JP4424537B2 - Foreign matter inspection device - Google Patents

Foreign matter inspection device Download PDF

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JP4424537B2
JP4424537B2 JP2004076481A JP2004076481A JP4424537B2 JP 4424537 B2 JP4424537 B2 JP 4424537B2 JP 2004076481 A JP2004076481 A JP 2004076481A JP 2004076481 A JP2004076481 A JP 2004076481A JP 4424537 B2 JP4424537 B2 JP 4424537B2
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JP2005265534A (en
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敏晴 新藤
保男 加藤木
賢治 小西
直人 渡辺
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ジェイティエンジニアリング株式会社
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本発明は、たばこ原料中に混入した上記たばこ原料と同色系統の異物を確実に検出することのできる異物検査装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a particle inspection apparatus that can reliably detect the foreign material of the tobacco material and the same color lines mixed in tobacco material.

たばこ刻や中骨、ラミナ等のたばこ原料への異物の混入を検査し、その異物の排除に用いられる異物検査装置は、専ら、その検査対象物の色に着目して異物検出を行っている。具体的には検査対象物を撮像して求められるカラー画像の色成分を求め、その色成分が検査対象物が持つ正常な色成分であるか、或いは検査対象物に混入する虞のある異物が持つ異常な色成分であるかをそれぞれ判定することで異物検出を行っている。   Foreign matter inspection devices used to inspect foreign materials in tobacco raw materials such as cigarettes, bones, and lamina, and to eliminate such foreign matter, exclusively detect foreign matter by focusing on the color of the inspection object. . Specifically, the color component of the color image obtained by imaging the inspection object is obtained, and the color component is a normal color component possessed by the inspection object, or there is a foreign substance that may be mixed into the inspection object. Foreign matter detection is performed by determining whether each color component is an abnormal color component.

しかしながらたばこ葉（たばこ原料）は農産物であり、品種や産地、生産時期等に依存して多様な色成分を持つ。またたばこ原料に混入する異物は、通常、シガレットの製造に用いられる巻紙やフィルターの切り屑であり、たばこ原料と同色系の色成分を持つことも多い。この為、上述したカラー画像から異物を確実に検出することが困難である。
そこで本発明者等は、先に検査対象物のカラー画像における各色成分の出現頻度に基づいて該検査対象物の正常色の色成分領域を求め、この正常色の色成分領域から外れた領域の色成分（異常色）を第１の検査色情報として設定すると共に、前記各色成分の出現頻度に基づいて所定の出現頻度範囲に含まれる色成分をまとめ、その色成分領域を異物としての可能性のある色成分を示す第２の検査色情報として設定し、前記撮像手段により求められた検査対象物のカラー画像を色選別して上記第１および第２の検査色情報に該当する特定の色成分の画像領域を求め、特定の色成分の画像領域の大きさを判定して前記検査対象物に含まれる異物を検出することを提唱した（例えば特許文献１を参照）。
特開２０００−３５３２号公報 However, tobacco leaves (cigarette raw materials) are agricultural products and have various color components depending on the variety, production area, production time, and the like. Moreover, the foreign material mixed in the tobacco material is usually wrapping paper or filter chips used in cigarette manufacture, and often has the same color components as the tobacco material. For this reason, it is difficult to reliably detect foreign matter from the color image described above.
Accordingly, the present inventors previously obtained a normal color component area of the inspection object based on the appearance frequency of each color component in the color image of the inspection object, and obtained an area out of the normal color component area. The color component (abnormal color) is set as the first inspection color information, and the color components included in the predetermined appearance frequency range are grouped based on the appearance frequency of each color component, and the possibility that the color component area is a foreign object Specific color corresponding to the first and second inspection color information by selecting the color image of the inspection object obtained by the imaging means as the second inspection color information indicating a certain color component It has been proposed that an image area of a component is obtained, the size of the image area of a specific color component is determined, and foreign matters contained in the inspection object are detected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-3532 A

