JP2000118594A - Inside plug installation inspection method and inside plug installation inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the presence and absence of an inner plug and the conformity and nonconformity of other attachment conditions correctly having no influence of vibration or the like of a conveyer by detecting attachment conditions of the inner plug which is located at the inside of a cap and serves to close the opening of a cap receiving hole on the basis of a dose of X rays permeating through the cap receiving hole of a container main body. SOLUTION: As a container 11 is conveyed by a conveyer 30 and detected by a position detector 3, an inspection controller 5 outputs generated signals MS to X rays generator 2 in terms of position signals LS outputted from a position detector 3, and the X ray generator 2 works to generate X rays 8 toward the container 11 in order to irradiate it. Next, an image production part 6 of the inspection controller 5 transmits image signals VS to a monitor 7, and an image having clear shadow in accordance with a quantity of X rays 8 is displayed at a monitor 7. Simultaneously, by taking a selection range with a plug affixing determination part 6b displayed on the screen of the monitor 7 and positional conditions of the cap inner plug into consideration, the cap inner plug is distinguished regarding its presence and absence.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for sealing a hole provided in a cap receiving hole of a container body of a container such as a bottle or a can filled with a beverage or food, so that it is used separately from a cap. The present invention relates to an inner plug installation inspection method and an inner plug installation inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of a plug and the quality of an attached state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, juice, green tea, black tea,
Containers filled with beverages such as coffee, seasonings such as sauces, mayonnaise, tomato ketchup and other items close the container body for storing these items and the opening provided in the cap receptacle of the container body. And a cap. In such a container, there is provided a container with an inner stopper using an inner stopper in order to more reliably prevent leakage of a beverage or the like stored in the container body.

[0003] Such a beverage in a container with a stopper and a seasoning in a container with a stopper are mass-produced in a production factory by a flow operation system using various automatic machines such as a washing device and a filling device and a conveyor. Have been. For example, a production process of a beverage in a container with an inner stopper is roughly as follows.

[0004] The first is a beverage production process for producing beverages such as juice, green tea and black tea. The second is a container body cleaning step of cleaning the container body filled with the beverage. Third, a beverage filling step of filling a beverage into the washed container body. Fourth, a lid sterilizing step of sterilizing the cap and the inner plug. Fifth, a cap tightening step of sealing the opening provided in the cap receptacle of the container body filled with the beverage with the inner plug, and then attaching the cap to the cap receptacle. The sixth is a product packaging step of packaging the capped beverage in a container.

[0005] In this case, in the first beverage production step, for example, a beverage is produced by squeezing fruit juice from fruit or extracting tea from tea leaves. In the second container body washing step,
For example, a container body made of a plastic PET bottle or the like is washed by washing with water or the like. The washed container is put on a conveyor device such as a belt conveyor and is conveyed to the next step. In the third beverage filling step, the beverage is filled by inserting the nozzle of the beverage filling machine into the opening hole of the conveyed container body. In the fourth lid sterilization step, for example, sterilization is performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the inner plug and the cap.

[0006] In the fifth cap tightening step, the inside of the container is sealed by first attaching an inner plug to the opening hole of the container body using a cap tightening machine. Seal. As a result, a beverage in a container with an inner stopper in which the container body filled with the predetermined beverage is double-sealed with the inner stopper and the cap is manufactured. still,
When the inner plug is formed integrally with the cap, the cap is tightened simultaneously with the mounting of the inner plug.
In the next sixth product packaging step, a predetermined number of the produced beverages in containers with inner stoppers are stored in a packaging box such as a cardboard box and the box is closed to complete the packaging operation.

In the production of such a beverage in a container with an inner cap, in the above-described cap tightening step, for example, in the case of an inner cap integrated type cap, the inner opening of the container main body is kept open by dropping of the inner plug. A bottled beverage without a stopper is produced, and in the case of a stopper with a separate stopper, a bottled beverage with a stopper having problems such as breakage of the stopper or poor adhesion at the seal portion may be produced. Since the beverage in a container having such a defect does not have a predetermined value as a product, it should be treated as a defective product. Further, for example, if the inner plug is not properly fitted due to insufficient pressure at the time of driving the inner plug or a poorly fastened cap, etc., the inside of the container body is insufficiently sealed and the contents such as beverages are unsanitary. Could be

[0008] Therefore, conventionally, after the inner plug is fitted into the opening hole and the cap is attached to the cap receiving port, the attached state of the cap is measured for each beverage in a container, and whether the attached state of the cap is appropriate is determined. Is inspected to determine the quality of the product.

[0009] As a conventional method of inspecting the inside plug of a beverage in a container with a inside plug, for example, the following method is known. This inner plug mounting inspection method detects the upper end of the cap and measures the height of the container. When the height of the cap is within a predetermined range, the inner plug is fitted into the opening hole. It is determined that the cap is properly tightened. On the other hand, when the measured value of the cap height is not within the predetermined range, it is determined that a problem such as dropping of the inner plug or poor fitting of the inner plug has occurred. The quality of the tightening is checked.

The method of inspecting the inner plug attachment will be described in detail as follows. First, after the cap fastening step, the height of the upper end face of the cap of the container being transported by the conveyor is detected by a detector such as an optical sensor. This makes it possible to detect the height of the container up to the cap upper surface with the upper surface of the conveyor as the reference surface. On the other hand, measure the height from the bottom surface of the container where the cap is properly tightened to the upper end surface of the cap, and set the allowable range by adding an appropriate value plus or minus an appropriate error as a reference value. deep. Then, the predetermined reference value of the container is compared with the measured value measured as described above.

As a result of the comparison, when the measured value of the cap height of the container is within the allowable range of the reference value, the inner plug is normally fitted into the opening of the cap receiving port, and the cap is inserted so as to cover the opening. It is determined that the cap attached to the receptacle is also properly tightened. As described above, the beverage in the container with the inner cap which is determined to have been properly tightened or the like is conveyed as a product to the next product packaging process and subjected to a predetermined packing operation.

On the other hand, when the measured value of the cap height is smaller than the value within the allowable range of the reference value, for example,
Only the cap is attached and the inner plug is not fitted, and it is determined that the cap is tightened deeper than the predetermined position due to the drop of the inner plug. On the other hand, if the measured value is larger than the value within the allowable range, for example, it is determined that the inner plug has not been fitted to the predetermined position, and that the cap has not been tightened to the predetermined position due to poor tightening. Is done. According to the determination of the inner plug installation failure, the beverage in the container with the inner plug which has been subjected to the determination is immediately removed from the production line and disposed of as a defective product.

[0013]

However, in such a conventional inner plug mounting inspection method, the container body with the cap attached thereto is transported by a conveyor, and the height of the upper end surface of the cap is detected during the transport. On the basis of the detection result, the quality of the inner plug mounting state is determined, and the actual mounting state of the inner plug is not checked. Therefore, the upper end surface of the cap, which is the measurement surface, moves in the vertical direction due to the vertical fluctuation of the conveyor.If the amount of fluctuation of the conveyor increases, the inner plug is inserted even for a good container with the inner plug properly mounted. There is a problem in that the attachment is determined to be defective, and an erroneous determination may occur when judging the quality of the inner plug attachment state.

