Inspection support system and inspection support method

Abstract

To realize suppression of reflection of light reflected on an inspection target or reflection of irradiation means projected onto the inspection target during imaging of the inspection target, by a simpler technique than in a case of imaging with a plurality of light sources having different irradiation angles.SOLUTION: An inspection support system 1 comprises: an imaging unit 11 that images an injection molded article 100 serving as an inspection target; an irradiation unit 12 that is disposed between the imaging unit 11 and the injection molded article 100 and irradiates light toward the injection molded article 100; a light-shielding member 13 that is disposed between the irradiation unit 12 and the injection molded article 100, and has a light-shielding region that blocks light from the irradiation unit 12 and a notch 132 that is a light-transmission region allowing light from the irradiation unit 12 to pass therethrough; and a control device 40 that controls light irradiated onto the injection molded article 100 by changing the position of the notch 132 in the light-shielding member 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection support system and an inspection support method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a technique for capturing an image of a transparent or translucent injection-molded product as an inspection target and highlighting defects in the injection-molded product in the captured image (for example, Patent Document 1). With this technique, defects in the inspection target are highlighted by irradiating the inspection target with light output from an illumination means during imaging. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-136269 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When capturing an image of an object under inspection, light emitted from a lighting fixture may be reflected by the object and appear in the captured image, hindering the inspection. Furthermore, depending on the material and surface finish of the object under inspection, the lighting fixture projected onto the object during image capture may appear in the captured image, hindering the inspection (see, for example, Figure 5). In response to this, for example, by switching the output from multiple light sources with different illumination angles, it is possible to suppress the reflection of light from the object under inspection and the reflection of the lighting fixture onto the object under inspection. However, this requires the cost of providing multiple light sources and a means for controlling the output of each of the multiple light sources with different illumination angles.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to suppress the reflection of light reflected from the object to be inspected and the reflection of the illumination means projected onto the object to be inspected when imaging the object to be inspected, using a method that is simpler than when imaging using multiple light sources with different illumination angles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention, which was completed with this objective in mind, is an inspection support system comprising: an imaging means for imaging an object to be inspected; an irradiation means, which is arranged between the imaging means and the object to be inspected and which irradiates light toward the object to be inspected; a light-shielding means, which is arranged between the irradiation means and the object to be inspected and which has a light-shielding area that blocks the light and a light-passing area that allows the light to pass through; and an irradiation light control means, which controls the light irradiated onto the object to be inspected by changing the position of the light-passing area in the light-shielding means. Here, the light blocking means may be characterized in that one or more notches or through-holes are formed as the light passing areas. The illumination means may have a circular ring shape when viewed from the object to be inspected, and the light-shielding means may be a circular ring-shaped member having the same or approximately the same shape as the illumination means, with the light-passing area formed in the member. The light blocking means may be characterized in that the position of the light passing region is changed by rotating in a circumferential direction. At least one of the irradiating means and the light blocking means may be movable in the axial direction. The light blocking means may have a plurality of light passing regions that can be switched between an exposed state and a non-exposed state. The object to be inspected may be a transparent or semi-transparent injection molded product. The present invention also provides an inspection support method comprising the steps of: an imaging means imaging an object to be inspected; an irradiation means arranged between the imaging means and the object to be inspected irradiating light toward the object to be inspected; a light-shielding area of a shading means arranged between the irradiating means and the object to be inspected blocking the light and a light-passing area of the shading means allowing the light to pass; and an irradiation light control means controlling the light irradiated to the object to be inspected by changing the position of the light-passing area in the shading means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when imaging an object to be inspected, it is possible to suppress the reflection of light reflected from the object to be inspected and the reflection of the illumination means projected onto the object to be inspected, using a simpler method than when imaging using multiple light sources with different illumination angles. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an examination support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing specific examples of the shapes of the irradiation unit and the light blocking member. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a specific example of an imaging technique for internal inspection of an object to be inspected. [Figure 4] 10(A) and 10(B) are diagrams showing modified examples of the light blocking member. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example in which a lighting fixture is projected onto an object under inspection during imaging and appears in the captured image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Configuration of Examination Support System 1> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an examination support system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0010] The inspection support system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a system used for quality inspection of a transparent or translucent injection-molded product 100. The injection-molded product 100 is manufactured by an injection molding machine (not shown), and its shape is not particularly limited. The object to be inspected for quality inspection in this embodiment is a transparent or translucent injection-molded product in the shape of a flat plate. The injection molding machine is a device that can manufacture the injection-molded product 100 by pouring heated and molten transparent or translucent resin into a mold, cooling and solidifying it, and then removing it.

