Measuring apparatus, measuring method, and program

Abstract

To reduce the influence of a placement member on a measurement result of an object.SOLUTION: A measuring apparatus 100 comprises: a placement member 1 on which a measurement object SA is placed; a measuring unit 7 that measures the measurement object SA placed on the placement member 1 using electromagnetic waves; a conveying unit 3 that conveys the measurement object SA placed on the placement member 1 by moving the placement member 1; and a control unit 9. The placement member 1 has a different-characteristic region 11 having characteristics with respect to electromagnetic waves different from those of other regions. The control unit 9 aligns an origin OR set on the placement member 1 with a reference position P1 set at a predetermined position in a movement direction of the placement member 1 by the conveying unit 3, conveys the measurement object SA placed on the placement member 1 to the measuring unit 7, and starts measurement of the measurement object SA by the measuring unit 7 after the start of the conveyance. The origin OR and the reference position P1 are defined at positions where the different-characteristic region 11 is not located in the measuring unit 7 during a period from the start to the end of measurement of the measurement object SA by the measuring unit 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring device that measures an object using electromagnetic waves, a measuring method that measures an object using electromagnetic waves, and a program that causes a computer to execute this measuring method. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known measuring devices that use electromagnetic waves to measure a predetermined object. For example, there is a known measuring device that uses electromagnetic waves to measure the moisture content of an object. Moisture content measurement using electromagnetic waves utilizes the property that electromagnetic waves are absorbed by water. Therefore, this measuring device includes an irradiating unit that irradiates the object with electromagnetic waves and a receiving unit that receives the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the object, and measures the moisture content based on the change in amplitude and the phase delay of the received electromagnetic waves (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-012128 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned measuring device, the object may be provided to the measuring device in a state where it is placed on a placement member such as a belt conveyor. In this case, the electromagnetic waves irradiated from the irradiation unit to the object may interact not only with the object but also with the placement member. In other words, the electromagnetic waves received by the receiving unit are affected not only by the object but also by the placement member.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of a mounting member on the measurement results of an object in a measuring device that uses electromagnetic waves to measure an object placed on the mounting member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A measurement device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a mounting member, a measurement unit, a transport unit, and a control unit. The mounting member mounts an object to be measured. The measurement unit uses electromagnetic waves to measure a physical quantity of the object to be measured placed on the mounting member. The transport unit moves the mounting member to transport the object to be measured placed on the mounting member. The control unit controls the measurement unit and the transport unit.

[0007] In this measurement device, the mounting member has an area with different characteristics to electromagnetic waves than other areas. In this case, an origin is set on the mounting member, and a reference position is set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member by the transport unit. When the control unit performs measurement using the measurement unit, it first aligns the origin with the reference position, then transports the measurement object placed on the mounting member to the measurement unit, and starts measuring the measurement object using the measurement unit after starting to transport the measurement object to the measurement unit. Furthermore, the origin and reference position are set at positions where the area with different characteristics is not located on the measurement unit at least from the start to the end of measurement by the measurement unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the above-mentioned measuring device, in which a measurement object placed on a mounting member is transported to a measurement unit, it has been discovered that the mounting member on which the measurement object is placed has an area (different characteristic area) that has different characteristics with respect to electromagnetic waves than other areas. If this different characteristic area is placed in the measurement unit and measured, it may have a significant effect on the measurement results of the measurement object.

[0009] Therefore, in the above-described measuring device, an origin is set on the mounting member, and a reference position is set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member by the transport unit. When measuring the measurement object using the measurement unit, the origin of the mounting member is first aligned with the reference position, and then the mounting member is moved to transport the measurement object placed on the mounting member to the measurement unit. After the transport begins, measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit begins. Furthermore, the origin and reference position are set at positions where the measurement unit does not position the different characteristic area at least between the start and end of measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit. As a result, the electromagnetic waves used to measure the measurement object are not irradiated onto the different characteristic area during measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit. Therefore, the influence of the different characteristic area is not measured as measurement data, and the measurement results of the measurement object are not affected by the different characteristic area. As a result, the influence of the mounting member on the measurement results of the measurement object can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a measurement device. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing a method for measuring an object to be measured using a measurement device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of the measuring device before conveyance of the measurement object is started. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of the measurement device when a measurement object is placed in the measurement section. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing a state of the measuring device when the measurement object placed on the placement member is carried out from the measurement unit. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram showing a state of the measuring device when the origin of the mounting member has returned to the reference position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (1) Measuring device configuration A measuring device 100 according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The measuring device 100 is a device for measuring the moisture content of a measurement object SA as a physical quantity using electromagnetic waves. The measuring device 100 is installed, for example, in a factory that manufactures food. That is, the measuring device 100 can measure the moisture content of the measurement object SA, for example, food, building materials, industrial products such as ceramics, etc., manufactured in the factory.

