JP5538245B2 - Appearance inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting the appearance of pharmaceuticals (tablets, capsules, etc.), foods, machine parts, electronic parts, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “inspection object”).

  Conventionally, as an apparatus for inspecting the appearance of the surface of an object to be inspected, for example, an appearance inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45097 is known.

  The appearance inspection apparatus includes an alignment supply unit that supplies tablets in an aligned manner, a first conveyance unit that sucks and conveys the upper surface of the tablets supplied from the alignment supply unit, and the tablets conveyed by the first conveyance unit. A second transport unit that sucks and transports the lower surface thereof, a first camera that images the lower surface of the tablet transported by the first transport unit, and a second image that captures the upper surface of the tablet transported by the second transport unit. An imaging device having two cameras, an inspection processing unit that processes image data captured by the imaging device to determine whether the tablet is good, and a sorting that sorts the tablet into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the determination result of the inspection processing unit And a sorting department.

  Further, this appearance inspection apparatus includes an imaging optical device that guides reflected light from a tablet located in the imaging region to the camera, and is not specifically described in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45097. In addition to this, generally, an illumination device that irradiates light for illuminating the imaging region of the camera, and an illumination optical device that guides the light emitted from the illumination device to the imaging region are provided. Yes. The imaging optical device includes a plurality of reflecting members, and the illumination optical device diffuses light to uniformly illuminate the imaging region, and light guides the light emitted from the illumination device to the diffusion member. It consists of fiber bundles.

  According to this appearance inspection apparatus, while the tablets aligned by the alignment supply unit are transported by the first transport unit, the lower surface thereof is imaged by the first camera and then transported by the second transport unit. In the meantime, the upper surface is imaged by the second camera, and the quality is determined by the inspection processing unit on the basis of the imaged images of the upper and lower surfaces. Then, according to the discrimination result in the inspection processing unit, the sorting and sorting unit sorts the tablets into non-defective products and defective products.

JP 2004-45097 A

  By the way, in the appearance inspection apparatus, the illumination apparatus, the optical fiber bundle, and the diffusing member are arranged in association with each other so as to guide the light emitted from the illumination apparatus to the imaging region, and the camera and the reflection member are inspected. The arrangement is such that the reflected light from the (tablet) is guided to the camera, and the illumination device, the optical fiber bundle, the diffusing member, the camera, and the reflecting member are individually supported by the structure as appropriate. It has become.

  Therefore, when performing maintenance or the like on the appearance inspection apparatus having the above-described configuration, conventionally, the illumination device, the optical fiber bundle, the diffusing member, the camera, and the reflecting member must be individually removed. When reassembling, each of them must be installed individually, and it is necessary to readjust the delicate positional relationship between them, which required a very long time for maintenance work. .

  As described above, in the conventional visual inspection apparatus, the operation of removing and reassembling the imaging apparatus, imaging optical apparatus, illumination apparatus, and illumination optical apparatus is extremely complicated, and the disassembly and assemblability as an apparatus are poor. There was a problem that it took a long time to remove and assemble.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an appearance inspection apparatus that is excellent in decomposability and assemblability.

The present invention for solving the above problems is as follows.
An imaging device that captures an image of an object to be inspected that is located within a preset imaging region;
An illumination device for illuminating the imaging region;
An optical apparatus including an illumination optical path that guides light emitted from the illumination apparatus to the imaging area, and an imaging optical path that guides light reflected by the surface of an inspection object located in the imaging area to the imaging apparatus When,
In an appearance inspection apparatus configured with an image processing apparatus that analyzes an image of an inspection object imaged by the imaging apparatus and determines its quality,
The imaging device and the illumination device are supported by a first support, the optical device is supported by a second support,
The first and second supports are opposed to the illumination light irradiation unit of the illumination device and the illumination optical path start end of the optical device, and the light receiving unit of the image capture device and the imaging optical path end of the optical device, respectively. The present invention relates to an appearance inspection apparatus that is detachably disposed so as to have a positional relationship.

  According to this appearance inspection apparatus, the light emitted from the illumination light irradiation unit of the illumination device is guided into the imaging region through the illumination optical path, and the inspection object located in the imaging region is illuminated by the illumination light. Then, the light reflected by the inspection object is guided to the light receiving unit of the imaging device via the imaging optical path, and an image of the inspection object is captured by the imaging device. Then, the captured image is analyzed by the image processing device, and the quality of the inspection object is determined.

  By the way, in the appearance inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the imaging device and the illumination device are supported by the first support member, and the optical device is supported by the second support member.