[0011] The inspection support system 1 includes an imaging device 10 that captures an image of an injection-molded product 100, which is an object to be inspected, a transport device 20 that transports the injection-molded product 100, a picking device 30 that grips and moves the injection-molded product 100, and a control device 40 that determines whether or not the injection-molded product 100 has a defect. The imaging device 10 and the control device 40 are connected via a network 90. The network 90 is, for example, a local area network (LAN), the Internet, a wired connection, or the like. At least one of the transport device 20 and the picking device 30 may be connected to the network 90.

[0012] Fig. 1 shows how an injection-molded product 100 to be inspected, which has been transported by a transport device 20, is imaged by an imaging device 10. The direction in which the imaging device 10 images the injection-molded product 100 is from the top (top) to the bottom (bottom) in the vertical direction of Fig. 1, which indicates the top-bottom direction. The direction in which the transport device 20 transports the injection-molded product 100 is from the left to the right in the horizontal direction of Fig. 1. Furthermore, of the directions horizontally orthogonal to the horizontal direction of the drawing, the "front-to-back direction" shown in Fig. 1 refers to the front side of the drawing as the "front side" of the imaging device 10, and the rear side of the drawing as the "rear side" of the imaging device 10.

[0013] (imaging device 10) The imaging device 10 has an imaging unit 11 as imaging means for imaging an injection-molded product 100, which is an object to be inspected, an irradiation unit 12 as irradiation means for irradiating light toward the injection-molded product 100 to be imaged, and a light-shielding member 13 as light-shielding means for blocking a portion of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit 12. The imaging device 10 also includes a support member 14 that supports the imaging unit 11, the irradiation unit 12, and the light-shielding member 13, a support member 15 that supports the injection-molded product 100 from the bottom side in the vertical direction relative to the injection-molded product 100, four support members 16 that support the support member 15 from the bottom side in the vertical direction relative to the support member 15, and an underlay member 17 that is arranged between the injection-molded product 100 and the support member 15.

[0014] The imaging unit 11 is composed of a camera or the like capable of capturing still or moving images, and captures an image of the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected. Specifically, the imaging unit 11 captures an image of the injection-molded product 100 irradiated with light output from the irradiation unit 12 from the top to the bottom in the vertical direction. The imaging unit 11 transmits the captured image of the injection-molded product 100 to the control device 40. Note that the camera constituting the imaging unit 11 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be composed of a monochrome camera, a color camera, a polarization camera, or the like. A polarization camera is a camera in which polarizers of different directions are incorporated on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor).

[0015] The irradiation unit 12 is a ring-shaped lighting fixture having a circular or approximately circular through-hole 121 penetrating through its center in the vertical direction. The irradiation unit 12 is not divided into multiple light sources with different irradiation angles. The irradiation unit 12 is disposed above the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected, and below the imaging unit 11 in the vertical direction. The irradiation unit 12 is movable in the vertical direction along the support member 14. Note that the method for moving the irradiation unit 12 along the support member 14 is not particularly limited. For example, the movement of the irradiation unit 12 in the vertical direction may be controlled by providing a drive unit such as a motor on the support member 14, or the irradiation unit 12 may be moved manually.

