Ampoule inspecting method

• US 4,549,205 A
• Filed: 05/04/1983
• Issued: 10/22/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Owashi, Seiji, Misaki, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US06/491,533
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 358/106, 250/223 B, 356/240, 356/427, 209/939
• US Class Current: 348/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/0081 containers; packages; bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9027 in containers after filling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/939 Video scanning

Abstract

A method for inspecting transparent or semitransparent, liquid-filled containers as to whether or not the liquid in each of the container contains foreign matters. The inspection is carried out by passing the container in front of a television camera while the liquid in each container undergoes a spiral motion as it passes through an inspection region, and processing video signals generated from the television camera by the use of a unique controlling circuit. With this controlling circuit, distinction can be made between signals indicative of the presence of foreign matters in the liquid and that indicative of the presence of external flaws on the container.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting the existence of foreign matter contained in fluid filled in a sealed container having a flaw, which comprises the steps of passing said container at an approximately constant speed before a television camera provided at a stationary position within an inspection region while the fluid in the container is turned;

scanning the container by the use of said television camera sequentially at at least three positions of said container spaced at a given interval such that image signals each corresponding to a photograph partition are generated at each position and such that an abnormal signal is detected from among image signals of each of the photograph partitions;

setting a specified range where the abnormal signal in the image signals of a specific photograph partition has been transmitted for removing the flaw; and

comparing the image signal of the particular photographic partition with the image signal of another photographic partition such that, when the abnormal signal in the image signals of another photograph partition exists beyond the specified range of said specific photograph partition, the presence of the foreign matter in the liquid within the container can be indicated by such an abnormal signal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specified range includes the vicinity of the specified position at which the abnormal signal is generated.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing the particular photograph partition to a photograph partition wherein the maximum number of the abnormal signals are included in the image signals through comparison of the picture signals of all the photograph partitions with each other.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing said particular photograph partition to one photograph partition optionally selected from among all the photograph partitions or to the composite partition of at least two photograph partitions optionally selected.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing said particular range to said specified position and the specified range wherein the entire outer periphery thereof is surrounded by a given size value.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the ampoules which have been inspected are reinspected.

7. A method of inspecting the existence of foreign matter contained in fluid filled in a sealed container having a flaw, which comprises the steps of passing said container at an approximately constant speed before a television camera provided at a stationary position within an inspection region while turning the fluid contents in the container;

scanning the container by the use of said television camera sequentially at at least three positions of said container, each of said three positions being spaced at a given interval such that image signals each corresponding to a photographic partition are generated at each position;

fetching a first abnormal signal from said image signals with a first level which is used as a reference, said level being low enough in sensitivity to detect the foreign matter from each of said image signals and, simultaneously, fetching a second abnormal signal from said image signals with a second level which is used as a reference, said level being higher in sensitivity than said first level by an amount which is enough to remove the flaw; and

comparing the second abnormal signal of the image signals in a particular photograph partition with the first abnormal signal in the image signals of another photograph partition so as to have said first abnormal signal determine that the foreign matter exists in the fluid when the latter and the former are in the different regions of the photograph partition.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of comparing said particular photograph partition to a photograph partition wherein the maximum number of second abnormal signals are included in the image signals through the comparison of the image signals of all the photograph partitions with each other.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of comparing said particular photograph partition to one optionally selected photograph partition from among all of the photograph partitions or to the composite partition of two or more photograph partitions which have been optionally selected.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second level is higher than the first level by a value corresponding to one stop position of a diaphragm used in the television camera.

11. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the ampoules which have been inspected are reinspected.

12. A method of inspecting the existence of foreign matter contained in fluid filled in a sealed container having a flaw, which comprises the steps of passing said container at an approximately constant speed before a television camera provided at a stationary position within an inspection region while turning the fluid contents in the container;

scanning the container by the use of said television camera sequentially at at least three positions of said container, each of said three positions being spaced at a given interval such that image signals each corresponding to a photographic partition are generated at each position;

fetching a first abnormal signal from said image signals with a first level as a reference, which level is low enough in sensitivity to detect the foreign matter from each of said image signals and, simultaneously, fetching a second abnormal signal from said image signals with a second level which is used as a reference, said level being higher in sensitivity than said first level by an amount which is enough to remove the flaw;

setting a specified range including a specified position, and its vicinity, at which the second abnormal signals are generated; and

comparing the specified range with the first abnormal signal in the image signals of another photograph partition so as to have the first abnormal signal determine that the foreign matter exists in the fluid when the latter and the former are in the different regions of the photograph partition.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of comparing said particular range to said specified position and the specified range wherein the entire outer periphery thereof is surrounded by a given size.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of comparing the particular photograph partition to a photograph partition wherein the maximum number of second abnormal signals are included in the image signals through the comparison of the image signals of all the photograph partitions with each other.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of comparing said particular photograph partition to one photograph partition which has been optionally selected from among all of the photograph partitions or to the composite partition of two or more optionally selected photograph partitions.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second level is higher than the first level by a value corresponding to one stop position of a diaphragm used in the television camera.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the ampoules which have been inspected are reinspected.