Method and device for automatic grading of used terminals

Abstract

By adopting a completely new inspection method, the accuracy of visual inspection of used devices to be commercialized will be significantly improved, and this will contribute to the automatic grading of refurbished devices based on the highly accurate inspection data obtained through this new inspection method. [Solution] A terminal T is moved within a plane, and illumination light 3b is irradiated from an upper rear position toward the front of the moving terminal T, while an image of the illuminated portion of the terminal T is captured by a camera 3c facing from an upper front position toward the rear of the terminal T. The captured image data of the terminal T is referenced to multiple types of standard grade data classified by grade and stored in a database of a server 8, and the grade (rank) of the standard grade data to which the captured image data is determined to belong is determined to be the grade of the captured image data, and the determination result is output.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatically grading (hereinafter also referred to as grading or ranking) used mobile terminals such as smartphones (hereinafter referred to as used terminals or terminals) as new products using AI (artificial intelligence) based on imaging data from visual inspection of each terminal in the process of refurbishing and commercializing used terminals. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, devices purchased as secondhand goods have been refurbished and commercialized, and technologies that are considered to be useful for the commercialization of secondhand devices have been proposed in Patent Documents 1 to 3. However, none of the proposed documents relate to automatic grading of secondhand devices.

[0003] Incidentally, the outline of the conventional manual commercialization process of used terminals is shown and explained in FIG. For used devices to be commercialized, devices that are deemed uncommercializable are removed from the "warehouse" to be put into the commercialization process, and the remaining devices are placed in the "receiving" section. All devices placed in the "receiving" section are then moved to the next "erasing process" to erase any residual data, and then to the inspection process where "functional inspection" and "visual inspection" are carried out.

[0004] "Functional inspection" and "visual inspection" are carried out as inspection processes to grade the terminal based on the inspection results, so that it becomes a refurbished product that will be graded in the next "grading" process. Terminals classified based on the grading results and other criteria are stored on "inventory shelves" to await orders from purchasing companies. When orders are received from multiple purchasing companies (orderers), each terminal is individually packaged and "packaged" according to the order details for each orderer, and each package is then "sealed" before being "shipped."

[0005] In the conventional commercialization process shown in Figure 5, each process is connected by a conveyor belt BC, and each process base is equipped with a workbench, temporary storage shelves, tools, etc., and at least one worker is assigned to carry out each process.

[0006] As described above, the conventional commercialization process for used terminals was almost entirely manual, and so there was a drawback in that work efficiency, work results, and work precision were prone to variation due to differences in experience and ability among workers. In particular, grading based on visual inspection had a certain standard, but it was based on subjective judgment based on the experience and intuition of the worker, so the judgment process took time and the grades determined varied.

[0007] Regarding the above problems, the inventors of the present invention have previously proposed an invention in Patent Application No. 2022-203406 that can automatically perform inspection processes, including appearance inspection, without manual intervention.

[0008] The proposed invention is a technology that can perform both functional and visual inspections of terminals automatically without human intervention, and grading is also a technology that automatically determines the grading based on inspection data. This largely resolves the problems associated with traditional manual grading, but challenges remain. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2022-539909 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5820464 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 4171453 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a method that can significantly improve the inspection accuracy of the appearance inspection of used terminals to be commercialized by adopting a new imaging format, and that can automatically use AI to grade refurbished terminals based on the highly accurate imaging data obtained by the new imaging format.

[0011] Incidentally, the quality of the appearance of a used device is judged by whether or not there are scratches (scratches, concave, convex, etc.) on the front (LCD display surface), back, outer circumference, and outer corners of the device's casing (housing), and if there are scratches, their extent (deep or shallow, high or low, etc.). However, even if a used device appears clean at first glance, many have fine scratches (scuffs), so there is a need for technology that can capture clear, distinct images of even the most minute scratches. Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to obtain clear imaging data even for minute scratches. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The configuration of the present invention that can solve the above problem involves moving a terminal within a plane, irradiating the outer surface (front or back) of the moving terminal with illumination light from diagonally above the rear of the terminal toward the front in the direction of movement of the terminal, and taking multiple images of the proof parts of the terminal with a camera (hereinafter referred to as a digital camera, or D-camera) facing diagonally above the front of the terminal toward the rear in the direction of movement, and processing the image data to form scratch data of the terminal, which is then referenced to multiple types of standard grade data classified by grade and stored in a database in a server, and the grade (rank) of the standard grade data to which it is determined that the scratch data belongs is determined to be the grade of the terminal, and the determination result is output.