[0016] The through-hole 121 formed in the irradiation unit 12 forms an imaging space to minimize the possibility of the irradiation unit 12 appearing in the image when imaging the injection-molded product 100. The light emitted from the irradiation unit 12 includes light that illuminates the injection-molded product 100 from the top to the bottom in the vertical direction, and this emitted light assists the imaging unit 11 in imaging. The diameters of the irradiation unit 12 and the through-hole 121 are not particularly limited and can be changed depending on the size, shape, etc. of the object to be inspected. Specific examples of the irradiation unit 12 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0017] The light-shielding member 13 is a member that is arranged above the injection-molded article 100 in the vertical direction and below the irradiation unit 12 in the vertical direction, and blocks a portion of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit 12. The light-shielding member 13 is composed of a substantially annular light-shielding member having a notch 132. The notch 132 forms an area that allows the light irradiated from the irradiation unit 12 to pass through (hereinafter referred to as the "light passing area").

[0018] A substantially circular space 131 is formed in the center of the light-shielding member 13. Similar to the through-hole 121 formed in the irradiation unit 12 described above, the space 131 forms an imaging space for minimizing the light-shielding member 13 from being captured in an image of the injection-molded product 100. The material of the light-shielding member 13 is not particularly limited as long as it can block light from the irradiation unit 12. For example, the light-shielding member 13 may be made of metal, resin, cardboard, or the like. The shape of the light-shielding member 13 can be changed depending on the diameter of the irradiation unit 12, the diameter of the through-hole 121 of the irradiation unit 12, the size and shape of the object to be inspected, etc.

[0019] Light-shielding member 13 allows a portion of the light irradiated from irradiation unit 12 toward injection-molded article 100 to pass through cutout portion 132, which is a light-passing region, and blocks the remainder. Changing the position of cutout portion 132 changes the way the light irradiates injection-molded article 100. Specific examples of the shape of light-shielding member 13 and the shape and position of cutout portion 132 formed in light-shielding member 13 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0020] The light blocking member 13 is movable in the vertical direction along the support member 14. The light blocking member 13 may move in the vertical direction in conjunction with the movement of the irradiation unit 12 in the vertical direction, or may move in the vertical direction independently of the irradiation unit 12. The method for moving the light blocking member 13 in the vertical direction is not particularly limited. For example, the movement of the light blocking member 13 in the vertical direction may be controlled by providing a drive unit such as a motor on the support member 14, or the light blocking member 13 may be moved manually.

[0021] Furthermore, the light blocking member 13 is rotatable in the circumferential direction. When the light blocking member 13 rotates in the circumferential direction, the position of the notch 132, which is the light passage area, changes, and as a result, the way in which light hits the injection-molded article 100 changes. The method for rotating the light blocking member 13 in the circumferential direction is not particularly limited. For example, the rotation of the light blocking member 13 in the circumferential direction may be controlled by providing a drive unit such as a motor on the support member 14, or the light blocking member 13 may be rotated in the circumferential direction manually.

[0022] The support member 14 is a member that supports the imaging unit 11, the irradiation unit 12, and the light-blocking member 13, and is composed of a rod-shaped member that extends in the vertical direction. The bottom portion of the support member 14 in the vertical direction is fixed to the support member 15 or the installation surface 200. The method for fixing the support member 14 to the support member 15 or the installation surface 200 is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be fixed using a bolt or the like. The support member 14 supports the irradiation unit 12 and the light-blocking member 13 so that they can each move in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the support member 14 supports the light-blocking member 13 so that it can rotate in the circumferential direction of the light-blocking member 13.

[0023] The support member 15 is a rectangular plate on which the injection-molded article 100 is placed when the imaging unit 11 captures an image of the injection-molded article 100, and is a support member that supports the injection-molded article 100 from the bottom side at a top surface 151 in the top-bottom direction. The support member 15 is made of an opaque member such as a metal plate or a wooden plate. The support member 15 is fixed to an installation surface 200 such as a floor surface while being supported from the bottom side in the top-bottom direction by four support members 16 made of substantially cylindrical members or the like.

[0024] The shape of the support member 16 is not particularly limited. The method for fixing the support member 16 to the installation surface 200 is also not particularly limited, and the support member 16 may be fixed with, for example, a bolt. Furthermore, the support member 16 does not necessarily have to be fixed to the installation surface 200 as long as stability during imaging can be ensured. Therefore, the combination of the support member 15 and the four support members 16 may be, for example, a combination of a tabletop and four legs that constitute a stable examination desk.

