JP2018205282A - Inspection device, inspection method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A bite inspection device, an inspection method, and a bite inspection program capable of determining the presence or absence of biting in a package in which thick contents and extremely thin contents are enclosed together like instant cup noodles I will provide a.
An inspection method of the present invention is an inspection for inspecting whether a content is bitten by a sealing portion of a packaging material in an inspection object having the content and a packaging material for packaging the content. A method for obtaining an inspection image including an X-ray transmission image of an inspection object; a step for estimating at least a part of an outer edge of the content based on the inspection image; and a step for specifying a prohibited region in the inspection image. And determining whether or not the estimated outer edge of the content is present in the prohibited area, and determining that the content is being bitten if it exists.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging body inspection apparatus, inspection method, and program for inspecting the internal state of a packaging body using an electromagnetic wave sensor that detects electromagnetic waves such as X-rays and an optical sensor that detects near infrared rays.

  The X-ray generation unit and the X-ray detection unit are opposed to each other, and the inspection object is sequentially conveyed by a conveying device such as a conveyor so as to pass between the X-ray generation unit and the X-ray detection unit. An X-ray inspection apparatus that constructs an X-ray image of an object to be inspected using X-ray transmission data obtained when passing between them and inspects the object non-destructively using the X-ray image is known. ing. Such an X-ray inspection apparatus is also used as a biting inspection apparatus for inspecting whether a content is bitten in a sealed region in an X-ray image of a packaged article.

  Patent Document 1 describes an invention related to a sorting apparatus using an X-ray inspection apparatus. This device detects whether or not there is a biting of the contents in the horizontal seal part by passing the bag-packed product packaged by the vertical pillow packaging machine through the X-ray inspection device. It determines with it being inferior goods, and the bagging goods determined to be inferior goods are excluded from a line.

  Patent Document 2 describes an invention related to a transmitted light inspection apparatus. In this transmitted light inspection apparatus, a packaged product is sent to an X-ray inspection apparatus, and X-rays irradiated on the product are detected by a line sensor. In the image processing apparatus, an X-ray image is generated based on an X-ray transmission signal detected by a line sensor. The outline of the bag of the product is extracted from the X-ray image, and the horizontal seal regions formed at both ends of the bag are specified from the preset dimension information of the horizontal seal.

  Furthermore, the presence or absence of biting in the lateral seal region is detected. When biting is detected in the horizontal seal region, it is determined whether the horizontal seal region biting the debris of the contents is connected to the preceding bag or connected to the subsequent bag. By this determination, the packaged product is excluded by the sorting device.

JP2015-58382A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-64336

  However, in the inspection apparatuses described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, there is a package that is difficult to determine bite. For example, so-called “instant cup noodles” in which instant noodles such as dry noodles and raw type noodles are enclosed in a container that can be used as tableware correspond to this. In the instant cup noodles, the noodles, which are the main contents, are encapsulated with oysters (ingredients), soup ingredients, spices and the like. In many cases, soup, soup ingredients, spices, etc. are placed on the instant noodles in the container in a state of being enclosed in a sachet. This sachet is formed in a bag shape by sealing and sealing the periphery of two (or one folded) plastic film, etc. The thickness of the periphery is extremely thin (for example, 100 micrometers or less) etc). In contrast, instant noodles, which are the main contents, usually have a thickness of at least several centimeters. For this reason, when an X-ray image of instant cup noodles is obtained by the inspection device, it is difficult to identify the presence of the sachet located on the instant noodles. Also, the part that protrudes from the top of the instant noodle (for example, the part that is located between the noodle and the edge of the container, the part that the sachet is bitten by the seal part that contacts the container and the top lid, The container and the top lid are bonded to each other because the contrast in the image is weak, and only a small part of the pouch protrudes from the instant noodles. It was very difficult to correctly determine whether or not a small bag was bitten in the part.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bite inspection device and a bite inspection program capable of determining the presence or absence of biting in a package in which thick contents and extremely thin contents are enclosed together like instant cup noodles. Is to provide.

