JP2010181231A - Device and method for inspecting foreign matter in opaque solution - Google Patents

Abstract

In a foreign matter inspection apparatus and foreign matter inspection method for inspecting foreign matter in a liquid filled in a transparent container, even in the case of using a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, It is possible to provide a novel foreign matter inspection apparatus and foreign matter inspection method capable of reliably detecting the foreign matter and removing the scratches on the transparent container itself from the foreign matter image.
A transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container, illumination means that illuminates the transparent container, and the transparent container In a foreign matter inspection apparatus and foreign matter inspection method for automatically detecting foreign matter in a non-transparent liquid in a transparent container using a foreign matter inspection apparatus equipped with a camera that images the inside of the transparent container Centrifugal force is applied to the non-translucent liquid to separate the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid from the non-translucent liquid, and then imaged with the camera to detect the foreign matter.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a foreign matter inspection apparatus for inspecting foreign matter in a liquid filled in a transparent container such as an ampoule or a vial using an automatic foreign matter inspection apparatus, and a foreign matter inspection method using the same.

  Conventionally, when inspecting a foreign substance in a liquid filled in a transparent container, a translucent liquid is filled in a mounting table provided on the circumference of the inspection rotor using an inspection apparatus as shown in Patent Document 1. The transparent container was placed and held, the mounting table and the transparent container were rotated and then stopped, and a foreign substance floating in the inertially rotating liquid in the transparent container was detected by a camera, a sensor, or the like. Moreover, as shown in Patent Document 2, black foreign matters are mainly detected using transmitted light with respect to the filling liquid in the transparent container, and white foreign matters are mainly detected using reflected light. All of these foreign matter inspection apparatuses are effective for a liquid that is transparent to illumination light, but almost no effect can be expected for a non-translucent liquid that is not transparent to illumination light.

JP 2003-107011 A JP 2003-107010 JP

  The present invention is a novel device capable of reliably detecting foreign matter in a liquid even when the transparent container is filled with a non-translucent liquid that is not translucent to illumination light or has a very low translucency. An object of the present invention is to provide a foreign matter inspection apparatus and a foreign matter inspection method.

  The present invention includes a transparent container filled with a non-transparent liquid that is not transmissive to illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container by a drive motor, and a plurality of the mounting tables described above on a concentric circle. A non-translucent liquid filled in a transparent container, comprising: an inspection rotor that is arranged and transported; a drive motor that drives the inspection rotor; an illumination unit that illuminates the transparent container; and a camera that images the transparent container. In the foreign matter inspection apparatus for automatically detecting foreign matter, control that applies a centrifugal force to separate the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid in the transparent container from the drive motor that rotates the mounting table A device is provided, wherein foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid is separated from the non-translucent liquid, and the foreign matter separated from the non-transmissive liquid is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter. To do.

Further, a transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container by a drive motor, and a plurality of the mounting tables described above are arranged concentrically. Foreign matter in the non-translucent liquid filled in the transparent container, the inspection rotor for transporting and the drive motor for driving the inspection rotor, the illumination means for illuminating the transparent container, and the camera for imaging the transparent container In foreign matter inspection equipment that automatically detects
The drive motor that rotates the inspection rotor is provided with a control device that applies a centrifugal force to separate foreign substances contained in the non-translucent liquid of the transparent container from the non-translucent liquid, and is contained in the non-translucent liquid. The foreign matter is separated from the non-translucent liquid, and the foreign matter separated from the non-translucent liquid is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter.

  In addition, a camera for imaging foreign matter having a specific gravity higher than that of the non-translucent liquid separated on the transparent container side surface is provided on the outer periphery of the inspection rotor, and the non-translucent liquid separated on the non-translucent liquid surface of the transparent container A camera for imaging a foreign substance having a specific gravity lower than that of a liquid is provided on the inner periphery of the inspection rotor.

  Further, the control device includes an inspection mode setting unit having a predetermined rotation pattern, and a motor control unit that gives drive pattern information corresponding to the predetermined rotation pattern to the mounting table drive motor or the inspection rotor drive motor. Features.

  Further, a transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that is not transmissive to illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container, and an inspection in which a plurality of the mounting tables are arranged on a concentric circle and conveyed. In a non-translucent liquid filled in a transparent container using a foreign matter inspection apparatus including a drive motor that drives a rotor and an inspection rotor, an illumination unit that illuminates the transparent container, and a camera that images the transparent container In the foreign matter inspection method for automatically detecting a foreign matter, a non-translucent liquid is provided by applying a centrifugal force for rotating the mounting table to separate the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid from the non-transparent liquid. The foreign matter contained therein is separated from the non-translucent liquid, and the foreign matter separated from the non-translucent liquid is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter.

  In addition, a transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container, and an inspection in which a plurality of the mounting tables are arranged on a concentric circle and conveyed. In a non-translucent liquid filled in a transparent container using a foreign matter inspection apparatus including a drive motor that drives a rotor and an inspection rotor, an illumination unit that illuminates the transparent container, and a camera that images the transparent container In the foreign matter inspection method for automatically detecting foreign matter, a non-translucent liquid is applied by applying a centrifugal force to separate the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid by rotating the inspection rotor. The foreign matter contained therein is separated from the non-translucent liquid, and the foreign matter separated from the non-translucent liquid by rotating the mounting table is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter.

  Further, a foreign matter having a specific gravity higher than that of the non-translucent liquid is separated on a side surface of the transparent container, and a foreign matter having a specific gravity lower than that of the non-translucent liquid is separated on the surface of the non-translucent liquid, and imaged by the camera. It is characterized by detecting foreign matter.

  Further, in synchronism with the rotation of the mounting table, the entire circumference of the container is divided into a plurality of times and imaged by the camera to detect foreign matter.

  Further, a plurality of rotation patterns are given to the mounting table that supports the transparent container, different images corresponding to the rotation patterns are taken, and foreign matter is detected from the difference between these different images.

  The present invention includes a transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit light to illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container, illumination means that illuminates the transparent container, and a camera. In the foreign matter inspection apparatus and foreign matter inspection method for automatically detecting foreign matter in a transparent container using the foreign matter inspection apparatus provided, a centrifugal force for separating the foreign matter in the transparent container from the non-translucent liquid is applied, and By capturing a foreign object that is reliably separated from the translucent liquid with a camera, the foreign object can be reliably detected even in a transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that is not translucent to illumination light. it can.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the basic composition of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the mounting base of Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the foreign material inspection image of Example 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the foreign material inspection apparatus of Example 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the foreign material inspection method of Example 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the foreign material inspection principle of Example 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the test | inspection pattern of Example 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the foreign material inspection image of Example 2 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention. A plurality of mounting tables 2 are provided on the circumference of the inspection rotor 1, and a plurality of transparent containers 5 carried in from the loading line 3 through the loading rotor 4 are placed and held on the rotatable mounting table 2. The transparent container 5 filled with a predetermined non-translucent liquid is inspected for foreign matter by the camera 6 and the illumination means 7 and then carried out to the carry-out line 9 by the carry-out rotor 8. Further, the transparent container 5 in which the foreign matter is detected is discharged to the disposal line 10.

  An image including a foreign object image captured by the camera 6 is processed by the image processing unit 11 and used for the selection process of the transparent container 5. The inspection mode setting unit 12 that sets the rotation pattern for the drive motor of the mounting table 2 sends the necessary rotation pattern pattern information to the motor control unit 13. The motor control unit 13 controls the drive motor provided on the mounting table 2 via the slip ring 15 based on the angle information and the rotation pattern information of the angle detector 14 provided on the rotation shaft of the inspection rotor 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting table 2 has a holding unit 20 in the upper part and a drive motor 21 in the lower part, and rotatably holds the transparent container 5 filled with the non-translucent liquid L. Reference numeral 22 denotes an angle detector of the drive motor 21. Reference numeral 23 denotes a pair of illumination means for irradiating the surface of the transparent container 5, and reference numeral 24 denotes a camera for imaging the transparent container 5 using reflected light. The motor control unit 13 sends a drive signal corresponding to pattern information corresponding to various rotation patterns to the drive motor 21 of the mounting table 2 to drive the drive motor 21 with a predetermined pattern. Next, illumination is given by the illumination means 23 in the imaging station, and the transparent container 5 is imaged by the camera 24.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the mounting table 2 is rotated at a high speed to rotate the non-translucent liquid L in the transparent container 5 at a high speed to generate a centrifugal force sufficient to separate foreign matter, the non-translucent liquid The foreign matter F having a high specific gravity is separated from the side surface of the transparent container 5 and emerges. Thereafter, the entire circumference of the transparent container 5 is imaged by the camera 24 a plurality of times at a predetermined angle of 45 degrees in synchronization with the rotation of the mounting table 2 and the transparent container 5, as shown in the explanatory view of FIG. It is possible to reliably detect the foreign matter F in the non-translucent liquid L separated on the side surfaces of the five. In the case where the transparent container is made of glass, the most foreign material is glass fragments mixed in the manufacturing process or the cleaning / reproducing process, and this can be reliably detected. In addition, foreign matters such as plastic and metal mixed in the manufacturing process are separated. A translucent material can also be used if the transparent container can image the separated foreign matter.

  The centrifugal force required for foreign matter separation can be calculated from the specific gravity of the non-translucent liquid and the assumed foreign matter and the diameter of the transparent container. This is given to the inspection mode setting unit 12 in advance as a rotation pattern. The image processing unit 11, the inspection mode setting unit 12, and the motor control unit 13 described above can be configured as a single control device such as software that operates on a microcomputer.

  4 and 5 are schematic views showing Example 2 of the present invention. An imaging unit consisting of illumination means 30 and a camera 31 is provided on the inner periphery of the inspection rotor 1 having a plurality of mounting tables 2, and an imaging unit consisting of illumination means 32 and a camera 33 is also provided on the outer periphery of the inspection rotor 1. Yes. Here, when the inspection rotor 1 is rotated at a predetermined speed by the drive motor 34, centrifugal force is generated by the rotation of the inspection rotor 1 on the mounting table 2 and the transparent container 5, and the non-translucent liquid L in the transparent container 5 is the transparent container. 5, the liquid surface shown in FIG. 5 is inclined. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the foreign matter F <b> 1 having a specific gravity lower than that of the non-translucent liquid among the foreign matters is separated so as to float on the surface of the inclined non-transparent liquid L. High foreign matter F2 is separated around the bottom of the transparent container 5. The camera 31 on the inner periphery of the inspection rotor 1 detects foreign matter having a specific gravity lower than that of the non-transparent liquid L, and the camera 33 on the outer periphery of the inspection rotor 1 detects foreign matter having a specific gravity higher than that of the liquid. Therefore, even when there is a foreign substance having a specific gravity lower than that of the non-translucent liquid, this can be reliably detected.

  Also in the first embodiment, when the mounting table 2 is rotated at a high speed, foreign matter having a low specific gravity is separated on the liquid surface, but it is difficult to image from above due to the presence of a container cap or the like, so the second embodiment is practically effective. It becomes.

  In the case of detecting a foreign object as in the first and second embodiments, if the transparent container 5 itself has a scratch, it cannot be distinguished from the foreign object on the image. Therefore, it is necessary to separate an image resulting from scratches on the transparent container itself from the captured image by some method. While the scratches on the transparent container 5 do not move from a predetermined position of the transparent container in any case, the position of the foreign object moves every time an image is taken as the liquid rotates.

  FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the state of the liquid in the transparent container corresponding to the rotation pattern and the imaging timing. The mounting table 2 and the transparent container 5 mounted thereon are driven with the rotation pattern shown in FIG. 7B, and the timings (a) to (d) at the first spin and the timings at the second spin. When images are taken with (f) to (g), an image shown in FIG. 7A is captured. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), if a rotation pattern with a pause time between the first imaging and the second imaging is given, the appearance position of the foreign substance changes between the first spin and the second spin. 8, the foreign object image moved from the predetermined position of the transparent container 5 can be recognized as the foreign object F. That is, foreign objects can be detected by comparing images at the same angle, and external factors such as container scratches can be canceled. The imaging of each spin may be performed with the same camera or with separate cameras.

  The foreign object detection can detect the presence of the foreign substance in the non-translucent liquid not only when the position of the foreign object is different for each imaging as shown in FIG. 8 but also when the foreign object image disappears or appears.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1: inspection rotor, 2: mounting table, 5: transparent container, 11: image processing unit, 12: inspection mode setting unit, 13: motor control unit, 21, 34: drive motor, 23, 30, 32: illumination means, 24, 31, 33: camera, L: non-translucent liquid, F: foreign matter

Claims (10)

A transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container by a drive motor, and a plurality of the mounting tables that are arranged on a concentric circle are conveyed. An inspection rotor, a driving motor for driving the inspection rotor, an illuminating means for illuminating the transparent container, and a camera for imaging the transparent container, and automatically removing foreign matters in the non-translucent liquid filled in the transparent container. In the foreign matter inspection device that detects automatically,
The drive motor for rotating the mounting table is provided with a control device that applies a centrifugal force to separate the foreign matter contained in the non-transparent liquid of the transparent container from the non-translucent liquid, and is contained in the non-translucent liquid. A foreign matter inspection apparatus, wherein a foreign matter is separated from a non-translucent liquid, and the foreign matter separated from the non-transmissive liquid is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter. A transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container by a drive motor, and a plurality of the mounting tables that are arranged on a concentric circle are conveyed. An inspection rotor, a driving motor for driving the inspection rotor, an illuminating means for illuminating the transparent container, and a camera for imaging the transparent container, and automatically removing foreign matters in the non-translucent liquid filled in the transparent container. In the foreign matter inspection device that detects automatically,
The drive motor that rotates the inspection rotor is provided with a control device that applies a centrifugal force to separate foreign substances contained in the non-translucent liquid of the transparent container from the non-translucent liquid, and is contained in the non-translucent liquid. A foreign matter inspection apparatus, wherein a foreign matter is separated from a non-translucent liquid, and the foreign matter separated from the non-transmissive liquid is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter.   3. The foreign matter inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a camera that images foreign matter having a specific gravity higher than that of the non-translucent liquid separated on the side surface of the transparent container is provided on an outer periphery of the inspection rotor, and the non-translucent property of the transparent container is provided. A foreign matter inspection apparatus, wherein a camera for imaging foreign matter having a specific gravity lower than that of the non-translucent liquid separated on a liquid surface is provided on an inner periphery of the inspection rotor.   4. The foreign matter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device performs a predetermined rotation on an inspection mode setting unit having a predetermined rotation pattern and the table drive motor or the inspection rotor drive motor. A foreign matter inspection apparatus comprising: a motor control unit that provides drive pattern information corresponding to a pattern. A transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container, a plurality of the mounting tables that are arranged on a concentric circle, and an inspection rotor that conveys the mounting table; Foreign matter in a non-translucent liquid filled in a transparent container using a foreign matter inspection apparatus provided with a drive motor for driving an inspection rotor, illumination means for illuminating the transparent container, and a camera for imaging the transparent container In the foreign matter inspection method that automatically detects
The foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid is rotated from the non-translucent liquid by applying a centrifugal force to separate the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid by rotating the mounting table. A foreign matter inspection method, wherein the foreign matter separated and separated from the non-translucent liquid is imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter. A transparent container filled with a non-translucent liquid that does not transmit illumination light, a mounting table that rotatably supports the transparent container, a plurality of the mounting tables that are arranged on a concentric circle, and an inspection rotor that conveys the mounting table; Foreign matter in a non-translucent liquid filled in a transparent container using a foreign matter inspection apparatus provided with a drive motor for driving an inspection rotor, illumination means for illuminating the transparent container, and a camera for imaging the transparent container In the foreign matter inspection method that automatically detects
The inspection rotor is rotated to apply a centrifugal force for separating the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid from the non-translucent liquid to remove the foreign matter contained in the non-translucent liquid from the non-translucent liquid. A foreign matter inspection method comprising: detecting a foreign matter by separating and rotating the mounting table and imaging the foreign matter separated from the non-translucent liquid by the camera.   7. The foreign matter inspection method according to claim 6, wherein a foreign matter having a specific gravity higher than that of the non-translucent liquid is separated on a side surface of the transparent container, and is picked up by the camera to detect the foreign matter.   7. The foreign matter inspection method according to claim 6, wherein a foreign matter having a specific gravity lower than that of the non-translucent liquid is separated from the surface of the non-translucent liquid, and is picked up by the camera to detect the foreign matter. Foreign substance inspection method.   9. The foreign matter inspection method according to claim 5, wherein in synchronization with the rotation of the mounting table, the entire circumference of the container is divided into a plurality of times and imaged by the camera to detect the foreign matter. Characteristic foreign matter inspection method.   10. The foreign matter inspection method according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of rotation patterns are provided on the mounting table that supports the transparent container to capture different images according to the rotation patterns, and the different images are provided. A foreign matter inspection method, wherein foreign matter is detected from a difference between the two.

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