Roll inspection method and roll inspection device

Abstract

To suppress a decrease in inspection accuracy.SOLUTION: A roll inspection method for inspecting a cylindrical surface 5 of a roll 1 around which a belt-like material 2 is wound in cylindrical form comprises: a transfer step in which, while transporting the roll 1 along a tube shaft 1C of the roll 1, the roll 1 is rotated in a trail direction, among rotation directions around the tube shaft 1C, in which a tail 4 is pressed against the cylindrical surface 5; a scan step in which a prescribed region R which is a linear region that includes a portion of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 being rotated while being transported by the transfer step and that runs along the tube shaft 1C and is fixed, is optically scanned in succession; and a determination step in which the acceptability of the cylindrical surface 5 is determined on the basis of information that was successively scanned in the scan step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roll inspection method and a roll inspection apparatus for inspecting a roll.

Background Art

[0002] As one of the techniques for inspecting a cylindrical body, a technique for inspecting a cylindrical body while rotating it around a cylinder axis is known. For example, a technique has been proposed in which the cylindrical surface of a cylindrical body rotating around a cylinder axis is optically scanned sequentially by a line sensor for inspection (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, examples of the cylindrical body whose cylindrical surface is inspected include rolls in which a belt-like material such as a toilet roll or kitchen paper is wound cylindrically. Specifically, the cylindrical surface of a roll in which a tail, which is the end of the wound material, forms a free end that can be detached from and attached to the cylindrical surface is cited as an inspection target. When inspecting the cylindrical surface of a roll having such a tail, there is a risk of a decrease in inspection accuracy due to the shadow of the tail. For example, even when inspecting a conforming roll with no damage or breakage on the cylindrical surface, the shadow of the tail reflected on the cylindrical surface may be confused with damage or breakage on the cylindrical surface, and there is a risk of being regarded as a non-conforming product in an optical inspection. Therefore, there is room for improvement in suppressing a decrease in inspection accuracy.

[0005] This invention was created in view of the above problems, and one of its objectives is to suppress a decrease in inspection accuracy. Note that, not limited to this objective, the effects and operations derived from each configuration shown in the "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" described below, which are effects and operations not achievable with conventional technologies, can also be positioned as other objectives of this invention.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The roll inspection method disclosed herein is a method for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a roll in which a strip-shaped material is wound cylindrically. In the roll, a tail, which is the end of the wound material, extends to the downstream side in the winding direction with respect to the cylindrical surface of the roll and forms a free end that can be brought into contact with and separated from the cylindrical surface. This roll inspection method includes a transfer step of rotating the roll in a trail direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface among the rotational directions around the cylindrical axis while transporting the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll; a scanning step of optically and sequentially scanning a predetermined region, which is a linear region that is fixed along the cylindrical axis and includes a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll that is being rotated while being transported by the transfer step; and a determination step of determining the quality of the cylindrical surface based on the information sequentially scanned in the scanning step.

[0007] Also, the roll inspection apparatus disclosed herein is an apparatus for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a roll in which a strip-shaped material is wound cylindrically. In the roll, a tail, which is the end of the wound material, extends to the downstream side in the winding direction with respect to the cylindrical surface of the roll and forms a free end that can be brought into contact with and separated from the cylindrical surface. This roll inspection device includes a transfer mechanism that rotates the roll in the trail direction, which is the direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface among the rotational directions around the cylindrical axis while transporting the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll, a line sensor that optically sequentially scans a predetermined region, which is a linear region that is fixed along the cylindrical axis and includes a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll being rotated while being transported by the transfer mechanism, and a determination unit that determines the quality of the cylindrical surface based on the information sequentially scanned by the line sensor.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to this case, a decrease in inspection accuracy can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, as embodiments regarding the inspection of a roll, a roll transfer mechanism and a roll transfer method, and a roll inspection device and a roll inspection method for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a roll using these roll transfer mechanisms and roll transfer methods will be described. The roll that is the transfer target of the roll transfer mechanism and the roll transfer method is the inspection target of the roll inspection device and the roll inspection method, and is also referred to as a "workpiece" or a "cylindrical body".

[0011] In this embodiment, a roll in which a strip-shaped material is wound in a cylindrical shape is exemplified. Examples of such rolls include household toilet paper such as toilet rolls and kitchen rolls. Note that the directions used in the following embodiments are defined as follows. The direction in which gravity acts is defined as downward, and the direction opposite to the downward direction is defined as upward. As directions intersecting the upward and downward (vertical direction), a conveyance direction (denoted as "MD" in the drawings) and a lateral direction (denoted as "CD" in the drawings) are defined. The conveyance direction is the direction in which the roll is conveyed. The lateral direction is the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction in a top view.

[0012] [I. One Embodiment] In one embodiment, the configuration related to the device system such as the roll inspection device and the roll transfer mechanism is described in item [1], and the configuration related to the method system such as the roll inspection method and the roll transfer method is described in item [2]. Then, the actions and effects by the configurations of items [1] and [2] are described in item [3].

