JP4332875B2 - Container inspection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container inspection apparatus that inspects a container such as a glass bottle by an image pickup apparatus such as a CCD camera, and more particularly to support a star wheel that holds a container and conveys it on a circular track. The present invention relates to improvement of the support structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
While projecting a container such as a glass bottle, light is projected onto the container, and the transmitted light transmitted through the container or the reflected light reflected from the container is imaged to detect defects in the container or to detect foreign matters mixed in the container. Container inspection apparatuses that perform inspection are known. Such a container inspection apparatus generally includes a star wheel that holds a container and conveys it on a circular track. The container is held by the star wheel and is conveyed toward the container by an illumination device. It is configured so that the transmitted light or reflected light of the container is imaged by an imaging device such as a CCD camera.
In a conventional container inspection apparatus, a support plate called a top plate is fixed on a gantry frame, and main devices such as a star wheel, a conveyor, and an illumination device are installed on the support plate.
[0003]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing an example of a conventional container inspection apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, in a conventional container inspection apparatus, a support plate 51 called a top plate is fixed on a gantry frame (not shown) by welding or the like. On the support plate 51, a conveyor 52, a star wheel device 53 that conveys the container 1 such as a glass bottle to the inspection position, a support (not shown) that supports an illumination device, and the like are installed. In order to protect the support plate 51, the driving device of the star wheel device 53, the support for the lighting device, and the like from water and damage, for example, a stainless steel decorative plate 54 is attached to the support plate 51 so as to cover the support plate 51. It is fixed. In addition, in order to prevent the water dripping from the container 1 such as a glass bottle and the cleaning water from being scattered, a bottle may be provided around the four sides of the support plate 51 and the decorative plate 54, and the bottle is used for drainage. In some cases, pipes are connected.
[0004]
The star wheel device 53 includes a rotating shaft 55 that is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown), a disk-shaped disk 56 that is fixed to the rotating shaft 55 and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 55, and is fixed to the disk 56. An annular plate 57 and upper and lower star wheels 59 and 60 fixed to the annular plate 57 are provided. The rotary shaft 55 is rotatably supported by a bearing 62 provided in a bearing housing 61 fixed to the support plate 51. The upper star wheel 59 is engaged with the mouth 1a of the container 1 to hold the mouth 1a, and the lower star wheel 60 is engaged with the body 1b of the container 1 to hold the body 1b. Yes.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional container inspection apparatus, main devices such as a conveyor 52, a star wheel device 53, and a support for a lighting device are installed on a support plate 51 fixed to a gantry frame by welding or the like. However, the conventional container inspection apparatus having such a configuration has the following problems.
(1) If a support for a star wheel device or a lighting device is installed on a support plate called a top plate, it will fall on the support plate when a container as an inspection object is damaged. It becomes an obstacle when cleaning damaged containers and is difficult to clean. In particular, when the container is a glass bottle, the star wheel device and various supports become obstacles when cleaning the broken, and the cleaning work is complicated. In addition, water may enter the drive unit and the bearings of the machine parts fixed to the support plate, causing a failure.
(2) When cleaning water debris scattered on the support plate by supplying cleaning water, the star wheel device or support installed on the support plate becomes an obstacle and is difficult to clean.
(3) When the container is a glass bottle, the broken glass accumulates on the support plate, and there is a risk that the hand is cut due to the broken glass during cleaning. In addition, it is dangerous and difficult to clean the debris scattered on the support plate.
(4) Damaged containers, especially ruptures, are clogged with drainage tubs, blocking the flow of water. In addition, there is a risk of cutting hands when cleaning the debris clogged.
(5) When the rupture on the support plate is dropped on the floor and cleaned, the rupture scatters around the inspection device, and the cleaning work on the floor is difficult.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and eliminates a support plate called a top plate that conventionally supports the star wheel device and various supports by adopting a structure in which the star wheel device is suspended. An object of the present invention is to provide a container inspection device capable of performing the above.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention includes a star wheel device having a plurality of pockets for holding a container, and the container to be inspected by the star wheel device is transported on a predetermined circular track. In a container inspection device that images and inspects with an imaging device, a plurality of pillars extending in the vertical direction are provided apart from each other, a plurality of beam members that connect adjacent columns are provided, and a suspension fixed to these beam members The star wheel device is suspended and supported on a support plate for the rotation, and does not contribute to support of the axial load of the rotation shaft of the star wheel device and has a function of only the rotation shaft of the rotation shaft. A bearing is provided, and the entire load of the star wheel device is supported by the suspension support plate .
[0008]
According to the present invention, a plurality of pillars (through pillars) are provided apart from each other, a plurality of beam members for connecting adjacent pillars are provided, and a star wheel device is attached to a suspension support plate fixed to these beam members. Since the suspension is supported, a support plate called a top plate, which has been essential in the conventional container inspection apparatus, can be deleted. Therefore, it is possible to form a space where no equipment exists below the star wheel device.