In particular, in the case of the inner plug separation type cap, since the cap is tightened after the inner plug is attached, the sealing portion of the inner plug and the drawing ring are twisted due to the frictional force based on the tightening of the cap, which causes a problem. Problems such as breakage of the inner plug due to torsion and poor sealing have occurred. As described above, when troubles such as breakage of the inner plug and poor sealing occur, there is a possibility that the contents filled in the container body leak out of the inner plug, resulting in unsanitary operation.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and irradiates an X-ray to a cap receptacle of a container body to which an inner plug is attached, and transmits X-ray through the portion.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem by detecting the presence or absence of an inner plug and its attached state from the state of a wire.

[0016]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and the like, and to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first aspect of the present invention is described.
The inner plug mounting inspection method according to the above, irradiates X-rays to the cap receptacle of the container body, measures the X-rays transmitted through the cap receptacle and the cap attached to the cap receptacle, based on the dose of the X-ray The present invention is characterized in that an attached state of the inner plug, which is arranged inside the cap and seals the opening of the cap receiving opening, is detected.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the inner plug covers the inner plug or the opening having a bottomed cylindrical body removably fitted into the opening of the cap receiving opening. It is characterized in that it is a sheet-shaped seal plug that is releasably attached as described above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inner plug mounting inspection method, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor for displaying an image of the cap receptacle and the vicinity thereof; displaying an image of the inner plug by X-ray irradiation on the monitor; It is characterized in that it is detected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for inspecting whether or not a plug is attached to a container. The X-ray generator irradiates a cap receiving opening of the container body with X-rays. An X-ray measuring device for measuring X-rays penetrating through the inner plug attached to the opening attached to the cap and the cap receiving opening, and mounted so as to seal the opening based on the measurement results of the X-ray measuring device. And an inner plug attachment determining means for determining an attached state of the inner plug.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the inner plug covers the inner plug or the opening having a bottomed cylindrical body removably fitted in the opening of the cap receiving opening. It is characterized in that it is a sheet-shaped seal plug that is releasably attached as described above.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inner plug mounting inspecting device, wherein the inner plug mounting determining means is connected to a monitor for displaying an image of the cap receiving port and its vicinity, and the inner plug is connected to the monitor by X-ray irradiation. It is characterized in that an image of the mounting state is displayed.

According to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the X-ray measuring device comprises two X-ray measuring devices for measuring X-rays transmitted through the inner plug from different angles. It is characterized in that the posture of the inner plug is detected based on the measurement result of the line measuring device.

The inner plug installation inspection device according to claim 8 of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, further includes a case where there is no inner plug or the inner plug mounting posture is not appropriate based on the determination result of the inner plug installation determining means. An exclusion controller that sometimes outputs a drive signal, and a container body that operates based on the drive signal from the exclusion controller and is determined to have no inner plug or the mounting state of the inner plug to be defective is eliminated as a defective product. And a defective product removal device.

With the above construction, in the inner plug mounting inspection method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the inner plug is mounted to seal the opening by measuring X-rays transmitted through the cap receptacle of the container body. By detecting the state, the presence or absence of the inner plug and the quality of the attached state can be accurately detected without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor or the like.

In the inner plug mounting inspection method according to a second aspect of the present invention, the inner plug for sealing the opening of the cap receiving port is provided as follows.
It is possible to apply a cap inner plug fitted in the opening hole to seal or a sealing inner plug to seal so as to cover the opening hole.

In the inner plug mounting inspection method according to a third aspect of the present invention, the state of X-ray irradiation is displayed on the monitor on a screen, so that the mounting state of the inner plug can be viewed from the monitor screen. Can be known perceptually.

[0027] In the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, the X-ray emitted from the X-ray generator and transmitted through the cap receptacle of the container body is measured by the X-ray measuring instrument, and based on the measurement result, By determining the mounting state of the inner plug by the inner plug mounting determining means, it is possible to obtain a device capable of accurately detecting the presence or absence of the inner plug and the quality of the mounting state without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor or the like.

In the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the inner plug of the cap, which is fitted into the opening of the cap receiving port and hermetically sealed, or the inner plug of the seal, which seals the opening so as to cover the opening, is provided. It can be applied as a closed inner plug.

In the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the mounting state of the inner plug by X-ray irradiation is displayed as an image on a monitor connected to the inner plug mounting determining means, so that the monitor screen can be displayed. It is possible to obtain a device capable of perceptually knowing the state of attachment of the inner plug by observing the state of attachment of the inner plug.

In the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention, the quality of the mounted state of the inner plug is accurately detected by measuring the inner plug from two different angles with two X-ray measuring instruments. Can be.

In the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus according to claim 8 of the present invention, furthermore, a rejection controller for outputting a drive signal based on the judgment result of the attachment judging means, and operating based on the drive signal to eliminate defective products. Since it is configured to have a defective product removal device, when it is determined that there is no cap or the cap installation is defective, the removal controller operates the defective product removal device to remove and remove only the container body determined to be defective. Can be.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which an article in a container with an inner cap attached so as to seal an opening of a cap receiving port with a cap is used as an inspection object, The present invention is applied to an inner plug attachment inspection device for detecting the presence or absence of the presence and the quality of the attached state. That is, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing one embodiment of the inner plug installation inspection apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment of the inner plug installation inspection apparatus of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a first detection example using the inner plug attachment inspection device in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second detection example similarly,
FIG. 6 is an explanatory block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the inner plug installation inspection device of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a first detection example using the inner plug installation inspection device of FIG. .

Here, the "inner plug mounting inspection" includes not only the mounting state of the inner plug mounted in the opening hole of the container body but also the inspection of the presence or absence of the inner plug. In addition, the “attachment state of the inner plug” includes not only the fitting depth and inclination of the inner plug, but also the deformation and breakage of the seal portion and the pinhole of the inner plug and the presence or absence of leakage of the contents based on these. The various states are included.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus 1 shown in this embodiment generates X-rays as an X-ray source and
An X-ray generator 2 for irradiating the container 1, a position detector 3 for detecting the position of the container 11 conveyed by the conveyor 30, and an X-ray emitted from the X-ray generator 2 and transmitted through the inner plug of the container 11.
An X-ray measuring device 4 for measuring X-rays, and an inner plug attachment determining means for determining an attached state such as the presence or absence and posture of the inner plug 11 based on the amount of transmitted X-rays measured by the X-ray measuring device 4. An inspection controller 5, a monitor 7 that receives an image signal VS output from the inspection controller 5, and displays on the screen an image of the inner plug portion of the container 11 which has been X-rayed and output from the inspection controller 5. An elimination controller 9 as an elimination device that outputs a drive signal CS based on the output signal PS, and a defective product take-out device 10 that is operated by the drive signal CS from the exclusion controller 9.

First, a description will be given of a container 11 for a beverage in a container with an inner plug, which is an object to be inspected by the inner plug installation inspection device 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the container 11 includes a container body 12, a cap 13, and a cap cover 1.
4 and a cap plug 16 showing a specific example of the plug. The container body 12 has a thin cylindrical cap receiving port 12a to which the cap 13 is detachably attached, and a cylindrical body 12b connected to a lower end of the cap receiving port 12a.