しかしながら上述した色情報の設定処理は、検査対象物のカラー画像を確認しながら人手により行われるので、設定者の個人差に起因するバラツキが生じ易い。しかも農産物であるたばこ原料の場合には、各色成分の出現頻度にバラツキが多く、検査色情報を登録する時点での色再現性と、たばこ原料を検査する時点での色再現性とに違いが生じ易いと言う問題がある。しかも色再現性を高めるには、例えばその照明光源やカラーセンサ（カラーカメラ）の色感度を調整したり、更には温度や湿度等の検査環境を一定化することが必要であり、その設備負担が非常に大きいと言う不具合がある。   However, since the color information setting process described above is performed manually while confirming the color image of the inspection object, variations due to individual differences among the setters are likely to occur. Moreover, in the case of tobacco raw materials that are agricultural products, the frequency of appearance of each color component varies widely, and there is a difference between the color reproducibility at the time of registering inspection color information and the color reproducibility at the time of inspection of tobacco raw materials. There is a problem that it is likely to occur. Moreover, in order to improve color reproducibility, for example, it is necessary to adjust the color sensitivity of the illumination light source and color sensor (color camera), and to make the inspection environment such as temperature and humidity constant, which is a burden on the equipment. There is a problem that is very large.

本発明はこのような事情を考慮してなされたもので、その目的は、色再現性の問題を招来することなく、検査対象物に混入した該検査対象物と同色系の異物を簡易に、しかも確実に検出することのできる異物検査装置を提供することにある。
特に本発明は、シガレット製造装置から不良品として排出されたシガレットを分解して求められるたばこ刻や中骨、ラミナ等のたばこ原料に混入した、上記シガレットの製造に用いられた巻紙やフィルターの切り屑等の異物を確実に検出し、上記たばこ原料中から異物を排除するに好適な異物検査装置を提供することを目的としている。 The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to easily introduce foreign matter of the same color as the inspection object mixed in the inspection object without causing a problem of color reproducibility, In addition, the object is to provide a foreign substance inspection apparatus capable of reliably detecting.
In particular, the present invention relates to the cutting of cigarettes and filters used in the manufacture of cigarettes mixed with cigarette materials such as cigarettes, bones and lamina obtained by disassembling cigarettes discharged as defective products from cigarette manufacturing equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a foreign substance inspection apparatus suitable for reliably detecting foreign substances such as dust and removing foreign substances from the tobacco material.

本発明は、農産物であるたばこ刻や中骨、ラミナ等のたばこ原料に混入した異物、具体的にはシガレットの製造に用いられる巻紙やフィルターの切り屑は、その原料素材そのものの色ではなく、通常、その製造過程において漂白された色成分、換言すれば蛍光剤により染められた色成分を有しており、このような漂白物に紫外光を照射すると青白く発光することに着目している。   In the present invention, foreign matter mixed in tobacco raw materials such as cigarettes, bones, and lamina, which are agricultural products, specifically, wrapping paper and filter chips used in the manufacture of cigarettes are not the color of the raw material itself, In general, it has a color component bleached in the production process, in other words, a color component dyed with a fluorescent agent, and attention is paid to the fact that such a bleached product emits light blue when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

そこで上述した目的を達成するべく本発明に係る異物検査装置は、シガレットの製造に用いられた巻紙やフィルタ等の異物を含む、少なくともたばこ刻、中骨、ラミナの１つを含むたばこ原料からなる検査対象物を外光（可視光）から遮光して該検査対象物による光の反射を防止し、この状態で前記該検査対象物に紫外光（例えば波長３００〜４５０ｎｍの光）を照射し、この紫外光が照射された前記検査対象物を撮像して、その画像中の前記紫外光の照射により蛍光を発している部分の、予め設定した画素数以上のまとまりをなす蛍光領域を前記検査対象物に含まれる異物として検出し、当該蛍光領域の重心位置を異物の検出位置として求めることを特徴としている。尚、検査対象物については、例えばベルトコンベア上に互いに重なり合うことがない程度に薄く蒔き拡げて搬送しながら異物検査に供することが望ましい。 Therefore, in order to achieve the above-described object, the foreign matter inspection apparatus according to the present invention is made of a tobacco raw material containing at least one of cigarettes, middle bones, and lamina containing foreign matter such as wrapping paper and filters used in cigarette manufacture. The inspection object is shielded from external light (visible light) to prevent reflection of light by the inspection object, and in this state, the inspection object is irradiated with ultraviolet light (for example, light having a wavelength of 300 to 450 nm), The inspection object irradiated with the ultraviolet light is imaged, and a fluorescent region forming a group of more than a predetermined number of pixels in a portion emitting fluorescence by irradiation of the ultraviolet light in the image is the inspection object. It is characterized in that it is detected as a foreign substance contained in an object, and the center of gravity position of the fluorescent region is obtained as a foreign substance detection position . Note that it is desirable that the inspection object is subjected to a foreign object inspection while being spread and thinly conveyed so as not to overlap each other on a belt conveyor, for example.

