Attached liquid inspection device

Abstract

To provide an attached liquid inspection device capable of properly inspecting whether liquid is attached to a surface of an inspection object.SOLUTION: An attached liquid inspection device 1 inspects whether liquid L is present on a surface of a container 5. The device includes: a light irradiation part 2 capable of irradiating the container 5 with a plurality of kinds of light with different wavelengths (first irradiation light and second irradiation light); an imaging part 3 for capturing an image of the container 5 irradiated with the light from the light irradiation part 2; and an inspection part 4 for determining whether the liquid L adheres to the surface of the container 5 according to the image captured by the imaging part 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, in order to inspect the appearance of a container filled with liquid, the container to be inspected is irradiated with visible light, the container irradiated with the visible light is imaged using an imaging means such as a camera, and the appearance of the container is inspected based on the image captured (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] When inspecting the appearance of such a container, for example, if you are trying to check whether or not there is liquid adhering to the surface of the container, if the liquid adhering to the container is opaque to visible light, by irradiating the container with visible light, a difference in shade will be obtained between the liquid and the surface of the container which forms the background to the liquid, making it possible to recognize the liquid adhering to the surface of the container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-164639 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if the liquid adhering to the surface of a container is transparent to visible light, irradiating the container with visible light does not produce a significant difference in shade between the liquid and the surface of the container, making it difficult to recognize the adhering liquid.

[0006] Therefore, when the containers to be inspected are a mixture of containers that may have a liquid that is opaque to visible light attached to them and containers that may have a liquid that is transparent to visible light attached to them, it has been difficult to perform proper inspections of the containers that may have a liquid that is opaque to visible light attached to them.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides an adhering liquid inspection device that is configured to be able to irradiate multiple types of light with different wavelengths onto an object to be inspected, and can properly inspect the presence or absence of liquid adhering to the surface of the object to be inspected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and the means for solving this problem will now be described.

[0009] In other words, the liquid adhesion inspection device is an adhesion liquid inspection device for inspecting whether or not a liquid is attached to the surface of an object to be inspected, and is equipped with a light irradiation unit that can irradiate the object to be inspected with multiple types of light of different wavelengths, an imaging unit that captures an image of the object to be inspected irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit, and an inspection unit that determines whether or not a liquid is attached to the surface of the object to be inspected based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

[0010] This makes it possible to properly inspect whether or not multiple types of liquids are attached to the surface of the inspection object.

[0011] The light irradiation unit also includes a first illuminator that irradiates the object to be inspected with first irradiation light having a first wavelength, and a second illuminator that irradiates the object to be inspected with second irradiation light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and the object to be inspected includes a first container filled with a first liquid that is opaque to the first irradiation light, and a second container filled with a second liquid that is opaque to the second irradiation light, and the imaging unit is capable of capturing a first image of the object to be inspected irradiated with the first irradiation light, and a second image of the object to be inspected irradiated with the second irradiation light.

[0012] This makes it possible to recognize the first liquid by irradiating the first liquid, which is opaque to the first irradiation light, with the first irradiation light from the first lighting to obtain a first image, and to recognize the second liquid by irradiating the second liquid, which is opaque to the second irradiation light, with the second irradiation light from the second lighting to obtain a second image.

[0013] The inspection unit is also capable of controlling the operation of the first lighting and the second lighting, and when the object to be inspected is the first container, causes the first lighting to irradiate the object to be inspected with first irradiation light, and when the object to be inspected is the second container, causes the second lighting to irradiate the object to be inspected with second irradiation light.

[0014] This allows the first illumination and the second illumination to be turned on depending on the type of the inspection object, thereby making it possible to properly inspect whether or not there is a liquid adhering to the surface of the inspection object.

[0015] The first wavelength of the first irradiation light is 1450 nm, and the second wavelength of the second irradiation light is 850 nm.

