JP5718044B2 - Foreign object detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foreign object detection apparatus that images a container filled with a liquid and detects a foreign object mixed in the container.

  When manufacturing products filled with liquids such as sake, shochu, and chemicals, great care must be taken to avoid contamination. However, in the unlikely event that foreign matter has entered the liquid, it is necessary to find and remove the product containing the foreign matter. As a device for finding a product in which foreign matter is mixed, there is known a foreign matter detection device that detects foreign matter captured by imaging inside a container by image processing.

For example, the inspection apparatus for sedimentation foreign matter in a bottle described in Patent Document 1 includes two light projecting units that are arranged on the side of the bottle and projecting the entire circumference of the side of the bottle, and a foreign object that is arranged below the bottle. The camera is used to inspect whether or not foreign matter has settled on the bottom of the ridge by using a camera that captures the reflected light from the ridge.
Further, in the foreign object detection device described in Patent Document 2, the angle formed between the light source positioned on the opposite side of the imaging means with the object to be inspected and the straight line connecting the imaging device and the object to be inspected and the illumination direction is 30. And a light source arranged so as to be in the range of 60 ° to 60 °.
In the foreign object detection device described in Patent Document 3, two illumination units are arranged inside the annular conveyance path, and three illumination units are arranged outside the annular conveyance path at approximately equal intervals, respectively. The angle formed between the axis and the luminous flux of the illumination means adjacent to the imaging means is in the range of 30 to 60 °.

JP-A-8-75674 JP 2003-315280 A JP 2006-308437 A

  However, in the inspection device for sedimentation foreign matter in the bottle described in Patent Document 1, since two light projecting units are arranged on the side of the bottle and the camera is arranged below the bottle, the light from the light projecting unit However, since the camera detects foreign matter that has settled on the bottom of the bottle, it may not be possible to detect the foreign matter in a container having a thick bottle bottom, for example, a one bottle bottle.

  Moreover, in the foreign material detection apparatus described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the light from the illumination unit may be reflected on the surface of the object to be inspected and directly enter the imaging unit. In such a case, there is a risk that the inspection accuracy of the foreign matter is lowered.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a foreign object detection device that can improve the detection accuracy of a foreign object in a container by preventing illumination by an illumination unit from being reflected in an image by an imaging unit.

  The foreign object detection device of the present invention includes an illuminating unit that illuminates an object to be inspected filled with a liquid in a light transmission container, and an imaging unit that images the inspected object illuminated by the illuminating unit. A back illuminating means that is disposed on the back side with the inspected object positioned therebetween, and the transmitted light becomes a background light of the image when the inspected object is imaged by the imaging means, and out of an imaging range by the imaging means And a side surface illumination unit having an illumination surface on the back side of the inspection object opposite to the imaging surface of the inspection object.

  The present invention includes a back lighting unit and a side lighting unit as the lighting unit. Since the side illumination means is disposed at a position outside the imaging range of the imaging means, it is possible to prevent the side illumination means from directly appearing in the image captured by the imaging means. Further, the side illumination means has an illumination surface on the back side of the inspection object opposite to the imaging surface of the inspection object. It is possible to prevent light from being reflected in the image captured by the means.

  It is preferable that the back illumination unit has a diffusion plate provided in front of the light emitting unit, and the side illumination unit has the light emitting unit exposed. Since the diffuser plate is provided in the back illumination unit that illuminates the background light reflected in the image captured by the imaging unit, it is possible to prevent the shape of the light source from being reflected in the image. Further, since the light from the light emitting means is directly emitted as the irradiation light because the light emitting means is exposed, the side illuminating means receives strong light as transmitted light without being disturbed by a diffusion plate or the like. The inspection object can be illuminated.

  The side illumination means may cause light from the side illumination means to enter the arc surface of the inspection object perpendicularly when the side illumination means is arranged in an arc shape along the arc surface of the inspection object. Since it is possible to increase the amount of transmitted light from the side illumination means, it is possible to efficiently illuminate the inspection object.

  Further, the side illumination means includes light emitting diodes arranged in a matrix, and a row in which the light emitting diodes are arranged is arranged in a downward slope from one end to the other end. It is desirable that the horizontal positions of the light emitting diodes at the other end of the row be the same or higher. A row in which the light emitting diodes are arranged is arranged with a downward slope from one end to the other end, and the light emitting diodes at the one end are arranged so that the horizontal position is the same as or higher than the light emitting diodes at the other end of the upper row. If there is a light emitting diode between one end and the other end in the horizontal position between the upper row and the next row, the illumination surface of the object to be inspected can be illuminated without any boundary. can do.

  In the present invention, it is possible to prevent the irradiation light from the side illumination means from being reflected on the surface of the object to be inspected, and the light from being reflected in the image picked up by the image pickup means. Accuracy can be improved.

It is a front view which shows the foreign material detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic side view of the foreign material detection apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the foreign object detection device shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows a connection mechanism. It is a figure for demonstrating an imaging means and an illumination means. It is a figure for demonstrating a side illumination means. It is a partially expanded perspective view which shows a holding means.

  A foreign object detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a foreign substance detection device that detects foreign substances mixed in shochu using a single bottle as a light-transmitting container filled with shochu as an object to be inspected will be described as an example. 1 to 3 show only the main configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the foreign object detection device 10 is an apparatus that detects a foreign object by imaging a transport unit 20 that forms a transport path R that transports the single bottle B, and the first bottle B transported by the transport unit 20. A main body 30, a holding means 40 provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 30, and a control means (not shown) are provided.

The conveying means 20 is a conveyor that conveys the first bottle B from which bubbles in the shochu disappeared by a defoaming device (not shown), detects foreign matter, and conveys the next step. In the present embodiment, the conveying means 20 uses a linearly extending conveyor.
The apparatus main body 30 is disposed via a table portion 31, a fixed frame 32 disposed on the table portion 31, a support frame 33 that supports the holding means 40, and a rail-shaped guide 34 inside the fixed frame 32. The moving frame 35 is provided.

  The table unit 31 includes a leg unit 311 and a base unit 312. The fixed frame 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the table portion 31. An imaging unit 36 and an illumination unit 37 are disposed on the moving frame 35. In addition, a motor 381 is disposed on the moving frame 35, and a ball screw 382 connected to the drive shaft of the motor 381 is connected to the moving frame 35, so that the moving frame 35 is reciprocated relative to the fixed frame 32. It functions as the moving means 38.

Two moving frames 35 are arranged on the inlet side and the outlet side of the apparatus main body 30 along the conveyance path R. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, two sets of the imaging unit 36 and the illumination unit 37 are the first imaging unit 361 and the second imaging unit 362, and the first illumination unit 37a and the second illumination unit 37b. The moving frames 35 are arranged on the respective moving frames 35 (first moving frame 351 and second moving frame 352).
Hereinafter, the first foreign object detection is performed on the first moving frame 351 disposed on the entrance side of the apparatus main body 30, and the first imaging unit 361 and the first illumination unit 37a disposed on the first moving frame 351. It is called means. Further, the second moving frame 352 disposed on the outlet side of the apparatus main body 30 and the second imaging unit 362 and the second illumination unit 37b disposed on the second moving frame 352 are detected as the second foreign matter. It is called means.
Each moving frame 35 has an upper connecting mechanism 391 that holds and connects to a joint portion of the holding means 40 that covers the upper portion of the first bottle B, which will be described later, and a lower connection that holds and connects the conveyance path R. A mechanism 392 is provided (see FIG. 2).

Here, the upper coupling mechanism 391 and the lower coupling mechanism 392 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since the upper connection mechanism 391 and the lower connection mechanism 392 have the same structure, hereinafter, they may be simply referred to as a connection mechanism.
The coupling mechanism passes through two solenoids 39a that generate a gripping force, a pair of L-shaped arm portions 39b whose ends are opened and closed by drawing the shaft center of the solenoid 39a, and a central portion of the arm portions 39b. A support bar 39c to be supported and a spring 39d provided on the support bar 39c and biased in the opening direction are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the imaging unit 36 is a camera that captures an image of the one bottle B transported by the transport unit 20 and transmits image data to the control unit. In the present embodiment, in order to image the shochu filled in the single bottle B from the top to the bottom, five stacked cameras are used as the imaging means 36. The imaging means 36 has a depth of field that can image half of the bottle 1 B.

As shown in FIG. 5, the illuminating means 37 is a light emitting diode illuminating device that illuminates with the one bottle B positioned between the imaging means 36. The illumination unit 37 includes a back illumination unit 371 and a side illumination unit 372.
The back illumination means 371 has a rectangular outline shape, and white light emitting diodes are arranged in a matrix (not shown) as light emitting means. The back illumination means 371 is provided with a diffusion plate for diffusing light emitted from the white light emitting diode, which is a point light source, in front of the white light emitting diode. As the diffusion plate, a frost type plate in which one side of a glass plate is polished glass can be used.

  The side illumination means 372 is formed in a rectangular shape whose contour shape is vertically long, and light emitting diodes are arranged in a matrix as light emitting means. Three side illumination means 372 are arranged on one side, adjacent to both sides of the back illumination means 371. The six side illumination means 372 are arranged in an arc shape along the arc surface of the one bottle B with the one bottle B as the center. The side illumination means 372 is provided in a state where a light emitting diode as a light emitting means is exposed (see FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, since a brown bottle is used as the one bottle B, a red light emitting diode having high transparency is employed as the side illumination means 372.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the side illumination means 372, rows in which red light emitting diodes arranged in a matrix are arranged in a downward slope from one end (left end) to the other end (right end). The downward inclination is arranged so that the upper portion of the red light emitting diode 372a at one end is at the same level as or higher than the lower portion of the red light emitting diode 372b at the other end of the upper row. In the present embodiment, the upper portion of the red light emitting diode 372a and the lower portion of the red light emitting diode 372b at one end are arranged so as to be at the same horizontal position (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the holding means 40 is fixed to the upper part of the support frame 33. The holding means 40 includes a joint part 41 that covers and presses the upper part of the bottle B, a driving gear 42 and a driven gear 43, and a pair of chain parts 44 that circulate the joint part 41 between the driving gear 42 and the driven gear 43. I have.
As shown in FIG. 7, the joint portion 41 is provided with a cylindrical mouth portion 411 for fitting an upper portion of the first bottle B at the tip. The mouth portion 411 is provided with an edge plate portion 412 formed of a rectangular plate material. The mouth portion 411 and the plate edge portion 412 are fixed to the pair of chains 44 by an attachment mechanism 413.

  The control means controls the swing timing of the swing means 38, the turning timing of the joint portion 41 of the holding means 40, the connection timing of the upper connection mechanism 391 and the lower connection mechanism 392, and the imaging timing of the imaging means 36. Then, based on the two images picked up by the image pickup means 36, the scratches, bubbles and foreign substances are identified.

The operation and use state of the foreign object detection device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.
The first bottle B is conveyed from the upstream side by the conveying means 20. Then, when it reaches the upstream side of the holding means 15, the rotating joint portion 41 goes around from the upper side to the lower side along with the rotation of the chain 44 and covers the upper part of the bottle B.

The one bottle B covered with the joint portion 41 is carried by the conveying means 40 while being pressed by the conveying path R and enters the apparatus main body 30.
The control means energizes the solenoid 39a (see FIG. 4) of the upper coupling mechanism 391 shown in FIG. 2, thereby closing the arm portion 39b and sandwiching the edge plate portion 412 of the joint portion 41. In addition, the control unit drives the solenoid 39a (see FIG. 4) of the lower coupling mechanism 392 to close the arm portion 39b and sandwich the conveyance path R.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit rotates the ball screw 382 by rotating the motor 381 at the timing when the first bottle B is positioned between the imaging unit 36 and the illumination unit 37. By doing so, the distance between the fixed frame 32 to which the motor unit 381 is fixed and the moving frame 33 is extended, and the moving frame 33 moves in one direction in synchronization with the first bottle B. The control unit instructs the imaging unit 36 to capture an image and obtains two images. Note that the number of times of imaging may be three or more as required.

  Here, the imaging means 36 and the illumination means 37 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the present specification, one side surface of the inspection object facing the imaging means 36 side is referred to as a front surface, and the opposite side is referred to as a back surface. In this embodiment, since the inspection object is a single bottle B, the semicircular portion facing the imaging means 36 when the single bottle B is viewed from above is the front surface, and the remaining semicircular portion is the back surface. is there. The imaging range refers to a range that appears as an image captured by the imaging means 36.

  In the imaging unit 36, the distance from the imaging unit 36 to the first bottle B, the lens, and the like are adjusted so that the width of the captured image matches the width of the first bottle B. Since the first bottle B is filled with shochu, the imaging range S1 through which the first bottle B can be seen is gradually narrowed as the distance from the first bottle B increases due to the lens effect.

  Since the back illumination means 371 is arranged on the back side of the one bottle B and illuminates the back side surface of the one bottle B, the light from the back illumination means 371 becomes the background light of the image. Since the back illuminating means 371 is provided with a diffusion plate in front of the white light emitting diode which is the light emitting means, it is possible to prevent the shape of the white light emitting diode from appearing in the image.

  In the side illumination means 372, the back side (back side) of the one bottle B that is opposite to the imaging surface P1 (front surface) of the one bottle B, that is, the semicircular portion on the back side is the illumination surface P2. Therefore, the semicircular portion on the front side, which is the imaging surface P1 imaged by the imaging means 36, and the illumination surface do not overlap. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light from the side illumination means 372 from being reflected on the surface of the first bottle B and entering the lens of the imaging means 36, thereby preventing the light from being reflected in the image taken by the imaging means 36. it can.

Since the side illumination means 372 is spaced apart according to the width of the imaging range S1 that gradually narrows as the distance from the bottle B decreases, the side illumination means 372 appears in the image. Can be prevented.
Further, by arranging the side illumination means 372 along the arc surface of the first bottle B, the emission direction of the light traveling straight from the side illumination means 372 coincides with the normal direction of the circumferential surface (arc surface) of the first bottle B. As a result, the light from the side illumination means 372 is less likely to be totally reflected on the circumferential surface of the one bottle B, and the amount of light transmitted from the side illumination means 372 can be increased. Therefore, the side illumination means 372 can efficiently illuminate the inspection object.

Further, since the red light emitting diode is exposed, the side illumination means 372 transmits the strong light without being disturbed by the diffusion plate or the like because the light from the red light emitting diode is directly emitted as the irradiation light. The single bottle B can be illuminated as light.
Further, since the red light emitting diode is used as the light emitting means of the side illumination means 372, the amount of transmitted light can be increased even in the single bottle B formed with a brown bottle, so that the foreign matter mixed in the shochu can be lifted. Can be made.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the side illumination means 372 is arranged such that rows of red light emitting diodes arranged in a matrix are arranged in a downward slope from one end (left end) to the other end (right end). The upper portion of the red light emitting diode 372a is disposed at the same horizontal position as the lower portion of the red light emitting diode 372b at the other end of the upper row, so that the red light emitting diode 372a is positioned at a horizontal position between the upper row L1 and the next row L2. Since one of the red light emitting diodes is positioned between one end and the other end, the illumination surface of the object to be inspected can be illuminated without a boundary.

  In this way, by imaging the first bottle B illuminated by the illuminating means 37 with the imaging means 36, foreign matter, scratches on the first bottle B, and bubbles in the shochu become blackish shadows by the irradiation light from the back lighting means 371, and the side surface The light emitted from the illumination means 372 becomes a whitish reflector and is imaged.

  An image is taken into the control means from the imaging means 36, and the control means compares the two images. In the control means, if the two images are not compared, the one that does not move is scratched on the first bottle B, the one that moves is a foreign object or bubble, and further, the foreign substance and the bubble are sorted to determine whether or not the foreign substance is mixed in the first bottle B. Judgment is made.

  In this manner, the moving frame 33 moves in one direction in synchronization with the one bottle B, and instructs the imaging unit 36 to perform imaging to acquire two images, thereby stacking the imaging unit 36 in the vertical direction. However, since it is not necessary to provide two or more units in the horizontal direction, an increase in cost can be suppressed. Further, since the imaging means 36 images the first bottle B that is moved by the conveying means 20 while being moved by the swinging means 38, it is not necessary to stop the first bottle B for imaging, and thus the image is taken in a short time. be able to.

  In the imaging period in which the imaging means 36 captures two images, the joint portion 41 covers the top of the first bottle B and presses the first bottle B against the conveyance path R, so that the first bottle B is finely moved by the vibration of the conveyance path R. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the single bottle B from moving up and down or rotating. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent the scratch on the first bottle B from moving in the image, it is possible to prevent the scratch on the first bottle B as a foreign object.

  Further, since the upper connecting mechanism 391 is provided in the swinging means 38, the movement of the imaging means 36 by the swinging means 38 and the movement of the holding bottle 40 by the holding means 40 can be more reliably synchronized. Furthermore, since the lower connecting mechanism 392 is provided in the swinging means 38, the movement of the imaging means 36 by the swinging means 38 and the movement of the first bottle B by the transporting means 20 can be more reliably synchronized. Therefore, the accuracy of comparing the two captured images can be improved, and even a small foreign object can be detected.

  When the first bottle B passes the moving frame 35 (first moving frame 351) on the inlet side of the apparatus main body 30, it is conveyed to the conveying means 20, and the moving frame 35 (first moving frame on the outlet side of the apparatus main body 30). 351). Since one side of the first bottle B is imaged when the first bottle B travels through the first moving frame 351, the other side of the first bottle B is imaged when traveling through the second moving frame 352. By doing so, even if the imaging means 36 has a subject depth that is half the diameter of the jar B, the entire shochu filled in the jar B can be imaged.

  In the present embodiment, the first imaging means 361 and the first illumination means 37a provided on the entrance side of the apparatus main body 30, and the second imaging means 362 and the second illumination means 37b provided on the exit side. Is arranged in such a manner that the bottles B are positioned in the middle and the arrangement of the bottles B in the traveling direction is alternated.

  In the image pickup means 36 and the illumination means 37, since the occupation width of the side surface irradiation means 372 is wide, the illumination means 37 is wider than the image pickup means 36 as the installation width. Therefore, if the arrangement of the moving directions of the bottles B is the same, the illumination means 37 (the first illumination means 37a and the second illumination means 37b) are installed next to each other. Further, it is necessary to widen the distance between the moving frames 35, and the apparatus main body 30 is increased in size.

  In the present embodiment, the image pickup means 36 and the lighting device 37 are arranged in an alternating manner. That is, the first imaging unit 361 and the second illumination unit 37b are arranged adjacent to each other on one side of the conveyance path R, and the first illumination unit 37a is arranged on the other side of the conveyance path R. Since the second imaging unit 371 is arranged adjacent to each other, the installation width can be made shorter than when the illumination units 37 are arranged adjacent to each other. Therefore, the apparatus main body 30 can be reduced in size, and the conveyance distance of the first bottle B in the foreign substance inspection can be shortened, so that the inspection time can be shortened.

  The first moving frame 351 and the second moving frame 352 reciprocate so that the moving direction is the opposite direction. When the first moving frame 351 moves forward (imaging movement) together with the first bottle B, the second moving frame 352 moves backward (return movement). On the other hand, when the first moving frame 351 is moving in the backward direction (returning movement), the second moving frame 352 is moving in the outward direction (imaging movement).

  As the first moving frame 351 and the second moving frame 352 reciprocate in this way, the vibrations that occur when reciprocating are canceled out, so that the occurrence of vibrations can be suppressed. Therefore, a highly accurate image can be taken.

  In this embodiment, since the imaging process is performed at a high speed, the speed of the forward movement is slowly adjusted according to the movement of the first bottle B, and the backward movement is returned to the next first bottle B faster than the speed of the forward movement. Therefore, the time required for one round trip is shortened, and a large amount of inspected objects are inspected in a short time. Accordingly, a part of the first moving frame 351 and the second moving frame 352 reciprocatingly moves in the same direction, but most of the moving in the opposite direction reduces the occurrence of vibration. Since vibration can be reduced, a clearer image can be taken. When the forward movement and the backward movement are at the same speed, it is desirable that the movement direction is completely opposite.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. In the present embodiment, the one-bottle bottle B filled with shochu has been described as an example. However, for example, the present invention can be applied as long as a liquid such as sake or medicine is filled in a light transmission container. is there.
In addition, the joint portion 41 is formed so as to cover the top of the one bottle B, but it is only necessary to prevent the one bottle B from vibrating or rotating. It may be a flat plate to be pressed.
Further, in the present embodiment, the one bottle B having a circular horizontal cross section has been described as an example. However, the side illumination unit is disposed at a position outside the imaging range of the imaging unit, and the illumination surface is an imaging surface from the imaging unit. The present invention can be applied regardless of whether the horizontal cross section of the inspection object is a polygonal shape of a triangle or more or an irregular shape as long as the inspection object is disposed on the back side of the inspection object opposite to P1.
Further, in the present embodiment, the upper coupling mechanism 391 and the lower coupling mechanism 392 are employed with the solenoid 39a as a driving source, but the ball screw is rotated by the rotation of the motor to open and close the arm portion. It may be.

  The present invention is suitable for a foreign matter detection device that detects foreign matter mixed in an inspection object filled with a liquid in a container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Foreign object detection apparatus 20 Conveying means 30 Apparatus main body 31 Table part 311 Leg part 312 Stand part 32 Fixed frame 33 Support frame 34 Guide 35 Moving frame 351 First moving frame 352 Second moving frame 36 Imaging means 361 First imaging Means 362 Second imaging means 37 Illumination means 37a First illumination means 37b Second illumination means 371 Back illumination means 372 Side illumination means 372a Red light emitting diode 372b at one end 38 Red light emitting diode at the other end 38 Swing means 381 Motor 382 Ball screw 391 Upper coupling mechanism 392 Lower coupling mechanism 39a Solenoid 39b Arm portion 39c Support rod 39d Spring 40 Holding means 41 Joint portion 411 Mouth portion 412 Edge plate portion 413 Mounting mechanism 42 Drive gear 43 Driven gear 44 Che Down 50 control device S1 imaging range P1 imaging plane P2 illumination surface

Claims (2)

Illuminating means for illuminating an object filled with a light-transmitting container having a circular arc surface of the liquid;
Imaging means for imaging the inspection object illuminated by the illumination means,
The illumination means includes
Back illumination means that is arranged on the back side with the inspection object positioned therebetween, and the transmitted light becomes background light of an image when the inspection object is imaged by the imaging means,
Side illumination means arranged at a position outside the imaging range by the imaging means, and having an illumination surface on the back side of the inspection object opposite to the imaging surface of the inspection object,
The side illumination means is arranged in an arc shape along the arc surface of the inspection object around the inspection object, and is arranged so as to be separated according to the width of the imaging range of the imaging means, The red light emitting means is exposed,
The foreign matter detection apparatus, wherein the back illumination means is disposed on the back side of the gap where the side illumination means are separated, and a diffuser plate is provided in front of the white light emitting means . The side illuminating means includes light emitting diodes arranged in a matrix.
The row in which the light emitting diodes are arranged is arranged with a downward slope from one end to the other end,
The light emitting diode of the one end, the foreign matter detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode and the horizontal position of the other end of the upper row is arranged so that the same or higher.

Images