[0012] The configuration of the measuring device 100 will be described using FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the measuring device 100. The measuring device 100 includes a mounting member 1, a transport unit 3, a detection unit 5, a measurement unit 7, and a control unit 9. The mounting member 1 is capable of mounting a measurement object SA. The mounting member 1 is, for example, an endless belt for a belt conveyor. The mounting member 1 is capable of moving in a first direction D1 by a transport unit 3, which will be described later. By moving the mounting member 1 in the first direction D1, the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1 is transported in the first direction D1 in accordance with the movement of the mounting member 1.

[0013] As will be described later, the mounting member 1 is hung between a first pulley 31 and a second pulley 33 of the conveying unit 3, and moves in a first direction D1 due to the rotation of the first pulley 31. Therefore, in the example shown in Fig. 1, the first direction D1, which is the direction of movement of the mounting member 1, is the direction from the second pulley 33 to the first pulley 31 on the upper side of the mounting member 1 (the side facing the irradiation unit 71 of the measurement unit 7), and is the direction from the first pulley 31 to the second pulley 33 on the lower side of the mounting member 1 (the side facing the receiving unit 73 of the measurement unit 7). In the parts of the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 33, the first direction D1 coincides with the rotation direction of these pulleys.

[0014] The mounting member 1 can be formed, for example, by connecting both ends of a long member made of canvas with a resin (e.g., urethane) applied to its surface. Specifically, for example, an endless mounting member 1 can be formed by forming both ends of the long member into a zigzag shape, inserting the "peak" of the zigzag shape of one end into the "valley" of the zigzag shape of the other end, and then bonding the zigzag shapes of both ends with resin (e.g., urethane). The connection formed in this way is also called a "finger joint."

[0015] The inventors have found that the electromagnetic wave characteristics of the connection portion of the mounting member 1 are different from those of other areas of the mounting member 1. Therefore, in the following description, the connection portion of the mounting member 1 will be referred to as the "different property area 11." As will be described later, in the measurement device 100, the different property area 11 is not placed on the measurement unit 7, at least from the time when the measurement unit 7 starts measurement until the measurement of the measurement object SA by the measurement unit 7 is completed. This prevents the presence of the different property area 11 from affecting the measurement results of the measurement object SA.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, an origin marker 13 is provided on the mounting member 1. The origin marker 13 indicates the origin OR of the mounting member 1. In other words, the position where the origin marker 13 of the mounting member 1 is provided is defined as the origin OR of the mounting member 1. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the origin OR (origin marker 13) is defined at a position a predetermined distance away from the different property region 11 of the mounting member 1 in the first direction D1.

[0017] A reference position P1 is set at a predetermined position in the first direction D1, which is the movement direction of the mounting member 1. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the reference position P1 is set at a position close to the first pulley 31 on the side where the receiving unit 73 of the measurement unit 7 is disposed. In the example shown in Fig. 1, when the origin OR of the mounting member 1 coincides with the reference position P1, the different characteristic region 11 of the mounting member 1 is disposed near the measurement unit 7, on a side closer to the reference position P1 than the measurement unit 7.

[0018] As will be described later, by setting the positional relationship between the origin OR, reference position P1, and different characteristic area 11 of the mounting member 1 as described above, it is possible to prevent the different characteristic area 11 from being positioned on the measurement unit 7 between the time measurement by the measurement unit 7 is started and the time measurement of the measurement object SA by the measurement unit 7 is completed.

[0019] The transport unit 3 moves the mounting member 1. Specifically, the transport unit 3 has a first pulley 31 and a second pulley 33. The mounting member 1 is mounted between the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 33. The first pulley 31 is rotatable about its axis by a motor or the like. The second pulley 33 is driven to rotate about its axis in accordance with the movement of the mounting member 1. By rotating the first pulley 31 in a predetermined direction (clockwise in the example of FIG. 1), the mounting member 1 mounted between the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 33 moves in a first direction D1, and in accordance with this movement, the measurement object SA mounted on the mounting member 1 is transported in the first direction D1.

