JP5481218B2 - External inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an external inspection apparatus that detects an external abnormality of an individual roll paper obtained by cutting a long roll paper.

Conventionally, the production process of solid roll paper is to produce wide paper from paper material, rewind the wide paper to create a long roll paper, cut this long roll paper into a certain length, dimension The packaging is performed after external inspections such as adequacy of adhering, adhesion of external dirt or adequacy of gluing at the end of rewinding.
For example, in the case of the prior art described in Patent Document 1, a top chain conveyor mechanism that loads and conveys a cut individual roll paper, and an upper side of the individual roll paper that is placed and conveyed on the conveyor mechanism An external inspection device including a photoelectric sensor that detects the length of the sensor is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-189460 A

However, in the case of the conventional external inspection method described above, since the individual roll paper placed on the conveyor mechanism is inspected from above, there is a problem that the lower part of the individual roll paper and its surroundings cannot be inspected. It was. In that case, the cutting was not performed perpendicularly to the long roll paper, and it was not possible to perform an inspection such as when the upper and lower portions of the individual roll paper had different dimensions.
The conventional external inspection method is not limited to the individual roll paper length inspection, but can be easily used for inspection of external abnormalities such as adhesion of dirt and foreign matter, poor glueing, etc. There is a problem that the lower part of the individual roll paper and the surrounding area cannot be inspected. In particular, in the case of inspection of surface abnormalities of individual roll paper, it is possible to inspect the upper part and both sides visually without using sensors, but in the case of individual roll paper in the loaded state The necessity was high because the lower part was completely hidden.
In addition, as a solution to the above problem, it can be easily considered to change the orientation of the individual roll paper, but in this case, there is a problem that the work efficiency is lowered because the work process is increased by one. It was.

  An object of the present invention is to perform an external inspection of the portion of the individual roll paper that is the lower side during conveyance without impairing the work efficiency.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the external inspection apparatus, the individual roll paper is placed separately from the conveying means for conveying the individual roll paper obtained by cutting the long roll paper into a certain length, and the conveying means. In addition to the other conveying means that conveys the sheet , the detection means that detects an external abnormality by imaging the individual roll paper conveyed by the conveying means, and the other conveying means separately from the detecting means And other detection means for detecting an external abnormality by imaging the individual roll paper from above or from the side, and the transport means is an individual roll paper whose center line is directed in a state parallel to the transport direction. the has a pair of conveyor mechanisms for transporting sandwich from both sides in the horizontal direction, said detecting means have lines external abnormality detection individuals roll paper conveyed from below by the pair of conveyor mechanism, wherein the conveying means And said Characterized in that the conveying means are continuous.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the external inspection apparatus, the individual roll paper is placed separately from the conveying means for conveying the individual roll paper obtained by cutting the long roll paper into a predetermined length, and the conveying means. In addition to the other conveying means that conveys the sheet , the detection means that detects an external abnormality by imaging the individual roll paper conveyed by the conveying means, and the other conveying means separately from the detecting means And other detection means for detecting an external abnormality by imaging the individual roll paper from above or from the side, and the transport means is an individual roll paper whose center line is directed in a state parallel to the transport direction. A pair of conveyor mechanisms that carry the lower part placed on both sides in the horizontal direction across the lowermost part of the sheet, and the detection means detects the individual roll paper conveyed by the pair of conveyor mechanisms from below from the outside line doctor of detection Characterized in that said conveying means and said other conveying means are continuous.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the individual roll paper having its center line oriented in a state parallel to the conveyance direction is conveyed by being sandwiched from both sides in the horizontal direction by the pair of conveyor mechanisms, the lower side of the individual roll paper is external The transfer is performed without being shielded from. And since the detection means images and inspects the individual roll paper being conveyed from below, it is possible to detect an external abnormality in the lower part of the individual roll paper.
In addition, it is possible to detect an external abnormality from a direction other than the lower side of the individual roll paper transported by the other transport means, and the other detection means transports the individual roll paper transported by the other transport means. Become.
Moreover, since it is not necessary to change the direction of the individual roll paper, it is possible to avoid a decrease in work efficiency.
“External abnormalities” refers to external abnormalities, as well as abnormalities that can be detected from the outside, such as external dimensions, adhesion of dirt / foreign matter, presence / absence of scratches, and the end of paper. It is a glue failure. The “conveyor mechanism” is meant to include general conveyor mechanisms such as a belt type, a chain type, a screw type, and a roller type.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the individual roll paper whose center line is directed in a state parallel to the transport direction is placed on both sides in the horizontal direction by the pair of conveyor mechanisms, and the lower portion is placed on both sides in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the lowermost part of the individual roll paper is transported without being shielded from the outside. And since the detection means images and inspects the individual roll paper being conveyed from below, it becomes possible to detect an external abnormality at the bottom of the individual roll paper.
In addition, it is possible to detect an external abnormality from a direction other than the lower side of the individual roll paper transported by the other transport means, and the other detection means transports the individual roll paper transported by the other transport means. Become.
Moreover, since it is not necessary to change the direction of the individual roll paper, it is possible to avoid a decrease in work efficiency.
The “external abnormality” and the “conveyor mechanism” are the same as in the first aspect.

