JP3361897B2 - Inspection signal transmission method and inspection device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a container such as a bottle or a can as an object to be inspected before filling the contents, and performs image capturing a plurality of times for each object to inspect the inner surface of the object. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a test signal transmission method and a test device required when performing a test of the outer circumference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In manufacturing glass bottles and plastic containers in factories, before the filling of contents such as liquids and fluids after manufacturing, scratches, dust, scorching, dust, etc. on the inner surface of these containers to be inspected It is necessary to inspect the surface in order to detect defects in the. In particular, when inspecting a container to be inspected by a photographing device such as a camera or a line sensor, it is necessary to perform a plurality of photographing operations for one container to be inspected due to the shape of the container.

In the surface inspection apparatus for performing these inspections, either the image capturing device or the container to be inspected is fixed, and the image capturing operation of the other and the relative position between the camera and the container to be inspected are sequentially changed. Then, the surface inspection apparatus inspects the entire inspection surface of the container to be inspected by repeating the image capturing operation and the operation of moving to the next image capturing surface (hereinafter, referred to as “transfer”).

In FIG. 10, as a conventional example of the above-described inspection apparatus, a bottle (hereinafter referred to as "work bottle") is carried into a rotating inspection table and the inner surface of the work bottle is continuously inspected. The operation | movement conceptual diagram of the Iku rotary type inspection apparatus is shown.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the conventional inspection apparatus, the work bottles just after being manufactured are conveyed by a belt conveyor or the like and carried into the rotary inspection table RT one by one, and a total of six cameras C ₁ to C _{1 are} mounted. Each is inspected at C ₆ . A total of six work bottles are arranged every 60 ° on the circumference of the rotary shaft, and after carrying in, the camera is inserted into the work bottle through the opening portion for inspection. The actual inspection is performed in the section (0 ° to 180 °) of the inspection section I ₀ . In the inspection section I ₀ , each work bottle is repeatedly photographed on a specific inspection surface and rotated by a predetermined angle of each work bottle itself, and the inspection is completed over the entire circumference of the inner surface. Is judged and is carried out.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional inspection apparatus has a problem that the utilization efficiency of the image processing system is low. Therefore, the inspection speed and the inspectable quantity were not sufficiently increased.

[0007] In FIG. 10, as the inspection interval I ₀ 0 °
Although a range of from 180 ° to 180 ° is provided, not all of the inspection section is assigned to image capturing.
In other words, a rotary inspection device, etc., also includes a transfer time (so-called handling time) for moving a work bottle from one surface to be inspected to another surface to be inspected (so-called handling time). At the time of photographing, the rotation of the rotation inspection table RT is stopped to perform photographing by the inspection device, and after the photographing is finished, the operation of rotating by a certain angle is repeated. The inspection section I0 inevitably includes the photographing time and the non-imaging time in a mixed manner, and the image signal is only intermittently supplied to the image processing system, so that the utilization efficiency of the transmission channel and the image processing system is improved. It was bad. The low utilization efficiency of the image processing system requires a larger number of transmission paths, leading to an increase in cost.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a test signal transmission method and a test device which have high utilization efficiency of a transmission channel and high test processing capability.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is such that the inspection signal generating means assigned to one inspection object and the inspection object are relatively and intermittently. It is an inspection method for inspecting an inspected object by sequentially rotating a plurality of inspected surfaces to be inspected, and a rotation period necessary for changing the inspected surface is required for each inspected surface. The rotation speed is set so that the time length is n (n = natural number) times as long as the inspection period, and (n + 1) inspection signal generating units form a group of inspection signal generating units. The inspection signal generating means forming the inspection signal generating means group is sequentially selected for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and the inspection signals of the selected inspection signal generating means are continuously transmitted, Inspects continuously transmitted inspection signals based on switching signals Separating the test signal for each issue generating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the inspection signal generating means assigned to one inspection object and the inspection object are relatively and intermittently rotated so that a plurality of inspection surfaces to be inspected can be obtained. An inspection method for inspecting an object to be inspected by sequentially changing it, wherein a rotation period required to change the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times as long as the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. The speed of rotation is set so that the inspection signal generating means group is composed of (n + 1) inspection signal generating means, and one transmission channel is allocated to each inspection signal generating means group for inspection. The inspection signal generating means constituting the inspection signal generating means group is sequentially selected by the switching signal for each signal generating means group for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected,
The inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means is transmitted through the transmission channels that are continuously assigned, and the inspection signal continuously transmitted for each transmission channel based on the switching signal is used as the inspection signal for each inspection signal generating means. To separate.

