Article inspection device

Abstract

To provide an article inspection device which inspects the quality of an article on the basis of spectral characteristics of transmitted light and which can be easily added to an existing conveyance part.SOLUTION: An article inspection device irradiates a tablet W as an inspection object in a constant attitude with light when the conveyed tablet W reaches an inspection position, so as to inspect the quality of the tablet W on the basis of spectral characteristics of transmitted light which has been transmitted by the tablet W in association with the irradiation with the light. The article inspection device includes: a light source part 2 for irradiating the tablet W with the light; and a light reception part 3 for receiving the transmitted light. The light source part 2 is arranged at a position of applying the light from the side of the tablet W in the constant attitude. The light reception part 3 is arranged in a vertical direction of the tablet W in the constant attitude.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article inspection device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a tablet printing device in which tablets are transported by a conveyor belt, a print head device prints on the tablets transported by the conveyor belt, the printing status of the tablets is checked downstream of the print head device in the transport direction of the tablets transported by the conveyor belt, and based on the results, the position of a defective ejection nozzle in the print head device is identified, and the print head device is prohibited from printing using the defective ejection nozzle, while the print head device prints without using the defective ejection nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-13752 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in order to ensure quality, quality inspections are sometimes performed on molded articles such as tablets. The article is brought to an inspection position and light is irradiated onto it. Based on the spectral characteristics of the light transmitted through the article, quality inspections are performed to check whether the components of the article are appropriate, whether there are any foreign objects mixed in the article, whether there are any chips on the surface of the article, etc.

[0005] To perform quality inspection based on the spectral characteristics of transmitted light, at least a light source and a light receiver are required; for example, for an item transported along a horizontal plane, the light source and the light receiver are positioned facing each other in the vertical direction, sandwiching the item on the transport path.

[0006] Such inspection equipment requires the creation of holes in the conveyor belt to allow light to pass through so that the light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the object can be received by a receiver. Therefore, such equipment cannot be added to existing production or inspection lines at a later stage and must be built in from the beginning.

[0007] For example, when adding an inspection device that performs quality inspection based on the spectral characteristics of transmitted light to the tablet printing device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is necessary to make modifications such as at least providing the necessary holes in the conveying belt, which is not easy.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide an item inspection device that inspects the quality of an item based on the spectral characteristics of transmitted light, which can be easily added to an existing conveying section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The item inspection device of the present invention is an item inspection device that irradiates light onto an item to be inspected, which is in a fixed position, when the item being transported reaches an inspection position, and inspects the quality of the item based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light that passes through the item as a result of the irradiation of this light, and is equipped with a light source unit that irradiates the light onto the item, and a light receiving unit that receives the transmitted light, wherein the light source unit is positioned at a position where it irradiates the light from the side of the item in the fixed position, and the light receiving unit is positioned on one side in the vertical direction of the item in the fixed position.

[0010] With this configuration, the item inspection device of the present invention is useful as an item inspection device that can be easily added to an existing conveying unit without performing any special processing, etc. on the existing conveying unit, because the light source unit is positioned in a position where it irradiates light from the side of an item in a fixed posture, and the light receiving unit is positioned on one side in the vertical direction of the item in a fixed posture.

[0011] In the object inspection device of the present invention, it is preferable that the light source unit comprises a first light source unit and a second light source unit, and that the first light source unit and the second light source unit are arranged in opposing positions across the object.

[0012] With this configuration, the object inspection device of the present invention has a light source unit consisting of a first light source unit and a second light source unit, and the first light source unit and the second light source unit are arranged in opposing positions across the object, so that the amount of transmitted light received by the light receiving unit can be increased, thereby further improving the inspection accuracy.

[0013] It is preferable that the item inspection device of the present invention further includes another light source unit that is arranged on the opposite side of the light receiving unit in the vertical direction of the item in the fixed posture, sandwiching the item, and irradiates light onto the item from the other side in the vertical direction of the item.

[0014] With this configuration, the item inspection device of the present invention further includes an other light source unit that is positioned on the opposite side of the light receiving unit in the vertical direction of the item in a fixed posture, sandwiching the item, and irradiates light onto the item from the other side in the vertical direction of the item, thereby making it possible to increase the amount of transmitted light received by the light receiving unit and further improve the inspection accuracy.

[0015] In the object inspection device of the present invention, the object is placed on the conveying surface of a conveying belt and reaches the inspection position, and the light receiving unit is configured to be positioned on the opposite side of the conveying surface, sandwiching the object, in a direction intersecting the conveying surface.

[0016] With this configuration, the item inspection device of the present invention is useful as an item inspection device that can be easily added to an existing conveying belt without performing any special processing on the existing conveying belt, since the light receiving unit is arranged on the opposite side of the conveying surface, across the item, in a direction that intersects with the conveying surface of the conveying belt on which the item is placed.

[0017] The item inspection device of the present invention is an item inspection device that, when an item to be inspected being transported reaches an inspection position, irradiates light onto the item, which is in a fixed position, and inspects the quality of the item based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light that passes through the item as a result of the irradiation of this light, and is equipped with a light source unit that irradiates the light onto the item, and a light receiving unit that receives the transmitted light, wherein the light source unit is positioned at a position where it irradiates the light from the side of the item in the fixed position, and the light receiving unit is positioned on the opposite side of the light source unit, sandwiching the item in the fixed position.

