JP4038077B2 - Foreign object detection device in injection solution in transparent container - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a foreign object detection device in an injection liquid in a transparent container that detects foreign substances mixed in the injection liquid in a transparent container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, there are many products in which transparent liquids such as glass bottles and plastic containers are filled with infusion liquids such as foods such as drinking water and soft drinks, and medical-related liquids such as injections and nutrients. The product is automatically inspected for the shape and quality of the transparent container on the transfer line, and after the injection liquid is injected into the acceptable product, the inspection of the injection liquid amount is automatically performed, and the pasted label is automatically applied. Inspections are performed one after another. Furthermore, in addition to these inspections, an automatic foreign object inspection is performed to determine whether or not foreign material is mixed in the injected liquid, and as the mixed foreign material, harmful or non-hazardous things are not necessary, There are various types of products that may be mixed and can be treated as acceptable products.
[0003]
Conventional foreign object detection devices in transparent container injection liquid often image the inside of a transparent container with an imaging camera, perform image processing on the image, and automatically inspect at high speed. By the way, many foreign matters are mixed in black, but there are also white ones. Black foreign matters are easy to image using light transmission, and white foreign matters are reflected in light. It has a feature that it can be easily imaged. However, it is not known what kind of foreign matter is mixed in the injection liquid, and all these foreign matters cannot be detected by imaging using only one of transmitted light or reflected light. There is a need for a foreign object detection device that can detect simultaneously.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the applicant of the present application has previously proposed a foreign object detection device using both transmission and reflection as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-71642. In this foreign material detection device, the first irradiation is performed by color separation. The transmitted light from the source and the reflected light from the second irradiation source are separated and irradiated to detect foreign matter. However, it has been found that, in this conventional foreign object detection device, the selection of the color separation point becomes complicated depending on the color of the transparent container or the color of the injection liquid.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting foreign matter in an injecting liquid in a transparent container, which can easily detect foreign objects regardless of the color of the transparent container and the injecting liquid.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
The present invention is a foreign object detection device for detecting foreign objects in the filling liquid of a transparent container,
First and second imaging means arranged in different first and second in front of the transparent container;
A linear light source disposed behind the transparent container, the length in the longitudinal direction is equivalent to the irradiation field of the transparent container, and the irradiation light is first polarized in the vertical direction via the polarizing means. The transparent container is irradiated as irradiating light, and its rearward arrangement is the orientation relationship facing the imaging surface of the first imaging means across the transparent container, and is the focal position due to the lens effect of the transparent container. A first linear light source;
A linear light source disposed behind the transparent container and in proximity to the first linear light source, the length in the longitudinal direction is equivalent to the irradiation field of the transparent container, and the irradiation light is polarized The transparent container is irradiated as the second irradiation light polarized in the lateral direction through the means, and the rearward arrangement of the second irradiation light penetrates through the direction other than the imaging surface of the second imaging means. A second linear light source that is oriented and has a focal position due to the lens effect of the transparent container;
A half mirror disposed on the optical path to the first imaging means and dividing the light on the optical path into an optical path to the first imaging means and an optical path to the second imaging means;
Transmitted first irradiating light from the transparent container polarized in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction in the light transmitted between the first imaging means and the half mirror and transmitted through the half mirror A first polarizing filter that allows only the light to pass through and input to the first imaging means,
Only the reflected second irradiation light from the transparent container polarized in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction among the light transmitted between the second imaging means and the half mirror and transmitted through the half mirror. A second polarizing filter that passes through and is input to the second imaging means;
Image processing means for detecting foreign matter in the filling liquid based on the first and second captured images by the first and second imaging means;
Disclosed is a foreign object detection device comprising:
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for detecting foreign matter in a liquid injected into a transparent container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This foreign matter inspection apparatus is installed in a hygienic transport line for successively transporting transparent containers 2 such as glass containers such as ampoule bottles and vial bottles, and plastic bottles, and foreign substances in the injected liquid 2A therein. Is basically composed of an inspection sensor 1, a polarizing filter 1C, an illumination device 3, and an image processing device 4.