[0016] This makes it possible to recognize the first liquid, which is opaque to light with a wavelength of 1450 nm, by irradiating the first irradiation light onto the first liquid, and to recognize the second liquid, which is opaque to light with a wavelength of 850 nm, by irradiating the second irradiation light onto the second liquid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to properly inspect whether or not a plurality of types of liquids are attached to the surface of an inspection object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the liquid receiving inspection device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container with liquid adhering to its surface. [Figure 3] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing a first container with a first liquid attached to its surface, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view showing a second container with a second liquid attached to its surface. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the light emitting section in a state where the first illumination is turned on. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the light emitting section in a state where the second illumination is turned on. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first image obtained by irradiating a first container having a first liquid attached thereto with first irradiation light. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a reference image obtained by irradiating visible light onto a first container to which a first liquid is attached. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second image obtained by irradiating a second container to which a second liquid is attached with a second irradiation light. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] [Liquid adhesion inspection device] The liquid adhesion inspection device 1 shown in Figure 1 is one embodiment of the liquid adhesion inspection device according to the present invention, and is used when carrying out an inspection process to inspect for the presence or absence of liquid L adhering to the surface of a container 5, which is the object to be inspected.

[0021] The liquid adhering inspection device 1 includes a light irradiation unit 2, an imaging unit 3, and an inspection unit 4. A container 5 is placed on a conveyor 7 while being held by, for example, a holder 6, and is transported by the conveyor 7 from the right to the left in FIG.

[0022] The light irradiation unit 2 and the imaging unit 3 in the liquid adhesion inspection device 1 are arranged above the conveyor 7, and when a container 5 transported by the conveyor 7 is positioned below the light irradiation unit 2, the light irradiation unit 2 irradiates light onto the container 5, and the imaging unit 3 captures an image of the container 5 irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit 2. The inspection unit 4 determines whether or not liquid L is attached to the surface of the container 5 based on the image captured by the imaging unit 3.

[0023] [container] The container 5 is a container to be filled with the liquid L, and is filled with the liquid L in a step preceding the inspection step. That is, after the container 5 is filled with the liquid L in a step preceding the inspection step, it is transported by the conveyor 7 to the adhering liquid inspection device 1 for carrying out the inspection step.

[0024] 2, the container 5 includes a body 51 that is filled with the liquid L, and a head 52 that protrudes upward from the upper end of the body 51. The head 52 is formed with an opening 52a into which a filling nozzle can be inserted for filling the body 51 with the liquid L. The upper end surface of the body 51 on which the head 52 is formed forms a shoulder 51a of the container 5.

[0025] When filling the body 51 of the container 5 with the liquid L, a filling nozzle for the liquid L is inserted into the container 5 through the opening 52a, and the liquid L is discharged from the filling nozzle, thereby filling the body 51 with the liquid L. It is also possible to fill the body 51 of the container 5 with the liquid L by causing the liquid L to flow down from above the container 5 to the opening 52a of the head portion 52.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, when filling the container 5 with liquid L, or when withdrawing the filling nozzle from the opening 52a after filling with liquid L, the liquid L may adhere to the surface of the container 5, such as the head portion 52 and the shoulder portion 51a of the body portion 51.

[0027] For containers 5 with liquid L adhering to the surface, the adhering liquid L needs to be removed by wiping or the like, so the liquid inspection device 1 inspects whether or not there is liquid adhering to the surface of the container 5, and identifies containers 5 with liquid adhering to the surface.

[0028] There are multiple types of containers 5 filled with liquid. That is, the containers 5 include, for example, a first container 5A (see FIG. 3(a)) filled with a first liquid LA that is transparent to light in the visible light region, and a second container 5B (see FIG. 3(b)) filled with a second liquid LB that is opaque to light in the visible light region and light in the near-infrared light region close to the visible light region.

[0029] The first liquid LA, which is transparent to light in the visible light region, is opaque to light in a region other than the visible light region. In this embodiment, the first liquid LA is a liquid that is opaque to light in the infrared light region, which has a longer wavelength than light in the visible light region.

[0030] The first liquid LA that is transparent to light in the visible light region can be, for example, a liquid such as a lotion that contains water as its main component and does not absorb light in the visible light region. Furthermore, the first liquid LA is a liquid that absorbs light in the infrared region, which has a longer wavelength than light in the visible light region, and is therefore opaque to light in the infrared region.

[0031] The second liquid LB that is opaque to light in the visible light region and near-infrared light region can be, for example, a liquid such as liquid foundation that contains a colored pigment or the like and absorbs light in the visible light region and near-infrared light region.

[0032] [Light irradiation unit] The light irradiation unit 2 includes a reflector 21, a first illuminator 22, and a second illuminator 23. The reflector 21 is a dome-shaped reflector formed in a hemispherical shape excluding the lower half of the sphere, and includes an upper opening 21a, a lower opening 21b, and a reflective surface 21c. The first illuminator 22 and the second illuminator 23 may be, for example, an LED illuminator, a halogen illuminator, or a xenon illuminator.