The invention according to claim 3 is the inspection signal transmitting method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein n is 1 and the inspection signal generating means for pairing the switching signals are alternately switched. The invention according to claim 4 is an inspection apparatus for inspecting an inspected object by rotating the assigned inspected object relatively and intermittently to sequentially change a plurality of inspected surfaces to be inspected, The rotation speed is set so that the rotation period required to change the surface to be inspected is a time length n (n = natural number) times the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and the inspection signal for each inspection surface is set. The inspection signal generating means and the (n + 1) inspection signal generating means form a set of inspection signal generating means groups, and the switching signal generates the inspection signal generating means, and the inspection signal generating means forms the inspection signal generating means group. Switching means for sequentially selecting inspection signals for each surface required for each inspection period and continuously transmitting the inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means, and inspecting continuously transmitted inspection signals based on the switching signal Separation means for separating each signal generation means, And checking means for outputting the inspection result inspects every object to be inspected based on the isolated inspection signal,
It is configured with.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inspection apparatus for inspecting an object to be inspected by rotating the allocated object to be inspected relatively and intermittently to sequentially change a plurality of surfaces to be inspected. Therefore, the rotation speed is set so that the rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times as long as the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. Inspection signal generating means for generating the inspection signal of
+1) A plurality of test signal generating means groups each including one test signal generating means are configured, one transmission channel is assigned to each test signal generating means group, and each test signal generating means generates the test signal by a switching signal. Switching for sequentially selecting the inspection signal generating means forming the means group for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected and transmitting the inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means through the transmission channel continuously assigned Means, a separating means for separating the inspection signal continuously transmitted for each transmission channel for each inspection signal generating means based on the switching signal, and an inspection for each inspection object based on the separated inspection signal. And an inspection unit that outputs an inspection result for each inspected object.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the inspection apparatus according to the fifth aspect, in which n is 1, and the inspection signals for which the switching signals are paired are alternately switched.

[0014]

