JP2001058698A - Method and apparatus for identifying container type in filling line - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To use a dedicated container holder and a container type confirmation mark such as a bar code to always accurately identify the type of container. SOLUTION: A bar code is provided on the outer surface of the container 1 inserted and mounted in the container insertion hole 22 on the side wall surface, provided with a bottomed container insertion hole 22 for inserting and mounting the container 1. A container holder 2 having a see-through hole 22 through which the container 11 can be visually recognized from the outside, and a container holder 2 into which the container 1 is inserted and placed.
Barcode reader 6 installed in the middle of the path of the belt conveyor 4 for transporting the barcode 11 to the filling machine 3 and reading out the barcode 11 of the container 1 through the transparent hole 22 of the container holder 2
a, 6b, a control unit 9 that determines whether or not the container 1 inserted and placed in the container holder 2 is a proper container based on the read barcode 11, and a determination by the control unit 9. According to the result, when the container is an unauthorized container, the container includes a container pushing mechanism 8 for discharging the container holder 2 in which the container is inserted and placed from the conveyor 4 to the outside, and a discharge shooter 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying a kind of a container in a filling line for filling a container with contents such as liquids and granules.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when producing a liquid shampoo in a container or a liquid detergent in a container, contents such as a liquid shampoo and a liquid detergent are filled in a designated container in a filling line, but are placed on a belt conveyor or the like. It is necessary to fill the contents while confirming that the container to be transported is the specified container.

Conventionally, the type of container in such a filling line is visually identified by an operator, or identified from a feature obtained by image processing of a container image taken by a CCD camera or the like, or from a container image. The color identification or the barcode attached to the container is read by a barcode reader.

[0004]

However, when image processing is used, it is difficult to accurately identify the case where vibrations occur in the container, and when color identification is used, the color of the container is an intermediate color or the like. There has been a problem that it is not possible to accurately identify a color that is difficult to identify such as transparency or a case where the surface of the container has a glossy surface that easily reflects light. Further, in the case of using a barcode, there is a problem that the barcode cannot be accurately read when the container is displaced during conveyance and becomes oblique. If the container is not correctly identified as described above, a situation may occur in which the contents of the container are inconsistent with the contents of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and always uses a dedicated container holder to accurately position a container being transported and to use a container type such as a bar code. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for identifying a type of container in a filling line, wherein the type of container can always be accurately identified by using a confirmation mark.

[0006]

A container type identification method according to the present invention is a container type identification method used in a filling line for filling contents into a container.
The container type confirmation mark displayed on the container is inserted and placed in a container holder formed with a transparent hole or a transparent groove that can be visually recognized from the outside, and is transported toward a filling machine by a transport mechanism,
At an appropriate position before the filling machine, the container type identification mark displayed on the container is read through the transparent hole or the transparent groove of the container holder, and the container transported based on the read container type identification mark is a regular container. Is determined.

A container type identification device according to the present invention is a container type identification device installed in a filling line for filling a container with a content such as a liquid shampoo or a liquid detergent. It has a bottomed container insertion hole, and a side wall surface is formed with a transparent hole or a transparent groove through which a container type identification mark displayed on the outer surface of the container inserted and placed in the container insertion hole can be visually recognized from the outside. The container holder and the outer surface of the container are installed at an appropriate position in the middle of the path of the transport mechanism for transporting the container holder in which the container is inserted and placed toward the filling machine, and through the transparent hole or the transparent groove of the container holder. An identification mark reading means for reading the container type identification mark displayed on the display, and a container type insertion mark mounted on the container holder based on the container type identification mark read by the identification mark reading means. A control unit that determines whether or not the container is a legitimate container, and discharges the container holder in which the container is inserted and placed from the transport mechanism to the outside if the container is an unauthorized container according to the determination result of the control unit. And a container discharging means.

In the case of the above-mentioned structure, an empty container having a light weight before filling the contents is inserted and mounted in the container holder and is sent. And the paper is always conveyed in the set direction. Then, a container type confirmation mark such as a bar code displayed on the container is read by an identification sign reading means such as a barcode reader through a see-through hole or a see-through groove formed on the side surface of the container holder, and based on the container type check mark. Then, the control unit determines whether or not the conveyed container is a legitimate container, and in the case of an improper container, discharges the container out of the line by the container discharging means. Therefore, fraudulent containers having different part numbers are automatically eliminated, and only containers having regular part numbers are sent to the filling machine. This makes it possible to reliably prevent mistakes such as inconsistencies between the contents of the containers and the contents. .

