JP2006038751A - Inspection method and inspection device for container filling port edge and filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the presence or absence of deposits on the filling port edge of a container, even when the color of the surface of the filling port and the color of the contents are the same or the color difference is so small that it cannot be distinguished. inspect.
An end edge 7 of a filling port 6 of a container 2 to be inspected is imaged by a camera in a direction in which a contour line of the end edge 7 appears to be a straight line, and an inspection image 31 imaged by the camera is used. At least one inspection region 32 extending in the height direction perpendicular to the contour line of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 is set, and the inspection image 31 is scanned in the inspection region 32 so that the surface color and the background color of the filling port 6 are obtained. The feature data of the inspection image (for example, the coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33) is generated by the identification with the reference data obtained based on the image of the container 2 when the deposit 8 is absent. When there is a significant difference between the two data compared to the data (for example, the reference coordinates 34), it is determined that the deposit 8 is present.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection method, an inspection apparatus, and a filling apparatus for inspecting the presence / absence of deposits having the same color as the surface of the filling port at the filling port edge of the container.

When filling a container with contents such as food or beverage, the contents may leak to the outside of the filling port, and the contents may adhere to the edge of the filling port of the container. In that case, it is difficult to clean, and there is a possibility that sealing reliability may deteriorate when the filling port is sealed with a cap or a seal after filling, and it may cause unsanitary conditions. If there is any adhesion of the contents, it is excluded from the production line.
As an apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of contents adhering to the edge of the filling port, a color sensor (also referred to as an image sensor) is used to observe a color change or pattern change on the surface of the container, or an area of a specific color portion. Some have found deposits by examining

Conventionally, as an apparatus for inspecting the quality of a container using a color sensor, there are devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example.
The inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is an apparatus for inspecting characters printed in black on a film attached to a container, and in order to facilitate inspection of characters when the background is colored, Red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters are provided for each pixel of the image sensor, and the brightness of red light, green light, and blue light is increased by the image sensor having the respective color filters. The main feature is to obtain an image signal in which the luminance of characters is emphasized with respect to the background by obtaining these three types of luminance signals and adding these signals.
The inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 2 detects light (for example, infrared rays) in a transmission wavelength band unique to a foreign substance in order to distinguish the contents of the container from the foreign substance mixed in the container and facilitate the detection of the foreign substance. This is the main feature.
JP-A-7-209206 JP 2002-131239 A

By the way, if the color of the container is the same as the color of the contents, such as when filling white yogurt into a white tube, or the color difference is small enough to be indistinguishable by the color sensor, analysis using the color sensor Then, it is difficult to specify the region where the contents are attached.
Even if the invention described in Patent Document 1 is used, the brightness of the deposit cannot be enhanced even if the luminance signal is added if the color of the deposit and the surrounding container (surface of the filling port) are the same. .
When using the invention described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to find light in a wavelength band that allows the container to pass through but does not transmit the contents (attachments) and does not adversely affect the contents such as food. , Difficult to implement.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when the color of the filling port surface of the container and the color of the contents are the same or indistinguishable to such an extent that the color difference is small, It is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of reliably inspecting the presence or absence, and a filling apparatus using the same.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an inspection method for inspecting the presence or absence of deposits of the same color as the surface of the filling port at the filling port edge of the container, wherein the filling port edge of the container to be inspected is detected by a camera. Imaging in the direction in which the contour line of the edge looks straight, and setting at least one inspection region extending in the height direction perpendicular to the contour line of the filling port edge of the container in the inspection image captured by the camera, The inspection image is scanned in the inspection area to generate the feature data of the inspection image by identifying the filling port surface color and the background color, and is obtained based on the image of the container when no deposit is present A container filling port edge inspection method is provided, wherein reference data is compared with the characteristic data, and it is determined that there is a deposit when there is a significant difference between the two data.
As the feature data and the reference data, it is possible to use a count value of the number of pixels of the filling port surface color and / or the background color in the inspection region. It is also possible to use the coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position between the filling port surface color and the background color.
In the inspection method of the present invention, when the inspection image is scanned in a plurality of inspection regions to generate a plurality of feature data, and at least one of the feature data has a significant difference from the reference data It is preferable to determine that there is a deposit.
Further, when imaging the filling port edge of the container, focus on the half circumference on the side near or far from the camera of the filling port edge, and the half of the filling port edge facing each other on the filling port. It is preferable to take an image in two steps from both sides. In this case, it is preferable that the container is inverted in a horizontal plane between the two imaging operations.

