JP7628283B2 - Inspection and sorting equipment, inspection and sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inspection and sorting device that inspects an object based on electromagnetic waves that are irradiated onto the object and detected after passing through the object, and performs a predetermined sorting process based on the inspection results.

There is a commonly known inspection device that irradiates electromagnetic waves such as X-rays onto an object to be inspected, which is transported horizontally along a predetermined transport path by a transport means such as a conveyor, inspects the inside or surface of the object based on the strength of the electromagnetic waves that have passed through or been reflected from the object, and performs a sorting process based on the inspection results (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-128231 A

The electromagnetic waves that have passed through or been reflected from the object to be inspected are detected by the detection means, and the detection data is then sent to the inspection means, where the inspection is carried out. Meanwhile, the object to be inspected continues to be transported along a predetermined transport path by the transport means in parallel with the execution of the inspection. In conventional inspection devices, after the inspection by the inspection means is completed, it is assumed that the object to be inspected will reach the sorting means after a certain time lag, and the sorting means is made to carry out a sorting process (for example, a process of removing the object from the transport path if it is judged to be bad) according to the inspection result of the object to be inspected (typically the result of judging whether it is good or bad).

However, the time required for inspection by the inspection means depends on the condition of the object to be inspected and is not necessarily constant, so in order to ensure that the object to be inspected is removed from the conveying path if the inspection result is negative, it is necessary to continue the state in which the transported object is removed by the sorting means for a certain period before and after the estimated timing of the object to be inspected reaching the sorting means. Therefore, when objects to be inspected are transported one after another along the same conveying path at short intervals, there is a risk that other objects to be inspected that are before or after the object to be rejected will be rejected together, regardless of their inspection results.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide an inspection and sorting device, an inspection device, and a sorting device that can correctly sort each inspected object according to the inspection results.

The inspection and sorting device of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying objects to be inspected on each of a plurality of parallel conveying paths in a predetermined conveying direction, an irradiation means for irradiating a predetermined electromagnetic wave toward the objects to be inspected, and a plurality of sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and corresponding to each of the conveying paths, each of which detects the predetermined electromagnetic wave that has arrived and outputs detection data at a predetermined cycle, and a detection means for associating the detection data with information indicating the order of the cycles in which the detection data is output from the detection means, and for outputting detection data for a cycle that is a number of cycles before the cycle in which the detection data is output, which corresponds to the required time for conveying between the detection means and the sorting mechanism. the order specifying means for outputting sorting cycle information indicating the order of the detection data; the inspection means for performing a predetermined inspection on the detection data and outputting the inspection results; the sorting data storage means for storing the inspection results of the detection data in association with information indicating the order of the cycles in which the detection data was output from the detection means; and the sorting means for providing a sorting mechanism for each conveying path arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined conveying direction, which, upon input of the sorting cycle information, refers to the sorting data storage means and executes a predetermined sorting process in the sorting mechanism corresponding to each sensor based on the inspection results of the detection data of each sensor in the order of the cycles indicated by the sorting cycle information.

The apparatus may further include a detection data storage means for storing the detection data output by the detection means in association with the information indicating the sequence of the cycles according to the association by the sequence identification means, and the inspection means may perform a predetermined inspection on the detection data for the multiple cycles each time the detection data storage means stores detection data for multiple cycles that is less than the number of cycles corresponding to the required transport time.

The inspection device of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying an object to be inspected on each of a plurality of parallel conveying paths in a predetermined conveying direction, an irradiation means for irradiating a predetermined electromagnetic wave toward the object to be inspected, a detection means including a plurality of sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and corresponding to each of the conveying paths, each of which detects the predetermined electromagnetic wave that has arrived and outputs detection data at each predetermined period, a sequence determination means for associating the detection data with information indicating the sequence of the period in which the detection data was output from the detection means and outputting sorting period information indicating the sequence of the period the number of periods prior to the period in which the detection data was output corresponds to the required conveying time between the detection means and the sorting mechanism, and an inspection means for performing a predetermined inspection on each detection data and outputting the inspection results.