[0020] The detection unit 5 detects an origin marker 13 provided on the mounting member 1. The detection unit 5 is, for example, a photoelectric sensor that can irradiate light toward the mounting member 1 and detect reflected light generated when the irradiated light is reflected by the mounting member 1 or the origin marker 13. For example, if the mounting member 1 is a member that reflects light, by using a member that does not reflect light as the origin marker 13, it can be determined that the detection unit 5 has detected the origin marker 13 when the detection unit 5 no longer detects light reflected by the mounting member 1. On the other hand, if the mounting member 1 is a member that does not reflect light, by using a member that reflects light as the origin marker 13, it can be determined that the detection unit 5 has detected the origin marker 13 when the detection unit 5 detects light reflected by the origin marker 13.

[0021] 1, the detection unit 5 is provided at a reference position P1. Therefore, when the detection unit 5 detects the origin marker 13, the origin OR of the mounting member 1 coincides with the reference position P1. In other words, by detecting the origin marker 13 with the detection unit 5, it can be detected that the origin OR of the mounting member 1 coincides with the reference position P1.

[0022] The measurement unit 7 uses electromagnetic waves to measure the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1. The measurement unit 7 has an irradiation unit 71 and a receiving unit 73. The irradiation unit 71 is arranged facing the mounting member 1 above the mounting member 1. Specifically, of the two mounting members 1 arranged above and below each other and hung on the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 33, the irradiation unit 71 is arranged facing the upper mounting member 1. The irradiation unit 71 irradiates the mounting member 1 with electromagnetic waves used to measure the measurement object SA. The irradiation unit 71 is, for example, a horn antenna.

[0023] The receiving unit 73 is arranged on the opposite side to the side where the mounting member 1 and the irradiating unit 71 face each other. Specifically, the receiving unit 73 is arranged facing the lower mounting member 1 of the two mounting members 1 that are arranged above and below each other and are hung on the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 33. In other words, the mounting member 1 is arranged between the irradiating unit 71 and the receiving unit 73. The receiving unit 73 receives electromagnetic waves that are irradiated from the irradiating unit 71 and that have passed through the mounting member 1 or the measurement target SA and the mounting member 1 (referred to as passed electromagnetic waves). The receiving unit 73 is, for example, a horn antenna.

[0024] The control unit 9 controls the transport unit 3 and the measurement unit 7 of the measurement device 100 and executes various information processing. The control unit 9 has an electromagnetic wave measurement unit 91 and an information processing unit 93.

[0025] The electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 is connected to the irradiating unit 71 of the measuring unit 7 and outputs a high-frequency signal to the irradiating unit 71 to cause the irradiating unit 71 to output an electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 also inputs the electromagnetic wave received by the receiving unit 73 of the measuring unit 7 as a high-frequency signal. The electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 measures the amount of change in the amplitude of the electromagnetic wave received by the receiving unit 73 relative to the amplitude of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiating unit 71, and the phase delay of the electromagnetic wave received by the receiving unit 73 relative to the phase of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiating unit 71. The electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 is, for example, a vector network analyzer (VNA). The electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiating unit 71 has a frequency on the order of gigahertz, for example.

[0026] The information processing device 93 is a computer system configured with a CPU, a storage device (RAM, ROM, SSD, hard disk, etc.), various interfaces, and a display device. The information processing device 93 is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a mobile terminal. The information processing device 93 processes various information related to the measuring device 100 and controls the transport unit 3.

[0027] Specifically, the information processing device 93 is connected to the electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 and is capable of receiving from the electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 the above-mentioned change in amplitude and phase delay measured by the electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91. The information processing device 93 calculates the moisture content of the measurement object SA based on the change in amplitude and phase delay of the electromagnetic wave that has passed through the measurement object SA and the mounting member 1 (electromagnetic wave received by the receiving unit 73) relative to the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiating unit 71.

[0028] In the following description, the change in amplitude of the electromagnetic wave that has passed through the measurement object SA and the mounting member 1 relative to the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiation unit 71 is referred to as the "measured change amount," and the phase delay of the electromagnetic wave that has passed through the measurement object SA and the mounting member 1 relative to the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiation unit 71 is referred to as the "measured phase delay." Furthermore, the "measured change amount" and the "measured phase delay" are collectively referred to as "measured data."

