Inspection equipment and inspection system

Abstract

To make sure to inspect both the front and back sides while preventing an inspection target from losing its shape.SOLUTION: An inspection device 1 includes: an upstream belt conveyor 10 that transports an inspection object W on a transport surface 10a; a downstream belt conveyor 20 that transports the inspection object W on the transport surface 20a; a first inspection unit 11 that inspects a first surface of the inspection object W on the transport surface 10a; and a second inspection unit 21 that inspects a second surface of the inspection object W on the transport surface 20a. The upstream end of the belt conveyor 20 is placed below the downstream end of the belt conveyor 10, and is provided with cushioning means for cushioning the impact received by the inspection object W dropped from the downstream end of the belt conveyor 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for inspecting labels attached to both the front and back sides of an object to be inspected. [Background technology]

[0002] In vendor factories for convenience stores and the like, products such as cooked rice and rice balls are packaged in packaging materials, labeled, and then shipped.

[0003] In this regard, it is difficult to accurately inspect the labels while preventing the products from losing their shape during the process of transporting such products. For example, with the device described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to transport thick products that are roughly circular (round) in plan view in an upright position, and reliable inspection is not possible. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 02-113376 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to reliably inspect both the front and back sides of an object to be inspected while preventing deformation of the object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the inspection device of the present invention comprises a first conveying means on the upstream side that conveys the object to be inspected on the conveying surface, a second conveying means on the downstream side that conveys the object to be inspected on the conveying surface, and an inspection means that inspects the object to be inspected on the conveying surface, wherein the second conveying means has an upstream end that is located below the downstream end of the first conveying means and is equipped with a cushioning means that cushions the impact received by the object to be inspected when it falls from the downstream end of the first conveying means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably inspect both the front and back sides of an object to be inspected while preventing the object from losing its shape. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing an inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are external perspective views illustrating how an object to be inspected is transported in an inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing (a) the state before the object to be inspected is displaced, and (b) the state after the object to be inspected has been displaced. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an inspection object is transported on a belt conveyor composed of two transport belts in an inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a process in which an inspection object is inspected by a first inspection unit and a second inspection unit in an inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between a conveying surface of a first belt conveyor, a conveying surface of a second belt conveyor, and auxiliary path rollers in the inspection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an inspection object is rotated backwards by a half turn by a displacement mechanism in an inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7]1A and 1B are schematic diagrams illustrating how inspection objects that have resulted in an error are sorted (removed) from the conveying line in an inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing (a) before sorting and (b) during sorting. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are plan views showing a conveying belt constituting a second belt conveyor in an inspection device according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a first modification and (b) shows a second modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An inspection device 1 and an inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an inspection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes belt conveyors 10 and 20, a first inspection unit 11, a second inspection unit 21, and a sorting mechanism 30. This inspection device 1 inspects labels L1 and L2 affixed to both the front and back sides of an inspection object W conveyed on the belt conveyors 10 and 20 on the conveying surfaces 10a and 20a. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2(a), after inspecting the label L1 affixed to one side of the inspection object W, the orientation of the inspection object W on the conveying surface 10a is shifted, and as shown in FIG. 2(b), the label L2 affixed to the side opposite to the side with label L1 affixed is inspected. In both inspections, the labels L1 and L2 are positioned on the top surface opposite the surface that contacts the conveying surfaces 10a and 20a during the conveying process, and the labels L1 and L2 that appear on the top surface are inspected.

[0010] In this embodiment, "displacing" the orientation of the inspection object W means orienting the labels L1, L2 attached to the inspection object W toward the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21. In this regard, in this embodiment, the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21 are provided above the conveying surfaces 10a, 20a, and the labels L1, L2 are attached to the front and back surfaces of the inspection object W. Therefore, when displacing the orientation of the inspection object W, the inspection object W is turned upside down. However, regardless of this embodiment, depending on the positions of the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21 and the locations of the labels L1, L2, the displacement of the orientation of the inspection object W is not limited to being turned upside down.

[0011] ●Inspection object W First, an inspection object W to be inspected by the inspection device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The object to be inspected W has a label L1 or a label L2 attached to at least both the front and back sides, and can only assume a stable position when either the front or back side to which the label L1 or L2 is attached is in contact with the conveying surfaces 10a, 20a of the belt conveyors 10, 20. In this embodiment, a rice ball with a generally circular shape in a plan view and a certain thickness (strictly speaking, wrapped in a wrapping material such as polypropylene film according to the shape of the rice ball) is assumed as the inspection object W. Such a rice ball can maintain a stable posture if the circular surface is set as the front or back surface and either the front or back surface is set as the bottom surface, but if it is stood up by its circumferential surface, it will roll, and there is a risk that the labels L1 and L2 will not be inspected properly. However, this does not prevent the inspection device 1 of this embodiment from being used to inspect other shapes, such as rice balls that are approximately triangular in plan view, and the inspection device 1 can be suitably used to inspect labels L1 and L2 attached to both the front and back sides of the object.