上述した如く構成された異物検査装置によれば、被検査物に紫外光を照射しても蛍光を発せず、また被検査物に混入している異物だけが蛍光を発することを利用して異物検査を行うので、色再現性の問題や検査環境の問題、更には色成分のバラツキの問題を招来することなしに簡易に、しかも確実に異物を検出することができる。特に被検査物を外光（可視光）から遮光し、いわゆる暗闇の環境下で被検査物に紫外光を照射するので、異物だけが蛍光を発し、蛍光を発しない被検査物についてはその存在自体を画像として捉えることができなくなる。従って検査対象物の色成分に拘わらず、更には異物が上記検査対象物と同色系の色成分を有するか否かに拘わることなく、検査対象物に混入している異物を確実に検出することができる等の実用上多大なる効果が奏せられる。   According to the foreign matter inspection apparatus configured as described above, foreign matter does not emit fluorescence even when ultraviolet light is irradiated on the inspection object, and only foreign matters mixed in the inspection subject emit fluorescence. Since inspection is performed, it is possible to easily and reliably detect foreign matter without incurring problems of color reproducibility, inspection environment, and color component variations. In particular, the inspection object is shielded from external light (visible light), and the inspection object is irradiated with ultraviolet light in a so-called dark environment, so that only the foreign object emits fluorescence and the inspection object that does not emit fluorescence exists. It becomes impossible to perceive itself as an image. Therefore, regardless of the color component of the inspection object, the foreign object mixed in the inspection object can be reliably detected regardless of whether the foreign object has the same color component as the inspection object. In practice, a great effect can be obtained.

以下、図面を参照して本発明の一実施形態に係る異物検査装置について説明する。
この異物検査装置は、シガレット製造装置から不良品として排出されたシガレットを分解（解体）して求められるたばこ刻や中骨、ラミナ等のたばこ原料に混入した異物、具体的には上記シガレットの解体に伴って生じる巻紙やフィルターの切り屑等を検出し、検出した異物を排除する異物選別装置に組み込まれて、異物選別の制御に用いられるものである。 Hereinafter, a foreign substance inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This foreign matter inspection device is a foreign material mixed in tobacco raw materials such as cigarettes, bones and lamina obtained by disassembling (disassembling) cigarettes discharged as defective products from the cigarette manufacturing device, specifically the cigarette dismantling It is incorporated in a foreign matter sorting apparatus that detects wrapping paper and filter chips generated along with this and removes the detected foreign matter, and is used to control foreign matter sorting.

図１は異物選別装置の概略構成を示す図で、１はたばこ刻や中骨、ラミナ等のたばこ原料（検査対象物）Ａを載置して搬送するベルトコンベア機構であり、異物検査装置１０はこのベルトコンベア機構１上に載置されて搬送される検査対象物Ａを光学的に検査するように設けられる。上記異物選別装置は、上記ベルトコンベア機構１が形成した搬送路の下流端に、ベルトコンベアの幅方向に沿って配列した複数のエアノズル２を備えている。これらのエアノズル２は、エアコンプレッサ３が生成した圧縮空気が後述する制御の下で開閉されるバルブ４を介して供給され、その圧縮空気を前記ベルトコンベア機構１から払い出されるたばこ原料（検査対象物）Ａに吹き付けることで上記たばこ原料Ａの回収経路から排除する役割を担う。   FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a foreign matter sorting apparatus. 1 is a belt conveyor mechanism for placing and transporting a tobacco raw material (inspection object) A such as cigarettes, bones, and lamina. Is provided so as to optically inspect the inspection object A placed and transported on the belt conveyor mechanism 1. The foreign matter sorting apparatus includes a plurality of air nozzles 2 arranged along the width direction of the belt conveyor at the downstream end of the conveyance path formed by the belt conveyor mechanism 1. These air nozzles 2 are supplied with compressed air generated by an air compressor 3 through a valve 4 that is opened and closed under control described later, and the compressed air is discharged from the belt conveyor mechanism 1 as a tobacco raw material (inspection object). ) By spraying on A, it plays a role of eliminating the tobacco material A from the recovery route.