[0011]
The inspection sensor 1 includes, for example, a CCD camera unit 1A and its imaging lens unit 1B. Inside the cylindrical transparent container 2, an infusion liquid 2A such as a nutrient liquid, an injection liquid, or a soft drink is injected, and as a foreign object that must be detected that it is mixed in the injection liquid 2A, These are powders mixed during the production of the processing powder of the transparent container 2 and the injection liquid 2A, and various types such as black and white.
[0012]
The illumination device 3, the second illumination 3B for irradiating a first illumination 3A for irradiating polarized light in the vertical direction, the light polarized in the horizontal direction, has a 3C, each of these illuminated 3A -3C is a linear light source which irradiates the whole longitudinal direction of the transparent container 2, for example. The first illumination 3A is arranged in a positional relationship such that the center of the imaging surface of the imaging lens unit 1B in the inspection sensor 1 is opposed to the transparent container 2, and is disposed at a focal position due to a lens effect to be described in detail later. Yes. Thus, the first irradiation light from the first illumination 3A passes through the transparent container 2 and enters the imaging surface as it is. The second illuminations 3B and 3C are arranged at positions that are not opposed to the imaging surface described above and at a focal position due to the lens effect, and the second illumination light from the second illuminations 3B and 3C is The light passes through the transparent container 2 and penetrates in a direction other than the imaging surface. Here, the second illuminations 3B and 3C may be configured to provide only one of them.
[0013]
The polarizing filter 1C disposed between the inspection sensor 1 and the transparent container 2 is a longitudinal direction that is the first irradiation light from the first illumination 3A after the first irradiation light from the first illumination 3A has passed through the transparent container 2. in conjunction passes only polarized light, a second illumination 3B, after passing through the second irradiation light transparent container 2 from 3C, laterally a second irradiation light from the second illumination 3B, 3C as to pass only light that is polarized, it is switched by a switching device (not shown).
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a specific configuration of the illumination device 3 described above.
The illuminating device 3 uses what is called a light guide. An illuminating light source 32 such as a strobe light, a halogen light, or a laser is connected to the light guide head 30 through an optical fiber 34, and the light guide head 30 is connected to an illuminating head 33. The polarizing filter 31 is provided on the front surface of the illumination head 33. In this way, the illuminating device 3 uses the optical fiber 34 and guides the light from the illumination light source 32 to a predetermined position by the optical fiber 34. Therefore, the illumination light source 32 and the light guide head 30 are respectively placed at arbitrary positions. It can be installed and is easy to use.
[0015]
The polarization filter 31 disposed on the front surface of the illumination head 33 described above forms three vertical linear light emission surfaces 31A, 31B, and 31C from a common illumination light source 32 as shown in FIG. . The release surface 31A of which, in FIG. 1 so as to pass only light polarized in the vertical direction by blocking light polarized in the horizontal direction by the vertical polarization filter is provided as the polarizing filter 31 constitute a first illumination 3A, also emitting surface 31B, the 31C, is polarized in the horizontal direction by blocking polarized light in the vertical direction by providing a lateral polarization filter as polarizing filter 31 The second illuminations 3B and 3C in FIG. 1 are configured so as to pass only the light. Thus, light from the emission surface 31A becomes polarized light in the vertical direction, whereas the light from the linear emitting surface 31B, 31C is the polarizing light in the lateral direction.
[0016]
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a foreign matter detection device when foreign matter mixed in the injected liquid 2A in the transparent container 2 is detected by transmitted light.
As shown in FIG. 5, the transparent container 2 to be subjected to foreign object detection has a lid 2D at the upper part, and a non-liquid space 2B without the injected liquid 2A is formed at the upper part by the injected liquid 2A injected therein. It is assumed that black or light non-transparent foreign matter 5 is mixed in the injection liquid 2A. The polarization filter 1C disposed between the test sensor 1 and the transparent container 2 is switched so as to pass only light polarized in the vertical direction is a first irradiation light from the first illumination 3A. Further, as described above, the illuminating device 3 is disposed at a focal position by the lens effect of the cylindrical transparent container 2. The lens effect refers to a phenomenon in which when the transparent container 2 is irradiated with parallel light, the transparent container 2 itself acts like a lens and focuses the light from the transparent container 2 to the focal length A. The lighting device 3 is arranged at this position.