[0012] In the description of the inspection device 1 according to this embodiment, the label attached to the front side is referred to as "label L1" and the label attached to the back side is referred to as "label L2" in order to distinguish between the labels attached to the front and back sides of the inspection object W. However, the present invention aims to inspect both the labels L1 and L2 attached to one side and the opposite side, and the implementation of the present invention is not limited by which side is actually the front or back.

[0013] In this embodiment, a label L1 attached to the surface of the inspection object W displays an image of the inspection object W, i.e., a commodity. Furthermore, a label L2 attached to the back side displays a symbol code such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) that encodes information about the product as the inspection object W. In this embodiment, labels L1 and L2 are attached to the object W to be inspected. Here, "attached" broadly means including examples where information is visibly displayed on the front or back of the object W to be inspected, such as a label being attached to the film that packages the object W to be inspected, or a label being printed directly on the film, etc.

[0014] Belt conveyor 10 The belt conveyors 10 and 20 constitute a transport path for the inspection objects W to which the labels L1 and L2 are attached, and are transport means for transporting the inspection objects W. The belt conveyors 10 and 20 are arranged in a straight line, with the belt conveyor 10 on the upstream side and the belt conveyor 20 on the downstream side. Furthermore, the belt conveyors 10 and 20 are arranged with a step in the vertical direction, and the upstream end of the belt conveyor 20 is provided below the downstream end of the belt conveyor 10. As a result, the inspection object W transported on the transport surface 10a of the belt conveyor 10 falls from the downstream end of the transport surface 10a to the upstream end of the transport surface 20a of the belt conveyor 20.

[0015] The belt conveyor 10 is provided upstream of the belt conveyor 20, and conveys the inspection object W to the belt conveyor 20 downstream. The belt conveyor 10 is provided with a first inspection unit 11 and a sensor 12, and the belt conveyor 10 inspects the label L1 on the surface that forms the upper surface of the inspection object W. The first inspection unit 11 and the sensor 12 will be described in detail later.

[0016] The belt conveyor 10 is composed of a rotating body 101 and a conveying belt 102. The rotating bodies 101 are arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other and rotate when driven by a motor. The conveyor belt 102 is an endless belt stretched over a pair of rotating bodies 101. The upper surface side of the conveyor belt 102 constitutes a conveyor surface 10a that conveys the inspection object W in one direction.

[0017] 6, a hollow portion 103 is provided inside an endless conveyor belt 102 stretched around a pair of rotating bodies 101. As will be described later, the belt conveyor 20 also has a hollow portion 203 corresponding to the hollow portion 103, but unlike the belt conveyor 20, the belt conveyor 10 does not necessarily have to have the hollow portion 103. Therefore, for example, a top plate may be provided inside the conveyor belt 102 to abut against the conveyor belt 102 from the inside and prevent the conveyor belt 102 from bending due to the weight of the inspection target W.

[0018] In addition, the belt conveyor 10 may be provided with fall prevention plates at both ends in the width direction of the conveying surface 10a. This prevents the inspection objects W from falling from both ends in the width direction of the conveying surface 10a without interfering with the conveyance of the inspection objects W.

[0019] Furthermore, a belt conveyor may be provided upstream of the belt conveyor 10, which aligns the inspection objects W supplied from other devices and transports them to the downstream belt conveyor 10. To align the inspection objects W in this manner, for example, a collecting member is provided to align the inspection objects W in a line at the center of the width of the conveying surface. The collecting member has a length in the conveying direction and includes a roller inside that rotates along the conveying direction, and is provided in pairs at both ends of the conveying surface in the width direction of the belt conveyor. The distance between the pair of collecting members facing each other gradually narrows toward the downstream end, and at the downstream end is approximately equal to the width of the inspection objects W. As a result, the inspection objects W that were placed disorderly on the conveying surface upstream are aligned in a line by the collecting member. Belt conveyor 20

[0020] The belt conveyor 20 is provided downstream of the belt conveyor 10, and conveys the inspection object W conveyed from the belt conveyor 10 further downstream. The belt conveyor 20 is provided with a second inspection section 21, a sensor 22, an auxiliary roller 23, a sorting mechanism 30, and a sorted product holding box 40. This belt conveyor 20 inspects the labels L2 attached to the backside of the inspection objects W, and also sorts (rejects) the inspection objects W that result in an error as a result of the inspection. Each mechanism will be described in detail later.