[0013] [1. Device System] In this item [1], first, the configuration of the roll is described in sub-item [1-1]. Then, the configuration of the roll transfer mechanism is described in sub-item [1-2], and thereafter, the configuration of the roll inspection device is described in sub-item [1-3].

[0014] [1-1. Roll] As shown in FIG. 3, in the roll 1, a strip-shaped material 2 is wound around a core material 3. At the roll 1, a tail 4, which is the end portion where the winding of the material 2 ends, is provided so as to extend to the downstream side in the winding direction (denoted as "W" in the figure) with respect to the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1. The tail 4 thus extended forms a free end that can be separated from and contacted with the cylindrical surface 5. That is, the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 is a portion corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of a rotating body centered on the cylindrical axis 1C (axis core) of the roll 1. The tail 4 in a state separated from the cylindrical surface 5 forms a portion extending from the cylindrical surface 5, and it can also be said that the tail 4 in a state where it is in contact with the entire cylindrical surface 5 forms a portion of the cylindrical surface 5.

[0015] The roll 1 illustrated here has the material 2 attached to the tail seal 6 provided at the downstream edge in the winding direction on the cylindrical surface 5, and a portion that can extend downstream in the winding direction from the portion attached by the tail seal 6 is provided as the tail 4. The above roll 1 is manufactured by cutting a long cylindrical semi-finished product called a log at intervals in the axial direction. Therefore, rolls 1 with the same winding direction of the material 2 are sequentially manufactured. These rolls 1 are then sequentially conveyed by the roll conveying mechanism described below.

[0016] [1-2. Roll conveying mechanism] As shown in FIG. 1, the roll conveying mechanism 10 is a mechanism for conveying (transferring) the roll 1 (not shown in FIG. 1) along a linear path P. This roll conveying mechanism 10 transfers the roll 1 from the upstream side to the downstream side with the cylindrical shaft 1C in a posture along the path P. In the roll conveying mechanism 10 illustrated here, a plurality (four in the example shown in FIG. 1) of paths P are provided side by side in the lateral direction, and the roll 1 is conveyed in each of the paths P.

[0017] In this roll conveying mechanism 10, as listed below, an upstream conveyor 20 (second conveyor), a middle conveyor 30 (first conveyor), and a downstream conveyor 40 (second conveyor) corresponding to each of the three regions for conveying the roll 1 in the path P are provided. · Upstream conveyor 20: A conveyor responsible for conveying the upstream portion P1 (the other part of the path) of the path P · Middle conveyor 30: A conveyor responsible for conveying the middle portion P2 (a part of the path) of the path P · Downstream conveyor 40: A conveyor responsible for conveying the downstream portion P3 (the other part of the path) of the path P

[0018] With respect to the middle conveyor 30, the upstream conveyor 20 is arranged adjacent to the upstream side, and the downstream conveyor 40 is arranged adjacent to the downstream side. Roll 1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is placed on conveyors 20, 30, and 40 in a linear path P, conveyed by the upstream conveyor 20, then by the middle conveyor 30, and then by the downstream conveyor 40. In this way, Roll 1 is sequentially conveyed along the linear path P from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0019] For the upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40, conveyors that convey Roll 1 without rotating it are used. For these upstream conveyor 20 and downstream conveyor 40, known conveying mechanisms such as belt conveyors and roller conveyors can be used. Also, the upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40 are provided in each path P. However, an upstream conveyor 20 or a downstream conveyor 40 provided across a plurality of paths P may be used.

[0020] In the roll transfer mechanism 10, an example of the purpose of installing the upstream conveyor 20 is to adjust the conveying speed of Roll 1 transferred to the middle conveyor 30, and an example of the purpose of installing the downstream conveyor 40 is to adjust the conveying speed of Roll 1 transferred from the middle conveyor 30. The conveying speed of the upstream conveyor 20 can be said to be the entry speed of Roll 1 into the middle conveyor 30, and the conveying speed of the downstream conveyor 40 can be said to be the exit speed of Roll 1 from the middle conveyor 30.

[0021] Roll 1 being conveyed by the middle conveyor 30 undergoes scanning of the cylindrical surface 5 and quality determination, details of which will be described later. Therefore, the conveying speed of the middle conveyor 30 is set to a speed suitable for performing the scanning of the cylindrical surface 5 and the quality determination. Furthermore, the conveying speed of the upstream conveyor 20 is adjusted so that the entry speed of Roll 1 into the middle conveyor 30 is in accordance with a speed suitable for performing the scanning of the cylindrical surface 5 of Roll 1 and the quality determination while being conveyed by the middle conveyor 30. Also, the conveying speed of the downstream conveyor 40 is adjusted so that the exit speed of Roll 1 from the middle conveyor 30 is in accordance with a speed suitable for performing the scanning of the cylindrical surface 5 of Roll 1 and the quality determination while being conveyed by the middle conveyor 30.

[0022] On the other hand, as the middle conveyor 30, a conveyor is used which not only conveys the roll 1 along the path P but also rotates the roll 1 being conveyed about the cylindrical shaft 1C (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The middle conveyor 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided straddling a plurality of paths P arranged side by side. In other words, by one middle conveyor 30, the roll 1 is transferred at the middle part P2 in each of the plurality of paths P.

[0023] A belt conveyor is used as the middle conveyor 30 of the present embodiment. In this middle conveyor 30, an endless belt-shaped belt 3B extending along the circumferential orbit is wound around a pair of pulleys 31 and 32. The pulleys 31 and 32 are a configuration of a rotational drive system that moves the belt 3B along the circumferential orbit by rotational power, and are cylindrical bodies that rotate about the respective rotation shafts 1P and 2P. Of the pair of pulleys 31 and 32, one is a drive pulley 31 that transmits the driving force for moving along the circumferential orbit to the belt 3B, and the other is a driven pulley 32.

[0024] The rotation shaft 1P of the drive pulley 31 and the rotation shaft 2P of the driven pulley 32 extend along a plane (for example, a horizontal plane) along both the conveyance direction and the lateral direction, and are set parallel to each other, and extend in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction in a top view. In a top view, the belt 3B is driven and moved in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the rotation shafts 1P and 2P of the pulleys 31 and 32 extend. Generally speaking, the extending direction of the rotation shafts 1P and 2P and the moving direction of the belt 3B have a one-to-one correspondence.

[0025] As described above, the belt 3B provided in a posture inclined with respect to the conveyance direction is roughly divided into the following upper half portion 3U and lower half portion 3B as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. · Upper half portion 3U: The portion where the outward portion of the circumferential orbit faces upward · Lower half portion 3D: The portion where the outward portion of the circumferential orbit faces downward The moving direction of the upper half 3U (indicated by the solid black arrow in FIGS. 2 and 3) and the moving direction of the lower half 3B (indicated by the hollow arrow in FIGS. 2 and 3) are opposite to each other.

[0026] The roll 1 is placed on the upper half 3U. The moving direction of the upper half 3U including the area 3R (see FIG. 3) where the roll 1 is placed is set in a direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle. That is, the area 3R where the roll 1 is placed on the upper half 3U moves only in one direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle, and this one direction extends along a plane (for example, a horizontal plane) along both the conveying direction and the lateral direction. The "one direction" mentioned here is the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the rotation axes 1P and 2P in a top view. Therefore, it can be paraphrased that the rotation axes 1P and 2P are set only along the direction perpendicular to the "one direction" in a top view.

[0027] Since the upper half 3U has the area 3R where the roll 1 is placed, the force F in the direction in which the upper half 3U moves in one direction is applied from the placement position of the roll 1 in the area 3R. As shown in FIG. 2, the force F applied in this way can be decomposed into a component force along the conveying direction (hereinafter referred to as the "first component force") F1 and a component force along the lateral direction (hereinafter referred to as the "second component force") F2, and can also be expressed as the resultant force of these component forces F1 and F2.

[0028] According to the first component force F1, the roll 1 is conveyed along the conveying direction. On the other hand, according to the second component force F2, if the movement of the roll 1 in the lateral direction is not restricted, the roll 1 will deviate from the path P. Therefore, a guide 50 is attached to the middle conveyor 30 as a structure for preventing the roll 1 from deviating in the lateral direction in the path P.

[0029] The guide 50 is at least arranged on the side (one of the side portions) where the second component force F2 acts on the roll 1 conveyed in the middle portion P2 of the path P, and extends along the middle portion P2 of the path P. Specifically, the guide 50 extending linearly along the path P is fixed to a conveyor frame (not shown). FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the flat plate-shaped guide 50 erected with the surface along the vertical direction facing the roll 1. Note that the guide 50 illustrated here extends not only to the side portion of the middle portion P2 but also to the side portion of the upstream portion P1.

[0030] With such a guide 50 provided, when the second component force F2 is applied from the lower portion of the roll 1 placed on the belt 3B, the deviation of the roll 1 in the lateral direction is structurally restricted by hitting against the guide 50, and the roll 1 rotates around the cylinder axis 1C as the lower portion of the roll 1 placed on the belt 3B moves. Furthermore, the direction in which the roll transfer mechanism 10 of the present embodiment rotates the roll 1 around the cylinder axis 1C is set to the direction (hereinafter referred to as the "trail direction") of pressing the tail 4 against the cylinder surface 5. The trail direction is a direction opposite to the winding direction of the material 2 on the roll 1.

[0031] Since the rolls 1 with the same winding direction of the material 2 are sequentially placed on the belt 3B, by setting the "one direction", which is the moving direction of the upper half portion 3U, to the direction corresponding to the direction opposite to the winding direction of each placed roll 1, the above-described trail direction can be set. Note that the intermediate conveyor 30 and the guide 50 of the roll transfer mechanism 10 are set with various parameters such as the directions of the rotating shafts 1P and 2P and the moving speed of the belt 3B so that the roll 1 rotates around the cylinder axis 1C one or more times (one revolution) in the middle portion P2 of the path P.