[0025] The underlay member 17 is a sheet-like member placed between the injection-molded product 100 and the support member 15. The underlay member 17 is made of a material with a light-blocking function, such as polyvinyl chloride or flocked paper, and assists imaging by the imaging unit 11 by blocking light directed from the bottom side to the top side of the injection-molded product 100. Note that if the support member 15 described above is made of a material with a light-blocking function similar to that of the underlay member 17, the underlay member 17 does not necessarily have to be placed.

[0026] (Transport device 20) The conveying device 20 is a device serving as conveying means for conveying an injection-molded product 100, which is an object to be inspected, toward the imaging device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying device 20 is configured, for example, with a belt conveyor or the like on which the injection-molded product 100 is placed and which can be conveyed from the left side to the right side in the left-right direction of FIG. 1. An injection molding machine (not shown) is installed upstream of the conveying device 20 (on the left side in the left-right direction in FIG. 1). The imaging device 10 is installed downstream of the conveying device 20 (on the right side in the left-right direction in FIG. 1). Therefore, the injection-molded product 100 molded by the injection molding machine is conveyed toward the imaging device 10 while being placed on the conveying device 20.

[0027] (Picking device 30) The picking device 30 is a device that serves as a picking means for gripping an injection-molded product 100 and moving it to a predetermined location. The picking device 30 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, by a so-called picking robot or the like. The picking device 30 is equipped with an end effector 32 that can grip the injection-molded product 100. The picking device 30 grips and releases the injection-molded product 100 using the end effector 32.

[0028] As a result, the picking device 30 moves the injection-molded article 100 to a predetermined location. Specifically, the picking device 30 grips the injection-molded article 100 placed on the conveying device 20 and releases it on the underlay member 17. After that, when the imaging unit 11 captures an image of the injection-molded article 100, the picking device 30 again grips the injection-molded article 100 whose image has been captured, moves it to a predetermined position, and releases the injection-molded article 100.

[0029] (Control device 40) The control device 40 is an information processing device that serves as a control means for controlling the operation of the imaging device 10. Specifically, the control device 40 controls the operation of each of the imaging unit 11, the irradiation unit 12, and the light blocking member 13 of the imaging device 10. The control device 40 is configured with a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like, and allows operation by a user.

[0030] For example, the control device 40 controls the amount, angle, position, etc. of light irradiated onto the injection-molded product 100 by controlling the change in position of the notch 132, which is a light passage area in the light-blocking member 13. Specifically, the control device 40 controls the operation of rotating the light-blocking member 13 in the circumferential direction as the control to change the position of the notch 132.

[0031] Furthermore, for example, the control device 40 controls the operation of the imaging unit 11 to capture an image of the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected, the operation of the irradiation unit 12 to irradiate light toward the injection-molded product 100, and the operation of the irradiation unit 12 to move up and down. The control device 40 also controls the operation of the light-shielding member 13 to move up and down. The control device 40 not only controls the operation of the imaging device 10, but also controls the process of analyzing the image of the injection-molded product 100 captured by the imaging unit 11 of the imaging device 10 to determine whether or not there is a defect in the injection-molded product 100. Furthermore, when at least one of the conveying device 20 and the picking device 30 is connected to a network 90, the control device 40 may be configured to control the operation of the conveying device 20 and the operation of the picking device 30 via the network 90.

[0032] (Specific examples of shapes of the irradiating unit 12 and the light blocking member 13) 2(A) to 2(C) are diagrams showing specific examples of the shapes of the irradiation unit 12 and the light blocking member 13. Fig. 2(A) shows a specific example of the shape of the irradiation unit 12. Fig. 2(B) shows a specific example of the shape of the light blocking member 13. Fig. 2(C) shows an example of the appearance of the irradiation unit 12 and the light blocking member 13 when viewed from the top side in the vertical direction from the side of the injection-molded product 100 placed on the underlay member 17 as the object to be inspected.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2(A), when viewed from the top-bottom direction, the irradiating unit 12 has a circular ring shape with a through-hole 121 in the center. As shown in Fig. 2(B), when viewed from the top-bottom direction, the light-blocking member 13 has a substantially circular ring shape with a notch 132, and a substantially circular space 131 is formed in the center. The notch 132 forms a light passage area that allows light irradiated from the irradiating unit 12 to pass through.

