A lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine

Abstract

The present invention discloses a lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine, belonging to the technical field of pharmaceutical equipment inspection. It includes a light source for supplementing light to a light-transmissive container and a camera for collecting images of the light-transmissive container, and the following inspection steps: 1) The light of the light source irradiates the light-transmissive container, so that the area of the liquid in the light-transmissive container irradiated by the light source generates high brightness, forming a liquid light source, and the bright light of the liquid light source illuminates other liquid areas in the container; 2) The camera collects images of the areas in the light-transmissive container that are not the liquid light source. The present invention forms a brand-new optical system, which has the advantages of both backlight anti-interference and clear imaging contrast of bottom light for white or transparent impurities, realizes the effect of bottom light irradiation with a backlight source, can effectively avoid interference while ensuring the inspection effect, and can completely eliminate the field of view blind area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of pharmaceutical equipment, and specifically relates to a lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine. Background Art

[0002] The fully automatic lamp inspection machine is used for detecting visible foreign matters in the drugs produced by pharmaceutical factories. The existing lamp inspection machines for detecting foreign matters inside liquid medicines are basically based on the solutions of illuminating from the bottom of the bottle and taking pictures from the side by the camera; or illuminating from the back of the bottle and taking pictures from the opposite side by the camera. The advantages and disadvantages of these two solutions are as follows:

[0003] Illuminating from the bottom of the bottle: When the light source irradiates the surface of the foreign matter, the foreign matter will reflect the light source to the outside, and the image feature shown is brighter than the blank area. This solution has good detection effects on tiny foreign matters, white blocks, cilia and other foreign matters. The disadvantages are too much interference and the existence of blind areas. The light source will form a mirror effect on the liquid surface. When the liquid surface shakes, there will be moving bright spots at the bottom; the light source has divergence and cannot be controlled to be exactly the same as the diameter of the bottle, and the light source will spread to the surrounding bottles, resulting in light interference at the bottle boundary; due to the direct irradiation from the bottom and the reflection effect of the liquid surface, the imaging is generally high-brightness at the bottom and near the liquid surface, while the middle area is darker. This will cause the areas near the liquid surface and at the bottom to be white and unable to be detected, and the image features in the middle area are not obvious enough due to insufficient brightness, resulting in missed detections.

[0004] Illuminating from the back of the bottle: When the light source penetrates the bottle, if there is a foreign matter, it will block part of the light source, and the image feature shown is darker than the blank area. The advantage of this solution is strong anti-interference ability and good detection effect on dark foreign matters. The disadvantage is that the detection effects on cilia, small glass, white blocks and other foreign matters are not good, because these foreign matters are very slender or nearly transparent, and there will be corrosion under backlight, resulting in being completely invisible, or the light source can directly penetrate, and the contrast with the surrounding area is not obvious, thus resulting in missed detections. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine, forming a brand-new optical system, realizing the effect of bottom light irradiation with a backlight source, effectively avoiding interference while ensuring the detection effect; at the same time, based on this optical system, a regional stratification technology is proposed, which can completely eliminate the field of view blind area, and has both the advantages of backlight anti-interference and clear imaging contrast of bottom light for white or transparent impurities.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0007] A lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine, including a light source for supplementing light to a light-transmissive container and a camera for collecting images of the light-transmissive container, and comprising the following detection steps:

[0008] 1) The light of the light source irradiates the light-transmissive container, causing the area of the liquid in the light-transmissive container irradiated by the light source to produce high brightness, forming a liquid light source, and using the brightness of the liquid light source to illuminate other liquid areas in the container;

[0009] 2) The camera collects images of the area in the light-transmissive container that is not the liquid light source to achieve foreign object detection.

[0010] As a further improvement of this technical solution, before the camera collects images, first control the light-transmissive container to spin through a lamp inspection machine, and then stop rotating, so that the liquid inside continues to move under the action of inertia, and then the camera collects images of the liquid in the light-transmissive container.

[0011] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the camera is a area array camera.

[0012] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light-transmissive container is made of a transparent material or a translucent material.

[0013] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light of the light source changes the light direction through a prism or a lens or a mirror and then fills light for the light-transmissive container.

[0014] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light source and the camera are arranged in a dislocation manner.

[0015] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light source and the camera are at different height positions.

[0016] As a further improvement of this technical solution, at least two light sources are provided, arranged at intervals and emitting light alternately in turn; at least one camera is provided; the camera detects the upper or lower area illuminated by the corresponding liquid light source.

[0017] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light source is a horizontally arranged strip structure.

[0018] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light-emitting surface of the light source is a plane or a circular arc.

