JP2772261B2 - Method and apparatus for detecting bending of pull ring - Google Patents

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 detecting the bending of a pull ring of a cap attached to a wide mouth container such as a wide mouth bottle for sake.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cap of a wide-mouthed container is conventionally provided with a pull ring or a pull tab (in this specification,
These are collectively called pull rings. ) Is provided. This type of cap may have its pull ring already deformed at the part delivery stage, may be deformed when it is received in a sorter or hopper, or may be deformed by the impact of air transport. In addition, when the pull ring is normally conveyed in a forward position while it should be conveyed in a rearward position with the pull ring facing backward, the pull ring collides with a pull ring of a preceding normal cap and deforms the pull ring. Further, the deformed pull ring may be caught on the claw of the cap feeding device, and the deformation may be further increased. When such a deformed cap is plugged into the container in the bottling step, there is a problem that the pull ring bends into the container and cannot be opened.

In order to prevent such bending of the pull ring, various measures have conventionally been taken. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), between the normal cap 9 on the right and the defective cap 9 'on the left during transportation.
Since a difference Δh ₁ occurs in the height from the upper surface of the cap 9 to the tip of the pull ring 8, the proximity switch 31 is installed so that only the tip of the pull ring 8 of the defective cap 9 ′ passes. When the cap 9 'is detected, the apparatus is stopped to remove the defective cap 9'.

[0004] Further, as shown in FIG.
In the step of supplying the cap 9 to the container 7 in step (1), when the cap 9 'in the forward posture with the pull ring 8 in front is supplied, the height difference between the cap 9 in the normal backward posture and the pull ring 8 is increased. Since Δh ₂ occurs, the proximity switch 31 has been used to detect and eliminate the cap 9 ′ in the forward-facing posture, as in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, when a cap 9 'having a deformed pull ring 8 is supplied to the container 7 and plugged, the pull ring 8 bends inside the container 7. In this case, the height from the bottom of the container 7 to the upper surface of the cap 9 'is different from the height of the container 7 having the normal cap 9 by Δh _3. If something more than that is detected, the device is stopped and removed.

[0006]

However, in any of the above-mentioned conventional methods, there are some which cannot be detected depending on the degree of bending of the pull ring 8, so that there is a limit in performing complete detection. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for detecting a bending of a pull ring which can completely detect a cap having a bent and deformed pull ring.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for detecting the bending of a pull ring according to a first aspect of the present invention captures an image by irradiating a light to a cap being conveyed in a fixed posture and captures the image. The captured image is binarized, and the position of the light reflecting portion in the pull ring portion is set in advance with respect to the center of gravity of the light reflecting portion in the portion other than the pull ring of the cap of the binary image. It is to detect whether or not the pull ring of the cap is bent in an incorrect state depending on the presence or absence of the light reflecting portion. In the present invention, an image of the cap being conveyed on the conveyor in a certain posture may be taken in, or an image of the cap being conveyed by being sucked by the suction cup in a certain posture and pressed against the mouth of the container may be taken. You may do so. In the latter case, it is preferable that the detected defective cap is plugged into the container and then discharged together with the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pull ring bending detecting apparatus, comprising: a light source for irradiating light to a cap being transported in a fixed posture; an image forming means for photographing the cap to form an image; The image of the image forming means is fetched and binarized, and the center of gravity of the light reflecting portion in a portion other than the pull ring of the cap of the binary image is set as the reference position, and the light of the light in the portion of the pull ring normal to the reference position is used The area including the reflection part is set in advance as a detection window,
An image processing means is provided for detecting whether or not the pull ring of the cap is bent in an incorrect state based on the presence or absence of a light reflecting portion in the detection window.

[0009]

In the first aspect of the present invention, when light is applied to a cap with a pull ring that is conveyed in a fixed posture, the light is reflected by a plurality of fixed portions, and the reflection portion appears white in the binary image. If the pull ring is bent and deformed, the position of the reflection portion at the pull ring portion changes or disappears. Therefore, if there is no white binary image at the detection position preset at the position of the reflection portion of the pull ring portion in a normal state, it is detected that the pull ring is bent and deformed. Detects that it is normal.

In the second invention, the cap with the pull ring conveyed in a fixed posture is irradiated with light from a light source,
The image is formed by the image forming means. The image formed by the image forming unit is captured by the image processing unit and binarized. In this binary image, if there is no white binary image in the detection window preset at the position of the reflection part of the normal pull ring part, the pull ring is bent and deformed by the image processing means. Is detected, and if there is, it is detected as normal.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a method for detecting the bending of a pull ring according to the present invention and an apparatus for bottling a wide-mouthed sake container to which the apparatus is applied. This apparatus generally includes a bottling machine 1, a container transport conveyor 2, a cap transport chute 3, a cap transport conveyor 4, a cap feeder 5, and a cap tightening machine 6.