[0013] In the present invention, when a terminal to be moved is moved on a conveyer belt with the front or back side facing up, the above-mentioned illumination light is irradiated and an image is taken by the D camera, and then the terminal is flipped over and moved with the back or front side facing up, and the same illumination light is irradiated and an image is taken by the D camera as above, thereby obtaining image data of both sides of the terminal.

[0014] As an example of a specific imaging configuration, a single conveyor is arranged to run in one direction in a horizontal position, and a light source for illumination and a digital camera for imaging are arranged in a dark box-like space on the front side of the conveyor's running direction as an imaging data formation unit on the front (or back) side of the terminal (hereinafter referred to as the first imaging data formation unit).

[0015] An imaging data forming section on the back side (or front side) of the terminal (hereinafter referred to as a second imaging data forming section) is disposed on the front side in the running direction of the conveyor, and has the same configuration as the first imaging data forming section.

[0016] A reversing mechanism for reversing terminals carried on the conveyor is provided between the first image data forming unit and the second image data forming unit on the conveyor. The reversing mechanism, for example, is a mechanism that grabs a moving terminal in a horizontal position, lifts it up, rotates the terminal held at the top dead center 180 degrees, and then lowers it to release it on the conveyor.The mechanism is composed of a grip with lifting and rotating functions driven by a motor.The grips are available in two types: an air-powered suction cup type and a mechanical type.

[0017] The light source of illumination light and the digital camera constituting the first imaging data forming unit and the second imaging data forming unit of the present invention may have an adjustment function that allows the vertical position and the tilt angle to be changed arbitrarily. The adjustment and setting of the position and angle are automatically adjusted or set based on the size and thickness data of the terminal that is obtained by imaging the terminal that starts to move with another digital camera.

[0018] The mechanism for automatically adjusting the position and angle is substantially the same for the light source and the D camera. As an example, it is composed of a linear motion mechanism that uses a motor as a drive source and performs linear motion such as raising and lowering the object (light source or camera) using a rack and pinion mechanism or a feed screw mechanism, and a rotation mechanism that changes the set angle of the object (light source and camera), and the linear motion and rotation motion are driven and controlled by controlling the rotation of the control unit of the motor based on a control signal supplied from the control unit of the server.

[0019] In the above description, the image data of the front and back sides of the terminal are formed in a time-series manner in the first image data forming section and the second image data forming section arranged in series on a single conveyor. In the present invention, the first image data and the second image data may be formed and acquired simultaneously. This point will be described below.

[0020] An example of a configuration in which the first imaging data and the second imaging data are simultaneously formed and acquired is as follows.

[0021] First, two conveyors for transporting terminals are prepared, and these two conveyors are arranged as the first conveyor and the second conveyor, separated in the direction of travel by a gap less than the length of one terminal. Next, an upper dark box-like space and a lower dark box-like space are formed above and below the first and second conveyors, respectively, across the gap between the two conveyors. An illumination light source and an imaging camera are placed in each of the upper and lower dark box spaces as described above. This configures the upper dark box space as the first imaging data forming section, and the lower dark box space as the second imaging data forming section. With the above configuration, the first imaging data and the second imaging data can be simultaneously formed and acquired in the first imaging data forming section and the second imaging data forming section that are arranged above and below the gap between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. With this configuration, a reversing mechanism for the terminal is not required.

[0022] The above mechanism that can simultaneously form and acquire the first and second image data can be further developed into a configuration that can acquire image data of the side of the terminal by using a mirror. This point will be described below.

[0023] A mirror or half mirror inclined at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane (conveyor running surface) facing the left and right sides of the terminal being moved is placed on the left and right sides of the gap set between the first and second conveyors in the direction of travel, and a mirror image of the side of the terminal is projected onto the mirror.The side of the terminal projected in the mirror is then imaged by the D camera of the first image data forming unit, thereby obtaining image data of the left and right sides of the terminal (hereinafter referred to as the third image data). Effect of the Invention