[0021] The belt conveyor 20 is composed of a rotating body 201 and two conveyor belts 202 . The rotating bodies 201 are arranged in pairs, spaced apart from each other, for each conveyor belt 202, and are rotated by the drive of a motor. Each of the two conveyor belts 202 is an endless belt stretched over a pair of rotating bodies 201, and has flexibility. The upper surface side of the conveyor belt 202 constitutes a conveyor surface 20a that conveys the inspection object W in one direction. In this embodiment, the two conveyor belts 202 are arranged side by side in the width direction.

[0022] An adjacent section 20b is formed between two conveyor belts 202 arranged side by side in the width direction. The adjacent section 20b may not have a gap, or may have a gap large enough to prevent the inspection target W from falling therebetween regardless of the orientation of the inspection target W.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, an endless conveyor belt 202 stretched over a pair of rotors 201 has a hollow portion 203 formed inside.

[0024] Both the adjacent portion 20b and the hollow portion 203 constitute a buffer means for cushioning the impact of the inspection object W, which has fallen from the downstream end of the belt conveyor 10, landing on the conveying surface 20a. That is, as a result of the hollow portion 203 being provided in the belt conveyor 20, when the inspection object W falls from the conveying surface 10a onto the conveying surface 20a, the conveying belt 202 bends inward, cushioning the impact of the fall. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, in the adjacent portion 20b, the widthwise end of the conveying belt 202 is more likely to bend, more effectively cushioning the impact of the fall. Furthermore, in addition to cushioning the impact of the fall by the hollow portion 203 and the adjacent portion 20b, the bouncing of the inspection object W is also suppressed.

[0025] The hollow portion 203 only needs to be formed at least at the location where the inspection object W falls from the conveying surface 10a. In addition, in this embodiment, the inside of the conveying belt 202 is configured as a hollow portion 203, but instead of the hollow portion 203, a buffer member such as a cushion made of a soft resin material may be provided inside the conveying belt 202, as long as the conveying belt 202 can bend to absorb the impact of the fall when the inspection object W falls onto the conveying surface 20a.

[0026] The belt conveyor 20 is provided with fall prevention plates 204. These are flat plate-shaped members that are erected on both ends of the width direction of the conveying surface 20a, and prevent the inspection objects W from falling outward from both ends of the width direction of the conveying surface 20a.

[0027] It should be noted that the above-mentioned belt conveyors 10 and 20 are arranged with a step in the vertical direction, and it is preferable that the height difference between the transport surface 10a of the belt conveyor 10 and the transport surface 20a of the belt conveyor 20 is set to the maximum width of the inspection object W. For example, if the maximum width of the inspection object W is 80 mm, it is preferable that the height difference is set to 80 mm. In this way, by setting the height difference between the belt conveyors 10 and 20 to the maximum width of the inspection object W, it is possible to reliably displace the inspection object W while minimizing the impact caused by the fall. In reality, an auxiliary roller 23 is provided on the conveying surface 20a below the downstream end of the belt conveyor 10, and even if the height difference between the conveying surface 10a of the belt conveyor 10 and the conveying surface 20a of the belt conveyor 20 is taken as the maximum width of the inspection object W, the height difference between the conveying surface 10a of the belt conveyor 10 and the conveying surface of the auxiliary roller 23 is slightly smaller than the height difference between the conveying surfaces 10a and 20a and does not meet the maximum width of the inspection object W. However, since the inspection object W is urged downstream by the belt conveyor 10 operating at a predetermined conveying speed, it is reliably displaced on the auxiliary roller 23 and conveyed upstream and downstream even with such a height difference. Such a height difference between the belt conveyors 10 and 20 may be appropriately adjusted by a predetermined adjustment mechanism according to the maximum width of the inspection object W and the transport speed of the belt conveyor 10.

[0028] As mentioned above, the inspection object W is assumed to be a rice ball that is approximately circular in plan view, and the ingredients of the rice ball are placed in the center of the surface, causing the central portion of the surface to bulge. Even when such an inspection object W is conveyed on the conveying surface 20a and the surface of the inspection object W abuts against the conveying surface 20a, the ends of the two conveying belts 202 in the adjacent portion 20b bend downward in accordance with the bulge, so that the bulge of the inspection object W is not crushed. Furthermore, as a result of the bulge of the inspection object W being absorbed by the bending of the two conveying belts 202, the upper surface of the inspection object W does not tilt with respect to the conveying surface 20a, and the second inspection unit 21 can accurately inspect the label L2 facing the upper surface of the inspection object W.