According to the inspection method of the present invention, first, the rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times as long as the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. Set the speed of rotation so that Further, a set of inspection signal generating means is composed of (n + 1) inspection signal generating means.
Then, the inspection signal generating means forming the inspection signal generating means group is sequentially selected by the switching signal for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. The inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means is continuously transmitted, and the continuously transmitted inspection signal is separated into inspection signals for each inspection signal generating means based on the switching signal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, first, the rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times as long as the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. So set the speed of rotation. Further, a plurality of inspection signal generating means groups each including (n + 1) inspection signal generating means are configured. Then, one transmission channel is allocated to each inspection signal generating means group, and the inspection signal generating means forming the inspection signal generating means group is inspected for each surface to be inspected by the switching signal for each inspection signal generating means group. Select sequentially for each period. The inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means is transmitted through the transmission channels that are continuously assigned, and the inspection signal continuously transmitted for each transmission channel based on the switching signal is used as the inspection signal for each inspection signal generating means. To separate.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since n is 1, the switching signals alternately switch the inspection signal generating means paired with each other, and the inspection signals transmitted are also switched alternately.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in the inspection signal generating means, the rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. The rotation speed is set so that the time becomes long, and an inspection signal for each inspection surface is generated. The switching means first forms a set of inspection signal generating means groups by (n + 1) inspection signal generating means. Next, the inspection signal generating means forming the inspection signal generating means group is sequentially selected by the switching signal for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and the inspection signals of the selected inspection signal generating means are continuously selected. To be transmitted. The separating means separates the inspection signal continuously transmitted based on the switching signal for each inspection signal generating means. The inspection means inspects each inspection object based on the separated inspection signal and outputs the inspection result.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the inspection signal generating means, the rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. The rotation speed is set so that the time becomes long, and an inspection signal for each surface to be inspected is generated. The switching means first configures a plurality of inspection signal generation means groups including (n + 1) inspection signal generation means. Next, one transmission channel is assigned to each inspection signal generating means group, and the inspection signal generating means that constitutes the inspection signal generating means group is provided for each inspection surface by the switching signal for each inspection signal generating means. Select sequentially for each period. Then, the inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means is transmitted through the transmission channel continuously assigned. The separation means separates the inspection signal continuously transmitted for each transmission channel for each inspection signal generation means based on the switching signal. The inspecting means inspects each inspected object based on the separated inspection signal and outputs an inspection result for each inspected object.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since n is 1, the switching signals alternately switch the inspection signal generating means paired with each other, and the transmitted inspection signals are also switched alternately.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the inspection method and inspection apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the inspection method and the inspection device when the inspection time and the transfer time described in claims 2 and 4 are equal are applied to a rotary inner surface inspection device for a work bottle. (I) Description of Principle First, the reason why the present invention has a high utilization factor of the transmission path will be described based on the operation conceptual diagram shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which six cameras are switched to inspect an object to be inspected. As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection sections I _{1 to} I ₃ are arranged so as to be alternately equiangular with the transfer sections H _{1 to} H ₃ . Inspection section I ₁ ~
Unlike the inspection section I ₀ in the conventional example of FIG. 10, I ₃ is a section for pure image capturing that does not include a transfer operation. Since the respective sections are arranged at equal angles, the inspection time and the transfer time have the same time length. In this arrangement, for example, the transmission frequency A channel is assigned to a pair of cameras C ₁ and C ₂ . The cameras C ₃ and C ₄ and the cameras C ₅ and C ₆ also form a pair and are assigned the B channel and the C channel, respectively. When one of the cameras in each set is photographing, the other conveys, that is, the relative position of the object to be inspected changes so that the next surface to be photographed can be photographed.
In this allocation, the delivered inspection object is inspected one after another.

FIG. 2 shows a timing chart for explaining how the video signal input to each channel changes. As shown in FIG. 2A, in this operation example, the basic pulse (switching signal) for the switching operation is supplied every 60 °, and the cameras to be photographed are switched. Figure 2
As shown in (C), for example, when the camera C ₁ is under inspection, the paired camera C ₂ is moving to the next surface to be photographed. At the timing of 60 °, the camera C ₂ enters the transfer operation and the camera C ₁ enters the inspection.
At 120 °, this relationship is reversed again. The same repetitive operation is alternately repeated between the cameras C ₃ and C ₄ and the cameras C ₅ and C ₆ which are paired with each other. The inspection signal is continuously supplied to each transmission channel without interruption, and the use efficiency of the transmission channel is increased.

On the other hand, the switching signal of the conventional camera is
As shown in FIG. 2 (B), even if sufficient inspection time is provided,
Since the shooting is not performed intermittently, the use efficiency of the transmission path becomes low.

