JP7033438B2 - Container inspection device and container inspection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container inspection device and a container inspection method.

Among the containers filled with liquid, the so-called "gable top type" container, which is a paper container whose top part is molded into a triangular roof type (gable roof type) shape, is lightweight, easy to carry and easy to handle. From this point of view, it occupies a large share.
Then, various inspection devices and inspection methods have been proposed in order to inspect the abnormality of this gable top type container.

For example, in Patent Document 1, the facing portions of the paper container are folded inward and crimped, and the front image of the crimped portion is acquired by a camera in a state where the upper opening of the paper container is closed. In the paper container molding defect inspection method for inspecting, a paper container is characterized in that a backlight is irradiated from the back surface of the crimping portion, and the inspection is performed based on the shade appearing in the front image through the crimping portion. The molding defect inspection method is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-20111

According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to confirm a molding defect that the top rib (folding portion of the top portion) of the gable top type container is not properly folded.
However, regarding the gable top type container, there are defects to be noted in addition to the obvious molding defects as shown in Patent Document 1.

When the present inventors conducted a detailed study on a gable top type container, a small number of containers leaked a small amount of contents, and the so-called body portion of the container swelled after a long period of time. It was confirmed that there was a container in which slow leak occurred. Then, it was clarified that the occurrence of this minute amount of content leakage and slow leak is one of the causes of the damage appearing at both side ends (left and right ends, both side ends in the longitudinal direction) of the top rib of the container. ..

Although the present inventors have confirmed damage at both ends of the top rib of the container by rigorous visual inspection, the inspector system is fully prepared to deliver a higher level of safe and secure products to consumers. I thought it was necessary to expect it.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container inspection device capable of inspecting a defect of a gable top type container and a container inspection method.

The problem can be solved by the following means.
(1) A container inspection device for inspecting a gable-top type container, which is an image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of at least one end of both side ends of a top rib of the container, and image data of the end portion. The image data acquisition means is provided with a determination means for determining the presence or absence of damage at the end of the top rib based on the above, and the image data acquisition means is provided with respect to a container in which the top rib is conveyed in a state of being perpendicular to the traveling direction. A container inspection device that is an image pickup device installed on the outside of at least one of both end portions of the top rib .
( 2 ) In the determination means, the length of breakage at the end of the top rib of the container is 70% or more of the length of the overlapped portion where the mountain-folded portions of the paper materials constituting the container are adhered to each other. The container inspection apparatus according to 1 above, wherein it is determined that there is a problem, and that there is no problem when the length is less than 70% of the length of the overlapped portion.
( 3 ) A container inspection method for inspecting a gable-top type container, which is an image data acquisition step of acquiring image data of at least one end of both side ends of the top rib of the container, and image data of the end portion. The image data acquisition step includes a determination step of determining the presence or absence of damage at the end of the top rib based on the above, and in the image data acquisition step, the container is transported in a state where the top rib is perpendicular to the traveling direction. , A container inspection method for acquiring image data by an image pickup device installed on at least one outside of both end portions of the top rib .

According to the container inspection apparatus according to the present invention, damage generated at the end of the top rib of the container can be reliably detected. As a result, according to the container inspection apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to surely prevent the distribution of a container in which a minute amount of contents leaks or slow leaks due to the breakage of the end portion to the market.

According to the container inspection method according to the present invention, damage generated at the end of the top rib of the container can be reliably detected. As a result, according to the container inspection method according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the distribution of a container in which a minute amount of content leaks or slow leak occurs due to the breakage of the end portion to the market.

It is a schematic diagram of the container inspection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the molding process of a container, and is the schematic diagram which shows the state before the container is fixed to a fixing member. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the molding process of a container, and is the schematic diagram which shows the state after a container is fixed to a fixing member. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the molding process of a container, and is the schematic diagram which shows the state after the bottom part of a container is molded, and after the container is pulled out from a fixing member. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the molding process of a container, and is the schematic diagram of the container in the state after the top portion is molded into a triangular roof shape, that is, the container after molding is completed. It is an enlarged schematic diagram of the end portion of the top rib of a container, and is the enlarged schematic diagram for demonstrating the state which the end portion is not damaged. It is an enlarged schematic diagram of the end portion of the top rib of a container, and is the enlarged schematic diagram for explaining the state where the end portion is damaged. It is a schematic diagram of the image data of the end portion of the top rib of a container, and is the schematic diagram of the image data for explaining the state where the end portion is not damaged. It is a schematic diagram of the image data of the end portion of the top rib of a container, and is the schematic diagram of the image data for explaining the state where the end portion is damaged.