[0029] The information processing device 93 calculates the moisture percentage based on the measured change amount and the measured phase delay.

[0030] Furthermore, the information processing device 93 controls the rotation of the first pulley 31 of the transporting unit 3 (for example, controls the motor that rotates the first pulley 31), thereby controlling the movement of the mounting member 1 by the transporting unit 3. In other words, the information processing device 93 controls the transport of the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1.

[0031] (2) Measurement method for the object to be measured A method for measuring the measurement object SA using the measurement device 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the method for measuring the measurement object SA using the measurement device 100. Note that the flowchart in Fig. 2 shows the flow executed in one measurement of the measurement object SA. Therefore, when measurements of the measurement object SA are repeatedly executed, the flow shown in the flowchart in Fig. 2 is repeatedly executed.

[0032] First, the origin OR of the mounting member 1 is aligned with the reference position P1 (step S1). As shown in Fig. 1, when the origin OR of the mounting member 1 is aligned with the reference position P1, the different property region 11 of the mounting member 1 is located at a position away from the measurement unit 7. For example, the different property region 11 is located in the vicinity of the measurement unit 7, closer to the reference position P1 than the measurement unit 7.

[0033] As will be described later, in the measuring device 100, the origin OR is returned to the reference position P1 after the measurement of the measurement object SA by the measurement unit 7 is completed. Therefore, if the measurement of the measurement object SA has been performed previously, the origin OR of the mounting member 1 can be made to coincide with the reference position P1 by the operation of returning the origin OR to the reference position P1.

[0034] On the other hand, for example, when measuring the measurement object SA for the first time, or after adjusting or calibrating the measuring device 100, if it is unclear whether the origin OR coincides with the reference position P1, the detection unit 5 can check whether the origin marker 13 has been detected, and if the origin marker 13 has not been detected, the detection unit 5 can move the mounting member 1 until the origin marker 13 is detected, thereby aligning the origin OR with the reference position P1.

[0035] After the origin OR is aligned with the reference position P1, the measurement object SA is placed on the mounting member 1 at a portion close to the second pulley 33, as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, the information processing device 93 controls the transport unit 3 to move the mounting member 1 in the first direction D1, thereby transporting the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1 toward the measurement unit 7 (step S2). Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the state of the measuring device 100 before the transport of the measurement object SA is started.

[0036] After starting the transport of the measurement object SA to the measurement unit 7, the control unit 9 starts the measurement of the measurement object SA by the measurement unit 7 (step S3). Specifically, the electromagnetic wave measurement unit 91 starts irradiating the electromagnetic wave from the irradiation unit 71 of the measurement unit 7.

[0037] After the transport of the measurement object SA to the measurement unit 7 is started and measurement of the measurement object SA by the measurement unit 7 is started, the receiving unit 73 receives the passing electromagnetic waves that have passed only through the mounting member 1 until the measurement object SA reaches the measurement unit 7.

[0038] When the measurement object SA reaches the measurement unit 7, the measurement object SA and the mounting member 1 are placed between the irradiation unit 71 and the receiving unit 73, as shown in Fig. 4. At this time, the receiving unit 73 receives the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the measurement object SA and the mounting member 1. Therefore, when the measurement object SA reaches the measurement unit 7, the electromagnetic wave measuring unit 91 acquires actual measurement data (actual measured amount of change, actual measured phase delay) (step S4). Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the state of the measurement device 100 when the measurement object SA is placed in the measurement unit 7.

[0039] 4, when the measurement object SA is placed in the measurement unit 7, i.e., when the actual measurement data is acquired, the different property region 11 of the mounting member 1 is located outside the measurement unit 7. Therefore, the actual measurement data acquired at this time is not affected by the different property region 11.

[0040] The information processing device 93 calculates the moisture content based on the measured change amount of the measured data and the measured phase delay of the measured data. As described above, the measured data is not affected by the different property area 11 of the mounting member 1, and therefore all values ​​are measured under the same conditions. Therefore, the moisture content calculated as described above is also accurate and not affected by the different property area 11.

[0041] After acquiring the actual measurement data, the electromagnetic wave measurement unit 91 stops the irradiation of the electromagnetic wave from the irradiation unit 71, and the measurement of the measurement object SA by the measurement unit 7 is completed (step S5).

[0042] After completing the measurement of the measurement object SA, the information processing device 93 controls the transport unit 3 to move the mounting member 1 in the first direction D1, thereby carrying out the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1 from the measurement unit 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the information processing device 93 moves the mounting member 1 in the first direction D1 to transport the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1 to the vicinity of the first pulley 31. The measurement object SA transported to the vicinity of the first pulley 31 is removed from the mounting member 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of the measuring device 100 when the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1 has been carried out from the measurement unit 7.

[0043] After removing the measurement object SA from the mounting member 1, the information processing device 93 controls the transport unit 3 to move the mounting member 1 in the first direction D1 until the origin marker 13 provided on the mounting member 1 is detected by the detection unit 5. As a result, the origin OR of the mounting member 1 returns to the reference position P1 (step S6), as shown in FIG. 6. By returning the origin OR of the mounting member 1 to the reference position P1, it is no longer necessary to perform an operation to align the origin OR with the reference position P1 when starting to transport the measurement object SA to the measurement unit 7, and therefore measurement of the measurement object SA can be performed more quickly. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the measuring device 100 when the origin OR of the mounting member 1 has returned to the reference position P1.

[0044] As described above, in the measuring device 100, the measurement object SA is moved while placed on the mounting member 1 and transported to the measurement unit 7, and measurement by the measurement unit 7 (i.e., irradiation of electromagnetic waves by the irradiation unit 71) begins after the measurement object SA begins to be transported to the measurement unit 7. In this measuring device 100, an origin OR is set on the mounting member 1, a reference position P1 is set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member 1 by the transport unit 3 (first direction D1), and the positional relationship between the origin OR and the reference position P1 is determined so that the different-property region 11 is not positioned in the measurement unit 7, at least from the start to the end of measurement by the measurement unit 7. When transporting the measurement object SA to the measurement unit 7, first, the origin OR of the mounting member 1 is aligned with the reference position P1, and then the mounting member 1 is moved to transport the measurement object SA placed on the mounting member 1 to the measurement unit 7.

[0045] As a result, while the measurement unit 7 is performing measurement, the electromagnetic waves used to measure the measurement object SA are not irradiated onto the different property area 11, so the influence of the different property area 11 is not measured as measurement data, and the measurement results of the measurement object SA (i.e., actual measurement data) are not influenced by the different property area 11. As a result, the influence of the mounting member 1 on the measurement results of the measurement object SA can be reduced.

[0046] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0047] The processing order and / or processing contents of each step in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0048] The measuring unit 7 may measure a physical quantity other than the moisture content of the measurement object SA. The above embodiment is applicable when the mounting member 1 on which the measurement object SA is placed and transported has an area whose electromagnetic wave characteristics differ from other areas.

[0049] The positional relationship between the origin OR, reference position P1, and different property area 11 of the mounting member 1 is not limited to the positional relationship described using Figure 1 etc. As long as the different property area 11 is not placed on the measurement unit 7 between the start and end of measurement by the measurement unit 7, the origin OR and reference position P1 of the mounting member 1 can be set at any position.

[0050] The method for detecting the origin OR set on the mounting member 1 is not limited to the method of detecting the origin marker 13 by a sensor. For example, it is also possible to measure the amount of rotation of the first pulley 31 or the second pulley using a device such as an encoder, and determine the origin OR of the mounting member 1 from this amount of rotation. In this case, the detection unit 5 can be a device such as an encoder that measures the amount of rotation of the first pulley 31 or the second pulley.

[0051] Furthermore, for example, while the mounting member 1 is being moved in the first direction D1, such as when returning the origin OR to the reference position P1, when an electromagnetic wave is irradiated from the irradiation unit 71 of the measurement unit 7 and the electromagnetic wave that has passed through the different characteristic area 11 is received by the receiving unit 73, it can be detected that the different characteristic area 11 is located in the measurement unit 7. After detecting that the different characteristic area 11 is located in the measurement unit 7, the mounting member 1 can be moved in the first direction D1 until the different characteristic area 11 is located outside the measurement unit 7, thereby aligning the origin OR with the reference position P1.

[0052] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0053] (First aspect) A measurement device includes a mounting member, a measurement unit, a transport unit, and a control unit. The mounting member mounts an object to be measured. The measurement unit uses electromagnetic waves to measure a physical quantity of the object to be measured placed on the mounting member. The transport unit moves the mounting member to transport the object to be measured placed on the mounting member. The control unit controls the measurement unit and the transport unit.