If this idea is generalized, it is assumed that the relationship between the inspection time and the transfer time is an integral multiple,
It can be seen that by sequentially switching the cameras, the inspection signal can always be supplied to the transmission channel. In other words, generally speaking, if the transfer time is n (n = natural number) times the inspection time, the camera switching operation between the (n + 1) cameras can be sequentially performed at each inspection time. Therefore, the inspection signal is always supplied to the transmission channel. (II) Description of Configuration i) Overall Configuration FIG. 3 shows an overall view of the rotary inspection apparatus of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the rotary inspection apparatus 100, the conveyor 10 conveys the manufactured work bottle B, and the star wheel 12 synchronizes the conveyance speed with the rotation speed of the inspection apparatus. The base 14 is responsible for the main rotation of the inspection device by a built-in rotary motor or the like.
The rotation inspection table 16 conveys the work bottles B conveyed by the star wheel 12 at an equal angular velocity in the arrow direction, and each of the work bottles B is rotated by a gear mechanism (not shown) connected to the cam follower 18. Also, cam follower 1
8 moves along with the cam 9 fixed to the base 14 as the rotation inspection base 16 rotates. Work bottle B has cam 9
By the action of, the cam follower 18 reciprocates together with the shaft 6 integrated with the cam follower 18. The turntable 20 is equipped with the inner surface inspection device 1, and the endoscope 8 and the CCD camera 42 are attached to the turntable 20. The inner surface inspection device 1 is fixed to the rotating shaft 22 together with the rotating inspection table 16 and is entirely driven by a rotary motor or the like. Has been done. The camera selector 24 simultaneously selects and outputs a plurality of transmission channels (for example, 6 channels). The selector 24 combines two cameras from the plurality of cameras 42 and assigns them to one transmission channel, and outputs each inspection signal at each transmission frequency. The mixer 26 frequency-mixes the inspection signals of the plurality of transmission channels output from the selector 24, and the antenna unit 28
Through the inspection unit 32. The control unit 30 controls the operation of the control motor and the like of each unit of the inspection device. The rotary resolver 34 and the fixed resolver 36 are devices that give angular position information such as a rotation axis by an electric signal. The rotary resolver 34 is
The angular position information on the rotation block side is detected. The fixed resolver 36 detects angular position information on the fixed side. Both resolvers detect the rotation angle by a gear (not shown) provided between the fixed block side and the rotary block side.

Ii) Configuration of Control System FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a control system relating to signal processing from the CCD cameras 42a to 42s to image processing.

In this embodiment, 18 inner surface inspection devices 1 are provided at intervals of 20 degrees, and the same number of CCD cameras 42a to 42s are provided corresponding to the device 1. Among these CCD cameras, the camera selector 24 selects the camera to which the inspection signal is sent. That is, the camera selector 24
Is sequentially selected and modulated by one of the six channels, and the mixer 26 mixes these signals and sends them to the transmitting antenna 46. The image on the inner surface of the work bottle B detected by each CCD camera is converted into a video signal, modulated and transmitted to the mixer 26 as an inspection signal. The mixed inspection signal is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 46 to the receiving antenna 48. The transmission antenna 46 and the reception antenna 48 are electromagnetically shielded by an electromagnetic shield cover 50 and an electromagnetic shield cover 52.

The receiving antenna 48 receives the mixed inspection signal, and the distributor 56 divides the mixed inspection signal again for each frequency and sends it to each of the tuners 58a to 58f. Each tuner 58a-58f is tuned to the frequency of its respective channel to separate the inspection signal of each camera from the mixed inspection signal. On the other hand, the cam positioner 44 connected to the rotary resolver 34 detects the rotation angle of the rotation inspection table 16 and the cam positioner 64 connected to the fixed resolver 36.
Specifies the camera number and transmits it to the defect determination circuit 68. The image checker 60 causes the image checker control pattern to be selected based on the select signal supplied from the cam positioner 64.

The defect determination circuit 68 determines whether or not there is a defect based on the inspection signal of each camera and outputs a defect detection signal. The work bottle B is judged as defective or non-defective by, for example,
The image information signal can be binarized according to the luminance and can be discriminated by the number of pixels sharply classified as a dark part. (III) Description of Operation Next, the operation will be described.

I) Operational Status for Each Work Bottle FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between a set of work bottles and the camera in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a CCD camera 42 (4) equipped with an endoscope 8.
2a to 42s) and the like, and an inner surface of a work bottle B having an inner surface such as a glass bottle or a plastic container is photographed from above. The CCD camera 42 outputs a video signal (inspection signal) by a predetermined television system. Endoscope 8
Has an elongated structure and is inserted inside the opening of the work bottle B, and transmits a side image to the camera 42 by a mirror or the like provided at the tip. Each work bottle B has a height H,
It has a bottle mouth portion of the inner circumference W, and the range of the inner side surface of this bottle mouth portion (hatched portion in the drawing) is to be inspected. The inner surface inspection apparatus 1 reciprocates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5 by the action of the cam 9 and the rotary motor. The work bottle B is intermittently rotated by the action of the shaft 6 and the like as indicated by the rotation arrow in FIG. When the work bottle B is an opaque container such as plastic, the inside is illuminated by the optical fiber 2.