[0009]
According to one aspect of the present invention, an imaging device is fixed to the column or beam member so as to be vertically movable.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the beam member to which the suspension support plate is fixed is installed above the central portion of the column.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a lower beam member that connects adjacent columns is provided below the central portion of the column, and the conveyor is supported by the lower beam member. And
According to one aspect of the present invention, a lighting device is supported by the lower beam member.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a container inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to an apparatus for inspecting the top and bottom portions of a glass jar.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of the container inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a container 1 made of glass bottles is supplied to a star wheel device 3 by a conveyor 2, fitted into a pocket of the star wheel device 3, and conveyed. In the middle of this conveyance, the container 1 is inspected by the illumination device and the CCD camera at the inspection station, the non-defective product is returned to the downstream of the conveyor 2, and the defective product is transferred onto the discharge table 30. Reference numeral 31 denotes a timing belt that engages with the body of the container 1.
[0011]
2 is a view showing the frame F of the apparatus, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view of the frame F, FIG. 2 (b) is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 (a), and FIG. It is a B arrow directional view of (a). As shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C, the frame F includes a plurality of through pillars 25 installed at four corners and a plurality of horizontally extending spans between two adjacent through pillars 25. And a beam member 26. The beam member 26 is provided in two stages, an upper stage and a lower stage, and the through pillar 25 and the beam member 26 form a substantially rectangular frame F. A suspension support plate 27 is installed in the horizontal direction on the plurality of beam members 26 on the upper stage side. The suspension support plate 27 is fixed to the lower surfaces of the plurality of beam members 26 by welding. A plurality of beam members 26 on the lower side are provided with conveyor support plates 28 (only one conveyor support plate 28 is shown in FIG. 2). Each conveyor support plate 28 is fixed to the upper surface of the beam member 26 by welding.
[0012]
3 is a view showing a state in which the conveyor 2, the star wheel device 3, the illumination device, and the CCD camera are supported on the frame F shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a view as viewed from the direction of arrow D in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3C is a view as viewed from the direction of arrow E in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, the conveyor 2 is fixed and supported on a conveyor support plate 28 on the beam member 26. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, in order to image the bottom of the container with transmitted light, the container bottom illumination device 32 and the container bottom CCD camera 33 are opposed to each other, and the container bottom CCD camera 33 is arranged. Is fixed to the upper beam member 26 or the through column 25 so as to be vertically movable, and the container bottom illumination device 32 is fixed to the lower beam member 26. In addition, in order to image the top of the mouth of the container with the reflected light, a CCD camera 34 for the top of the container mouth, in which an illumination device is integrated, is disposed above the transport path of the container 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the star wheel device 3 is suspended and supported by a suspension support plate 27 fixed to the beam member 26 on the upper stage side.
[0013]
Next, the configuration of the star wheel device 3 suspended from the suspension support plate 27 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the star wheel device 3 includes a holding plate 6 fixed to the suspension support plate 27, a bearing housing 7 fixed to the holding plate 6, and a bearing 8 provided in the bearing housing 7. A rotating shaft 9 rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 9, a disc-like disk 10 fixed to the rotating shaft 9, an annular plate 11 fixed to the disk 10, and an upper and lower star wheel 4 fixed to the annular plate 11. And 5. The upper star wheel 4 is supported by a plurality of supports 12 erected from the annular plate 11, and the upper star wheel 4 is engaged with the mouth portion 1 a of the container 1 to support the mouth portion 1 a. . The lower star wheel 5 is directly fixed to the annular plate 11, and engages with the lower body 1b of the container 1 to support the lower body 1b.
[0014]
A pulley 13 is fixed to the upper end of the rotary shaft 9, and this pulley 13 is connected to a pulley 16 fixed to a drive shaft 15 a of a motor 15 via a timing belt 14. A small pulley 17 is fixed to the uppermost end of the rotating shaft 9, and the small pulley 17 is connected to a small pulley 20 fixed to a rotating shaft 19 a of a rotary encoder 19 via a timing belt 18. .
[0015]
Further, the lower end portion of the rotary shaft 9 is supported by a bearing 22 for steadying the rotary shaft 9. The bearing 22 is accommodated in a bearing housing 29, and the bearing housing 29 is supported by a conveyor support plate 28 fixed to a lower beam member 26. Note that the bearing 22 has a function of only the steadying of the rotating shaft 9 and does not contribute to supporting the load in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 9. Therefore, the entire load of the star wheel device 3 is supported by the suspension support plate 27.