[0017]
First, a first irradiation beam is a light that is polarized in the longitudinal direction from the first illumination 3A through a common illumination light source 32, the second is a light that is polarized in the horizontal direction from the second illumination 3B, 3C Upon irradiation with illumination light, these irradiation light is input only light polarized to such illustrated optical path as the longitudinal direction passes through the polarizing filter 1C for inspection sensor 1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, if the foreign material 5 mixed in the filling liquid 2 </ b> A of the transparent container 2 is black or light non-transparent foreign material, a part of the first irradiation light is blocked by the foreign material 5. The input data of the inspection sensor 1 is processed by the image processing device 4 shown in FIG. 1, and the image of the inspection sensor 1 is detected by forming a black image with the foreign substance 5 as a silhouette as shown in FIG. become. Here, 2C in FIG. 5 is an image of the linear emission surface of the first illumination 3A.
[0018]
Then, a polarizing filter 1C disposed between the test sensor 1 and the transparent container 2, so as to pass through the second illumination 3B, only light polarized in the horizontal direction is the second irradiation light from the 3C, for example, Switch by rotating 90 degrees. Figure 6 shows as a second illumination 3B, although the second irradiation beam is a light that is polarized in a lateral direction 3C is referred to as the light source are arranged so as not directed to the test sensor 1, the transparent container 2 If there is a reflective, eg, white, foreign material 5 in the injected liquid 2A, the second irradiation light causes irregular reflection by this foreign material 5, and this irregularly reflected light is input to the inspection sensor 1 and detected. At this time, the image of the inspection sensor 1 processed by the image processing device 4 is formed with the foreign substance 5 as a white image as shown in FIG.
[0019]
As can be seen from the above description, a first illumination 3A for irradiating polarized light in the vertical direction, the second illumination 3B for irradiating polarized light in the horizontal direction, the 3C used as a lighting device 3, the polarization only switching the filter 1C in the longitudinal direction from the polarizing light for light polarized in the horizontal direction but also the foreign matter 5 mixed in the transparent container 2 a black or a light-impermeable, or white Can be detected well regardless of the color of the transparent container 2 or the color of the injection liquid. Moreover, since it only switching the polarization filter 1C, first illumination 3A and the second illumination 3B, the light polarized in the polarizing light and lateral to the longitudinal direction using a common light source as 3C Thus, it is not necessary to perform lighting with a time difference set as in the prior art, and control is facilitated and the time required for inspection can be shortened.
[0020]
The foreign object detection apparatus described above is usually installed on a special inspection line, and before the transparent container 2 is imaged, the transparent container 2 is stopped from rotating and only the injection liquid 2A is imaged. Further, such a foreign matter detection apparatus performs foreign matter inspection using transmitted light and foreign matter inspection using reflected light on the transparent container 2 that is installed on the inspection line and enters the self-view. in it is necessary work to switch rotated 90 degrees for light polarized in the horizontal direction from a are polarizing the polarization filter 1C longitudinally light. Next, a foreign object detection apparatus that does not require the switching operation of the polarizing filter 1C will be described.
[0021]
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a foreign object detection device in a liquid injected into a transparent container according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The illuminating device 3 is disposed at a focal position due to the lens effect of the cylindrical transparent container 2. The first through the first polarizing filter 1CA which passes only light polarized in the vertical direction in the vertical direction on the optical path of the first irradiation light is polarized light from its first illumination 3A the test sensor 1A is disposed of, further, causes transmits part of the light quantity on the optical path where the second illumination light in the lateral direction is a polarization light is reflected by the foreign matter 5 from the second illumination 3B the half mirror 6 for reflecting a portion arranged, placing a second test sensor 1B through the second polarizing filter 1CB that passes only polarized light in the horizontal direction of the light reflected by the half mirror 6 is doing.
[0022]
According to the foreign substance detecting device having such a configuration, if the foreign matter 5 is a black or a light non-transparent foreign substance, the first irradiation light half mirror 6 is polarized light in the vertical direction from the first illumination 3A After passing through, the light further passes through the first polarizing filter 1CA and is detected by the first inspection sensor 1A, resulting in an image as shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the foreign matter 5 is a white reflective foreign matter is not detected by the first inspection sensor 1A, the second illumination 3B, the second irradiation beam is a light that is polarized in the horizontal direction from the 3C foreign matter The second irradiation light reflected by the half mirror 6 and reflected by the half mirror 6 passes through the second polarizing filter 1CB and is detected by the second inspection sensor 1B, as shown in FIG. The image looks like this. The image processing apparatus 4 captures captured images from the two inspection sensors 1A and 1B, and performs foreign object detection using a threshold value for each.