The cap receptacle 12a of the container body 12
The beverage is filled into the body 12b by a predetermined amount by injecting the beverage through the opening hole 25 opened at the upper end surface of the body. As shown in FIG. 3, a screw portion 12c to which the cap 13 is screwed is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cap receiving portion 12a, and a ring-like shape is formed radially outward between the screw portion 12c and the body portion 12b. Is provided with a flange portion 15 which protrudes.

Further, the opening hole 25 of the cap receiving port 12a is provided.
Is fitted with a cap inner plug 16 showing a specific example of the inner plug, whereby the container body 12 is sealed. The cap plug 16 is used to maintain a higher degree of hermeticity from the time of manufacture until it is opened by the consumer, and is generally discarded after opening. The cap inner plug 16 includes a bottomed cylindrical body 16a fitted into a hole of the cap receiving port 12a, an outer flange-shaped flange 16b continuous to an opening-side end of the cylindrical body 16a,
The support column 16c includes a support column 16c that is provided upright in the recess of the cylindrical body portion 16a, and a ring-shaped drawing ring 16d that is provided continuously at the upper end of the support column 16c.

The collar 16b of the cap plug 16 is mounted so as to overlap the end face of the cap receiving port 12a. After the cap 13 is attached, the entire circumference of the flange 16b is pressed by the cap 13 into the cap receiving port 12a. High sealing performance is obtained. In a state where the cap plug 16 is mounted, the cap 13 is screwed and attached to the cap receiving port 12a.

The cap 13 can be used to drink the beverage inside while being attached to the container body 12.
A so-called sports cap, which is a cap body 17 detachably screwed to the cap receiving port 12a, and an opening / closing body 19 slidably attached to the cap body 17 to open and close the nozzle hole 18. It is composed of The cap body 1 of the cap 13
Reference numeral 7 denotes a cylindrical skirt portion 17a for covering the cap receiving port 12a, a cover receiving portion 17b for covering the upper end of the skirt portion 17a, a nozzle portion 17c and a middle cylindrical portion 17d provided at the center of the cover receiving portion 17b. have.

On the inner surface of the skirt portion 17a of the cap body 17, a screw portion 17e screwed to the screw portion 12c of the cap receiving port 12a is provided. The cover receiving portion 17b of the cap main body 17 has a structure like a circular pedestal bulging upward, and a cap ridge 21a continuous in the circumferential direction is formed at an upper end edge thereof. Further, on the lower surface of the cover receiving portion 17b, a circumferentially continuous pressing ridge 21b is formed so as to face the flange portion 16b of the plug 16 inside the cap.

Further, the cover receiving portion 1 of the cap body 17
At the center of 7b, there is a cylindrical nozzle 1 having a closed upper end.
7c is provided so as to protrude upward. And
On the radial outside of the nozzle portion 17c of the cover receiving portion 17b, a cylindrical middle cylinder portion 17d having substantially the same center line is provided with a predetermined gap, and the gap is formed by the nozzle portion 1c.
A communication port 22 is provided between 7c and the middle cylinder 17d. The communication port 22 is composed of a plurality of arc-shaped grooves extending in the circumferential direction, and the nozzle portion 17c is supported by the cover receiving portion 17b by a plurality of bridge pieces 22a set between adjacent arc-shaped grooves. An opening / closing body 19 is slidably fitted to the nozzle portion 17c and the middle cylinder portion 17d of the cap body 17.

The opening / closing body 19 includes an inner cylindrical portion 19a and an outer cylindrical portion 19b arranged concentrically with each other, and both cylindrical portions 19a, 19b.
And an upper surface portion 19c provided so as to close the upper end thereof, and a grip portion 19d formed of a circumferentially continuous ridge is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper surface portion 19c. A circular nozzle hole 18 is opened at the center of the upper surface 19c of the opening / closing body 19. A nozzle portion 17c of the cap body 17 is detachably fitted into the nozzle hole 18, and an inner cylindrical portion 19a
Between the outer cylinder 19b and the middle cylinder 1 of the cap body 17
7d is inserted.

Further, an inner protruding ridge 23a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 19a of the opening / closing body 19 at the distal end side, and is continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 19b at the distal end side. A continuous outer ridge 23b is formed, and a middle ridge 23c that is also continuous in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the middle cylindrical portion 17d. The inner ridge 23a of the inner cylinder portion 19a is
The outer ridge 23b of the outer cylindrical portion 19b contacts the outer circumferential surface of the middle cylindrical portion 17d, and the middle ridge 23 of the middle cylindrical portion 17d.
c is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 19b. The sliding of the opening / closing body 19 with respect to the cap body 17 is enabled by the contact of these ridges 23a to 23c,
The opening of the opening / closing body 19 is prevented by the engagement between the b and the middle ridge 23c.

Thus, as shown in FIG.
By pushing down the opening / closing body 19 by pushing c, the nozzle portion 17c is fitted into the nozzle hole 18 and the cap 13 is closed. On the other hand, by gripping the holding portion 19d and pulling up the opening / closing body 19, the opening / closing body 19 slides in the axial direction, and the fitting of the nozzle hole 18 by the nozzle portion 17c is released, and the cap 13 is opened.

The cover receiving portion 1 of the cap body 17
The cap cover 14 attached to 7b has a cup shape having a depth capable of accommodating the nozzle portion 17c and the opening / closing body 19. On the inner peripheral surface on the opening side of the cap cover 14, a cover ridge 14a that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed. By engaging the cover ridge 14a with the cap ridge 21a of the cover receiving portion 17b,
The cap cover 14 is detachably mounted and fixed to the cap 13.

The materials of the above-described container body 12, cap 13, cap cover 14, and cap plug 16 are as follows.
For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) or the like is suitable, but it goes without saying that other engineering plastics can be applied.

The container 11 having such a configuration is placed on a conveyor 30 which is a specific example of the transporting means, and is transported to the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus 1. As the conveyor 30, a slat conveyor, an apron conveyor, a belt conveyor or the like having a flat mounting portion for mounting the container 11 can be used. While being conveyed by the conveyor 30, the inside plug attachment inspection device 1 detects the presence or absence of the cap inside plug 16 fitted into the opening hole 25 provided in the cap receiving port 12a of the container body 12, and the quality of the attached state. You.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the X-ray generator 2 of the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus 1 generates the X-rays 8 and
The X-rays 8 are emitted toward the container 11 (object to be inspected) and the X-ray measuring device 4 that have been transported by the X-ray analyzer. This X-ray generator 2
Is configured such that the length of the wavelength of the generated X-rays 8, the intensity of the energy, and other X-ray generation conditions can be changed by a simple operation, and a trumpet-shaped irradiation tube 2 a is attached to the generation portion. .

