JPH0458904B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a buckled can detection method and apparatus for automatically detecting buckled cans that occur during the manufacturing process of canned goods.

[Prior Art] In the manufacturing process of canned goods, there is a process of wrapping one lid around the can body, a process of forming a flange on the mouth of an empty can with the lid wrapped tightly, or a process of wrapping one lid. The process of neck-in and flange processing is performed on the mouth of DI cans, which have an integrally formed can body, and the process of tightening the other lid after filling these empty cans with contents. A large load may be applied in the axial direction.

That is, in the step of winding the lid onto the can body, the edge of the lid is rolled up with a seaming roll while the lid is pressed and fixed to the can body by a chuck or the like. In addition, in the neck-in processing of DI cans, a wringer applies a load in the axial direction while squeezing the mouth of the can inward.Furthermore, in the flange processing process, a flange machine is used to tighten the mouth in the axial direction. The mouth of the can is opened outward while applying a load.

For this reason, buckling often occurs in the can body during the can manufacturing process. Canned goods with buckled can bodies have poor aesthetic appearance and significantly reduce commercial value, and are a major cause of poor sealing of canned goods due to poor sealing. Further, due to the phenomenon in which a portion of the can body protrudes due to buckling, the cans may become clogged during transportation during the can manufacturing process.

Therefore, it is necessary to detect buckled cans and separate them from good cans, but it is important that the discrimination of the loss of aesthetic appearance, which is the biggest drawback of buckled cans, is intuitive and automatic. Since there is no suitable detection means, buckled cans have conventionally been detected by human visual inspection.

[Problems to be Solved] As described above, buckled cans have conventionally been detected by human visual inspection. As a result, the criteria for determining whether or not a can is buckled varies, and human detection errors due to worker fatigue or carelessness cannot be avoided, making it impossible to achieve high-accuracy detection. It was hot. In addition, with visual inspection by workers, it is difficult to speed up the inspection, and there are major problems in automating the inspection and, by extension, the can manufacturing process.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by detecting buckled cans using an image sensor, it is possible to improve detection accuracy and speed up and automate inspection. The purpose of this invention is to provide a method and device for detecting buckled cans.

[Means for Solving Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the buckled can detection method of the present invention emits light from a light emitter toward a can that has been transported to an inspection position by a transporting means, and
When a predetermined number of light receiving elements on both sides of the sensor head facing the light emitter and arranged in the transport direction emit light from the light emitter, and the light receiving elements in the middle part of the sensor head are not receiving light. Then, the number of light-receiving elements that are not receiving light in the middle part is compared with a preset value to determine whether or not the can is buckled, and a signal is output in accordance with the determination result. There is a method.

Further, the buckled can detection device of the present invention includes a transfer means for transferring the can, a light emitter that emits light toward the can transferred to the inspection position, and a sensor head that is disposed opposite to the light emitter in the transfer direction. a counter that outputs a signal when any light receiving element on one side of the sensor head emits light; a counter that outputs a signal when any number of light receiving elements on the other side of the sensor head receives light; A counter that outputs a signal when a predetermined range of light-receiving elements in the middle of the sensor head does not receive light, and the number of light-receiving elements that do not receive light in the middle of the sensor head when signals are output from these counters. It is composed of a determination section that compares the value with a set value to determine whether or not the can is buckled and outputs a signal based on the determination result, and a processing means that performs predetermined processing based on the output from the determination section. It has been done.

It should be noted that the present invention can of course be applied to the detection of cans that have irregularities on the outer peripheral surface due to causes other than buckling, and therefore, in the present invention, these cans are collectively referred to as buckled cans. .