The endoscope 8 is provided with a mirror or the like at its tip, and the image of the side surface of the work bottle B is taken by the CCD camera 4.
Communicate to 2. The CCD camera 42 internally captures this image as a video signal by a shutter operation synchronized with a predetermined timing. By performing this shutter operation, the captured video becomes a still image even when the endoscope 8 is moving. The predetermined timing is, for example, a field synchronization period (when the camera 1 outputs an NTSC television signal, this timing is about 1 /
It will be 60 seconds. ).

If the viewable field of view of the endoscope 8 covers the entire inner circumference of the work bottle B, the driving operation is not necessary. However, in reality, the field of view of the endoscope 8 is limited to a predetermined angle (for example, 60 °), so that the camera 4
2 and the endoscope 8 remain fixed, it is not possible to obtain an entire image of the bottle mouth portion of the work bottle. Therefore, the inner surface inspection apparatus 1 synchronized with the video signal sent from the camera 42 is reciprocated to intermittently rotate the work bottle B, thereby obtaining the entire image of the inner circumference of the work bottle B.

FIG. 6 shows the scanning order of the inner surface inspection apparatus 1 for one work bottle. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of the scanning order, and FIG. 3B shows a stereoscopic view of this scanning. As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the reciprocating operation direction of the camera is referred to as the H direction and the rotational operation direction is referred to as the W direction for the sake of simplicity.

Each box shown in FIG. 6A is one field image, and the number in the box indicates the order of field image photographing. Hereinafter, the field image with the number “1” is referred to as “field image 1”. The arrow passing through each box is the scanning locus of the endoscope 8. As you can see from the figure,
When the inspection is started, the inner surface inspection apparatus 1 moves in the H direction while taking a field image from the mouth (field image 1) of the work bottle B. Images of one row of seven images are taken at once by adjusting the shutter operation to the field synchronization signal. This one-line imaging is called an inspection line.
Since the CCD camera 42 inspects one round while rotating by 60 degrees per one rotation, a total of six rows of inspection rows F ₁ to
F ₆ is photographed. When the test sequence F1 consisting 7 field images finishes photographing workpiece bottle is moved to the inspection column F ₁ of the next rotation. In this embodiment, the required time for movement is set to be equal to the inspection time of one inspection row. In other words, if the field period is represented by h, 7 field images are taken in one inspection row, so a total of 7
A period of h is required. Therefore, one work bottle B
The substantial time to inspect is 7h x 6 rows + 7h x 3 rotations = 63h = 1 second.

Ii) Overall Operation FIG. 7 shows the positional relationship between the shutter and the rotating part of the CCD camera. FIG. 7 shows how the work bottle conveyed from the conveyer conveyor is rotated and inspected, and one inspection row is inspected at each position of I _{1 to} I ₆ .
At each position of R _{1 to} R ₅ , the work bottle is transported (rotated).

The work bottle B transported by the transport conveyor is loaded by the star wheel and enters the position of SP. Immediately after the inspection row F ₁ is inspected in the _first inspection period I ₁ and the inspection of the row is completed, the rotation operation R ₁ is started. Since each work bottle is loaded by 25 degrees, when the first work bottle comes to the position of R ₁ , the next work bottle is I.
It will be located at ₁ . Therefore, when all the work bottles are placed on the inspection table, as shown in FIG. 7, every other work bottle during the inspection period and the work bottle during the rotating operation are alternately arranged. The work bottles B that have undergone the inspections I _{1 to} I ₆ are discharged at the end point EP, and only those which are determined to be non-defective products by the inspection are sorted by the transporting and discharging star wheel at the outlet.

Twelve of the 18 CCD cameras 42a to 42s are inspected for the work bottle B, and the remaining six are located in the non-conveying section. Hereinafter, in order to simplify the display, each of the cameras 42a to 42s is sequentially displayed as camera "1" to camera "18".