[0016]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a bearing housing 29 is separately provided to accommodate the steady-state bearing 22 at the lower end of the rotary shaft 9, and the bearing housing 29 is supported by the lower beam member 26. However, the bearing housing 7 fixed to the suspension support plate 27 may be extended downward to form a hollow cylindrical bearing housing, and the two bearings 8 and 22 may be accommodated in the bearing housing. When this configuration is employed, it is not necessary to support the star wheel device 3 below.
[0017]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the container bottom lighting device 32 is supported on the frame F shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, a bracket 36 is fixed to the lower beam member 26. The container bottom lighting device 32 is fixed to the bracket 36.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the container inspection apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The container 1 is supplied to the upper and lower star wheels 4 and 5 of the star wheel device 3 by the conveyor 2, and is fitted into the pockets 4a and 5a of the upper and lower star wheels 4 and 5 and conveyed. During this conveyance, the body of the container 1 is held by the timing belt 31. In the middle of this conveyance, light transmitted from the illumination device 32 to the bottom of the container 1 and transmitted through the bottom of the container 1 is imaged by the CCD camera 33, and the bottom of the container 1 is inspected. Further, the top surface of the mouth of the container 1 is projected from the illumination device incorporated in the CCD camera 34 and reflected from the top surface of the mouth is imaged by the CCD camera 34, and the top surface of the mouth of the container 1. Inspection is performed. In this way, the bottom and mouth of the container 1 are inspected, and the container 1 determined to be non-defective is returned downstream of the conveyor 2 and conveyed to the next process by the conveyor 2. On the other hand, the container 1 determined to be defective is released from the support by the star wheel device 3 at the position of the discharge table 30 and discharged to the discharge table 30.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of columns (through columns) are provided so as to be separated from each other, a plurality of beam members for connecting adjacent columns are provided, and the suspension support fixed to these beam members Since the star wheel device and various devices are suspended and supported on the plate, the support plate called the top plate that has conventionally supported the star wheel device and various supports can be deleted, and is listed below. There is an effect.
(1) Since the container to be inspected does not accumulate on the support plate, there is no risk of a container that has been damaged during cleaning, for example, cutting hands due to breakage.
(2) Damaged containers, especially ruptures, are not clogged with drainage pits, and there is no danger in cleaning work.
(3) Since the damaged container falls directly on the floor, the damaged container, in particular, rupture does not scatter around the inspection machine and is easy to clean.
(4) A free space is created at the lower part of the inspection machine, and various means such as placing a collection box for collecting containers in this space can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an overall configuration of a container inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a frame of the apparatus, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view of the frame, FIG. 2 (b) is a view taken along arrow A in FIG. 2 (a), and FIG. It is a B arrow line view of Fig.2 (a).
3 is a view showing a state in which a conveyor, a star wheel device, an illumination device, and a CCD camera are supported on the frame shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 (a) is a view as seen from an arrow C in FIG. FIG. 3B is a view as viewed from an arrow D in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3C is a view as viewed from an arrow E in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a star wheel device suspended from a suspension support plate in the container inspection device according to the present embodiment.
5 is a perspective view showing a state where the container bottom lighting device is supported on the frame shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing an example of a conventional container inspection apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 1a Mouth part 1b trunk | drum 2 Conveyor 3 Starwheel apparatus 4,5 Starwheel 4a, 5a Pocket 6 Holding plate 7,29 Bearing housing 8,22 Bearing 9,19a Rotating shaft 10 Disc 11 Annular plate 12,35 Support 13 , 16 Pulleys 14, 18, 31 Timing belt 15 Motor 15a Drive shaft 17, 20 Small pulley 19 Rotary encoder 25 Through column 26 Beam member 27 Suspension support plate 28 Conveyor support plate 30 Discharge table 32 Container bottom illumination device 33 CCD camera for container bottom 34 CCD camera for top of container mouth 36 Bracket

Claims (5)

In a container inspection apparatus comprising a star wheel device having a plurality of pockets for holding a container, wherein the star wheel device conveys a container to be inspected on a predetermined circular orbit and images the container with an imaging device. ,
A plurality of columns extending in the vertical direction are provided apart from each other, a plurality of beam members for connecting adjacent columns are provided, and the star wheel device is suspended and supported by a suspension support plate fixed to the beam members. the way,
Provided with the rotating shaft anti-spinning bearing that does not contribute to supporting the axial load of the rotating shaft of the star wheel device and has only the function of anti-sway of the rotating shaft,
A container inspection device , wherein the entire load of the star wheel device is supported by the suspension support plate .   The container inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an imaging apparatus is fixed to the column or beam member so as to be movable up and down.   The container inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beam member to which the suspension support plate is fixed is disposed above a center portion of the column.   4. The lower beam member for connecting adjacent columns is provided below the central portion of the column, and the conveyor is supported by the lower beam member. The container inspection apparatus according to claim 1.   The container inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an illumination device is supported by the lower beam member.

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