  Therefore, when removing the imaging device, the illumination device, and the optical device for maintenance work, the unit is used as a unit, that is, the imaging device and the illumination device supported by the first support are used as a unit. Each of the optical devices supported by the second support can be removed as a unit, and these can be easily removed.

  In addition, when reassembling them after work, the illumination light irradiation unit of the illumination device and the illumination optical path start of the optical device, and the light reception unit of the image capture device and the end of the image pickup optical path of the optical device are taken as units. Assembling can be easily performed by attaching each of the above units so as to be in a positional relationship in which they face each other.

  Further, there is an advantage that the specification can be improved in units of units, and only the failed unit can be replaced.

  In addition, the imaging device and the illumination device include electrical products such as a camera and a light source. By consolidating these electrical products as one unit, connection parts such as connectors can be grouped together. As a result, the assemblability can be improved (the assembly operation can be shortened).

  The first and second supports may be detachably connected to each other, and the first and second supports are connected to each other via a connecting plate, A first through hole that communicates the illumination light irradiation unit of the illumination device and the illumination optical path start end of the optical device, and a second penetration that communicates the light receiving unit of the imaging device and the imaging optical path end of the optical device. A hole may be provided. Even in this case, the disassembling property and the assembling property of the appearance inspection apparatus can be improved as described above.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the connection plate further includes positioning means for positioning the first and second supports. If it does in this way, when assembling, each support body can be positioned easily and rapidly.

  As described above, according to the visual inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the time required for disassembly or assembly can be shortened by improving the disassembly and assembly compared to the conventional case. In addition, there is an advantage that the specifications can be increased in units and that only the failed unit can be replaced.

It is the front view which showed the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged view to which the A section in FIG. 1 was expanded. It is the top view seen from the arrow B direction in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow CC in FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing of the arrow DD direction in FIG. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the 1st imaging unit and the 2nd optical unit in the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an appearance inspection apparatus 1 of this example includes a frame structure composed of a lower frame 2, an intermediate plate 4 and an upper frame 3, and an alignment supply apparatus 10 disposed in the frame structure. , First and second transport devices 20, 30, first, second, third and fourth imaging units 40, 65, 72, 76, first, second, third and fourth optical units 60, 70, 74, 78, a sorting device 80, an image processing device 82, and the like.

  Each of the lower frame 2 and the upper frame 3 is a frame structure that defines a prismatic space. The intermediate plate 4 is fixed on the upper surface of the lower frame 2, and the upper frame 3 is fixed on the intermediate plate 4. Yes.

  Further, a cover plate (not shown) is provided on the outer peripheral side surface and the bottom surface of the lower frame 2, and similarly, a cover plate (not shown) is also provided on the outer peripheral side surface and the upper surface of the upper frame 3. The space is closed by a cover plate (not shown).

  In a space formed by the upper frame 3 and a cover plate (not shown) surrounding the upper frame 3, a support member 6 including an upper plate 9, a bottom plate 7 and four side plates 8 is provided. The upper plate 9 is fixed to a member constituting the top of the upper frame 3 and is suspended from the upper frame 3.

  Thus, the upper frame 3, a cover plate (not shown) surrounding the upper frame 3, and a transport space 5 partitioned by the intermediate plate 4 are formed, and the alignment supply device 10 and the first transport device are formed in the transport space 5. 20, a second transport device 30, first and second imaging units 40 and 65, first, second, third and fourth optical units 60, 70, 74 and 78, and a sorting device 80 are disposed.

  The alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, and the second transport device 30 are components for transporting the inspection object K, and transport the inspection object K onto the intermediate plate 4 in the upper frame 3. From the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction (arrow direction), the alignment supply device 10, the first transport device 20, and the second transport device 30 are sequentially arranged in this order.

  Although the specific structure of the alignment supply device 10 is not shown, the alignment supply device 10 has a rotating ball 11, and a plurality of inspection objects K supplied in the ball 11 are aligned in a line to form the first transfer device 20. To supply.

  Although the specific structure of the first conveying device 20 is not shown, the first conveying device 20 is composed of an endless annular timing belt, provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the annular groove along the longitudinal direction, and on both sides of the groove. It has the conveyance belt 21 provided with two protrusions. Moreover, it is comprised so that a negative pressure may act in the said groove | channel of the said conveyance belt 21, and the to-be-inspected object K mounted so that it straddles two protrusions may be conveyed in the adsorbed state. . In addition, since the said 2nd conveying apparatus 30 is the completely same structure as the 1st conveying apparatus 20, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first conveying device 20 is supported by a support frame 15 fixed on the intermediate plate 4, and the conveying path formed by the conveying belt 21 faces upward. It is fixed on the support frame 15 so that the upstream end is connected to the discharge part of the alignment supply device 10.

  The second transport device 30 is supported by the support mechanism 16 shown in FIG. 2 in a state where the top and bottom of the second transport device 30 is reversed, that is, in a state where the transport path is down. As shown in FIG. 1, the support mechanism 16 includes two support posts 17 erected on the intermediate plate 4 and a support plate (not shown) fixed on the support post 17. The second transport device 30 is appropriately fitted with a fixture (opening a space through which the inspection object K can pass and the upstream end of the transport being positioned above the transport downstream end of the first transport device 20. (Not shown) is fixed on the support plate (not shown).

  Thus, according to the series of conveyance units configured by the alignment supply device 10, the first conveyance device 20, and the second conveyance device 30, first, the alignment supply device 10 aligns the inspection objects K in a line. 1 is supplied to the transporting means 20. Next, the first transport device 20 transports the inspection object K supplied onto the transport belt 21 to the transport downstream end while adsorbing the test object K onto the transport belt 21. When the inspection object K reaches the conveyance downstream end, the upper surface of the inspection object K is adsorbed by the second conveyance device 30 and conveyed to the conveyance downstream end by the second conveyance device 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second imaging units 40 and 65 are mounted on the upper surface of the bottom plate 7 of the support member 6 provided above the first transport device 20 (see FIG. The third and fourth imaging units 72 and 76 are detachably attached to the lower surface of the intermediate plate 4 positioned below the second transport device 30 with a fixture (not shown). Is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a positioning mechanism 35 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 7 to limit the horizontal movement of the first and second imaging units 40 and 65 and position their mounting positions. The positioning mechanism 35 includes a hook-shaped protrusion 36 and two linear protrusions 37 and 37. A similar positioning mechanism 35 for positioning the mounting positions of the third and fourth imaging units 72 and 76 is also provided on the lower surface of the intermediate plate 4. The positioning mechanism 35 is not limited to such a configuration, and any configuration can be used as long as it can position the mounting positions of the imaging units 40, 65, 72, and 76. Also good.

  These four imaging units 40, 65, 72 and 76 have the same configuration. Therefore, the specific configuration of only the first imaging unit 40 will be described, and the description of the second, third, and fourth imaging units 65, 72, and 76 will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first imaging unit 40 includes a storage case 41 composed of a camera storage portion 42 and a light source storage portion 43, a lens facing downward, and a tip portion thereof at the bottom of the storage case 41. The camera 44 housed in the camera housing portion 42 so as to be fitted to the light source, and light is irradiated downward, and the tip portion is housed in the light source housing portion 43 so that the tip portion is fitted to the bottom portion of the housing case 41. And the camera 44 and the light sources 45 and 45 are housed and supported in a storage case 41 as a support body so that they can be unitized and detachable integrally. is there.

  A through hole 42a is formed at the bottom of the camera housing 42 facing the camera 44, and similarly, through holes 43a, 43a are formed at the bottom of the light source housing 43 facing the light sources 45, 45. .

  Further, the camera 44 is not particularly limited as long as it can image the inspection object K, but a color CCD line sensor camera can be exemplified as an example. Further, the light source 45 is not particularly limited as long as it can illuminate the imaging region set on the conveyance path of the first conveyance device 20, but as an example, a plurality of LEDs are provided. Can be exemplified.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first optical unit 60 is disposed between the first imaging unit 40 and the first transport device 20, and the second optical unit 70 is configured by the second imaging unit 65. And the first transfer device 20 are detachably attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate 7 of the support member 6 by a fixture (not shown).

  The third optical unit 74 is disposed between the third imaging unit 72 and the second transport device 30, and the fourth optical unit 78 is connected between the fourth imaging unit 76 and the second transport device 30. They are arranged between them and are detachably attached to the upper surface of the intermediate plate 4 by a fixture (not shown).

  The positioning mechanism 35 is provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 7 and the upper surface of the intermediate plate 4, and the first and second optical units 60 and 70 are positioned on the lower surface of the bottom plate 7. Accordingly, the mounting positions of the third and fourth optical units 74 and 78 are positioned by the positioning mechanism 35 provided on the upper surface of the intermediate plate 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first optical unit 60 is fixed to a storage case 61 that is detachably attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate 7 and an inner wall surface of a lower end portion of the storage case 61. The optical path forming mechanism 63, the two connectors 65, 65 fixed to the lower surface of the top plate of the storage case 61, and the two optical fiber bundles 64, 64 connecting the optical path forming mechanism 63 and the connectors 65, 65 to each other. The optical path forming mechanism 63, the connectors 65 and 65, and the optical fiber bundles 64 and 64 are housed and supported in a housing case 61 that is a support body, and are made detachable as a unit. .