[0034] 2(A) and 2(B), the diameter d11 of the irradiating unit 12 and the diameter d21 of the light-shielding member 13 are the same or approximately the same. Furthermore, the diameter d12 of the through-hole 121 of the irradiating unit 12 and the diameter d22 of the space 131 of the light-shielding member 13 are the same or approximately the same. However, this is not limited to this. The light-shielding member 13 only needs to be able to completely block all light irradiated from the irradiating unit 12 except for light passing through the notch 132. Therefore, for example, the diameter d21 of the light-shielding member 13 may be larger than the diameter d11 of the irradiating unit 12. Furthermore, for the same reason, the diameter d12 of the through-hole 121 of the irradiating unit 12 may be larger than the diameter d22 of the space 131 of the light-shielding member 13. In addition, when the object to be inspected is placed in the through-hole 121 of the irradiation section 12 and the space 131 of the light-shielding member 13, the diameter d22 of the space 131 is configured to be large enough to accommodate the object to be inspected.

[0035] The light-shielding member 13 shown in Fig. 2(B) is rotatable in the circumferential direction, and the position of the notch 132 changes when the member is rotated in the circumferential direction. For example, by arranging the irradiation unit 12 shown in Fig. 2(A) and the light-shielding member 13 shown in Fig. 2(B) so that they overlap, and then rotating the light-shielding member 13 in the circumferential direction, the notch 132 can be positioned as shown in Fig. 2(C). In this case, the hatched region of the light-shielding member 13 in the drawing forms a light-shielding region that blocks light from the irradiation unit 12, and the region of the notch 132 where the irradiation unit 12 is exposed forms a light-passing region that passes light from the irradiation unit 12.

[0036] (Example of imaging method for internal inspection) FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of an imaging technique for inspecting the inside of an object to be inspected. 1 above shows an example of an imaging technique in which light is irradiated from the top in the vertical direction during a surface inspection of a flat injection-molded product 100, which is a transparent or translucent object to be inspected, to highlight defects in the injection-molded product 100. In contrast to this, if the object to be inspected is elongated in the vertical direction and is configured so that the injection-molded product 110 fits into both the through-hole 121 of the irradiation unit 12 and the space 131 of the light-shielding member 13, an imaging technique such as that shown in FIG. 3 is used for internal inspection of the transparent or translucent object to be inspected.

[0037] 3, the irradiation unit 12 irradiates light from around the injection-molded product 110, which is the object to be inspected, with the injection-molded product 110 placed in the through-hole 121. Specifically, the irradiation unit 12 first irradiates light from a so-called low angle, with the irradiation position being near the bottom edge of the injection-molded product 110. This makes it possible to highlight defects that have occurred inside the transparent or translucent injection-molded product 110.

[0038] Next, the irradiation unit 12 moves upward in the vertical direction to move the position where light is irradiated onto the injection-molded product 110. The image capturing unit 11 captures an image of the injection-molded product 110 while the irradiation unit 12 is moving upward or downward or while the irradiation unit 12 is temporarily stopped.

[0039] As described above, the light-shielding member 13 can move in the vertical direction in conjunction with the movement of the irradiation unit 12 in the vertical direction. However, the light-shielding member 13 is a member that exhibits a light-shielding function by being disposed between the irradiation unit 12 and the object to be inspected during surface inspection of the object to be inspected, and does not generally exhibit a light-shielding function during internal inspection of the object to be inspected due to its positional relationship with the irradiation unit 12. For this reason, for example, the light-shielding member 13 may be configured to be disposed on the bottom side of the irradiation unit 12 in the vertical direction only during surface inspection of the object to be inspected. For example, a drive unit that rotates the entire light-shielding member 13 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction may be provided on the support member 14 that supports the light-shielding member 13.

[0040] <Modification> 4(A) and (B) are diagrams showing modified examples of the light-shielding member. Fig. 4(A) shows a specific example of the shape of a modified light-shielding member 43. Fig. 4(B) shows the state of the irradiation unit 12 and the light-shielding member 43 when viewed from the top side in the vertical direction from the side of the object to be inspected placed on the underlay member 17 (see Fig. 1). 2(B), the light-shielding member 43 shown in Fig. 4(A) has a substantially annular shape with a notch 432, and has a substantially circular space 431 formed in the center. The notch 432 forms a light-passing region that passes light irradiated from the irradiating unit 12, as shown in Fig. 4(B).

[0041] The light-shielding member 43 shown in FIG. 4 differs from the light-shielding member 13 shown in FIG. 2B in the diameter of the substantially circular space formed in the center. That is, the diameter d31 of the light-shielding member 43 and the diameter d21 of the light-shielding member 13 (see FIG. 2B) are the same or approximately the same, but the diameter d32 of the space 431 of the light-shielding member 43 is larger than the diameter d22 of the space 131 of the light-shielding member 13 shown in FIG. 2B. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the hatched region of the light-shielding member 43 forms a light-shielding region that blocks light from the irradiating unit 12. Furthermore, the region of the notch 432 where the irradiating unit 12 is exposed and the region of the space 431 form a light-passing region that passes light from the irradiating unit 12.

[0042] The light passing area shown in FIG. 4B is wider than the light passing area shown in FIG. 2C, and therefore the amount of light irradiated onto the object under inspection is increased accordingly. As a result, defects on the object under inspection can be more easily highlighted. However, the narrower the light-blocking area, the greater the risk of light reflected from the object under inspection or the projection of the irradiating unit 12 onto the object under inspection. For this reason, various types of light-blocking members are available for selection at inspection sites to more easily highlight defects and suppress the projection, depending on the type of object under inspection. This allows for a simpler method of suppressing the projection of light reflected from the object under inspection or the projection of the irradiating unit 12 itself onto the object under inspection when capturing an image of the object under inspection than when capturing an image using multiple light sources with different illumination angles.

[0043] In summary, the test support system 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention only needs to have the following configuration, and can take on a variety of different embodiments. In other words, the inspection support system 1 of this embodiment is an inspection support system characterized by comprising: an imaging unit 11 as an imaging means for imaging the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected; an irradiation unit 12 as an irradiation means arranged between the imaging unit 11 and the injection-molded product 100 and irradiating light toward the injection-molded product 100; a light-shielding member 13 as a light-shielding means arranged between the irradiation unit 12 and the injection-molded product 100 and having a light-shielding area that blocks light from the irradiation unit 12 and a cutout portion 132 as a light-passing area that allows light from the irradiation unit 12 to pass through; and a control device 40 as an irradiation light control means that controls the light irradiated to the injection-molded product 100 by changing the position of the cutout portion 132 in the light-shielding member 13.

[0044] As a result, the imaging unit 11, the irradiation unit 12, the light-shielding member 13, and the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected, are arranged in that order from top to bottom in the vertical direction. Then, by changing the position of the cutout portion 132, which is the light passage area of the light-shielding member 13, the light irradiated onto the injection-molded product 100 is controlled. As a result, when imaging the injection-molded product 100, it is possible to suppress the reflection of light reflected from the object to be inspected and the reflection of the irradiation unit 12 itself projected onto the injection-molded product 100, using a simpler method than when imaging using multiple light sources with different irradiation angles.

[0045] Here, the light blocking member 13 may be characterized in that one or more notches 132 or through holes are formed as light passing areas. This forms one or more notches 132 or through holes as light passage areas in the light blocking member 13. As a result, by changing the positions of one or more notches 132 or through holes formed in the light blocking member 13, the light irradiated onto the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected, is controlled.

[0046] The irradiation section 12 may also be characterized in that it has a circular ring shape when viewed from the injection-molded product 100, and the light-shielding member 13 is a circular ring-shaped member having the same or approximately the same shape as the irradiation section 12, with a notch 132 formed therein. This controls the light irradiated to the injection-molded product 100 by changing the position of the notch 132 of the light-shielding member 13, which has a circular ring-shaped member having the same or nearly the same shape as the irradiation section 12, which has a circular ring shape when viewed from the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected.

[0047] The light blocking member 13 may be characterized in that the position of the notch 132 is changed by rotating in the circumferential direction. This allows the position of the notch 132 to be changed simply by rotating the light blocking member 13 in the circumferential direction, thereby enabling control of the light irradiated onto the inspection object in various ways.

[0048] At least one of the irradiating unit 12 and the light blocking member 13 may be characterized in being movable in the axial direction. This causes at least one of the irradiation unit 12 and the light blocking member 13 to move in the axial direction, making it possible to control the light irradiated onto various types of inspection objects (for example, the injection-molded product 110 in FIG. 3).

[0049] The object to be inspected may be a transparent or semi-transparent injection molded product 100. This makes it possible to suppress the reflection of light reflected from the injection-molded product 100 and the reflection of the irradiation section 12 itself projected onto the injection-molded product 100 when imaging the transparent or translucent injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected, in a simpler manner than when imaging using multiple light sources with different irradiation angles.

[0050] In addition, the inspection support method of this embodiment is an inspection support method characterized by including the steps of: an imaging unit 11 imaging the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected; an irradiation unit 12 arranged between the imaging unit 11 and the injection-molded product 100 irradiating light toward the injection-molded product 100; a light-shielding area of a shading member 13 arranged between the irradiation unit 12 and the injection-molded product 100 blocking light from the irradiation unit 12, and a cutout portion 132, which is a light-passing area of the shading member 13, allowing light from the irradiation unit 12 to pass; and a control device 40, which serves as an irradiation light control means, controlling the light irradiated to the injection-molded product 100 by changing the position of the light-passing area in the shading member 13.

[0051] As a result, the imaging unit 11, the irradiation unit 12, the light-shielding member 13, and the injection-molded product 100, which is the object to be inspected, are arranged in that order from top to bottom in the vertical direction. Then, by changing the position of the cutout portion 132, which is the light passage area of the light-shielding member 13, the light irradiated onto the injection-molded product 100 is controlled. As a result, when imaging the injection-molded product 100, it is possible to suppress the reflection of light reflected from the injection-molded product 100 and the reflection of the irradiation unit 12 itself projected onto the injection-molded product 100, using a simpler method than when imaging using multiple light sources with different irradiation angles.

[0052] <Other> In the above-described embodiment, the control device 40 in FIG. 1 functions as a control unit that controls the operation of the imaging device 10, and controls the operation of each of the imaging unit 11, irradiation unit 12, and light blocking member 13 of the imaging device 10. However, this is not limited to this. The operation of each of the imaging unit 11, irradiation unit 12, and light blocking member 13 of the imaging device 10 does not necessarily have to be controlled by an information processing device such as the control device 40. For example, at least a part of the control of the operation of the imaging device 10 may be performed manually by an operator. Specifically, the operation of rotating the light blocking member 13 in the circumferential direction may be performed manually by an operator.

[0053] Furthermore, although the inspection objects of the inspection support system 1 according to the above-described embodiment are transparent or translucent injection-molded products 100 and 110, the inspection objects are not limited to transparent or translucent injection-molded products. They may be opaque injection-molded products, transparent or translucent objects other than injection-molded products, or opaque objects other than injection-molded products.

[0054] Furthermore, the shapes of the irradiation unit 12 and the light-shielding member 13 according to the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and other shapes may be used. As described above, various types of light-shielding member 13 can be prepared in advance depending on the type of inspection object, making it easier to highlight defects and suppress glare. For example, the light-shielding member 13 according to the above-described embodiment has the notch 132 formed therein as a light-passing region, but this does not necessarily have to be a notch. For example, a region formed by a through-hole penetrating a portion of the light-shielding member 13 in the vertical direction may be used as the light-passing region.

[0055] Furthermore, although the light blocking member 13 according to the above-described embodiment has one cutout 132 as a light passing region, the number of light passing regions is not limited to one. One or more light passing regions may be formed in the light blocking member 13. For example, two or more cutouts 132 may be formed in the light blocking member 13 shown in FIG. 2(B) above.

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, the substantially annular light-blocking member 13 having the notch 132 changes the position of the notch 132 by rotating in the circumferential direction, but this is not limiting. For example, the light-blocking member 13 may be provided with a shutter mechanism that can be opened and closed, so that one or more light-passing regions can be made to appear and disappear. In other words, the light-blocking member 13 may be characterized by having multiple light-passing regions that can be switched between an exposed state and a non-exposed state. This allows the light-shielding member 13 to have multiple light-passing areas that can be switched between an exposed state and a non-exposed state, making it possible to control the light irradiated onto the object to be inspected in various ways.

[0057] <Example of an image in which the lighting fixture itself is captured> FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a lighting fixture is projected onto an object under inspection during imaging and appears in the captured image. Fig. 5 shows an example of a case where the present invention is not applied, in which an image of an inspection object is captured without disposing the light-shielding member 13 according to the above-described embodiment. The example shown in Fig. 5 shows eight captured images captured by irradiating light from a lighting fixture from different irradiation angles onto the inspection object, injection-molded product 100.

[0058] In all eight captured images shown in Fig. 5, the lighting fixtures projected onto the object to be inspected are reflected in the area surrounded by the dashed lines, hindering the inspection. In contrast, according to the inspection support system 1 (see Fig. 1) according to the above-described embodiment, the position of the light passing area can be changed by rotating the light blocking member 13 to change the position of the cutout portion 132 (see Fig. 2(C)), thereby making it possible to prevent the occurrence of reflections such as those shown in Fig. 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1...inspection support system, 10...imaging device, 11...imaging section, 12...irradiation section, 13, 43...light-shielding member, 14, 15, 16...support member, 17...underlay member, 20...transport device, 30...picking device, 40...control device, 121...penetration portion, 131...space, 132...notch portion

Claims

1. an imaging means for imaging an object to be inspected; an irradiation means disposed between the imaging means and the inspection object and configured to irradiate light toward the inspection object; a light-shielding means disposed between the irradiation means and the inspection object, the light-shielding means having a light-shielding region that blocks the light and a light-passing region that passes the light; an irradiation light control means for controlling the light irradiated onto the inspection object by changing the position of the light passing area in the light blocking means; An inspection support system comprising:

2. The light-blocking means is characterized in that one or more notches or through-holes are formed as the light passage areas. The inspection support system according to claim 1 .

3. the irradiation means has a circular ring shape when viewed from the inspection object, The light-blocking means is a ring-shaped member having the same or substantially the same shape as the irradiation means, and the light-passing area is formed in the ring-shaped member. The inspection support system according to claim 1 .

4. The light blocking means is characterized in that the position of the light passing area is changed by rotating in a circumferential direction. The inspection support system according to claim 3 .

5. At least one of the irradiating means and the light blocking means is movable in the axial direction. The inspection support system according to claim 4 .

6. The light blocking means has a plurality of the light passing areas that can be switched between an exposed state and a non-exposed state. The inspection support system according to claim 1 .

7. The inspection object is a transparent or translucent injection-molded product. The inspection support system according to claim 1 .

8. An imaging means takes an image of an object to be inspected; an irradiation means disposed between the imaging means and the inspection object irradiating light toward the inspection object; a step in which a light-shielding region of a light-shielding means disposed between the irradiation means and the inspection object blocks the light, and a light-passing region of the light-shielding means passes the light; an irradiation light control means for controlling the light irradiated onto the inspection object by changing the position of the light passing area in the light blocking means; An inspection support method comprising:

Images