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view of a filling line provided with a container type identification device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a container holder used in the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a method of inserting a container into the container holder. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where the container is inserted and placed in the container holder.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a container having a predetermined shape filled with contents such as a liquid shampoo and a liquid detergent;
2 is a container holder for inserting and mounting the container in a predetermined direction and transporting the container, 3 is a filling machine for filling the container 1 with contents such as liquid shampoo and liquid detergent, and 4 is an insertion mounting of the container 1 Conveyor belt (transport mechanism), which constitutes a transport mechanism for placing the loaded container holder 2 and transporting it to the filling machine 3;
Is a discharge shooter for discharging illegal containers different from the designated type, 6a and 6b are bar code readers constituting identification sign reading means installed at appropriate positions on both sides of the carry-in belt conveyor 4, and 7a and 7b are necessary. Lighting devices installed in the vicinity of the barcode readers 6a and 6b,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a container pushing mechanism including a piston cylinder for pushing and discharging the container holder 2 containing the illegal container to the discharge shooter 5 side, and 9 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the entire system. Reference numeral 10 denotes a carry-out conveyor for transferring the container after filling the contents to a subsequent process such as a packaging line.

The container holder 2 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (c), a specific structure is shown. The whole is a block body made of resin or metal, and in some cases, made of wood. A bottomed container insertion hole 21 having a hole shape is formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container insertion hole 21 is configured so that a designated container 1 can be inserted and placed in the container insertion hole 21. ing.

As the container 1 used in the present invention, a container type confirmation mark in which the type of the container is recorded in advance at an appropriate position on the outer peripheral surface, for example, at a position near the lower end outside of the container as shown in FIG. For example, the barcode 11 is printed or attached. In the side wall surface of the container holder 2, a rectangular see-through hole 22 is formed at a position corresponding to the barcode 11 when the container 1 is inserted and placed in the container insertion hole 21, and FIG. As shown, the barcode 11 of the container 1 inserted and placed is configured to be visible from the outside through the transparent hole 22. The transparent hole 22 is provided in the container holder 2 as shown in the drawing so that the bar code 11 can always be visually recognized even when the container 1 is turned 180 degrees and inserted and placed in the opposite direction. It is desirable to form on both side wall surfaces facing each other.

The container type identification apparatus according to the above-described embodiment identifies the type of container conveyed on the belt conveyor as follows. That is, first, as a pre-process of the filling process, in a pre-process (not shown), the designated container 1 is inserted into the container insertion hole 21 of the container holder 2 by a container transfer device or the like.
To be inserted and placed. Then, the container holder 2 in which the container 1 is inserted and mounted is placed on a carry-in belt conveyor 4, and is conveyed toward the filling machine 3 as shown in FIG.

The container holder 2 conveyed by the carry-in belt conveyor 4 is a bar code reader 6a, 6b.
Is reached, the illumination devices 7a and 7b illuminate the inside of the see-through hole 22 of the container holder 2. The barcode readers 6a and 6b read the barcode 11 displayed on the outer surface of the container 1 through the transparent holes 22 and 22 formed on both sides of the container holder 2, and read the read signal by a microcomputer or the like. Send to Part 9.

As is apparent from the above-described operation, the empty empty container 1 before filling is inserted and placed in a container holder 2 having a certain weight, and then loaded into the conveyor belt 4.
Since the empty container 1 is placed on the belt conveyor and conveyed, the position and orientation of the container are hardly shifted due to vibration or the like, compared with a case where the empty container 1 is directly conveyed on a belt conveyor. Therefore, the barcode 11 can be stably read at the fixed position.

Also, in the case of the illustrated example, since one transparent hole 22 is formed on each side of the container holder 2, the container 1 may be rotated 180 degrees and inserted upside down. In such a case, it is possible to surely read the bar code by one of the bar code readers 6a and 6b provided on both sides, and the reading of the bar code 11 does not fail due to the direction of the container.

The control section 9 decodes the read signal of the barcode 11 sent from the barcode reader 6a or 6b, and compares and checks whether or not the read signal matches a preset regular product number. If the product numbers match, the container 1 inserted and placed in the container holder 2 is a regular container, and is sent out to the filling machine 3 as it is.

On the other hand, if the read article number is different from the preset regular article number, it is determined that the container 1 inserted and placed in the container holder 2 is not a regular container but an illegal container. judge. Then, when the container holder 2 in which the illegal container is inserted and placed reaches the position of the container pushing mechanism 8, the container pushing mechanism 8 is operated at a suitable timing to operate the container holder 2 containing the illegal container.
Is extruded toward the discharge shooter 5 and discharged out of the apparatus. In this way, fraudulent containers are automatically removed from the filling line, and only containers having a regular product number are sent to the filling machine 3.

The filling machine 3 receives the container 1 sent on the carrying belt conveyor 4 together with the container holder 2 and fills it with predetermined contents such as liquid shampoo and liquid detergent. It is sent to a later-stage packaging process (not shown).

As described above, in the above embodiment, only the container having the regular product number can be sent to the filling machine 3, and mistakes such as a discrepancy between the display of the container and the contents can be reliably prevented. can do.

In the above embodiment, the shape of the see-through hole 22 formed in the side wall surface of the container holder 2 is square, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Other hole shapes such as an elliptical shape, a circular shape, and a polygonal shape may be employed as long as they are visible. Further, in the above embodiment, the see-through hole 22 is a complete hole without a chip. However, it is not necessary to be a complete hole without a chip.
As shown in FIG.
It is good.

Although the bar code readers 6a and 6b are located on both sides of the carry-in belt conveyor 4 and are arranged on the same line so as to face each other, the bar code readers 6a and 6b may be displaced back and forth along the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 4. . Further, the transparent hole 22
(Or see-through grooves 23) were formed on both side wall surfaces of the container holder 2 and two barcode readers 6a and 6b were installed in accordance with these. However, the orientation of the container holder 2 placed on the belt conveyor 4 and the If there is a guarantee that the direction of the container 1 inserted and placed in the container is always correctly oriented in the specified direction, the see-through hole 22 (or the see-through groove 2) is used.
3) may be provided on one side of the barcode 11, and
Accordingly, one barcode reader may be used.

[0023]

As described above, according to the method and apparatus of the present invention, the direction of the container being transported is always accurately positioned by using the dedicated container holder, and the container type confirmation mark such as a bar code is used. Is used, the type of the container can always be identified accurately, so that mistakes such as a difference between the display of the container and the contents can be reliably prevented. In addition, when the see-through hole or the see-through groove of the container holder is formed on both opposing wall surfaces of the container holder, and when the identification sign reading means is installed on both sides of the transport mechanism, the container inserted into the container holder and placed on the container holder can be seen. Even in a case where the direction is turned 180 degrees and the front and back are reversed, the container type confirmation mark can be reliably read, and more accurate container type identification can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a filling line provided with the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a container holder used in the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is (a).
It is an AA line sectional view in the inside.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a method of inserting a container into a container holder.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where a container is inserted and placed in a container holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the container holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 container 2 container holder 3 filling machine 4 carry-in belt conveyor 5 discharge shooter (container discharge means) 6a, 6b barcode reader 7a, 7b lighting device 8 container push-out mechanism (container discharge means) 9 control unit 10 carry-out belt conveyor 11 Barcode 21 Container insertion hole 22 Transparent hole 23 Transparent groove

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container type identification method used in a filling line for filling a container with contents, wherein a transparent hole or a transparent groove is formed so that a container type identification mark displayed on the container can be visually recognized from the outside. The container is inserted and placed in the container holder, and is conveyed toward the filling machine by the conveyance mechanism. At an appropriate position in front of the filling machine, the container type identification mark displayed on the container is read through the transparent hole or the transparent groove of the container holder. A container type identification method for a filling line, comprising determining whether or not the conveyed container is a legitimate container based on the read container type identification mark. 2. A container type identification device installed in a filling line for filling a container with contents such as a liquid shampoo and a liquid detergent, comprising a bottomed container insertion hole for inserting and placing a container. ,
A container holder having a transparent hole or a transparent groove formed on the side wall surface of a container type identification mark displayed on the outer surface of the container inserted and mounted in the container insertion hole, and a container inserted therein; It is installed at an appropriate position in the middle of the path of the transport mechanism that transports the placed container holder toward the filling machine,
Identification mark reading means for reading a container type identification mark displayed on the outer surface of the container through the see-through hole or the see-through groove of the container holder; and a container holder based on the container type identification mark read by the identification mark reading means. A control unit for determining whether or not the inserted and placed container is a legitimate container, and, if the container is an unauthorized container according to the determination result of the control unit, transporting the container holder into which the container is inserted and placed. A container type discriminating apparatus for a filling line, comprising: a container discharging means for discharging from the top to the outside. 3. The container according to claim 2, wherein a transparent hole or a transparent groove of the container holder is formed on opposite side wall surfaces of the container holder, and the identification mark reading means is provided on both sides of a transport mechanism. The container type identification device in the filling line according to claim 2.