[0032] Summarizing the roll transfer mechanism 10, the guide 50 has a structure that regulates deviation from the path P while being in sliding contact with the roll 1 rotating around the cylindrical shaft 1C. The middle conveyor 30 provided with the guide 50 has its rotating shafts 1P and 2P set only along the direction orthogonal in top view, and is a mechanism that rotates the roll 1 around the cylindrical shaft 1C by the second component force F2 while conveying the roll 1 along the middle part P2 of the path P by the first component force F1. The roll transfer mechanism 10 equipped with these guides 50 and middle conveyors 30 etc. is used for the roll inspection device described next.

[0033] [1-3. Roll inspection device] As shown in Fig. 1, the roll inspection device 60 is provided with, in addition to the above-described roll transfer mechanism 10, a line sensor 70 that acquires inspection information, and a determination unit 80 that determines the inspection result based on the information acquired by the line sensor 70. The roll transfer mechanism 10 in the roll inspection device 60 is used as a mechanism that rotates the roll 1 so that the entire cylindrical surface 5 can be scanned by the line sensor 70 while continuing the conveyance of the roll 1 in the manufacturing line of the roll 1. Therefore, it suffices if the roll inspection device 60 is provided with at least the transfer mechanisms of the middle conveyor 30 and the guide 50 in the roll transfer mechanism 10.

[0034] The line sensor 70, also called a line camera or a line scan sensor etc., is a device that optically sequentially scans a linear predetermined region R. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the line sensor 70, scanning light is irradiated from the line sensor 70 toward the predetermined region R (the region shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2), and image conversion processing based on the reflection of the irradiated light is carried out. In order to ensure the scanning accuracy by the line sensor 70, an irradiation unit (not shown) that irradiates light toward the predetermined region R is attached to the line sensor 70.

[0035] This line sensor 70 is fixed to a fixed structure such as a conveyor frame in the same manner as the guide 50, and acquires an image of the predetermined region R from above the roll 1. The "predetermined region R" referred to here is a region including a part of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 that is being rotated while being conveyed by the roll transfer mechanism 10, and is a region along the cylinder axis 1C. This predetermined region R is set to a region that overlaps the entire conveyance direction with respect to the locus through which the roll 1 that has rotated at least once around the cylinder axis 1C in the middle part P2 of the path P has passed.

[0036] For the line sensor 70 of the present embodiment, two line sensors (a plurality of line sensors), namely an upstream line sensor 71 (first line sensor) that sequentially scans the upstream predetermined region R1 and a downstream line sensor 72 (second line sensor) that sequentially scans the downstream predetermined region R2, are used. The upstream predetermined region R1 sequentially scanned by the upstream line sensor 71 is a part of the predetermined region R on the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The downstream predetermined region R2 sequentially scanned by the downstream line sensor 72 is a region including a region on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the upstream predetermined region R1, and is a region including all of the region of the predetermined region R excluding the upstream predetermined region R1.

[0037] That is, the predetermined region R is included in the region combining the upstream predetermined region R1 and the downstream predetermined region R2. Note that the upstream predetermined region R1 and the downstream predetermined region R2 may partially overlap as shown in FIG. 2, or may not overlap with each other. The information sequentially scanned by the line sensors 71 and 72 is input to the determination unit 80 described below.

[0038] Based on the information sequentially scanned by the line sensors 71 and 72, the determination unit 80 determines the quality of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1. Note that the determination result by the determination unit 80 is appropriately output by being displayed or notified to the operator involved in the manufacturing line of the roll 1. Also, according to the determination result by the determination unit 80, the conveyance path of the roll 1 is switched by a branching mechanism (not shown). For example, when it is determined by the determination unit 80 as a non-conforming product (the "no" among good or bad), a branch of the conveyance path for discharging the roll 1 from the manufacturing line is performed by the branching mechanism, and the roll 1 is discharged to the so-called offline.

[0039] As a pass / fail determination method by the determination unit 80, after converting the image sequentially scanned by the line sensors 71 and 72 into an image in which the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 is developed by integrating the image, a portion having a predetermined color difference or a portion having a brightness equal to or lower than a predetermined gradation in the portion corresponding to the cylindrical surface 5 of this image is treated as a stain or damage, and an example is to determine it as a non-conforming product. However, the pass / fail determination method of the cylindrical surface 5 by the determination unit 80 is not limited to the method exemplified here, and various methods based on images can be adopted.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the roll inspection apparatus 60 is also provided with a member (hereinafter referred to as a "holding member") 90 that holds the tail 4 immediately upstream in the rotation direction of the roll 1 with respect to a predetermined region R. To put it concretely, the holding member 90 is a structure that uses the rotation of the roll 1 to rub the tail 4 against the cylindrical surface 5. The holding member 90 is arranged in a range that does not block the scanning light that enters and reflects between the line sensors 71 and 72 and the predetermined regions R1 and R2.

[0041] The holding member 90 provided so as not to interfere with the imaging fields of the line sensors 71 and 72 in this way extends in the conveyance direction region similar to the guide 50, and is in a posture of covering the roll 1 from above, and is a member having a lower surface along both the tangential direction and the conveyance direction of the cylindrical surface 5 in the roll 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a one-way roof-shaped holding member 90 in which a lower end edge 9D is arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the roll 1 and an upper end edge 9U is arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the roll 1. Specifically stating the arrangement of the holding member 90 exemplified here, the upper end edge 9U (the portion corresponding to the upper end edge of the one-way roof) is arranged slightly upstream in the rotation direction with respect to the predetermined region R. With such an arrangement, the tail 4 is pressed immediately upstream in the rotation direction of the roll 1 with respect to the predetermined region R.