[0019] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light source (3) irradiates the light-transmissive container (1) parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0020] As a further improvement of this technical solution, the light source (3) irradiates the light-transmissive container (1) obliquely upward or downward with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0022] 1. The bar-shaped backlight layout can be mechanically fixed at any height, which is equivalent to installing bottom light at any height position of the sample to be inspected. Combined with the multi-layer layout, there are no dead corners on the bottle body.

[0023] 2. By changing the lighting method, there is no direct light irradiation on the liquid surface, which can eliminate the mirror effect; there is no obvious reflection of the liquid surface at the bottom of the bottle, which can effectively eliminate false inspection; when using bottom light, the overexposure blind area that cannot be detected near the liquid surface can also be detected.

[0024] 3. It has bottom light and has advantages in detecting tiny foreign objects and semi-transparent foreign objects; it has obvious detection effects on foreign objects such as cilia, small glass, and white blocks.

[0025] 4. There is no divergent light source irradiating the bottles on both sides, so there is interference in foreign object detection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment when the upper light source is started with two light sources and one camera.

[0027] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment when the lower light source is started with two light sources and one camera.

[0028] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment when the upper camera takes a picture with two light sources and two cameras.

[0029] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment when the lower camera takes a picture with two light sources and two cameras.

[0030] Figure 5 It is an inspection effect diagram of a 2mm - sized white cilia defect existing in a 250ml glass bottle large infusion.

[0031] In the figure: 1, light - transmissive container; 2, liquid light source; 3, light source; 4, camera. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description of this part is only exemplary and explanatory, and should not have any restrictive effect on the protection scope of the present invention.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 , in a specific embodiment,

[0034] A lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine, including a light source 3 for supplementing light to the light - transmissive container 1 and a camera 4 for collecting images of the light - transmissive container 1, and includes the following inspection steps:

[0035] 1) The light of the light source 3 irradiates the light-transmissive container 1, causing the area of the liquid in the light-transmissive container 1 irradiated by the light source to produce high brightness, forming a liquid light source 2, and using the brightness of the liquid light source 2 to illuminate other liquid areas in the container 1; as Figure 1 shown, the background of the liquid light source 2 is white, while the backgrounds of the upper and lower areas of the liquid light source 2 are black.

[0036] 2) The camera 4 collects images of the areas in the light-transmissive container 1 that are not the liquid light source 2 to achieve foreign object detection. When the camera 4 takes pictures of the areas illuminated by the liquid light source 2, since the background is black and the foreign objects in the area are white under light illumination, the images taken by the camera can clearly show the foreign objects, which can improve the accuracy. As Figure 5 shown, it is the detection effect diagram of the white fiber defect about 2mm existing in the 250ml glass bottle large infusion.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, before the camera 4 collects images, first control the light-transmissive container 1 to spin through the lamp inspection machine, and then stop rotating, so that the liquid inside continues to move under the action of inertia, and then the camera 4 collects images of the liquid in the light-transmissive container 1.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the camera 4 is an area array camera.

[0039] In order to enable the light energy of the light source to irradiate into the liquid in the container, in a preferred embodiment, the light-transmissive container 1 is made of a transparent material or a translucent material.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the light of the light source 3 changes the light direction through a prism or a lens or a mirror and then fills light for the light-transmissive container 1. The light of the light source 3 only needs to be able to irradiate into the liquid in the container. Changing the light source direction through special prisms, lenses, or optical devices and finally achieving the same effect as this solution are also within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0041] This light source is not restricted by the camera combination. For example, using multiple cameras distributed left and right or up and down, or single or multiple cameras irradiating at an angle, or using a line array camera to collect images are all within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0042] The detection area of this patent is not restricted. The liquid surface, the bottom of the bottle, the surface and internal foreign objects of the bottle body are all within the scope of protection of this solution.

[0043] In order to prevent the light source 3 from directly irradiating the camera and causing the image background to turn white, in a preferred embodiment, the light source 3 and the camera 4 are arranged in a staggered manner.

[0044] In order to facilitate detection, in a preferred embodiment, the light source 3 and the camera 4 are at different height positions. The light source 3 and the camera 4 can also be in different vertical planes.