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment in which the detection device is installed during the lid tightening process, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the light emitter and the light receiver, and Fig. 3
In the figures, a, b, and c are explanatory diagrams of the detection state, FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration block diagram of the control section, and FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of each part showing the operating state of the device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a can to be inspected for the presence or absence of buckling, and in the case of this embodiment, the inspection target is a so-called real can, which is filled with contents and whose lid is tightened. In FIG. 1, numeral 10 is a turret used in the seaming process of the lid 1.
It has a plurality of equally spaced pockets 10a for transporting the can 1, which is filled with contents and the lid is tightened, and rotates at a predetermined speed. Reference numeral 11 designates a front-stage auxiliary turret, which feeds the can 1 whose lid is to be tightened, sent from the filling process, into the pocket 10a of the turret 10. 12
is a pulse generator provided in the front auxiliary turret 11, which generates a pulse signal every time the front auxiliary turret 11 feeds a can 1 into the pocket 10a of the turret 10.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a light emitter, which is arranged so as to emit a luminous flux toward the can 1 at the inspection position A.
The light emitter 13 emits a luminous flux over a wider range than the diameter of the can 1. A first sensor head 14 is a light receiver, which faces the light emitter 13 with the inspection position A in between, and is arranged horizontally on the horizontal line in the can transport direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second and third sensor heads 15, 16 are arranged in the same manner as the first sensor head 14 in the height direction of the can 1. These first to third sensor heads 14,
15 and 16 form a kind of image sensor together with the light emitter 13, and are arranged so as to inspect the part of the can 1 where buckling is most likely to occur (usually near the center of the can body).

In addition, each sensor head 14, 15, 16 has a large number of light receiving elements 17 arranged in a row in the horizontal direction to capture the can shadow through a lens (the number is as long as the width of the can shadow, 2048 in the case of this embodiment). In addition to closely arranging the light receiving elements 17, the "bright" and "dark" states of these light-receiving elements 17 are determined by an element address designation signal (signal line B in FIG. 4).
Correspondingly, it is repeatedly sent out as a signal of "0" and "1" (signal line A in FIG. 4).

Reference numeral 18 denotes a rotating table, which is disposed below each pocket 10a of the turret 10, and is connected to, for example, rotation means (not shown) of the turret 10 for rotation. That is, the turntable 18 is
The turret 10 rotates at the same time as the revolution. Reference numeral 19 denotes a post-stage auxiliary turret, which sends out the cans 1 transferred from the inspection position A by the turret 10 from the pocket 10a of the turret 10 to the post-process conveyance line.

20 is a control unit, and each sensor head 14, 1
Buckling inspection processing is performed based on the signals sent from 5 and 16. Here, in order to make the explanation easier to understand, the circuit system that processes the signal sent out from the first sensor head 14 will be described (the same applies to the circuit systems of the second and third sensor heads 15 and 16).

The circuit system of the first sensor head 14 includes first to sixth counters 21a, 21f, and first, second, and third gate circuits 22a, 22b, and 22c.
and first, second, and third comparison circuits 24a, 24
b, 24c, first, second, third setting circuits 25
a, 25b, 25c, and a discriminating section 22 consisting of a discriminating circuit 26.

The first counter 21a counts that the light receiving elements 17 from addresses 1 to 3 on one side are in the "bright" state based on the "bright" and "dark" signals sent from the sensor head 14. Only one pulse signal is output, and the second counter 21b
The third counter 21c outputs one pulse signal only when it counts that the light receiving elements 17 from addresses 1 to 400 and from addresses 1 to 700 are in the "bright" state. Further, the fourth counter 21d outputs one pulse state when counting that the light receiving elements 17 from address 2046 to address 2048 on the other side are in the "bright" state, and the fifth counter 21e outputs one pulse state. One pulse signal is output when it is counted that a part of the light receiving elements 17 within the range from address 4 to address 2045 of the section is in a bright "dark" state. Further, the sixth counter 21f counts the number of light receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state between addresses 1 and 2048.

The first gate circuit 22a outputs one pulse signal when pulse signals are sent from the first, fourth, and fifth counters 21a, 21d, and 21e,
The second gate circuit 22b outputs one pulse signal when pulse signals are sent from the second, fourth, and fifth counters 21b, 21d, and 21e, and the third gate circuit 22c outputs one pulse signal when the pulse signals are sent from the second, fourth, and fifth counters 21b, 21d, and 21e. 4. Output one signal when pulse signals are sent from the fifth counters 21c, 21d, and 21e.