The bottling machine 1 bottles sake in the container 7 while moving the container 7 conveyed from the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1 in the direction b along the circumference, and then transfers the container 7 to the container conveyor 2. To be handed over. The container transport conveyor 2 transports the sake-containing containers 7 delivered from the bottling machine 1 at regular intervals in the direction of arrow c. The cap conveying chute 3 is a cap 9 which is conveyed in the direction of arrow d in a rearward posture with the pull ring 8 facing rearward.
To slide and wait for alignment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cap conveying conveyor 4 includes a chain 11 stretched between a pair of sprockets 10, 10, a rail 12 provided above the chain 11, A plurality of transport claws 13 attached to the upper and lower parts 11 so as to be able to swing up and down at regular intervals, and a switching lever attached to a fixed part (not shown) near the lowermost point of the cap transfer chute 3 so as to be able to swing up and down. 14
It consists of When the container 7 is present on the container conveyor 2, the switching lever 14 is positioned substantially horizontally as indicated by the solid line, and passes through the caps 9 one by one with the conveyor claws 13 protruding above the rail 12. The cap transport chute 3 is pulled down onto the rail 12. When there is no container 7 in the container conveyor 2, the switching lever 14 is lowered downward as shown by a two-dot chain line, and the conveying claw 13 is pulled under the rail 12 to pass through the cap. 9 will not be withdrawn.

[0014] As shown in FIG.
Cap 9 conveyed on cap conveyor 4
Is sucked by a suction cup 5a and pressed onto a container 7 moving on the container transport conveyor 2 to be adhered. As shown in FIG. 1, the cap tightening machine 6 tightens and caps the cap 9 of the container 7 conveyed on the container conveyor 2, and sends out the cap 9 to the product conveyor 15 in the direction of arrow e. . Product conveyor 15
Is provided with a discharge device 17 for branching and arranging the defective product conveyor 16 and blowing air toward the defective product to push the defective product toward the defective product conveyor 16.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a pull ring bending detecting device applied to the bottling device of FIG. In this device, the position where the cap 9 is pressed against the container 7 by the cap feeder 5 (indicated by P1 in FIG. 1) is the bending ring detection position, and is separated from this detection position by the distance of the Nth container. The position on the product transport conveyor 15 (indicated by P2 in FIG. 1) is the discharge position.

At a detection position P1, a first container detection sensor 18 for detecting arrival of the container 7, a light source 19 for irradiating light to the cap 9 of the container 7, and a cap illuminated by the light source 19 CCD camera 2 for photographing part 9
0 is provided. This CCD camera 20 constitutes the image forming means of the present invention. The image of the CCD camera 20 is captured by an image processing unit 21 and displayed on a TV monitor 22. Also, the first container detection sensor 18
Is input to the image processing unit 21 as an external trigger. The image processing unit 21 detects the bending of the pull ring 8 by processing the image captured from the CCD camera 20 according to a procedure described later,
An NG signal to that effect is output to the bottling control device 23. The bottling control device 23 includes a pull ring 8
Has a display 24 for displaying that there is a bend.

On the other hand, at the discharge position P2, a second container detection sensor 25 for detecting the arrival of the container 7 and the discharge device 1 described above.
7 are provided. The detection signal of the second container detection sensor 25 is input to the bottling control device 23. The bottling control device 23 sends N
From the time point when the G signal is received, N
When receiving the main container detection signal, a discharge signal is output to the discharge device 17.

Next, the operation of the image processing section 21 and the bottling control device 23 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the image processing unit 21 captures an image from the CCD camera 20 in step 101 as shown in FIG. This image is a moving image showing a state in which the cap 9 is pressed against the container 7 by the suction cup 5a of the cap feeder 5 as shown in FIG. 4 (A), and shines white when light from the light source 19 is reflected. (Hereinafter, referred to as a reflection portion), for example, a reflection portion R1 at the mouth of the container 7 and a reflection portion R2 of the pull ring 8. In step 102, the captured image is binarized in black and white, and in step 103, it is determined whether an external trigger has been input from the first container detection sensor 18. If there is an external trigger input, step 10
In step 4, the image is stationary and fixed.

Then, in step 105, a rectangular reference window 26 is formed so as to surround the reflecting portion of the cap 9 other than the pull ring 8, for example, the reflecting portion R1 of the container 7 in FIG. The number of dots in the white area corresponding to the reflection portion R1 in the reference window 26 is counted. This reference window 26 is
Not only the reflection part R1 of the above, but also the reflection part
It is set to a portion other than the pull ring 8 of the cap 9 and a portion where light is surely reflected, such as a reflection portion on the outer peripheral edge of the cap 9.