[0054] In this measurement device, the mounting member has an area with different characteristics to electromagnetic waves than other areas. In this case, an origin is set on the mounting member, and a reference position is set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member by the transport unit. When the control unit performs measurement using the measurement unit, it first aligns the origin with the reference position, then transports the measurement object placed on the mounting member to the measurement unit, and starts measuring the measurement object using the measurement unit after starting to transport the measurement object to the measurement unit. Furthermore, the origin and reference position are set at positions where the area with different characteristics is not located on the measurement unit at least from the start to the end of measurement by the measurement unit.

[0055] In the above-mentioned measuring device, in which a measurement object placed on a mounting member is transported to a measurement unit, it has been discovered that the mounting member on which the measurement object is placed has an area (different characteristic area) that has different characteristics with respect to electromagnetic waves than other areas. If this different characteristic area is placed in the measurement unit and measured, it may have a significant effect on the measurement results of the measurement object.

[0056] In the first embodiment of the measuring device, an origin is set on the mounting member, and a reference position is set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member by the transport unit. When measuring the measurement object using the measurement unit, the origin of the mounting member is first aligned with the reference position, and then the mounting member is moved to transport the measurement object placed on the mounting member to the measurement unit. After the transport begins, the measurement unit begins measuring the measurement object. Furthermore, the origin and reference position are set at positions where the measurement unit does not position the different characteristic area at least between the start and end of measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit. As a result, the electromagnetic waves used to measure the measurement object are not irradiated onto the different characteristic area during measurement by the measurement unit. Therefore, the influence of the different characteristic area is not measured as measurement data, and the measurement results of the measurement object are not affected by the different characteristic area. As a result, the influence of the mounting member on the measurement results of the measurement object can be reduced.

[0057] (Second Aspect) In the measuring device of the first aspect, the control unit may return the origin to the reference position after the measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit is completed. In the measuring device of the second aspect, there is no need to perform an operation to align the origin with the reference position when starting to transport the measurement object to the measurement unit, so that the measurement of the measurement object can be performed more quickly.

[0058] (Third Aspect) In the measuring device of the second aspect, the transport unit may be capable of moving the mounting member in a first direction. In this case, the control unit may move the mounting member in the first direction to transport the measurement object placed on the mounting member to the measurement unit, and after the measurement unit has finished measuring the measurement object, may move the mounting member in the first direction to return the origin to the reference position. In the measuring device of the third aspect, the mounting member 1 is moved in only one direction, so that control of the movement of the mounting member 1 can be simplified.

[0059] (Fourth Aspect) The measuring device of any one of the first to third aspects may further include a detection unit. The detection unit is provided at a reference position and detects the origin to determine whether the origin coincides with the reference position. In the measuring device of the fourth aspect, the detection unit can reliably detect whether the origin is located at the reference position.

[0060] (Fifth Aspect) In the measuring device of the fourth aspect, an origin marker may be provided at the origin of the mounting member. In this case, the detection unit may detect that the origin coincides with the reference position by detecting the origin marker. In the measuring device of the fifth aspect, by detecting the origin marker provided at the origin of the mounting member with the detection unit, it is possible to reliably detect whether the origin is located at the reference position.

[0061] (Sixth Aspect) In the measurement device of any of the first to fifth aspects, the measurement unit may have an irradiation unit that is disposed opposite the mounting member and that irradiates electromagnetic waves, and a receiving unit that is disposed on the opposite side of the mounting member and the irradiation unit and that receives the electromagnetic waves. In the measurement device of the sixth aspect, the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the mounting member are used to measure the object to be measured, but since the different property region is not disposed in the measurement unit from the start to the end of measurement by the measurement unit, the measurement results of the object to be measured are not affected by the different property region.

[0062] (Seventh Aspect) A seventh aspect of the measuring method is a measuring method for a measurement object using a measuring device including a mounting member on which the measurement object is placed and which has a different characteristic area whose characteristics to electromagnetic waves are different from other areas, a measuring unit that measures the measurement object placed on the mounting member using electromagnetic waves, and a transport unit that transports the measurement object placed on the mounting member by moving the mounting member. This measuring method includes the following steps. (a) A step of matching an origin set on the mounting member with a reference position set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member by the transport unit. (b) A step of transporting the measurement object placed on the placement member to the measurement unit. (c) A step of starting measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit after starting transport of the measurement object to the measurement unit.