[0045] As Figures 1-2 shown, in a preferred embodiment, at least two light sources 3 are provided and are distributed at intervals, and emit light alternately in sequence; at least one camera 4 is provided; the camera 4 detects the upper or lower region illuminated by the corresponding liquid light source 2. After different cameras 4 capture images of the upper and lower region positions of the corresponding liquid light source 2, they are all integrated together by a computer. It is mainly used for collecting large translucent containers to improve the detection accuracy of foreign objects in large translucent containers.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the light source 3 is a horizontally arranged strip structure. It means that the light source 3 is elongated in the horizontal plane. After such a light source irradiates a translucent container, a relatively thin light-emitting layer can be formed in the translucent container, reducing the influence of light noise caused by the white background.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the light-emitting surface of the light source 3 is a plane or an arc.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the camera 4 is a high-frame-rate camera.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the light source 3 irradiates the translucent container 1 parallel to the horizontal plane. When the light source 3 irradiates the translucent container 1 parallel to the horizontal plane, the generated liquid light source 2 can illuminate both the upper and lower regions in the liquid. Therefore, both the upper and lower regions can be photographed by the camera for foreign object detection.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the light source 3 irradiates the translucent container 1 upward or downward at an angle to the horizontal plane. When the light source 3 irradiates the translucent container 1 downward at an angle to the horizontal plane, for example, when the inclination angle is 10 degrees, the generated liquid light source 2 can illuminate the lower region in the liquid, while the upper region is in a completely black state, which can shield the interference of the liquid surface in the upper part of the region.

[0051] When the light source 3 irradiates the translucent container 1 upward at an angle to the horizontal plane, for example, when the inclination angle is 10 degrees, the generated liquid light source 2 can illuminate the upper region in the liquid, while the lower region is in a completely black state, which can shield the interference of the liquid surface in the upper part of the region.

[0052] In a preferred fact, the emission direction of the liquid light source can also be controlled by modifying the angle between the light source and the detected object. Shield the interference of some regions such as the liquid surface; for example, by making the light source irradiate the container downward at an angle to the horizontal plane, the region above the liquid light source 2 can be in a completely black state, so the interference of the liquid surface in the upper part of the region can be shielded.

[0053] The design principle of the present invention:

[0054] The present invention designs a brand-new optical system, achieving the effect of bottom light illumination with a backlight source. While ensuring the detection effect, it can effectively avoid interference. At the same time, based on this optical system, a regional layering technology is proposed, which can completely eliminate the field of view blind area.

[0055] As Figure 1 shown, where the light source is a strip-shaped or other narrow-shaped backlight; the middle area is the liquid medicine bottle to be detected; on the right is an industrial camera for collecting images of the liquid bottle to be detected.

[0056] During detection, the backlight source is adjusted to a higher brightness and irradiates the detection bottle in parallel. The area where the liquid area is irradiated by the light source will be highlighted and is equivalent to a surface light source with the same diameter as the bottle body, which is later called the liquid light source. This liquid light source will irradiate light upward and downward, and is equivalent to installing a bottom light with the size of the bottle body diameter in this area. Foreign objects irradiated by this liquid light source will reflect the light source outward, showing a highlighted feature. After combining with the rotation stop detection principle of the lamp inspection machine, foreign objects can be effectively detected.

[0057] After the camera on the right receives the image, the area where the liquid light source is located is not detected, and only the upper and lower areas irradiated by the liquid light source are detected; because the liquid light source appears as all white in the image, this area cannot be detected.

[0058] Before the camera collects the image, first control the spin of the transparent container through the lamp inspection machine, then stop the rotation, so that the liquid inside continues to move under the action of inertia, and then the camera collects the image of the liquid in the transparent container.

[0059] Solution 1: Use a high-frame-rate camera and arrange 2 light sources, which are distributed vertically and horizontally as Figures 3-4 shown. The upper light source and the lower light source alternate in brightness. When the upper light source is on, the lower half area is detected; when the lower light source is on, the upper half area is detected. After combining the two areas, the entire area of the bottle body can be covered without any dead corners.

[0060] Solution 2: Arrange multiple cameras vertically. Each camera only collects images of part of the area, and multiple cameras are combined to cover the entire area, as Figures 3-4 shown; the upper light source and the lower camera, the lower light source and the upper camera form two sets of optical acquisition systems. When the upper light source is on, the lower camera collects; when the lower light source is on, the upper camera collects; by misaligning the collection of the camera and the light source, the full coverage of the detection area can be achieved.

[0061] There is no logical relationship between the camera and the light source in this solution, and it is not limited to one-to-one. Their pairing relationship is arbitrary and can be dynamically configured according to the actual application scenario:

[0062] Multiple light sources for one camera: To ensure sufficient illumination in a certain area of the bottle, light sources may be arranged in both the upper and lower areas of this region. The light sources turn on and off simultaneously to ensure sufficient illumination, and images are captured by a camera at the other end.

[0063] One light source for multiple cameras: Taking Figure 1 the layout as an example, one light source can be arranged on the left, and two cameras can be arranged on the right. One camera detects internal foreign objects at a level view, and the other camera detects foreign objects on the liquid surface at an oblique view, achieving one light source corresponding to multiple cameras simultaneously.

