Product inspection system

Abstract

This prevents defective products from flowing downstream to the next stage of the device. [Solution] The item inspection system 1A includes an inspection unit 3 that inspects the quality of items being transported according to inspection conditions corresponding to the items, and a sorting unit 4 that sorts and separates the items in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results of the inspection unit 3. An ID tag is attached to each item. The ID tag writing means 3c of the inspection unit 3 writes the inspection result judgment information to the ID tag. The sorting control means 4c controls the sorting means 4b based on the judgment information written to the ID tag to sort items for which OK information has been read in the direction of good items.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an article inspection system that inspects the quality of an article to be conveyed according to inspection conditions corresponding to the article, and sorts and selects the articles in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various forms of article inspection devices are known as article inspection devices that inspect the quality of an article to be conveyed according to inspection conditions corresponding to the article, and sort and select the articles in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results.

[0003] For example, in the article inspection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, articles are discharged into a NG box as defective products and sorted for each type of NG.

[0004] By the way, in this type of article inspection device, articles that have become NG products depending on the type of NG in a plurality of inspection items may be subjected to reinspection. For example, in the case of NG products due to missing items, it is preferable to subject them to reinspection to eliminate waste. Also, in the case of NG products due to overweight, they may be corrected to the appropriate weight and subjected to reinspection.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in order to perform the above-described reinspection, when an operator takes out a defective product from the NG box and moves it to the lane for reinspection, an article that has been erroneously returned to the normal lane and determined to be a defective product may be conveyed to the subsequent device as an OK product, and is processed as a good product in the subsequent device, and defective products may flow out downstream of the subsequent device.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide an article inspection system that can prevent defective products from flowing out to the downstream of a subsequent device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the article inspection system described in claim 1 of the present invention comprises an inspection unit 3 that inspects the quality of articles being transported according to inspection conditions corresponding to the articles, and a sorting unit 4 that sorts and sorts the articles in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results of the inspection unit, An ID tag is attached to the aforementioned item. An ID tag writing means 3c or 5a for writing the inspection result determination information to the ID tag, The system is characterized by comprising a sorting control means 4c that sorts items based on judgment information written to the ID tag.

[0009] The article inspection system described in claim 2 of the present invention is the article inspection system of claim 1, The ID tag writing means 3c or 5a is characterized by overwriting the ID tag for each inspection item.

[0010] The article inspection system described in claim 3 of the present invention is an article inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, The system is characterized by having an information locking means 4d that prohibits rewriting of the final information written to the ID tag.

[0011] The article inspection system described in claim 4 of the present invention is the article inspection system of claim 1, The system includes an ID tag information acquisition means 4a that reads the determination information written to the ID tag, The sorting control means is characterized in that it sorts items toward good products when the judgment information read from the ID tag is OK. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, in a downstream device, it is possible to reliably determine whether the conveyed items are good quality or not from the latest information on a read-write type ID tag attached to the items, thereby preventing defective products from being shipped out. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the article inspection system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) and (b) are diagrams showing examples of information to be written to an ID tag in the item inspection system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the article inspection system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the article inspection system according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0015] The article inspection system according to the present invention is incorporated into a manufacturing line (not shown) where articles to be inspected, such as raw meat, fish, processed foods, and pharmaceuticals, are transported. The system inspects the quality of the articles, including checking for foreign matter, defects, and appearance defects, and whether the weight of the articles is within a specified range. The system inspects the quality of the transported articles according to inspection conditions corresponding to the articles (shape, size, capacity, product form, length, thickness, belt speed, sorting method, etc.), and sorts the articles in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results.

[0016] First, the configuration of the first embodiment of the product inspection system will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the product inspection system 1(1A) of the first embodiment includes an inspection unit 3 and a sorting unit 4(4A), with a packaging unit 2 positioned in front of the inspection unit 3.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging unit 2 is provided as a pre-stage device of the article inspection system 1A, and includes a packaging means 2a, an ID tag attaching means 2b, a printing means 2c, and a printing inspection means 2d.