[0024] In this invention, illumination light with an inclined optical axis is irradiated onto the terminal being moved, and multiple images of the illuminated and moving terminal are taken with a digital camera (D camera) and these are processed to obtain image data. The obtained image data is then referenced to multiple types of standard grade data for each grade held in a database to determine the grade of the terminal that produced the obtained image data, and the judgment data is output. Therefore, the grade of the terminal in terms of scratches can be automatically determined by AI based on the judgment data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic side view for explaining the basic configuration of the imaging data forming unit of the terminal in the automatic grading system of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic side view of an imaging data forming unit including a terminal information forming unit installed in front of the imaging data forming unit in FIG. 1 for obtaining data on the size and thickness of the terminal. [Diagram 3] 13 is a schematic side view of an imaging data forming unit configured to simultaneously form and acquire imaging data of the front and back sides of a terminal. FIG. [Figure 4]5 is a schematic cross-sectional front view for explaining a configuration example in which a mirror is used in the imaging data forming unit in FIG. 4 to capture an image of a side surface of the terminal. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a process diagram for explaining a conventional manual process for commercializing used terminals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] An example of a system capable of executing the automatic grading method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0027] In Fig. 1, 1 is a belt conveyor (hereinafter referred to as conveyor 1) that carries terminal T and travels at a speed of about 4 m / min, and this conveyor 1 is mounted on frames 2A and 2B at the front and rear of the traveling direction (longitudinal direction of conveyor 1). Incidentally, the conveyor 1 in Fig. 1 is formed of a flexible transport belt with a length of about 2 m and a width of about 300 to 450 mm, but the conveyor 1 is not limited to the configuration of a belt with the above numerical values ​​and frames 2A and 2B that support this belt. In this specification, the near side in the running direction of the conveyor 1 is referred to as the rear (or back), the far side as the front (or front), the upper side in the vertical direction perpendicular to the top surface of the conveyor 1 is referred to as the top (or up), and the lower side as the bottom (or down).

[0028] Reference numeral 3 denotes a first imaging data forming unit formed on the front side (rear) of the conveyor 1 in the running direction, and reference numeral 4 denotes a second imaging data forming unit having the same configuration as the first imaging data forming unit formed on the far side (forward) of the conveyor 1 in the running direction.

[0029] Since the first imaging data forming unit 3 and the second imaging data forming unit 4 have the same configuration, the following will be an explanation of the first imaging data forming unit 3, but the only difference between the first imaging data forming unit 3 and the second imaging data forming unit 4 is that the symbols for the identical components are different.

[0030] The first imaging data forming unit 3 is supported by two vertical frames 2A, 2A at the front and rear of the conveyor 1, and is configured in a dark box-shaped area 3a (hereinafter also referred to as the dark box area 3a) on the front (rear) side of the conveyor 1, and is composed of a lighting device 3b and a digital camera 3C (hereinafter also referred to as D camera 3c) arranged diagonally above and in front of and behind the terminal T placed on the conveyor 1.

[0031] Specifically, the lighting device 3b is disposed in a position where it can irradiate the terminal T in the dark box area 3a with illumination light from illumination light sources (hereinafter also referred to as light sources) arranged in a planar manner such as LEDs from diagonally above the rear. On the other hand, the D camera 3c is disposed in a position where it faces an objective lens toward the terminal T to be illuminated from diagonally above the front of the terminal T to be illuminated.

[0032] The positioning of the lighting device 3b and the D camera 3c is not shown in the figure, but they can be displaced and positioned in the upward and downward directions, and the tilt angle of the irradiation optical axis and the optical axis of the camera optical system can be changed and positioned, in order to accommodate differences in the size and thickness of the terminal T depending on the type of terminal T (differences in model and manufacturer, etc.). This will be described later.

[0033] The second imaging data forming unit 4 has the same configuration as the first imaging data forming unit 3 described above, and is equipped with a dark box area 4a arranged in the front frames 2B, 2B, and inside this dark box area 4a, a lighting device 4b and a D camera 4c arranged in the same manner as the lighting device 3b and D camera 3c.

[0034] In the device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, a reversing mechanism 5 for reversing an end T on the conveyor 1 is disposed between a rear frame 2A and a front frame 2B with respect to the conveyor 1.

[0035] The reversing mechanism 5 holds the terminal T on the conveyor 1 with suction cups, rises, places it on a temporary stand at the top dead center and releases it, rotates the terminal T placed on it 180 degrees, and then holds it again with the suction cups and descends, placing the held terminal T on the conveyor 1. The reversing mechanism 5 is composed of a terminal holder 5a, an elevator 5b having the holder 5a, a temporary stand 5c that temporarily places the raised terminal and reverses it, and a drive mechanism section driven by a motor or the like.