Hereinafter, a container inspection device according to the present invention and an embodiment for carrying out the container inspection method will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIG. 2D, the container inspection device according to the present embodiment and the gable top type container to be inspected by the container inspection method will be described.

[Gable top type container]
The gable top type container 10 (hereinafter, appropriately simply referred to as “container”) is a container whose top portion is molded into a triangular roof type (gable roof type) shape.
Specifically, the container 10 has a body portion 11 composed of a bottom surface 11a and four wall surfaces 11b, and a pair of rectangular surfaces extending so as to incline upward and inward from the upper end portions of the two facing wall surfaces 11b. 12 and a pair of triangular surfaces 13 extending so as to fill the space between the two rectangular surfaces 12 from the upper ends of the two opposite wall surfaces 11b, and straight upward from the upper ends of the two rectangular surfaces 12. It has a top rib 14 that extends to.

The capacity of the container 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is the capacity of a generally distributed container, and examples thereof include 0.9L, 1.0L, 1.8L, and 2.0L. Further, the size of the container 10 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a square bottom surface 11a having a side length of 70 mm and 85 mm, and a wall surface 11b having a vertical side length of 40 to 140 mm and the like. Can be mentioned.
Further, the material of the container 10 is not particularly limited, and may be any material of a container that is generally distributed. For example, various resin layers (for example, polyethylene resin) are used for one side or both sides of the paper as a base material. A layer (a layer, a polyethylene furanoate layer) and a barrier layer (for example, an aluminum foil, an aluminum vapor-deposited PET film, a silica-deposited PET film) are laminated (collectively referred to as “paper material”).
Further, the container 10 is not particularly limited as long as the top portion is formed into a triangular roof type (gable roof type) shape and the top rib 14 is provided. For example, the container 10 has a spout on a rectangular surface 12. (Not shown) may be provided, or a window portion (transparent portion) on which the contents can be confirmed may be provided on the wall surface 11b.
The top rib 14 is also referred to as a sealing portion or a sealing surface.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D and FIGS. 3A and 3B, after explaining the "flow of container molding" which is the target of the container inspection device according to the present embodiment, it occurs in this molding flow. "Damage at both ends of the top rib" will be described.
[Molding flow of container and damage at both ends of top rib]
The container 10 is formed, for example, by the following flow shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D.
First, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a square cylindrical container 10 in which the top portion and the bottom portion are not molded is fitted into the fixing member 21 from below and fixed by the holding member 22. To. Then, the bottom portion is formed in a state where the square cylindrical container 10 as shown in FIG. 2B is fixed to the fixing member 21. Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the bottomed square cylindrical container 10 is pulled out downward from the fixing member 21. Then, after the contents such as liquid are injected into the bottomed square tubular container 10, the top portion is formed into a triangular roof shape as shown in FIG. 2D, and the container 10 is completed.
Normally, the above-mentioned container molding flow is carried out as a series of continuous production processes.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the bottomed square cylindrical container 10 is pulled out downward from the fixing member 21, but at this time, the load of friction with the fixing member 21 is applied to the corner portion C at the upper end of the container 10. It takes. As a result, the corner portion C may be damaged (torn) from the tip side.
Then, the breakage of the corner portion C will appear at both end portions of the top rib 14 of the container 10 after molding.

The present inventors have found that the breakage of the corner portion C, in other words, the "breakage at both end portions of the top rib 14" causes the occurrence of a small amount of content leakage and the swelling of the body portion of the container after a long period of time. It was clarified that it is one of the causes of so-called slow leak).
It is impossible to accurately confirm the damage at both end portions of the top rib 14 by observing from the rectangular surface 12 side of the container 10 or observing from directly above the container 10.

Next, the container inspection device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[Container inspection device]
The container inspection device D is a device for inspecting "damage at both end portions of the top rib 14" of the container as described above.
The container inspection device D includes an image data acquisition unit 1 and a determination unit 2. Further, the container inspection device D may include a storage unit, a determination result output means, and the like.

(Image data acquisition means)
The image data acquisition means 1 is a means for acquiring image data of the end portion of the top rib 14 of the container 10.
Specifically, the image data acquisition means 1 is a pair of image pickup devices installed on the outside of both end portions of the top rib 14 with respect to the container 10 in which the top rib 14 is conveyed in a state perpendicular to the traveling direction. It is 1.