[0018] The packaging means 2a cuts a long film wound around a roll body into a predetermined length according to the size of the article, forms a bag body by heat-sealing the ends, and packs the contents (raw materials) of a predetermined weight discharged from a filling machine (not shown) into the bag body.

[0019] The ID tag attaching means 2b attaches an ID tag in which information of the article (information such as variety, size, number, weight of the contents to be contained in the package, etc.) is written to the bag body of the article packaged by the packaging means 2a. Note that at this stage, it is also possible to simply attach an ID tag in an initial format (a state in which information can be read and written) without writing the information of the article to the ID tag to the bag body of the article.

[0020] The ID tag used in the present embodiment is a tag capable of wirelessly reading and writing data using radio waves (electromagnetic waves), and is composed of a read / write type RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag.

[0021] The printing means 2c prints identification information for identifying each article, such as a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or a serial number, on the article packaged by the packaging means 2a and with an ID tag attached to the bag body.

[0022] Note that printing means, for example, directly printing the identification information at a predetermined position such as the side surface or the bottom surface of the packaged article, or attaching a label on which the identification information is printed, and the mode of printing (color and size of printing) is appropriately set within a range having readability required according to the shape of the article and the design of the package.

[0023] The printing inspection means 2d inspects the identification information printed by the printing means 2c on the packaged article, and when the identification information can be read correctly, it discharges the article as a good packaged article without printing defects.

[0024] In this embodiment, including the second embodiment described later, the printing means 2c and the print inspection means 2d are described as part of the packaging unit 2, but the printing means 2c may be configured as a printing machine and the print inspection means 2d as a print inspection machine separately.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the inspection unit 3 is located downstream of the packaging unit 2 and includes an inspection means 3a, an ID tag reading means 3b, and an ID tag writing means 3c.

[0026] The inspection means 3a is configured to obtain a detection signal according to the type and size of foreign matter contained in the article, or a detection signal according to the weight of the article. Based on this detection signal, a determination means (not shown) makes a pass / fail determination, such as whether or not foreign matter is contained in the article, or whether or not the weight of the article is within a predetermined range, and the inspection result (pass / fail determination result) is displayed on a display operation unit (not shown).

[0027] When the inspection unit 3 is configured as a metal detection device, the inspection means 3a generates an alternating magnetic field of a predetermined frequency and detects whether or not metal is mixed into the article from a detection signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field caused by the article passing through the alternating magnetic field. Alternatively, the metal contained in the article may be magnetized with a magnetizer such as a magnet, and the residual magnetism of the magnetized metal may be detected with a magnetic sensor.

[0028] When the inspection unit 3 is configured as an X-ray foreign object detection device, the inspection means 3a consists of an X-ray source and an X-ray detector. The X-ray detector detects the X-rays that pass through the article when X is irradiated from the X-ray source, and detects foreign object contamination, mass, defects, shape defects, etc., in the article from the detection signal corresponding to the amount of transmission. The X-ray detector is, for example, an array-type line sensor equipped with multiple photodiodes arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the article transported by a transport unit (not shown), and scintillators provided on the photodiodes. The X-rays that pass through the article are received by the scintillators and converted into light, and that light is converted into an electrical signal by a photodiode located below it. Note that the X-ray detector may also use a direct conversion type semiconductor element.

[0029] In the case where the inspection unit 3 is configured as a weight measuring device, the inspection means 3a is configured such that a part of the transport unit (not shown) is made into a weighing platform, and a load sensor, which is composed of a weighing mechanism such as an electromagnetic balance mechanism and is located below the weighing platform, measures the load of the item placed on the weighing platform, determines whether the measured value is within the standard range, and sorts the good items within the standard range from the defective items. The load sensor can be any weighing mechanism capable of measuring weight, and may be composed of weighing mechanisms such as a differential transformer mechanism or a strain gauge mechanism.

[0030] In addition to the above, inspection means 3a may also consist of an inspection device that inspects for external defects and foreign matter contamination from images captured by a camera. Furthermore, inspection unit 3 may be configured as a composite inspection device that selectively combines inspection means 3a such as a metal detection device, an X-ray foreign matter detection device, a weight measuring device, and an inspection device using a camera.