即ち、ベルトコンベア機構１に載置されて光学的な異物検査に供せられた検査対象物Ａは、該ベルトコンベア機構１の搬送慣性力によりその下流端から所定の速度が与えられて払い出され、仕切ガイド６により案内されて所定の回収ボックス５内に落とし込まれるようになっている。前記エアノズル２は、上記ベルトコンベア機構１の下流端上方から下側に向けて圧縮空気を吹き付けることで、前述した如くベルトコンベア機構１の下流端から払い出されるたばこ原料（検査対象物）Ａを前記ベルトコンベア機構１の下流端と仕切ガイド６との隙間に強制的に落とし込み、これによってたばこ原料Ａの回収経路（ベルトコンベア機構１の下流端から仕切ガイド６に至るたばこ原料Ａの払い出し経路）から排除するものとなっている。   That is, the inspection object A placed on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 and subjected to optical foreign matter inspection is delivered at a predetermined speed from its downstream end by the conveying inertia force of the belt conveyor mechanism 1. Then, it is guided by the partition guide 6 and dropped into a predetermined collection box 5. The air nozzle 2 blows compressed air from the downstream end of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 downward to the lower side of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 so that the tobacco material (inspection object) A discharged from the downstream end of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 as described above. Forcibly dropped into the gap between the downstream end of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 and the partition guide 6, and from this, the tobacco material A recovery path (the tobacco material A delivery path from the downstream end of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 to the partition guide 6). It is to be excluded.

尚、エアノズル２から圧縮空気が吹き付けられてたばこ原料Ａの回収経路から排除されたたばこ原料Ａ、特にたばこ原料（検査対象物）Ａ中に混入していた異物Ｂとその周囲に存在する微少量のたばこ原料Ａは、仕切ガイド６の下方に設けられた廃棄ダクト７内に落とし込まれて廃棄処理される。また上述したようにして異物Ｂが排除され、仕切ガイド６を介して回収ボックス５に落とし込まれたたばこ原料（検査対象物）Ａは、再度、シガレットの製造に供せられる。   It should be noted that the foreign material B mixed in the tobacco raw material A, particularly the tobacco raw material (inspection object) A, which has been discharged from the recovery route of the tobacco raw material A by the compressed air being blown from the air nozzle 2, and the minute amount present around the foreign material B The tobacco raw material A is dropped into a waste duct 7 provided below the partition guide 6 and discarded. Moreover, the foreign material B is excluded as described above, and the tobacco raw material (inspection object) A dropped into the collection box 5 via the partition guide 6 is again used for the manufacture of cigarettes.

さてベルトコンベア機構１上の検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａを光学的に検査して該検査対象物Ａ中に含まれる異物Ｂを検出する異物検査装置１０は、図２にその要部概略構成を示すように、ベルトコンベア機構１上の検査対象物Ａに、例えば波長３００〜４５０ｎｍの紫外光を照射する紫外線ランプ１１と、その紫外光照射領域する撮像するビデオカメラ１２とを具備する。上記紫外線ランプ１１は、いわゆる直管型のものからなり、図１に示すようにビデオカメラ１２の視野領域を挟んでベルトコンベア機構１上を、つまりベルトコンベアに載置された検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａを均一に照明するべく２本平行に設けられる。またビデオカメラ１２は、ベルトコンベア機構１上のベルトコンベアの全幅に亘る帯状の領域Ｓを一括して撮像するように設けられる。このビデオカメラ１２については、カラー方式のものであっても良いが、モノクロ型のものであっても良い。またビデオカメラ１２に代えて、ベルトコンベアの幅方向に沿って受光セルを配列したラインセンサをその撮像手段として用いることも可能である。   A foreign substance inspection apparatus 10 for optically inspecting an inspection object (tobacco material) A on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 to detect a foreign substance B contained in the inspection object A is schematically shown in FIG. As shown, the inspection object A on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 is provided with, for example, an ultraviolet lamp 11 that irradiates ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 300 to 450 nm, and a video camera 12 that images the ultraviolet light irradiation region. The ultraviolet lamp 11 is of a so-called straight tube type, and as shown in FIG. 1, the inspection object (cigarette) placed on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 across the visual field area of the video camera 12, that is, on the belt conveyor. Two raw materials are provided in parallel to uniformly illuminate A. Further, the video camera 12 is provided so as to collectively image the belt-like region S over the entire width of the belt conveyor on the belt conveyor mechanism 1. The video camera 12 may be a color type or a monochrome type. Instead of the video camera 12, a line sensor in which light receiving cells are arranged along the width direction of the belt conveyor can be used as the imaging means.