The sorting device of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying objects to be inspected on each of a plurality of parallel conveying paths in a predetermined conveying direction, an irradiating means for irradiating a predetermined electromagnetic wave toward the objects to be inspected, and a plurality of sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined conveying direction and corresponding to each of the conveying paths, each of which detects the predetermined electromagnetic wave that has arrived and outputs detection data at a predetermined cycle, and a detecting means for associating the detection data with information indicating the order of the cycles in which the detection data is output from the detecting means, and for outputting sorting cycle information indicating the order of the cycles the number of cycles before the cycle in which the detection data is output corresponds to the cycle in which the detection data is output, the number of cycles corresponding to the time required for conveying between the detecting means and the sorting mechanism. The inspection device includes an order specifying means for outputting information about the detection data, an inspection means for performing a predetermined inspection on the detection data and outputting the inspection results, a sorting data storage means for storing the inspection results of the detection data output from the inspection device in association with information indicating the order of the cycles in which the detection data was output from the detection means, and a sorting mechanism for each conveying path arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined conveying direction, which is triggered by input of sorting cycle information and which executes a predetermined sorting process in the sorting mechanism corresponding to each sensor based on the inspection results of the detection data at each sensor in the order of the cycles indicated by the sorting cycle information, which is acquired by referring to the sorting data storage means.

The inspection and sorting device, inspection device, and sorting device of the present invention make it possible to correctly sort each inspected object according to the inspection results.

1 is a front view showing an example of a configuration of an inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of an inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram (1/9) for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram (2/9) for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 3/9 is a diagram for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 4/9 is a diagram for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 5 is a diagram (5/9) for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 6/9 is a diagram for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 7 is a diagram (7/9) for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 8/9 is a diagram for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100. FIG. 9 is a diagram (9/9) for explaining the sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and the description of components that have already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an example of the configuration of an inspection and sorting device 100 of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same. The inspection and sorting device 100 includes a conveying means 101, an irradiating means 102, a detecting means 103, a sequence specifying means 104, a detected data storage means 105, an inspecting means 106, a sorting data storage means 107, and a sorting means 108.

The conveying means 101 conveys the inspection objects W present on each of the multiple parallel conveying paths in a predetermined conveying direction. The conveying means 101 may be a conveyor of any type as long as it can convey the placed inspection objects W in a fixed direction.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conveying means 101 conveys the object W to be inspected in the Y-axis direction. When viewed from the front, the conveying means 101 has a depth in the X-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis, and multiple objects W to be inspected can be placed at any position in the X-axis direction and conveyed in the Y-axis direction. In other words, a conveying path can be conceived in the Y-axis direction for each position in the X-axis direction where the object W to be inspected is placed. However, since the inspection and sorting device 100 inspects the object W to be inspected and performs sorting according to the inspection results, the number of conveying paths that can actually be conceived is the number of rows of sensors that detect electromagnetic waves that have passed through the object W to be inspected arranged in the X-axis direction. Figure 2 shows an example in which the detection means 103 has four sensors L1 to L4 that correspond to the objects W to be inspected, and four rows of conveying paths C1 to C4 are conceived corresponding to the sensors.

Note that in Figures 1 and 2, the sorting means 108 is shown inserted in the middle of the conveying means 101, but in reality, the conveying means 101 is configured to be capable of continuous conveying, including the position where the sorting means 108 is present, and the notation of the sorting means 108 means that a predetermined sorting process can be performed on the inspection object W being conveyed at the indicated position.

The irradiation means 102 is disposed opposite the detection means 103 and irradiates a predetermined electromagnetic wave onto the inspection object W being transported by the transport means 101. The type of electromagnetic wave to be irradiated may be appropriately selected according to the content of the inspection, such as, for example, X-rays, visible light, or infrared light.

The detection means 103 is equipped with a plurality of sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying means 101 and corresponding to each conveying path, and each sensor detects a predetermined electromagnetic wave that has arrived and outputs detection data at a predetermined cycle. Figure 2 shows an example in which the detection means 103 is equipped with four sensors L1 to L4 corresponding to four conveying paths C1 to C4.

Each sensor of the detection means 103 is a sensor in which one or more detection elements capable of detecting a predetermined electromagnetic wave are arranged in a row in the X-axis direction, and in reality, each detection element constituting the sensor outputs detection data. The width in the X-axis direction of each conveying path is determined as the product of the length in the X-axis direction of the detection element constituting each sensor and the number of detection elements arranged.

The multiple sensors of the detection means 103 may be configured as appropriate using one or more line sensors each consisting of multiple detection elements. For example, if there are four sensors, they may be configured by dividing three or less line sensors, or they may be configured in a one-to-one relationship using four line sensors, or one sensor may be configured using two or more line sensors.

The multiple sensors of the detection means 103 may be configured as one or multiple line sensors arranged in a row in the X-axis direction as described above, or may be configured as a TDI sensor arranged in multiple rows in the Y-axis direction.

The predetermined period during which each sensor detects electromagnetic waves and accumulates and outputs the detection data may be, for example, the time required for the line sensor to pass through the width in the Y-axis direction at the conveying speed of the conveying means 101. By setting the predetermined period in this manner, it is possible to inspect all of the objects W to be inspected that pass the sensor.

The order identification means 104 writes the detection data to the detection data storage means 105 each time the detection means 103 outputs detection data from each sensor at a predetermined cycle. At this time, the detection data for each predetermined cycle is written in association with information indicating the sequence of the cycles that were output. The information indicating the sequence of the cycles may be any information that allows the sequence to be identified, and may be, for example, simply integer information such as 1, 2, 3, .... When the sensor is made up of multiple detection elements, the detection data of the sensor may be written by writing the detection data of each detection element separately, or by writing the sum of the detection data of each detection element, depending on the inspection method in the inspection means 106, etc.

Furthermore, each time the sequence identification means 104 writes the detection data in association with a certain sequence in the detection data storage means 105, it notifies the sorting means 108 of information indicating that sorting processing is to be performed using the inspection results of the detection data associated with the sequence that is the number of cycles before the associated sequence, which corresponds to the required transport time.

The time required for transport between the detection means 103 and the sorting mechanism of the sorting means 108 is determined from the distance between the detection means 103 and the sorting means 108 and the transport speed of the transport means 101. If the detection means 103 outputs detection data of the object W to be inspected in a certain cycle, the object W will reach the sorting means 108 in a cycle that is a number of cycles after that cycle that corresponds to the time required for transport between the detection means 103 and the sorting means 108. Therefore, by completing the inspection of the object W during transport from the detection means 103 to the sorting means 108, the sorting means 108 can perform a predetermined sorting process on the object W based on the inspection results.

In each cycle, the sorting process that the sorting means 108 performs based on the inspection results of the detection data associated with a particular order is uniquely determined based on the order associated with the detection data output from the detection means 103 in the same cycle. For example, when the detection data output from the detection means 103 reaches the sorting means 108 four cycles later, and the detection data output from the detection means 103 in a certain cycle is stored in association with order 1 in the detection data storage means 105 that employs a ring buffer of six cycles, the sorting means 108 in that cycle performs the sorting process based on the inspection results of the detection data output from the detection means 103 four cycles earlier and associated with order 3.

Therefore, each time the order identification means 104 writes the detection data to the detection data storage means 105 in association with a certain order, it notifies the sorting means 108 of information indicating that sorting processing will be performed using the inspection results of the detection data associated with the order that is the number of cycles before the associated order, which corresponds to the required transport time. For example, if a ring buffer of six cycles is used in the detection data storage means 105 and the required transport time corresponds to four cycles, when the detection data output in a certain cycle by the detection means 103 is written to the detection data storage means 105 in association with order 1, the sorting means 108 is notified of order 3, which is four cycles before. This makes it possible to perform sorting processing based on the inspection results of the data at the timing when the test object W, whose data was detected by the detection means 103 four cycles ago, arrives at the sorting means 108.

The detection data storage means 105 is any storage medium capable of electromagnetically storing the detection data output by the detection means 103. Any data structure may be used for storing the data, but in the present invention, it is sufficient that the inspection data is stored for the time required for processing, so that by employing, for example, a ring buffer, the function of the detection data storage means 105 can be realized with a small storage area.

The inspection means 106 reads out the detection data stored in the detection data storage means 105, executes a predetermined inspection, and outputs the inspection results. The predetermined inspection can be, for example, an inspection of the presence or absence of the object W to be inspected and the presence or absence of foreign matter, which can be grasped based on the magnitude of the value of the detection data, but the type of inspection is not important as long as the state of the object W to be inspected can be evaluated from the detection data of the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the object W to be inspected.

When a sensor is composed of multiple detection elements, the inspection results of the sensor's detection data may be obtained, for example, by inspecting each of the detection data from each detection element and making an overall evaluation based on each inspection result using any judgment criteria, or by inspecting the sum of the detection data from each detection element.

The inspection of the detection data in the inspection means 106 may be performed by reading out each time the detection data of each sensor is written to the detection data storage means 105 at a predetermined cycle, or, considering that it is sufficient if the detection data is completed before the sorting process in the sorting means 108, the inspection may be performed by reading out all at once each time the detection data is written for a number of cycles that is less than the number of cycles equivalent to the transport time required from the detection means 103 to the sorting means 108.

Furthermore, the inspection means 106 writes the inspection results of the detection data of each sensor for each predetermined period into the selection data storage means 107. At this time, the inspection results of the detection data of each sensor for each predetermined period are stored in association with information indicating the same period order as that associated in the detection data storage means 105. That is, the inspection results of the detection data stored in association with order 1 in the detection data storage means 105 are stored in association with order 1 in the selection data storage means 107. Note that the inspection results of the detection data of each sensor for each predetermined period may be written directly into the selection data storage means 107, or may be copied to the selection data storage means 107 after overwriting the storage area of the detection data in the detection data storage means 105, for example.

The selected data storage means 107, like the detection data storage means 105, is any storage medium capable of electromagnetically storing data, and by adopting, for example, a ring buffer as the data structure for storing data, the functions of the selected data storage means 107 can be realized with a small storage area.

The sorting means 108 includes a sorting mechanism for each transport path, which is arranged in a direction perpendicular to a predetermined transport direction. Figure 1 shows an example in which sorting mechanisms S1 to S4 are provided downstream of sensors L1 to L4 provided on each of the transport paths C1 to C4.

When the sorting period information is notified from the order identification means 104, the sorting means 108 executes a predetermined sorting process in the sorting mechanism corresponding to each sensor based on the inspection results of the detection data of each sensor in the order of periods indicated by the sorting period information, which is obtained by referring to the sorting data storage means 107.

For example, if a six-cycle ring buffer is used in the detection data storage means 105 and the transport time is equivalent to four cycles, and the detection data output in a certain cycle by the detection means 103 is written in the detection data storage means 105 in association with order 1, the sorting means 108 is notified of order 3, which is four cycles earlier. If there are four transport routes, C1 to C4, the sorting means 108 refers to the sorting data storage means 107 and performs a predetermined sorting process in the sorting mechanisms S1 to S4 corresponding to the sensors L1 to L4, respectively, based on the inspection results of the detection data in the sensors L1 to L4 stored in association with order 3.

The predetermined sorting process in the sorting means 108 may be, for example, sorting between pass and fail items based on the inspection result indicating whether the inspected object W passes or fails. In this case, the sorting mechanism functions to allow pass items to continue to be transported along the transport path, and to remove fail items from the transport path. Any type of sorting mechanism may be used, and examples include an air jet type, a flipper type, and a drop type.

The sorting process in the inspection and sorting device 100 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 2 to 11. Figs. 2 to 11 show an example of a process in chronological order in an inspection system in which four sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 and four sorting mechanisms S1 to S4 of the sorting means 108 corresponding to the four transport paths C1 to C4 of the transport means 101 are provided, in which a plurality of objects W to be inspected are transported one after another. The objects W to be inspected are marked in advance with white if they pass the subsequent inspection, and black if they fail. In this example, the number of cycles corresponding to the time required for transport between the detection means 103 and the sorting mechanism of the sorting means 108 is set to four cycles. In addition, the inspection in the inspection means 106 is performed collectively every time three cycles of detection data are stored in the detection data storage means 105. In addition, the inspection results in the inspection means 106 are written directly into the sorting data storage means 107. The detection data storage means 105 and the selection data storage means 107 employ a ring buffer with six cycles, the order of which is expressed by 1 to 6. In the detection data storage means 105, storage positions to which detection data has not been written are marked with 0, and storage positions to which detection data has been written are marked with V. In the selection data storage means 107, storage positions to which the inspection result is a failure are marked with 1, and other storage positions are marked with 0. For data stored in each storage position of the detection data storage means 105 and the selection data storage means 107, the entry for storage positions that have been inspected and selected is reset to 0. In addition, the detection means 103 notifies the selection means 108 of the order in which the detection results to be used for the selection process are stored in the selection data storage means 107 each time the detection data for each cycle is output.

Figure 2 shows a state in which multiple inspection objects W are transported in the Y-axis direction on four transport paths C1 to C4 by the transport means 101, and two objects in the first row have arrived in front of the detection means 103.

Figure 3 shows a state in which the multiple inspection objects W have moved one cycle in the transport direction from the state shown in Figure 2, with the two inspection objects W in the first row positioned above the detection means 103, and the sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 detect the electromagnetic waves that reach them during one cycle in which the two inspection objects W in the first row pass, and accumulate the detection data.

Figure 4 shows the state where the multiple test objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 3, the two test objects W in the first row have passed over the detection means 103, and the two test objects W in the second row are positioned above the detection means 103.

The sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 finish detecting the first cycle of the electromagnetic waves when the first row has passed in this way, and output the detection data accumulated in each of the sensors L1 to L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle when the two objects W to be inspected in the second row pass and accumulating the detection data. The sequence identification means 104 writes the detection data output from the detection means 103 in association with sequence 1 to the detection data storage means 105, and notifies the sorting means 108 of sequence 3, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the time required for transport. The sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with sequence 3 in the sorting data storage means 107, and since they are all 0, the sorting mechanisms S1 to S4 function to continue transporting the arriving transported objects along the transport paths C1 to C4. However, since there are no arriving transported objects at the time of FIG. 4, no specific movement occurs.

Figure 5 shows the state where the multiple test objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 4, two test objects W in the second row have passed over the detection means 103, and one test object W in the third row is positioned above the detection means 103.

Sensors L1-L4 of detection means 103 finish detecting the second cycle of electromagnetic waves when the second row has passed, and output the detection data stored in each of sensors L1-L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which one inspected object W in the third row passes, and store the detection data. Sequence identification means 104 writes the detection data output from detection means 103 in association with sequence 2 to detection data storage means 105, and notifies sorting means 108 of sequence 4, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the transport time required. Sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with sequence 4 in sorting data storage means 107, and since they are all 0, sorting mechanisms S1-S4 function to continue transporting the arriving transported objects along transport paths C1-C4. However, since there are no arriving transported objects at the time of FIG. 5, no specific movement occurs.

Figure 6 shows the state where the multiple test objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 5, one test object W in the third row has finished passing over the detection means 103, and three test objects W in the fourth row are positioned over the detection means 103.

Sensors L1-L4 of detection means 103 finish detecting the third cycle of electromagnetic waves when the third row has passed, and output the detection data stored in each of sensors L1-L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which one inspected object W in the fourth row passes, and store the detection data. Sequence identification means 104 writes the detection data output from detection means 103 to detection data storage means 105 in association with sequence 3, and notifies sorting means 108 of sequence 5, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the transport time required. Sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with sequence 5 in sorting data storage means 107, and since they are all 0, sorting mechanisms S1-S4 function to continue transporting the arriving transported objects along transport paths C1-C4. However, since there are no arriving transported objects at the time of FIG. 6, no specific movement occurs.

Figure 7 shows the state where the multiple test objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 6, the three test objects W in the fourth row have passed over the detection means 103, and one test object W in the fifth row is positioned above the detection means 103.

Sensors L1-L4 of detection means 103 finish detecting the fourth cycle of electromagnetic waves when the fourth row has passed, and output the detection data stored in each of sensors L1-L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which the three objects W to be inspected in the fifth row pass, and store the detection data. Sequence identification means 104 writes the detection data output from detection means 103 in association with sequence 4 to detection data storage means 105, and notifies sorting means 108 of sequence 6, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the time required for transport. Sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with sequence 6 in sorting data storage means 107, and since they are all 0, sorting mechanisms S1-S4 function to continue transporting the arriving transported objects along transport paths C1-C4. However, since there are no arriving transported objects at the time of FIG. 7, no specific movement occurs.

In addition, since the detection data storage means 105 stores the detection data of sensors L1 to L4 for three cycles in orders 1 to 3, the inspection means 106 reads out the detection data for these three cycles from the detection data storage means 105, performs a specified inspection, and writes the inspection results of the detection data for sensors L1 to L4 for each cycle in correspondence with orders 1 to 3 in the selection data storage means 107. In these three cycles, the inspection results of the detection data for sensor L2 in order 1, sensor L3 in order 2, and sensor L4 in order 3 are unsatisfactory, so a 1 is written in the corresponding memory location.

Figure 8 shows the state in which the multiple inspection objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 7, one inspection object W in the fifth row has finished passing over the detection means 103, and two inspection objects W in the sixth row are positioned above the detection means 103.

The sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 thus finish detecting the fifth cycle of electromagnetic waves when the fifth row has passed, and output the detection data stored in each of the sensors L1 to L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which the two objects W to be inspected in the sixth row pass, and store the detection data. The order identification means 104 writes the detection data output from the detection means 103 in association with order 5 in the detection data storage means 105, and notifies the sorting means 108 of order 1, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the time required for transport. The sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with order 1 in the sorting data storage means 107, and because sensor L2 is 1 and sensors L1, L3, and L4 are 0, the sorting mechanism S2 corresponding to sensor L2 functions to remove the arriving object W to be inspected from the transport path C2. Meanwhile, sorting mechanisms S1, S3, and S4 corresponding to sensors L1, L3, and L4 function to continue transport of the arriving transported objects on transport paths C1, C3, and C4. In this example, since the inspection object W has reached sorting mechanism S3, the inspection object W continues to be transported on transport path C3.

Figure 9 shows a state in which the multiple inspection objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 8, the two inspection objects W in the sixth row have passed over the detection means 103, and the two inspection objects W in the seventh row are positioned above the detection means 103. Note that the inspection objects W that were on the conveying path C2 in the first row in Figure 8 have already been removed from the conveying path C2.

The sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 thus finish detecting the sixth cycle of electromagnetic waves when the sixth row has passed, and output the detection data stored in each of the sensors L1 to L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which the two objects W to be inspected in the seventh row pass, and store the detection data. The sequence identification means 104 writes the detection data output from the detection means 103 in association with sequence 6 to the detection data storage means 105, and notifies the sorting means 108 of sequence 2, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the time required for transport. The sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with sequence 2 in the sorting data storage means 107, and because sensor L3 is 1 and sensors L1, L2, and L4 are 0, the sorting mechanism S3 corresponding to sensor L3 functions to remove the arriving object W to be inspected from the transport path C3. Meanwhile, the sorting mechanisms S1, S2, and S4 corresponding to the sensors L1, L2, and L4 function to continue transport of the arriving transported objects along the transport paths C1, C2, and C4. In this example, since the inspection object W has reached the sorting mechanism S1, the transport of the inspection object W along the transport path C1 continues.

Figure 10 shows a state in which the multiple inspection objects W have moved one more cycle in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 9, two inspection objects W in the seventh row have passed over the detection means 103, and one inspection object W in the eighth row is positioned above the detection means 103. Note that the inspection object W that was on the conveying path C3 in the third row in Figure 9 has already been removed from the conveying path C3.

The sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 finish detecting the seventh cycle of the electromagnetic waves when the seventh row has passed, and output the detection data stored in each of the sensors L1 to L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which one inspection object W in the eighth row passes, and store the detection data. The order identification means 104 writes the detection data output from the detection means 103 in association with order 1 in the detection data storage means 105, and notifies the sorting means 108 of order 3, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the transport time required. The sorting means 108 refers to the inspection result associated with order 3 in the sorting data storage means 107, and since sensor L4 is 1 and sensors L1, L2, and L3 are 0, the sorting mechanism S4 corresponding to sensor L4 functions to remove the arriving inspection object W from the transport path C3. Meanwhile, the sorting mechanisms S1, S2, and S3 corresponding to the sensors L1, L2, and L3 function to allow the arriving transported objects to continue being transported along the transport paths C1, C2, and C3. In this example, since no inspection objects W have arrived at the sorting mechanisms S1, S2, and S3, no specific movement occurs.

In addition, since the detection data storage means 105 stores the detection data of sensors L1 to L4 for three cycles in orders 4 to 6, the inspection means 106 reads the detection data for these three cycles from the detection data storage means 105, performs a specified inspection, and writes the inspection results of the detection data for sensors L1 to L4 for each cycle in association with orders 4 to 6 in the selection data storage means 107. In these three cycles, the inspection results of the detection data for sensor L1 in order 4 and sensor L3 in order 6 are unsuccessful, so a 1 is written in the corresponding memory location.

Figure 11 shows a state in which the multiple inspection objects W have moved one more period in the conveying direction from the state shown in Figure 10, one inspection object W in the eighth row has passed over the detection means 103, and two inspection objects W in the ninth row are positioned above the detection means 103. Note that the inspection object W that was on the conveying path C4 in the fourth row in Figure 10 has already been removed from the conveying path C4.

The sensors L1 to L4 of the detection means 103 finish detecting the eighth cycle of the electromagnetic waves when the eighth row has passed in this way, and output the detection data accumulated in each of the sensors L1 to L4, while detecting the electromagnetic waves that arrive during one cycle in which the two objects W to be inspected in the ninth row pass, and accumulate the detection data. The order identification means 104 writes the detection data output from the detection means 103 in association with order 2 in the detection data storage means 105, and notifies the sorting means 108 of order 4, which is four cycles earlier and corresponds to the time required for transport. The sorting means 108 refers to the inspection results associated with order 4 in the sorting data storage means 107, and since sensor L1 is 1 and sensors L2, L3, and L4 are 0, the sorting mechanism S1 corresponding to sensor L1 functions to remove the arriving object W to be inspected from the transport path C1. Meanwhile, the sorting mechanisms S2, S3, and S4 corresponding to the sensors L2, L3, and L4 function to continue transport of the arriving transported objects on the transport paths C2, C3, and C4. In this example, since the inspection objects W have reached the sorting mechanisms S2 and S4, the transport of the two inspection objects W on the transport paths C2 and C4 continues.

The same process is repeated for subsequent cycles.

The inspection and sorting device of the present invention described above makes it possible to correctly sort each inspected object according to the inspection results.

The inspection and sorting device of the present invention may be configured as an integrated inspection and sorting device, or may be configured as an inspection device including, for example, a conveying means 101, an irradiation means 102, a detection means 103, a sequence identification means 104, a detection data storage means 105, and an inspection means 106, and a sorting device including a sorting data storage means 107 and a sorting means 108.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and anything that has substantially the same configuration as the technical idea described in the claims of the present invention and exhibits similar effects is included within the technical scope of the present invention. In other words, appropriate modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea expressed in the present invention, and forms incorporating such modifications and improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, the number of sensors and transport paths, the number of periods corresponding to the distance between the detection means and the sorting means, the number of sequences in one revolution in the ring buffer, the number of periods for which inspection is performed collectively, and the like can be realized using the same concept as in the above embodiment even if they are not the quantities shown in the above embodiment. In addition, the way in which the components of the present invention are allocated to each means is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the technical ideas expressed in the present invention.

In addition, in view of the fact that there may be an object to be inspected that spans multiple periods and/or multiple sensors, for example, the inspection means may identify the range of the object to be inspected and the abnormal parts based on the detection data of multiple periods and/or multiple sensors, and then it may be determined based on a predetermined rule which parts correspond to which periods and sensors the sorting mechanism should be operated for, and the sorting mechanism may be operated based on this as the inspection result.