[0031] The ID tag reading means 3b reads the information from the ID tag attached to the item to be inspected. More specifically, when the item to be inspected is transported to the inspection unit 3 for the first time, the ID tag reading means 3b reads the item's information or initial format information as the information from the ID tag attached to the item. Also, when the item to be inspected has been transported in the past, the ID tag reading means 3b reads the item's information and the inspection result determination information for each inspection content as the information from the ID tag attached to the item at the time it was transported to the inspection unit 3.

[0032] The ID tag writing means 3c reads the information from the ID tag attached to the item to be inspected by the ID tag reading means 3b, and then overwrites the ID tag with information about the item (such as the type of product, the size, number, and weight of the contents contained in the packaging) and the latest inspection result judgment information for each inspection item by the inspection unit 3.

[0033] Here, the information written to the ID tag attached to the item (encodeable information) is a combination of numbers (0-9) and letters (a-f), and codes can be written in binary (numbers 0 or 1), decimal (combinations of numbers 0-9), or hexadecimal (combinations of numbers 0-9 and letters a-f).

[0034] Note that hiragana, kanji, alphabets other than a-f, and other symbols are invalid. The number of digits must be a multiple of 4, such as 4, 8, 12, or 16 digits. The capacity of the writing area of ​​a typical RFID tag is 96 bits (24 digits) or 128 bits (32 digits).

[0035] Figures 2(a) and 2(b) show examples of information written to the ID tag. Figure 2(a) shows an example where the judgment results for each inspection item are written in binary ("0": OK, "1": NG). Specifically, the following are written to the ID tag as the judgment information for the latest inspection result: foreign object judgment result: "1", missing item judgment result: "0", jammed item judgment result: "1", relative mass judgment result: "0", mass judgment result: "0", metal detection judgment result: "1", appearance judgment result: "1", and printing judgment result: "1". In other words, when the inspection result by the inspection unit 3 is a good product, the OK information "0" is written to the ID tag, and when the inspection result by the inspection unit 3 is a defective product, the NG information "1" is written to the ID tag.

[0036] Figure 2(b) shows an example where the inspection result of an item is written in hexadecimal, with the inspection result being written to the ID tag as the hexadecimal value "a7".

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the sorting unit 4(4A) is located downstream of the inspection unit 3 and includes an ID tag information acquisition means 4a, a sorting means 4b, a sorting control means 4c, and an information locking means 4d.

[0038] The ID tag information acquisition means 4a reads and acquires the information (including OK information) written on the ID tag of an item to be inspected when the item to be inspected, to which an ID tag is attached, is transported from the inspection unit 3.

[0039] The sorting means 4b sorts the items to be inspected in a predetermined direction according to the sorting control means 4c, which controls sorting according to the inspection results of the inspection unit 3 (the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection content written on the ID tag of the item to be inspected by the inspection unit 3). The sorting means 4b is configured to selectively include an air jet sorting means, a dropout sorting means, an up-out sorting means, and a flipper sorting means, as sorting means of known sorting methods.

[0040] To briefly explain each sorting method, the air jet sorting method involves blowing air from one side of the conveyed items and expelling them to the opposite side to separate defective items. The dropout sorting method involves tilting the conveyor downwards to cause items to fall and be expelled off the conveying path to separate defective items. The up-out sorting method involves tilting the upstream side of the conveyor upwards to cause items to fall and be expelled off the conveying path to separate defective items. The flipper sorting method involves swinging an arm along the conveying surface of the conveyor to expel items to the side of the conveyor to separate defective items. In each sorting method, items that are deemed to be good continue straight along the conveying path and are sent to, for example, the final packaging process.

[0041] The sorting control means 4c reads the inspection result judgment information from the ID tag and controls the sorting means 4b to sort the items toward good products if the judgment information is OK (does not contain NG information), and sort the items toward defective products if the judgment information is NG (contains NG information).

[0042] The information locking means 4d prevents the rewriting of the final information on the ID tag attached to an item when, for example, multiple inspections are performed by multiple inspection units 3, or when an inspected item that has completed all inspections, such as a final inspection, is moved to the packaging process before the final shipping process.