また上述した如くして紫外光が照射されるベルトコンベア機構１上の部位はカバー体１３により覆われており、このカバー体１３によって上記紫外光の照射領域への外光（可視光）の入射が阻止されている。そしてベルトコンベア機構１上の前記ビデオカメラ１２による視野領域は、外光が遮光され紫外線ランプ１１からの紫外光だけが照射された状態となっている。このような環境で前記ビデオカメラ１２にて撮像された前記検査対象物Ａの画像は、例えばマイクロコンピュータにより構築された画像処理装置１４に入力されて異物検査処理に供されるようになっている。   Further, as described above, the portion on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 to which the ultraviolet light is irradiated is covered with the cover body 13, and the outside light (visible light) is incident on the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light by the cover body 13. Is blocked. The field of view of the video camera 12 on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 is in a state in which outside light is shielded and only ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamp 11 is irradiated. In such an environment, the image of the inspection object A captured by the video camera 12 is input to an image processing device 14 constructed by, for example, a microcomputer and used for foreign matter inspection processing. .

ここで前記ベルトコンベア機構１に載置されて搬送される検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａの上述した如くして撮像される画像について述べると、農産物であるたばこ葉から切り出されたたばこ刻や中骨、ラミナ等のたばこ原料Ａは、図３(ａ)に示すように黄色から茶色に亘る色成分（正常色）を有しており、これに対して上記たばこ原料Ａに混入した巻紙やフィルタの切り屑等からなる異物Ｂは、白色から黄色に亘る上記たばこ原料Ａと同色系の色成分（異常色）を有している。これ故、例えば目視による色判別だけでは、これらの違いを明確に判定することは困難である。   Here, the image taken as described above of the inspection object (tobacco material) A that is placed on the belt conveyor mechanism 1 and transported will be described. Tobacco raw material A such as bone and lamina has a color component (normal color) ranging from yellow to brown as shown in FIG. 3 (a). The foreign matter B made of chips or the like has color components (abnormal colors) of the same color system as the tobacco raw material A ranging from white to yellow. Therefore, for example, it is difficult to clearly determine these differences only by visual color discrimination.

しかしたばこ原料Ａおよび異物Ｂに紫外光を照射すると、異物Ｂはその原料素材を製造過程において漂白した（蛍光剤により染められた）ものであるので、その蛍光成分が青白く発光する。従ってこの青白く発光した異物Ｂの蛍光発光色成分を検出すれば、基本的には蛍光を発することのないたばこ原料Ａに混入した異物Ｂを検出することが可能となる。しかしながら異物Ｂに含まれている蛍光成分がどの程度であるかは定かではなく、またその蛍光発光強度も異物Ｂの材質等に依存するので、例えばクリーム色のような白味がかったたばこ原料Ａが多い場合、その違いを明確に識別できない虞がある。 However, when the tobacco raw material A and the foreign matter B are irradiated with ultraviolet light, the foreign matter B is obtained by bleaching the raw material in the manufacturing process (dyed with a fluorescent agent), so that the fluorescent component emits light blue and white. Therefore, by detecting the fluorescence emission color component of the foreign matter B that emits blue and white, it is possible to detect the foreign matter B mixed in the tobacco material A that does not emit fluorescence basically. However, it is not certain how much the fluorescent component is contained in the foreign substance B, and the fluorescence emission intensity depends on the material of the foreign substance B, and so on, for example, the cigarette raw material A having a white taste such as cream When there are many, there is a possibility that the difference cannot be clearly identified.