[0042] This pressing member 90 is provided at a position where it contacts the tail 4 in a state separated from the cylindrical surface 5. Note that the pressing member 90 may be provided at a position where it slightly contacts the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 as shown in FIG. 3, or may be provided at a position with a slight gap from the cylindrical surface 5. In addition, the pressing member 90 is supported by a mechanism that can freely adjust its vertical position and orientation for changing the arrangement according to the size of the roll 1 and adjusting the degree of pressing of the tail 4.

[0043] [2. Method system] In this item [2], first, the configuration of the roll transfer method will be described in sub-item [2-1], and then the configuration of the roll inspection method will be described in sub-item [2-2].

[0044] [2-1. Roll transfer method] The roll transfer method is a method of transferring the roll 1 by the above-described roll transfer mechanism. In this roll transfer method, as shown in Table 1 below, an upstream transfer process (second transfer process) is carried out, and then a midstream transfer process (first transfer process) is carried out. In parallel with this midstream transfer process, a guide process is carried out. After these midstream transfer process and guide process, a downstream transfer process (second transfer process) is carried out.

[0045]

Table 1

[0046] The upstream transfer process and the downstream transfer process are processes of conveying the roll 1 without rotating it by the upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40. The upstream transfer process is a process of transferring the roll 1 by the upstream conveyor 20 and is a process carried out immediately before the midstream transfer process. Also, the downstream transfer process is a process of transferring the roll 1 by the downstream conveyor 40 and is a process carried out immediately after the midstream transfer process. In the upstream transfer process, the entry speed into the middle - stream transfer process is adjusted to a speed corresponding to the period required for the subsequent scanning process or determination process. Also, in the downstream transfer process, the submission speed from the middle - stream transfer process is adjusted to a speed corresponding to the period required for the scanning process or determination process.

[0047] The middle - stream transfer process is a process of conveying the roll 1 while rotating it around the cylinder axis 1C by the middle - stream conveyor 30. The guiding process is a process of restricting the deviation of the roll 1 from the path P by the guide 50 that is in sliding contact with the rotating roll 1.

[0048] [2 - 2. Roll inspection method] The roll inspection method is a method of inspecting the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 by the above - mentioned roll inspection device. In this roll inspection method, as shown in Table 1 above, while continuously carrying out the transfer process, the scanning process is carried out, and then the determination process is carried out. In the scanning process, after carrying out the first scanning process, the second scanning process is carried out.

[0049] The transfer process continuously carried out in the roll inspection method is a process of carrying out at least the middle - stream transfer process and the guiding process among the above - mentioned roll transfer methods. That is, the transfer process is a process of rotating the roll 1 in the trailing direction among the rotation directions around the cylinder axis 1C while conveying the roll 1 in the direction along the cylinder axis 1C. The scanning process is a process of optically sequentially scanning a predetermined area R by the line sensor 70.

[0050] The first scanning step, which is carried out in the first half of the scanning process, is a step of optically and sequentially scanning a first predetermined area R1 by the first line sensor 71. Further, the second scanning step, which is carried out in the second half of the scanning process, is a step of optically and sequentially scanning a second predetermined area R2 by the second line sensor 72. When the first predetermined area R1 and the second predetermined area R2 overlap, the second scanning step is started overlapping with the first scanning step. When the first predetermined area R1 and the second predetermined area R2 do not overlap, the second scanning step is started simultaneously with the end of the first scanning step.

[0051] The determination step is a step of determining the quality of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 by the determination unit 80. That is, the determination step is a step of determining the quality of the cylindrical surface 5 based on the information sequentially scanned in the scanning step, and can be carried out at any time after the scanning step is carried out.

[0052] [3. Operations and Effects] Since the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, the following operations and effects can be obtained. In this item [3], the operations and effects of the roll transfer mechanism 10 and the roll transfer method are described in sub-item [3-1], and then the operations and effects of the roll inspection device 60 and the roll transfer method are described in sub-item [3-2].

[0053] [3-1. Roll Transfer Mechanism and Roll Transfer Method] Conventionally, in order to rotate a cylindrical body around its cylindrical axis, there has been a problem that the configuration of a conveyor in which the rotation axes of two pairs of rollers around which a belt is wound are set in different directions or the area where the cylindrical body is placed on the belt moves in two directions becomes complicated. Furthermore, such a conveyor requires a long space for installing a rotation mechanism for transferring the belt, and thus there has been a problem that it is difficult to secure the degree of freedom of layout. Therefore, there has been room for improvement in simplifying the configuration of the conveyor in the transfer mechanism for rotating the cylindrical body around its cylindrical axis while transporting it.