[0029] In addition, in this embodiment, the belt conveyor 20 is configured with two conveyor belts 202, but is not limited to this, and may be configured with three or more conveyor belts 202. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which only the belt conveyor 20 is configured with two transport belts 202, but this is not limiting, and the belt conveyor 10 may also be configured with a plurality of transport belts 102.

[0030] ●First Inspection Department 11 The first inspection unit 11 is provided downstream of the belt conveyor 10, and inspects the label L1 attached to the surface of the inspection object W on the conveyance surface 10a. This first inspection section 11 has at least an imaging means such as a CCD camera that captures images of the patterns displayed on the label L1 attached to the object W to be inspected, a product information storage means that stores product information about the product that is the object W to be inspected, and a judgment means that compares the display content of the label L1 captured by the imaging means with the product information to determine whether the label L1 is correct or not.

[0031] 4, a sensor 12 is provided upstream of the imaging means. The sensor 12 is, for example, a transmission-type photoelectric sensor consisting of a light emitter and a light receiver, provided at both ends in the width direction of the conveying surface 10a, and detects that the inspection object W has reached the position on the conveying surface 10a where the sensor 12 is provided. The detection information by the sensor 12 is supplied to the first inspection unit 11, and the first inspection unit 11 can thereby measure the timing for capturing an image of the label L1 of the inspection object W by the imaging means.

[0032] The determination means determines whether the label L1 is correct or not based on the degree of match between the display content of the label L1 captured by the imaging means and the basic image (sample image) included in the product information. However, the method for determining the degree of match is not particularly limited, and as long as it determines whether the label L1 that should be attached to a predetermined inspection object W is properly attached, the functional unit that performs such a determination can constitute the determination means according to this embodiment.

[0033] If the judgment means determines that there is an error in the label L1 of the object W to be inspected, for example, if a different label L1 than the label L1 that should have been attached is attached, or if a pattern that should have been displayed on the label L1 is not printed correctly, the error judgment result is notified to the sorting mechanism 30, and the object W to be inspected that has an error is sorted (removed) from the conveying line by the sorting mechanism 30.

[0034] ●Second Inspection Department 21 The second inspection unit 21 is provided on the belt conveyor 20 upstream of the sorting mechanism 30, and inspects the label L2 attached to the back surface of the inspection object W on the conveyance surface 20a. This second inspection section 21 has at least a reading means such as a scanner that reads the symbol code displayed on the label L2 attached to the inspection object W, a product information storage means that stores product information about the product that is the inspection object W, and a judgment means that compares the contents of the symbol code read by the reading means with the product information to determine whether the label L2 is correct or not.

[0035] 4, a sensor 22 that detects the inspection object W on the conveying surface 20a is provided upstream of the reading means. This sensor 22 is, for example, a transmission type photoelectric sensor similar to the sensor 12, and in this embodiment, is provided below the downstream end of the conveying surface 10a, i.e., upstream in the conveying direction of the conveying surface 20a, so as to be able to detect the inspection object W at a location where the inspection object W falls from the conveying surface 10a. When the inspection object W drops from the conveying surface 10a onto the conveying surface 20a, the sensor 22 detects the inspection object W. The detection information by the sensor 22 is supplied to the second inspection unit 21, and the second inspection unit 21 can thereby measure the timing to read the label L2 of the inspection object W by the reading means.

[0036] The reading means is provided above the conveying surface 20a, and scans the inspection object W on the conveying surface 20a at a predetermined timing based on the detection information of the inspection object W by the sensor 22, and reads the symbol code displayed on the label L2 of the inspection object W. It is also possible to use an imaging means such as a CCD camera instead of the reading means. This also makes it possible to obtain the symbol code displayed on the label L2, and if character information other than the symbol code is displayed on the label L2, the imaging means can be configured to obtain this character information and determine whether it is correct or not.

[0037] As with the processing in the first inspection section 11, if the judgment means determines that there is an error in the label L2 of the object W to be inspected, for example, if the label L2 cannot be read, or if a label L2 different from the label L2 that should have been attached is attached, the error judgment result is notified to the sorting mechanism 30, and the object W to be inspected that has an error is sorted (removed) from the conveying line by the sorting mechanism 30.

[0038] A pair of illuminators 50 are provided near the second inspection unit 21 to illuminate the inspection target W on the conveying surface 20a. This allows the second inspection unit 21 to perform inspection with high accuracy. In this embodiment, the illuminators 50 are provided only near the second inspection unit 21, but this is not limiting and the illuminators 50 may also be provided near the first inspection unit 11.