Further, the present invention is an inspection apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of deposits of the same color as the surface of the filling port at the filling port edge of the container, and the contour of the edge of the filling port edge of the container to be inspected. A camera that captures an image in a direction that looks straight, and reference data that is obtained based on the image of the container when no deposit is present, and the filling port end of the container in the inspection image captured by the camera At least one inspection area extending in the height direction perpendicular to the edge contour line is set, and the inspection image is scanned in the inspection area, and the feature data of the inspection image is identified by identifying the filling port surface color and the background color. Control for comparing the reference data obtained based on the image of the container when no deposit is present with the feature data and determining that there is a deposit when there is a significant difference between the two data With a department Provides a test device for container filling opening edge, characterized.
In this inspection apparatus, the control unit scans the inspection image in a plurality of inspection regions to generate a plurality of feature data, and at least one of the feature data has a significant difference from the reference data. In some cases, it is preferable to determine that there is a deposit.
In addition, it is preferable that a background plate having a color different from that of the surface of the filling port is disposed at a position facing the camera via a position where the filling port of the container is disposed.
In addition, two sets of cameras for imaging the container focusing on a half circumference of the filling port edge closer to the camera are provided, and the first camera and the second camera are opposed to each other at the filling port edge. It is preferable to be arranged so as to take an image of half a circle. In this case, it is preferable that a star wheel that reverses the container in a horizontal plane is further provided between the imaging by the first camera and the imaging by the second camera.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a filling nozzle that fills a container conveyed on a conveyor with contents, a trigger sensor that detects that a container after filling has reached a predetermined inspection position, and a detection signal of the trigger sensor. A camera that images the edge of the filling port that has reached the inspection position in a direction in which the outline of the edge can be seen as a straight line, and reference data obtained based on the image of the container when there is no deposit And storing at least one inspection region extending in a height direction perpendicular to the outline of the filling port edge of the container in the inspection image captured by the camera, and the inspection image is stored in the inspection region. The feature data of the inspection image is generated by scanning and discriminating between the surface color of the filling port and the background color, and the reference data obtained based on the image of the container when no deposit is present is compared with the feature data. Then, when there is a significant difference between the two data, a controller that determines that there is an adhering substance, and a container that has been determined to have an adhering substance based on a determination result signal transmitted from the control unit is placed on the conveyor. And a rejector that is excluded from the above.

  According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to distinguish between the region of the filling port of the container and the region of the deposit on the inspection image, it is possible to detect leakage or adhesion of the content on the packaging material having the same color as the content. Is possible. In addition, since the filling port edge of the container to be inspected is imaged by a camera in a direction in which the outline of the edge looks straight, the presence or absence of deposits on the filling port edge is detected. Can be detected with high accuracy.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on the best mode.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the filling apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the inspection apparatus of the present invention used in the filling apparatus of FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged front view and FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an example of a filling port of a container having a deposit on the edge of the filling port.
A filling device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a conveyor 3 that conveys containers 2 and a filling nozzle 5 that fills the containers 2 with contents 4.
Although the container 2 is a bottle here, various forms, such as a tube, a pouch, and a cup, can be employed.

  As the conveyor 3, a conveyor that can transport the containers 2 such that the height of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the containers 2 is constant is used. As long as the container 2 has sufficient rigidity (self-supporting property), it may be carried on an endless belt of a belt conveyor. When the container 2 is inferior in rigidity, a mechanism for holding the container 2 with a holder or the like so that the height of the end edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container 2 is constant can be used.