[0064] Multiple light sources for multiple cameras: Combining the usage methods of multiple light sources for one camera and one light source for multiple cameras, for relatively complex application scenarios, multiple light sources for multiple cameras can be adopted, and the detection purpose can be achieved through free combination between the light sources and the cameras.

[0065] For bottles with large capacity and large height, when two light sources cannot meet the requirements; more strip light sources can be added at different height levels, cameras with higher frame rates can be adopted, or more cameras can be used to achieve full coverage.

[0066] 1. The material of the detection target of this patent is not limited to glass. All materials that can transmit light or are semi-transparent, such as glass, plastics, film products, etc., are within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0067] 2. This patent is not limited to liquid pharmaceuticals. The types and industries of the detection targets are not restricted. Typical products such as ampoules, oral liquids, large glass infusions, large plastic bottle infusions, soft bag infusions, row-connected potions, various water-based beverages, alcoholic beverages, health drinks, etc. are all within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0068] 3. The shape of the backlight source is not restricted. All light sources with various shapes and various parameters are within the scope of protection of this patent;

[0069] 4. The light source control method is not restricted. All light source control methods such as constant on, stroboscopic, timed trigger, etc. are within the scope of protection of this patent;

[0070] 5. The light source layering is not restricted. Multiple light sources irradiate to layer the liquid in the container, and dividing the detection area into one to multiple layers is within the scope of protection of this patent;

[0071] 6. This patent is not restricted by the color and wavelength of the light source. All wavelengths and light source colors are within the scope of protection of this patent;

[0072] 7. This light source is not restricted by the camera combination. For example, using multiple cameras distributed left and right or up and down, or single or multiple cameras irradiating at an angle, or using a line array camera to capture images are all within the scope of protection of this patent;

[0073] 8. The detection area of this patent is not restricted. The liquid surface, the bottom of the bottle, and the foreign objects on the surface and inside of the bottle body are all within the protection scope of this solution.

[0074] 9. This patent has nothing to do with the sequence of lighting of multiple light sources. All lighting methods are within the protection scope of this patent.

[0075] 10. No matter where and at what angle the camera and the light source are placed around the object to be detected, as long as the same or similar lighting effect of this patent is achieved, it is also within the protection scope of this patent.

[0076] 11. When the air area of the irradiated bottle body makes the glass or plastic bottle wall shine, it is also equivalent to an annular light source. The actual effect is a bit worse, but an approximate effect can be achieved, and it is also within the protection scope of this patent.

[0077] 12. The applications of one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many between the camera and the light source in this patent are only examples. Any combination of the camera and the light source, as long as the basic principle is still the misalignment of the light source and the camera to make the liquid become a light source, is within the protection scope of this patent.

[0078] It should be noted that in this article, the term "including", "comprising" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0079] In this article, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principle and implementation mode of the present invention. The description of the above examples is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention. The above is only the preferred implementation mode of the present invention. It should be noted that due to the limitation of literal expression, and objectively there are infinite specific structures. For those of ordinary skill in the art in this technical field, without departing from the principle of the present invention, several improvements, refinements or changes can be made, or the above technical features can be combined in an appropriate way; these improvements, refinements, changes or combinations, or directly applying the concept and technical solution of the invention to other occasions without improvement, should all be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine, comprising a light source (3) for supplementing light to a light-transmissive container (1) and a camera (4) for collecting images of the light-transmissive container (1), characterized in that, The detection steps include the following: 1) The light from the light source (3) irradiates the light-transmissive container (1), causing the area of the liquid in the light-transmissive container (1) irradiated by the light source to become highly bright, forming a liquid light source (2), and using the light of the liquid light source (2) to illuminate other liquid areas in the light-transmissive container (1); 2) The camera (4) performs image acquisition on the area in the light-transmissive container (1) that is not the liquid light source (2) to achieve foreign object detection; The irradiation surface of the light source (3) and the shooting surface of the camera (4) are staggered from each other; The light source (3) and the camera (4) are at different height positions; At least two light sources (3) are provided and are distributed at intervals, and emit light alternately in sequence; at least one camera (4) is provided; the camera (4) detects the upper or lower area illuminated by the corresponding liquid light source (2).

2. The lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein, The camera (4) is an area array camera.

3. The lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-transmissive container (1) is made of a transparent material or a translucent material.

4. The lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light of the light source (3) changes the light direction through a prism or a lens or a mirror and then fills light for the light-transmissive container (1).

5. A lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source (3) is strip-shaped or arc-shaped.

6. The lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein, The light source (3) irradiates the light-transmissive container (1) parallel to the horizontal plane.

7. A lamp inspection method for an automatic lamp inspection machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source (3) irradiates the light-transmissive container (1) inclined upward or downward with respect to the horizontal plane.

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