  The lower portion of the storage case 61 is open on the entire surface, and is formed with a notch 62 through which the inspection object K transported by the first transport device 20 can pass. The optical path forming mechanism 63 is transported. It is disposed so as to be located above the belt 21.

  The connectors 65, 65 are provided at positions facing the light sources 45, 45, respectively, through holes 43a, 43a formed in the light source storage portion 43, through holes 7a, 7a provided in the bottom plate 7, Light emitted from the light sources 45 and 45 is received through through holes 61 a and 61 a formed in the top plate portion of the storage case 61.

  As a result, the light emitted from the light sources 45, 45 enters the through holes 43 a, 43 a formed in the light source storage unit 43, the through holes 7 a, 7 a provided in the bottom plate 7, and the top plate portion of the storage case 61. After entering the connectors 65 and 65 through the formed through holes 61a and 61a, respectively, the light is guided to the optical path forming mechanism 63 through the optical fiber bundles 64 and 64.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom plate 7 is provided with a through hole 7 b at a position facing the camera 44, and a portion of the top plate of the storage case 61 facing the through hole 7 b. The through hole 61b is formed, and the light in the storage case 61 is received by the camera 44 through the through hole 42a formed in the camera storage portion 42 and the through hole 7b and the through hole 61b. Yes.

  The optical path forming mechanism 63 guides the light guided through the optical fiber bundles 64 and 64 to an imaging area set on the transport path of the transport belt 21, and illuminates the inspection object K located in the image capturing area. And an imaging formed by an optical path forming member such as a mirror as appropriate, which guides the light reflected by the surface of the inspection object K to the camera 44 through the through hole 61b, the through hole 7b, and the through hole 42a. And an optical path. The connectors 65 and 65, the optical fiber bundles 64 and 64, and the optical path for illumination in the optical path forming mechanism 63 form an illumination optical path.

  Thus, according to the first image pickup unit 40 and the first optical unit 60, the light emitted from the light sources 45, 45 passes through holes 43a, 43a, through holes 7a, 7a, connectors 65, 65, and optical fibers. The light beam is guided to the optical path forming mechanism 63 through the bundles 64 and 64, and the inspection object K located in the imaging region on the conveyor belt 21 is illuminated by the illumination light, and the reflected light passes through the optical path forming mechanism 63. The light is received by the camera 44 through the hole 61b, the through hole 7b, and the through hole 42a, and an image of the inspection object K is taken by the camera 44.

  The second, third and fourth optical units 70, 74 and 78 have the same configuration as the first optical unit 60 except for the difference in the imaging optical path of the optical path forming mechanism 63. It has become. The imaging optical path of the first optical unit 60 guides the images of the upper surface of the inspection object K and the front side surface in the transport direction to the first imaging unit 40, and the imaging optical path of the second optical unit 70 is the inspection optical path. The image of the rear side surface of the object K is guided to the second imaging unit 65, and the imaging optical path of the third optical unit 74 guides the images of the lower surface and the rear side surface of the object K to the third imaging unit 72, The imaging optical path of the fourth optical unit 78 is configured to guide the image of the front side surface of the inspection object K to the fourth imaging unit 76.

  Thus, the first imaging unit 40 captures images of the upper and front side surfaces of the inspection object K, the second imaging unit 65 captures an image of the rear side surface of the inspection object K, and the third imaging unit K. The imaging unit 72 captures images of the lower surface and the rear side surface of the inspection object K, and the fourth imaging unit 76 captures an image of the front side surface of the inspection object K.

  The image processing device 82 receives images taken by the first, second, third, and fourth imaging units 40, 65, 72, and 76, analyzes the received images, and determines pass / fail. .

  The sorting device 80 sorts the inspection object K transported by the second transport device 30 into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the determination result determined by the image processing device 82.

  According to the appearance inspection apparatus 1 of the present example having the above configuration, first, a plurality of inspection objects K are thrown into the balls 11 of the alignment supply apparatus 10. The input inspection objects K are aligned in a line by the alignment supply device 10 and sequentially discharged, and are supplied onto the conveyance belt 21 of the first conveyance device 20.