100 Inspection and sorting device 101 Conveying means 102 Irradiation means 103 Detection means 104 Order specifying means 105 Detection data storage means 106 Inspection means 107 Sorting data storage means 108 Sorting means C1 to C4 Conveying paths L1 to L4 Sensors S1 to S4 Sorting mechanism W Inspection object

Claims (4)

a conveying means which is a conveyor for conveying objects to be inspected along a plurality of parallel conveying paths in a predetermined conveying direction;
an irradiation means for irradiating the object to be inspected while being transported by the conveyor with a predetermined electromagnetic wave;
a detection means including a plurality of sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined conveying direction and corresponding to each of the conveying paths, each of the sensors detecting the predetermined electromagnetic waves that have arrived and outputting detection data at predetermined intervals;
an order specifying means for associating the detection data with information indicating the order of the cycle in which the detection data was output from the detection means, and outputting sorting cycle information indicating the order of the cycle that is a number of cycles before the cycle in which the detection data was output, the number of cycles corresponding to a required transport time between the detection means and the sorting mechanism;
an inspection means for executing a predetermined inspection on the detection data and outputting an inspection result;
a selection data storage means for storing the inspection results of the detection data in association with information indicating the order of periods in which the detection data is output from the detection means;
a sorting means for executing a predetermined sorting process in the sorting mechanism corresponding to each of the sensors based on the inspection results of the detection data of each of the sensors in the order of the cycles indicated by the sorting cycle information, the inspection results being acquired by referring to the sorting data storage means in response to an input of the sorting cycle information;
An inspection and sorting device comprising: a detection data storage means for storing the detection data output by the detection means in association with the information indicating the sequence of the cycles according to the association of the information indicating the sequence of the cycles by the sequence identification means,
The inspection and sorting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inspection means performs the specified inspection on the detection data for a plurality of cycles each time the detection data is stored in the detection data storage means for a number of cycles that is less than the number of cycles corresponding to the required transport time. a conveying means which is a conveyor for conveying objects to be inspected along a plurality of parallel conveying paths in a predetermined conveying direction;
an irradiation means for irradiating the object to be inspected while being transported by the conveyor with a predetermined electromagnetic wave;
a detection means including a plurality of sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined conveying direction and corresponding to each of the conveying paths, each of the sensors detecting the predetermined electromagnetic waves that have arrived and outputting detection data at predetermined intervals;
an order specifying means for associating the detection data with information indicating the order of the cycle in which the detection data was output from the detection means, and outputting sorting cycle information indicating the order of the cycle that is a number of cycles before the cycle in which the detection data was output, the number of cycles corresponding to a required transport time between the detection means and the sorting mechanism;
an inspection means for executing a predetermined inspection on each of the detection data and outputting an inspection result;
An inspection device comprising: a transport means which is a conveyor which transports objects to be inspected on each of a plurality of transport paths arranged in parallel in a predetermined transport direction; an irradiation means which irradiates a predetermined electromagnetic wave towards the objects to be inspected being transported by the conveyor ; a detection means which is provided with a plurality of sensors which are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined transport direction and which are provided corresponding to each of the transport paths, each of which detects the predetermined electromagnetic wave which has arrived at the sensor and outputs detection data for each predetermined period; a sequence specifying means which associates the detection data with information which indicates the sequence of the period in which the detection data is output from the detection means, and which outputs sorting period information which indicates the sequence of a period which is a number of periods before the period in which the detection data is output, which corresponds to the sequence of the period in which the detection data is output, the number of periods corresponding to the transport time between the detection means and the sorting mechanism; and an inspection means which performs a predetermined inspection on the detection data and outputs the inspection result.
a sorting means for carrying out a predetermined sorting process in the sorting mechanism corresponding to each of the sensors based on the inspection results of the detection data in the sequence of the cycles indicated by the sorting cycle information, by referring to the sorting data storage means in response to an input of the sorting cycle information;
A sorting device comprising:

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