Subsequently, if the count value is equal to or less than the allowable value in step 107, the container 7 does not exist, so the flow returns to step 103 to repeat the above steps until the container 7 comes. If the count value is equal to or larger than the allowable value in step 107, the container 7 is present, so that the center of gravity of the white area is calculated in step 108 and registered as a reference position G. A circular detection window 27 is created around a point on the screen that is a fixed distance (X, Y) away from. The position of the detection window 27 is determined by the reflection portion R of the pull ring 8 of the normal cap 9.
2 is a position surrounded by the circle.

Thereafter, in step 110, the number of dots in the white area corresponding to the reflection portion R2 in the detection window 27 is counted, and in step 111, if the counted value is equal to or less than the allowable value, the pull ring 8 of the cap 9 is removed from the container. 7, so that at step 112 N
The G signal is output, the process returns to step 103, and waits for the input of the external trigger of the next container 7, and the same steps are repeated.
If the count value exceeds the allowable value in step 111, the pull ring 8 of the cap 9 is present, so the flow returns to step 103 and waits for the input of an external trigger of the next container 7, and the same steps are performed. repeat.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the bottling control unit 23 determines whether or not an NG signal has been input from the image processing unit 21 in step 201, and if there is no NG signal, the NG signal is input until it is input. In a standby state, if an NG signal has been input, the fact that a defective container has occurred is displayed on the display unit 24 in step 202, and the number n of container detection signal inputs from the second container detection sensor 25 is counted in step 203. I do. Then, in step 204, it is determined whether or not the number n of input of container detection signals has reached the predetermined value N. If not, the defective container 7 has not yet arrived at the discharge position P2. Continue counting. If the container detection signal input count n has reached the predetermined value N, it means that the defective container 7 has arrived at the discharge position P2, so that a discharge signal is output to the discharge device 17 in step 205. As a result, the discharge device 17 pushes the defective container 7 toward the defective container discharge conveyor 16, and the defective container 7 is discharged by the defective container discharge conveyor 16.

In the above embodiment, the cap feeder 5
The bending of the pull ring 8 is detected when the cap 9 is supplied to the container 7, but the abnormal bending of the pull ring 8 is detected in the transfer line until the cap 9 is transferred to the cap transfer chute 3. Alternatively, the defective cap 9 may be eliminated before the cap 9 is supplied to the container 7 by detecting reverse conveyance.

Further, only the defective container is discharged when the defective container has moved the distance corresponding to N containers from the detection position P1 to the discharge position P2. For safety reasons, about two containers before and after the defective container may be discharged. Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a cap having an annular pull ring, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a cap having a pull tab without an annular ring.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the cap is irradiated with light to detect whether or not there is reflected light of light in the pull ring portion. The bend is completely detected. Therefore, such a pull ring can reliably remove a container bent and plugged in the container, and a defective cap with a bent pull ring can be reliably removed before plugging.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bottling apparatus for a wide-mouthed sake container to which the method and the apparatus for detecting a bending of a pull ring according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a pull ring bending detecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a moving image of a wide-mouthed container supplied with a cap, and FIG. 4B is a binary image masked by a window.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the bottling control device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional pull ring bending detection method.

[Explanation of symbols]

7: container, 8: pull ring, 9: cap, 19: light source, 20: CCD camera (image forming means), 21: image processing unit, 27: detection window.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An image is captured by irradiating a light to a cap being conveyed in a fixed posture, the captured image is binarized, and a light reflection portion of a portion other than the pull ring of the cap of the binary image is formed. The position of the light reflection portion in the pull ring portion is set in advance with respect to the center of gravity position, and it is determined whether or not the pull ring of the cap is bent in an incorrect state based on the presence or absence of the light reflection portion at the position. Characteristic pull ring bending detection method. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an image of the cap being conveyed on the conveyor is taken in a fixed posture. 3. The method for detecting bending of a pull ring according to claim 1, wherein an image of the cap being transported is taken in by being sucked by a suction cup in a fixed posture and pressed against the mouth of the container. 4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the detected defective cap is ejected together with the container after the cap is inserted into the container.
4. The method for detecting bending of a pull ring described in 1. 5. A light source for irradiating a light to a cap being conveyed in a fixed posture, an image forming means for photographing the cap to form an image, and capturing an image of the image forming means.
The binarized image is defined as a reference position using the center of gravity of the light reflecting portion in a portion other than the pull ring of the cap as the reference position, and a region including the light reflecting portion in the normal pull ring portion with respect to the reference position is defined as a detection window. Detecting the presence or absence of a light reflection portion in the detection window to detect whether or not the pull ring of the cap is bent in an improper state; apparatus.