The installation location of the pair of image pickup devices 1 is not particularly limited as long as the end portion of the top rib 14 of the container 10 can be imaged, but from the viewpoint of acquiring a clear image, the end portion of the top rib 14 of the container 10 to be transported. It is preferably right next to it.
Further, the installation location of the pair of image pickup devices 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is on both sides of the route (transport path) in which the top rib 14 is transported in a state perpendicular to the traveling direction. However, when the container 10 after molding is subjected to a treatment such as washing with water, the container 10 is in a state after the water droplets adhering by washing with water are removed by a blower or the like from the viewpoint of acquiring a clear image. It is preferably on both sides of the route being transported.
The timing of imaging by the pair of image pickup devices 1 is the timing at which the top rib 14 of the container 10 crosses in front of the image pickup device 1, and the control means (FIG. It suffices if it is controlled by (not shown).

(Judgment means)
The determination means 2 is a means for determining the presence or absence of damage at the end portion based on the image data of the end portion of the top rib.
Specifically, the determination means 2 reads out the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means 1 and performs predetermined image processing (shading processing, binarization processing, etc.) on the image data. Then, the determination means 2 determines whether or not the image data after processing is damaged at the end portion of the top rib 14 based on a preset standard read from a storage means (not shown).
The processing and determination method of the image data by the determination means 2 will be described in detail later.

(Judgment result output means)
The determination result output means (not shown) is a means for outputting the determination result input from the determination means 2 to the outside. The determination result output means is, for example, an alarm device that emits a sound or light when a determination result of damage is input from the determination means 2, a device that excludes a damaged container from the production line, all of them. Output the result to a monitor that can display the result.

The determination means 2, the control means, and the determination result output means are realized by a program execution process by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a dedicated circuit, or the like.
Further, the storage means can be configured by a general storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a flash memory.

Next, the container inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. The operation of the container inspection device according to the present embodiment described above will also be described.
[Container inspection method (operation of container inspection device)]
The container inspection method according to the present embodiment includes an image data acquisition step and a determination step.
Hereinafter, each step of the container inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Image data acquisition process)
The image data acquisition step is a step of acquiring image data of the end portion of the top rib 14 of the container 10.
Specifically, the image data acquisition means 1 (imaging means 1) images the end portion of the top rib 14 of the container 10 to be conveyed.

(Judgment process)
The determination step is a step of determining the presence or absence of damage at the end portion based on the image data of the end portion of the top rib 14 of the container 10.
Specifically, in the determination step, first, the image data of both end portions acquired by the image pickup means 1 is read out by the determination means 2. Then, predetermined image processing (shading processing, binarization processing, etc.) is performed on the image data to obtain image data in the states shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Then, based on a preset standard read from a storage means (not shown), it is determined whether or not the image data after the predetermined image processing is damaged at both end portions of the top rib 14.

(Judgment method in the judgment process)
A specific determination method in the determination step will be described.
When there is no damage at the end of the top rib 14 as shown in FIG. 3A (normal case), when the acquired image data is subjected to shading processing, the image data becomes as shown in FIG. 4A. When the color is inspected from left to right (or from right to left) at the inspection point T of this image data (specifically, the superposed portion where the mountain-folded portions of the paper materials constituting the container 10 are adhered to each other). , Black, white, black, white, black, but measure the length of the black line in the center. Then, since the measured length of the central black line (100% of the length LT of the superimposed portion) satisfies the requirement (more than a predetermined length) read from the storage means, the determination means 2 determines that there is no damage. ..

On the other hand, when there is damage at the end of the top rib 14 as shown in FIG. 3B (abnormal case), when the acquired image data is subjected to shading processing, the image data becomes as shown in FIG. 4B. The length of the black line in the center is measured for the inspection point T of this image data. Then, since the measured length of the central black line (0% of the length LT of the superimposed portion) does not satisfy the requirement (more than a predetermined length) read from the storage means, the determination means 2 determines that the determination means is damaged. do.

The end portion of the top rib 14 is divided into a tip portion to which a single facing paper material is adhered and a superposed portion to which the mountain-folded portions of the paper material are adhered to each other. Usually, damage is unlikely to occur. Therefore, as described above, the inspection point T excludes the tip portion and is a superposed portion extending downward from the tip portion.

As a result of many experiments, the present inventors have clarified that the probability of occurrence of a problem increases when the length of breakage at the end of the top rib 14 exceeds a predetermined value.
Specifically, when the length of breakage at the end of the top rib 14 is 70% or more of the length LT of the overlapped portion where the mountain-folded portions of the paper material constituting the container 10 are adhered to each other, leakage occurs. It was clarified that the probability of occurrence of the problem of slow leak increases.
Therefore, as a requirement to be stored in the storage means (reference requirement), "There is a problem when the length of the damage is 70% or more of the length LT of the superimposed portion / the length of the damage is the length LT of the superimposed portion. There is no problem if it is less than 70% of the There is no problem when the length is 30% or more of the LT "), so that the occurrence of the problem of the container can be detected more accurately and the defect of the container can be inspected.

From the viewpoint of detecting the occurrence of a slight problem at an early stage, the requirement to be stored in the storage means (reference requirement) is "when the length of the break is 30% or more of the length LT of the superimposed portion". There is a problem / There is no problem when the length of breakage is less than 30% of the length LT of the superimposed portion. "

The above-mentioned determination is performed on both sides (left and right sides, both sides in the longitudinal direction) of the end portion of the top rib 14 for one container 10. If the above-mentioned damage is present at one of the ends, the probability of occurrence of a problem such as leakage increases. Therefore, if there is the above-mentioned damage at at least one of both ends, there is a problem with the container. Is determined. On the other hand, if there is no such damage at both end portions, it is determined that there is no problem with the container.

(Process after judgment process)
If the judgment result obtained in the judgment step is that there is a problem with the container (at least one of both ends has the above-mentioned damage), the judgment result output means transmits a predetermined instruction to an external device. For example, a device for excluding a problematic container from the line may be activated, or an alarm device for notifying that a problematic container has been detected by emitting a sound or light may be activated.
In the determination step, all the results may be displayed on the monitor regardless of which determination result is obtained.

Next, the effects of the container inspection device and the container inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
[Effects of container inspection device and container inspection method according to this embodiment]
According to the container inspection device D and the container inspection method according to the present embodiment, since the presence or absence of damage is determined based on the image data of the end portion of the top rib of the container 10, the corner portion at the time of molding the container 10 is determined. The damage of C can be appropriately detected. As a result, according to the container inspection device D and the container inspection method according to the present embodiment, a defective container based on this damage, for example, a container in which a small amount of contents leaks, or a body after a long period of time has elapsed. It is possible to prevent the distribution of swelling containers and the like to the market.

Next, a modified example of the container inspection device and the container inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
[Variation example of container inspection device and container inspection method according to this embodiment]
Based on FIG. 1, a configuration for inspecting both both end portions of the top rib 14 (that is, a configuration for acquiring and inspecting image data of two ends for one container 10) has been described. Since the breakage of the rib 14 basically occurs in both end portions in the same manner, the rib 14 may be configured to inspect only one of the end portions on both sides.
Specifically, only one image pickup device 1 in FIG. 1 is installed on the outside of either end of the top rib 14, and image data of one end is acquired for one container 10. However, the presence or absence of damage may be determined based on the one image data.
It should be noted that the image pickup device 1 in FIG. 1 is only one unit installed on the outside of either end of the top rib 14, and after the image data of one end is acquired by the image pickup device 1, the container 10 is used. May be inverted (rotated by 180 ° C. around the central axis in the vertical direction of the container 10), and the image data of the opposite end portion may also be acquired by the image pickup device 1. In this case, the image data of the two ends of one container 10 is acquired and inspected.

Although the configuration for inspecting only the end portions (both end portions) of the top rib 14 has been described based on FIGS. 4A and 4B, the configuration for inspecting defects in other portions may be further described.
Specifically, if the triangular surface 13 of the container 10 of FIGS. 3A and 3B is inspected, a part of the triangular surface 13 looks like a beak from the back side to the front side of the paper surface of FIGS. 3A and 3B. It is also possible to determine the presence or absence of a defect that protrudes from the beak. Since it is unclear which side of the triangular surfaces 13 on both sides of the container 10 causes the folding defect, the triangular surfaces 13 on both sides are inspected when the folding defect is accurately determined. Is preferable.