  The inspection method of the present invention is an inspection method for inspecting the presence or absence of biting of the content by the sealing portion of the packaging material in the inspection object having the content and the packaging material for packaging the content, Estimating a step of obtaining an inspection image including an X-ray transmission image of the inspection object, a step of estimating at least a part of the outer edge of the content based on the inspection image, and a step of identifying a prohibited area in the inspection image Determining whether or not the outer edge of the content exists in the prohibited area, and determining that the content is being bitten if it exists.

  In the present invention, the contents may include a main content and a sub-content which is thinner than the main content and is packaged in a packaging material together with the main content in a state of being superimposed on the main content. In this case, in the estimating step, at least a part of the outer edge of the subordinate contents may be estimated based on a portion outside the outer edge of the main contents in the inspection image. If it does in this way, the biting of the subordinate contents with thin thickness can be judged effectively.

  In this case, in the estimating step, at least two line segments corresponding to a part of the outer edge of the subordinate contents are extracted from a portion outside the outer edge of the main contents in the inspection image, and in the determining step, two lines are extracted. It is particularly good to determine whether or not the vertex of the angle formed by the line segment exists in the prohibited area. In this way, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine the biting of the subordinate contents of a polygon (for example, a rectangle).

  In the present invention, in the step of specifying the prohibited area, the prohibited area may be specified based on the outer shape of the packaging material. In this case, in the step of specifying the prohibited area, the prohibited area may be specified based on the outer shape of the packaging material shown in the X-ray image.

  Alternatively, the method may further include a step of acquiring an optical image of the inspection object, and in the step of specifying the prohibited region, the prohibited region in the inspection image may be specified based on the outer shape of the packaging material that appears in the optical image.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute any one of the above inspection methods.

  The inspection apparatus of the present invention is an inspection apparatus that inspects whether or not the contents are bitten by the sealing portion of the packaging material in the inspection object having the contents and the packaging material that wraps the contents. An inspection image acquisition unit for acquiring an inspection image including an X-ray transmission image of an object, and at least a part of an outer edge of the content based on the inspection image, and whether or not the estimated outer edge of the content exists in the prohibited area And a determination unit that determines that the contents are bitten when present.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the inspection apparatus which test | inspects a package. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of an inspection apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an inspection apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows typically the package body to be examined. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a biting determination process. An example of inspection image data is shown. An example of emphasis image data is shown. The example of the line segment extracted with the partial enlarged view of an example of emphasis image data is shown. It is a figure for demonstrating the brightness and darkness of the area | region divided by two line segments. FIG. 10A shows the seal portion together with the inspection image data. FIG. 10B shows the prohibited area together with the inspection image data. The corner vertices and prohibited areas formed by two line segments are shown superimposed on the inspection image data.

  Hereinafter, an inspection device for inspecting a package according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the members once described is omitted as appropriate.

<Structure of inspection device>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the inspection apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the inspection apparatus 1. The inspection apparatus 1 includes a package body movement area 2, an upper storage section 3 installed thereon, and a lower storage section 4 disposed below the package body movement area 2.

  The package moving area 2 is formed inside the intermediate housing 2a. The intermediate housing 2a has a carry-in port 4a opened on one side, and a carry-out port 4b opened on the other side facing the intermediate case 2a. An X-ray shielding sheet 5 is provided at each of the carry-in entrance 4a and the carry-out exit 4b in order to prevent X-rays from leaking from the inside of the intermediate housing 2a. Therefore, the packaging body movement area | region 2 inside the intermediate | middle part housing | casing 2a is an X-ray shielding area where the diffusion of X-rays was shielded.

  A transport mechanism 6 is provided in the packaging body movement region 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 6 is separated into an upstream transport mechanism 6a and a downstream transport mechanism 6b, and moves between the upstream transport mechanism 6a and the downstream transport mechanism 6b. A gap 6c that is spaced in the direction is formed.

  The upstream transport mechanism 6a includes an upstream roller 7a and a downstream roller 7b, and a transport belt 8a is wound between the rollers 7a and 7b. One of the upstream roller 7a and the downstream roller 7b is a driving roller and the other is a driven roller. The downstream transport mechanism 6b includes an upstream roller 7c and a downstream roller 7d, and a transport belt 8b is wound between the rollers 7c and 7d. One of the upstream roller 7c and the downstream roller 7d is a driving roller, and the other is a driven roller.