It is the schematic block diagram which showed the main structures of the external inspection apparatus of the toilet paper which is embodiment of invention. 2A is an explanatory view of the arrangement when the first detection means is viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory view of the arrangement when the second detection means is viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction. It is arrangement | positioning explanatory drawing which looked at arrangement | positioning of a pair of belt conveyor mechanism which mounts the lower part of a toilet paper on both sides of a horizontal direction on both sides of the lowest part of a toilet paper from the conveyance direction downstream. It is the arrangement explanatory view which looked at other examples of arrangement of the 1st and 2nd detection means from the conveyance direction downstream side.

(Outline of Embodiment of the Invention)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main configuration of an external inspection apparatus 10 for toilet paper T as an individual roll paper according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the external inspection apparatus 10 will be described in detail below.
The external inspection apparatus 10 includes a cutting device 20 that cuts a long roll paper R formed by unwinding wide paper into a predetermined target length, and a packing device that packs toilet paper T formed by cutting (not shown). Between the devices and inspecting external abnormalities of the toilet paper T after being cut, and having the function of excluding those determined to be abnormal from the production line.
In the external inspection apparatus 10, the toilet paper T is transported in a horizontal fixed direction, and the fixed direction is referred to as a transport direction F in the following description. Further, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction F is referred to as a left-right direction, and a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction and the horizontal direction is referred to as an up-down direction.

(Cutting device)
The cutting device 20 includes a feed mechanism 21 that feeds the long roll paper R with a target cutting length (the width of the toilet paper) while maintaining a state in which the center line thereof is along the transport direction F, and a fed length. It is mainly comprised from the cutting machine 22 which cuts the length roll paper R so that a cut surface perpendicular | vertical to a conveyance direction may be formed.
The feeding mechanism 21 is a belt conveyor mechanism that places the long roll paper R and conveys the roll paper R along the conveying direction. The feed mechanism 21 is improved in accuracy so that the conveyance drive source is a servo motor and the feed amount becomes a target value. Since the feed amount is the length in the center line direction of the toilet paper T as it is, the dimensional accuracy of the toilet paper T is thereby made uniform and precise by cutting each time.

  The cutting machine 22 includes a round blade that rotates with the rotation center line parallel to the conveyance direction F, and the rotation drive mechanism has a structure that applies a circular motion to the round blade with the rotation center line parallel to the conveyance direction F. It has become. As a result, the round blade that performs the circular motion passes through the feeding path of the long roll paper R that is fed out at a constant cycle, and the long roll paper is fed out in synchronism with the cycle. The toilet paper T can be cut out from the roll paper R with a certain length.

(External inspection device)
The external inspection device 10 includes a first conveyor mechanism 11 provided at a position where the toilet paper T cut out from the cutting machine 22 can be received, and a second conveyor mechanism 11 that receives the toilet paper T from the first conveyor mechanism 11 and conveys the toilet paper T. The conveyor mechanism 12, the third conveyor mechanism 13 that receives the toilet paper T from the second conveyor mechanism 12 and conveys the toilet paper T to the packing device, and the abnormality outside the toilet paper T that is conveyed by the first conveyor mechanism 11 First detection means 14 for detecting, second detection means 15 for detecting an abnormality outside the toilet paper T conveyed by the second conveyor mechanism 12, and the detection results of the detection means 14 and 15. A sorting mechanism 16 for sorting the toilet paper T and a control device (not shown) for controlling these components are provided.