そこで本装置においては前述したようにカバー体１３を用いて前記ビデオカメラ１２の視野領域への外光（可視光）の入力を阻止し、これによって図３(ｂ)に示すようにたばこ原料Ａ自体の色成分（反射光）が生じないようにしている。そしてビデオカメラ１２においては、紫外光の照射による前記異物Ｂの蛍光発光成分だけを画像として捉えて検査画像とし、これを画像処理装置１４に与えて異物検査に供するものとなっている。   Therefore, in this apparatus, as described above, the cover body 13 is used to block the input of external light (visible light) to the visual field area of the video camera 12, and as a result, the tobacco raw material A as shown in FIG. It prevents color components (reflected light) from occurring. In the video camera 12, only the fluorescent light emission component of the foreign matter B due to the irradiation of ultraviolet light is captured as an image to be an inspection image, which is given to the image processing device 14 for foreign matter inspection.

この画像処理装置１４における異物検査処理は、例えば図４に示す手順に従い、ベルトコンベア機構１による検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａの搬送距離に同期して行われる。具体的にはビデオカメラ１２による検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａの撮像は、ベルトコンベアが前記撮像視野領域Ｓを移動する毎に繰り返し行われ、これによってベルトコンベア上の検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａが途切れを生じることなしに所定の周期で連続的に撮像されるようになっている。そして画像処理装置１４においては、このようにして撮像される個々の検査画像に対して、所定の大きさ以上の画素のまとまりからなる蛍光発光領域を異物Ｂの存在として検出し［ステップＳ１］、例えば上記蛍光発光領域の重心位置を当該異物Ｂの存在位置として検出している［ステップＳ２］。   The foreign substance inspection process in the image processing apparatus 14 is performed in synchronization with the conveyance distance of the inspection object (tobacco material) A by the belt conveyor mechanism 1 according to the procedure shown in FIG. Specifically, the imaging of the inspection object (tobacco raw material) A by the video camera 12 is repeatedly performed every time the belt conveyor moves in the imaging visual field region S, thereby the inspection object (tobacco raw material) on the belt conveyor. A is continuously imaged at a predetermined cycle without causing interruption. Then, the image processing device 14 detects a fluorescence emission region composed of a group of pixels having a predetermined size or more as the presence of the foreign matter B for each inspection image captured in this way [step S1], For example, the position of the center of gravity of the fluorescent light emitting region is detected as the presence position of the foreign object B [Step S2].

そしてこの異物Ｂの検出位置情報に従い、当該位置に存在していた異物Ｂがベルトコンベア機構１の下流端から払い出されるタイミングを見込んで異物排除指令を発し［ステップＳ３］、前述したバルブ４を制御して前記エアノズル２から圧縮空気を噴き出すことにより、異物Ｂとその周囲に存在する微少量のたばこ原料Ａを、その回収経路から排除するものとなっている。尚、バルブ４の制御による前記エアノズル２からの圧縮空気の噴き出しは、異物Ｂを検出したベルトコンベアの幅方向の位置に応じて、該当する位置に設けられたエアノズル２を選択的に駆動することによって行われる。   Then, in accordance with the detected position information of the foreign matter B, a foreign matter removal command is issued in anticipation of the timing at which the foreign matter B present at that position is discharged from the downstream end of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 [Step S3], and the valve 4 described above is controlled. Then, by blowing out compressed air from the air nozzle 2, the foreign matter B and a small amount of tobacco material A existing around the foreign matter B are excluded from the recovery path. The ejection of compressed air from the air nozzle 2 under the control of the valve 4 selectively drives the air nozzle 2 provided at the corresponding position according to the position in the width direction of the belt conveyor where the foreign matter B is detected. Is done by.

かくして上述したように検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａ中に含まれる異物Ｂを検出する本装置によれば、シガレットの製造に用いられる巻紙やフィルタの切り屑等からなる異物Ｂの色成分が前記検査対象物（たばこ原料）Ａと同色系統であっても、該異物Ｂが有する材料特性を有効に利用して異物検出を確実に行うことができる。しかも検査対象領域を外光（可視光）から遮光し、その環境下において紫外光を照射して異物Ｂの蛍光発光を画像として捉えると言う簡単な構成にて異物検出精度を十分に高めることができる。またこの場合には、高価なカラーカメラを用いなくても異物検出を行うことが可能となるので、その設備コストを安価に抑えることが可能となる等の効果も奏せられる。   Thus, according to the present apparatus for detecting the foreign matter B contained in the inspection object (tobacco raw material) A as described above, the color component of the foreign matter B made of wrapping paper or filter chips used for manufacturing cigarettes is Even in the same color system as the inspection object (tobacco raw material) A, it is possible to reliably detect the foreign matter by effectively using the material characteristics of the foreign matter B. In addition, the foreign object detection accuracy can be sufficiently improved with a simple configuration in which the inspection target region is shielded from external light (visible light) and ultraviolet light is irradiated in the environment to capture the fluorescence emission of the foreign substance B as an image. it can. Further, in this case, since foreign matter can be detected without using an expensive color camera, the equipment cost can be reduced and the effects can be achieved.

尚、本発明は上述した実施形態に限定されるものではない。例えば異物の排出機構については、前述したエアノズル２を用いた圧縮空気の吹き付け以外の手法を用いることも勿論可能である。またビデオカメラ１２による撮像視野領域Ｓ等は、ベルトコンベア機構１の搬送速度等に応じて定めれば良いものである。また必ずしも検査対象物Ａを搬送しながら異物検査しなくても良いことは言うまでもない。その他、本発明はその要旨を逸脱しない範囲で種々変形して実施することができる。   The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, as a foreign matter discharging mechanism, it is of course possible to use a method other than the above-described compressed air blowing using the air nozzle 2. Further, the imaging visual field region S and the like by the video camera 12 may be determined according to the conveyance speed of the belt conveyor mechanism 1 and the like. Needless to say, it is not always necessary to inspect the foreign object while conveying the inspection object A. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

本発明に係る異物検査装置の概略構成と、この異物検査装置を組み込んで構成される異物選別装置の概略構成を示す図。The figure which shows schematic structure of the foreign material inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention, and the general structure of the foreign material selection apparatus comprised incorporating this foreign material inspection apparatus. 図１に示す異物検査装置の要部構成を示す斜視図。The perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the foreign material inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 検査対象物と異物の色成分、および異物の蛍光発光色成分を対比して示す図。The figure which contrasts the to-be-inspected object, the color component of a foreign material, and the fluorescence emission color component of a foreign material. 異物検査処理の概略的な処理手順を示す図。The figure which shows the rough process sequence of a foreign material inspection process.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１ ベルトコンベア機構
２ エアノズル
１１ 紫外線ランプ
１２ ビデオカメラ
１３ カバー体
１４ 画像処理装置
Ａ 検査対象物（たばこ原料）
Ｂ 異物 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Belt conveyor mechanism 2 Air nozzle 11 Ultraviolet lamp 12 Video camera 13 Cover body 14 Image processing apparatus A Inspection object (tobacco raw material)
B Foreign matter

Claims (1)

不良品として排出されたシガレットを分解して求められる、少なくともたばこ刻、中骨、ラミナの１つを含むたばこ原料からなる検査対象物を画像検査し、前記検査対象物に含まれる、前記シガレットの製造に用いられた巻紙やフィルタ等の異物を検出する異物検査装置であって、
前記検査対象物を外光から遮光して該検査対象物による光の反射を防止して前記検査対象物に紫外光を照射する光源と、
上記紫外光が照射された前記検査対象物の画像を取り込む撮像手段と、
取り込んだ画像中の前記紫外光の照射により蛍光を発している部分の、予め設定した画素数以上のまとまりをなす蛍光領域を前記検査対象物に含まれる異物として検出し、当該蛍光領域の重心位置を異物の検出位置として求める画像処理手段と
を具備したことを特徴とする異物検査装置。 Image inspection of a cigarette material containing at least one of cigarette, middle bone and lamina obtained by disassembling a cigarette discharged as a defective product, and image inspection of the cigarette contained in the inspection object A foreign matter inspection apparatus for detecting foreign matter such as a wrapping paper or a filter used for manufacturing,
A light source for irradiating ultraviolet light to the inspection object by preventing reflection of the dark the inspection object from the outside light by the inspection object,
Imaging means for capturing an image of the inspection object irradiated with the ultraviolet light;
A fluorescent region that forms a unit of more than a predetermined number of pixels in a portion that emits fluorescence by irradiation of the ultraviolet light in the captured image is detected as a foreign object included in the inspection object, and the barycentric position of the fluorescent region A foreign substance inspection apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that obtains a foreign substance detection position as a foreign substance detection position .
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