The X-ray measuring device 4 is disposed so as to face the same height position on the opposite side of the conveyor 30 with respect to the X-ray generator 2. This X-ray measuring device 4
Detects an X-ray fluoroscopic image based on X-rays 8 transmitted through the container 11, and uses a semiconductor line sensor for X-ray detection. That is, the X-ray measuring device 4 includes an X-ray detector 34a in which a number of X-ray detecting elements
A signal processing unit 34b that outputs a detection signal KS corresponding to the amount of X-rays 8 detected by the line detection unit 34a.
The X-ray measuring device 4 detects the amount of X-rays 8 transmitted through the inner plug portion of the container body 12 to which the inner cap 16 is attached, and supplies the detection signal KS to the inspection controller 5. .

The position detector 3 detects that the container 11 conveyed by the conveyor 30 has reached a predetermined inspection position. As the position detector 3, for example, a surveillance camera, a proximity switch, and other position detection means can be applied. The container 11 is
And outputs a position signal LS when the container 11 reaches a predetermined inspection position. This position detector 3
By operating the X-ray generator 2 on the basis of the position signal LS to generate the X-rays 8, the X-rays 8 can be irradiated only when the container 11 has moved to the inspection position when necessary.
The position detector 3 is not indispensable from the configuration of the entire apparatus. For example, the position detector 3 is configured to always operate the X-ray generator 2 and continuously emit the X-rays 8 so that the position The detector 3 can be dispensed with.

The X-ray generator 2 involved in the irradiation of X-rays 8
The X-ray measuring device 4, a part of the conveyor 30, and the position detector 3, which is installed as necessary, shield these with lead and attach a lead-containing curtain or the like to the entrance and exit of the container 11, and Should not leak out.

The inspection controller 5 adjusts the synchronization timing between the X-ray generator 2 and the X-ray measuring device 4 based on the detection signal KS of the X-ray measuring device 4 and the position signal LS of the position detector 3, and It is determined whether or not the cap plug 16 is attached to the opening hole 25, or whether the attached cap plug 16 is fitted in a correct posture to a predetermined depth. The inspection controller 5 includes an image creation unit 6a that outputs a video signal VS to display an X-ray fluoroscopic image of the inner plug portion on a monitor 7 based on a detection signal KS from the X-ray measuring device 4, A plug attachment determination unit 6b that determines the presence or absence of the cap plug 16 based on the detection signal KS and outputs the output signal PS.

The inspection controller 5 stores, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) for performing predetermined arithmetic processing based on the supplied information signals KS and LS and a program for controlling the entire system in advance. Equipment (RO
M), a storage device (RAM) for storing the operation result of the central processing unit (CPU) and the like, and an information signal and an output signal PS.
Input / output device (I / O) for input / output and sorting conditions according to the container to be inspected (for example, conveyor speed, inner plug shape, reference height of inner plug, material of container and inner plug) A setting circuit for presetting various other parameters)
It is configured to include a determination circuit for determining the presence or absence of an inner plug.

Based on the detection signal KS supplied from the X-ray measuring device 4, the image forming section 6a of the inspection controller 5 having such a configuration
Signal VS corresponding to the preferred image synchronized with
Is output to the monitor 7. The function of the inspection controller 5 is that the image forming speed of the X-ray measuring device 4 and the X-ray
This takes into account that the line generation speed is different. That is, when the timing of the generation of the X-rays 8 and the timing of the image creation do not match, the container 11 as the subject cannot be recognized. For this reason, the inspection controller 5 takes the timing of the two, captures a clear image obtained by the X-ray measuring device 4 when the X-ray 8 is generated, and monitors only the video signal VS corresponding to the image. 7 is output.

When the video signal VS is input to the monitor 7, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the monitor 7, the cap receiving port 12a of the container main body 12 and the cap 13 attached to the cap receiving port 12a are provided. , The cap cover 14 and the cap plug 16 are displayed on the screen as the plug portion of the container 11.

When the monitor 7 is a color cathode-ray tube, for example, the background is displayed in blue and the cap receiving port 12a, the cap 13, the cap cover 14, and the cap plug 16 are displayed in brown. By displaying, the air layer in the container body 12 can be displayed in yellow. By color-coding the screen display of the monitor 7 in this manner, the presence or absence of the cap plug 16 can be easily identified. When the monitors 7 and 8 are black and white CRTs, each part can be represented by a difference in lightness. For example, the background is close to black and the cap 13 and the cap plug 16 are displayed in gray. The air layer can be displayed in white.

Further, the plug mounting determination section 6b of the inspection controller 5 determines whether or not the cap plug 16 is fitted in the opening 25 based on the detection signal KS.
The determination by the plug attachment determination unit 6b is performed based on the transmission amount of the X-rays 8 appearing in the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the inner plug portion detected by the X-ray measuring device 4, and the transmission amount of the X-rays 8 is small. In this case, it is determined that there is a plug 16 in the cap, and when the transmission amount is large, it is determined that there is no plug 16 in the cap.

That is, in the plug mounting determination unit 6b of the inspection controller 5, the central processing unit (CPU) selects a selection range 35 of a predetermined area which is stored in the storage device (RAM) in advance, and the cap plug 16 The presence or absence of the inner plug is determined based on the amount of transmission of the X-rays 8 within the selection range 35 in consideration of the situation of the position where is to be mounted. When the transmission amount of the X-rays 8 is small within the selection range 35, the inner plug portion X-ray fluoroscopic image is displayed as an image as shown in FIG. 3, and the cap inner plug 16 is inserted into the opening hole 25 of the cap receiving port 12a. It is determined that they are fitted. On the contrary,
When the transmission amount of the X-rays 8 is large, the inner plug portion X-ray fluoroscopic image is displayed as shown in FIG. 4, and it is determined that the cap inner plug 16 is not fitted into the opening hole 25.

In this case, the selection range 35 is movable in both the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the selection range 35 can be set at an arbitrary position. Further, the selection range 35 is a value obtained by adding the inherent static accuracy and the inherent operational accuracy of the conveyor line.
Within this accuracy range, the presence or absence of the cap plug 16 can be detected.

Thus, when the inspection controller 5 determines that the cap 16 is inside the cap, the output signal PS is not output from the plug attachment determination section 6b of the inspection controller 5. On the other hand, when the inspection controller 5 determines that there is no cap inside the cap 16, the inspection controller 5 outputs an output signal PS indicating that the inside cap 16 is not present (a form of mounting failure) to the removal controller 9. .

The output signal PS of the inspection controller 5
Is output even when the cap stopper 16 is not present, and the controller 9 for exclusion determines the content of the output signal.
Drive signal C only when receiving output signal PS without inner plug
A configuration for outputting S is also possible. Further, when the cap plug 16 is present, it is also possible to determine whether the mounting state of the cap plug 16 is good or not, and to output a signal even when the mounting state of the cap plug 16 is abnormal.

When the inspection controller 5 determines that the cap 16 is not present, the exclusion controller 9 outputs a drive signal CS to output the defective product removal device 10.
Is operated. The defective product removal device 10 can be configured, for example, as follows. The defective product take-out device 10 has a spool having an appropriate length and an electromagnet loosely fitted to the spool, and is configured such that when the electromagnet is energized, the spool protrudes. The side of the product is pushed by the protrusion of the spool, and the beverage in the container with the inner plug determined to have no cap inner plug 16 is discharged from the conveyor line as a defective product.