[0036] As an example, the terminal holder 5a is preferably a suction cup type, but may be a mechanically configured one that grips and releases the terminal T with a gripping means that opens and closes by air or electromagnetic means. The elevator 5b that raises and lowers the terminal holder 5a is configured with a linear motion mechanism such as an air cylinder mechanism, a feed screw mechanism, or a rack and pinion mechanism. The terminal holder 5a and the elevator 5b are controlled by a third control unit 63 provided in the control unit server 6.

[0037] The first imaging data forming unit 4 and the second imaging data forming unit 4 are controlled by the first and second control units 61, 62 of the control unit server 6, and send to the control unit server 6 imaging data (first imaging data and second imaging data) that are processed by capturing multiple images of the front and back sides of the terminal T using the two D cameras 3c and 4c.

[0038] That is, the control unit server 6 is equipped with a first control unit 61 that controls the driving of the lighting device 3b and the D camera 3c of the first imaging data forming unit 3 that images the front side (of the scratches) of the terminal T, and a second control unit 62 that controls the driving of the lighting device 4b and the D camera 4c of the second imaging data forming unit 4 that images the back side (of the scratches) of the terminal T.

[0039] Furthermore, the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 have the following functions. That is, when a terminal T is transported on the conveyor 1 from the input side through the first imaging data forming unit 3 and the second imaging data forming unit 4 to the discharge side, a terminal detection sensor (not shown) provided on the frame 2A on the front side of the first imaging data forming unit 3 detects the moving terminal T and outputs a trigger signal t1 to the first control unit 61. Next, when a terminal detection sensor (not shown) provided on the frame 2B on the front side of the second imaging data forming unit 4 detects the moving terminal T, it outputs a trigger signal t2 to the second control unit 62.

[0040] When the trigger signal t1 is input, the first control unit 61 drives the lighting device 3b and the D camera 3c of the first imaging data formation unit 3. When the moving terminal T leaves the angle of view of the D camera 3c, a terminal detection sensor (not shown) provided on the front frame 2A detects the moving terminal T and supplies an end signal e1 to the first control unit 61, stopping the operation of the lighting device 3b and the D camera 3c.

[0041] The terminal T that has finished imaging in the first imaging data forming unit 3 is conveyed as it is and detected by the terminal detection sensor provided on the front frame 2A. This detection is the same as the end signal e1, but is sent as a trigger signal t3 to the third control unit 63. The third control unit 63 that has received the trigger signal t3 drives and controls the reversing mechanism 5 to reverse the terminal T. When the reversed terminal T enters the second imaging data forming unit 4, a trigger signal t2 is generated by a terminal detection sensor (not shown) provided on the frame 2B on the front side of the second imaging data forming unit 4. The end signal e2 is generated when the terminal detection sensor (not shown) provided on the front frame 2B detects the moving terminal T and is supplied to the second control unit 62. The action of the trigger signal t2 and the end signal e2 on the second control unit 62 is the same as that of the first control unit 61 described above. The first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 analyze and process the imaging data acquired by the two imaging data forming units 3 and 4, and form data necessary for automatic grading judgment regarding scratches on the front and back surfaces of the terminal T (hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, referred to as "scratch data").

[0042] In the first imaging data forming unit 3 and the second imaging data forming unit 4, the imaging data of the front side of terminal T and the imaging data of the back side of terminal T captured by each of the D cameras 3c and 4c are processed by the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 2, respectively, and stored in databases 7A and 7B as scratch data regarding the front side and scratch data regarding the back side of terminal T linked to the terminal T.

[0043] Regarding scratches on the front and back of terminal T, scratch data obtained by processing the image data of the front and back of terminal T stored in databases 7A and 7B is sent to a grading server 8 in order to grade (rank) this scratch data, where it is graded using AI.

[0044] An example of the grading process by AI in the grading server 8 is as follows. The grading server 8 grades the scratch data regarding scratches on the front and back surfaces of the terminal T using AI to determine the grade of the terminal T. For this reason, first, the scratch data on the front and back of the device T is referenced to standard data on "cracks" to determine whether the device has "cracks" or not. Next, devices T that are determined to have cracks are given a rank of D, and devices T that are determined to have no cracks are given a rank of A, B, or C based on the degree (size, amount) of scratches (including dents) referenced to multiple standard data generated in advance. In this example, rank A is used to indicate that there are no scratches, and the degree of scratches is extremely small. For the above judgment, data that is the basis for the judgment of the above A to D ranks is learned by AI as standard grade data and stored in database 8a. Note that damage larger than a crack in terminal T is visually ranked as D- by an inspector. Incidentally, image data of cracks can be obtained with a probability of nearly 100% by adjusting the lighting 3b, 4b and cameras 3c, 4c of the first and second image data forming units 3, 4. In the present invention, the number of grades and the contents of the data that are the criteria for judging each grade to be learned can be set arbitrarily, and the above embodiment is merely an example.