A determination method for determining whether or not the length of the central black line at the inspection point T is equal to or greater than a predetermined length has been described based on FIGS. 4A and 4B, but the determination method is not limited to this method.
For example, the length of damage at the inspection point T is determined based on two criteria, "70% or more of the length LT of the superposed portion" and "30% or more of the length LT of the superposed portion". You may. In this case, if the length of the breakage satisfies "70% or more of the length LT of the superposed portion", it is determined as "defective: problematic" and does not satisfy "70% or more of the length LT of the superposed portion". If "good: no problem but confirmation is required" is determined when "30% or more of the length LT of the superimposed portion" is satisfied, and "best: no problem" is determined when both are not satisfied. good.

Further, the damage at the end portion of the top rib 14 is likely to occur from the tip end side (excluding the tip end portion to which a single facing paper material is adhered) to the base end side, that is, from the top to the bottom. Therefore, when the portion A on the proximal end side is inspected by a predetermined length (the length of the tip portion + the length of the overlapping portion LT × 70%) from the tip of the top rib 14, and the portion A is damaged. May be determined as "defective: problematic", and the case where there is no damage at the relevant portion A may be determined as "best: no problem".
Further, not only the above-mentioned location A, but also two locations B that are on the base end side by a predetermined length (length of the tip portion + length of the superimposed portion LT × 30%) from the tip of the top rib 14. Inspected, if there is damage in location A, it is judged as "defective: problematic", and if there is no damage in location A but there is damage in location B, it is "good: no problem, but confirmation is required". The configuration may be such that the determination is made and the case where there is no damage in both the locations A and B is determined as "best: no problem".

Further, in the determination method, the acquired image data (regardless of the presence or absence of predetermined image processing) is compared with the reference image data preset in the storage means, and the end portion of the top rib 14 is damaged. As long as the presence or absence of the above can be determined, the method is not limited to the above method, and a known pattern recognition method may be applied.

Further, as a determination method, a method of determining that there is a problem when there is damage at a predetermined portion of the end portion of the top rib 14 has been described, but it is determined that there is a problem when there is even a slight damage at all of the end portions. It may be configured to do so.

Although the flow of molding the container 10 has been described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D, the container inspection device D according to the present invention and the container 10 to be the target of the container inspection method are the containers 10 formed by the flow. Not limited.
However, in the container 10 formed by the flow shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, as described above, the corner portion C is damaged from the tip side due to the load of friction with the fixing member 21 applied to the corner portion C. , There is a possibility that damage may appear on both side ends of the top rib 14 of the container 10 after molding. Therefore, the container inspection device D and the container inspection method according to the present invention capable of reliably detecting such damage are particularly when the container 10 formed by the flow shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D is targeted. It can be effective.

The present embodiment is described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to the one including all the configurations described. Further, it is possible to add / delete / replace a part of the configuration of the present embodiment with another configuration.
In addition, the above-mentioned mechanism and configuration show what is considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all the mechanisms and configurations in the product.

1 Image data acquisition means (imaging means)
2 Judgment means 10 Gable top type container (container)
11 Body 11a Body (bottom surface)
11b Body (wall surface)
12 Rectangular surface 13 Triangular surface 14 Top rib 21 Fixing member 22 Narrowing member C Corner part D Container inspection device T Inspection point

Claims (3)

A container inspection device that inspects gable top type containers.
An image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of at least one end of both end portions of the top rib of the container, and an image data acquisition means.
A determination means for determining the presence or absence of damage at the end of the top rib based on the image data of the end.
Equipped with
The image data acquisition means is a container inspection device which is an image pickup device installed on at least one outside of both end portions of the top rib with respect to a container transported in a state where the top rib is perpendicular to the traveling direction . The determination means is a case where the length of breakage at the end of the top rib of the container is 70% or more of the length of the overlapped portion where the mountain-folded portions of the paper materials constituting the container are adhered to each other. The container inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein it is determined that there is a problem, and a case where the length is less than 70% of the length of the superimposed portion is determined to be no problem. It is a container inspection method that inspects gable top type containers.
An image data acquisition process for acquiring image data of at least one end of both side ends of the top rib of the container, and
A determination step of determining the presence or absence of damage at the end of the top rib based on the image data of the end, and
Including
In the image data acquisition step, the image data is acquired by an image pickup device installed on at least one outside of both end portions of the top rib with respect to the container transported in a state where the top rib is perpendicular to the traveling direction. Container inspection method .

Images