  The filling nozzle 5 is driven by a drive device (not shown) so as to be vertically movable toward the filling port 6 of the container 2. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the empty container 2 conveyed on the conveyor 3 reaches below the filling nozzle 5, the filling nozzle 5 is lowered as shown in FIG. The tip of the filling nozzle 5 is inserted into the container 2 from the filling port 6 to fill the contents 4. After filling, as shown in FIG. 1C, the filling nozzle 5 is raised and the filling nozzle 5 is extracted from the filling port 6. In FIG. 1, for the sake of explanation, one filling nozzle 5 is illustrated at two locations (B) and (C). The filling nozzle 5 does not necessarily have to be driven up and down, and the tip of the filling nozzle 5 may be positioned above the filling port 6 of the container 2 during filling.

  Here, the contents 4 may hang down from the tip of the filling nozzle 5 after filling, and further, depending on the transport timing of the container 2, the contents 4 may fall on the edge 7 of the filling port 6 as shown in FIG. 3. It may adhere and become the deposit 8. Therefore, an inspection device 10 for inspecting the presence or absence of the adhering substance 8 on the filling port edge 7 of the container 2 is provided at a position (D), which is the latter stage of the filling process, on the production line.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the inspection apparatus 10 in the present embodiment. This inspection apparatus 10 includes a trigger sensor 11 that detects that the containers 2 conveyed on the conveyor 3 have reached the inspection position, and a CCD camera 12 that images the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container 2 to be inspected. An illuminating device 13 that irradiates light to the filling port 6 of the container 2 in the inspection process, an inspection device 14 that determines the presence or absence of deposits (described later in detail) based on an inspection image captured by the CCD camera 12, A background plate 15 disposed at a position facing the CCD camera 12 through the position of the filling port 6 of the container 2 at the inspection position.

Here, the trigger sensor 11 is a transmitted light type sensor that includes a light projector 16 and a light receiver 17 disposed on both sides of the conveyor 3 so as to face each other. The light projector 16 and the light receiver 17 of the trigger sensor 11 are connected to the programmable controller 20 via cables 18 and 19, respectively. In addition, as a system which the trigger sensor 11 detects the container 2, it is not limited to a transmitted light system, Various systems, such as a reflected light system, are employable.
The programmable controller 20 is connected to the camera 12 and the illumination device 13 via trigger cables 21 and 22, respectively. The programmable controller 20 performs on / off control of the camera 12 and the illumination device 13 based on the timing signal obtained by the trigger sensor 11.

The CCD camera 12 is arranged in a direction in which the outline of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container 2 can be seen as a straight line (here, the horizontal direction in FIG. 2).
The background plate 15 is not essential in the present invention, but the background plate 15 may have a different color from the surface of the filling port 6 so as to give a clear contrast between the filling port 6 of the container 2 and the background in the inspection image. preferable. As the background plate 15, for example, when the color of the filling port 6 is white, dark colors such as red, blue, green, and black can be used.
The illuminating device 13 illuminates the filling port 6 of the container 2 to be inspected in order to obtain a good inspection image. In the present embodiment, the illuminating device 13 is disposed between the camera 12 and the container 2 and is illuminated. A ring-shaped LED light source facing the container 2 is used.

  The inspection machine 14 is connected to the CCD camera 12 via a camera cable 23. A signal of an inspection image captured by the CCD camera 12 is transmitted to the inspection machine 14 via the camera cable 23, and functions as a control unit that determines the presence or absence of the deposit 8 based on the inspection image. To do. If the determination result is NG (with attached matter), the inspection device 14 outputs an NG signal to a rejecter (not shown). When the rejector receives the NG signal, it removes the container 2 from the conveyor 3 as shown in FIG. If the determination result is “no deposit”, no NG signal is output from the inspection device 14. As a result, the container 2 without deposits is not subjected to rejection by the rejector, and is conveyed to a process after filling and inspection by the conveyor 3 as shown in FIG.