[0045] As described above, the scratch data obtained by processing the image data of the front and back surfaces of the terminal T from the databases 7A and 7B of the control unit server 6 is sent to the calculation processing unit 8b of the grading server 8. The calculation processing unit 8b judges the grade (rank) of the terminal T by sequentially referring to the scratch data sent thereto against a plurality of types of standard grade data generated by AI in the database 8a. This judgment signal is output from the output unit 8c as ranking data (grading data). The output judgment signal is displayed on the display unit 8d as the grade (rank) of the terminal T. FIG. 1 shows a schematic example in which three stages, A, B, and C, are displayed on the display unit 8d as the grade of the terminal T.

[0046] The flaw data obtained by processing the image data of the terminal T that has been subjected to arithmetic processing to determine the grade and to rank it can be added to the standard grade data of the same rank in the database 8a. When the flaw data of each grade that has been formed and determined from the actual image data is added to the standard grade data, the amount of data for each grade increases and the determination accuracy improves. In the above description, the control server 6 and the grading server 8 are described as separate servers, but a single server computer may be configured to handle the roles and functions of the two servers 6 and 8.

[0047] Next, another embodiment of the device of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In the grading process based on the appearance inspection of used terminals, there is a visual inspection of a single model and grading based on the results, and a visual inspection of terminals T that are a mixture of different models and grading based on the results.

[0048] The embodiment of the device of the present invention described above with reference to Figure 1 was mainly concerned with visual inspection of a single model and grading based on the inspection results, but Figure 2 shows an overview of a device for performing visual inspection and grading when different models are mixed. The device in Fig. 1 can be applied to different models as long as they are of similar size. In this respect, the device in Fig. 2 is not affected by the size of the terminal T.

[0049] In the device in FIG. 2, the first image data forming unit 3, the second image data forming unit 4, and the reversing mechanism 5 are of the same configuration as in the device in FIG. 1, but there are differences from the device in FIG. 1 in that the conveyor 1 is longer and that a third camera is specially provided. First, the conveyor 1 used has a length longer at the rear side in the running direction than the conveyor 1 in Fig. 1. A third digital camera 9 (also called D camera 9) is specially arranged at the longer rear part to capture the size (length and width in the feeding direction) and thickness (height in the vertical direction perpendicular to the running surface of the conveyor 1) of the terminal T placed on the conveyor 1.

[0050] The specially installed D camera 9 is placed on a frame (not shown) that supports the conveyor 1, captures an image of the terminal T moving almost directly below the camera 9, and sends the captured image data to the fourth control unit 64 of the control unit server 6. The fourth control unit 64 obtains the size and thickness of the terminal T from the captured image data, and outputs signals to the first and second control units 61 and 62 for adjusting the height positions of the lighting device and the camera and the tilt angle of the optical axis of the lighting device and the camera for each of the lighting device 3b and D camera 3c of the first captured image data forming unit 3 and the lighting device 4b and D camera 4c of the second captured image data forming unit 4, respectively. The adjustment of the position and tilt angle is controlled by the first and second control units 61 and 62.

[0051] The position and tilt angle adjusted and set as described above are released and return to the original position and angle when the terminal T leaves the second imaging data forming unit 4 (moves out of the angle of view of the D camera 4c). Of course, the device in Fig. 2 can also handle and process a single model. In the case of a single model, the D camera 9 system is turned off.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a side view showing an outline of a third embodiment of the device of the present invention, in which the first image data forming unit 3 and the second image data forming unit 4 are arranged so as to sandwich the gap Gs between two conveyors 1A and 1B arranged in series with a gap Gs between them from above and below.

[0053] In FIG. 3, conveyors 1A and 1B are arranged in series with a gap Gs between them, are mounted on and supported by frames 2A and 2B, and are arranged so as to run from left to right in FIG. 3 with terminal T placed on the upper surface.

[0054] The gap Gs formed between the two conveyors 1A and 1B is set to a width (in the running direction) that corresponds to approximately the entire length of the terminal T. Then, as an example, rail-shaped supports (not shown) are arranged to support the side edges (left and right side edges in the running direction) of the terminal T from below so that the terminal T carried by the conveyor 1A can transfer from the conveyor 1A to the conveyor 1B without falling through the gap Gs.