A power source (not shown) is connected to the X-ray generator 2, the position detector 3, the X-ray measuring device 4, the inspection controller 5, the monitor 7, the exclusion controller 9, and the defective product removal device 10, respectively. , Necessary power is supplied.

The inspection for the presence or absence of the cap inner plug 16 by the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus 1 having such a configuration can be performed, for example, as follows. The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 employs a cap inner plug 16 having a cylindrical bottomed cylindrical body as an inner plug, and a cap receiving port 12a of a container body 12 filled with a beverage. The purpose of the present invention is to examine the presence or absence of an inner plug of a beverage in a container with an inner plug in which an opening hole 25 opened at the upper end surface is sealed with an inner plug 16 of a cap.

Here, the state in which the cap 16 is present refers to the state in which the cap 16 is correctly fitted into the opening 25 of the cap receiving port 12a of the container body 12, as shown in FIG. In a state where the cap plug 16 is provided, the cap 13 is screwed into the cap receiving port 12a to a predetermined depth and is properly mounted. The threaded portion 17e of the cap body 17 is screwed into the threaded portion 12c of the cap receiving port 12a, and the pressing ridge 21b connects the flange 16b of the cap plug 16 to the cap receiving port 12a.
It is in a state where it is pressed against the end face a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the state in which there is no plug 16 in the cap means that the opening 16 in the cap receiving port 12a is
No. 5 indicates a state where only the cap 13 is attached to the cap receiving port 12a.

First, the case of the container 11 with an inner cap to which the inner cap 16 is normally attached will be described.
When the container 11 is placed on the conveyor 30 and conveyed, and when the position detector 3 detects that it has reached the detection position, the inspection controller 5 uses the X-ray based on the position signal LS output from the position detector 3. The generation signal MS is output to the generator 2. As a result, the X-ray generator 2
A line 8 is generated and irradiated. The X-rays 8 transmitted through the inner plug of the container 11 are input to the X-ray measuring device 4 and the detection signals K
S is sent to the inspection controller 5.

Next, the image creating section 6a of the inspection controller 5 sends out to the monitor 7 a video signal VS corresponding to the amount of X-ray UV transmitted through the inner plug of the container 11. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, an image is displayed on the monitor 7 in which a shadow corresponding to the X-rays 8 appears clearly. At the same time, the plug mounting determination unit 6b of the inspection controller 5 determines the selection range 35 and the cap plug 1 that appear on the screen of the monitor 7.
The presence or absence of the cap plug 16 is determined in consideration of the position situation of No. 6.

As a result, in the case of FIG. 3, it is detected that the cap plug 16 is within the selection range 35. As a result, from the inspection controller 5 to the exclusion controller 9
Is not output (or a signal indicating that the measured value is within a predetermined range is output).
Therefore, the drive signal CS is not output from the exclusion controller 9.

Incidentally, in the case of the cap plug 16 used for a PET bottle having a capacity of 500 ml, the length of the cylindrical portion 16a is 6.0 mm, and the thickness of the collar portion 16b is about 0.7 mm. The dimensions of the cap inner plug 16 include static accuracy (accuracy due to variations in bottle wall thickness, for example, about ± 1.0 mm of a reference value) and operating accuracy (intermediate plug due to vibration of the conveyor). In this case, the sorting range 35 is determined in consideration of the accuracy caused by the vibration and the like, and different values for each conveyor line.

Next, the case of the container 11 without the plug 16 in the cap (in a state of being dropped) will be described. This container 11
Is placed on the conveyor 30 and conveyed, and passes in front of the X-ray measuring device 4, the X-ray measuring device 4
A fluoroscopic image is detected, and a detection signal K corresponding to the fluoroscopic image is detected.
S is sent to the inspection controller 5. As a result, the image creating unit 6a of the inspection controller 5 similarly outputs the video signal VS corresponding to the video in which the shadow of the inner plug portion clearly appears.
Send it to the monitor 7. Thereby, as shown in FIG.
The monitor 7 displays an image in which the shadow of the inner plug portion clearly appears.

At the same time, the plug inside the cap 16 is moved to the selection range 35 by the plug attachment determination section 6b of the inspection controller 5.
Is not detected. As a result, the output signal P is sent from the inspection controller 5 to the exclusion controller 9.
S is output, and a drive signal CS is output from the exclusion controller 9 based on the output signal PS.

When the output signal PS is output from the inspection controller 5 to the exclusion controller 9 as described above, the drive signal CS is output from the exclusion controller 9 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the defective product removal device 10 is operated, and the container 1 determined to have no cap plug 16 is removed.
1 is discharged out of the conveyor 30. As a result, only defective products are removed from the transport path during the transport of the conveyor 30, and only non-defective products are subsequently transported by the conveyor 30 and sent to the next product packaging process.

In addition, the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can be used in parallel with the above-described detection of the presence or absence of the inner plug 16 or as a unique detection target, such as poor sealing by the inner plug 16 or the inner plug. It is also possible to detect an attached state such as breakage of 16. The detection of such an attachment state is performed by checking whether or not the contents leak out of the cap plug 16. That is, cap plug 1
When a liquid or the like as a content is interposed in the space between the cap 6 and the cap, leakage may occur due to incomplete sealing by the cap plug 16 or the cap plug 16 being damaged. In this case, it is possible to determine the sealing failure or breakage of the cap plug 16.

In this case, the conveyor 30 for transporting the container 11 is set at an angle so that the contents (for example, a liquid such as a beverage) can sufficiently come into contact with the stopper 16 inside the cap. Alternatively, the container 11 can be transported sideways. When the container 11 is transported with the container 11 tilted sideways or inclined as described above, if the liquid is leaking due to the incomplete sealing by the cap stopper 16, or the liquid in which the cap stopper 16 is damaged may leak. If so, the liquid leaks out of the cap plug 16 and enters the space between the cap 13.

In such a state, when the X-ray generator 2 irradiates the inner plug portion of the container 11 with X-rays 8, the presence of the liquid is detected by the X-ray measuring device 4. Therefore, by removing the container 11 in which the liquid leakage has been detected from the production line, it is possible to prevent a beverage (article) in a container with an inner stopper that is not suitable as a product from being sent to the next product packaging step. In this case, when the container 11 is tilted or tilted sideways, the contents such as liquid are accelerated and a centrifugal force is applied to the inner cap 16 so that a leakage phenomenon of liquid or the like is remarkably exhibited. , The detection accuracy can be improved.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of the inner plug in which a sheet-shaped seal inner plug 41 is applied as the inner plug. The sealing plug 41 is formed of a substantially circular sheet member large enough to cover the opening hole 45, and one surface of the sheet member is coated with an adhesive,
The sealing inner plug 41 is releasably attached to the upper end surface of the cap receiving port 44 by the adhesive force of the adhesive. As the material of the sealing plug 41, for example, paper, plastics, aluminum foil, a material in which the surface thereof is coated with a synthetic resin, and other various sheet members can be used. The surface of a base material formed of paper or the like is coated with an adhesive synthetic resin (such as a heat-sealing seal), and the heat-sealing seal or the like is heat-sealed and attached to the cap receiving port 44. Can also.