  The contents of the inspection image are transmitted to the monitor 25 connected to the inspection machine 14 via the monitor cable 24 and displayed on the display unit (reference numeral omitted) of the monitor 25. Thereby, the operator can confirm the state of imaging through the display on the monitor 25 and can adjust the inspection apparatus 10.

Here, the determination method of the presence or absence of the deposit by the inspection method of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An area surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 4A and 5A is an imaging area 30 captured by the CCD camera 12. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B, in the inspection image 31 captured by the CCD camera 12, the contour line of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container 2 looks straight. Since the pixels in the image are arranged vertically and horizontally, the direction around the optical axis of the CCD camera 12 is adjusted so that the contour line of the edge 7 extends in the pixel arrangement direction (here, the left-right direction) in the image. Keep it.
In addition, the control unit 14 observes the position of the outline of the filling port 6 edge 7 of the container 2 when the deposit 8 is not present in advance, so that the reference data of the container 2 is determined as reference data. The reference coordinates 34 which are the coordinates in the height direction of the filling port 6 edge 7 are stored. For the sake of explanation, the position of the reference coordinate 34 is indicated by a right-pointing arrow in FIGS. 4B and 5B.

  Here, an example of a method for measuring the reference coordinates 34 will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, an inspection image 31 of the container when the deposit 8 is not present is captured, and the outline of the filling port 6 edge 7 of the container 2 in the inspection image 31. And at least one inspection region 32 extending in the height direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Then, for each inspection region 32, the reference coordinate 34 can be obtained by measuring the coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33 between the surface color of the filling port 6 and the background color.

The coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33 between the surface color and the background color of the filling port 6 is measured based on the number of pixels between the upper side or the lower side of the inspection region 32 and the outline of the filling port edge 7. be able to.
When the number of pixels is measured from the upper side of the inspection region 32, the boundary position 33 can be recognized as a position where a pixel having a filling port surface color is detected after a pixel having a background color.
When the number of pixels is measured from the lower side of the inspection region 32, the boundary position 33 can be recognized as a position where a pixel having a background color is detected after a pixel having a filling port surface color.
The background color and / or the filling port surface color are not necessarily limited to a single color tone. As long as both can be distinguished from each other, there may be a plurality of colors to be recognized as the background color and / or a color to be recognized as the surface of the filling port, but each of the background color and the surface of the filling port is continuous. It is preferable that the tone is expressed by gradations.
In addition, the container is imaged by selecting an appropriate background color that provides a remarkable contrast with the filling port surface color, and the obtained inspection image has, for example, a black background color and a white filling port surface color. In addition, binarization processing may be performed.

In the control unit 14, at the time of inspection, at least one inspection region 32 extending in the height direction perpendicular to the contour line of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container 2 is set in the inspection image 31. In FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B, four inspection regions 32 are set along the contour line of the edge 7 of the filling port 6.
Note that the number of inspection regions 32 is not particularly limited, and in this inspection method, it is possible to inspect the presence or absence of deposits by setting at least one inspection region 32. However, since the deposits existing outside the range of the inspection area 32 cannot be detected, it is preferable to set a plurality of inspection areas 32 for more reliable inspection. Even if the number of inspection regions 32 is too large, the image processing time becomes long and the processing speed of the filling device 10 may not be followed. Therefore, from the viewpoint of image processing time and the ease of spreading of the deposits due to scattering of the contents (such as the size of the droplets and the expected value of the number of deposits that occur simultaneously when deposits occur), an appropriate number The inspection area 32 may be set.

  The control unit 14 scans the inspection image 31 in the inspection region 32, and for each inspection region 32, the surface color and background color of the filling port 6 are used as feature data indicating the characteristics of the image data in the inspection region 32. The coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33 is measured. Here, since the measuring method of the coordinate of the boundary position 33 in the height direction can be performed in the same manner as the case of measuring the reference coordinate 34, detailed description is omitted.