[0054] (1) In contrast, according to the roll transfer mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the rotation axes 1P and 2P of the pulleys 31 and 32 that move the belt 3B of the middle conveyor 30 are set only along the direction orthogonal to the one direction in which they intersect the conveying direction at an acute angle in a top view, and the area 3R where the roll 1 is placed on the middle conveyor 30 moves only in one direction. Therefore, compared with the conventional conveyor in which the rotation axes of the rollers around which the belt is wound are set along different directions as in the prior art, or the area where the cylindrical body is placed moves in two or more directions, the configuration of the middle conveyor 30 such as the belt 3B and the rotation axes 1P and 2P can be simplified. Furthermore, the space for installing the rotation mechanism for moving the belt can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in layout in the production line can be ensured.

[0055] Since the middle conveyor 30 of the roll transfer mechanism 10 is provided with a guide 50 that regulates the lateral deviation of the roll 1 while slidingly contacting the roll 1 in the path P, the roll 1 can be stably conveyed compared with the conventional transfer mechanism without such a guide 50. Moreover, when a second component force F2 is applied from the lower part of the roll 1 placed on the belt 3B by the middle conveyor 30, not only is the lateral deviation of the roll 1 structurally regulated by hitting the guide 50, but the roll 1 can be rotated around the cylinder axis 1C by the movement of the lower part of the roll 1 placed on the belt 3B.

[0056] In addition, since the upstream conveyor 20, the downstream conveyor 40, and the middle conveyor 30 each undertake the conveyance of the roll 1 along the linear path P, the roll 1 can be conveyed without rotation in the upstream part P1 and the downstream part P3 of the linear path P, and the roll 1 can be conveyed while being rotated in the middle part P2 of the linear path P. In this way, the area for conveying the roll 1 while rotating it and the area for conveying the roll 1 without rotating it can be freely set in the linear path P.

[0057] (2) Since a belt conveyor is used for the intermediate conveyor 30, the intermediate conveyor 30 can be provided simply by installing a general-purpose belt conveyor in a posture inclined with respect to the conveying direction. Therefore, an increase in the cost of introducing the intermediate conveyor 30 can be suppressed. (3) Since the intermediate conveyor 30 is provided across a plurality of paths P provided side by side, the configuration can be simplified compared to a configuration in which an intermediate conveyor is provided for each of the paths P, and an increase in equipment cost can be suppressed. (4) Note that, also by the roll transfer method, the same operations and effects as those of the roll transfer mechanism 10 can be obtained.

[0058] [3-2. Roll inspection device and roll inspection method] In the prior art for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a cylindrical body, since the influence of the tail of the roll on the inspection accuracy was not considered, there was a risk of a decrease in inspection accuracy due to the shadow of the tail. For example, even when inspecting a roll of conforming products (among good or bad, "good") without contamination or damage on the cylindrical surface, the shadow of the tail reflected on the cylindrical surface may be confused with contamination or damage on the cylindrical surface, and there is a risk of being regarded as non-conforming products in optical inspection. Therefore, there was room for improvement in suppressing a decrease in inspection accuracy.

[0059] (1) On the other hand, according to the roll inspection device 60 of the present embodiment, since the intermediate conveyor 30 of the roll transfer mechanism 10 rotates the roll 1 in the trail direction, the tail 4 is pressed against the cylindrical surface 5 so as to be stroked. Therefore, the reflection of the shadow of the tail 4 on the cylindrical surface 5 sequentially scanned by the line sensor 70 can be suppressed, and the determination unit 80 can accurately determine the quality of the cylindrical surface 5. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the inspection accuracy of the roll inspection device 60.

[0060] (2) Further, according to the pressing member 90 of the roll inspection device 60, the tail 4 can be surely pressed just before the upstream side in the rotation direction of the roll 1 with respect to the predetermined region R, and it is possible to surely suppress the shadow of the tail 4 from being reflected in the predetermined region R. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in the inspection accuracy of the roll inspection device 60. (3) By the way, depending on various specifications such as the conveyance speed by the middle conveyor 30, the circumferential length of the roll 1, and the imaging field of view of the line sensor, there is a possibility that the entire cylindrical surface of the roll cannot be scanned only by sequentially scanning a predetermined region with a single line sensor.

[0061] On the other hand, for the line sensor 70 of the roll inspection device 60, two units are used: an upstream line sensor 71 that sequentially scans the upstream predetermined region R1 and a downstream line sensor 72 that sequentially scans the downstream predetermined region R2. Therefore, it is possible to scan the entire cylindrical surface 5 that cannot be scanned by a single line sensor. In this way, the scanning range by the line sensor 70 can be expanded. (4) Note that the same operations and effects as those of the roll inspection device 60 can also be obtained by the roll inspection method.

[0062] [II. Modification Example] The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and applications of technologies not explicitly described in this embodiment. Each configuration of this embodiment can be variously modified and implemented without departing from their gist. Also, it can be selectively used as necessary and can be appropriately combined.