[0063] In the above measurement method, the origin and the reference position are determined at least at positions where the measurement unit does not come into contact with the region of different characteristics from the start to the end of measurement of the object to be measured by the measurement unit.

[0064] In the above-mentioned measuring device, in which a measurement object placed on a mounting member is transported to a measurement unit, it has been discovered that the mounting member on which the measurement object is placed has an area (different characteristic area) that has different characteristics with respect to electromagnetic waves than other areas. If this different characteristic area is measured, it may have a significant impact on the measurement results of the measurement object.

[0065] In a seventh aspect of the measurement method, an origin is set on the mounting member, and a reference position is set at a predetermined position in the direction of movement of the mounting member by the transport unit. When measuring the measurement object using the measurement unit, the origin of the mounting member is first aligned with the reference position, and then the mounting member is moved to transport the measurement object placed on the mounting member to the measurement unit. After the transport begins, the measurement unit begins measuring the measurement object. Furthermore, the origin and reference position are set at positions where the measurement unit does not position the different characteristic area at least between the start and end of measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit. As a result, the electromagnetic waves used to measure the measurement object are not irradiated onto the different characteristic area during measurement by the measurement unit. Therefore, the influence of the different characteristic area is not measured as measurement data, and the measurement results of the measurement object are not affected by the different characteristic area. As a result, the influence of the mounting member on the measurement results of the measurement object can be reduced.

[0066] (Eighth Aspect) The program of the eighth aspect is a program that causes a computer to execute the measurement method of the seventh aspect. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 100: Measuring equipment 1: Mounting member 11: Different characteristic area 13: Origin marker 3: Conveyor section 31: First pulley 33: Second pulley 5: Detection section 7: Measuring part 71: Irradiation unit 73: Receiving unit 9: Control section 91: Electromagnetic wave measurement section 93: Information processing equipment OR :Origin P1: Reference position SA: Measurement object

Claims

1. a mounting member on which an object to be measured is placed; a measurement unit that measures the measurement object placed on the mounting member using electromagnetic waves; a transport unit that transports the measurement object placed on the placement member by moving the placement member; a control unit that controls the measurement unit and the transport unit; Equipped with the mounting member has a different characteristic area whose characteristics with respect to the electromagnetic waves are different from other areas, an origin is set on the mounting member, and a reference position is set at a predetermined position in the moving direction of the mounting member by the transport unit; The control unit The origin is aligned with the reference position; Thereafter, the measurement object placed on the placement member is transported to the measurement unit, After starting the transport of the measurement object to the measurement unit, starting the measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit; The origin and the reference position are determined at positions where the different characteristic region is not positioned on the measurement unit at least from the start to the end of measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit. Measuring equipment.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit returns the origin to the reference position after the measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit is completed.

3. the transport unit is capable of moving the placement member in a first direction; The control unit By moving the mounting member in the first direction, the measurement object placed on the mounting member is transported to the measurement unit; The measuring device according to claim 2 , wherein after the measurement of the measurement object by the measuring unit is completed, the placement member is moved in the first direction to return the origin to the reference position.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1 , further comprising a detection unit provided at the reference position, which detects the origin and thereby determines whether the origin coincides with the reference position.

5. an origin marker is provided at the origin of the mounting member; The measuring device according to claim 4 , wherein the detector detects that the origin coincides with the reference position by detecting the origin marker.

6. The measurement unit an irradiation unit disposed opposite the mounting member and irradiating the electromagnetic wave; a receiving unit that is disposed on the opposite side to the side where the mounting member and the irradiating unit face each other and receives the electromagnetic waves; The measurement device of claim 1 , further comprising:

7. A method for measuring an object to be measured using a measuring device including: a mounting member on which an object to be measured is placed, the mounting member having a different characteristic area whose characteristics with respect to electromagnetic waves are different from other areas; a measurement unit that measures the object to be measured placed on the mounting member using electromagnetic waves; and a transport unit that transports the object to be measured placed on the mounting member by moving the mounting member, a step of matching an origin set on the mounting member with a reference position set at a predetermined position in a moving direction of the mounting member by the transport unit; transporting the measurement object placed on the placement member to the measurement unit; a step of starting measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit after starting transport of the measurement object to the measurement unit; Preparation, The origin and the reference position are determined at positions where the different characteristic region is not positioned on the measurement unit at least from the start to the end of measurement of the measurement object by the measurement unit. Measurement method.

8. A program for causing a computer to execute the measurement method according to claim 7.

Images