  Further, the coordinate (feature data) in the height direction of the boundary position 33 is compared with the reference coordinate 34 (reference data), and when there is a significant difference between the two coordinates, it is determined that “there is an attachment”. When a plurality of inspection areas 32 are set, it is determined that “there is an attached substance” when the height direction coordinates of the boundary position 33 have a significant difference from the reference coordinates 34 for at least one inspection area 32. On the other hand, if no significant difference is recognized between the height coordinate of the boundary position and the reference coordinate 34 for all the inspection areas 32, it is determined that there is no deposit.

Here, in order to determine the magnitude of the significant difference for determining the presence / absence of the deposit 8, the actual size near the filling port 6 corresponding to one pixel in the inspection image, or the container 2 being conveyed Although it is necessary to consider the height error of the edge 7 of the filling port 6, for example, the actual dimension corresponding to one pixel is about 0.025 mm square, and the edge 7 of the filling port 6 is 0. If there is a rise of 2 mm or more, the presence or absence of the deposit 8 can be determined. By comparing with the reference coordinates 34 indicating the position of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 when the deposit 8 does not exist, for example, the deposit 8 adheres to the entire edge 7 of the filling port 6 to form a flat contour line. Even if it is given, the presence or absence of the deposit 8 can be correctly determined.
In addition, if the coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33 is lower than the reference coordinate 34, it can be reported as an abnormality (for example, poor adjustment) of the inspection apparatus 10.

As described above, according to the inspection apparatus and the inspection method of the present embodiment, the presence / absence of adhering matter is determined on the inspection image without distinguishing the region of the filling port of the container and the region of the contents (adhering matter). Therefore, even if the color difference between the surface of the filling port of the container and the color of the contents is the same or small enough to be indistinguishable, it is possible to inspect for the presence of deposits. It becomes. In addition, since the filling port edge of the container to be inspected is imaged by a camera in a direction in which the outline of the edge looks straight, the presence or absence of deposits on the filling port edge is detected. Can be detected with high accuracy.
If the reference data is measured at least once and stored in the control unit, there is no need to re-measure unless there is a particular change in the measurement conditions, and the data can be used repeatedly. It is not necessary to prepare a container in which no exists.
According to the filling apparatus of the present embodiment, when the contents adhere to the upper end of the filling port during filling, the container with the attached matter can be automatically removed from the production line after filling.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, as the feature data and reference data obtained by image processing, the inspection region 32 is used instead of the height direction coordinates of the boundary position between the filling port surface color and the background color in the first embodiment. The count value of the number of pixels of the filling port surface color and / or the background color is used.
Since it is possible to use the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as the inspection apparatus and the filling apparatus for carrying out this embodiment, the method for generating and comparing the feature data and the reference data will be described here. To do.

  For example, when the count value of the number of pixels of the background color is used, the pixels indicating the background color in the inspection region 32 are shown with cross-hatching in FIGS. 6 and 7. It appears in the region 35 above the boundary line with the color. That is, the count value of the number of pixels of the background color can be used as data corresponding to the area of the region 35 above the boundary line between the filling port surface color and the background color. When the deposit is present, the count value of the number of pixels of the background color is smaller than when the deposit is not present. Therefore, the count value of the number of pixels of the background color obtained from the inspection image of the container having no deposit is used as reference data, and the count value of the number of pixels of the background color obtained from the inspection image of the container to be inspected is feature data. As a result, the presence / absence of an adhering substance can be determined by comparing the two data and determining whether there is a significant difference. Note that the width of the inspection region 32 in the inspection image of the container having no deposit needs to be equal to the width of the inspection region 32 in the inspection image of the container to be inspected.

