JPS6152417B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention detects defects such as irregularities, cracks, etc. on the cut portions of the cap and both end portions of the cap and body, excluding the surface printing portion of the cap and body of a moving capsule, and corrects defective capsules. The present invention relates to an abnormal product detection device for capsules that separate from capsules.

As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule to be inspected 1 is rotated by the capsule transfer feed screw 2 at a predetermined interval, feed speed, and rotation speed in a posture defined by a device (not shown) in the previous process. It is moved at equal speed and at equal intervals. The detection of defects is carried out continuously using an optical method, and a light projector 3 as shown in Fig. 1A is used to project light from above onto the top surface of the capsule 1, which is rotating and moving, and the filament of the light source is The image is reduced and projected as an extremely bright short line. Although the surface of the capsule 1 is smooth, it is not a mirror surface, so the projected light beam is diffusely reflected, and the reflected light can be received in any direction above the capsule 1. This diffusely reflected light beam is continuously photometered as the capsule moves, and abnormal products can be detected from the reflected light.

Now, in explaining the detection device showing the embodiment of the present invention, firstly, the capsule abnormality detection device (Japanese Patent Application No. 111668/1983) filed by the present applicant will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Then, in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, 1 is a capsule to be inspected, and its posture is controlled by a device not shown in the previous process, and the capsule is transported with the body 1b first and the cap 1a behind. Reference numeral 2 is a capsule transfer feed screw having a square thread with a single thread. The capsule 1 is held between the grooves 2a of the screw 2 and is continuously fed one pitch per rotation in the axial direction of the arrow. Reference numeral 4 denotes a guide roller, which is a cylindrical roller that rotates in the same direction at a circumferential speed that is slower than or approximately equal to the peripheral speed of the trough 2a of the feed screw 2, and the capsule 1 is connected to the trough 2a of the feed screw 2 and the guide. It is held between rollers 4 and moves on both of them.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a lamp, which is a bright incandescent light bulb with a tungsten filament.The image of this filament is reduced by a lens 6 and projected onto the upper surface of the capsule 1, forming an extremely bright image. 7 is a lamp box provided with suitable natural ventilation holes for cooling.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a lens barrel, the upper end of which is attached to the lamp box 7, and the lower end provided with a lens 6. By attaching it to the mounting bracket 9 and slightly moving it up and down, the lamp 5
The filament image can be formed on the upper surface of the capsule 1. Reference numeral 10 denotes a light-receiving element mounting bracket, which holds the light-receiving element 11 so that the image of the extremely bright incandescent filament attached to the top surface of the capsule 1 can be seen at an appropriate tilt angle. The light-receiving element 11 is composed of, for example, a phototransistor, and receives diffusely reflected light from a bright filament image connected to the upper surface of the capsule 1, which rotates and moves in the axial direction of the capsule 1, forming an angle α with the projection optical axis X. Light is received along the axis Y as shown in FIG.

The capsule 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a recess, and when a bright image is formed in the valley of the recess, the light receiving element 11 is tilted by an angle α with respect to the emitting optical axis X, so the received light output is small. Then, as the rotation progresses and the light reaches the slope of the recess, it becomes close to specular reflection, and the capsule has a fairly smooth surface, so the received light output increases. Therefore, the change in the received light output as the capsule 1 rotates is as shown in FIG. 1
2 is a change curve of the light reception output as the capsule 1 rotates, and the troughs of this curve indicate the presence of recesses, but they are actually the difference from the light reception output of a defect-free sample capsule. Reference numeral 13 indicates a threshold value, which is appropriately set depending on the degree of defect, that is, the degree of dent, which is a criterion for determining whether the product is good or bad. Then, when the received light output drops below this threshold value, a defect signal is generated.

FIG. 4 shows the defect detection range of the capsule 1, and the capsule 1 moves while rotating with the body 1b first as shown by the arrow. In the figure, part A of the body 1b is scanned. Further, the leading edge 14 of the body 1b reflects very little light, so it cannot be detected, and the starting point is slightly away from the leading edge, and the ending point is slightly before the central overlapping part. Similarly, for the cap 1a, portion B is the scanning range. By scanning portions A and B in this manner, all defects in the capsule 1 can be detected. Note that the A section and the B section have the same length.

FIG. 5 shows the relative inclination of the light emitting optical axis Xa and the receiving optical axis Y with respect to the capsule 1. The cap light emitting optical axis Xa is projected directly above the capsule 1;
In the case of the cap 1a, it is tilted backwards by an angle β with respect to the direction of movement of the capsule 1 with respect to the vertical.
This is for the purpose of projecting the light onto the spherical head portion of the cap 1a. Although not shown, the body light projection optical axis is tilted forward by an angle β, which is the same as in the case of the cap, with respect to the moving direction of the capsule 1, contrary to the case of the cap 1a. This is body 1b
This is to make it also project onto the bottom spherical part of the. In order to reliably detect surface defects on the capsule 1, the cap light receiving optical axis Y is inclined at an angle α with respect to the vertical plane including the capsule axis Z, as described above. Furthermore, in order to better detect the spherical surface of the cap head, it is inclined by an angle γ toward the cap 1a with respect to a plane perpendicular to the capsule axis Z.

Fig. 6 shows a detection device for detecting if the capsule 1 is too long. An element 16 and a light receiving element 17 are provided. Note that this excessive length detection is performed, for example, at the time of the detection starting point of the capsule 1. Since the capsule 1 is moving with the cap head pushed by the feed screw, the position of the leading edge 14 of the body should be constant at the detection starting point. The detection optical axis 15 may be installed at the position at this point, and if the optical axis 15 is blocked, it can be determined that the capsule is too long. Therefore, when the light receiving element 17 receives less than the specified output, it issues a signal that is too long. Note that if the length is too short, the amount of light received at the starting point of the body detection device will be less than the threshold value, which will generate a defective signal.

FIG. 7 shows an overall layout of each element in the capsule abnormality detection device. 18 is a chute for supplying the capsule 1 to be inspected to this device; 3;
Reference numerals a and 3a' designate cap projectors, of which two are used in order to make the scanning lines denser, and there are associated light receiving elements for each, but these are not shown in the figure. Note that each drawing shows the position at the scanning starting point. 3
3b and 3b' are body projectors, and like the cap, two of them are used to make the scanning lines denser, and there are light receiving elements attached to each, but they are not shown in the figure. Reference numeral 19 is a light-shielding upper cover provided over the entire line, 20 is a light-shielding lower cover, 21 and 22 are front and rear bearing plates, and 23 is a transmission type photoelectric switch for the clock, which outputs a clock pulse to operate the shift register. This occurs once per rotation of the feed screw. Reference numeral 24 denotes a shutter for the photoelectric switch 23, which is fixed to the feed screw 2 and configured to rotate, so that the photoelectric switch 23 is activated once per rotation of the feed screw. Also, the pulse emission timing should be at an appropriate time that does not overlap with the measurement timing. 25 is a transmission type photoelectric switch for issuing measurement commands.

26 is a shutter for issuing a measurement command, and the measurement command section is the section A or B in FIG. Since this section is replaced by the rotation angle of the feed screw 2, the starting point of this measurement command issuing shutter 26 fixed to the feed screw 2 is made to coincide with the starting points of A and B, respectively, and the angle of the shutter 26 is changed to A and B.
It corresponds to the length of.

However, the detection section in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 described above is the section A and B shown in FIG. 4 of the capsule 1. However, in general, the drug name, manufacturing company name, etc. are often printed on the capsules in the A and B sections. Therefore, with the device shown above, A and B
If the section is detected, the entire printed part will be detected as defective, so this device cannot accurately detect and remove only defective products.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks. It is an object of the present invention to provide an abnormality capsule detection device capable of detecting defective capsules by emitting and receiving detection light by rotating the capsule for a certain amount of time without moving it.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIGS. 8 to 10 showing embodiments of the present invention, parts that are the same as those in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described using the same reference numerals. In the figure, 1 is a capsule to be inspected, in which the body 1b and the cap 1a are aligned in a certain direction in the previous process, and the same guide roller 4 as in the conventional one is placed with the body 1b first.
The feed roller 26 is supplied to the inlet E of the feed roller 26, which is a feature of the present invention. The guide roller 4 and the feed roller 26 are arranged parallel to each other and horizontally with a slight interval between them, and both ends thereof are supported via bearings 27 and 28 so as to rotate in the same direction.

The feed roller 26 has a square thread, and the square thread has an acceleration part 29 in which the screw pitch P gradually widens from the inlet part E, a first stop part 30 in which the lead angle of the square thread groove becomes zero following the acceleration part 29, and the stop part. , a constant speed section 31 with a constant screw pitch, and a second stop section 3 where the lead angle of the square thread groove is zero, similar to the above.
2, and a reduction part 3 in which the screw pitch gradually narrows.
3 are provided continuously, and the valley part 3 of the square screw
4 is formed to have a constant depth and a constant width slightly wider than the length of the capsule 1. In addition, the peak portion 35 gradually becomes wider in the acceleration portion 29, and the peak portion 35 becomes wider in the constant speed portion 31.
, it gradually decreases by a constant width in the deceleration section 33 . In the first and second stop portions 30 and 32, the lead angle of the square thread groove is zero at about 1/4 circumference, so at the other 3/4 circumference where the lead angle recovers, the peak 35' becomes extremely large. It's getting narrower. In addition, 2 in Figure 10 A and B
The dashed dotted line D-D' indicates the same cutting line cut due to space limitations, and is continuous with A being located on the right side and B being located on the left side with D-D' as the border.

FIG. 10 also shows the first and second cap floodlights 3c, 3c' and the first and second body floodlights 3d,
3d', and the first cap projector 3c is arranged so that the cap projection optical axis Xc is projected onto a certain point 36a at the end of the cap 1a of the capsule 1 in the square thread groove of the first stop part 30. is provided and the second
The cap light emitter 3c' is the cap light emitter optical axis.
The cap 1a where Xc' is very close to the cut end of the cap of the capsule 1 in the square thread groove of the first stop 30
It is provided so as to be projected onto a certain point 36a' on the side.

Further, the second body projector 3d' has its body projection optical axis Xd' at a point 37a' on the body 1b side which is very close to the cut of the cap of the capsule 1 in the square thread groove of the second stop part 32. The first body projector 3d is provided so that its body projection optical axis Xd is at a certain point 37a at the end of the body 1b of the capsule 1 in the square thread groove of the second stop part 32. It is set up to project.
Note that the light receiving elements associated with each of these projectors are not shown.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the capsule 1 to be inspected is fed to the upper surface of the inlet E of the feed roller 26 and the guide roller 4, the capsule 1 fits into the groove 34 of the square screw as shown in FIG. Both rollers 2
As shown in FIG. 9, it rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the screws 6 and 4 toward the exit section F, and first, the inside of the trough 34 of the acceleration section 29 is moved from point b in FIG. 8 using the lead angle of the square thread groove. It is gradually accelerated and reaches point c.

At point c, the capsule 1 enters the trough 34' of the square thread groove of the first stop part 30 where the lead angle is zero, so it rotates without moving forward for a while until it enters the trough with the next lead angle. , from point c to d in Figure 8B,
It reaches point via point e. At this time, at a certain point 36a at the end of the cap 1a, there is a first cap floodlight 3c.
A certain point 3 on the cap side, which is very close to the cut of the cap of capsule 1, is projected by the cap projection optical axis Xc.
6a' is projected with the cap projection optical axis
It is detected by the light emission and light reception by c and 3c'.

Next, the trough portion 34 with the lead angle of the square thread groove
The capsule 1 enters, moves within the trough of the constant speed section 31, reaches point g, and enters the trough 34' of the second stop section 32 where the lead angle is zero. Here, capsule 1 reaches point j from point g in Figure 8 (b) through points h and i, rotates on its axis without moving forward, and now body 1
The entire circumference of a certain point 37a' very close to the cap cut point b and a certain point 37a at the end are detected by the light emitted and received by the second and first body light projectors 3d' and 3d.

Capsules determined to be defective in this way are
As in the case of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 111668/1982, the defect signal is sequentially sent to the next stage by a shift register (not shown), and is sent to the defective chute and discharged by an eliminator (not shown). On the other hand, non-defective capsules pass through the rejector and are discharged into the non-defective chute.

The present invention is constructed as described in detail above, and since the capsule does not move in the square thread grooves of the first and second stop parts and only rotates for a certain period of time, the capsule rotates for a certain period of time. The entire circumferential surface of each part of the cap and the end of the cap, and the cap side and the body side points that are very close to the cap cut, are covered by the first and second cap floodlights and the first and second cap floodlights. It is detected by the light emitted and received by the body light emitter. Therefore, since the center of the cap and body, where the drug name, manufacturer's name, etc. are generally printed, is not illuminated by a projector, the printed part may be mistaken as a defective part, even though it is a good product.
It is possible to prevent defects such as being detected as a defective capsule.

Although the present invention does not detect the central part of the capsule cap and body, defects in the capsule, such as cap dents, body dents, mis-insertion, cracks, hair scissors, etc., are generally detected at the ends of the capsule cap and body. They often appear near the cap cut, so by detecting the entire circumference of the capsule at a point on the end of the cap and body, and a point on the cap side and body side that are very close to the cap cut, these can be detected. Most defects can be detected to the extent that it is acceptable for products, and defective capsules can be detected. Also, capsules with different colored caps and bodies can be completely detected by detecting each part mentioned above. Note that although the present invention does not show electrical detection means for emitting and receiving light from a light projector, this point is the same as that shown in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 111668/1983, so a detailed explanation thereof will be provided. has been omitted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1A is a front view of the previously proposed abnormality detection device for capsules, Figure 1B is a view taken from arrow C in Figure 1A, and Figure 1C shows the state of engagement between the feed screw and the capsule. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. A front view showing the defect detection range, FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the relationship between the light emitting axis and the light receiving axis of the capsule cap, FIG.
Figure 6A is a side view of the capsule length detection device;
6B is a front view of the same, FIG. 7 is a side view showing the overall arrangement of the detection device, FIG. 8A is a plan view of the detection device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the capsule speed corresponding to the feed roller in Figure 8.
Figure A is a side view showing the right half of a detection device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10B is a side view showing the left half of the same. Explanation of the main parts of the figure, 1...capsule, 1a...
...Cap, 1b...Body, 3c...Floodlight for the first cap, 3c'...Floodlight for the second cap, 3d...Floodlight for the first body, 3d'...Floodlight for the second pod, 4...Guide Laura, 26
...Feed roller, 30...First stop part, 32
...second stop, 34...trough, 34'...trough with zero lead angle, 36a...point at the end of the cap, 36a'...point on the cap side very close to the cap cut. , 37a...a certain point at the end of the body, 37a'...a certain point on the body side very close to the cap cut.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A feed roller having a square thread and a guide roller are installed slightly apart from the feed roller, and both rollers are rotated in the same direction, and a capsule to be detected is placed between the valley of the square thread of the feed roller and the guide roller. In the abnormality detection device for capsules, which detects defective parts of capsules from above using a cap floodlight and a body floodlight while loading and transporting the capsules, a corner screw is installed at two places on a certain part of the square thread of the feed roller. A first and second stop portion with a thread groove lead angle of zero is provided, and the capsule only rotates on its own axis without moving within the square thread groove of the stop portion. The cap light projection optical axis of the first cap projector projects onto a certain point on the end of the capsule cap in the square thread groove, and the cap projection optical axis of the second cap projector projects onto a certain point on the cap side very close to the cap cut. In the second stop part, the body projection optical axis of the second body projector is located at a certain point on the body side that is very close to the capsule cap cutout in the corner screw groove of the stop part. A defective capsule is detected by projecting and receiving light for detection by each of the projectors, such that the body projection optical axis of the first body projector projects onto a certain point at the end of the capsule body. Abnormal product detection device.