[0018] With this configuration, the item inspection device of the present invention is useful as an item inspection device that can be easily added to an existing conveying unit without performing any special processing, etc. on the existing conveying unit, because the light source unit is positioned in a position where it irradiates light from the side of an item in a fixed posture, and the light receiving unit is positioned on the opposite side of the light source unit, sandwiching the item in a fixed posture.

[0019] In the article inspection device according to the present invention, it is preferable that a slit member having a slit formed therein through which light irradiated from the light source section passes is provided between the light source section and the article.

[0020] With this configuration, the item inspection device of the present invention has a slit member formed with a slit through which light irradiated from the light source unit passes, which is provided between the light source unit and the item, so that stray light can be eliminated by the slit.

[0021] The article inspection apparatus of the present invention further includes an inspection unit that inspects the quality of the article based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit within a predetermined exposure time, and it is preferable that the predetermined exposure time is set within a time during which an amount of light that can be determined to be the transmitted light is obtained based on changes in the amount of light obtained as a result of inspecting the sample article to be inspected multiple times in advance.

[0022] With this configuration, the article inspection device according to the present invention further comprises an inspection unit that inspects the quality of the article based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit within a predetermined exposure time, and the predetermined exposure time is set within a time during which an amount of light that can be determined to be transmitted light is obtained based on changes in the amount of light obtained as a result of previously inspecting a sample article to be inspected multiple times, so that even if the article inspection device is added to an existing conveying unit, it is possible to set an optimal exposure time according to the conveying conditions of the conveying unit and the type of inspection object conveyed through the conveying unit, and also to set an optimal exposure start timing. As a result, even if the article inspection device is added to an existing conveying unit, it is possible to perform highly accurate inspection. Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article inspection device that inspects the quality of an article based on the spectral characteristics of transmitted light, which can be easily added to an existing conveying section. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an object inspection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a light source section and a light receiving section of an object inspection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a partial cross-sectional view and (b) is a side view. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the exposure time in the object inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a graph relating to the setting of the exposure time in the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the light source unit and the light receiving unit when the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing conveyor belt. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the light source unit and the light receiving unit when the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing transfer disk different from that in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a light source section and a light receiving section of an object inspection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of light source units and light receiving units when an object inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing conveyor belt. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a light source unit and a light receiving unit of an object inspection device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of light source units and light receiving units when an object inspection device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing conveyor belt. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a light source unit and a light receiving unit when an object inspection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing transfer disk different from that in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a light source unit and a light receiving unit of an object inspection device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of light source units and light receiving units when an object inspection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing conveyor belt. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of light source units and light receiving units when an object inspection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is added to an existing conveyor belt different from that in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a light source section and a light receiving section of an object inspection device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a modified example of the slit member in the object inspection device according to each embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an article inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking first to fifth embodiments as examples.

[0026] [First embodiment] An article inspection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG.

[0027] The item inspection device of this embodiment is an item inspection device that can be easily added later to an existing conveying unit that aligns and individually transports items to be inspected toward a predetermined inspection position, without making any special modifications to the conveying unit.

[0028] In this embodiment, when an item to be inspected, which is transported individually along a transport path by an existing transport unit, reaches a predetermined inspection position, the item inspection device irradiates light onto the item, which is in a fixed posture at the predetermined inspection position, and inspects the quality of the item based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light that passes through the item upon irradiation with this light (also called the irradiated light).

[0029] Examples of the existing conveying unit include a conveying unit configured to align and convey articles individually, such as a conveying belt, a conveying disk, a conveying chute, etc. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a conveying belt 10 (see FIG. 5) having a horizontal conveying surface 10a is used as the existing conveying unit.

[0030] The objects to be inspected are small-diameter objects in which the light irradiation area is relatively close to the diameter of the irradiation port through which light is irradiated onto the object to be inspected, and include objects with an outer diameter φ of a few mm to a few tens of mm that can be transported individually without packaging, bite-sized objects, as well as objects and molded products of a predetermined shape manufactured in existing manufacturing equipment or manufacturing equipment without inspection capabilities, and particularly objects whose shape does not change during transportation.

[0031] Examples of the object include preparations such as tablets, capsules, lozenges, drops, candies, chocolates, etc. Below, an object to be inspected will be described taking as an example a tablet W that is circular in plan view and approximately cylindrical in side view with a height (thickness) smaller than its diameter. Note that the object to be inspected is not limited to a circular shape in plan view, and objects of various shapes such as an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape can be used.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1, the article inspection device 1 according to this embodiment includes a light source unit 2, a light receiving unit 3, and an inspection unit 4. In Fig. 1, a conveying surface 10a of a conveyor belt 10 is a conveying path for tablets W, and the conveying path extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Fig. 1.

[0033] (Light source part) The light source unit 2 is configured to irradiate a broadband light onto the tablet W at the inspection position P1 (see FIG. 3). The light source unit 2 is disposed at a position where it irradiates light from the side of the tablet W in a fixed posture. That is, the light source unit 2 is configured to be disposed on the side of the conveying path of the conveyor belt 10 so as to irradiate light onto the tablet W from the side of the tablet W along the conveying surface 10a on which the tablet W is placed. In this embodiment, "tablet W in a fixed posture" refers to a tablet W in a posture in which a circular end face faces up and down.

[0034] Specifically, when the item inspection device 1 of this embodiment is added to an existing conveying belt 10, the vertical position of the light source unit 2 relative to the conveying belt 10 is adjusted so that the light source unit 2 is positioned to the side of the conveying path of the conveying belt 10.

[0035] For example, the light source unit 2 is accommodated together with the light receiving unit 3 in a storage case 6, and the position of the storage case 6 relative to the conveyor belt 10 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the storage case 6 relative to the conveyor belt 10. The storage case 6 is attached, for example, to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or to another member constituting the conveyor line via a bracket (not shown). Instead of the storage case 6, a mount member supporting both the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3 may be used.

[0036] In addition, the light source unit 2 may not be housed in the housing case 6, but may be attached directly to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or to another member constituting the conveyor line via a support member not shown.

[0037] The light source unit 2 is configured to be capable of adjusting the irradiation angle of the light irradiated onto the tablet W, i.e., the angle of incidence of the light onto the tablet W. Specifically, the light source unit 2 is capable of adjusting the angle θ of the central axis A of the light with respect to the vertical plane by an angle variable mechanism (not shown).

[0038] This allows light to be incident on an object at a suitable angle of incidence depending on the type of object to be inspected. Also, when stray light occurs, it can be dealt with.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the light source unit 2 includes a light source 2a, a light guide 2b, and a condenser lens 2c.

[0040] The light source 2a is composed of a broadband light source, such as a halogen lamp, in order to irradiate broadband light onto the tablet W to be inspected, and is provided at a predetermined position as a light source unit integrally assembled with a lamp holding means and a case having heat dissipation fins, and is connected to a power supply unit (neither of which are shown).

[0041] Broadband light refers to light including visible light, near-infrared light, and terahertz light (terahertz waves). It is not necessary for the wavelength of the irradiated light to cover all of these. For example, a wavelength band of 400-2500 nm is easy to transmit through a measurement target such as a tablet and is unlikely to cause damage from ultraviolet rays, so the wavelength band may be limited to this wavelength band or the near-infrared band within this wavelength band. Furthermore, if the absorption spectrum of the component to be measured is known, only the wavelength band corresponding to the absorption spectrum may be used.

[0042] The light guide 2b is made up of a number of glass optical fibers bundled together, and guides the light from the light source 2a to a condenser lens 2c that condenses the light.

[0043] The condenser lens 2c condenses the light from the light guide 2b onto the tablet W (the side surface of the tablet W in the example of FIG. 2) at the inspection position P1 (see FIG. 3).

[0044] The light source unit 2 emits broadband light from the light source 2a to the condenser lens 2c via the light guide 2b, and adjusts the magnification of the condenser lens 2c (the positions of the condenser lens 2c, the light source 2a, and the tablet W) so that the condenser lens 2c covers all of the sides of the tablet W at the inspection position P1, thereby efficiently irradiating the light from the light source 2a onto the tablet W at the inspection position P1.

[0045] In this embodiment, a slit member 7 is provided between the light source unit 2 and the tablet W at the inspection position P1, i.e., between the light source unit 2 and the conveying path of the conveyor belt 10. The slit member 7 has a rectangular slit 7a through which the light irradiated from the light source unit 2 passes. The opening area and shape of the slit 7a are appropriately set according to the size and shape of the inspection target.

[0046] The slit member 7 allows the light from the light source unit 2 to pass through the slit 7a, thereby blocking unnecessary light that does not enter the tablet W, such as light scattered in the vertical direction, from the light irradiated from the light source unit 2, and prevents stray light from entering the light receiving unit 3.

[0047] The slit member 7 may be housed in the above-mentioned housing case 6, or may be held in the housing case 6 via a holding means (not shown). Also, the slit member 7 may be configured to be separate from the light source unit 2 and supported via a bracket (not shown).

[0048] (Light receiving part) The light receiving section 3 has an optical fiber 3a and a spectroscope 3b, which are integrally assembled to form a light detection unit.

[0049] The light receiving unit 3 is configured to be disposed on one side (upper side in this embodiment) in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed posture. In other words, the light receiving unit 3 is configured to be disposed on the opposite side to the conveying surface 10a (upper side in this embodiment) across the tablet W in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed posture.

[0050] Specifically, when the item inspection device 1 of this embodiment is added to an existing conveying belt 10, the horizontal position of the light receiving unit 3 relative to the conveying belt 10 is adjusted so that the light receiving unit 3 is positioned above the conveying path of the conveying belt 10.

[0051] For example, the light receiving unit 3 is accommodated in a storage case 6 together with the light source unit 2, and the position of the light receiving unit 3 relative to the conveyor belt 10 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the storage case 6 relative to the conveyor belt 10. Furthermore, the position of the light receiving unit 3 relative to the light source unit 2 can also be adjusted inside the storage case 6.

[0052] In addition, the light receiving unit 3 may not be housed in the housing case 6, but may be attached directly to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or to another member constituting the conveyor line via a supporting member not shown.

[0053] The light receiving unit 3 receives the transmitted light that has passed through the tablet W at the inspection position P1 (see Figure 3), and receives the transmitted light as the transmitted light enters from the end face (incident opening) of the incident surface of the optical fiber 3a, passes through the optical fiber 3a, and reaches the spectrometer 3b.