The cap receiving port 44 of the container body 42 shown in this embodiment has a cylindrical portion 44a and an upper surface portion 44b provided so as to close one end of the cylindrical portion 44a, and substantially at the center of the upper surface portion 44b. Appropriate shapes (star, eyebrows, round,
An opening hole 45 made of a square or the like hole is provided.
A screw part 44c and a flange part 44d are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body part 44a of the cap receiving port 44. The cap 43 attached to the cap receiving port 44
Consists of a cylindrical body portion 43a and a top surface portion 43b closing one end of the body portion 43a. On the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 43a, a screw portion 43c screwed into a screw portion 44c of the cap receiving port 44 is provided. Is provided. And cap 43
On the inner surface of the top surface portion 43b, there is provided a pressing ridge 43d for pressing the outer peripheral edge of the inner plug 41 for sealing.

In the case of the sealing plug 41, the sealing plug 4
The width of the selection range 46 is set to be narrow corresponding to the thickness of 1. According to the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus of the present invention, even if the inner plug 41 has such a structure, the presence or absence of the inner plug 41 can be reliably detected based on the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the inner plug portion. . Further, when there is a liquid leak, the container 43 is inclined obliquely or sideways, and the X-ray 8 is transmitted through the inner plug portion to convey the cap 43 and the seal inner plug 41 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. By performing the measurement, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of the stopper 41 in the seal, liquid leakage, and the like.

Also, the inner plug mounting inspection device 50 shown in FIG.
Is designed to inspect not only whether or not there is an inner plug, but also whether or not the mounting posture of the inner plug is normal (normal state and abnormal state). Here, the normal state in which the inner plug is normally attached in the correct posture means that the cap inner plug 16 is completely fitted into the opening hole 25 and the inside of the container body 12 is sealed as shown in FIG. State. At this time, the cap 13 is completely screwed down to a predetermined depth and mounted properly, and the pressing ridge 21b is pressed by the flange 16b of the cap plug 16 over the entire circumference to complete the sealing. It has been made like that.

On the other hand, an abnormal state in which the cap plug 16 is not properly attached means, for example, as shown in FIG. It refers to a state in which a part protrudes from the opening hole 25. At this time, the cap 13 is not screwed to a predetermined depth, and the collar portion 16b of the cap plug 16 is not screwed.
Are partially in contact with the pressing ridge 21b and the peripheral edge of the opening hole 25, respectively.

The inside plug installation inspection device 50 according to this embodiment
Provided two X-ray measuring instruments to measure X-rays transmitted through the inner plug portion of the container 11 from different angles, and obtained 2
The quality of the mounting posture of the cap plug 16 is determined from the two X-ray fluoroscopic images. Therefore, the inner plug attachment inspection device 5
0 indicates one X-ray generator 2 and position detector 3, two X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b, two inspection controllers 5a and 5b, and two Monitors 7a, 7
b, one elimination controller 9 and defective product removal device 1
0. And two X-ray measuring instruments 4
a, 4b, inspection controllers 5a, 5b and monitor 7
For a and 7b, the same or equivalent ones as those in the above-described embodiment are used.

The two X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b are arranged side by side on one side of the conveyor 30 so as to face the X-ray generator 2 with the conveyor 30 interposed therebetween. For example, 90 °, 60 °, 120 °, etc.) can be simultaneously detected from rotationally displaced positions.
Inspection controllers 5a and 5b are individually electrically connected to these X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b, respectively. Furthermore, a first monitor 7a is electrically connected to the first inspection controller 5a, and a second inspection controller 5b
Is electrically connected to the second monitor 7b. The inspection controllers 5a and 5b are electrically connected to the exclusion controller 9.

According to the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus 50 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, when the cap inner plug 16 is mounted in an abnormal state, an X-ray fluoroscopic image of that state is provided. Is detected by the two X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b. That is, the first X-ray measuring device 4a detects the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the inner plug portion of the container 11 from a reference direction, and detects the second X-ray image.
The X-ray measuring device 4b detects an X-ray fluoroscopic image viewed from a direction rotated by a predetermined angle from the reference X-ray fluoroscopic image. And
Detection signal KS corresponding to each detected X-ray fluoroscopic image
Is sent from the first and second X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b to the first and second inspection controllers 5a and 5b, respectively.

As a result, each of the inspection controllers 5a, 5
b transmits the video signal VS corresponding to the video in which the perspective image of the inner plug portion of the container 11 clearly appears, to the first and second monitors 7a and 7b.
b. Thereby, each monitor 7a, 7b has
The X-ray fluoroscopic images respectively detected by the first and second X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b are displayed on the screen.

At this time, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the image displayed on the monitor 7a is an image in which the tilted state of the cap plug 16 is viewed from the side, and the image displayed on the second monitor 7b is the image in which the tilted state of the cap plug 16 is viewed from the front. If the second monitor 7b alone is used, it is difficult to clearly judge the poor fit of the cap plug 16 but from the image of the first monitor 7a, the cap plug 16 is attached at an angle. You can know the state that is. Thus, by viewing the inner plug portion of the container 11 from two directions, not only the presence or absence of the cap inner plug 16 but also
Defective fitting of the cap plug 16 can be detected, and the quality of the mounting state such as the fitting state of the cap plug 16 can be clearly determined.

As a result, at least the first inspection controller 5a outputs the output signal PS, and the output signal P
When S is input to the exclusion controller 9, the exclusion controller 9 outputs a drive signal CS. as a result,
The defective product take-out device 10 is operated to discharge the container 11 determined to have the cap inner plug 16 to be improperly attached to the outside of the conveyor 30. As a result, only defective products are eliminated from the transport path during the transport of the conveyor 30, and only non-defective products are transported by the conveyor 30 thereafter and sent to the next packaging step.

In the case of the container 11 in which the cap plug 16 is normally attached (for example, in the state shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5), the two X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b are properly mounted. , The same X-ray fluoroscopic image of the cap inner plug 16 is detected, and its detection signal KS is equally displayed on the two monitors 7a and 7b via the inspection controllers 5a and 5b. At the same time, since the output signal PS is not output from any of the inspection controllers 5a and 5b, the exclusion controller 9 does not output the drive signal CS, and the defective product take-out device 10 does not operate.

Further, of the two X-ray measuring devices 4a and 4b, one X-ray measuring device is used for detecting the presence or absence of the inner plug, and the other one is used for liquid or the like. May be configured to detect the leakage of the contents.
In this case, in one inspection step, the presence or absence of the inner plug and the presence or absence of leakage of the contents can be detected substantially simultaneously.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the container 11 (the container body 12, the cap 13, the cap cover 14, the cap plug 16).
Although the description has been given of an example in which a plastic container is used as the material of the present invention, the present invention can also be applied to other containers made of glass, ceramics, metal, and the like. Can be applied. Further, in the above embodiment, the screw type cap using the screw as the fastening means of the cap 13 has been described, but various fastening methods such as a crown type and a cork type can be applied. Thus, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0091]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the inner plug mounting inspection method according to the above, since the X-ray penetrating through the cap receptacle of the container body is measured to detect the mounting state of the inner plug that seals the opening hole, the inner plug is affected by vibration of the conveyor and the like. It is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of the inner plug and the quality of the attached state (the posture of the inner plug, the presence of breakage, the presence or absence of liquid leakage, etc.).