[0043] Next, we will explain the operation when inspecting items using the item inspection system 1A configured as described above.

[0044] First, in the packaging means 2a of the packaging section 2, a predetermined weight of contents is placed inside a bag formed by cutting it to a predetermined length according to the size of the item to be inspected, and then packaged.

[0045] Next, the ID tag attachment means 2b of the packaging unit 2 attaches an ID tag to the bag of the packaged item to be inspected, on which information about the item (such as the type of product, the size, number, and weight of the contents contained in the package) is written. Alternatively, an ID tag in its initial format may be attached to the bag of the item.

[0046] Then, the printing means 2c of the packaging unit 2 prints identification information such as barcodes, two-dimensional codes, and serial numbers on the items to be inspected to which ID tags are attached, in order to identify each item.

[0047] Next, the printing inspection means 2d of the packaging unit 2 reads and inspects the identification information printed on the packaged item to be inspected. If the identification information is read correctly, the item is discharged as a good packaged item without any printing defects.

[0048] Next, the inspection means 3a of the inspection unit 3 performs inspections on the item to be inspected according to the content of the inspection, such as checking for the presence or absence of metal contamination, checking for the presence or absence of foreign matter contamination, checking whether the weight is within the standard range, and checking for the presence or absence of defects in appearance.

[0049] Then, the ID tag reading means 3b of the inspection unit 3 reads the information from the ID tag attached to the item to be inspected. Subsequently, the ID tag writing means 3c of the inspection unit 3 overwrites the ID tag whose information was read by the ID tag reading means 3b with information about the item (such as type, size, number, and weight of the contents contained in the packaging) and the latest inspection result judgment information for each inspection item by the inspection unit 3.

[0050] Subsequently, in the sorting unit 4(4A), when an item to be inspected with an ID tag attached is transported from the inspection unit 3, the ID tag information acquisition means 4a of the sorting unit 4(4A) reads and acquires the information written on the ID tag of that item (item information, and the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection content by the inspection unit 3).

[0051] Then, in the sorting means 4b of the sorting unit 4(4A), under the control of the sorting control means 4c, the items to be inspected are sorted and distributed in a predetermined direction according to the latest inspection result judgment information for each inspection content by the inspection unit 3, which is written on the ID tag of the items to be inspected.

[0052] The sorting means 4b of the sorting unit 4(4A) sorts the items to be inspected toward good products if all the judgment information of the inspection results is OK, and sorts the items to be inspected toward defective products if even one of the judgment information of the inspection results is NG.

[0053] Then, the information locking means 4d of the sorting unit 4(4A) prevents the rewriting of the final information on the ID tags attached to the inspected items after all inspections have been completed. After that, the inspected items are sent to the final shipping process via the packaging process.

[0054] Next, the configuration of the second embodiment of the product inspection system will be described with reference to Figure 3. In the product inspection system of the second embodiment, components that function the same or equivalently as those of the product inspection system 1(1A) of the first embodiment will be given the same number and described accordingly.

[0055] As shown in Figure 3, the article inspection system 1(1B) of the second embodiment includes an inspection unit 3, a sorting unit 4(4A), and an ID tag attachment unit 5, with a packaging unit 2 positioned in front of the inspection unit 3.

[0056] The packaging unit 2 is provided as a pre-device for the article inspection system 1B in Figure 3, and includes packaging means 2a, printing means 2c, and printing inspection means 2d.

[0057] Similar to the first embodiment, packaging means 2a, for example, cuts a long film wound on a roll to a predetermined length according to the size of the article, forms a bag by heat sealing the ends, and packages a predetermined weight of contents (raw materials) discharged from a filling machine (not shown) into the bag.

[0058] The printing means 2c prints identification information, such as barcodes, two-dimensional codes, and serial numbers, on items that have been packaged by the packaging means 2a and have ID tags attached to the bag body, in order to identify each item.

[0059] The printing inspection means 2d inspects the identification information printed by the printing means 2c on the packaged article, and when the identification information can be read correctly, it discharges the article as a good packaged article without printing defects.

[0060] As shown in Figure 2, the inspection unit 3 is located downstream of the packaging unit 2 and includes an inspection means 3a. Similar to the first embodiment, the inspection means 3a obtains a detection signal according to the type and size of foreign matter contained in the article, or a detection signal according to the weight of the article. Based on this detection signal, a determination means (not shown) makes a pass / fail determination, such as whether or not foreign matter is contained in the article, or whether or not the weight of the article is within a predetermined range, and the inspection result (pass / fail determination result) is displayed on a display operation unit (not shown).

[0061] In each case, when the inspection unit 3 is configured as a metal detection device, when the inspection unit 3 is configured as an X-ray foreign object detection device, or when the inspection unit 3 is configured as a weight measuring device, the inspection means 3a adopts the configuration described in the first embodiment.

[0062] In addition to the above, inspection means 3a may also consist of an inspection device that inspects for external defects and foreign matter contamination from images captured by a camera. Furthermore, inspection unit 3 may be configured as a composite inspection device that selectively combines inspection means 3a such as a metal detection device, an X-ray foreign matter detection device, a weight measuring device, and an inspection device using a camera.

[0063] Furthermore, in the second embodiment of the article inspection system 1B, an ID tag is attached to the article after inspection by the inspection unit 3 by the ID tag attachment means 5b of the ID tag attachment unit 5, which will be described later. Therefore, if an article with an ID tag attached is mistakenly transported to the inspection unit 3, control is implemented to remove the article without inspecting it.

[0064] As shown in Figure 2, the ID tag attachment unit 5 is located downstream of the inspection unit 3 and includes an ID tag writing means 5a and an ID tag attachment means 5b.

[0065] The ID tag writing means 5a writes information about the item (such as the type of product, the size, number, and weight of the contents contained in the packaging) and the latest inspection result judgment information for each inspection item by the inspection unit 3 to the ID tag attached to the inspected item.

[0066] The ID tag attachment means 5b attaches the ID tag, on which information (information about the item and the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection item by the inspection unit 3) has been written by the ID tag writing means 5a, to the bag of the corresponding inspected item.

[0067] As shown in Figure 2, the sorting unit 4(4A) is located downstream of the ID tag attachment unit 5 and includes an ID tag information acquisition means 4a, a sorting means 4b, a sorting control means 4c, and an information locking means 4d.

[0068] Similar to the first embodiment, the ID tag information acquisition means 4a reads and acquires the information (including OK information) written on the ID tag of an item to be inspected when the item to be inspected, to which an ID tag is attached, is transported from the inspection unit 3.

[0069] Similar to the first embodiment, the sorting means 4b sorts the items to be inspected in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results of the inspection unit 3 (the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection content by the inspection unit 3, written on the ID tag of the item to be inspected). The sorting means 4b is configured to selectively include an air jet sorting means, a dropout sorting means, an up-out sorting means, and a flipper sorting means, as sorting means of known sorting methods. Note that the configuration of each sorting means is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0070] Similar to the first embodiment, the sorting control means 4c reads the inspection result judgment information from the ID tag and controls the sorting means 4b to sort the items toward good products if the judgment information is OK (does not include NG information), and sort the items toward defective products if the judgment information is NG (includes NG information).

[0071] Similar to the first embodiment, the information locking means 4d prohibits the rewriting of the final information on the ID tag attached to the item when, for example, multiple inspections are performed by multiple inspection units 3, or when an inspected item that has completed all inspections, such as a final inspection, is moved to the packaging process before the final shipping process.

[0072] Next, we will explain the operation when inspecting items using the item inspection system 1B configured as described above.

[0073] First, in the packaging means 2a of the packaging section 2, a predetermined weight of contents is placed inside a bag formed by cutting it to a predetermined length according to the size of the item to be inspected, and then packaged.

[0074] Next, the printing means 2c of the packaging unit 2 prints identification information, such as barcodes, two-dimensional codes, and serial numbers, on the items to be inspected to which ID tags are attached, in order to identify each item.

[0075] Next, the printing inspection means 2d of the packaging unit 2 reads and inspects the identification information printed on the packaged item to be inspected. If the identification information is read correctly, the item is discharged as a good packaged item without any printing defects.