[0063] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the middle conveyor 30' of the roll transfer mechanism 10' is not limited to using the belt conveyor as described above, and a roller conveyor may be used. A roller conveyor is used. In the middle conveyor 30′, a number of rollers 3R′ that are rotationally driven around their respective rotation axes 3C′ are arranged side by side in the conveying direction, and a roll 1 (not shown in FIG. 4) is placed on these rollers 3R′. Further, the rotation axis 3C′ of the roller 3R′ extends along a plane (for example, a horizontal plane) along both the conveying direction and the lateral direction, and is set parallel to each other, and extends in a direction intersecting the conveying direction in a top view.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows an example in which a roller conveyor provided across two (or more) paths P is used for the middle conveyor 30′. In this way, the direction in which the roller 3R′ including the region where the roll 1 is placed rotates around the rotation axis 3C′ is arranged in a direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle in a top view. Specifically, the region where the roll 1 is placed among the rollers 3R′ is set with the extending direction of the rotation axis 3C′ and the rotation direction of each roller 3R′ so as to move in one direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle.

[0065] Since the roller conveyor is used for the middle conveyor 30′ as described above, the middle conveyor 30′ can be provided simply by installing the rollers 3R′ of a general-purpose roller conveyor in an inclined posture with respect to the conveying direction. Therefore, an increase in the cost of introducing the middle conveyor 30′ can be suppressed. In addition, in the roll transfer mechanism, one middle conveyor may be provided for one path. Note that the roll transfer mechanism can rotate the roll being conveyed along the path as long as at least a middle conveyor and a guide are provided. Alternatively, only one line sensor of the roll inspection device may be provided, and the pressing member may be omitted from the roll inspection device. The configuration may be simplified in these ways.

[0066] [III. Supplementary Note] Regarding the above embodiments, the supplementary note regarding the inspection of the roll is disclosed in item [1], and the supplementary note regarding the transfer of the roll is disclosed in item [2].

[0067] [1. Inspection of Roll] [Appendix 1A] A roll inspection method for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a roll around which a strip-shaped material is wound, wherein the roll has a tail, which is an end portion where winding of the material ends, extending downstream in the winding direction with respect to the cylindrical surface of the roll and having a free end that can be brought into contact with and separated from the cylindrical surface, a transfer step of rotating the roll in a trail direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface among the rotational directions around the cylindrical axis while transporting the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll, a scanning step of optically sequentially scanning a predetermined region, which is a linear region that is along the cylindrical axis of the roll and fixed and includes a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll being rotated while being transported by the transfer step, and a determination step of determining the quality of the cylindrical surface based on the information sequentially scanned in the scanning step, provided with a roll inspection method characterized by the above. [Appendix 2A] The roll inspection method according to Appendix 1A, further comprising a pressing step of pressing the tail of the roll being rotated around the cylindrical axis in the transfer step against the cylindrical surface immediately upstream in the rotational direction with respect to the predetermined region. characterized by the above. [Appendix 3A] The scanning step includes a first scanning step of sequentially scanning a first predetermined region, which is a part of the predetermined region on the upstream side in the transport direction of the roll, and a second scanning step of sequentially scanning a second predetermined region, which includes a region on the downstream side in the transport direction from the first predetermined region and includes the other part of the predetermined region excluding the above-mentioned part. characterized by the above, according to the roll inspection method described in Appendix 1A or 2A.

[0068] [Appendix 4A] A roll inspection apparatus for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a roll around which a strip-shaped material is wound, The roll is provided such that a tail, which is the end of the material after winding, extends downstream in the winding direction with respect to the cylindrical surface of the roll and forms a free end that can be brought into contact with and separated from the cylindrical surface. A transfer mechanism that rotates the roll in a trail direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface among the rotational directions around the cylindrical axis while transporting the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll. A line sensor that optically sequentially scans a predetermined region, which is a region including a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll that is being rotated while being transported by the transfer mechanism and is a linear region that extends along the cylindrical axis and is fixed. A determination unit that determines the quality of the cylindrical surface based on the information sequentially scanned by the line sensor. The roll inspection device is characterized by the above. A roll inspection device characterized by the above. [Appendix 5A] The roll inspection device according to Appendix 4A, further comprising a pressing unit that presses the tail of the roll, which is being rotated around the cylindrical axis by the transfer mechanism, against the cylindrical surface immediately upstream in the rotational direction with respect to the predetermined region. The roll inspection device according to Appendix 4A, characterized by the above. [Appendix 6A] The line sensor includes a first line sensor that sequentially scans a first predetermined region, which is a part of the predetermined region on the upstream side in the transport direction of the roll, and a second line sensor that sequentially scans a second predetermined region that includes a region on the downstream side in the transport direction from the first predetermined region and includes the other part of the predetermined region excluding the above-mentioned part. The roll inspection device according to Appendix 4A or 5A, characterized by the above.