According to the inner plug mounting inspection method according to the second aspect of the present invention, the inner plug for closing the opening of the cap receiving port is covered with the inner plug or the opening which is fitted and closed. In this way, an effect can be obtained in which a sealing inner plug for sealing can be applied.

According to the inner plug mounting inspection method according to the third aspect of the present invention, the state of X-ray irradiation is displayed on the monitor on a screen. The effect of being able to visually know the mounting state and the like can be obtained.

According to the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the X-ray emitted from the X-ray generator and transmitted through the cap receptacle of the container body is measured by the X-ray measuring instrument, and the measurement result is obtained. The inside plug installation inspection device that can accurately detect the presence or absence of the inside plug and the quality of the installation state without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor, etc. Can be obtained.

According to the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cap inner plug fitted in the opening of the cap receiving opening or the sealing inner plug closed to cover the opening is closed. It is possible to obtain an effect that an inner plug attachment inspection device that can be applied as an inner plug that seals a hole is obtained.

According to the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the mounting state of the inner plug by X-ray irradiation is displayed on the monitor connected to the inner plug mounting determining means, an image is displayed. In this case, it is possible to obtain an effect that an inner plug installation inspection device which can visually recognize the inner plug installation state and the like by observing the inner plug installation state from the screen of FIG.

According to the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the inner plug is measured from different angles by two X-ray measuring instruments, the quality of the mounted state of the inner plug can be accurately determined. An effect that an inner plug attachment inspection device that can be detected can be obtained.

[0098] According to the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, further, an exclusion controller for outputting a drive signal based on the judgment result of the attachment judging means, and a rejection controller which operates based on the drive signal to remove defective products. Since it is configured to provide a defective product removal device to be eliminated, when it is determined that there is no cap or a cap installation failure, the removal product controller operates the defective product removal device to remove only the container body determined to be defective. An effect that an inner plug attachment inspection device that can be taken out can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of an inner plug attachment inspection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the inside plug attachment inspection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a first detection example using the inner plug mounting inspection device of the present invention, and is an explanatory view of a normal mounting state of the inner plug of the cap.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a first detection example using the inside plug attachment inspection apparatus of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram of an abnormal attachment state of the inside plug of the cap.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a second detection example using the inside plug installation inspection device of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram of a normal installation state of the inside plug of the seal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the inside plug installation inspection device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a detection example using the inside plug attachment inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram of an abnormal attachment state of the inside plug of the cap.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,50 Inside plug installation inspection device, 2 X-ray generator, 3
Position detector, 4, 4a, 4b X-ray measuring device, 5,
5a, 5b Inspection controller (inner plug attachment determination means), 7, 7a, 7b monitor, 8 X-ray, 9
Rejection controller, 10 Defective product removal device, 11
Container, 12, 42 Container main body, 12a, 44 Cap receptacle, 13, 43 Cap, 16 Internal cap (internal plug), 17 Cap main body, 25, 45
Opening holes, 30 conveyors (transportation means), 35, 4
6 Sorting range, 41 Seal plug, VS video signal, PS output signal, CS drive signal, KS detection signal, LS position signal, MS generation signal

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 17, 1999 (1999.8.1)
7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

The present invention relates to, in order to seal the opening hole provided in the cap receptacle of the container body in a plastic container drinks and foods are filled, Plasti
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inner plug installation inspection method and an inner plug installation inspection device for inspecting whether or not an inner plug used separately from a cap made of a rack is attached and whether or not the attached state is good.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0002

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, juice, green tea, black tea,
Plastic filled with beverages such as coffee and seasonings and other items such as sauces, mayonnaise and tomato ketchup
The container made of a container closes a container body for storing these articles and an opening provided in a cap receiving port of the container body.
And a plastic cap. In such a plastic container, there is provided a container with an inner stopper using an inner stopper in order to more reliably prevent leakage of beverages and the like stored in the container body.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0003

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0003] In this way plug with plastic containers and beverage and medium stoppered plastic containers seasoning, such as in situations,
In the production plant, a large amount is produced by a flow operation system using various automatic machines such as a washing device and a filling device and a conveyor. For example, the production process of the inner plug with plastic containers <br/> instrument beverages are as summarized below.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007] In the production of such a beverage in a plastic container with an inner stopper, in the above-mentioned cap fastening step,
For example, in the case of an inner cap integrated type cap, a bottled beverage without an inner cap is manufactured while the opening hole of the container body is opened by dropping of the inner cap, and in the case of the inner cap detachable cap, In some cases, a beverage in a container with an inner stopper having problems such as breakage and poor adhesion at a seal portion may be manufactured. Since the beverage in a container having such a defect does not have a predetermined value as a product, it should be treated as a defective product. Further, for example, if the inner plug is not properly fitted due to insufficient pressure at the time of driving the inner plug or a poorly fastened cap, etc., the inside of the container body is insufficiently sealed and the contents such as beverages are unsanitary. Could be

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and has been made of a plastic having an inner plug attached thereto.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem by irradiating X-rays to a cap receiving port of a container made of glass and detecting the presence or absence of an inner plug and its attached state from the state of X-rays transmitted through the portion.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0016] solve the problems such as described above, in order to achieve the above object, the inside plug mounting inspection method according to claim 1 of the present invention, irradiation with X-rays in the cap receptacle of the container body of plastic containers Then, X-rays passing through the cap receptacle and the plastic cap attached to the cap receptacle are measured, and based on the dose of the X-rays, the X-ray is disposed inside the cap and seals the opening of the cap receptacle. It is characterized in that the state of attachment of the stopper is detected.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inner plug attachment inspection apparatus, which comprises: an X-ray generator for irradiating a cap receptacle of a container body of a plastic container with X-rays; And attached to the cap receptacle
An X-ray measuring device for measuring X-rays passing through a plastic cap and an inner plug attached to the opening of the cap receiving opening, and the opening was closed so as to close the opening based on the measurement results of the X-ray measuring device. And an inner plug attachment determining means for determining an attached state of the inner plug.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0024] With the above construction, in the inner plug mounting inspection method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the plastic plug is inspected.
By measuring the X-rays that pass through the cap receptacle of the container body of the container and detecting the state of attachment of the inner plug that seals the opening hole, the presence or absence of the inner plug and its attachment without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor, etc. The quality of the state can be accurately detected.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the X-ray emitted from the X-ray generator and transmitted through the cap receptacle of the container body of the plastic container is measured by the X-ray measuring device. It is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of the inner plug and the quality of the attached state without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor, by measuring and determining the mounting state of the inner plug by the inner plug mounting determining means based on the measurement result. A device can be obtained.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0035