[0054] In this embodiment, taking into consideration the area of ​​the top surface of the tablet W, the core diameter and numerical aperture of the optical fiber 3a, the position of the optical fiber 3a is adjusted in advance so that it can receive the irradiated light from the side of the tablet W, making it possible to receive the transmitted light that enters from the side of the tablet W and transmits to the top surface.

[0055] The spectroscope 3b performs splitting using, for example, a grating that utilizes the difference in diffraction angle depending on the wavelength of light. Specifically, the light that entered the spectroscope 3b is irradiated onto a grating (diffraction grating) and split into individual wavelength components. The light split into individual wavelength components is then detected for each wavelength component by a row of photodetection elements. The light intensity for each wavelength component is then measured. The grating is an optical element with multiple grooves engraved on its surface.

[0056] The optical fiber 3a may be a tapered optical fiber having a large input diameter and a small output diameter, which allows the transmitted light to be more efficiently incident on the spectrometer 3b.

[0057] (Inspection Department) As shown in Figure 1, the inspection unit 4 has a signal processing unit 4a that processes the spectroscopic characteristics obtained by the light receiving unit 3 within a predetermined exposure time, and inspects the quality of the tablet W, i.e., determines whether the quality of the tablet W is good or bad, based on the results of the signal processing.

[0058] The signal processing unit 4a calculates the spectral characteristics of the absorbance absorbed by the tablet W from the spectral characteristics obtained by the light receiving unit 3. Specifically, the absorbance A at the wavelength λ is obtained by the formula A=-log10(I / Ii) which is the common logarithm of the ratio (transmittance) of the light intensity Ii of the incident light to the light intensity I of the transmitted light, and the transmitted amount detected when there is no tablet W at the inspection position P1 can be obtained as the light intensity Ii of the incident light.

[0059] The inspection unit 4 compares the spectroscopic characteristics of absorbance of a good tablet W acquired in advance (the intensity of each wavelength of the spectrum (including multiple differentiation), the shape of the waveform, information obtained by extracting the whole or a partial region and creating a calibration curve, and statistical information) with the spectroscopic characteristics of absorbance of the tablet W to be inspected that has been transported to the inspection position, and judges whether the quality of the tablet W is good or bad based on the magnitude of the difference. The inspection unit 4 outputs a sorting signal based on the pass / fail result of the judgment to a sorting unit (not shown) that sorts the tablets W into normal or defective.

[0060] Specifically, for example, the quality of the tablet W is judged based on whether the difference amount for each wavelength determined by calculation using a calibration curve obtained by statistical calculation results (such as standard deviation) or statistical methods such as regression is within a predetermined range (a range determined based on the results of statistical calculations or the results of a calibration curve). The quality of the tablet W can also be judged based on whether the sum of the intensities of each wavelength is within a predetermined range. Furthermore, when the components of the tablet W are uniform, the quality of the tablet W may be judged based on whether there is an intensity exceeding a predetermined threshold value set in advance in a region other than the specific wavelength.

[0061] An operation input unit 5, which is, for example, a touch panel display, is connected to the inspection unit 4. The operation input unit 5 is operated by a user to perform various settings and various displays.

[0062] The inspection unit 4 and the operation input unit 5 may be configured, for example, as an integrated unit with the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3, or may be configured as a terminal (for example, a personal computer or a mobile terminal) provided separately from the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3.

[0063] (About exposure time) Next, the exposure time in the object inspection device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0064] As shown in Figure 3, the item inspection device 1 of this embodiment measures the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 3 within the exposure time Te, using timing t1 after a delay time Td has elapsed from timing t0 (hereinafter referred to as the "detection timing") when a tablet W is detected by a detection sensor 8 arranged upstream in the conveying direction of the inspection position P1 as a reference, and sets the period from timing t1 to timing t2 as an exposure time Te.

[0065] In this embodiment, the timing at which the detection sensor 8 detects the leading edge of the tablet W in the conveying direction is defined as detection timing t0.

[0066] Here, the exposure time Te needs to be set to an optimal time as appropriate depending on the specifications of the existing transport unit to which the object inspection apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is added and the type of inspection target. If the exposure time Te is not set to an optimal time, it is not possible to obtain transmitted light necessary for measurement, which makes the measurement unstable and reduces the inspection accuracy.

[0067] In this embodiment, even if the item inspection device 1 is added to an existing conveying section, the exposure time Te is set in advance so that it is the optimal exposure time according to the specifications of the existing conveying section and the inspection object being conveyed by the conveying section.

[0068] Specifically, when the article inspection device 1 according to this embodiment is added to an existing transport section, the sample item to be inspected is transported in advance by the existing transport section multiple times, and the sample item is inspected multiple times. The aspect of "inspecting a sample item multiple times" includes not only inspecting one sample item multiple times, but also inspecting each of multiple sample items.

[0069] In the product inspection device 1 according to this embodiment, the change in the amount of light obtained by the light receiving unit 3 as a result of inspecting the multiple sample products is displayed on the operation input unit 5, for example as a graph, as shown in Fig. 4. The graph shown in Fig. 4 displays the change over time in the amount of light obtained by the light receiving unit 3 with the detection timing t0 as the reference point. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the sample product to be inspected is inspected five times. The number of sample products inspected is one example and is not limited to "5".

[0070] 4, a larger amount of light indicates that more light other than transmitted light is incident on the light receiving section 3. Conversely, a smaller amount of light indicates that more transmitted light is incident on the light receiving section 3.

[0071] The user refers to the graph shown in Figure 4 displayed on the operation input unit 5, determines that the area where the amount of light is small and stable (in the example of Figure 4, the period from timing t1 to timing t2) is the stable measurement area, and sets this stable measurement area as the exposure time Te.

[0072] This stable measurement region is the time during which, as a result of testing a sample product multiple times, an amount of light that can be determined to be transmitted light that has passed through the test object is obtained based on the change in the amount of light obtained by the light-receiving unit 3. In the example of Figure 4, the "amount of light that can be determined to be transmitted light that has passed through the test object" is the amount of light during the period from timing t1 to timing t2, and means that no light other than transmitted light is received by the light-receiving unit 3, or even if it is received, it is very little.

[0073] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the stable measurement region and the exposure time Te are made to coincide with each other, but as long as the exposure time Te is within the stable measurement region, it does not necessarily have to coincide with the stable measurement region.

[0074] 4, the period before timing t1 is not used as the exposure time Te because it includes an area where the amount of light is large and the change in the amount of light is large. Also, the period after timing t2 is not used as the exposure time Te because it includes an area where the amount of light is large and the change in the amount of light is large.

[0075] Furthermore, in the article inspection device 1 according to this embodiment, the user can also set the delay time Td by referring to a graph as shown in Fig. 4. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 4, the user sets the delay time Td based on the timing t1.

[0076] In an inspection device that inspects an object in a transporting state as in this embodiment, it is necessary to adjust the timing at which exposure to the object begins (hereinafter referred to as the "exposure start timing") using, for example, an encoder or a timing sensor, and in order to make this adjustment easy, the device has a function of delaying the start of exposure by setting a delay time after the detection timing.

[0077] In this embodiment as well, the start of exposure is delayed by setting the above-mentioned delay time Td. Note that in this embodiment, timing t1 is set as the exposure start timing.

[0078] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the exposure time Te is set based on the time from the detection timing t0, but the exposure time Te may be set based on the distance from the detection position of the detection sensor 8.

[0079] The detection sensor 8 may be unitized with the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3 and housed in the housing case 6, or may be provided separately from the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3. When the detection sensor 8 is provided separately from the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3, the detection sensor 8 is directly attached to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or to another member constituting the conveyor line via a support member (not shown).

[0080] (An example of an existing conveyor) An existing conveying section to which the item inspection device 1 of this embodiment can be added may be a conveying disk 11 as shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the conveying belt 10 having a horizontal conveying surface as shown in FIG. 5 described in this embodiment.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 6, the conveying disk 11 is a conveying section configured to suck the tablet W into suction holes in its outer peripheral surface 11a and convey it in the circumferential direction while rotating horizontally. In the conveying disk 11, the tablet W is conveyed with its upper and lower surfaces kept horizontal by its side surfaces being sucked into the suction holes. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the plane perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface 11a, i.e., the plane on which the lower surface of the tablet W moves, is defined as the conveying plane.

[0082] When the object inspection device 1 of this embodiment is added to the conveying disk 11, the light source unit 2 is arranged radially outward on the opposite side to the outer peripheral surface 11a of the conveying disk 11, sandwiching the tablet W, and the light receiving unit 3 is arranged above the conveying path of the tablet W that is held by suction and conveyed.

[0083] (Action and effect) As described above, the object inspection device of this embodiment is configured such that the light source unit 2 is positioned to irradiate light from the side of the tablet W in a fixed posture, and the light receiving unit 3 is positioned on one side (the upper side in this embodiment) in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed posture, making it useful as an object inspection device that can be easily added to an existing conveying unit without requiring any special processing or the like to be performed on the existing conveying unit.

[0084] Furthermore, the object inspection device of this embodiment is configured such that the light receiving unit 3 is arranged on the opposite side of the conveying surface 10a of the conveying belt 10 on which the tablet W is placed, in a direction intersecting the conveying surface 10a (for example, in this embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the conveying surface 10a), sandwiching the tablet W therebetween, and therefore is useful as an object inspection device that can be easily added to an existing conveying belt 10 without performing any special processing, etc. on the existing conveying belt 10.

[0085] Furthermore, in the object inspection device of this embodiment, a slit member 7 having a slit 7a formed therein through which the light irradiated from the light source unit 2 passes is provided between the light source unit 2 and the tablet W, so that stray light can be eliminated by the slit 7a.

[0086] Moreover, the article inspection device according to this embodiment further includes an inspection unit 4 that inspects the quality of the tablet W based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 3 within a predetermined exposure time Te, and the predetermined exposure time Te is set within a time period during which a light amount that can be determined as transmitted light is obtained based on changes in the light amount obtained as a result of inspecting the sample product to be inspected multiple times in advance, so that even if the article inspection device is added to an existing conveying unit, it is possible to set an optimal exposure time Te according to the conveying conditions of the conveying unit and the type of inspection object to be conveyed through the conveying unit, and also to set an optimal exposure start timing. As a result, even if the article inspection device is added to an existing conveying unit, it is possible to perform highly accurate inspection.

[0087] [Second embodiment] Next, an article inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0088] This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the light source unit, but other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment. In the following, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described.

[0089] As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the product inspection device 21 according to this embodiment has a light source unit consisting of a first light source unit 2A and a second light source unit 2B, and the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B are arranged at positions facing each other with the tablet W at the inspection position P1 in between. In other words, the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B are arranged to face each other in a direction along the conveying surface 10a with the conveying path of the conveying belt 10 in between. Furthermore, slit members 7 are provided between the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B and the tablet W at the inspection position P1, i.e., between the conveying path of the conveying belt 10.

[0090] The first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B both irradiate light onto the tablet W through the slit 7a of the slit member 7 from opposite directions.

[0091] The first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B are both accommodated in a housing case 6 together with the light receiving unit 3. Instead of the housing case 6, a mount member that supports all of the first light source unit 2A, the second light source unit 2B, and the light receiving unit 3 may be used.

[0092] In addition, both the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B may not be housed in the housing case 6, but may be directly attached to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or other members constituting the conveyor line via a support member not shown.

[0093] (Action and effect) As described above, the object inspection device of this embodiment has a light source unit consisting of a first light source unit 2A and a second light source unit 2B, and the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B are arranged in opposing positions sandwiching the tablet W at the inspection position P1, so that the amount of transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 3 can be increased, thereby further improving the inspection accuracy.

[0094] [Third embodiment] Next, an article inspection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0095] This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the arrangement of the light receiving unit 3, but other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment. In the following, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0096] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the object inspection device 31 according to this embodiment is configured so that the light receiving unit 3 is disposed on the opposite side to the light source unit 2, sandwiching a tablet W which is in a fixed position at an inspection position P1.

[0097] Specifically, when the item inspection device 31 of this embodiment is added to an existing conveying belt 10, the vertical position of the light receiving unit 3 relative to the conveying belt 10 is adjusted so that the light receiving unit 3 is positioned to the side of the conveying path of the conveying belt 10, opposite the light source unit 2.

[0098] For example, the light receiving unit 3 is accommodated in a storage case 6 together with the light source unit 2, and the position of the light receiving unit 3 relative to the conveyor belt 10 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the storage case 6 relative to the conveyor belt 10. Furthermore, the position of the light receiving unit 3 relative to the light source unit 2 can also be adjusted inside the storage case 6. Instead of the storage case 6, a mount member that supports both the light source unit 2 and the light receiving unit 3 may be used.

[0099] In addition, the light receiving unit 3 may not be housed in the housing case 6, but may be attached directly to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or to another member constituting the conveyor line via a supporting member not shown.

[0100] In this embodiment, taking into consideration the area of ​​the side surface of tablet W when viewed from the side, in other words, half the area of ​​the outer circumferential area of ​​tablet W, the core diameter and numerical aperture of optical fiber 3a, the position of optical fiber 3a is adjusted in advance so that light irradiated from the side surface of tablet W can be received, thereby making it possible to receive transmitted light that enters from the side surface of tablet W and transmits to the upper surface side.

[0101] In addition, an existing conveying section to which the item inspection device 31 of this embodiment can be added may be a conveying disk 12 as shown in Figure 11, in addition to the conveying belt 10 with a horizontal conveying surface as shown in Figure 10 described in this embodiment.

[0102] As shown in Fig. 11, the conveying disk 12 is a conveying section configured to suck the tablet W into suction holes in its outer peripheral surface 12a and convey it in the circumferential direction while rotating vertically. In the conveying disk 12, the tablet W is conveyed with its upper or lower surface being sucked into the suction holes. The outer peripheral surface 12a constitutes a conveying surface.

[0103] When the item inspection device 31 of this embodiment is added to the conveying disk 12, the light source unit 2 is arranged on one side of the disc surface of the conveying disk 12, sandwiching the tablet W, and the light receiving unit 3 is arranged on the other side of the disc surface of the conveying disk 12, sandwiching the tablet W.

[0104] To the transfer disk 12, the article inspection device 1 according to the first embodiment and the article inspection device 21 according to the second embodiment can also be added.

[0105] (Action and effect) As described above, the object inspection device of this embodiment is configured such that the light source unit 2 is positioned to irradiate light from the side of the tablet W which is in a fixed position at the inspection position P1, and the light receiving unit 3 is positioned on the opposite side of the light source unit 2, sandwiching the tablet W which is in a fixed position at the inspection position P1. Therefore, the object inspection device is useful as an object inspection device that can be easily added to an existing conveying unit without performing any special processing on the existing conveying unit.

[0106] [Fourth embodiment] Next, an article inspection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0107] This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that an existing transport unit that can be added is different and another light source unit is added, but other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the following, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0108] As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, an article inspection device 41 according to this embodiment has a configuration in which an additional light source unit 42 is added to the article inspection device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0109] Furthermore, an example of an existing conveying section to which the article inspection device 41 according to this embodiment can be added is a conveying belt that is configured to be composed of conveying belts 40A and 40B arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined gap 40b therebetween, and conveys the tablets W by adsorbing their lower surfaces to the conveying surface 40a by air through the predetermined gap 40b. The conveying surface 40a is composed of the upper surface of the conveying belt 40A and the upper surface of the conveying belt 40B.

[0110] As in the present embodiment, an existing conveying belt that conveys the tablet W by adsorbing its lower surface to the conveying surface may be a conveying belt that is composed of a single conveying belt and has suction holes formed on its conveying surface.

