JP2000258138A - Method for measuring shape of food container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily measure the shape of a food container even when the container has a complicated shape by photographing exciting light obtained when a laser beam is projected upon a fault plane which becomes the target at the time of measuring the shape of the container and measuring the shape of the container by measuring the photographed picture. SOLUTION: When a laser beam 10 is projected upon the fault plane of the mouth section 3 of a food container composed of a glass bottle 1 set up on a turntable 2, with the mouth section 3 being used as the target for the measuring the shape of the glass bottle 1, while a turntable 2 is rotated, exciting light 8 having a wavelength which is different from that of the laser beam 10 is continuously generated in the round direction of the mouth section 3. Only the exciting light 8 is photographed with a CCD camera 9 by shielding light rays (for example, the laser beam) having wavelengths other than that of the exciting light 8, processed by means of a picture processor 11, and displayed on a monitor screen. Then the wall thickness, inside diameter, and outside diameter of the mouth section 3 of the bottle 1 are measured from the displayed picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for measuring the shape of a food container for optically measuring the shape of, for example, a glass food container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a measuring device for optically measuring the thickness of a body of a glass container using a laser beam (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-201336).

[0003] The measuring device described in this publication irradiates a laser beam into a glass container and shoots a distance between a light spot on the outer surface of the glass container and a light spot on the inner surface with an image pickup device. The method of calculating the thickness of the glass container from this image is adopted.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned technology, the cleaner the inner surface of the glass container, the more difficult it is to cause irregular reflection of light. Therefore, it is difficult to find a light spot on the inner surface. If dust adheres to the surface, the shape of the light spot on the outer surface will be deformed, making it difficult to find the light spot on the outer surface.Furthermore, light spots due to virtual images will be generated, making image processing difficult. There is a problem that an error is caused in the thickness measurement.

Further, in the conventional configuration, when the glass container or the like has a complicated shape, there is a problem that it is difficult to measure the shape of the complicated shape.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring the shape of a food container which can easily measure the shape even when the food container has a complicated shape.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Irradiating a laser beam on a tomographic plane which is a target for measuring the shape of the food container, photographing excitation light obtained on the tomographic surface by the irradiation of the laser beam with an imaging means, and measuring the shape of the food container by image measurement; It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a linearly converted laser beam is applied to a tomographic plane.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the laser beam converted into a ring is applied to a tomographic plane.

In these inventions, a laser beam is irradiated on a tomographic plane which is a target for measuring the shape of the food container, and excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam is photographed by photographing means. Even if the shape is complicated, the shape can be easily measured as long as this excitation light is obtained.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a system for measuring the shape of the mouth of a glass bottle (food container). The glass bottle 1 is placed on a turntable 2 that is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow Y. A single laser beam irradiation system 5 having a laser diode is arranged outside the outer periphery of the mouth portion 3 of the glass bottle 1. A filter 7 and a CCD camera 9 are arranged above the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1, and an image processing device 11 is connected to the CCD camera 9.

When a laser beam 10 is applied to a tomographic plane which is a target of shape measurement of the glass bottle 1, as shown in FIG. 1b, the excitation light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the laser beam 10 is applied to the tomographic plane. 8 appears.

The excitation light 8 is excitation light generated when the laser beam 10 is absorbed by impurity ions (transition metal ions, rare earth ions, etc.) in the glass, and the excitation light 8 is generally higher than the wavelength of the laser beam. It has a longer wavelength. This excitation light 8 is generated by the rotation of the turntable 2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3C, the continuous excitation light 8 is continuous in one circumferential direction of the mouth portion 3 and the continuous excitation light 8 is applied to the CC placed above the glass bottle 1.
Photographed by the D camera 9. The filter 7 is a filter for blocking a wavelength (for example, laser light) other than the wavelength of the excitation light, and the CCD camera 9 captures only the excitation light.

An image photographed by the CCD camera 9 is sent to an image processing device 11, where the image is processed and displayed on a monitor screen 11a.

FIG. 2 shows a monitor screen 1 of the image processing apparatus 11.
An example of an image shown in 1a is shown. From this image, the respective dimensions of the thickness A, the inner diameter B, and the outer diameter C at the mouth of the glass bottle 1 are measured. Specifically, the number of pixels to be excited by the excitation light is measured, and the dimensions of each part are calculated from the number of pixels.

In this embodiment, a laser beam 10 is applied to the tomographic plane at the mouth of the glass bottle 1, and the excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam 10 is converted into CC light.
Since the image is taken by the D camera 9, as long as this excitation light is obtained, even if the shape of the glass bottle 1 is complicated,
Shape can be easily measured.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment.

Outside the outer periphery of the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1, three laser beam irradiation systems 5 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. A filter 7 and a CCD camera 9 are arranged above the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1, and an image processing device 11 is connected to the CCD camera 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the laser beam irradiation system 5 includes a laser diode 13, a cylindrical lens 14, and a roof prism 15. The laser beam 10 emitted from the laser diode 13 is applied to the cylindrical lens 1
The beam shape is converted into a linear shape by the roof prism 4 and the roof type prism 15, and the tomographic plane (cross-sectional layer of the mouth), which is the target of shape measurement of the glass bottle 1, is irradiated from the outer wall side of the glass bottle 1.

In this case, the laser beam irradiation system 5
Are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, so that the target tomographic plane is uniformly irradiated with the laser beam 10. However, the arrangement of the laser beam irradiation system 5 is not limited to this, and a single laser beam irradiation system 5 is arranged as long as the laser beam 10 can be uniformly applied to the tomographic plane targeted for shape measurement. Or just

When a laser beam 10 is irradiated on a tomographic plane which is a target of shape measurement of the glass bottle 1, excitation light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the laser beam 10 appears on the tomographic plane. This excitation light is excitation light generated by the absorption of a laser beam into impurity ions (transition metal ions or rare earth ions, etc.) in glass. This excitation light generally has a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the laser beam. Have. This excitation light is photographed by a CCD camera 9 arranged above the glass bottle 1. The filter 7 is a filter for blocking a wavelength (for example, laser light) other than the wavelength of the excitation light, and the CCD camera 9 captures only the excitation light.

The image photographed by the CCD camera 9 is sent to the image processing device 11, where it is image-processed and displayed on the monitor screen 11a. Display the image on another monitor screen 1
1b, the image can be visually confirmed at a position distant from the image processing apparatus 11, for example, on a production line.

The monitor screen 11a of the image processing apparatus 11
For example, an image as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. The processing of this image is as described above.

In this embodiment, a laser beam 10 is applied to the tomographic plane at the mouth of the glass bottle 1, and excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam 10 is applied to the CC.
Since the image is taken by the D camera 9, as long as this excitation light is obtained, even if the shape of the glass bottle 1 is complicated,
Shape can be easily measured.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment.

Laser beam irradiation system 5 shown in FIG.
Is composed of a laser diode 21 and a galvanomirror (swinging mirror) 22. According to this, the laser beam 10 from the laser diode 21 is scanned by the galvanomirror 22 on the tomographic plane at the mouth of the glass bottle 1 in the direction of arrow a. The laser beam irradiation system 5 shown in FIG.
And a polygon mirror (regular polyhedral mirror) 32. According to this, the laser beam 10 from the laser diode 31 is scanned by the polygon mirror 32 on the tomographic plane at the mouth of the glass bottle 1 in the direction of arrow b. Note that, in any case, the laser beam irradiation system 5 uses the glass bottle 1 similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG.
Are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the laser beam irradiation system 5a is disposed directly above the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1, and the laser beam irradiation system 5a is placed directly above the tomographic plane whose shape is to be measured.
The laser beam 10 is irradiated, and the excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam 10 is photographed by the CCD camera 9 disposed right beside the mouth 3. An image processing device 11 is connected to the CCD camera 9.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a tomographic plane (hatched portion) of the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1 having a screw mouth is photographed by the CCD camera 9.

The photographed image is, as described above,
The image is displayed on the monitor screen 11a (FIG. 7) of the image processing apparatus 11. From this image, as shown in FIG. 8, the respective dimensions of the screw height H1, the screw width W, the screw pitch P, and the bead height Q at the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1 are measured.

When the object to be measured is the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1 provided with a crown cap mouth as shown in FIG. 9, the head height H2 is measured.

In FIG. 7, the laser beam irradiation system 5a is disposed immediately above the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1, but is not limited to this.
b may be arranged right beside the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1.

In this manner, the excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam 10 is photographed by the CCD camera 9 arranged right beside the mouth 3, so that the monitor screen 11 a of the image processing apparatus 11 is displayed. An image of the tomographic plane of the mouth 3 as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 can be displayed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a laser beam is irradiated on the tomographic surface of the mouth of the glass container, and the excitation light obtained on the tomographic surface by the irradiation of the laser beam is photographed by a CCD camera. However, as long as this excitation light is obtained, the shape can be easily measured.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1
The laser beam is emitted from the inner wall side in the axial direction. The laser beam irradiation system 5 includes a laser diode 41, a collimator lens 42, a fiber 43, a conical prism 44, and a zoom lens 45.
It is comprised including.

The laser beam 10 emitted from the laser diode 41 is converted into a ring shape by a collimator lens 42, a fiber 43, a conical prism 44, and a zoom lens 45, and a half mirror 46
To the mouth 3 of the glass bottle 1. According to this, the laser beam 10 is converted into a ring shape and is applied to the mouth 3 (target tomographic plane) of the glass bottle 1.
The target tomographic plane is uniformly irradiated with the laser beam 10.

When the laser beam 10 is irradiated on the tomographic plane which is the target of the shape measurement of the glass bottle 1, excitation light 47 having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the laser beam 10 appears on the tomographic plane. The excitation light 47 is reflected by the half mirror 45 and is photographed by the CCD camera 9 arranged at a position where the light can be photographed. Filter 7
Is a filter that blocks wavelengths other than the wavelength of the excitation light, and the CCD camera 9 captures only the excitation light. C
The image photographed by the CD camera 9 is sent to the image processing device 11 as in the above-described embodiment, where the image is processed and displayed on the monitor screen 11a. The image can be displayed on another monitor screen 11b so that the image can be visually confirmed at a position distant from the image processing apparatus 11, for example, on a production line.

In this embodiment, since the shape can be measured by a single laser beam irradiation system 5, the measurement accuracy is improved.

In the above configuration, for example, FIGS.
As shown in (1), the excitation light that has appeared on the target tomographic plane of the glass bottle 1 is subjected to image processing and is displayed on the monitor screen 11a of the image processing apparatus 11 and another monitor screen 11b. Therefore, for example, in a production line, a defect of the glass bottle 1 can be found visually or by an image processing device from an image displayed on another monitor screen 11b. In FIG. 11, bubbles 51 can be found, in FIG. 12, foreign substances 52 can be found, and in FIG. 13, cracks 53 can be found. In addition, the above is an illustration, and besides, striae, the presence or absence of the biting of the glass container, and the like can be found.

FIGS. 14a, 14b and 14c show another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the upper, middle, and lower laser beam irradiation systems 61, 62, 63 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the axial direction of the mouth of the glass bottle 1. These laser beam irradiation systems 61,
A controller 64 is connected to 62 and 63, and the controller 64 includes three laser beam irradiation systems 6.
1, 62 and 63 are pulse-oscillated in the order of synchronization.

Each excitation light appearing on the target tomographic plane of the glass bottle 1 is sequentially photographed by the CCD camera 9 and image-processed by the laser beam oscillated in accordance with the synchronization order. 11 monitor screens 1
1a and another monitor screen 11b. If the mouth of the glass bottle 1 is normal, as shown in FIG. 14b, the image has a substantially perfect circular shape in the upper, middle, and lower stages,
For example, if there is uneven thickness in the lower stage, as shown in FIG.
Since the lower image presents uneven thickness, it can be easily confirmed visually or by an image processing device.

This corresponds to a conventional so-called inside-of-mouth diameter inspection, and in this embodiment, the accuracy of inside-of-mouth diameter inspection can be improved.

FIGS. 15a, 15b and 15c show another embodiment.

In this embodiment, upper, middle and lower mirrors 71, 72 and 73 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the axial direction of the mouth of the glass bottle 1. Beam is mirror 7
The light is reflected by 1, 72, and 73 and irradiates each target tomographic plane of the upper, middle, and lower glass bottles 1.

The upper and middle mirrors 71 and 72 are constituted by vibrating mirrors, and the lower mirror 73 is constituted by fixed mirrors. When the upper mirror 71 projects, the laser beam is reflected by the upper mirror 71 and the upper mirror 7
When the mirror 1 is retracted and the middle mirror 72 projects, the laser beam is reflected by the middle mirror 72, and when the upper and middle mirrors 71 and 72 are retracted, the lower mirror 7
The laser beam is reflected at 3 and irradiates each target tomographic plane.

If the mouth of the glass bottle 1 is normal, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5b, the image is substantially circular in the upper, middle, and lower stages. For example, if there is uneven thickness in the lower stage, FIG.
As shown in (1), since the lower image presents uneven thickness, it can be confirmed very easily visually or by an image processing device.

Although the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to this.

[0051]

According to these inventions, a laser beam is irradiated on a tomographic plane which is a target of shape measurement of a food container, and excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam is photographed by photographing means. Even if the shape of the food container is complicated, the shape can be easily measured as long as the excitation light is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an image of excitation light of a mouth, and FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating an image of excitation light after rotation of the mouth.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an image.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram also shown in a horizontal section.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a mouth portion of the glass bottle.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a mouth portion of a glass bottle.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a defect of a glass bottle.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a defect of a glass bottle.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a defect of a glass bottle.

14A and 14B show another embodiment, in which a is a configuration diagram, b is a diagram showing a mouth in a normal state, and c is a diagram showing a mouth in an abnormal state.

15A and 15B show another embodiment, in which a is a configuration diagram, b is a diagram showing a mouth in a normal state, and c is a diagram showing a mouth in an abnormal state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 glass bottle 2 turntable 3 mouth 5 laser beam irradiation system 7 filter 9 CCD camera 11 image processing device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 29, 1999 (1999.11.
29)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A laser beam is applied to the tomographic surface, which is the target for measuring the shape of the glass food container, and the impurity ion in the glass
The apparatus is characterized in that the laser beam is absorbed and excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane is photographed by photographing means, and the shape of the food container is measured by image measurement.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A laser beam is irradiated on a tomographic plane which is a target of shape measurement of a food container, and excitation light obtained on the tomographic plane by the irradiation of the laser beam is photographed by photographing means. A shape measuring method for a food container, wherein the shape is measured. 2. The method for measuring the shape of a food container according to claim 1, wherein a laser beam converted into a linear shape is applied to a tomographic plane. 3. The method for measuring the shape of a food container according to claim 1, wherein a laser beam converted into a ring shape is applied to a tomographic plane.