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

First, a description will be given of a container 11 for a beverage in a plastic container with an inner plug, which is an object to be inspected by the inner plug installation inspection device 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the container 11 includes a container body 12, a cap 13, a cap cover 14, and a cap plug 16 which is a specific example of a plug. The container body 12 includes a cap 13
Has a thin cylindrical cap receiving port 12a to which it is detachably attached, and a cylindrical body 12b continuous with the lower end of the cap receiving port 12a.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0047

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The plastic container 11 having such a configuration is placed on the conveyor 30 which is a specific example of the transporting means, and is transported to the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus 1. As the conveyor 30, a slat conveyor, an apron conveyor, a belt conveyor or the like having a flat mounting portion for mounting the container 11 can be used. In the course of being conveyed by the conveyor 30, the opening 2 provided in the cap receiving port 12 a of the container body 12 by the inner plug attachment inspection device 1.
The presence / absence of the cap inner plug 16 fitted to 5 and the quality of the attached state are detected.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0064

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The inspection for the presence or absence of the cap inner plug 16 by the inner plug attachment inspection apparatus 1 having such a configuration can be performed, for example, as follows. The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 employs a cap inner plug 16 having a cylindrical bottomed cylindrical portion as an inner plug, and a plus filled beverage.
The purpose of the present invention is to examine the presence or absence of an inner plug of a beverage in a plastic container with an inner plug in which an opening hole 25 opened in the upper end surface of the cap receiving port 12a of the tick container main body 12 is sealed with the inner plug 16 of the cap. .

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0067

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

First, a description will be given of the case of the plastic container 11 with an inner cap to which the inner cap 16 is normally attached. When the plastic container 11 is placed and conveyed on the conveyor 30 and the position detector 3 detects that it has reached the detection position, the inspection controller 5 based on the position signal LS output from the position detector 3. Is X
The generation signal MS is output to the line generator 2. This gives X
The X-ray generator 2 generates and irradiates X-rays 8 toward the container 11. The X-rays 8 transmitted through the inner plug portion of the container 11 are input to the X-ray measuring device 4 and the detection signal KS is sent to the inspection controller 5.

[Procedure amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, the image creating section 6 a of the inspection controller 5 sends the monitor 7 a video signal VS corresponding to the amount of X-rays 8 transmitted through the inner plug of the container 11. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, an image is displayed on the monitor 7 in which a shadow corresponding to the X-rays 8 appears clearly. At the same time, the plug mounting determination unit 6b of the inspection controller 5 determines the selection range 35 and the cap plug 1 that appear on the screen of the monitor 7.
The presence or absence of the cap plug 16 is determined in consideration of the position situation of No. 6.

[Procedure amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0075

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In this case, the conveyor 30 for transporting the container 11 is set at an angle so that the contents (for example, a liquid such as a beverage) can sufficiently come into contact with the stopper 16 inside the cap. Alternatively, the container 11 can be transported sideways. When the container 11 is transported with the container 11 tilted sideways or inclined as described above, the liquid is leaking due to the incomplete sealing by the cap plug 16 or the liquid leaking due to the breakage of the cap plug 16. In this case, the liquid leaks out of the cap plug 16 and enters the space between the cap 13.

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0090

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the container 11 (the container body 12, the cap 13, the cap cover 14, the cap plug 16).
Materials have been described the example of applying the plastic containers as the cylindrical also its shape, is applicable to rectangular tube shape and other various shapes. Further, in the above embodiment, the screw type cap using the screw as the fastening means of the cap 13 has been described, but various fastening methods such as a crown type and a cork type can be applied. in this way,
The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Procedure amendment 18]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0091

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0091]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the inner plug mounting inspection method according to the above, since the X-ray penetrating the cap receptacle of the plastic container body is measured to detect the mounting state of the inner plug that seals the opening hole,
The effect of being able to accurately detect the presence or absence of the inner plug and the quality of the attached state (the position of the inner plug, the presence or absence of breakage or liquid leakage, etc.) without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor can be obtained.

[Procedure amendment 19]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0094] According to inside plug mounting inspection apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, X-ray measuring device X-rays are emitted from the X-ray generator to transmit cap receptacle plastic containers <br/> body In order to determine the mounting state of the inner plug with the inner plug mounting determination means based on the measurement result, accurately determine the presence or absence of the inner plug and the quality of the mounting state without being affected by the vibration of the conveyor, etc. The effect of obtaining an inner plug attachment inspection device that can be detected can be obtained.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Fukasawa 1 Aharacho, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Shimizu Agriculture Cooperative (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Saito 1 Aramachi Town, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Shimizu City Agriculture Cooperative F term (for reference) 3E080 AA07 BB02 CE01 EE04 EE05

Claims (8)

[Claims] An X-ray is radiated to a cap receptacle of a container body, X-rays passing through the cap receptacle and a cap attached to the cap receptacle are measured, and the inside of the cap is measured based on the dose of the X-ray. And detecting the state of attachment of the inner plug that is disposed in the container and seals the opening of the cap receptacle. 2. The inner plug mounting inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the inner plug has a bottomed cylindrical body removably fitted in an opening of the cap receiving opening or the opening. An inner plug attachment inspection method, characterized in that the inner plug is a sheet-shaped seal inner plug that is releasably attached so as to cover the hole. 3. The inner plug mounting inspection method according to claim 1, further comprising: a monitor for displaying an image of the cap receptacle and the vicinity thereof, wherein the monitor displays an image of the inner plug by X-ray irradiation and the mounted state. A method for inspecting the attachment of an inner plug, characterized by detecting 4. An X-ray generator for irradiating a cap receptacle of a container body with X-rays, a cap arranged to face the X-ray generator and attached to the cap receptacle, and an opening hole of the cap receptacle. An X-ray measuring device for measuring X-rays transmitted through the inner plug mounted on the inner plug; and determining an attachment state of the inner plug mounted so as to seal the opening hole based on a measurement result of the X-ray measuring device. A plug mounting inspection device, comprising: plug mounting determining means. 5. The inner plug mounting inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the inner plug has a bottomed cylindrical body removably fitted into an opening of the cap receiving port or the opening. An inner plug attachment inspection device, which is a sheet-shaped seal inner plug that is releasably attached so as to cover a hole. 6. The inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a monitor for displaying an image of the cap receiving port and its vicinity is connected to the inner plug mounting determining means, and X is connected to the monitor.
An inner plug installation inspection device, wherein the inner plug installation state is displayed as an image by irradiating a line. 7. The inner plug mounting inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the X-ray measuring device comprises two X-ray measuring devices for measuring X-rays transmitted through the inner plug from different angles. An inner plug installation inspection device, wherein the posture of the inner plug is detected based on the measurement results of the X-ray measuring instruments. 8. The inner plug mounting inspection device according to claim 4, further comprising, in addition to the above configuration, when the inner plug is not present or the mounting position of the inner plug is appropriate based on the determination result of the inner plug mounting determining means. A rejection controller that outputs a drive signal when it is not, and the container main body that is operated based on the drive signal from the rejection controller and is determined to have no inner plug or the mounting state of the inner plug is defective is a defective product. An inner plug installation inspection device, comprising: