JPH0463339B2 - - 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 distinguish them from good cans, but it is important to understand that the most important drawback of buckled cans, the loss of aesthetics, is a sensory one, and that 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 of one or the other sensor head of a pair of sensor heads facing the light emitter and separated in the transport direction no longer receive light from the light emitter due to passage of the can. To,
It determines whether or not the can is buckled based on the number of light receiving elements that are not receiving light or are receiving light in the other and/or one sensor head, and outputs a signal according to the result of this determination. There is a method.

In addition, the buckled can inspection device of the present invention includes a transfer means for transferring the can, a light emitting device that emits light toward the can transferred to the inspection position, and a light emitting device facing the light emitting device and separated in the transfer direction. A light receiver having a pair of sensor heads provided therein; a counter that counts the number of light-receiving elements of one or the other sensor head that is not receiving light; and outputs a signal when a predetermined number of light-receiving elements are not receiving light; When a signal is output from the sensor head, it is determined whether or not there is buckling in the can based on the number of light receiving elements that are not receiving light or that are receiving light in the other sensor head and/or one sensor head. It is composed of a discriminating section that outputs a signal based on the result, and a processing means that performs predetermined processing based on the output from the discriminating section.

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
4 is a diagram illustrating 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 denotes front and rear auxiliary turrets, which feed cans 1 whose lids are to be tightened, sent from the filling process, into pockets 10a of turret 10. 12
is a pulse light emitter provided in the front auxiliary turret 11, which generates a pulse signal every time the front auxiliary turret 11 feeds the 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. Reference numeral 14 denotes a separate type first light receiver, which has a pair of two sensor heads 14A and 14B. The two sensor heads 14A and 14B face the light emitter 13 with the inspection position A in between, and are arranged at appropriate intervals on the horizontal line in the can transport direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
B, 16A, 16B are arranged in the height direction of the can 1 in the same manner as the sensor heads 14A, 14B of the first receiver 14. These first to third light receivers 14, 15, and 16 together with the light emitter 13 form a kind of image sensor, and detect the part of the can 1 where buckling is most likely to occur (usually near the center of the can body). It is arranged for inspection.

Further, each sensor head 14A to 16B has a large number (for example, several hundred) of light receiving elements 17 arranged closely in the lateral direction to capture the image of a can through a lens, and also has "brightness" and "darkness" of these light receiving elements 17. The status is repeatedly sent as a signal of "0" and "1".

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 light receivers 14, 15, 16
A buckling inspection process is performed based on the signals sent from each sensor head 14, . . . , 16B. Here, in order to make the explanation easier to understand, the circuit system that processes the signals sent from the sensor heads 14A and 14B of the first light receiver 14 will be explained (the circuit systems of the second and third light receivers 15 and 16 are also similar). be).

As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit system of the first light receiver 14 includes first to fifth counters 21a to 21.
e, and the first, second, and third comparison circuits 23a, 23
b, 23c, first, second, and third setting circuits 24
a, 24b, 24c, and a discrimination section 22 consisting of a discrimination circuit 25.

First, second, third counters 21a, 21b, 2
1c is a "dark" signal among the "bright" and "dark" signals sent from the sensor head 14A, that is, the light entering the sensor head 14A is blocked by the passage of the can 1, and the sensor head 14A is in a "dark" state. A certain light receiving element 1
Counting the number 7. The first counter 21a is connected to the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 14A.
When all of the light receiving elements 17 become "dark", one pulse signal is output, and the second counter 21b
One pulse signal is output when 1/2 of the signal becomes "dark". The third counter 21c also indicates that the light receiving element 1 of the sensor head 14A is in a "dark" state.
It always outputs the number 7. The fourth and fifth counters 21d and 21e count the number of light receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state that no longer receive light from the sensor head 14B, and the fourth counter 21d counts the number of light receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state that have stopped receiving light. The fifth counter 21e outputs one pulse signal when all of the light receiving elements 17 become "dark".

The first comparison circuit 23a inputs the number of light receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state in the sensor head 14B from the fourth counter 21d when the output from the first counter 21a is received, and receives the number set in the setting circuit 24a. Compare with the current value. 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 23a when the output from the second counter 21b is received. Also, the third comparison circuit 23c
When the output from the fifth counter 21e is received, the number of light receiving elements 17 in the "dark" state in the sensor head 14B is inputted from the third counter 21c, and the same processing as in the above-mentioned comparison circuits 23a and 23b is performed. Do this.

The discrimination circuit 25 includes the first to third comparison circuits 23a, 23b, 23 of the first light receiver 14 system described above.
It is determined whether or not there is buckling in the can 1 based on the signal from c and signals from fourth to ninth comparison circuits (not shown) of the second light receiver 15 and third light receiver 16 systems. , outputs a buckled can detection signal when the output of at least one of the first to ninth comparison circuits reaches a high level.

Returning to FIG. 2, numeral 31 is a device for displaying the determination result, and based on the signal from the determination circuit 25, it displays whether the inspected can 1 is a good can or a buckled can. Reference numeral 32 designates a solenoid valve provided in the discharge air pipe 33, which is activated when the buckled can is discharged from the conveyance line, and blows out air from the discharge air pipe 33 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, an embodiment of the method of the present invention will be described 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 14A is blocked by the can 1, and the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 14A is blocked.
There are more and more things in the "dark" state. and,
When the can 1 reaches the position shown in Fig. 3, all the light receiving elements 17 of the sensor head 14A are "dark"
At the same time, a portion (x'-s') of the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 14B becomes "dark". Therefore, the first counter 21a, which counts the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14A,
outputs a pulse signal to the first comparison circuit 23a.
As a result, the first comparison circuit 23a reads the output of the fourth counter 21d that counts the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14B, and compares it with the setting value preset in the first setting circuit 24a. do. Then, the output of the fourth counter 21d is
If the buckling of can 1 is larger or smaller than the set value tolerance, a high level signal is output, and if can 1 has no buckling or very small buckling and is within the tolerance range. (Figure 5 shows the case within the permissible range). In this way, the inspection at inspection position A is completed.

Next, the can 1 is placed between the turret 10 and the turntable 18.
When the sensor head 14A rotates and rotates from position to position, the light receiving element 1 of the sensor head 14A
As 1/2 of 7 (c-y) becomes “dark”,
More than half (x'-c') of the light receiving elements 17 of the sensor head 14B are in a "dark" state. Therefore, the second counter 21b that counts the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14A is connected to the second comparator circuit 2.
A pulse signal is output to 3b. As a result, the second comparison circuit 23b detects the "dark" state of the sensor head 14B.
The fourth counter 2 counts the number of light receiving elements of
1d is read and compared with a set value preset in the second setting circuit 24b. and,
If the output of the fourth counter 21d 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 very small buckling. Therefore, no signal is output if it is within the permissible range (FIG. 5 shows the case where it 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 14B rotates and rotates from position to position, the light receiving element 1 of the sensor head 14B
7 (x'-y') is in a "dark" state, and a portion (E-y) of the light receiving element 17 of the sensor head 14A is in a "dark" state. Therefore, the fifth counter 21e that counts the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14B is connected to the third comparator circuit 23.
A pulse signal is output to c. As a result, the third comparison circuit 23c controls the third counter 21 which is counting the number of "dark" light receiving elements of the sensor head 14A.
c is read and compared with a set value preset in the third setting circuit 24c. If the output of the third counter 21c 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.

As a result, the first light receiver 14 is located at three locations on the outer periphery (,
, position) is checked for buckling.

The circuit systems of the second light receiver 15 and the third light receiver 16 also 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 25 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 25 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 a predetermined number of light-receiving elements of one sensor head are "dark", the number of light-receiving elements of the other sensor head that are "dark" is counted. Buckling is detected by 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 manner, the pulse generator 12 outputs the first to fifth counters 21a to 2.
A reset signal is sent to 1e, and each counter 21a~
Clear the count in 21e. At the same time, the cans 1 that have been inspected are sequentially transferred by the turret 10, and then sent to the conveyance line for the next process by the rear auxiliary turret 19. When the result of the inspection is that buckled cans are detected, the number of cans sent to the discharge position B is counted by the shift register 34 using pulse signals from the pulse generator 12. When the buckled can reaches the discharge position B of the conveyance line, an activation signal is sent to the solenoid valve 32 to blow out air from the discharge air pipe 33 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 step. 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.

A method and device for detecting buckled cans by arranging one or two sets of light receivers, or four or more sets for more accurate detection, arranged vertically.

Buckling check using one set of receivers.
A method and device for detecting buckling at one location, two locations, or four or more locations to further improve detection accuracy. For example, when checking four locations, intermediate positions and positions may be positions where 1/3 and 2/3 of one or the other sensor head light receiving elements are in the "dark" state.

When a predetermined number of light-receiving elements in one or the other of a pair of sensor heads no longer receives light from the light emitter due to passage of the can, the total number of light-receiving elements that are not receiving light in the other or one sensor head is calculated. , preset value (total value)
A method and device for detecting buckled cans in comparison with

When a predetermined number of light-receiving elements in one or the other of a pair of sensor heads no longer receives light from the light emitter due to passage of the can, the number of light-receiving elements in the other or one sensor head that is receiving light. A method and device for detecting a buckled can by comparing the value and a preset value. In this case, the counters (the third counter and the fourth counter in the illustrated example) are made to count the number of light-receiving elements in the "bright" state among the signals sent from the other or one head sensor, The setting circuit includes
The number of light receiving elements that should receive light (should be in a "bright" state) is set in advance.

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 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, buckled cans are detected by a light receiver consisting of a light emitter and a pair of sensor heads, thereby improving detection accuracy and speeding up inspection. and enable automation. Another advantage is that it can be easily applied to cans of different diameters.

[Brief explanation of 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 is an explanatory diagram of the detection state. Figure 4 is a block diagram of the circuit configuration of the control section, Figure 5
The figure 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...
...Emitter, 14, 15, 16...Receiver, 14
A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B...
...sensor head, 17...light receiving element, 18...turntable, 20...control unit, 21a, 21b, 21
c, 21d, 21e...Counter, 22...Discrimination unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light emitting device emits light toward a can that has been transferred to an inspection position by a transfer means, and a pair of sensor heads are provided facing the light emitting device and separated in the transfer direction. When a predetermined number of light-receiving elements in one or the other sensor head no longer receive light from the light emitter due to passage of the can, the light-receiving elements that are not receiving light or the light-receiving elements in the other or/and one sensor head are A method for detecting a buckled can, comprising determining whether or not the can is buckled based on the number of light-receiving elements 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 or the number of light-receiving elements that are receiving light in the other or/and one sensor head is counted multiple times, and the number of light-receiving elements that are not receiving light or receiving light is counted multiple times, and A method for detecting a buckled can according to claim 1, characterized in that buckling of a can is detected. 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, and a light receiver having a pair of sensor heads facing the light emitter and separated in the transfer direction; A counter that counts the number of light-receiving elements that are not receiving light on one or the other sensor head and outputs a signal when a predetermined number of light-receiving elements are not receiving light. / and a determination unit that determines whether or not the can is buckled based on the number of light-receiving elements that are not receiving light or that are receiving light in one sensor head, and outputs a signal based on the determination result. 1. A detecting device for a buckled can, comprising: processing means for performing predetermined processing based on the output from the determining section. 5. The buckled can detection device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the light receivers 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 or 5, wherein the means for performing the predetermined process is a device for removing buckled cans.