[0076] Next, the inspection means 3a of the inspection unit 3 performs inspections on the item to be inspected according to the content of the inspection, such as checking for the presence or absence of metal contamination, checking for the presence or absence of foreign matter contamination, checking whether the weight is within the standard range, and checking for the presence or absence of defects in appearance.

[0077] Next, the ID tag writing means 5a of the ID tag attachment unit 5 writes information about the item (such as the type of product, the size, number, and weight of the contents contained in the packaging) and the latest inspection result judgment information for each inspection item by the inspection unit 3 to the ID tag attached to the inspected item.

[0078] Then, the ID tag attachment means 5b of the ID tag attachment unit 5 attaches the ID tag, on which information (information about the item and the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection content by the inspection unit 3) has been written by the ID tag writing means 5a, to the bag of the corresponding inspected item.

[0079] Subsequently, in the sorting unit 4(4A), when an item to be inspected with an ID tag attached is transported from the inspection unit 3, the ID tag information acquisition means 4a of the sorting unit 4(4A) reads and acquires the information written on the ID tag of that item (item information, and the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection content by the inspection unit 3).

[0080] Then, in the sorting means 4b of the sorting unit 4(4A), under the control of the sorting control means 4c, the items to be inspected are sorted and distributed in a predetermined direction according to the latest inspection result judgment information for each inspection content by the inspection unit 3, which is written on the ID tag of the items to be inspected.

[0081] The sorting means 4b of the sorting unit 4(4A) sorts the items to be inspected toward good products if all the judgment information of the inspection results is OK, and sorts the items to be inspected toward defective products if even one of the judgment information of the inspection results is NG.

[0082] Then, the information locking means 4d of the sorting unit 4(4A) prevents the rewriting of the final information on the ID tags attached to the inspected items after all inspections have been completed. After that, the inspected items are sent to the final shipping process via the packaging process.

[0083] Next, the configuration of the third embodiment of the product inspection system will be described with reference to Figure 4. In the product inspection system of the third embodiment, components that function the same or equivalent as those of the product inspection system 1(1A) of the first embodiment will be given the same number and described accordingly.

[0084] As shown in Figure 4, the third embodiment of the article inspection system 1(1C) comprises an inspection unit 3 and a sorting unit 4(4B), with a packaging unit 2 positioned in front of the inspection unit 3 and a downstream device 6 positioned behind the inspection unit 3.

[0085] The packaging section 2 and inspection section 3 of the third embodiment of the article inspection system 1C have the same configuration as the packaging section 2 and inspection section 3 of the first embodiment of the article inspection system 1A, so their description will be omitted.

[0086] The sorting unit 4(4B) of the third embodiment of the article inspection system 1C is equipped with sorting means 4b and sorting control means 4c, and the ID tag information acquisition means 4a and information locking means 4d that were provided in the sorting unit 4(4A) of the article inspection system 1A of the first embodiment are omitted.

[0087] The sorting means 4b sorts the items to be inspected in a predetermined direction according to the sorting control means 4c, which controls sorting according to the inspection results of the inspection unit 3 (the latest inspection result determination information for each inspection content written on the ID tag of the item to be inspected by the inspection unit 3). The sorting means 4b is configured to selectively include an air jet sorting means, a dropout sorting means, an up-out sorting means, and a flipper sorting means, as sorting means of known sorting methods.

[0088] The sorting control means 4c controls the sorting means 4b so that if the inspection results from the inspection unit 3 do not include any defects and the writing to the ID tag is performed correctly, the items are sorted toward good products, and otherwise sorted toward defective products. The items on which the inspection result judgment information has been written to the ID tag are then transported to the downstream device (including the downstream device 6).

[0089] In the third embodiment of the article inspection system 1C, the downstream device 6 is a device located downstream of the inspection unit 3, such as a packaging device for packaging the items to be inspected W, a terminal device for managing the inspection results of the entire items to be inspected W, or a sorting unit separate from the sorting unit 4 (4B), and includes an ID tag information acquisition means 6a and an information locking means 6b.

[0090] The ID tag information acquisition means 6a reads and acquires the information (including OK information) written on the ID tag of an item to be inspected when the item to be inspected, to which an ID tag is attached, is transported from the inspection unit 3.

[0091] The information locking means 6b prevents the rewriting of the final information on the ID tag attached to an inspected item during the packaging process before the final shipping process, for example, when multiple inspections have been performed by multiple inspection units 3, or when all inspections, such as the final inspection, have been completed.

[0092] Next, we will describe the operation when inspecting goods using the goods inspection system 1C configured as described above. Note that the operation of the packaging unit 2 and the inspection unit 3 is the same as that of the goods inspection system 1A of the first embodiment described above, so we will omit that explanation.

[0093] When the inspection unit 3 inspects the object W to be inspected, the sorting control means 4c of the sorting unit 4 (4B) controls the sorting means 4b to sort the items toward good products if the inspection results from the inspection unit 3 do not include any defects and the writing to the ID tag is done correctly, and otherwise sort them toward defective products. The items on which the inspection result judgment information has been written to the ID tag are then transported to the downstream device (including the downstream device 6).

[0094] The ID tag information acquisition means 6a of the downstream device 6 reads and acquires the information (including OK information and NG information) written on the ID tag of an item to be inspected, when the item to be inspected, to which an ID tag is attached, is transported from the inspection unit 3.

[0095] The information locking means 6b of the downstream device 6 prevents the rewriting of the final information on the ID tag attached to the inspected items after all inspections have been completed. The inspected items are then sent to the final shipping process.

[0096] By the way, in the above-described embodiment of the product inspection system 1 (1A, 1B, 1C), the packaging unit 2 is located before the inspection unit 3 as an example, but the system is not limited to this. For example, it can also be applied when there is a molding / processing process before the inspection unit 3, or when there is a raw material process before the inspection unit 3. In other words, it can be applied to a work process that includes the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 4 in a process of manufacturing products from raw materials.

[0097] Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reliably determine whether an item being transported is a good item or not from the latest information on a read / write type ID tag attached to the item, thereby preventing defective items from flowing to downstream equipment. As a result, even if a defective item from the item inspection system is mistakenly sent to a downstream stage, in the final shipping process, it is possible to easily identify items without OK information from the latest information written on the ID tag of the item being inspected, and dispose of the defective item without it flowing out.

[0098] Furthermore, by reading the information on the ID tags attached to each item when a consumer complains about a product, it becomes possible to link the inspection results for each individual item, minimizing the scope of any product recalls in the event of a recall.

[0099] The best mode of the article inspection system according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited by this description and drawings. That is, other modes, examples, and operational techniques based on this mode, as made by those skilled in the art, are all included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1(1A,1B,1C) Item Inspection System 2 Packaging Department 2a Packaging means 2b Method for attaching ID tags 2c Printing means 2D print inspection method 3. Inspection Department 3a Inspection methods 3b ID tag reading method 3c ID tag writing method 4(4A,4B) Sorting section 4a Means for obtaining ID tag information 4b Sorting method 4c Sorting control means 4d Information locking means 5. ID tag attachment area 5a ID tag writing method 5b Method for attaching ID tags 6 Post-stage equipment 6a Means for obtaining ID tag information 6b Information locking means

Claims

1. In an article inspection system (1) comprising an inspection unit (3) that inspects the quality of articles being transported according to inspection conditions corresponding to the articles, and a sorting unit (4) that sorts and sorts the articles in a predetermined direction according to the inspection results of the inspection unit, An ID tag is attached to the aforementioned item. An ID tag writing means (3c or 5a) for writing the inspection result determination information to the ID tag, An item inspection system characterized by comprising a sorting control means (4c) that sorts items based on judgment information written on the ID tag.

2. The item inspection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ID tag writing means (3c or 5a) overwrites the ID tag for each item inspection item.

3. The article inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an information locking means (4d) for prohibiting the rewriting of the final information written to the ID tag.

4. The system includes an ID tag information acquisition means (4a) that reads the determination information written to the ID tag, The item inspection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sorting control means sorts items toward good items when the judgment information read from the ID tag is OK information.

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