[0111] The other light source unit 42 has a light source 42a, a light guide 42b, and a condenser lens 42c, similar to the light source unit 2. The configurations of these members are the same as those of the light source unit 2, and therefore descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0112] The other light source unit 42 is configured to be arranged in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed position at the inspection position P1, on the opposite side to the light receiving unit 3 (the lower side in this embodiment) across the tablet W. The other light source unit 42 irradiates light onto the tablet W through a predetermined gap 40b from the other side in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed position at the inspection position P1 (the lower side in this embodiment).

[0113] The light source unit 2 and the other light source unit 42 are both accommodated in a storage case 6 together with the light receiving unit 3. Instead of the storage case 6, a mount member that supports all of the light source unit 2, the other light source unit 42, and the light receiving unit 3 may be used.

[0114] In addition, the light source unit 2, the other light source unit 42, and the light receiving unit 3 may not all be housed in the housing case 6, but may be directly attached to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or other members constituting the conveyor line via a support member not shown.

[0115] In addition, the existing conveying section to which the item inspection device 41 of this embodiment can be added may be not only the two conveying belts 40A, 40B as shown in Figures 12 and 13 described in this embodiment, but also a single conveying belt 15 arranged so that the conveying surface 15a is parallel to the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 14.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 14, the conveyor belt 15 is a conveyor section having suction holes 15b provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction on a conveying surface 15a, and configured to convey the tablets W horizontally by sucking their sides into the suction holes 15b.

[0117] When the article inspection device 41 according to this embodiment is added to the conveyor belt 15, the light source unit 2 is arranged on the back side (the surface opposite to the conveyor surface 15a) of the conveyor belt 15, and the light receiving unit 3 is arranged above and the other light source unit 42 is arranged below, sandwiching the tablet W. In the example shown in Fig. 14, the light source unit 2 may be provided on the opposite side to the conveyor surface 15a, sandwiching the tablet W in the horizontal direction.

[0118] (Action and effect) As described above, the object inspection device of this embodiment further includes, in addition to the light source unit 2, another light source unit 42 that is arranged on the opposite side of the light receiving unit 3 in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed posture, sandwiching the tablet W therebetween, and irradiates light onto the tablet W from the other side in the vertical direction of the tablet W in a fixed posture (the lower side in this embodiment). Therefore, the amount of transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 3 can be increased, and the inspection accuracy can be further improved.

[0119] Conventionally, in the case of a conveyor belt that adsorbs tablets W to the conveying surface and conveys them, the quality of the tablets W was inspected by transmitting light irradiated from a light source unit located below the conveyor belt through the tablets W and receiving the transmitted light at a light receiving unit located above the conveyor belt.

[0120] However, with such a configuration, when viewed from below the conveying belt, the outer peripheral edge of the tablet W overlaps with the conveying belt in the vertical direction, resulting in an uninspected area at the outer peripheral edge of the tablet W, which posed a problem in that the inspection accuracy could not be improved.

[0121] In the article inspection device according to this embodiment, in addition to the other light source unit 42 that irradiates light from below, the light source unit 2 that irradiates light onto the tablets W from the side of the transport path is provided, so that the uninspected area as described above can be eliminated. This can improve the accuracy of the inspection.

[0122] In this embodiment, the positions of the light receiving unit 3 and the other light source unit 42 may be interchanged. That is, the light receiving unit 3 may be disposed below the conveyor belts 40A and 40B, and the other light source unit 42 may be disposed above the conveyor belts 40A and 40B.

[0123] In this manner, in a configuration in which the position of the light receiving unit 3 and the other light source unit 42 are swapped, if the light source unit 2 were not present, i.e., in a configuration in which the light receiving unit 3 receives only the light irradiated from the other light source unit 42, parts of the conveying belts 40A and 40B that overlap the outer peripheral end of the tablet W in the vertical direction would also be included in the inspection area, which could reduce the accuracy of the inspection.

[0124] In the article inspection device according to this embodiment, even if the positions of the light receiving unit 3 and the other light source unit 42 are interchanged, since the light source unit 2 that irradiates light onto the tablet W from the side of the conveying path is provided in addition to the other light source unit 42 that irradiates light from above, it is possible to prevent parts of the conveying belts 40A and 40B that overlap the outer circumferential end of the tablet W in the vertical direction from being included in the inspection area. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of the inspection.

[0125] [Fifth embodiment] Next, an article inspection device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0126] This embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in the configuration of the light source unit, but other configurations are similar to those of the fourth embodiment. In the following, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the fourth embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0127] As shown in Fig. 15, the light source unit of the product inspection device 51 according to this embodiment is composed of a first light source unit 2A and a second light source unit 2B, and the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B are arranged at positions facing each other with the tablet W at the inspection position P1 in between. In other words, the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B are arranged to face each other in a direction along the conveying surface 10a with the conveying path of the conveying belt 10 in between. Furthermore, slit members 7 are provided between the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B and the tablet W at the inspection position P1, i.e., between the conveying path of the conveying belt 10.

[0128] The first light source unit 2A, the second light source unit 2B, and the other light source unit 42 are all accommodated in a storage case 6 together with the light receiving unit 3. Instead of the storage case 6, a mount member that supports all of the first light source unit 2A, the second light source unit 2B, the other light source unit 42, and the light receiving unit 3 may be used.

