discharge means 31 is completed, or the defective product M may remain in a state where it is not sorted by the first discharge means 31. . Further, the uninspected product M may remain on the second conveyor 20 or the non-defective product M may remain on the third conveyor 30. However, when this system is stopped, it becomes unclear what articles M remain. Therefore, when the system is stopped, it is necessary to remove the remaining articles M existing on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30.

Therefore, in the present system, the distribution mode is provided.
When the operator presses the restart button 70 (FIG. 2) to restart the system, the distribution mode starts. Hereinafter, the distribution mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the distribution mode starts, the process proceeds to step S1. In Step S1, the second conveyor 32 moves the third conveyor 30 in FIG. 3 from the normal conveyance state indicated by the solid line to the inclined state indicated by the two-dot chain line, and proceeds to Step S2.

  In step S2, the 2nd and 3rd conveyors 20 and 30 start conveyance operation in the state where the 1st conveyor 10 of Drawing 1 stopped, and progresses to step S3. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, since the third conveyor 30 is set in an inclined state, a remaining article M such as an uninspected article M remains on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30. The remaining article M is discharged into an uninspected product box 6 provided below the fourth conveyor 40 regardless of whether it is an uninspected product or not. Accordingly, the remaining articles M are distributed toward the lower uninspected product box 6, unlike the substantially horizontal direction X which is the non-defective product discharge direction in the above-described steady mode.

In step S3 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the predetermined time t1 has elapsed. That is, the main control device (microcomputer) 7 measures the time, and when a predetermined time t1 has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if the predetermined time t1 has not elapsed, the process returns to step S3.
In step S4, the third conveyor 30 is returned from the inclined state to the normal transport state. Thereafter, the steady mode is started, the conveying operation of the first conveyor 10 is started, and a new article M can be inspected and distributed.

Here, the predetermined time t1 will be described. When the line is stopped, as shown in FIG. 1, there may be a case where, for example, a remaining article M such as an uninspected article M that has not been inspected by the inspection apparatus 2 remains on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30. is there. Therefore, the upstream conveying device 1 is stopped, and only the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 are operated, so that all the uninspected and overlying remaining articles M on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 are unexposed. It is necessary to sort into the inspection product box 6. Accordingly, the predetermined time t1 for operating the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 is set to the time t1 until the article M reaches the downstream end of the third conveyor 30 from the upstream end of the second conveyor 20.
Thus, the certainty of the distribution of the uninspected product (remaining product) M can be increased by inclining the third conveyor 30 for the predetermined time t1 and continuing the distribution operation.

As described above, after all the remaining articles M on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 are sorted and discharged into the uninspected product box 6, the third conveyor 30 is in the original state (normal conveyance state). Until returning to, the conveyance of the article M to the inspection apparatus 2 by the upstream conveyance apparatus 1 is stopped. Therefore, the remaining article M including the uninspected product M can be reliably discharged out of the system different from the defective product.
The remaining article M that has dropped into the uninspected product box 6 is inspected again.

  Moreover, since the 1st discharge means 31 and the 2nd discharge means 32 are provided in the one 3rd conveyor 30, the distribution apparatus 3 can be made compact. Therefore, the entire system can be configured compactly.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment.
As shown in this figure, in Example 2, the passage detection means 22 </ b> A for the article M is also provided at the downstream end of the second conveyor 20. In the present embodiment, the second discharge operation is performed not by time but by detection of articles as follows.

  The upstream first conveyor 10 includes a stopper 50 that stops the article M2 without conveying it to the downstream inspection apparatus 2 when the article M1 exists on the downstream inspection apparatus 2.

  If the remaining article M1 remains on the inspection apparatus 2 after the restart, the remaining article M1 passes through the downstream passage detection means 22A by the inspection apparatus 2 and is conveyed to the third conveyor 30 and the third conveyor 30. Tilts and falls into the uninspected product box 6. When the remaining article M1 is detected by the passage detection means 22A, the subsequent article M2 is carried onto the inspection apparatus 2 and inspected while being conveyed downstream. When the succeeding article M2 crosses the passage detection means 22A, the inclined third conveyor 30 returns to a horizontal posture. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably discharge the remaining article M1 with unknown whether it is defective or uninspected into the uninspected product box 6.

The local control means 15, 25, 35 and the main control device 7 may be a single control device.
In addition to the weight checker, the inspection apparatus may be a foreign substance inspection apparatus, a metal detector, or the like.
Furthermore, in both of the above-described embodiments, an air discharge device is employed as the first discharge means 31. However, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an arm 37 is provided, and the arm 37 is the third discharge means 31. You may make it discharge | emit a defective product out of the system by this arm 37 by rotating along the conveyance surface of the conveyor 30. FIG.

  This quality inspection system can be used for an article conveyance line.

It is a schematic perspective view of the quality inspection system concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is a device block diagram of the system. It is a schematic side view of a distribution apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows distribution mode. It is a schematic perspective view of the quality inspection system concerning Example 2. FIG. It is the top view and side view of a distribution apparatus which show a modification.

Explanation of symbols

1: Conveying device 2: Inspection device 3: Sorting device 30: Third conveyor (second discharging means)
31: First discharging means 32: Second discharging means 33: Solenoid valve (second discharging means)
34: Air cylinder (second discharge means)

Claims (3)

A quality inspection system including a sorting device that receives a failure signal from an inspection device and removes defective products from a normal conveyance line,
First discharge means for discharging defective products from the normal conveyance line; and second discharge means for distributing uninspected products from the normal transfer line in a direction different from the defective products,
When restarting the stopped quality inspection system, regardless of whether there is untested products in the sorting apparatus on the second discharge means have rows predetermined sorting operation,
After the distribution operation of the second discharge unit is started, the upstream transfer device is stopped until the second discharge unit returns to the original state, so that the inspection device is changed from the upstream transfer device. Keeping items from being carried in
Quality inspection system characterized by The quality inspection system according to claim 1 ,
The sorting apparatus transports non-defective products and defective products in a substantially horizontal direction, and distributes the uninspected products downward from the non-defective products and defective products. The quality inspection system according to any one of claims 1 and 2 ,
A quality inspection system in which the first and second discharge means are provided on one transport conveyor.

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