[0039] ● Auxiliary roller 23 2 and 5, the auxiliary roller 23 is provided on the conveying surface 20a at the upstream end of the belt conveyor 20. This position is below the downstream end of the belt conveyor 20, and is the position where the inspection object W falls from the conveying surface 10a. The auxiliary rollers 23 are rotated by a motor in the direction opposite to the conveying direction. In this embodiment, four auxiliary rollers 23 are arranged in parallel along the conveying direction at the location where the inspection object W falls, so that the inspection object W does not fall directly onto the conveying surface 20a.

[0040] At the point where the inspection object W falls, an auxiliary roller 23 that rotates in the opposite direction to the conveying direction is provided, so that the inspection object W is forced to turn over, as described below.

[0041] In this embodiment, four auxiliary rollers 23 are installed in a space where the inspection object W falls, but regardless of this, an endless belt may be installed as the auxiliary rollers 23 in that space.

[0042] Displacement process In this embodiment, the orientation of the inspection object W is changed during transportation when it is transferred from the belt conveyor 10 to the belt conveyor 20. In particular, in this embodiment, the inspection object W is turned upside down or upside down. As a result, the label L2 attached to the front or back surface of the inspection object W that was in contact with the transport surface 10a of the belt conveyors 10, 20 faces upward, making the label L2 visible.

[0043] The manner in which the upper and lower surfaces of the inspection object W are inverted will be described with reference to Figure 6. For ease of explanation, the inspection object W in the figure has an identification mark S1 attached to the downstream end of the inspection object W when it was on the conveying surface 10a. However, the actual inspection object W does not have such an identification mark S1.

[0044] When the inspection object W that has been transported downstream on the transport surface 10a reaches the downstream end of the transport surface 10a, it falls onto the auxiliary roller 23 from the downstream end where it was when transported on the transport surface 10a. Here, an inertial force toward the conveying direction is acting on the inspection object W that has fallen onto the auxiliary roller 23 by the belt conveyor 10. Meanwhile, the frictional force between the auxiliary roller 23, which rotates in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, acts on the inspection object W in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the belt conveyors 10, 20. As a result, the inspection object W rotates backward in the conveying direction, with the point where it abuts against the auxiliary roller 23 as a fulcrum, and lands on the conveying surface 20a from the surface that formed the upper surface when it was on the belt conveyor 10. In this way, when the top and bottom surfaces of the inspection object W are inverted and the back surface of the inspection object W that formed the bottom surface when it was on the belt conveyor 10 becomes the top surface, the label L2 that appears on the top surface can be inspected by the second inspection unit 21.

[0045] Here, the inspection object W falls onto the conveying surface 20a while being turned upside down, and lands on the conveying surface 20a. When the inspection object W lands, an impact is applied to the inspection object W, but since a hollow portion 203 is formed inside the conveying surface 20a, the conveying belt 202 bends downward, and the impact of the landing is softened. Furthermore, the inspection object W falls onto the adjacent portion 20b, and the adjacent portion 20b formed by the end portion in the width direction of the conveying belt 202 is easily bent, and the impact of the landing is softened more effectively. This makes it possible to effectively prevent deformation of the inspection object W, such as loss of shape, when the upper and lower surfaces of the inspection object W are displaced.

[0046] ●Sorting mechanism 30 The sorting mechanism 30 is located downstream of the belt conveyor 20, i.e., at the most downstream position of the inspection device 1, and based on the inspection results from the first inspection section 11 or the second inspection section 21, pushes the inspection object W that is determined to be an error from the conveying surface 20a into the sorted item holding box 40 and sorts (removes) it.

[0047] The selected product storage box 40 is a box with an open top, and the inside is divided into two storage sections 41 and 42. The storage sections 41, 42 are aligned along the conveying direction, and in the width direction of the conveying surface 20a, the storage section 41 is provided corresponding to the first sorting mechanism 31, and the storage section 42 is provided corresponding to the second sorting mechanism 32.

[0048] In this embodiment, the selected-item holding box 40 is divided into two storage sections 41 and 42 on the inside, but the storage sections 41 and 42 may be provided as separate bodies.

[0049] The sorting mechanism 30 is provided outside the conveying surface 20a and is composed of a first sorting mechanism 31 on the upstream side and a second sorting mechanism 32 on the downstream side.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 7, the first sorting mechanism 31 includes a pusher 311 , an extension part 312 , and a main body 313 .

[0051] The push-out section 311 is a plate-like member attached to the tip of the extension section 312, and as the extension section 312 extends from the main body 313, it comes into contact with the inspection object W on the conveying surface 20a and further pushes the inspection object W to the sorted product holding box 40. The inspection object W pushed by the extension section 312 to the sorted product holding box 40 is stored in the storage section 41. The extension part 312 is a rod-shaped member that extends freely from the main body 313, and has a push-out part 311 at its tip. The main body 313 houses the extension part 312 so that it can be extended onto the conveying surface 20a.