[0033] The first illuminator 22 can emit first irradiation light having a first wavelength. The second illuminator 23 can emit second irradiation light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. In this embodiment, the first wavelength of the first irradiation light is longer than the second wavelength of the second irradiation light.

[0034] The second wavelength of the second irradiation light can be set to, for example, a wavelength of light in the visible light region or a wavelength of light in the near-infrared light region close to the visible light region, and the first wavelength of the first irradiation light can be set to, for example, a wavelength of light in the infrared light region longer than the wavelength of light in the visible light region.

[0035] In this embodiment, the first wavelength of the first irradiation light is set to 1450 nm, which is a wavelength of light in the infrared light region, and the second wavelength of the second irradiation light is set to 850 nm, which is a wavelength of light in the visible light region or near-infrared light region. The first liquid LA is opaque to light with a wavelength of 1450 nm, and the second liquid LB is opaque to light with a wavelength of 850 nm.

[0036] A plurality of first luminaires 22 and second luminaires 23 are respectively arranged at the lower end of the reflector 21. The first luminaires 22 and second luminaires 23 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction around the circular lower opening 21b.

[0037] The first and second irradiation lights emitted from the first and second illuminators 22 and 23 are reflected by a reflecting surface 21c, which is the inner peripheral surface of the reflector 21, and then travel downward through the lower opening 21b. The first and second irradiation lights that have traveled downward through the lower opening 21b are irradiated onto the container 5 located below the reflector 21. The container 5 is irradiated with indirect light of the first and second irradiation lights reflected by the reflecting surface 21c.

[0038] [Inspection unit (motion control unit)] The first illuminator 22 and the second illuminator 23 are connected to the inspection unit 4. The inspection unit 4 is configured as a computer unit including, for example, a CPU and an internal storage device required for the operation of the CPU.

[0039] The inspection unit 4 has an operation control unit 41. The operation control unit 41 is configured to be able to control the on / off operations of the first illuminator 22 and the second illuminator 23 in the light emitting unit 2.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 4, the operation control unit 41 of the inspection unit 4 can control the light irradiation unit 2 to a state in which the first illuminator 22 is turned on and the second illuminator 23 is turned off. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, the operation control unit 41 of the inspection unit 4 can control the light irradiation unit 2 to a state in which the first illuminator 22 is turned off and the second illuminator 23 is turned on.

[0041] Furthermore, the operation control unit 41 of the inspection unit 4 can also control the light irradiation unit 2 to a state in which both the first illumination 22 and the second illumination 23 are turned on, and a state in which both the first illumination 22 and the second illumination 23 are turned off.

[0042] Therefore, under the control of the operation control unit 41, the light irradiating unit 2 can turn on only the first illuminator 22 and irradiate the container 5 with the first irradiation light. Also, under the control of the operation control unit 41, the light irradiating unit 2 can turn on only the second illuminator 23 and irradiate the container 5 with the second irradiation light.

[0043] Furthermore, under the control of the operation control unit 41, the light irradiation unit 2 can turn on only the first illumination 22 to irradiate the container 5 with the first irradiation light, then turn on only the second illumination 23 to irradiate the container 5 with the second irradiation light, and can turn on only the second illumination 23 to irradiate the container 5 with the second irradiation light, and then turn on only the first illumination 22 to irradiate the container 5 with the first irradiation light.

[0044] Furthermore, under the control of the operation control unit 41, the light irradiating unit 2 can turn on both the first illuminator 22 and the second illuminator 23 to irradiate the container 5 with the first irradiation light and the second irradiation light.

[0045] In this way, the light irradiating unit 2 is configured to be able to irradiate the container 5, which is the inspection object, with a plurality of types of light having different wavelengths.

[0046] [Image capture unit] The imaging unit 3 is configured with a camera such as a CCD camera or a CMOS camera, and is disposed above the upper opening 21 a in the reflector 21 .

[0047] The imaging unit 3 can capture an image of the container 5 irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit 2 from above through the upper opening 21a and the lower opening 21b of the reflector 21. The imaging unit 3 can capture, for example, an image of the first container 5A irradiated with the first irradiation light and an image of the second container 5B irradiated with the second irradiation light.