[0069] [2. Transfer of the roll] [Appendix 1B] A roll transfer mechanism that transports a cylindrical roll along a linear path with the cylindrical axis of the roll along the path. It moves by the rotational power around the rotation axis and has an area where the roll is placed. The area moves only in one direction that intersects the conveyance direction at an acute angle. Among the forces applied to the roll from the area moving in the one direction, the roll is conveyed along a part of the path by the first component force along the conveyance direction, and the roll is rotated around the cylindrical axis of the roll by the second component force along the lateral direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction in a top view of the applied force. A first conveyor in which the rotation axis is set only along a direction orthogonal to the one direction in a top view, A second conveyor that is disposed adjacent to the upstream or downstream side of the first conveyor in the conveyance direction with respect to the roll conveyed in the part of the path, and conveys the roll along the other part of the path excluding the part of the path without rotating the roll, At least disposed on the side in the direction in which the second component force acts with respect to the roll conveyed in the part of the path, extended along the part of the path, and a guide that regulates deviation from the path while being in sliding contact with the rotating roll, A roll transfer mechanism characterized by the above. 〔Appendix 2B〕 The first conveyor is a belt conveyor in which a belt having the area moves along a circular orbit The roll transfer mechanism according to Appendix 1B, characterized by the above. 〔Appendix 3B〕 The first conveyor is a roller conveyor in which a roller having the area is rotationally driven The roll transfer mechanism according to Appendix 1B, characterized by the above. 〔Appendix 4B〕 A roll transfer mechanism in which a plurality of the paths are provided side by side in the lateral direction, and the roll is transferred in each of the paths, The first conveyor is provided straddling the paths provided side by side in the lateral direction The roll transfer mechanism according to any one of Appendices 1B to 3B, characterized by the above.

[0070] 〔Appendix 5B〕 A roll transfer method for conveying a cylindrical roll along a linear path with the cylinder axis of the roll in a posture along the path, which moves by the rotational power around the rotation axis and moves only in one direction in which the area where the roll is placed intersects the conveyance direction at an acute angle, and while conveying the roll along a part of the path by the first component force along the conveyance direction among the forces applied to the roll from the area moving in the one direction, the roll is rotated around the cylinder axis of the roll by the second component force along the lateral direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction in a top view of the applied force, and a first transfer step in which the rotation axis is set only along a direction orthogonal to the one direction in a top view; a second transfer step that is performed immediately before or after the first transfer step and conveys the roll along the other part of the path excluding the part without rotating the roll; and a guide step of regulating deviation from the path while being in sliding contact with the rotating roll on the side in the direction in which the second component force acts on the roll conveyed through the part of the path. The roll transfer method is characterized by the above.

Explanation of Signs

[0071] 1 Roll 10 Roll transfer mechanism 1C Cylinder axis 1P, 2P Rotation axis 2 Material 20 Upstream conveyor (second conveyor) 3 Core material 30 Middle - stream conveyor (first conveyor) 31, 32 Pulley 3B Belt 4 Tail 40 Down - stream conveyor (second conveyor) 5 Cylinder surface 50 Guide 6 Tail seal 60 Roll inspection device 70 Line sensor (scanning device) 71 Up - stream line sensor (first line sensor) ​72 Downstream line sensor (second line sensor) 80 Determination unit 90 Pressing member 9U Upper edge 9D Lower edge CD Lateral direction MD Conveying direction P Path P1 Upstream section P2 Middle section P3 Downstream section R Predetermined area R1 Upstream predetermined area (first predetermined area) R2 Downstream predetermined area (second predetermined area) W Winding direction

Claims

1. A roll inspection method for inspecting a cylindrical surface of a roll around which a strip-shaped material is wound, comprising: The roll is provided such that a tail, which is an end portion where winding of the material ends, extends downstream in the winding direction with respect to the cylindrical surface of the roll and has a free end that can be brought into contact with and separated from the cylindrical surface; A transfer step of rotating the roll in a trail direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface among the rotational directions around the cylindrical axis, while conveying the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll; A scanning step of optically sequentially scanning a predetermined region, which is a linear region that is along the cylindrical axis and fixed and includes a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll that is being rotated while being conveyed by the transfer step; A determination step of determining the quality of the cylindrical surface based on the information sequentially scanned in the scanning step, characterized by the above.

2. The roll inspection method according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing step of pressing the tail of the roll, which is being rotated around the cylindrical axis in the transfer step, against the cylindrical surface immediately upstream in the rotational direction with respect to the predetermined region. characterized by the above.

3. The scanning step includes a first scanning step of sequentially scanning a first predetermined region, which is a part of the predetermined region on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the roll, and a second scanning step of sequentially scanning a second predetermined region that includes a region downstream of the first predetermined region in the conveyance direction and includes the other part of the predetermined region excluding the part. characterized by the above.

4. A roll inspection apparatus for inspecting a cylindrical surface of a roll around which a strip-shaped material is wound, comprising: The roll is provided such that a tail, which is an end portion where winding of the material ends, extends downstream in the winding direction with respect to the cylindrical surface of the roll and has a free end that can be brought into contact with and separated from the cylindrical surface; A transfer mechanism for rotating the roll in a trail direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface among the rotational directions around the cylindrical axis, while conveying the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll; A line sensor for optically sequentially scanning a predetermined region, which is a linear region that is along the cylindrical axis and fixed and includes a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll that is being rotated while being conveyed by the transfer mechanism; A determination unit that determines the quality of the cylindrical surface based on the information sequentially scanned by the line sensor, and A roll inspection device characterized by this.

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