[0023]
However, here arranged a first polarization filter 1CA for light polarized in the vertical direction so as to transmit the first illumination light transmitted by the half mirror 6, passes through the second irradiation light reflected by the half mirror 6 was placed a second polarization filter 1CB for polarizing light that laterally to the position of the first polarization filter 1CA and the second polarization filter 1CB may be reversed, either in the respective positions A polarizing filter that transmits only light in one wave direction may be disposed.
[0024]
According to such a foreign matter detection device, even if the foreign matter 5 is black or light non-transmissive or white reflective as in the case of the above-described embodiment, the color of the transparent container 2 or It can be detected well regardless of the color of the injected solution. Moreover, since the half mirror 6 is used, it is not necessary to switch the polarizing filter 1C as in the previous embodiment, and the two inspection sensors 1A and 1B respectively disposed on the optical path dispersed by the half mirror 6 are used. Since detection can be performed at the same time, it is possible to detect foreign matters in the transparent containers successively carried on the inspection line at a higher speed.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the foreign substance detecting device of the transparent container infusion liquids according to the present invention described above, the color of the transparent container and injecting the liquid by using a light polarized in the vertical direction on the polarizing light and lateral Good foreign object detection is possible without being affected by the above.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for detecting foreign matter in a liquid injected into a transparent container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an enlarged side view showing an illuminating device which is a main part of the foreign matter detecting device in the liquid injected in the transparent container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a front view of the illumination device shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
4 is a plan view of foreign matter detection using transmitted light in the foreign matter detection device in the liquid injected into the transparent container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a front view showing imaging in the foreign object detection device in the liquid injected into the transparent container shown in FIG. 4. FIG.
6 is a plan view of foreign matter detection using reflected light in the foreign matter detection device in the liquid injected into the transparent container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is a front view showing imaging in the foreign object detection device in the liquid injected in the transparent container shown in FIG. 6. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a foreign matter detection device in a liquid injected into a transparent container according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inspection sensor 1C Polarizing filter 2 Transparent container 3 Illuminating device 4 Image processing device 5 Foreign matter

Claims (1)

In the foreign matter detection device that detects foreign matter in the filling liquid of the transparent container,
First and second imaging means arranged at different first and second positions in front of the transparent container;
A linear light source disposed behind the transparent container, the length in the longitudinal direction is equivalent to the irradiation field of the transparent container, and the irradiation light is first polarized in the vertical direction via the polarizing means. The transparent container is irradiated as irradiating light, and its rearward arrangement is the orientation relationship facing the imaging surface of the first imaging means across the transparent container, and is the focal position due to the lens effect of the transparent container. A first linear light source;
A linear light source disposed behind the transparent container and in proximity to the first linear light source, the length in the longitudinal direction is equivalent to the irradiation field of the transparent container, and the irradiation light is polarized The transparent container is irradiated as the second irradiation light polarized in the lateral direction through the means, and the rearward arrangement of the second irradiation light penetrates through the direction other than the imaging surface of the second imaging means. A second linear light source that is oriented and has a focal position due to the lens effect of the transparent container;
A half mirror disposed on the optical path to the first imaging means and dividing the light on the optical path into an optical path to the first imaging means and an optical path to the second imaging means;
Transmitted first irradiating light from the transparent container polarized in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction in the light transmitted between the first imaging means and the half mirror and transmitted through the half mirror A first polarizing filter that allows only the light to pass through and input to the first imaging means,
Only the reflected second irradiation light from the transparent container polarized in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction among the light transmitted between the second imaging means and the half mirror and transmitted through the half mirror. A second polarizing filter that passes through and is input to the second imaging means;
Image processing means for detecting foreign matter in the filling liquid based on the first and second captured images by the first and second imaging means;
Foreign object detection device comprising:

Images