  The upstream conveying belt 8a is a belt capable of transmitting light. For example, it is a belt formed of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin, or a rubber belt in which a large number of holes are regularly formed. In addition, when the light emitting part 18a and the light receiving part 18b of the position sensor 18 to be described later are placed on both sides of the conveying belt 8a and the optical path is oriented in the width direction of the conveying belt 8a, the conveying belt 8a does not transmit light. It may be a thing. The downstream conveyor belt 8b may be capable of transmitting light or may not transmit light.

  The upstream conveyor belt 8a and the downstream conveyor belt 8b circulate at the same speed. The packaging body W placed at the upstream end of the upstream conveying belt 8a is carried into the packaging body moving area 2 from the carry-in port 4a by the circulation of the upstream conveying belt 8a, and at a constant speed, It is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIGS. Further, it passes through the gap 6c and is delivered to the downstream conveyor belt 8b, and is unloaded from the carry-out port 4b by the circumference of the conveyor belt 8b.

  In the inspection apparatus 1, the transport direction in which the package W is moved by the transport mechanism 6 is the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the Y direction in a plane parallel to the top surfaces of the transport belts 8a and 8b (that is, the width of the transport belts 8a and 8b). Direction) in the X direction. In addition, a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction (that is, a direction perpendicular to the upper surfaces of the conveyor belts 8a and 8b) is defined as a Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper storage part 3 has an upper housing 3a. The X-ray generator 10 is accommodated in the upper housing 3a. The X-ray generation unit 10 houses an X-ray source (X-ray irradiation source) 12 inside the sealed container 11. In addition, the X-ray generation unit 10 includes a slit 14 that narrows down X-rays emitted from the X-ray source 12. X-rays emitted from the X-ray source 12 are narrowed down to a predetermined range by the slit 14 and are irradiated toward the package W.

  The lower storage portion 4 has a lower housing 4c. The X-ray sensor 13 is disposed inside the lower housing 4c. The X-ray sensor 13 is a line sensor and includes a plurality of X-ray detection elements arranged linearly in the X direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper storage unit 3 is provided with an optical sensor 15. The optical sensor 15 is a line sensor, and includes a plurality of light detection elements arranged linearly in the X direction. The optical sensor 15 may include only one row of light detection lines extending in the X direction, or may include a plurality of rows.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination unit 16 is disposed in the lower storage unit 4. The illumination unit 16 is a line illumination device, and configures an illumination line by a plurality of light emitting elements linearly arranged in the X direction. Each light emitting element is arranged to emit light in the Z direction. The illumination line may be formed in one row or may be formed in a plurality of rows. The light emitting element is a light emitting diode (LED), and one that emits light of near infrared or blue wavelength is used. As shown in FIG. 2, the X-ray sensor 13 and the illumination unit 16 are disposed close to each other and below the transport mechanism 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reflecting member 17 is provided above the illumination unit 16 and above the region through which the package passes. The reflection member 17 has a reflection surface disposed at an inclination of 45 degrees with respect to the XZ plane. Further, the optical sensor 15 is arranged in the Y direction of the reflecting member 17 so that the optical axis direction of each light detection element is parallel to the Y direction. Therefore, the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 16 is applied to the packaging body W that passes over the gap 6c, is further reflected by the reflection surface 17a, and is received by the optical sensor 15.

  The inspection apparatus 1 can obtain X-ray image data and optical image data imaged under approximate conditions because the X-ray sensor 13 and the optical sensor 15 both image the package W located in the gap 6c. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, a position sensor 18 is provided in the middle of the upstream transport mechanism 6a. The position sensor 18 is an optical sensor configured such that the light emitting unit 18a and the light receiving unit 18b face each other. The light emitting part 18a is arranged on either the upper or lower side of the moving path of the package W, and the light receiving part 18b is arranged on the other side. The position sensor 18 blocks light incident on the light receiving portion 18b from the light emitting portion 18a as the packaging body W conveyed by the upstream side transport mechanism 6a crosses between the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b. Is detected. The timing at which the X-ray sensor 13 and the optical sensor 15 start the imaging operation is set with reference to the time when it is detected that the package W has reached the position of the position sensor 18.

  An operation panel 40 is disposed in the front part of the upper housing 3a that constitutes the upper storage unit 3. The operation panel 40 includes a display device 19 such as a color liquid crystal panel, and a translucent touch panel provided on the display surface of the display device 19.

<Circuit configuration>
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inspection apparatus 1. The inspection apparatus 1 includes a data processing unit 20, A / D converters 21a, 21b, and 21c, a display driver 34, and the like in addition to the above-described X-ray sensor 13, optical sensor 15, position sensor 18, and display device 19.

  The data processing unit 20 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and has substantially the same configuration as a general computer. The internal blocks of the data processing unit 20 shown in FIG. 4 are realized by executing a program by the CPU.

  The X-ray detection signal from the X-ray sensor 13 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 21a, and is given to the line data acquisition unit 23 in the data processing unit 20 through the input interface 22a. The line data acquisition unit 23 acquires line data detected by the X-ray detection line of the X-ray sensor 13 for each line. The line data acquired by the line data acquisition unit 23 is given to the X-ray image data generation unit 24. The X-ray image data generation unit 24 accumulates the line data received from the line data acquisition unit 23 and generates X-ray image data 27 in which luminance distribution data for each screen is expressed with a predetermined gradation.

  The detection output from the optical sensor 15 shown in FIG. 3 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 21b, and is given to the line data acquisition unit 25 of the data processing unit 20 through the input interface 22b. The line data acquisition unit 25 acquires grayscale data detected by the light detection line of the optical sensor 15 for each line. The line-by-line grayscale data acquired by the line data acquisition unit 25 is given to the optical image data generation unit 26. The optical image data generation unit 26 accumulates the line data received from the line data acquisition unit 25 and generates optical image data 28 composed of grayscale data for one screen unit.

  The detection output from the position sensor 18 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 21c, and through the input interface 22c, becomes a timing signal 29 to be a determination unit 31, an image synthesis unit 32, and two line data acquisition units 23. , 25. The line data acquisition unit 23 starts acquiring line data at the timing specified by the timing signal 29. Further, the line data acquisition unit 25 starts to acquire grayscale data at a timing specified by the timing signal 29.

  X-ray image data 27, which is an X-ray detection output luminance distribution image generated by the X-ray image data generation unit 24, and optical image data 28, which is a light detection output grayscale image generated by the optical image data generation unit 26. Is provided to the determination unit 31 and the image composition unit 32. The determination unit 31 and the image composition unit 32 can exchange data with each other.

  The image combining unit 32 combines the X-ray image data 27 and the optical image data 28 to generate inspection image data 33. The inspection image data 33 is supplied to the determination unit 31 and is also supplied to the display driver 34 via the output interface 22d, and the inspection image is displayed on the display device 19 provided on the operation panel 40.

<Acquisition of inspection image>
When inspecting the package W, the package W is placed on the upstream transport mechanism 6a while the upstream transport mechanism 6a and the downstream transport mechanism 6b are rotating. The package W is conveyed by the upstream conveyance mechanism 6a and the downstream conveyance mechanism 6b and passes through the package movement area 2. When the package W is detected by the position sensor 18, the detection output becomes a timing signal 29 through the input interface 22 c and is given to the line data acquisition units 23 and 25.

  The line data acquisition unit 25 starts acquiring grayscale data from the optical sensor 15 when the timing signal 29 is obtained. Then, the optical image data generation unit 26 accumulates the line data given from the line data acquisition unit 25 and generates the optical image data 28. The optical image data 28 is generated only when the timing signal 29 is obtained with the timing signal 29 as a reference.

  Further, the line data acquisition unit 23 starts acquiring grayscale data from the X-ray sensor 13 when the timing signal 29 is obtained. Then, the X-ray image data generation unit 24 accumulates the line data given from the line data acquisition unit 23 and generates X-ray image data 27. Similarly to the optical image data 28, the X-ray image data 27 is generated only when the timing signal 29 is obtained with the timing signal 29 as a reference.

  The image composition unit 32 includes pixels in the optical image data 28 and X-ray image data 27 determined based on the relative positions in the Y direction of the line data acquisition unit 25 and the line data acquisition unit 23 and the conveyance speed by the conveyance mechanism 6. According to the correspondence of the pixels, the X-ray image data 27 and the optical image data 28 are aligned and combined, and inspection image data 33 is output. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the inspection image data 33 is 8-bit (256 gradations) grayscale image data.

  The determination unit 31 processes the inspection image data 33 combined by the image combining unit 32 and performs a biting determination process for determining whether or not biting occurs. The biting determination process may be realized by a biting determination program executed by the CPU of the data processing unit 20.

<Bite determination processing>
Subsequently, the procedure of the biting determination process executed by the determination unit 31 will be described. This biting determination process is performed when the inspection object is a package in which a thick main content and an extremely thin subordinate content are enclosed together in a container that is a packaging material, such as "instant cup noodles". It can be suitably applied to. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 4, packaging of instant cup noodles in which the main contents are instant noodles C1 and the subsidiary contents are three rectangular sachets C2 enclosed in a round bowl-shaped container P. An example is used in which the body W is an object to be inspected, and the presence or absence of biting of the small bag C2 by the seal portion between the container P and the upper lid L is determined.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the biting determination process. When the biting determination process is started, the determination unit 31 receives the inspection image data 33 from the image composition unit 32 (step S100). Subsequently, the determination unit 31 generates enhanced image data by performing image processing such as applying various filters in order to enhance the outline (edge) of the contents included in the inspection image data 33 (step S110). ). FIG. 6 shows an example of inspection image data, and FIG. 7 shows an example of emphasized image data. Such enhanced image data may be generated by combining various image processes including various image filters such as an edge smoothing filter and an edge enhancement filter.

  Subsequently, edge extraction is performed on the emphasized image data obtained in step S110 (step S120). Various methods for detecting edges included in an image have been proposed, and any of them may be adopted. For example, when edge extraction is performed on emphasized image data by the Canny method (Canny edge detector) Good.

  Subsequently, a line segment (straight edge) is extracted from the edges extracted in step S120 (step S130). For example, a line segment may be extracted by applying a known line segment extraction method (eg, Hough transform method, least square method, etc.) to the edge extracted in step S120. As a result of the line segment extraction in step S130, a plurality of line segments LS are extracted as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, for the plurality of line segments extracted in step S130, a combination of line segments estimated as the edge of the pouch C2 is extracted (step S140). Specifically, for a plurality of line segments extracted in step S130, two line segments are selected, a determination condition based on the distance and angle of the two line segments, and two line segments (or line segments are selected). A combination of line segments estimated to be the edge of the pouch is extracted according to the determination condition based on the brightness of the area partitioned by the extended straight line.

  The determination condition based on the distance and angle of the two line segments in step S140 is that the distance between the two line segments is within a predetermined range (for example, a range of distance assumed from the size of the pouch), and two An angle formed by a line segment (or a straight line obtained by extending a line segment) (hereinafter, the angle formed by two line segments and the angle formed by a straight line obtained by extending either or both of the line segments are collectively referred to as “2”. It is preferable that the angle of “the angle formed by the line segment” is within a predetermined range (for example, a range of 90 ± 5 degrees). Note that in an inspection image configured by accumulating line data, the image may be distorted (for example, a circle becomes an ellipse) depending on the setting of the conveyance speed and the line data acquisition cycle. It is preferable to make a determination in consideration of the influence of this distortion. As described above, combinations of line segments that cannot be assumed as edges of the pouch C2 having a known dimension can be excluded.

  In addition, the determination condition based on light and darkness in step S140 may be that the acute angle side region is darker than the obtuse angle side region (that is, the gradation value is lower) among the angles formed by the two line segments. Of the angles formed by the two line segments, there is a possibility that the region on the acute angle side may correspond to the corner of the rectangular pouch C2, and when the corner of the pouch C2 corresponds to the region on the acute angle side during implementation. The image is darker than the obtuse angle region without the pouch C2. For example, in FIG. 9, a sachet C2 is present in the region R1 on the acute angle side among the angles formed by two line segments, and this region R1 is an obtuse angle side among the angles formed by the two line segments. Compared to the region R2, the image is darker. Therefore, a combination of line segments that are likely to be line segments corresponding to the edge of the pouch C2 can be extracted based on the above-described determination conditions based on light and dark.

  As described above, in step S140, the combination of the line segment estimated as the edge of the pouch C2 can be extracted by applying the determination condition based on the two distances and angles and the determination condition based on the light and dark. . In addition, the combination of the line segment extracted in step S140 may be not only one set but a plurality of sets.

  Steps S110 to S140 described so far correspond to a process of estimating at least a part of the outer edge of the content in the present invention, and a portion outside the outer edge of the main content (instant noodle C1) in the inspection image. Based on the above, the position of the angle formed by the two sides which are at least a part of the outer edge of the subordinate contents (small bag C2) is estimated.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the seal portion S and the prohibited region FR where the container P and the upper lid L are bonded together are specified in the inspection image data 33 (step S150). As shown in FIG. 10A, the seal portion S may be set to a predetermined range on the inner side of the outer periphery (for example, a circle) of the container P specified by the inspection image data 33. The predetermined range for specifying the seal portion S on the basis of the outer periphery may be determined in advance based on the design data of the container P.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (b), the seal portion S specified in step S150 and the region outside the seal portion S (that is, outside the container P) are part of the sachet C2. This is a prohibited area FR. Then, for each of the line segment combinations extracted in step S140, the presence / absence of biting is determined based on the position of the vertex of the angle formed by the two line segments (step S160). Specifically, if there is even one vertex of the angle formed by two line segments (that is, the point estimated as the corner of the pouch) in the prohibited area FR (outside the seal part or the container), there is a bite. If the vertex of the angle formed by the two line segments is not in the prohibited area FR for all the line segment combinations, it is determined that there is no bite. In the example shown in FIG. 11, three vertices (reference numeral NG) are present in the prohibited area FR. For this reason, it turns out that the small bag C2 corresponding to these vertices is bitten, and the determination part 31 determines with biting. Note that since the two vertices indicated by reference numeral OK in FIG. 11 are not in the prohibited area FR but in the area in the container P, it can be seen that the pouch C2 corresponding to these vertices is not bitten. If all the vertices are in the container P, it is determined that there is no biting. When the determination in step S160 is completed, a series of biting determination processes is completed.

  When the above-described biting determination process is completed, the determination unit 31 outputs determination result data 35 indicating the determination result to the image composition unit 32. For example, the determination unit 31 may output, as the determination result data 35, the presence / absence of biting and the coordinates of the point estimated as the corner of the pouch C2 to the image composition unit 32. In response to the output of the determination unit 31, the image composition unit 32 generates inspection result image data 36 in which the determination result is reflected in the inspection image, and the inspection result image is displayed on the display device 19 via the output interface 22d and the display driver 34. Should be displayed.

  With the configuration and operation described above, the inspection apparatus 1 according to this embodiment bites with high accuracy a package in which a thick content and a very thin content are sealed together, such as instant cup noodles. It is possible to determine whether or not there is

[Modification of Embodiment]
Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples.
For example, in the above embodiment, at least two line segments corresponding to a part of the outer edge of the sachet C2 that is the subordinate contents are extracted, and the vertexes of the angles formed by the two line segments are obtained. The method for estimating at least a part of the outer edge of the content is not limited to the method described in the above embodiment. For example, in order to extract only the line segment corresponding to the outer edge of the pouch C2, various filtering and narrowing are performed, but the specific method may be appropriately changed. Further, at least a part of the outer edge of the subordinate contents may be estimated by matching with the shape data of the subordinate contents.

  In the above embodiment, the X-ray image and the optical image are combined to obtain the inspection image. However, an X-ray image that is not combined with the optical image may be used as the inspection image. Further, the prohibited region may be specified based on the outer shape of the packaging material in the optical image, or may be specified based on the outer shape of the packaging material in the X-ray image.

  In the above embodiment, in step S140 of the biting determination process, two line segments are selected from the plurality of line segments extracted in step S130, and the determination condition based on the distance and the angle of the two line segments, and The combination of line segments estimated to be the edge of the pouch is extracted according to the determination condition based on the brightness of the area partitioned by the two line segments, but the extracted line segments are narrowed down between step S130 and step S140. Steps may be provided. In this way, when many line segments unrelated to the pouch C2 are extracted in step S130, the processing speed can be increased by reducing the target line segments in step S140 in advance. .

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the instant cup noodle was demonstrated to the example as a package body which is a test object, a test object is not limited to this. Suitable inspection objects include, as contents, main contents and subordinate contents that are thinner than the main contents and are packaged together with the main contents in a packaging material in a state of being superimposed on the main contents. Good. For example, various frozen foods (such as okonomiyaki) in which a sauce or the like is encapsulated as subordinate contents are other examples to which the inspection method of the present invention can be suitably applied.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the presence or absence of biting was determined based on the test | inspection image containing the X-ray transmission image of a test object, the transmission image by other transmissive radiation may be used instead of X-rays. However, a transmission image by a terahertz wave may be used.

  In addition, the order of the steps in the biting determination process described in the above embodiment may be changed within a range in which the same effect can be obtained. For example, the step of identifying the seal portion S and the prohibited area FR (step S150) may be performed after any of steps S110 to S140 if it is after step S100 and before step S160. You may perform in parallel with step S110-S140.

  In addition, those in which those skilled in the art appropriately added, deleted, and changed the design of the above-described embodiments, and combinations of the features of each embodiment as appropriate also include the gist of the present invention. As long as it is within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inspection apparatus 2 Packing body movement area | region 6 Transport mechanism 6a Upstream transport mechanism 6b Downstream transport mechanism 6c Gap part 10 X-ray generation part 13 X-ray sensor 15 Optical sensor 16 Illumination part 18 Position sensor 19 Display apparatus 20 Data processing part 24 X-ray image data generation unit 26 Optical image data generation unit 27 X-ray image data 28 Optical image data 31 Determination unit 32 Image composition unit 40 Operation panel W Packaging

Claims (8)

In an inspection object having a content and a packaging material for wrapping the content, an inspection method for inspecting whether or not the content is bitten by a sealing portion of the packaging material,
Obtaining an inspection image including an X-ray transmission image of the inspection object;
Estimating at least a portion of the outer edge of the content based on the inspection image;
Identifying a prohibited area in the inspection image;
And a step of determining whether or not the estimated outer edge of the content is present in the prohibited area, and determining that the content is bitten when it exists. The contents are:
The main contents,
The main content is thinner than the main content, and includes a subordinate content packaged in the packaging material together with the main content in a state of being superimposed on the main content,
2. The inspection method according to claim 1, wherein in the estimating step, at least a part of an outer edge of the subordinate contents is estimated based on a portion outside the outer edge of the main contents in the inspection image. . In the estimating step, at least two line segments corresponding to a part of the outer edge of the subordinate contents are extracted from a portion outside the outer edge of the main contents in the inspection image;
3. The inspection method according to claim 1, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not a vertex of an angle formed by the two line segments exists in the prohibited area.   The inspection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step of specifying the prohibited area, the prohibited area is specified based on an outer shape of the packaging material.   5. The inspection method according to claim 4, wherein, in the step of specifying the prohibited area, the prohibited area is specified based on an outer shape of the packaging material shown in an X-ray transmission image. Further comprising obtaining an optical image of the inspection object,
5. The inspection method according to claim 4, wherein, in the step of specifying the prohibited area, the prohibited area in the inspection image is specified based on an outer shape of the packaging material shown in the optical image.   A program for causing a computer to execute the inspection method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In an inspection object having a content and a packaging material for packaging the content, an inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of biting of the content by a sealing portion of the packaging material,
An inspection image acquisition unit for acquiring an inspection image including an X-ray transmission image of the inspection object;
Estimating at least a part of the outer edge of the content based on the inspection image, determining whether the estimated outer edge of the content is present in the prohibited area, and biting the content when present A determination unit for determining
An inspection apparatus comprising: