JPH0452885B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for effectively measuring the liquid level of a translucent container whose outer periphery is coated with a film.

Generally, when filling a predetermined glass bottle with alcoholic beverages, beverages, seasonings, etc., it is required that the amount filled be within a standard width, and this is usually controlled by the height of the liquid level. For this reason, it is necessary to check whether each bottle is filled to at least the reference level with alcohol, etc. when filling the bottle.

Conventionally, as an example of such a measurement method, a light source is placed on one side of the container so that the light beam is emitted horizontally to the liquid surface, and a light-receiving camera is placed opposite the light source on the other side of the container. The light transmitted through the container and liquid is received by a light-receiving camera, and a photoelectric converter connected to the light-receiving camera converts the light received by the light-receiving camera into a voltage or the like to measure the liquid level position. However, such conventional measuring methods have the disadvantage that the liquid level position cannot be clearly determined when the outer periphery of the container is covered with an exterior film or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid level measuring method that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art as described above.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a light source assembly arranged on one side of a translucent container whose outer periphery is covered with a film so as to emit a light beam from a position above the liquid surface in the container toward the liquid surface. A light-receiving camera is placed horizontally on the other side of the container, a photoelectric converter is connected to the light-receiving camera, and the light beam from the light source assembly is irradiated onto the liquid surface on the light-receiving camera side, and the film is coated. The light that has passed through the container covered with liquid and the light that has passed through the container covered with liquid and film are received by the light-receiving camera and measured by the photoelectric converter. The liquid level position is displayed by detecting the difference in intensity between the light that has passed through the container and the light that has passed through the container.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown schematically an apparatus for carrying out the present invention, which apparatus includes a light source assembly 11 located on one side of a container 10 and a light receiving camera 12 located on the other side of the container. ing. container 1
0 is made of a translucent material, which in the illustrated embodiment consists of a glass bottle. This container is filled with an arbitrary liquid 13, such as alcohol. This container is provided with a translucent exterior film 14. This exterior film generally has letters indicating the type of liquid, an arbitrary trademark, etc. printed thereon. Usually, a large number of containers are arranged side by side at regular intervals on a belt conveyor (not shown).
Each container is filled with a certain amount of alcohol or the like while being transported by this belt conveyor.

The light source assembly 11 includes a light source 15 and a diffuser plate 16 that diffuses the light emitted from the light source. The light source consists, for example, of a halogen lamp that emits high-power white light. This light source assembly emits light beam 17 from the liquid level 1 of the liquid in the container.
The liquid level portion 20 (see FIG. 2) on the side of the light-receiving camera 12 is irradiated from a position above 8.

Note that the structure of the light source assembly is not limited to the above-described structure as long as the light beam can be irradiated onto the liquid surface portion 20 from above the liquid surface. For example, such a beam can be formed by a light source and a reflective mirror (not shown).

As shown in FIG.
The light is then received by the light receiving camera 12. The first transmitted light 21 is light transmitted through the wall of the container and the exterior film 14 just above the liquid level portion 20 . Second
The transmitted light 22 is the light that passes through the liquid below the liquid level portion 20 and is transmitted through the container wall and the outer film.

A photoelectric converter 25 is connected to the light receiving camera 12, and this photoelectric converter converts the first transmitted light 21 and the second transmitted light 22 received by the light receiving camera into, for example, a voltage. . When this converted voltage is displayed on an arbitrary display means (not shown), as shown in FIG.
A horizontal line 30 corresponding to 8, and a vertical line 40 in a bright area caused by the first transmitted light 21 and a vertical line 50 in a dark area caused by the second transmitted light 22 are clearly displayed with this line as a border. . Since the horizontal line 30 indicates the liquid level position, the amount of liquid filled can be determined by looking at the horizontal line 30, and it can therefore be determined whether this amount of filling is within the standard width.

According to the present invention, a light beam is irradiated from a position above the liquid level on one side of the container to the liquid surface part on the side of the light-receiving camera placed on the other side of the container, and the light transmitted through the container and the liquid and the container are separated. Since the liquid level position is measured based on the difference in intensity with light, there is the practical benefit of being able to efficiently determine the liquid level in a container whose outer periphery is provided with a film or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for carrying out the present invention, FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing the measurement principle of the present invention. 10... Container, 11... Light source assembly, 12
...Light receiving camera, 13...Liquid, 14...Exterior film, 17...Light ray, 18...Liquid level, 25...
Photoelectric converter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source assembly is arranged on one side of a translucent container whose outer periphery is covered with a film so as to emit a light beam from a position above the liquid level in the container toward the liquid surface, and a light source assembly is arranged horizontally on the other side of the container. A light-receiving camera is arranged, a photoelectric converter is connected to the light-receiving camera, and the light beam from the light source assembly is irradiated onto the liquid surface on the light-receiving camera side, and the light transmitted through the film-covered container and the liquid and The light transmitted through the film-covered container is received by the light-receiving camera and measured by a photoelectric converter, and the light transmitted through the film-covered container;
A liquid level measuring method characterized by displaying the liquid level position by detecting the difference in intensity between the liquid and light transmitted through a film-covered container.