[0048] For example, when a first container 5A having the first liquid LA attached thereto is irradiated with the first irradiation light and imaged by the imaging unit 3, a first image P1 shown in Fig. 6 is obtained. The first liquid LA is attached to the shoulder portion 51a and head portion 52 of the first container 5A displayed in the first image P1, and the first liquid LA, which is opaque to the first irradiation light, appears on the shoulder portion 51a and head portion 52 of the first container 5A in the first image P1.

[0049] That is, in the first image P1, an effective contrast is created between the first liquid LA adhering to the shoulder portion 51a and the head portion 52 and the shoulder portion 51a and the head portion 52 that form the background of the first liquid LA, making it possible to recognize the first liquid LA. In this case, since the first container 5A is evenly irradiated with the soft indirect light of the first irradiation light, it is possible to increase the contrast between the first liquid LA and the background in the first image P1.

[0050] On the other hand, when visible light is irradiated onto the first container 5A to which the first liquid LA is attached and an image is taken by the imaging unit 3, a reference image Pc shown in Fig. 7 is obtained. The first liquid LA is attached to the shoulder portion 51a and head portion 52 of the first container 5A displayed in the reference image Pc, but because the first liquid LA is transparent to visible light, the first liquid LA does not appear on the shoulder portion 51a and head portion 52 of the first container 5A in the reference image Pc.

[0051] In other words, in the reference image Pc, there is no significant difference in shading between the first liquid LA adhering to the shoulder portion 51a and the head portion 52 and the shoulder portion 51a and the head portion 52 that form the background of the first liquid LA, making it difficult to recognize the first liquid LA.

[0052] In this way, it is difficult to recognize the first liquid LA attached to the first container 5A, which is transparent to light in the visible light region, when an image is taken with the imaging unit 3 while irradiated with visible light. However, because the first liquid LA is opaque to the first irradiation light in the infrared light region, which has a first wavelength longer than that of light in the visible light region, it is possible to recognize the first liquid LA by imaging with the imaging unit 3 while irradiated with the first irradiation light.

[0053] Furthermore, when the second container 5B having the second liquid LB attached thereto is irradiated with the second irradiation light and imaged by the imaging unit 3, the second image P2 shown in Fig. 8 is obtained. The second liquid LB is attached to the shoulder portion 51a and head portion 52 of the second container 5B displayed in the second image P2, and the second liquid LB, which is opaque to the second irradiation light, appears on the shoulder portion 51a and head portion 52 of the second container 5B in the second image P2.

[0054] That is, in the second image P2, an effective contrast is created between the second liquid LB adhering to the shoulder portion 51a and the head portion 52 and the shoulder portion 51a and the head portion 52 that form the background of the second liquid LB, making it possible to recognize the second liquid LB. In this case, since the second container 5B is evenly irradiated with the soft indirect light of the second irradiation light, it is possible to increase the contrast between the second liquid LB and the background in the second image P2.

[0055] In this way, since the second liquid LB is opaque to the second irradiation light, which is light in the visible light region or near-infrared light region, it is possible to recognize the second liquid LB by imaging it with the imaging unit 3 while irradiated with the second irradiation light.

[0056] As described above, in the adhesion liquid inspection device 1, the light irradiation unit 2 is configured to be able to irradiate multiple types of light with different wavelengths, such as the first irradiation light and the second irradiation light, and therefore it is possible to irradiate multiple liquids L, such as the first liquid LA and the second liquid LB, with light of a wavelength corresponding to the type of liquid L, which has different wavelengths of light that become opaque.

[0057] This allows the multiple types of liquid L to be recognized by creating a difference in shade between them and the background, making it possible to properly inspect whether or not the multiple types of liquid L are adhering to the surface of the container 5.

[0058] In particular, since the first wavelength of the first irradiation light irradiated from the first illumination 22 of the light irradiation unit 2 is set to 1450 nm, the first liquid LA, which is opaque to the first irradiation light having a wavelength of 1450 nm, can be made recognizable by irradiating the first irradiation light onto the first liquid LA to obtain a first image P1.

[0059] Furthermore, since the second wavelength of the second irradiation light emitted from the second illumination 23 of the light irradiation unit 2 is set to 850 nm, the second liquid LB, which is opaque to the second irradiation light having a wavelength of 850 nm, can be made recognizable by irradiating the second irradiation light onto the second liquid LB to obtain a second image.

[0060] [Inspection Department (Judgment Department)] The imaging unit 3 is connected to the inspection unit 4, and the captured images such as the first image P1 and the second image P2 captured by the imaging unit 3 are input to the inspection unit 4. The inspection unit 4 has a determination unit 42 that determines whether or not a liquid is attached to the surface of the container 5.

[0061] The determination unit 42 determines whether or not a liquid is attached to the surface of the container 5 based on the image captured by the imaging unit 3 and input to the inspection unit 4. In this case, the determination unit 42 determines whether or not a liquid is attached based on whether or not a difference in density between the container 5 and the liquid L that appears when the liquid L is attached is detected in the container 5 displayed in the captured image, for example.

[0062] When the judgment unit 42 detects a difference in shading between the first liquid LA appearing in the first image P1 and the container 5, and when it detects a difference in shading between the second liquid LB appearing in the second image P2 and the container 5, it judges that the liquid L is attached to the container 5.

[0063] On the other hand, if there is no significant difference in shading between the liquid L and the container 5, as in the reference image Pc, and no difference in shading between the liquid L and the container 5 can be detected, the judgment unit 42 judges that the liquid L is not attached to the container 5.

[0064] The inspection unit 4 can recognize the type of the container 5 that has been transported below the adhering liquid inspection device 1 by the conveyor 7. For example, it can recognize whether the container 5 that has been transported below the adhering liquid inspection device 1 is the first container 5A or the second container 5B.

[0065] For example, the holder 6 that holds the container 5 stores information for identifying the type of container 5 that it holds, and the inspection unit 4 can recognize the type of container 5 by reading the information about the type of container 5 stored in the holder 6. Furthermore, if the shape of the container 5 varies depending on the type, the inspection unit 4 can also be configured to recognize the type of container 5 based on the shape of the container 5 imaged by the imaging unit 3. The inspection unit 4 can also recognize the type of container 5 by other known methods.

[0066] In this way, the inspection unit 4 recognizes the type of container 5 transported below the adhering liquid inspection device 1, and if the container 5 is the first container 5A, it turns on the first light 22 to irradiate the first container 5A with the first irradiation light, and if the container 5 is the second container 5B, it turns on the second light 23 to irradiate the second container 5B with the second irradiation light.

[0067] Therefore, the first lighting 22 and the second lighting 23 can be turned on depending on the type of container 5 transported below the adhering liquid inspection device 1, thereby making it possible to properly inspect whether or not there is liquid adhering to the surface of the container 5. As a result, even if the containers 5 transported by the conveyor 7 are a mixture of multiple types of containers 5, it is possible to properly inspect whether or not there is liquid adhering to each type of container 5.

[0068] In addition, in cases where it is unclear whether the liquid L filled in the container 5 is the first liquid LA or the second liquid LB, the same container 5 that has been transported below the adhering liquid inspection device 1 can be properly inspected to determine which liquid L is or is not adhering to the container 5 by irradiating it with the first irradiation light to obtain a first image P1 and irradiating it with the second irradiation light to obtain a second image P2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1. Liquid adhesion inspection device 2 Light irradiation unit 3. Imaging unit 4. Inspection Department 5 containers 5A 1st container 5B 2nd container 22 No. 1 Lighting 23 Second Lighting L liquid LA 1st liquid LB 2nd liquid P1 1st image P2 2nd image

Claims

1. An attached liquid inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of liquid attached to the surface of an inspection object, a light irradiation unit capable of irradiating the inspection object with a plurality of types of light having different wavelengths; an imaging unit that captures an image of the inspection object irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit; and an inspection unit that determines whether or not a liquid is attached to the surface of the inspection object based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

2. The light irradiation unit a first illumination that irradiates the inspection object with first illumination light having a first wavelength; a second illumination unit configured to irradiate the inspection object with second illumination light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, The object to be inspected is a first container filled with a first liquid that is opaque to the first irradiation light; a second container filled with a second liquid that is opaque to the second irradiation light; The imaging unit 2. The liquid adhering inspection device according to claim 1, which is capable of capturing a first image of the inspection object irradiated with a first irradiation light and a second image of the inspection object irradiated with a second irradiation light.

3. The inspection unit The operation of the first light and the second light can be controlled; When the inspection object is the first container, the inspection object is irradiated with first irradiation light from the first illumination device; 3. The liquid adhering inspection device according to claim 2, wherein when the inspection object is the second container, the inspection object is irradiated with second irradiation light from the second illumination.

4. the first wavelength of the first irradiation light is 1450 nm; 4. The liquid adhering inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the second wavelength of the second irradiation light is 850 nm.

Images