  The first conveyor mechanism 11 is a belt conveyor mechanism in which the placing surface of the toilet paper T is horizontally oriented and transports along the transport direction F. The first conveyor mechanism 11 is extended to a position where the end on the upstream side in the transport direction is close to the round blade of the cutting machine 22, and the leading end of the long roll paper R fed out by the feeding mechanism 21. Is placed as it is, and the cut toilet paper T is maintained as it is and conveyed.

The second conveyor mechanism 12 is a pair of conveyor mechanisms 12a, 12b that conveys the toilet paper T conveyed by the first conveyor mechanism 11 with the center line along the conveying direction F from both sides in the left-right direction. It is composed of These belt conveyor mechanisms 12a and 12b are installed such that the mutually facing surfaces of the endless annular belt are conveyed in the same direction at the same speed with the front end and rear end positions aligned. Since these belt conveyor mechanisms 12a and 12b need to convey the toilet paper T between them, the distance between the left and right directions is equal to the diameter of the toilet paper T, or the toilet paper T in consideration of the flexibility of the toilet paper T. Are arranged so as to be spaced somewhat narrower than the diameter of each other.
Further, these belt conveyor mechanisms 12a and 12b are arranged so that the upstream end in the transport direction partially overlaps the downstream end of the first conveyor mechanism 11 in the transport direction. Further, the belt conveyor mechanisms 12a and 12b are installed such that the intermediate position in the width direction of each belt is higher than the placement surface of the first conveyor mechanism 11 by the same height as the radius of the toilet paper T. Accordingly, the toilet paper T conveyed by the first conveyor mechanism 11 can be held by the belt conveyor mechanisms 12a and 12b sandwiched at the positions of both ends of the diameter. Furthermore, the first and second conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12 are driven at the same conveyance speed, so that the toilet paper T can be smoothly transferred from the first conveyor mechanism 11 to the second conveyor mechanism 12. It is possible. The overlap length of each conveyor mechanism is set to be the same as or somewhat shorter than the length of the toilet paper T.
In addition, each belt conveyor mechanism 12a, 12b cannot hold the toilet paper T when it is bent outward when the toilet paper T is sandwiched between the belt conveyor mechanisms 12a, 12b. It is desirable to do. Alternatively, a plurality of backup rollers may be provided along the transport direction to apply back pressure to the toilet paper side on the back side of the belt, or an elastic body may be disposed on the back side of the belt to apply back pressure. Also good.

  The third conveyor mechanism 13 is a belt conveyor mechanism in which the placing surface of the toilet paper T is horizontally directed and transports along the transport direction F. The third conveyor mechanism 13 is arranged such that the end on the upstream side in the transport direction partially overlaps the downstream end of the second conveyor mechanism 12 in the transport direction. Further, the third conveyor mechanism 13 has a mounting surface whose distance is the same as the radius of the toilet paper T (or from the radius) with respect to the intermediate position in the belt width direction of each belt conveyor mechanism 12a, 12b of the second conveyor mechanism. It is installed so that it is lowered by a slightly longer distance. As a result, the lowest part of the toilet paper T conveyed by the second conveyor mechanism 12 can be placed on the placement surface of the third belt conveyor mechanism 13. Each belt conveyor mechanism 12a, 12b can be sandwiched and held at both ends of the diameter. Furthermore, the second and third conveyor mechanisms 12 and 13 are driven at the same conveyance speed, so that the toilet paper T can be smoothly transferred from the second conveyor mechanism 12 to the third conveyor mechanism 13. It is possible. In this case as well, the overlapping length of each conveyor mechanism is set to be the same as or somewhat shorter than the length of the toilet paper T.

  FIG. 2A is an explanatory view of the arrangement of the first detection means 14 viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction F. FIG. The first detection means 14 includes a first camera 14a that captures an image of the toilet paper T that is conveyed by the first conveyor mechanism 11 from above, a second camera 14b that captures an image from the left, and a second camera 14b that captures an image from the right. And three cameras 14c. Thereby, the picked-up image of the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the toilet paper T conveyed, the left side part, and the right side part can be obtained.

  FIG. 2B is an explanatory view of the arrangement of the second detection means 15 as viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction F. The second detection means 15 is composed of a fourth camera that images the toilet paper T conveyed by the second conveyor mechanism 12 from below. Thereby, the captured image of the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the toilet paper T conveyed can be obtained.

  The sorting mechanism 16 includes an actuator 16a that moves forward and backward, such as an air cylinder, and a discharge path 16b that branches to the left from the third conveyor mechanism 13, and has an abnormality on the outside under the control of the control device. It is possible to discharge the toilet paper T determined to be from the top of the third conveyor mechanism 13 to the discharge path 16b by the actuator 16a.

(Control device)
The control device controls the drive source of each conveyor mechanism 11, 12 and determines whether the toilet paper T is positioned on the first detection means 14 and the second detection means 15 from the transport amount after cutting. The operation is stopped at the position of each detection means, and the detection means 14 and 15 perform operation control for executing the imaging of the toilet paper T. In addition, instead of detecting the position of the toilet paper T from the operation amount of the drive source of each conveyor mechanism 11, 12, a dedicated sensor for detecting the position of the toilet paper T is provided, and each detection means 14, 15 may be executed. In addition, it is possible to obtain an instantaneous still image by capturing an image of the moving toilet paper T without stopping the conveyance of the toilet paper T.

Further, the control device can obtain the captured images of the upper, left and right sides, and lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the toilet paper T by the cameras 14a, 14b, 14c and the detection means 15 of each detection means 14, respectively. Only the outer peripheral surface image of the toilet paper T is extracted from the background by well-known image processing on the captured image, and the presence or absence of contaminants or scratches from the outer peripheral surface image of the toilet paper T, the toilet paper T in the transport direction Perform length detection. And when it is determined from any one or more of the captured images that there is a deposit or a scratch, or when the length detected from the image of the toilet paper T deviates from the allowable range of the specified dimension, there is an external abnormality Judgment is made.
In addition to the above, the control device determines whether or not the glue applied to the end of the toilet paper T from each captured image is appropriate. For example, the determination is made by extracting a pasting mark from a captured image and forming a proper length along the conveyance direction F, whether there is no break, or the end of the toilet paper T itself having an appropriate shape. It is determined whether it has been formed or whether there is no rolling up. For example, an image in a normal state and an image in an abnormal state are prepared, and the abnormality is determined by a known method such as matching processing.
Even when it is determined that any of the captured images has a pasting failure or a squeeze, it is determined that there is an external abnormality.

  When the control device determines that the toilet paper T determined to have an external abnormality has reached the sorting mechanism 16 from the operation amount of the drive source of each conveyor mechanism 11, 12, 13, the actuator 16a of the sorting mechanism 16 is activated. Then, the operation control for discharging to the discharge path 16b is executed. The sorting mechanism 16 may be provided with a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the toilet paper T, and the toilet paper T determined to have an external abnormality by the sensor may be detected and discharged to the external path.

(Operational effect of embodiment of invention)
As described above, the external inspection apparatus 10 includes the pair of belt conveyor mechanisms 12a and 12b in the second conveyor mechanism 12 and conveys the toilet paper T sandwiched from both sides in the horizontal direction. Transport is performed without being shielded. And since the camera of the 2nd detection means 15 images the toilet paper T currently conveyed from the downward | lower direction, and inspection is performed, about the lower part of the toilet paper T, dirt, adhesion of a foreign material, a crack, a dimensional error, poor pasting It is possible to detect external abnormalities such as. In that case, the operation | work which changes the direction of the toilet paper T becomes unnecessary, and it becomes possible to avoid the fall of work efficiency.
Similarly, the toilet paper T conveyed by the first conveyor mechanism 11 can be imaged from above and from the left and right by the cameras 14a, 14b, and 14c of the first detection means 14, and can be inspected. It is possible to detect the above-described external abnormality in all directions, that is, the entire outer peripheral surface in cooperation with the detecting means 15.

(Other)
The feed mechanism 21 of the cutting device 20 and the feed mechanisms 11 to 13 of the external inspection device 10 are all exemplified belt conveyor mechanisms, but are not limited to this, and other conveyor mechanisms such as a chain type, a screw type, and a roller type are adopted. Needless to say, you can.
In addition, although the first and third feeding mechanisms each have a driving source and are controlled, the examples are controlled. However, for example, the driving source is not used and the downstream side in the transport direction is at a low position. You may use what is arrange | positioned in the state where it inclined and the toilet paper T moves with dead weight. In that case, since the toilet paper T cannot be temporarily stopped at the position of the first detection means 14, it is possible to perform imaging while keeping the movement, acquire an instantaneous still image, and determine the external abnormality.

  Moreover, since the feed mechanism 21 of the cutting device 20 and the feed mechanisms 11 and 13 of the external inspection device 10 carry the long roll paper R or the toilet paper T placed thereon, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-189460. As disclosed, the center position in the left-right direction of the placement unit is formed in a valley shape along the transport direction F so that the long roll paper R or toilet paper T does not roll to the left or right. A conveyor mechanism that can maintain the parallel state between the center line of the long roll paper R or the toilet paper T and the transport direction F may be employed.

  Further, the feed mechanism 21 of the cutting device 20 feeds the long roll paper R between two conveyor mechanisms so that the long roll paper R can be fed out quickly and accurately, or the long roll paper R is fed out. An actuator that performs feeding so as to push and push the rear end of R may be used.

Further, the second feeding mechanism 12 of the external inspection apparatus 10 is illustrated as carrying the toilet paper T so as to sandwich the toilet paper T from both ends in the radial direction horizontal to the center line. 3, a pair of belt conveyor mechanisms 12Aa and 12Ab (a belt type is exemplified, but other ones) that place the lower part of the toilet paper T on both sides in the horizontal direction (left and right direction) with the lowermost part D of the toilet paper T interposed therebetween Or a conveyor mechanism).
Even in such a case, it is possible to detect more than the outside with respect to the lowermost periphery of the toilet paper T, and it is possible to function in the same manner as in the case where the paper is sandwiched from both the left and right sides. In addition, the toilet paper T during transportation is less likely to drop, which is advantageous from the stability of the transportation operation.
In addition, as for each belt conveyor mechanism 12Aa and 12Ab, it is desirable to incline and arrange | position with respect to the left-right direction so that it may contact the surrounding surface of the toilet paper T favorably.

  In the above-described example, the first detection unit 14 and the second detection unit 15 capture the toilet paper T from four directions. If the imaging range of each camera allows, the image is shown in FIG. As described above, the total number of cameras that perform imaging may be reduced. For example, if the entire outer periphery of the toilet paper T can be imaged by imaging from three sides, the first detection means 14 is a camera 14Aa, 14Ab that images from two diagonally upper left and right directions, and the second detection means 15 A total of three units may be used. Also, fewer or more cameras may be used as long as the entire collection can be captured.

Moreover, although toilet paper T was illustrated as individual roll paper in the said embodiment, if individual roll paper is cut out from a long roll paper by fixed length, it will not be restricted to toilet paper but to other roll papers. The external inspection apparatus 10 may be applied.
Further, the external abnormality detection device is not limited to be provided between the cutting device and the packing device, and may be provided during the transporting process between other devices as long as the cut individual roll paper is transported.

10 External inspection device 11 First transport means (other transport means)
12 Second transport means (transport means)
12a, 12Aa Belt conveyor mechanism (one of a pair of conveyor mechanisms)
12b, 12Ab Belt conveyor mechanism (the other of a pair of conveyor mechanisms)
13 Third transport means 14 First detection means (other detection means)
15 Second detection means (detection means)
R Long roll paper T Toilet paper (solid roll paper)

Claims (2)

Transport means for transporting individual roll paper obtained by cutting long roll paper into a certain length;
Apart from the transport means, other transport means for placing and transporting the individual roll paper,
Detecting means for imaging an individual roll paper conveyed by the conveying means to detect an external abnormality ;
Aside from the detection means, comprising other detection means for imaging an individual roll paper conveyed by the other conveyance means from above or from the side and detecting an external abnormality ,
The transport means has a pair of conveyor mechanisms for transporting the individual roll paper sandwiched from both sides in the horizontal direction with its center line oriented in a state parallel to the transport direction,
It said detecting means have lines external abnormality detection individuals roll paper conveyed from below by the pair of conveyor mechanism,
The external inspection apparatus, wherein the conveying means and the other conveying means are continuous . Transport means for transporting individual roll paper obtained by cutting long roll paper into a certain length;
Apart from the transport means, other transport means for placing and transporting the individual roll paper,
Detecting means for imaging an individual roll paper conveyed by the conveying means to detect an external abnormality ;
Aside from the detection means, comprising other detection means for imaging an individual roll paper conveyed by the other conveyance means from above or from the side and detecting an external abnormality ,
The transport means has a pair of conveyor mechanisms that place and transport the lower part on both sides in the horizontal direction across the lowermost part of the individual roll paper whose center line is directed in a state parallel to the transport direction,
It said detecting means have lines external abnormality detection individuals roll paper conveyed from below by the pair of conveyor mechanism,
The external inspection apparatus, wherein the conveying means and the other conveying means are continuous .

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