[0052] The second sorting mechanism 32 is configured similarly to the first sorting mechanism 31 , and includes a push-out section 321 , an extension section 322 , and a main body 323 . In this second sorting mechanism 32, when the extension part 322 extends from the main body 323, the push-out part 321 abuts against the inspection object W on the conveying surface 20a and further pushes the inspection object W to the sorted product holding box 40. The inspection object W pushed by the extension part 322 to the sorted product holding box 40 is stored in the storage part 42.

[0053] The first sorting mechanism 31 and the second sorting mechanism 32 configured in this manner each receive information related to the inspection results from the first inspection unit 11 or the second inspection unit 21, and operate in accordance with the inspection results. That is, an inspection object W determined to be an error by the first inspection unit 11 is sorted into the storage unit 41 by the first sorting mechanism 31, and an inspection object W determined to be an error by the second inspection unit 21 is sorted into the storage unit 42 by the second sorting mechanism 32.

[0054] For example, as shown in Fig. 7(a), when an inspection object W that has been determined to be an error by the first inspection unit 11 is conveyed onto the belt conveyor 20, the first sorting mechanism 31 extends the extension part 312 from the main body 313 onto the conveying surface 20a, as shown in Fig. 7(b). The push-out part 311 attached to the tip of the extension part 312 comes into contact with the inspection object W and pushes the inspection object W into the storage part 41 of the sorted item holding box 40.

[0055] As a result, inspection objects W that have been found to have errors as a result of inspection are sorted (removed) into the selected product holding box 40, separated into errors by the first inspection unit 11 and errors by the second inspection unit 21. As a result, it is understood that the inspection objects W sorted into the storage unit 41 have an error in the label L1, and it is sufficient to check the label L1 with emphasis on the label, replace the label L1 (change the packaging material), re-inspect, discard, etc. On the other hand, it is understood that the inspection objects W sorted into the storage unit 42 have an error in the label L2, and it is sufficient to check the label L2 with emphasis on the label L2, replace the label L2 (change the packaging material), re-inspect, discard, etc.

[0056] The sorting mechanism 30 may be an air jet type, a flipper type, or the like, and does not necessarily have to be configured integrally with or as a part of the inspection device 1. In that case, it is preferable to operate the sorting mechanism 30 by transmitting and receiving signals, or the like.

[0057] In addition, an inspection object W that is determined to be an error by the first inspection unit 11 may be sorted into a storage unit 42 by the second sorting mechanism 32, and an inspection object W that is determined to be an error by the second inspection unit 21 may be sorted into a storage unit 41 by the first sorting mechanism 31. Also, two or more sorting mechanisms and sorted product holding boxes each having a corresponding storage section may be provided.

[0058] According to the inspection device 1 of this embodiment, even if the object W to be inspected can only assume a stable position with the front or back surface with the labels L1, L2 attached facing downwards during transportation, the orientation of the object can be changed during transportation, and the labels L1, L2 on both sides can be reliably inspected. In particular, thick products that are roughly circular (round) in plan view and difficult to transport in an upright position can be reliably displaced and inspected with high accuracy. Furthermore, when the inspection object W is displaced, it is possible to prevent a large impact from being applied to the inspection object W, and to prevent the object from losing its shape. Furthermore, when the inspection object W is displaced, the inspection object W is not brought into unnecessary contact with various members, which is also preferable from the viewpoint of hygiene when the inspection object W is a food product. Furthermore, if the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21 determine that there is an error in the labels L1 and L2, the object to be inspected W is selected depending on whether the error occurs in the label L1 or the label L2, making it easy to identify the error.

[0059] Variations In the inspection device 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the hollow portion 203 and the adjacent portion 20b are provided as a buffer means for cushioning the impact received when the inspection object W lands on the conveying surface 20a. On the other hand, as shown in Modification 1 of FIG. 8(a), a notch 60b serving as a buffer means may be provided in the conveying belt 602 of the belt conveyor 60 corresponding to the belt conveyor 20. The notches 60b have a length in the width direction of the conveying belt 602, and by providing multiple notches 60b at regular intervals in the conveying direction of the conveying belt 602, the conveying surface 60a is easily bent and the impact of landing is effectively softened.

[0060] Furthermore, as shown in Modification 2 in FIG. 8(b), the conveyor belt 702 of the belt conveyor 70 corresponding to the belt conveyor 20 may be configured as a buffer means. The conveyor belt 702 is divided into a plurality of belt segments 7021 along the conveying direction. Adjacent belt segments 7021 are separated by adjacent portions 70b each having a predetermined gap. The width of the gap constituting the adjacent portions 70b is set to a width that prevents the inspection target W from falling through the gap, regardless of the orientation of the inspection target W. Such a conveyor belt 702 also allows the conveyor surface 60a to bend easily, and the impact that the inspection object W receives when it lands on the conveyor surface 70a can be reduced.

[0061] Furthermore, the conveyor belt 202 constituting the inspection apparatus 1 described above can itself be configured as a buffer means. That is, the conveyor belt 202 may be configured from rubber having a predetermined thickness, or from a mesh-like member with through holes formed over the entire surface. In this way, the conveyor belt 202 itself serves as a buffer means that absorbs the impact received when the inspection object W lands on the conveying surface 20a.

[0062] In the inspection device 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the first inspection unit 11 inspects the pattern etc. of the label L1 attached to the object to be inspected W before inversion, and the second inspection unit 21 inspects the symbol code etc. of the label L2 attached to the object to be inspected W after inversion. However, this is not limited to this, and the device can also be configured so that inspection is performed by the second inspection unit 21 before inversion, and inspection is performed by the first inspection unit 11 after inversion.

[0063] Furthermore, in the inspection device 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the timing of inspection by the first inspection unit 11 and the timing of inspection by the second inspection unit 21 are measured separately using the sensors 12 and 22, thereby inspecting the inspection target W with high accuracy and reducing the time required for processing. However, the timing of inspection by the first inspection unit 11 and the timing of inspection by the second inspection unit 21 can also be measured using only the sensor 12.

[0064] Furthermore, the inspection device 1 according to the present embodiment described above may be provided with an output means for outputting the judgment results of the inspections by the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21. The output means may be one that outputs the judgment results on a predetermined display or the like, or one that outputs a predetermined sound according to the judgment results from a predetermined speaker or the like, and various methods can be used. Furthermore, it can also be output to an external device as data for managing work history, such as production management and HACCP.

[0065] The inspection device 1 may also be equipped with an operation unit that displays the inspection results and allows the inspection conditions to be changed using an identification number, etc. Furthermore, it is possible to change the inspection conditions by receiving an identification number for the inspection conditions in response to a product call operation performed by an upstream packaging device, pricing device, etc. This eliminates the need to set or change the conditions for each device arranged on the conveying line every time the inspection object W to be sent on the conveying line is switched, and also makes it possible to avoid incorrect condition setting due to incorrect operation.

[0066] In the inspection device 1 described above, the software resources provided for inspection processing by the first inspection unit 11, the second inspection unit 21, etc. can be distributed or consolidated into any of the hardware resources by appropriate design, and the hardware resources can also be configured as a physically integrated device or separate devices. This allows, for example, the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21 to be configured as a single device, or the functions of the first inspection unit 11 and the second inspection unit 21 to be consolidated into a server or the like connected via a predetermined network.

[0067] The processing executed by the inspection device 1 according to the present invention can also be configured as an invention relating to a method or computer program having a similar configuration. The computer program can be provided by downloading via a network such as the Internet, or by recording it on various computer-readable recording media such as a CD-ROM.

[0068] ● Overview of implementation The present invention relates to a technique for inspecting labels attached to both the front and back sides of an object to be inspected.

[0069] In vendor factories for convenience stores and the like, products such as cooked rice and rice balls are packaged in packaging materials, labeled, and then shipped.

[0070] In this regard, it is difficult to accurately inspect the labels while preventing the products from losing their shape during the process of transporting such products. For example, in the device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-113376, it is difficult to transport thick products that are roughly circular (round) in plan view in an upright position, and reliable inspection is not possible.

[0071] Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to reliably inspect both the front and back sides of an object to be inspected while preventing deformation of the object.

[0072] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an inspection device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first conveying means on the upstream side that conveys the object to be inspected on a conveying surface, a second conveying means on the downstream side that conveys the object to be inspected on the conveying surface, and an inspection means that inspects the object to be inspected on the conveying surface, wherein the second conveying means has an upstream end that is located below the downstream end of the first conveying means and is equipped with a cushioning means that cushions the impact received by the object to be inspected when it falls from the downstream end of the first conveying means.

[0073] The second conveying means may be constituted by a plurality of conveying belts each having a length in the conveying direction, and the buffering means may be constituted by adjacent portions of the plurality of conveying belts adjacent in the width direction.

[0074] The buffer means may be configured by a hollow portion or a buffer member provided below the conveying surface.

[0075] An auxiliary roller that rotates in a direction opposite to the conveying direction may be provided at the upstream end of the second conveying means and below the downstream end of the first conveying means.

[0076] The inspection means may also be composed of a first inspection means for inspecting a first surface of the object to be inspected on the conveying surface of the first conveying means, and a second inspection means for inspecting a second surface of the object to be inspected on the conveying surface of the second conveying means.