The first comparison circuit 24a is the first gate circuit 22a.
When the output from sensor head 14B is received,
The number of light receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state is inputted from the fourth counter 21f and compared with the value set in the setting circuit 25a. If the number of light-receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state is greater or less than a preset value tolerance due to buckling of the can 1, a high level signal is output. . The second comparison circuit 23b performs the same process as the first comparison circuit 24a when the output from the second gate circuit 22b is received. Further, the third comparison circuit 24c operates when the output from the third gate circuit 22c is received.
Perform the same processing as .

The discrimination circuit 26 includes the first sensor head 1 described above.
4 systems of first to third comparison circuits 24a, 24
b, 24c and the second sensor head 15
It is determined whether or not there is buckling in the can 1 based on the signals from the fourth to ninth comparator circuits (not shown) of the third sensor head 16 system, and at least one of the first to ninth comparator circuits is used. A buckled can detection signal is output when the output of the comparison circuit reaches a high level.

31 is a device for displaying the discrimination result, and the discrimination circuit 2
Based on the signal from 6, it is displayed whether the inspected can 1 is a good can or a buckled can. 32 is a discharge air pipe 33
The solenoid valve installed in
Air is blown out toward the discharge position B. The activation signal to this solenoid valve 32 is stored in the shift register 34, and the number of buckled cans detected at the inspection position A to be sent to the discharge position B is determined in advance, and the pulse The signal from the generator 12 is output when the shift register 34 counts the number of signals.

Next, regarding one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the third
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The cans 1 whose lids are to be tightened, which have been sent sequentially from the filling process, are placed one by one into the pockets 10a of the turret 10 by the auxiliary turret 11 at the front stage.
and placed on the rotating table 18. As a result, the can 1 is transported to the top inspection position A, where the lid is tightened by a tightening roll (not shown) while performing revolution and rotation.

When the can 1 is transferred to the inspection position A, the light entering the sensor head 14 is blocked by the can 1, and the 2048 light receiving elements 1 of the sensor head 14
7 is divided into "bright" and "dark" states.
Now, when the can 1 reaches the position shown in Fig. 3, the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 14 is located between
3rd address) becomes “bright” and s
The area between and e (from address 4 to n ₁ : n ₁ < 2046) is in a “dark” state, and between e and y (from address n ₁ +1)
2048) becomes “bright”. Therefore, the first gate circuit 22a outputs a pulse signal to the first comparison circuit 24a. As a result, the first comparison circuit 2
4a is a sixth counter 21f that counts the number of light receiving elements in the "dark" state of the sensor head 14;
The output is read and compared with a set value preset in the first setting circuit 25a. If the output of the sixth counter 21f is larger or smaller than the allowable range of the set value due to buckling of the can 1, a high level signal is output, and if the can 1 has no buckling or a very small buckling. Therefore, if it is within the permissible range, no signal is output (FIG. 5 shows the case where it is within the permissible range). In this way,
The inspection at inspection position A is completed.

Next, the can 1 is connected to the turret 10 and the rotating plate 18.
When the sensor head 4 rotates and rotates from position to position, the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 4
The area between x and s' (from address 1 to 400) becomes "bright", and between s' and e' (from address 401 to n ₂ : n ₂ <
2046) becomes a “dark” state, and between e′ and y′ (n ₂ +1
Address 2048) becomes “bright”. Therefore, the second gate circuit 22b is connected to the second comparison circuit 24.
A pulse signal is output to b. As a result, the second comparison circuit 24b controls the sixth counter 21f, which counts the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14.
The output is read and compared with a set value preset in the second setting circuit 25b. If the output of the sixth counter 21f is larger or smaller than the allowable range of the set value due to buckling of the can 1, a high level signal is output, and if the can 1 has no buckling or a very small buckling. Therefore, if it is within the permissible range, no signal is output (Fig. 5 shows the case where the permissible range is within the permissible range). In this way,
The inspection at inspection position A is completed.

Further, the can 1 is connected to the turret 10 and the rotating plate 18.
When the sensor head 14 rotates and rotates from position to position, the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 14
The area between x and s'' (from address 1 to 700) becomes "bright", and between s'' and e'' (from address 701 to n _{3 )}
<2046) becomes a “dark state”, and between e” and y (n ₃ +1
Address 2048) becomes “bright”. Therefore, the third gate circuit 22c
A pulse signal is output to c. As a result, the third comparison circuit 24c controls the sixth counter 21f, which counts the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14.
The output is read and compared with a set value preset in the third setting circuit 25c. If the output of the sixth counter 21f is larger or smaller than the allowable range of the set value due to buckling of the can 1, a high level signal is output, and if the can 1 has no buckling or a very small buckling. If it is within the allowable range due to buckling, no signal is output (Figure 5 shows that the light receiving element 17 is "dark" due to a dent in the can due to buckling).
(Indicates when the number of signals is smaller than the allowable range and a high level signal is output.) In this way,
The inspection at inspection position A is completed.

This means that the first sensor head 14 has checked buckling at three locations (,, positions) on the outer periphery of the can 1 at the same height at the inspection position A.

The circuit systems of the second sensor head 15 and the third sensor head 16 perform similar processing, and when buckling is detected, a high level signal is output from the fourth to ninth comparison circuits (not shown), respectively. As a result, buckling was checked at three locations on the outer periphery of the can 1 at three different heights, that is, at nine locations in total.

The discrimination circuit 26 outputs a buckling detection signal when a high level signal is sent from at least one of the first to ninth comparison circuits, and outputs a buckling detection signal when a high level signal is sent from any of the first to ninth comparison circuits. Outputs a buckling non-detection signal when it is not sent.

The discrimination signal from the discrimination circuit 26 is sent to the display device 31, where a result based on the signal is displayed. At the same time, if the determination result is that a buckled can has been detected, the determination signal is stored in the shift register 34.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, when the light receiving elements on both sides of the sensor head are in the "bright" state and a predetermined number of light receiving elements in the middle part are in the "dark" state, Buckling is detected by counting the number of light-receiving elements that are in a "dark" state and comparing this with a set value. Therefore, even if the diameter of the can to be inspected changes, this can be easily handled by simply changing the set values of the setting circuit.

When the inspection is completed in this way, the pulse generator 12 outputs the first to sixth counters 21a,
~, 21f is sent a reset signal to each counter 2.
Clear the counts in 1a, ~, 21fe. At the same time, the cans 1 that have been inspected are sequentially transferred to the turret 10 and transferred to the subsequent auxiliary turret 19.
The material is then sent to the conveyance line for the next process. When the result of the inspection is that a buckled can is detected,
The number of cans sent to the discharge position B is counted by a shift register 34 using a pulse signal from a pulse generator 12. Then, when the buckled can reaches the discharge position B of the conveyance line, the solenoid valve 32
An activation signal is sent to the exhaust air pipe 33 to blow out air to remove the buckled can from the line.

As mentioned above, if buckled can detection is performed at the same time as the lid tightening process, a separate buckled can detection process becomes unnecessary, and the buckled can detection device also
A lid tightening device can be used, and the device can be simplified and the detection process can be shortened.

It is also possible to inspect actual cans that have been filled with contents and have their lids tightened in a separate and independent buckled can detection process. In this case, as a transfer device for the can 1, a device similar to the transfer device used in the lid seaming process can be used.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes, for example, the following modifications.

A method and device for detecting buckling of empty cans.

One or two sets of sensor heads,
Alternatively, a method and apparatus for detecting buckled cans by arranging four or more sets vertically in order to detect buckled cans with higher precision.

A method and device for detecting a buckled can using a sensor head in which light receiving elements are arranged in multiple rows in the vertical direction. For example, by arranging the light-receiving element vertically so that it is longer than the height of the can, the entire can shadow can be captured by the light-receiving element of the sensor head.
It becomes possible to perform a more reliable buckling check.