[0055] Above and below the conveyors 1A, 1B, which are arranged with the gap Gs between them, a first image data forming unit 3 and a second image data forming unit 4, which are formed in dark box-like spaces, are supported by frames 2A and 2B.

[0056] As in the previous embodiment, the first imaging data forming unit 3 and the second imaging data forming unit 4 are provided with lighting devices 3b, 4b that irradiate illumination light onto the front and back surfaces of the terminal T, and D cameras 3c, 4c that image the illuminated surface.

[0057] 3, the first image data forming unit 3 and the second image data forming unit 4 differ from those described in FIG 1 and FIG 2 in that the data forming units 3, 4 are arranged above and below each other with a gap Gs formed by two conveyors 1A, 1B therebetween, and that two mirrors 10, 11 are provided at symmetrical inclination angles diagonally downward on the left and right sides of the gap Gs as shown in FIG 4. In FIG 3, the mirrors 10, 11 are arranged in the second image data forming unit 4.

[0058] By arranging the mirrors 10 and 11, the image of the side of the terminal T reflected in the mirrors 10 and 11 can be captured by turning the head of the D camera 3c to position it (see FIG. 4). That is, in the example of FIG. 3, the D-camera 3c of the first imaging data forming unit 3 can obtain imaging data of three surfaces, namely, the front surface of the terminal T and both the left and right side surfaces of the terminal T.

[0059] The two mirrors 10 and 11 are disposed in the second image data forming section 4, but in the present invention they can also be disposed on the side of the first image data forming section 3 in a symmetrical orientation with respect to the conveyors 1A and 1B.

[0060] In this case, both side surfaces of the terminal T are imaged by the D camera 4c of the second imaging data forming unit 4. Note that imaging of both side surfaces of the terminal T is performed as the next process after imaging of the front and back surfaces of the terminal T is completed.

[0061] As described above, the device of the third embodiment of the present invention can simultaneously image scratches on the front and back of the terminal T, and by arranging mirrors 10 and 11, can also image scratches on the side of the terminal T, which is effective in improving the accuracy of visual inspection. [Industrial Applicability]

[0062] The present invention is as described above, and is configured to inspect the condition of scratches on the front and back of a used terminal by shining illumination light with an inclined optical axis onto the moving terminal, taking multiple images of the illuminated terminal with a digital camera (D-camera), processing these images to obtain image data, and automatically grading the terminal in terms of scratches by referring to multiple types of model data held in a database and determining the grade of the terminal that produced the acquired image data. Furthermore, the scratch data for which a grade has been determined can be added to the stored reference grade data, thereby further improving the accuracy of grading determination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Conveyor 2A, 2B Frame 3. First imaging data formation section 3a Dark box area 3b Lighting device 3c Digital camera (D-camera) 4. Second imaging data formation section 4a Dark box area 4b Lighting device 4c Digital camera (D-camera) 5. Reversal mechanism 6 Server 61 First Control Section 62 Second Control Section 63 Third Control Section 7A, 7B Database 8 Grading Server 8a Database 8b Calculation processing unit 8c Output section 8d display

Claims

[Claim 1] Instead of a single conveyor for transporting terminals, two conveyors are provided as a first conveyor and a second conveyor that are in series with a gap less than the length of the terminal in the running direction, and above the gap between the first and second conveyors, a lighting device that illuminates the surface of the terminal passing through the gap from a diagonally upward rearward in the running direction of the terminal toward the front in the running direction and one camera that images the terminal from a diagonally upward forward in the running direction of the terminal are arranged as a first imaging data forming unit provided in a dark box-like space, and a second imaging data forming unit is provided below the gap, the lighting device and camera being oriented upside down compared to the first imaging data forming unit. and a data forming unit for forming an image of the terminal being moved, and mirrors inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane are arranged on the left and right sides of the gap in the running direction of the first and second conveyors, facing the left and right sides of the terminal being moved. When the terminal passes through the gap, the first image data forming unit and the second image data forming unit are operated simultaneously to simultaneously obtain first image data and second image data. The mirror image of the side of the terminal reflected in the mirror is captured by a camera of the first image data forming unit by changing the optical axis of the objective lens in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the first and second conveyors, thereby obtaining image data of the left and right sides of the terminal.

Images