For example, when the first twelve cameras enter the test, each camera is combined for each transmission channel as follows. Camera Transmission channel "1" A "2" 〃 "3" B "4" 〃 "5" C "6" 〃 "7" D "8" 〃 "9" E "10" 〃 "11" F "12" 〃 The remaining six cameras “13” to “18” have completed the inspection of the combination of the camera “1” and the camera “2”, and according to the order in which the transmission channels are opened, the channels Ach, Bch ... Will be assigned sequentially.

The 18 CCD cameras are arranged adjacent to each other in the order of their camera numbers, and the group assigned to the same channel is composed of adjacent cameras. With this combination, for example, when the camera “1” is rotating at the position R ₁ in FIG. 7, the camera “2” is inspecting at the position I ₁ , and the camera “1” is inspecting I ₂ . When entering, the camera "2" enters the first rotation motion. Cameras assigned to the same channel are inspecting or rotating with respect to each other.

By this switching operation, the video signals are always output to the six transmission channels Ach to Fch. FIG. 8 is a conceptual representation of FIG. 7 in terms of operation.
It is a rotation angle of a rotation inspection stand, and an operation conceptual diagram performed at each angle.

As shown in FIG. 8, each work bottle is non-carried.
When the center of the feeding section (diagonal line) is 0 degree, the above-mentioned scanning
The inspection is performed according to the locus (Fig. 6). 30 degree angle
Kuboru to the rotating inspection table by the entrance star wheel 12.
Is brought in. Inspection row F from 60 degrees₁Inspection I₁Is done
Then, the inner surface inspection device descends D₁CCD power
The shutter for the camera is opened and the picture is taken. From 80 degrees
Is 1/6 rotation R ₁Is done. From 100 degrees
Inspection row F₂Inspection I₂The inner surface inspection device moves upward to perform
Product U₁And perform a rotation operation R from 120 degrees₂I do. Since
Descending, repeating these operations, internal inspection itself at 280 degrees
And exit from the exit star wheel 12 'at 330 degrees.
Will be issued. In the non-conveyance section, 6 cameras are
Waiting for a turn

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the angle of the rotary inspection table, the vertical movement of the inner surface inspection device, and the switching signal supplied from the selector 24 to each camera. Vertical position (VERTICAL POSIT
ION) indicates the vertical displacement of the camera (CAMERA) “1”, and the displacement from this position is plotted with the position of the cam raised to the top by 0 [mm].

The rotation stop (ROTATION STOP) indicates whether or not the camera "1" is rotating, and indicates that the camera "1" rotates at the H level. The cameras "1" to "18" indicate switching signals supplied to each camera, and H level indicates a state where video transmission is performed, and L level indicates a state where video transmission is not performed.

In the example of FIG. 9, with the highest position of the inner surface inspection apparatus being 0, a distance of about 50 [m] from 30 [mm] to 80 [mm] is set.
m] is inspected. Cameras "1" and "2", "3" and "4", "5" and "6", each of which is a pair,
"7" and "8", "9" and "10" and "11" and "1"
The output of "2" is switched by a switching signal that is inverted from each other. According to FIG. 9, for example, when the angle is 270 degrees, the cameras “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, “9”, “1”.
It can be seen that "1" is output to each channel Ach to Fch. Therefore, the cam positioner 64 is fixed to the fixed resolver 36.
The rotation angle is detected by the signal output by the, the camera number that the signal output to each channel corresponds to is detected, and the determination result of each currently input video signal is the corresponding camera number. Output for each.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the camera selector 24
Switches the cameras that form a group for each rotation.
For example, in the channel Ach, the camera "1" and "2" are paired in the first rotation, and the camera "1" is paired in the second rotation.
"3" and "14" form a pair. Further, at the third rotation, the cameras "7" and "8" are paired, and at the fourth rotation, the cameras "1" and "2" are returned again.

As described above, since there is a non-conveying section between the exit star wheel and the entrance star wheel, in order to continuously input the inspection signal to the transmission channel, the camera selector selects the combination of cameras input every one rotation. Change.

This state is shown in the lower part of FIG. In the lower part of FIG. 9, the numbers connected by arrows indicate camera numbers forming a pair. According to FIG. 9, it can be seen that in each set, when the inspection table rotates three times, the original set is restored.