A method and device for detecting buckling by checking buckling using one set of sensor heads at one location, two locations, or, to further improve inspection accuracy, four or more locations. In this case, the address of the counter element that outputs a signal when the light receiving element on one side of the sensor head receives light can be any address.

After drying the liquid adhering to the outer circumferential surface of the can with air or a dryer such as a heater (in the case of the present invention, the adverse effects of liquid adhering to the outer circumferential surface are small, but in order to further improve accuracy) ,
A method and device for detecting buckled cans.

A method and apparatus for detecting buckled cans by transporting cans by a rotary transport means other than a turret, or by a linear transport means such as a belt conveyor.

A method and device for detecting buckled cans by rotating the can using a rotating means other than a rotary table, such as a belt or roll.

A method and device for detecting a buckled can by outputting a setting value input to a comparison circuit from one setting circuit.

A method and device for detecting a buckled can using a circuit other than the above as a constituent circuit of a discriminator.

A method and device for detecting a buckled can by sounding an alarm or flashing an indicator light as a predetermined process when a buckled can is detected.

A method and device for detecting buckled cans, in which the buckled can removal device is a device other than an air exclusion type, and if necessary, the removal device is provided near a detection position.

A method and device for detecting buckled cans around the entire circumference of the can by rotating the can one or more revolutions at an inspection position (the turret rotates intermittently).

A method and device for detecting buckled cans in plastic cans, paper cans, etc. other than metal cans.

A method and apparatus for detecting a buckled can by appropriately combining the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by detecting buckled cans using a light emitting device and a sensor head, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy and speed up and automate the inspection if possible. Close. Another advantage is that it can be easily applied to cans of different diameters.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment in which the detection device is installed during the lid tightening process, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the light emitter and receiver, and Fig. 3 a, b, and c are the detection devices. FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration block diagram of the control section, and FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of each part showing the operating state of the device. 1... Can, 10... Turret, 11... Front stage auxiliary turret, 12... Pulse generator, 13...
...light emitter, 14,15,16...sensor head,
17... Light receiving element, 18... Turntable, 20... Control unit, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21
e, 21f...Counter, 22a, 22b, 22
c...gate circuit, 23...discrimination section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting device emits light toward the can transferred to the inspection position by the transfer means, and a predetermined number of sensor heads on both sides of the sensor head facing the light emitting device and arranged in the transfer direction. When a light receiving element receives light from a light emitter and a light receiving element in the middle part of the sensor head does not receive light, the number of light receiving elements in the middle part not receiving light is determined. A method for detecting a buckled can, characterized by determining whether or not there is buckling in the can, and outputting a signal according to the determination result. 2. While the can is being transferred from one inspection position to another, the number of light-receiving elements that are not receiving light in the intermediate area is counted multiple times, and buckling at multiple locations on the same outer circumferential line of the can is detected. A method for detecting a buckled can according to claim 1. 3 The signal corresponding to the determination result that buckling is present is
3. A method for detecting a buckled can according to claim 1, wherein the signal is a signal for activating a buckled can removing means. 4. A transfer means for transferring the cans, a light emitter that emits light toward the cans transferred to the inspection position, a sensor head that faces the light emitter and is disposed in the transfer direction, and an arbitrary light receiving element on one side of the sensor head. A counter that outputs a signal when light is received, a counter that outputs a signal when an arbitrary number of light receiving elements on the other side of the sensor head receive light, and a predetermined range of light receiving elements in the middle of the sensor head. Counters that output a signal when no light is received, and whether there is buckling in the can based on the number of light-receiving elements in the middle of the sensor head that are not receiving light when a signal is output from these counters. A detecting device for a buckled can, comprising: a discriminator that discriminates whether or not the buckled can is present, and outputs a signal based on the discrimination result; and a processing means that performs predetermined processing based on the output from the discriminator. 5. The buckled can detection device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said sensor heads are arranged in the height direction of the can. 6. Claim 4, wherein the transfer means is a means for transferring the can while rotating it.
6. The buckled can detection device according to item 5. 7. The buckled can detection device according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the means for performing the predetermined process is a device for removing buckled cans.