[0129] In addition, the first light source unit 2A, the second light source unit 2B, the other light source unit 42, and the light receiving unit 3 may not all be housed in the housing case 6, but may be directly attached to a member supporting the conveyor belt 10 or other members constituting the conveyor line via a support member not shown.

[0130] In the article inspection device 51 according to this embodiment, the tablet W is irradiated with light from both sides in the horizontal direction by the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B, and with light from below by the other light source unit .

[0131] (Action and effect) As described above, in addition to the advantageous effects of the fourth embodiment, the object inspection device of this embodiment can increase the amount of transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 3, thereby further improving the inspection accuracy.

[0132] [Variations] In the second, fourth and fifth embodiments having a plurality of light source sections among the above-described embodiments, the wavelengths or outputs of the light irradiated from the light source sections (including other light source sections) may be made different.

[0133] In addition, in each of the first to fifth embodiments described above, an example has been described in which a slit member 7 having a rectangular slit 7a formed therein is provided as a slit between the light source unit and the tablet W at the inspection position P1. However, a slit member 70 as shown in FIG. 16 may be used instead of the slit member 7.

[0134] 16, the slit member 70 is disposed above the conveying surface 10a of the conveyor belt 10 with a small gap provided between the slit member 70 and the conveying surface 10a. The slit member 70 has a concavely cut slit 70a. Therefore, when viewed from the light source unit 2 side, the slit member 70 has a U-shape with the slit 70a formed below.

[0135] 16, the slit member 70 is disposed at a position where it overlaps with the conveyor belt 10 in the vertical direction, but the slit member 70 and the conveyor belt 10 may be disposed in a positional relationship where they do not overlap in the vertical direction. For example, the slit member 70 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the conveyor belt 10 in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 16) and where the lower end of the slit member 70 is at approximately the same height as the conveyor surface 10a.

[0136] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0137] 1, 21, 31, 41, 51 Article inspection equipment 2 Light source section 2A First light source 2B Second light source section 3 Light receiving section 4. Inspection Department 5 Operation input section 6 Storage Case 7, 70 Slit member 7a, 70a slit 8 Detection Sensor 10, 15, 40A, 40B conveyor belt 10a, 15a, 40a Conveying surface 11, 12 Conveyor disc 11a, 12a Outer periphery (transport surface) 40b Gap 42 Other light source section W Tablet (item) P1 Inspection position Td Delay time Te exposure time

Claims

1. When a conveyed inspection target object (W) reaches an inspection position (P1), the object is in a fixed position and light is irradiated onto the object, and the quality of the object is inspected based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light that is transmitted through the object as the light is irradiated, A light source unit (2) that irradiates the object with the light; A light receiving unit (3) that receives the transmitted light, The light source unit is disposed at a position where the light is irradiated from a side of the article in the fixed posture, An object inspection device, wherein the light receiving unit is arranged on one side in the vertical direction of the object in the fixed posture.

2. The light source unit includes a first light source unit (2A) and a second light source unit (2B), The object inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light source unit and the second light source unit are disposed at positions facing each other with the object in between.

3. The object inspection device of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising another light source unit (42) arranged on the opposite side of the light receiving unit across the object in the vertical direction of the object in the fixed posture, and irradiating light onto the object from the other side of the object in the vertical direction.

4. The article is placed on the conveying surface (10a) of the conveyor belt (10) and reaches the inspection position, The object inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light receiving unit is disposed on the opposite side to the transport plane across the object in a direction intersecting the transport plane.

5. When a conveyed inspection target object (W) reaches an inspection position (P1), the object is in a fixed position and light is irradiated onto the object, and the quality of the object is inspected based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light that is transmitted through the object as the light is irradiated, A light source unit (2) that irradiates the object with the light; A light receiving unit (3) that receives the transmitted light, The light source unit is disposed at a position where the light is irradiated from a side of the article in the fixed posture, An object inspection device, wherein the light receiving unit is positioned on the opposite side to the light source unit, sandwiching the object in the fixed position.

6. An object inspection device as described in any one of claims 1, 2, and 5, wherein a slit member (7) having a slit (7a) through which light irradiated from the light source unit passes is provided between the light source unit and the object.

7. 4. The object inspection device according to claim 3, further comprising a slit member (7) between the light source section and the object, the slit member (7a) having a slit through which the light irradiated from the light source section passes.

8. The apparatus further includes an inspection unit (4) that inspects the quality of an article based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit within a predetermined exposure time, An object inspection device as described in any one of claims 1, 2, and 5, wherein the specified exposure time is set within a time during which a light amount that can be determined to be the transmitted light is obtained based on changes in light amount obtained as a result of inspecting the sample item to be inspected multiple times in advance.

9. The apparatus further includes an inspection unit (4) that inspects the quality of an article based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit within a predetermined exposure time, The object inspection device described in claim 3, wherein the specified exposure time is set within a time during which a light amount that can be determined to be the transmitted light is obtained based on changes in light amount obtained as a result of inspecting the sample item to be inspected multiple times in advance.

10. The apparatus further includes an inspection unit (4) that inspects the quality of an article based on the spectral characteristics of the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit within a predetermined exposure time, The object inspection device described in claim 6, wherein the specified exposure time is set within a time during which a light amount that can be determined to be the transmitted light is obtained based on changes in light amount obtained as a result of inspecting the sample item to be inspected multiple times in advance.

Images