Iii) Inspection speed The rotation speed and processing capacity of this embodiment are calculated. In this embodiment, the rotating inspection table rotates 25 degrees during the time when one inspection row is captured by seven images.

7 h (= 119 [msec]): 20 ° = time required for one rotation: 360 ° ∴ time required for one rotation = 2.14 [sec] When converted into a rotational speed, it becomes approximately 28 [rpm].
On the contrary, when the required time and the production capacity are determined, the number of cameras, that is, the number of work bottles that need to be mounted on the rotary inspection table can be calculated. For example, assuming that the number of work bottles that can be produced in a certain factory is 400 [lines / sec], the required number of cameras = the number of products that can be produced / the number of revolutions = 400/28
〓 14.3, so to cover the production capacity of this factory, it is necessary to install 15 cameras on the rotating inspection table for inspection.
Therefore, it is understood that the inspection apparatus of this embodiment sufficiently covers the production of about 400 [lines / sec]. (IV) Effects of Embodiment According to this embodiment, as described above, the use efficiency of each transmission channel can be increased, that is, the overall inspection speed can be increased. In other words, the time to perform only the handling that existed in the inspection section as in the past is exhausted, and the inspection signal is always supplied from one of the cameras forming the set, and the number of transmission channels and the number of processing systems that process it. Can be reduced. Further, since the two cameras form one set, the switching operation is simple, and the programming of the control system can be made a simple control configuration. Other Modifications Various modifications are possible without being limited to the above-described embodiments of the present invention.

For example, the group switched by the switching signal is composed of two cameras, but it may be composed of three or four cameras. That is, as described in claim 1 or claim 3, if the relationship between the inspection time and the time required for the transfer is maintained in an integral multiple relationship, the signals of the transmission channel are included in the same group every inspection time. By switching to one camera after another, it is possible to maintain high utilization efficiency because the transmission channel has no open time.

The inspection method is not limited to the inner surface inspection but may be the outer surface inspection of the container. The object to be inspected is not limited to a container having an opening, and any object having any shape can be used as long as it is necessary to photograph one object a plurality of times.

[0052]

As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, a group is constituted by a plurality of inspection signal generating means, and the relationship between the inspection time and the time required for rotation in the group is formed. Is an integer multiple, the inspection signal is continuously supplied to the transmission channel, and the utilization efficiency of the transmission channel is good. This means that more tests can be performed with fewer transmission channels. Further, since it has a simple timing relationship that is an integral multiple, it is easy to generate switching signals for a plurality of inspection signal generating means.

According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of groups constituted by the inspection signal generating means are provided,
Since the transmission channels are assigned to each group, even if the inspection apparatus has many inspection signal generating means, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the transmission channels corresponding to each group.

According to the inventions of claims 3 and 6, since the inspection time and the transfer time are equal in length,
A switching signal for exchanging the inspection signals between the two inspection signal generating means can be generated by the inversion processing of the switching signal of the one inspection signal generating means, which simplifies the control operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation concept diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the principle operation of the present invention, in which (A) is a basic pulse, (B) is a conventional camera switching signal, and (C) is a camera switching signal of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a rotary inspection device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a video signal control system.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a work bottle and a camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a shooting order of the embodiment, (A)
Is a scanning locus when expanded, and (B) is an actual scanning locus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a surface to be inspected of a work bottle and a rotating unit.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart illustrating a control operation.

FIG. 10 is an operation conceptual diagram of a conventional rotary inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inner surface inspection device 2 ... Fiber 6 ... Shaft 8 ... Endoscope 9 ... Cam 10 ... Conveyor 12 ... Entrance star wheel 12 '... Exit star wheel 14 ... Base 16 ... Rotation inspection stand 18 ... Cam follower 20 ... Rotating disk 22 ... Rotating shaft 24 ... Camera selector 26 ... Mixer 28 ... Antenna section 30 ... Control section 32 ... Inspection section 34 ... Rotating resolver 36 ... Fixed resolver 40 ... Rotating sections 42a to 42s ... CCD cameras 44, 64 ... Cam positioner 46 ... Transmission antenna 48 ... receiving antenna 50, 52 ... electromagnetic shield 54 ... fixing portion 56 ... distributor 58a through 58f ... tuner 60 ... image checker 62 ... monitor 68 ... malfunction determination circuit 100 ... rotary type inspection device B ... work bottle C ₁ ~ C ₆ ... camera RT ... rotary inspection table F ₁ to F ₆ ... test columns I ₁ ~I ₆ ... test interval _{H 1 ~H 3, R 1 ~R} 5 ... times Rolling (transfer) section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 21/84-21/958 H04N 7/18

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. The inspection signal generating means assigned to one inspection object and the inspection object are relatively and intermittently rotated to sequentially change a plurality of inspection surfaces to be inspected. An inspection method for inspecting an object to be inspected, wherein a rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times as long as an inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. The inspection speed is set to 1, the (n + 1) inspection signal generating means constitutes a set of inspection signal generating means, and the switching signal constitutes the inspection signal generating means. , The inspection signals of the selected inspection signal generating means are continuously transmitted by sequentially selecting for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and are continuously transmitted based on the switching signal. The inspection signal is sent to each inspection signal generating means. A test signal transmission method characterized by: 2. The inspection signal generating means assigned to one inspection object and the inspection object are relatively and intermittently rotated to sequentially change a plurality of inspection surfaces to be inspected. An inspection method for inspecting an object to be inspected, wherein a rotation period required for changing the surface to be inspected is n (n = natural number) times as long as an inspection period required for each surface to be inspected. The rotation speed is set to, a plurality of inspection signal generating means groups each including (n + 1) inspection signal generating means are configured, and one transmission channel is assigned to each inspection signal generating means group, The inspection signal generating means forming the inspection signal generating means group is sequentially selected for each inspection signal generating means group by the inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and the selected inspection signal generating means is selected. The inspection signal of the above continuously An inspection signal transmitted by an assigned transmission channel, and separating the inspection signal continuously transmitted for each transmission channel into inspection signals for each inspection signal generating means based on the switching signal. Signal transmission method. 3. The inspection signal transmission method according to claim 1, wherein said n is set to 1, and said switching signals alternately switch inspection signal generating means paired with each other. 4. An inspection apparatus for inspecting the inspection object by rotating the allocated inspection object relatively and intermittently to sequentially change a plurality of inspection surfaces to be inspected. The rotation speed is set such that the rotation period required for changing the inspection surface is a time length n (n = natural number) times the inspection period required for each inspection surface, and the inspection for each inspection surface is performed. The inspection signal generating means for generating a signal and the (n + 1) inspection signal generating means constitute a set of inspection signal generating means, and the switching signal generates the inspection signal generating means, and the inspection signal generating means. Is sequentially selected for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and switching means for continuously transmitting the inspection signal of the selected inspection signal generating means, and the continuous operation based on the switching signal. Inspect the transmitted inspection signal An inspection apparatus comprising: a separation unit that separates each signal generation unit; and an inspection unit that inspects each inspected object based on the separated inspection signal and outputs an inspection result. 5. An inspection apparatus for inspecting the inspection object by rotating the allocated inspection object relatively and intermittently to sequentially change a plurality of inspection surfaces to be inspected. The rotation speed is set so that the rotation period required for changing the inspection surface is a time length n (n = natural number) times the inspection period required for each inspection surface, A plurality of test signal generating means for generating test signals and a group of test signal generating means composed of (n + 1) test signal generating means are configured, and one transmission channel is assigned to each test signal generating means group. , The inspection signal generating means constituting the inspection signal generating means group is sequentially selected by a switching signal for each inspection signal generating means for each inspection period required for each surface to be inspected, and the selected inspection signal generation Connect the inspection signal of the means Switching means for transmitting on the allocated transmission channel, separating means for separating the continuously transmitted inspection signal for each transmission channel on the basis of the switching signal, for each inspection signal generating means, An inspection apparatus comprising: an inspection unit that inspects each of the inspection objects based on the separated inspection signal and outputs an inspection result of each of the inspection objects. 6. The inspection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said n is set to 1, and said switching signals alternately switch inspection means paired with each other.