In the present embodiment, the presence / absence of an adhering matter can be determined in the same manner using the count value of the number of pixels of the filling port surface color. In this case, the count value of the number of pixels corresponds to the area of the region below the boundary line between the filling port surface color and the background color. Compared with the case where it does not, the count value of the pixel number of the filling port surface color becomes large.
Further, the count value of the number of pixels of the background color and the number of pixels of the filling port surface color can be used in combination. Note that when the background color can be clearly identified by using a background plate or the like, it is preferable to use a count value of the number of pixels of the background color.

  In the case of this embodiment, as illustrated in the inspection region 32 at the right end in FIG. 6B, the inspection region 32 even when the boundary between the filling port surface color and the background color is large in the inspection region 32. Since it is possible to extract the data in which the position in the height direction of the boundary line is averaged over the entire width, the coordinates of the boundary position are determined arbitrarily (or by an appropriate algorithm) on the boundary line as in the first embodiment. Compared with this, it is possible to measure with high accuracy.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 shows a top view of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container. As shown in this figure, when the edge 7 of the filling port 6 of the container 2 is imaged in the horizontal direction by the camera 12, In the case where the deposit 8 is located on the side close to the camera 12 and the case where the deposit 8 is located on the side far from the camera 12, the distance from the camera 12 to the deposit 8 is the maximum outer diameter of the filling port 6. A difference in degree will occur. Therefore, for example, in the case of a wide-mouthed cup or the like, depending on the outer diameter of the filling port 6, the deposit 8 located on the side close to the camera 12 and the deposit 8 located on the side far from the camera 12 are simultaneously focused. May be difficult.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8, when using the two star wheels 41 and 42 as a conveyor which conveys a container, and transferring to the 2nd star wheel 42 from the 1st star wheel 41, the container 2 The direction of the filling port is reversed in the horizontal plane. In FIG. 8, wedge-shaped symbols are used to schematically show the direction of the filling port of the container 2 for explanation.
Further, the inspection apparatus includes a first camera unit 43 that images the filling port of the container 2 on the first star wheel 41, and a second camera that images the filling port of the container 2 on the second star wheel 42. A unit 44, and the camera 12 of each camera unit 43, 44 is used so that the filling port edge 7 of one container 2 can be imaged in two steps. The camera 12 is adjusted so as to focus on one half of the filling port edge 7 on the side closer to or far from the camera 12.
The first camera unit 43 images one side of the filling port edge 7 (the thick side of the wedge-shaped symbol in FIG. 8), and the second camera unit 43 captures the other side of the filling port edge 7 (in FIG. 8). Take a picture of the wedge-shaped symbol (the thin side). The determination of the presence or absence of a deposit based on the obtained inspection image can be performed, for example, in the same manner as in the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when the filling port edge of the container is imaged, the half of the filling port edge facing each other is imaged twice from both sides of the filling port. Therefore, an accurate inspection can be performed. As shown in FIG. 8, the camera can be arranged on the same side with respect to the transport line by inverting the container in a horizontal plane using a star wheel. In addition, even when the linear conveyor 3 is used as shown in FIG. 1, by arranging cameras on both sides of the conveyor 3, the opposite half of the filling port edge is separated from both sides of the filling port. It becomes possible to shoot in divided times.

As mentioned above, although this invention has been demonstrated based on suitable embodiment, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, Various modifications are possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.
The feature data generated from the inspection image is not limited to the parameters exemplified in the above embodiment. Taking advantage of the difference in the distribution of pixels having a filling port surface color and / or pixels having a background color between an inspection image of a container with deposits and an inspection image of a container without deposits, The shape or the number or area of the pixel region having the filling port surface color and / or the pixel region having the background color, or the boundary line between the pixel region having the filling port surface color and the pixel region having the background color A parameter that reflects the presence or absence of an adhering substance may be generated based on the shape or the like. Further, the reference data may be the same method as the method for generating the feature data from the inspection image of the container to be inspected, and the data generated based on the inspection image of the container in which no deposit is present may be used. An excellent effect is obtained that the presence or absence of deposits can be determined quickly and reliably by comparing data generated from the inspection image.
In the above embodiment, one parameter is generated as feature data from each inspection area in the inspection image, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this. If the computation time required for data generation and comparison is sufficiently short in view of production speed, for example, multiple parameters can be generated from one inspection area, or one parameter can be generated from multiple inspection areas. Or you may.

A camera (model number F160-S2) manufactured by OMRON Corporation was used as the camera. As the lighting device, white light LED lighting (ring shape, model number LDL-74 × 27-W) manufactured by CCS Co., Ltd. was used. A visual sensor controller (model number F150-C10) manufactured by OMRON Corporation was used as an inspection machine.
As shown in FIG. 2, the camera is disposed so as to be horizontal with respect to the mouth (surface color is white) of the container 2 to be inspected, and a ring-shaped LED is interposed between the camera 12 and the container 2. Illumination 13 was arranged to illuminate the inspection object brightly. The camera 12 and the illumination 13 were turned on and off by the trigger sensor 11, the inspection image was captured by the camera 12, and the presence or absence of the deposit on the inspection object was inspected by the inspection machine 14 connected to the camera 12. White yogurt was used as the deposit.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of strip-shaped inspection regions 32 are set in the inspection image 31, and the height direction of the boundary position 33 between the surface color of the filling port 6 and the background color in each inspection region 32. The coordinates of were obtained. The coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33 can be automatically measured by counting the number of pixels from the bottom of the inspection region 32. In addition, the coordinate of the height direction of the edge 7 of the filling port 6 when there is no deposit is previously measured as the reference coordinate 34 by the same procedure.
If the obtained coordinates in the height direction of the boundary position 33 are within a certain range that can be regarded as having no significant difference from the reference coordinates 34 in all the inspection regions 32, it is determined that there is no deposit. Further, when the obtained coordinate in the height direction of the boundary position 33 is significantly different from the reference coordinate 34 in at least one inspection region 32, it is determined that “there is an attached matter”.
By such a procedure, it was possible to detect all whether or not the deposit is on the mouth portion of the container. The processing time required from when the trigger is turned on to when the determination result is obtained is 50 to 60 ms at a time. This processing time is sufficiently short for the production rate of 150 pieces / minute (that is, 400 ms / piece). Met.

  The present invention can inspect for the presence or absence of deposits of the same color as the filling port surface at the filling port edge of the container. In particular, when the inspection process according to the present invention is performed between the filling process and the sealing process, it is possible to detect and eliminate containers that are likely to have a sealing failure due to deposits adhering to the filling port.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the filling apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the inspection apparatus of this invention used for the filling apparatus of FIG. It is the (a) partial expansion front view and (b) partial expansion perspective view which show an example of the filling port of the container which has a deposit in the filling port edge. FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged front view showing an example of an imaged portion of a container having a deposit on the filling port edge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) a schematic view showing an example of an imaged image. . FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged front view showing an example of an imaging position of a container having no deposit on the filling port edge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) a schematic view showing an example of an image taken. . FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged front view showing an example of (a) an imaged portion of a container having deposits on the filling port edge according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and (b) a schematic view showing an example of an imaged image. . FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged front view showing an example of an imaged portion of a container having no deposit on the filling port edge according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and (b) a schematic view showing an example of an imaged image. . It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the inspection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd example of this invention. It is a top view explaining the influence of the deposit | attachment with respect to a camera in the 3rd example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Filling device, 2 ... Container, 3 ... Conveyor, 4 ... Contents, 5 ... Filling nozzle, 6 ... Filling port of container, 7 ... Edge of filling port, 8 ... Deposit, 10 ... Inspection apparatus, 11 ... Trigger sensor, 12 ... camera (CCD camera), 14 ... control unit (inspection machine), 15 ... background plate, 31 ... inspection image, 32 ... inspection area, 33 ... boundary position, 34 ... reference coordinate, 41, 42 ... star wheel.

Claims (12)

An inspection method for inspecting for the presence or absence of deposits of the same color as the filling port surface at the filling port edge of the container,
Imaging the edge of the filling port of the container to be inspected in a direction in which the outline of the edge looks straight with a camera,
In the inspection image captured by the camera, at least one inspection region extending in a height direction perpendicular to the outline of the filling port edge of the container is set, and the inspection image is scanned in the inspection region to fill the surface of the filling port The feature data of the inspection image is generated by identifying the color and the background color, and the reference data obtained on the basis of the image of the container when no deposit is present is compared with the feature data. An inspection method for an edge of a container filling port, wherein it is determined that there is a deposit when there is a significant difference.   The container filling port edge inspection method according to claim 1, wherein a count value of the number of pixels of the filling port surface color and / or the background color in the inspection region is used as the feature data and the reference data.   2. The container filling port edge inspection method according to claim 1, wherein coordinates in the height direction of a boundary position between a filling port surface color and a background color are used as the feature data and the reference data.   Scanning the inspection image in a plurality of inspection regions to generate a plurality of the feature data, and determining that the feature data has a deposit when at least one of the feature data has a significant difference from the reference data. The container filling port edge inspection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   When imaging the filling port edge of the container, focus on the half circumference of the filling port edge closer to or far from the camera, and the opposite half circumferences of the filling port edge from both sides of the filling port. 5. The container filling port edge inspection method according to claim 1, wherein imaging is performed in two steps.   The container filling port edge inspection method according to claim 5, wherein the container is inverted in a horizontal plane between the two imaging operations. An inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of deposits of the same color as the filling port surface at the filling port edge of the container,
A camera that images the edge of the filling port of the container to be inspected in a direction in which the outline of the edge looks straight;
Reference data obtained based on the image of the container when no deposit is present is stored, and the height direction perpendicular to the outline of the filling port edge of the container in the inspection image captured by the camera At least one inspection region extending to the surface, and scanning the inspection image within the inspection region to generate feature data of the inspection image by identifying the filling port surface color and the background color, and there is no deposit A container comprising: a control unit that compares reference data obtained based on an image of a container in a case with the feature data and determines that there is a deposit when there is a significant difference between the two data; Inspection device for filling port edge.   The control unit scans the inspection image in a plurality of inspection regions to generate a plurality of the feature data, and when at least one of the feature data has a significant difference from the reference data, The container filling port edge inspection device according to claim 7, wherein it is determined that the container has a filling port edge.   The container filling according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a background plate having a different color from the surface of the filling port is arranged at a position facing the camera through a position where the filling port of the container is arranged. Mouth edge inspection device.   Two sets of cameras for imaging the container focusing on a half of the filling port edge closer to the camera are provided, and each of the first camera and the second camera is a semi-circumference of the filling port edge facing each other. The container filling port edge inspection device according to claim 7, wherein the inspection device is arranged so as to take an image of each minute.   The container filling port edge inspection device according to claim 10, further comprising a star wheel that inverts the container in a horizontal plane between the image captured by the first camera and the image captured by the second camera. . A filling nozzle that fills the containers conveyed on the conveyor with the contents;
A trigger sensor for detecting that the container after filling has reached a predetermined inspection position;
A camera that captures the edge of the filling port of the container that has reached the inspection position in a direction in which the outline of the edge can be seen as a straight line by the detection signal of the trigger sensor;
Reference data obtained based on the image of the container when no deposit is present is stored, and the height direction perpendicular to the outline of the filling port edge of the container in the inspection image captured by the camera At least one inspection region extending to the surface, and scanning the inspection image within the inspection region to generate feature data of the inspection image by identifying the filling port surface color and the background color, and there is no deposit A control unit that compares reference data obtained based on an image of a container in a certain case with the feature data and determines that there is a deposit when there is a significant difference between the two data;
A filling apparatus, comprising: a rejector that removes a container determined to have an attached substance from the conveyor according to a determination result signal transmitted from the control unit.

Images