[0077] Furthermore, an inspection system according to another aspect of the present invention performs the following processes: a process of inspecting a first surface of an object to be inspected by a first inspection unit on the transport surface of a first transport means on the upstream side that transports the object to be inspected; a process of inspecting a second surface of the object to be inspected by a second inspection unit on the transport surface of a second transport means on the downstream side that transports the object to be inspected; a process of displacing the first and second surfaces of the object to be inspected during transport; a process of storing the object to be inspected that has been determined to be an error based on the inspection results by the first inspection unit in a first storage unit; and a process of storing the object to be inspected that has been determined to be an error based on the inspection results by the second inspection unit in a second storage unit.

[0078] According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably inspect both the front and back sides of an object to be inspected while preventing the object from losing its shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1: Inspection equipment 10: Belt conveyor 10a: conveying surface 101: Rotating body 102: Conveyor belt 103:Hollow part 11: First Inspection Department 12: Sensor 20: Belt conveyor 20a: conveying surface 20b: adjacent area 201: Rotating body 202: Conveyor belt 203:Hollow part 204: Fall prevention plate 21: Second Inspection Department 22: Sensor 23: Auxiliary roller 30: Sorting mechanism 31: First sorting mechanism 311: Extrusion section 312:Extension part 313: Main body 32: Second sorting mechanism 321: Extrusion section 322:Extension part 323: Main body 40: Selected product storage box 41: Storage unit 42: Storage unit 50: Lighting 60: Belt conveyor 60a: conveying surface 60b: Notch 602: Conveyor belt 70: Belt conveyor 70a: conveying surface 70b: adjacent part 702: Conveyor belt 7021: Belt piece L1: Label L2: Label S1: Identification sign W: Inspection object

Claims

1. a first conveying means on the upstream side that conveys the inspection object on a conveying surface; a downstream second conveying means for conveying the inspection object on a conveying surface; an inspection means for inspecting the inspection object on the conveying surface, The second conveying means is an upstream end of the conveyor belt is provided below the downstream end of the first conveyor means, and the conveyor belt is configured by a plurality of conveyor belts having a length in the conveying direction; a buffer means configured by adjacent portions of the plurality of conveyor belts adjacent in the width direction, for buffering an impact on the inspection object that falls from the downstream end of the first conveyor means; an auxiliary roller that rotates in a direction opposite to the conveying direction is provided at an upstream end of the second conveying means and below a downstream end of the first conveying means; the auxiliary roller urges the inspection object so that a second surface, which is a reverse side of a first surface that is an upper surface of the inspection object on the conveying surface of the first conveying means, becomes an upper surface on the conveying surface of the second conveying means; The inspection means a first inspection means for inspecting a first label attached to the first surface, which is the upper surface of the inspection object, on the conveying surface of the first conveying means; a second inspection means for inspecting a second label attached to the second surface, which is the upper surface of the inspection object, on the conveying surface of the second conveying means, the first inspection means captures an image of the display content of the first label and determines whether the first label is genuine by comparing the captured image with a reference image; the second inspection means reads the symbol code of the second label and determines whether the second label is authentic or not based on the reading result; Inspection equipment.

2. The first conveying means is constituted by one conveying belt. The inspection device according to claim 1.

3. a first conveying means on the upstream side that conveys the inspection object on a conveying surface; a downstream second conveying means for conveying the inspection object on a conveying surface; an inspection means for inspecting the inspection object on the conveying surface, The second conveying means is an upstream end of the conveyor belt is provided below the downstream end of the first conveyor means, and the conveyor belt is configured by a plurality of conveyor belts having a length in the conveying direction; a buffer means configured by adjacent portions of the plurality of conveyor belts adjacent in the width direction, for buffering an impact on the inspection object that falls from the downstream end of the first conveyor means; an auxiliary roller that rotates in a direction opposite to the conveying direction is provided at an upstream end of the second conveying means and below a downstream end of the first conveying means; the auxiliary roller urges the inspection object so that a second surface, which is a reverse side of a first surface that is an upper surface of the inspection object on the conveying surface of the first conveying means, becomes an upper surface on the conveying surface of the second conveying means; The inspection means a first inspection means for inspecting a first label attached to the first surface, which is the upper surface of the inspection object, on the conveying surface of the first conveying means; a second inspection means for inspecting a second label attached to the second surface, which is the upper surface of the inspection object, on the conveying surface of the second conveying means, the first inspection means reads the symbol code of the first label and determines whether the first label is genuine or not based on the reading result; the second inspection means captures an image of the display content of the second label and determines whether the second label is authentic by comparing the captured image with a reference image; Inspection equipment.

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