Method and device for detecting defects of a material box

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of material box flaw detection method and device, be applied to the cleaning area station of the material box, including the unlocking and flaw detection of material box on at least one loading port;The unlocking includes unlocking a door piece from a shell seat, and the flaw detection includes detecting the defective shell seat or door piece with deformed shape and structure, so as to shorten the cleaning operation time of the cover and door piece of material box, and exclude the cleaning time occupied by defective products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a front-opening material box (FOUP), and more particularly to a defect detection method and apparatus for the material box. Background Technology

[0002] A front-opening material box (FOUP) consists of a housing with a compartment, which is locked together with a door. The material box can accommodate wafers, substrates, or panels through the compartment, facilitating the transport of the material box to multiple workstations using an overhead crane (OHT) to enable the contents to undergo necessary processing.

[0003] Furthermore, it is known that, due to process requirements, the material box often needs to be filled with gases such as nitrogen (N2) to maintain the process quality of the contents. The material box must be cleaned after a period of use to remove harmful substances accumulated or remaining on the housing and door panels, thereby maintaining the production yield of the aforementioned process components. These harmful substances include particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia, acids, and NH3.

[0004] Therefore, among the multiple processing stations set up on the production line according to process requirements, a cleaning station is usually added specifically for this material box. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1a As shown, a cleaning station 200 specifically configured for cleaning the material box 10 is disclosed in the prior art. The material box 10 can be automatically placed in at least one load port 280 of the cleaning station 200 by means of the overhead crane for connecting the material box brought by the overhead crane to enter and exit the cleaning station 200.

[0005] The cleaning station 200 typically houses a multi-axis robotic arm 270, multiple cleaning machines 220, 230, and 240 for wet cleaning and vacuum drying, and at least one unlocking station 250. At least one of the aforementioned inspection stations 280 is located to one side of the cleaning machines 220, 230, and 240. This configuration allows the robotic arm 270 to pick up and place the material box 10 from the inspection station 280, and transport the material box 10 to the unlocking station 250 to unlock it, separating the housing 11 and the door panel 12. The housing 11 and door panel 12 are then transported to the multiple cleaning machines 220, 230, and 240 for wet cleaning and vacuum drying. The unlocking station 250 also allows the cleaned housing 11 and door panel 12 to be locked back together to form the material box 10.

[0006] However, the above-mentioned prior art method of setting the unlocking station 250 in the cleaning zone station 200 will increase the operation time of the robotic arm 270 in the cleaning process of the transport housing 11 and the door panel 12, which is not conducive to improving the cleaning efficiency of the material box.

[0007] Please continue reading Figure 1b As shown, the housing 11 and door 12 of the material box 10 are unlocked and separated. The housing 11 has an opening 110, which forms a chamber 111 for accommodating multiple items. The chamber 111 has multiple guide ribs 112 arranged in rows and corresponding to each other on both sides. The outer wall of one side of the housing 11 has a flange 113 (commonly known as a mushroom head) for the crane to pick up. The outer wall of the housing 11 also has multiple screws 114 for locking the multiple rows of guide ribs 112 in the opening 110. In addition, the inner wall periphery of the door panel 12 is provided with a gas-stopping strip 120 and a row of guide ribs 121. The gas-stopping strip 120 serves to prevent gas leakage after the door panel 12 is closed and locked with the housing 11. The row of guide ribs 121 on the door panel 12 and the row of guide ribs 112 in the housing 11 can be layered and correspond to each other, and surround the periphery of the cavity 111 to guide the wafer, carrier plate, or panel and other accommodating objects in a layered manner. Please also refer to... Figure 1c The bottom of the housing 11 is exposed to have a pair of exhaust valve ports 13 and a pair of intake valve ports 14, as well as a plurality of screw holes 15 for screws to pass through and lock into the inner wall of the cavity, for assembling screws to lock some functional components.

[0008] However, after a period of use, the housing 11, the door panel 12, and their guide ribs 112 and 121 may develop defects such as skewing, deformation, or breakage. In addition, the gas-stopping strip 120 may also age or break, causing defects in the material box 10. The aforementioned defects in the housing and the door panel must be eliminated from the production line to avoid affecting the normal function of the material box.

[0009] To detect the aforementioned defects in the material box 10 on the production line, existing technologies include adding defect detection to the cleaning process of the material box 10. Further details can be found in the following sections. Figure 1a It was revealed that an inspection station 260 was also added within the aforementioned clean processing area station 20 to detect defects in the housing 11 and door panel 12.

[0010] However, the existing technology described above places the detection station 260 between the unlocking station 250 and the cleaning machines 220, 230, and 240, which also easily affects the operation time of the robotic arm 270 in the sequential unlocking, defect detection, cleaning, and locking process of the transport housing 11 and the door panel 12. Therefore, it is still not conducive to improving the cleaning efficiency of the material box. All of the above problems need to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for detecting defects in material boxes, which addresses the problem that the process of unlocking and detecting defects in material boxes in existing cleaning stations increases the cleaning operation time of material boxes and proposes an improvement strategy.

[0012] Therefore, this invention provides a method for detecting defects in a material box, applicable to a cleaning station for the material box. The cleaning station includes a loading port for placing the material box, multiple cleaning machines for cleaning the material box, and a robotic arm for moving the material box between the loading port and the multiple cleaning machines. The material box consists of a housing with a locking door, and the housing and the door have multiple internal standard features. The detection method includes: unlocking the material box and opening the door on the housing, then detecting multiple internal condition features of the housing and the door, and comparing the differences between the internal condition features and the internal standard features to determine the location of the defect in the material box. The steps of unlocking the material box and detecting the housing and the door are both performed at the loading port.

[0013] In further embodiments, the method of the present invention further includes:

[0014] The internal standard features are constituted by standard images of at least one inner end face of the housing and the door panel, and the internal condition features are constituted by current images of at least one inner end face of the housing and the door panel, respectively. The loading port unlocks the door panel on the housing by means of an unlocker, and detects the internal condition features by means of at least one photosensitive coupling element.

[0015] The housing and the door panel also have multiple external standard features. The detection method further includes, before unlocking the material box, detecting multiple external condition features of the housing and the door panel, and comparing the differences between the external condition features and the external standard features. The external standard features are constituted by at least one outer end face standard image of the housing and the door panel, and the external condition features are constituted by at least one outer end face condition image of the housing and the door panel.

[0016] The loading port unlocks the door plate on the housing by means of an unlocker, and detects the internal condition features and the external condition features by means of at least one photosensitive coupling element.

[0017] The unlocker uses either a gyratory or linear movement to open the door panel on the housing. The photosensitive coupling element detects the external and internal status features by employing at least one of fixed and movable mechanisms.

[0018] The loading port includes at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. The detection method is performed at the inlet port, and the housing and the door panel are locked together to form the material box at the outlet port. The outlet port is locked to the door panel on the housing by a door closer, and the door closer opens the door panel on the housing by either a gyratory or linear movement.

[0019] In addition, to enable the implementation of the above method, this embodiment of the invention provides a defect detection device that can be configured in the cleaning station of the material box. The loading port in the cleaning station has a platform for placing the material box. The detection device includes an unlocker and at least one photosensitive coupling element. The unlocker has a pair of keys with a pair of lock holes embedded in the door panel for unlocking the material box and opening the door panel on the housing. At least one of the photosensitive coupling elements is used to detect multiple current features of the housing and the door panel. The unlocker is disposed at one end of the platform of the loading port, and the photosensitive coupling element is suspended around the platform of the loading port for performing the unlocking, door opening, and defect detection on the material box via the loading port before cleaning the material box.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention further includes:

[0021] The unlocking device has a base for supporting the door panel. The pair of keys protrude outward from one base surface of the base, and the base has a pivot portion. The base is pivotally connected to the end side of the loading port's platform via this pivot portion, allowing the base to rotate and insert the pair of keys into the pair of keyholes on the door panel, thereby unlocking and opening the door panel on the housing. Alternatively, the base can slide along the end side of the loading port's platform via a linear guide rail, allowing the base to move linearly and insert the pair of keys into the pair of keyholes on the door panel, thereby unlocking and opening the door panel on the housing.

[0022] The photosensitive coupling element is suspended around the platform of the loading port in at least one fixed and movable manner to detect the current characteristics.

[0023] The loading port is at least one inlet port of the material box. The cleaning station also includes at least one outlet port, and the outlet port is secured to the door panel on the housing by a door closer, forming the material box. The door closer is disposed at one end of a platform of the outlet port. The door closer has a pair of keys inserted into a pair of lock holes on the door panel to support the door panel and lock it on the housing. Furthermore, the door closer has a base capable of supporting the door panel. The pair of keys protrude outward from a base surface of the base, and the base has a pivot portion. The base is pivotally connected to the end of the platform of the outlet port via this pivot portion, allowing the base to rotate to insert the pair of keys into the pair of lock holes on the door panel, supporting the door panel and locking it on the housing. Alternatively, the base can slide along a linear guide rail to the end of the platform of the loading port, allowing the base to linearly move to insert the pair of keys into the pair of keyholes of the door panel, carry the door panel, and lock the door panel on the housing.

[0024] Implemented accordingly, and compared to the prior art, since the processes of unlocking the material box and detecting the housing and the door panel in this invention are all performed at the loading port, unlike the traditional method where the processes of unlocking the material box and detecting the housing and the door panel are all performed at the loading port... Figure 1a The cleaning station 20 shown is equipped with a robotic arm 270 for material handling, thus the present invention has the following advantages:

[0025] (1) Saving Figure 1a The operation time of the robotic arm 270 in sequentially unlocking, defect detection, cleaning and locking the conveying housing 11 and door 12 is shown.

[0026] (2) In Figure 1a The shell 11 or door piece 12 that is identified as defective by the defect detection at the inspection station 280 can be directly removed by the overhead crane or other automatic equipment to eliminate the defective products from the production line. This avoids the robotic arm 270 in the cleaning station 200 from picking up the shell 11 or door piece 12 that already has defects for cleaning, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency of good products.

[0027] The implementation details and technical effects disclosed above will be further explained in detail in the following figures and implementation methods. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1a This is a top view of the existing material box cleaning station, illustrating that the cleaning station is equipped with a robotic arm, cleaning machine, unlocking station, detection station, and loading port.

[0029] Figure 1b yes Figure 1a The exploded 3D diagram of the material box shown illustrates that the material box has a shell and door panels.

[0030] Figure 1c yes Figure 1b The bottom view of the housing shows that the bottom of the housing is equipped with a normally closed exhaust valve port and an intake valve port.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of the defect detection device installed in the material box cleaning station of the present invention. It shows that the cleaning station is equipped with a robotic arm, a cleaning machine and a loading port, and the defect detection device is composed of an unlocker and a photosensitive coupling element at the loading port.

[0032] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The first perspective view of the loading port with a defect detection device is shown, further illustrating the configuration of the unlocker and the photosensitive coupling element, wherein the unlocker includes a door opener and a door closeer.

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The diagram shows another configuration of the unlocker.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the steps in the material box defect detection method of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 The diagram shows a three-dimensional representation of the door opener closing the door panel, illustrating the unlocking process of the door opener rotating to close the door panel of the material box.

[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The diagram shows a three-dimensional action of a door opener continuously lifting a door panel, illustrating that the door opener holds the door panel and rotates back to a horizontal position to open the door panel on the housing, and allows multiple photosensitive coupling elements to capture the internal and external features of the housing and the door panel.

[0037] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 The diagram shows another three-dimensional action of the door opener lifting the door panel, illustrating that the door opener holds the door panel and swings it to a vertical position to open the door panel on the housing, and allows multiple photosensitive coupling elements to capture the internal and external current characteristics of the housing and the door panel.

[0038] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 The diagram shows another placement of the housing, illustrating that the housing is rotated 180 degrees so that the photosensitive coupling element can capture an image of the outer wall surface on the back as part of the external condition characteristics.

[0039] Figures 10 to 11 yes Figure 3The diagram shows a three-dimensional representation of the continuous action of the door closer in performing the door locking mechanism.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10-Material box; 11-Shell; 110-Opening; 111-Cavity; 112, 121-Guide ribs; 113-Flange; 114-Screw; 12-Door panel; 120-Air stop strip; 121-Guide rib; 13-Exhaust valve port; 14-Inlet valve port; 15-Screw hole; 20, 200-Clean area station; 21, 280-Loading port; 210-Tabletop; 211-Infeed port; 212-Outfeed port; 22, 23, 2 4, 220, 230, 240 - Cleaning machine; 25, 250 - Unlocking station; 260 - Detection station; 27, 270 - Robotic arm; 30 - Unlocker; 31 - Door opener; 32 - Base; 320 - Base surface; 321 - Pivot; 322 - Arm; 33 - Key; 34 - Door closer; 35 - Slide; 36 - Linear slide rail; 40 - Photosensitive coupling element; 41 - First photosensitive coupling element; 42 - Second photosensitive coupling element; S10~S30 - Steps. Detailed Implementation

[0041] First, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the present invention discloses a defect detection device for being configured in a cleaning station 20 of the material box 10. Figure 2 The cleaning station 20 shown includes a robotic arm 27, multiple cleaning machines 22, 23, and 24 surrounding the robotic arm 27, and a loading port 21 located on one side of the cleaning machines 22, 23, and 24. The cleaning machines 22, 23, and 24 may each be equipped with functions such as wet cleaning or vacuum drying; the robotic arm 27 can be replaced by other automated machines with multi-axis movement capabilities to transport the material box 10 between the loading port 21 and the multiple cleaning machines 22, 23, and 24. Furthermore, the material box 10 is... Figure 1b The configuration shown is that the housing 11 is locked with a door panel 12. The loading port 21 has a platform 210 for placing the material box 10, which is not yet unlocked and integrated. The present invention can unlock the material box 10 at the loading port 21 to separate the housing 11 and the door panel 12 into independent units, and detect multiple current characteristics of the housing 11 and the door panel 12 (detailed later). Then, the robotic arm 27 can successively pick up the housing 11 and the door panel 12 with good current characteristics from the loading port 21, and transport them one by one to multiple cleaning machines 22, 23, and 24 for wet cleaning and vacuum drying. Then, the robotic arm 27 picks up and transports the cleaned housing 11 and the door panel 12 to the loading port 21 to combine and lock them into an integrated material box 10, thereby completing the cleaning process of the material box 10.

[0042] Please refer to both together. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the defect detection device further includes an unlocker 30 and at least one photocoupled device 40 (CCD). The unlocker 30 has a pair of keys 33 inserted into a pair of keyholes in the door panel 12 for unlocking the material box 10 and opening the door panel 12 on the housing 11. The photocoupled device 40 is used to detect multiple current characteristics of the housing 11 and the door panel 12. The unlocker 30 is disposed at one end of the platform 210 of the loading port 21, and the photocoupled device 40 is suspended around the platform 210 of the loading port 21 by means of a bracket or drive element (not shown) used as a fixed end, for performing the unlocking, door panel opening, and defect detection processes on the material box 10 via the loading port 21 before cleaning the material box 10.

[0043] To elaborate further, Figure 2 and Figure 3 The invention discloses that the loading port 21 may include an inlet port 211 and one or more outlet ports 212. The inlet port 211 is dedicated to the overhead crane (OHT) for transporting and placing the material box 10 to be cleaned therein, and the outlet port 212 is dedicated to the robotic arm 27 within the cleaning station 20 for transporting and placing the cleaned material box 10 therein. A greater number of inlet ports 211 and outlet ports 212 can serve as a temporary storage area for the material box 10, thus avoiding the waiting time for the overhead crane to place the material and for the robotic arm 27 to retrieve the material. Alternatively, in a modified implementation, only one loading port 21 is needed, simultaneously providing storage for the material box 10 before and after cleaning. Although this is more time-consuming, it is still within the scope of applicable technology. In other words, the invention is not limited to the loading port 21 being an inlet, outlet, or having both inlet and outlet functions simultaneously, nor is it limited to the number of inlet and outlet ports.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, the unlocker 30 has a base 32 capable of supporting the door panel 12, and the pair of keys 33 protrude outward from a base surface 320 of the base 32. When the loading port 21 includes the inlet port 211 and the outlet port 212, the unlocker 30 can be divided into an opener 31 installed on the end side of the table 210 of the inlet port 211, and a closer 34 installed on the end side of the table 210 of the outlet port 212; wherein, the opener 31 at the inlet port 211 is specifically responsible for unlocking and opening the door panel 12 on the housing 11, and the closer 34 at the outlet port 212 has the same structure as the opener 31 and is specifically responsible for driving the door panel 12 to lock and combine with the housing 11 to form the material box 10.

[0045] Furthermore, Figure 3 The unlocker 30 shown is implemented in a swing-type configuration; specifically, the base 32 has a pivot portion 321 and at least one arm portion 322 connected between the pivot portion 321 and the base 32; the base 32 is pivotally connected to the end side of the platform 210 of the loading port 21 by means of the arm portion 322 and the pivot portion 321, so that the base 32 can swing to insert the pair of keys 33 into the pair of lock holes of the door piece 12, thereby unlocking and opening the door piece 12 on the housing 11.

[0046] In addition, please see Figure 4 As shown, the unlocker 30 is implemented in a track sliding configuration; specifically, the base 32 can be disposed on a slide block 35, and the slide block 35 can be slidably disposed on a linear slide rail 36, so that the slide block 35 can drive the base 32 to move biaxially. Figure 4 (Indicated by a double-headed arrow), and thus situated on the end side of the platform 210 of the loading port 21, the base 32 can move linearly in both directions to allow the pair of keys 33 to be inserted into the pair of lock holes of the door piece 12, thereby unlocking and opening the door piece 12 on the housing 11. Such designs for unlocking and closing the door piece 12 fall within the technical scope of this invention, which can be easily modified and applied.

[0047] For example Figure 3 As shown, one or more of the aforementioned photosensitive coupling elements 40, in at least one of fixed or movable configurations, can be suspended around the platform 210 of the loading port 21 to detect the current characteristics. When there are multiple photosensitive coupling elements 40, they may include openings 110 corresponding to the housing 11 (e.g., ...). Figure 1b A first photosensitive coupling element 41 for taking an image at the position of the door panel 12, and a second photosensitive coupling element 42 for taking an image at the outer wall surface of the door panel 12 or at the top position (including the flange 113) of the housing 11, are used to detect the current characteristics of the housing 11 and the door panel 12.

[0048] In this invention, the current condition characteristics of the housing 11 and the door plate 12 are detected by the photosensitive coupling element 40 and must be compared with the standard product of the material box 10 to identify whether there are defects in the material box 10 inspected on the production line.

[0049] Since the standard material box 10 itself has multiple standard features S in shape and structure, and the multiple standard features S should include multiple internal standard features S1 and multiple external standard features S2 formed on the shell 11 and the door panel 12; in other words, the multiple internal standard features S1 construct the shape and structural outline of multiple inner wall surfaces of the shell 11 and the door panel 12, and the multiple external standard features S2 construct the shape and structural outline of multiple outer wall surfaces of the shell 11 and the door panel 12; in other words, the multiple internal standard features S1 and the multiple external standard features S2 can jointly construct a complete three-dimensional image of the inner and outer wall surfaces of the material box 10.

[0050] Correspondingly, the present invention detects the condition feature N of the material box 10 on the production line through the photosensitive coupling element 40, which also includes multiple internal condition features N1 and multiple external condition features N2 presented by the inner and outer wall surfaces of the housing 11 and the door panel 12 being inspected on the production line. The multiple internal condition features N1 should be compared with multiple internal standard features S1 to determine whether there are defects in the shape and contour of the inner wall surface of the housing 11 and the door panel 12 being inspected; and the multiple external condition features N2 should be compared with multiple external standard features S2 to determine whether there are defects in the shape and contour of the outer wall surface of the housing 11 and the door panel 12 being inspected.

[0051] Please refer to further information. Figure 5 The present invention discloses a method for detecting defects in a material box based on the above-mentioned material box defect detection device configured on the production line, including performing the following steps S10 to S30 in sequence.

[0052] Step S10: Unlock and open the door panel on the housing.

[0053] This invention will be based on Figure 3 Taking the configuration shown as an example, the door panel 12 on the housing 11 is unlocked and opened by using the door opener 31 (or unlocker 30) configured on the end side of the table 210 at the feed port 211. Specifically, after the day machine (OHT) transports the material box 10 to be cleaned on the production line to the feed port 211 (or loading port 21) and places it there (as shown in the diagram), the door panel 12 is opened. Figure 3 As shown), the outer wall surface of the door panel 12 is exposed towards the base 32 of the door opener 31; Figure 3 In the example shown, the base 32 of the door opener 31 is horizontally positioned, so that the base surface 320 faces upwards, revealing a pair of keys 33.

[0054] Please continue reading Figure 6 As shown, reveal Figure 3The horizontally positioned base 32 of the door opener 31 rotates toward the door panel 12 via the arm 322 and the pivot 321, allowing... Figure 3 The base surface 320 shown covers the outer wall surface of the door panel 12, and the pair of keys 33 are inserted into the pair of lock holes of the door panel 12 to unlock the door panel 12.

[0055] Please continue reading Figure 7 As shown, reveal Figure 6 The base 32 relies on Figure 3 The paired keys 33 are embedded in the door panel 12, so that the door panel 12 follows the reset swing of the base 32 to the horizontal position, and then disengages from the housing 11, and exposes the inner wall surface of the door panel 12, which is equipped with the air-stopping rubber strip 120 and the row of guide ribs 121, so that the door panel 12 on the housing 11 can be opened.

[0056] In addition, please see also Figure 8 As shown, the base 32 of the door opener 31 can drive the door panel 12 to rotate to a vertical position via the arm 322 and the pivot 321 (non-vertical). Figure 7 (as shown in the horizontal configuration) so that the inner wall surface of the door panel 12, which is equipped with the air-stopping rubber strip 120 and the row of guide ribs 121, can be exposed to the outside, so as to complete the opening of the door panel 12 on the housing 11.

[0057] Step S20: Inspect the current condition characteristics of the housing and door panel.

[0058] For example Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the present invention uses one or more photosensitive coupling elements 40 suspended around the platform 210 of the infeed port 211 (or loading port 21) to detect the current status characteristics of the housing 11 and the door panel 12. Specifically, when the loading port 21 is divided into the infeed port 211 and the discharge port 212, the photosensitive coupling element 40 is suspended in the infeed port 211; when the loading port 21 has both infeed and discharge functions, the photosensitive coupling element 40 is suspended in the loading port 21.

[0059] exist Figure 7In the illustrated example, when the photosensitive coupling element 40 includes the first photosensitive coupling element 41 and the second photosensitive coupling element 42, the fixed first photosensitive coupling element 41 can capture an image of the inner wall surface of the housing 11 with internal guide ribs 112 at the opening 110 position of the housing 11. The second photosensitive coupling element 42, which can move linearly in the horizontal direction, can move to the position corresponding to the inner wall surface of the door panel 12 where the air-stopping strip 120 and the row of guide ribs 121 are arranged, and capture an image thereas. These images together serve as the internal condition feature N1 of the inspected material box 10. Simultaneously, the second photosensitive coupling element 42 can also move to the top surface area of ​​the housing 11, including the flange 113, and capture an image thereas, which serves as the external condition feature N2 of the inspected material box 10.

[0060] Furthermore, in Figure 7 In the example shown, the first photosensitive coupling element 41 can be implemented in a fixed manner or in a manner that moves linearly along the horizontal direction; the internal condition feature N1 of the material box 10 may also include an image captured by the first photosensitive coupling element 41 at the end edge position of the door panel 12, combined with the side view of the air-stopping strip 120, to determine whether the air-stopping strip 120 is damaged or detached. Furthermore, in Figure 7 In the example shown, the external condition feature N2 may also be included in Figure 3 In this state, the first photosensitive coupling element 41 captures an image of the outer wall surface with paired lock holes on the door panel 12, which, together with the top surface area image of the housing 11 including the flange 113, serves as the external condition feature N2 of the inspected material box 10.

[0061] exist Figure 8 In the example shown, when the photosensitive coupling element 40 includes the first photosensitive coupling element 41 and the second photosensitive coupling element 42, the first photosensitive coupling element 41 can sequentially align with the opening 110 of the housing 11 to capture images of the inner wall surface of the housing 11 with internal guide ribs 112 and the inner wall surface of the door panel 12 with air-stopping strips 120 and row-shaped guide ribs 121, which together serve as the internal condition feature N1 of the inspected material box 10. Simultaneously, the movable or fixed second photosensitive coupling element 42 can also align with the top surface area of ​​the housing 11, including the flange 113, to capture images, which serve as the external condition feature N2 of the inspected material box 10. Similarly, in Figure 8 In the example shown, the external condition feature N2 may also be included in Figure 3In this state, the first photosensitive coupling element 41 captures an image of the outer wall surface of the door panel 12 with paired lock holes, which, together with the top surface image of the housing 11 including the flange 113 and the screw 114, serves as the external condition feature N2 of the inspected material box 10.

[0062] See also Figure 9 As shown, the housing 11, which is placed on the platform 210 of the feed port 211 and has its door 12 open, is exposed. Figure 8 The first photosensitive coupling element 41 can capture an image of the outer wall surface 41 on the back of the housing 11 by means of a rotating table (not shown) attached to the table 210, or by means of the robotic arm 27 in the cleaning station 20, to rotate or move the housing 11 by 180 degrees, so that the first photosensitive coupling element 41 can capture an image of the outer wall surface 41 on the back of the housing 11 (e.g., ...). Figure 9 As shown, the external condition feature N2 of the tested material box 10 is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0063] Furthermore, in a variant implementation, before unlocking the material box 10, the present invention can first detect multiple external condition features N2 of the housing 11 and the door panel 12 according to the above method, and compare the differences between the external condition features N2 and the external standard features S2, before unlocking and opening the door panel 12 on the housing 11, detecting multiple internal condition features N1 of the housing 11 and the door panel 12, and comparing the differences between the internal condition features N1 and the internal standard features S1.

[0064] Step S30: Compare and determine the location of defects in the material box.

[0065] The present invention utilizes a control unit (which may be made of an MCU, not shown) configured within the device to internally define the standard features S (including internal standard features S1 and external standard features S2) of the housing 11 and the door panel 12. The control unit receives the current condition features N (including internal current condition features N1 and external current condition features N2) detected in step S20, and compares the image features between the standard features S and the current condition features N to determine if there are differences. If the image features have errors exceeding a predetermined tolerance range, the location of the error is determined to be a defect location of the material box 10, and it is confirmed that the defect location is located on the inner wall surface and / or outer wall surface of the housing 11 and / or the door panel 12, thereby completing the material box defect detection process of the present invention.

[0066] Since the execution processes of steps S10 to S30 are all performed at the loading port 21 (or feed port 211), and the robotic arm 27 in the cleaning station 20 is only responsible for transporting the unlocked and inspected housing 11 and door 12 into and out of the cleaning machines 22, 23, and 24 for wet cleaning and vacuum drying, the execution process of the present invention significantly reduces the operation time of the robotic arm 27 in the cleaning station 20 to transport the housing 11 and door 12 for sequential cleaning. In addition, housing 11 or door 12 that are identified as defective by defect detection at the loading port 21 (or feed port 211) can be directly removed by the overhead crane or other automatic equipment to eliminate defective products from the production line, avoiding the robotic arm 27 in the cleaning station 20 from picking up housing 11 or door 12 that already have defects for cleaning. Therefore, the operating efficiency of the cleaning material box for detecting defective products can be greatly improved.

[0067] Also, please refer to the following in order. Figures 10 to 11 As shown, the housing 11, after being cleaned, can be revealed by... Figure 2 The robotic arm 27 in the cleaning station 20 shown transports the material to the table 210 of the discharge port 212 for placement (e.g., ...). Figure 10 As shown), the robotic arm 27 can also move the cleaned door panel 12 to a position where it can be held by the door closer 34 (as shown). Figure 10 Subsequently, the door closer 34 drives the door panel 12 to lock onto the housing 11 (e.g., Figure 11 The assembly of the cleaned good product material box 10 is then completed to facilitate the crane to move the material box 10 away from the clean area station 20.

[0068] In a modified implementation, the execution of steps S20 to S30 can also be modified to be performed at the discharge port 212. This includes, before the door closer 34 has actuated the door panel 12 to lock onto the housing 11, firstly, the aforementioned photosensitive coupling element 40 (including the first photosensitive coupling element 41 and the second photosensitive coupling element 42) executes step S20, that is, detecting the current condition characteristics N (including internal condition characteristics N1 and external condition characteristics N2) of the cleaned housing 11 and door panel 12. Then, the control unit executes step S30, that is, comparing and determining the defect location of the material box to complete the material box defect detection process of the present invention. Only then does the door closer 34 actuate the door panel 12 to lock onto the housing 11 (e.g., ...). Figure 11 The cleaning process involves assembling the cleaned material box 10. Accordingly, the overhead crane or other automated equipment can automatically identify whether the material box 10 on the discharge port 211 is a good or defective product, and then transport it to an appropriate position so that the material box 10 leaves the cleaning station 20.

[0069] The above-described embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should be determined by the contents defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for detecting defects in a material box, applied in a cleaning station of the material box, the cleaning station comprising a loading port for placing the material box, a plurality of cleaning machines for cleaning the material box, and a robotic arm for moving the material box between the loading port and the plurality of cleaning machines, the material box comprising a housing with a locking door, and the housing and the door having a plurality of internal standard features, characterized in that, The detection method includes: Unlock the material box and open the door on the housing. Then, detect multiple internal condition features of the housing and the door, and compare the differences between the internal condition features and the internal standard features to determine the location of the defect in the material box. The processes of unlocking the material box and detecting the housing and the door panel are all performed at the loading port.

2. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The internal standard features are composed of standard images of at least one inner end face of the housing and the door piece, and the internal limiting features are composed of current images of at least one inner end face of the housing and the door piece.

3. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The loading port unlocks the door plate on the housing by means of an unlocker, and detects the internal condition features by means of at least one photosensitive coupling element.

4. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The housing and the door panel also have multiple external standard features. The detection method further includes detecting multiple external condition features of the housing and the door panel before unlocking the material box, and comparing the differences between the external condition features and the external standard features.

5. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The external standard features are composed of standard images of at least one outer end face of the housing and the door plate, and the external limiting features are composed of current images of at least one outer end face of the housing and the door plate.

6. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The loading port unlocks the door plate on the housing by means of an unlocker, and detects the internal condition features and the external condition features by means of at least one photosensitive coupling element.

7. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 3 or 6, characterized in that: The unlocker uses either a gyratory or linear movement to open the door panel on the housing.

8. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 3 or 6, characterized in that: The photosensitive coupling element is fixed and movable in at least one manner to detect the external condition characteristics and the internal condition characteristics.

9. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 3 or 6, characterized in that: The loading port includes at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. The detection method is performed at the inlet port, and the housing and the door plate are locked together at the outlet port to form the material box.

10. The method for detecting defects in material boxes as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The discharge port is locked by a door closer on the housing, and the door closer is opened by either a gyratory or linear movement.

11. A defect detection device for a material box, disposed in a cleaning station of the material box, the cleaning station comprising a loading port for placing the material box, a plurality of cleaning machines for cleaning the material box, and a robotic arm for moving the material box between the loading port and the plurality of cleaning machines, the loading port having a platform for placing the material box, the material box comprising a door latched on a housing, characterized in that, The detection device includes: An unlocking device having a pair of keys embedded in a pair of keyholes on the door panel for unlocking the material box and opening the door panel on the housing; and At least one photosensitive coupling element is used to detect multiple current characteristics of the housing and the door plate; The unlocker is disposed at one end of the platform of the loading port, and the photosensitive coupling element is suspended around the platform of the loading port to perform the unlocking, door opening and defect detection on the material box by means of the loading port before cleaning the material box.

12. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 11, characterized in that: The unlocker has a base that can support the door panel, the pair of keys protruding outward from one base surface of the base, and the base has a pivot portion that is pivotally connected to the end side of the loading port platform, so that the base can rotate to insert the pair of keys into the pair of key holes of the door panel, thereby unlocking and opening the door panel on the housing.

13. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 11, characterized in that: The unlocker has a base that can support the door panel, the pair of keys protruding outward from one base surface of the base, and the base is slidably mounted on the end side of the loading port via a linear slide rail, so that the base can linearly move to insert the pair of keys into the pair of key holes of the door panel, thereby unlocking and opening the door panel on the housing.

14. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 11, characterized in that: The photosensitive coupling element is suspended around the platform of the loading port in at least one fixed and movable manner to detect the current characteristics.

15. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 11, characterized in that: The loading port is at least one inlet port of the material box, and the cleaning station also includes at least one outlet port, and the outlet port is locked by a door closer to form the material box by means of the door plate on the housing.

16. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 15, characterized in that: The door closer is disposed on one end of a platform of the discharge port. The door closer has a pair of keys embedded in a pair of lock holes for carrying the door and locking the door on the housing.

17. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 16, characterized in that: The door closer has a base capable of supporting the door panel, the pair of keys protruding outward from one base surface of the base, and the base has a pivot portion, which is pivotally connected to the end side of the platform of the discharge port, so that the base can rotate to insert the pair of keys into the pair of lock holes of the door panel, support the door panel, and lock the door panel on the housing.

18. The material box defect detection device as described in claim 16, characterized in that: The door closer has a base that can support the door panel, and the pair of keys protrude outward from one base surface of the base. The base is slidably mounted on the end side of the platform of the loading port via a linear slide rail, so that the base can linearly move to insert the pair of keys into the pair of key holes of the door panel, support the door panel, and lock the door panel on the housing.

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