  The lower surface of the inspection object K supplied onto the conveyor belt 21 is adsorbed on the conveyor belt 21 and is conveyed in the moving direction by the movement of the conveyor belt 21, and reaches the conveyance end of the first conveyor device 20. Then, the upper surface of the object K to be inspected is adsorbed by the second transport device 30 and delivered to the second transport device 30, and then transported to the transport end by the second transport device 30.

  While being transported by the first transport device 20, images of the upper surface and front side surface of the inspection object K are captured by the first imaging unit 40, and the rear portion of the inspection object K is captured by the second imaging unit 65. While the image of the side surface is captured and then transported by the second transport device 30, the third image capturing unit 72 captures images of the lower surface and the rear side surface of the inspection object K, and the fourth image capturing unit 76 An image of the front side surface of the inspection object K is taken.

  In this way, each captured image is transmitted to the image processing device 82, and the image processing device 82 determines the quality of the captured inspection object K.

  Then, when the discriminated inspection object K reaches the sorting device 80, the sorting device 80 sorts the inspection object K into a non-defective product and a defective product according to the discrimination result of the image processing device 82. .

  By the way, in the appearance inspection apparatus 1 of this example, the camera 44 and the light sources 45 and 45 are housed in the housing case 41 to form a unit (each imaging unit 40, 65, 72, 76), the optical path forming mechanism 63, the connector 65, 65 and optical fiber bundles 64, 64 are stored in a storage case 61 to form a unit (each optical unit 60, 70, 74, 78).

  Therefore, for example, when performing maintenance or the like, as shown in FIG. 6, the unit is removed in batches in units (first imaging unit 40 and second optical unit 70 in FIG. 6) requiring maintenance. Similarly, when reassembling them after maintenance, they can be attached in units. Thereby, compared with the past, the time which a maintenance requires can be shortened.

  Further, when assembling, it is only necessary to adjust the positional relationship between the units, and this adjustment can be easily and quickly performed by the positioning mechanism 35 that determines the mounting position of each unit. Time can be greatly reduced.

  In addition, specifications can be improved on a unit-by-unit basis, and if a spare unit is prepared in advance, if a problem occurs in a specific unit during inspection of the inspection object K, the inspection is temporarily suspended. Thus, by replacing only the unit in which the defect has occurred with a spare unit, the inspection can be resumed immediately, and the inspection delay resulting from the adjustment of the defect can also be prevented.

  Furthermore, since the camera 44 and the light sources 45, 45, which are electrical products, are unitized as an imaging unit, connection parts such as connectors can be collected together, so that troublesomeness during removal and attachment work can be eliminated. The time required can be shortened.

  As mentioned above, although specific embodiment of this invention was described, the specific aspect which this invention can take is not limited to these at all.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Appearance inspection apparatus 2 Lower frame 3 Upper frame 4 Intermediate plate 6 Support member 7 Bottom plate 7a Through-hole 10 Alignment supply apparatus 20 1st conveyance apparatus 30 2nd conveyance apparatus 35 Positioning mechanism 40 1st imaging unit 44 Camera 45 Light source 60 1st 1 optical unit 65 second imaging unit 70 second optical unit 72 third imaging unit 74 third optical unit 76 fourth imaging unit 78 fourth optical unit 80 sorting device 82 image processing device

Claims (4)

An imaging device that captures an image of an object to be inspected that is located within a preset imaging region;
An illumination device for illuminating the imaging region;
An optical apparatus including an illumination optical path that guides light emitted from the illumination apparatus to the imaging area, and an imaging optical path that guides light reflected by the surface of an inspection object located in the imaging area to the imaging apparatus When,
In an appearance inspection apparatus configured with an image processing apparatus that analyzes an image of an inspection object imaged by the imaging apparatus and determines its quality,
The imaging device and the illumination device are supported by a first support, the optical device is supported by a second support,
The first and second supports are opposed to the illumination light irradiation unit of the illumination device and the illumination optical path start end of the optical device, and the light receiving unit of the image capture device and the imaging optical path end of the optical device, respectively. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized by being detachably disposed so as to be in a positional relationship.   The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second supports are detachably connected to each other. The first and second supports are connected to each other via a connecting plate;
The connecting plate communicates the first through hole that communicates the illumination light irradiation unit of the illumination device and the illumination optical path start end of the optical device, and the light receiving unit of the image capture device and the imaging optical path end of the optical device. The visual inspection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second through hole.   The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connecting plate further includes positioning means for positioning the first and second supports.

Images