Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – Infrared responsive
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-07
2004-06-22
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
Infrared responsive
C250S22300B, C250S341800, C250S339020, C250S339110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753527
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for imaging a liquid-filling container in which a plurality of imaging devices each comprising a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are provided and light from each light emitting unit is irradiated onto a liquid-filling container and the light transmitted through the container is received by each light receiving unit.
2. Description of Prior Art
The imaging of a liquid-filling container noted above is employed in a manufacturing line of various beverages such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages in order to inspect whether the amount of liquid as the beverage filled in a container made of glass or PET is within a predetermined range or not and/or whether any foreign substance is inadvertently mixed in the beverage filled in the container or present in the container or the material forming the container or a condition of the mouth of the liquid-filling container, or whether a cap is securely fitted on the mouth of the container or not.
Conventionally, in the case of inspection of e.g. beverage by way of imaging a liquid-filling container, a single light emitting unit emits and irradiates a visible light having a wavelength of 400 to 700 nm onto the container to be transmitted therethrough to be received by a light receiving unit comprising a CCD camera for imaging of the container, so that the inspection is effected based on the image whether the surface level of the liquid inside the container is within a predetermined range or not. And, another light emitting unit is employed for emitting a visible light of the same wavelength for determination as to whether any foreign substance is mixed in the beverage or in the container or the material forming the container or not. And, still another light emitting unit is employed for emitting the visible light of the same wavelength to be reflected by the mouth of the container or the cap and this reflected light is received by a corresponding light receiving unit for determination as to the condition of the container mouth or whether the cap is properly fitted to this mouth or not.
With the conventional imaging technique above, the light emitting units for the detection of the liquid surface level, the detection of the foreign substance present in the liquid or in the container or its material and the detection of the mouth or the attached condition of the cap to the mouth all emit a visible light of a same wavelength. Accordingly, e.g. irregular reflection of the light may occur due to the shape of the liquid-filling container to interfere as a noise with the visible light for liquid surface level detection and the visible light for the cap attachment condition detection. So that, a portion of the visible light for liquid level detection may enter the light receiving unit for cap attachment detection. Conversely, a portion of the visible light for foreign substance detection or cap attachment detection can be incident on the light receiving unit for the liquid level detection. Consequently, the detection of liquid surface level, the detection of foreign substance and detection of cap attachment can not be reliably effected simultaneously.
For improving the detection precision, it is conceivable to provide a time difference between the liquid level detection, foreign substance detection and cap attachment detection, so as to effect the liquid level detection first and to effect the detection of foreign substance or cap attachment thereafter. This, however, increases the time required for detection, inviting reduction in the production efficiency.
Another conceivable method is to block the noise by changing or shielding the sites of detection between the liquid level detection and the foreign substance or cap attachment detection. This, however, increases the space required for detection. In the case of a manufacturing line of beverage for instance, this method will make it difficult to form the manufacturing line compact and will require much cost in terms of maintenance and production efficiency.
The present invention has been devised to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art. A primary object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for imaging a liquid-filing container which method or apparatus allows simultaneous and highly reliable imaging of two or more kinds of condition of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
for example, in a method and an apparatus for imaging a liquid-filling container in which a plurality of imaging devices
2
,
5
,
8
,
20
each comprising a light emitting unit
3
,
6
,
9
,
21
and a light receiving unit
4
,
7
,
10
,
22
are provided and light from each light emitting unit
3
,
6
,
9
,
21
is irradiated onto a liquid-filling container B and this light transmitted through the container is received by each light receiving unit
4
,
7
,
10
,
22
, wherein wavelengths of the lights emitted by the respective light emitting units
3
,
6
,
9
,
21
and received by the respective light receiving units
4
,
7
,
10
,
22
of the imaging devices
2
,
5
,
8
,
20
for imaging the liquid-filling containers are different from each other.
With this feature, a plurality of imaging devices each comprising a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are provided and wavelengths of the lights emitted by the respective light emitting units and received by the respective light receiving units of the imaging devices for imaging the liquid-filling containers are different from each other. Therefore, there occurs no such trouble as light irradiated from one light emitting unit enters a light receiving unit not corresponding to this light emitting unit. Consequently, two or more kinds of conditions of the liquid-filing container may be imaged simultaneously and reliably.
According to the present invention, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
for example, the light emitting units
3
,
6
,
9
,
21
respectively have light emitters
3
A,
6
A,
9
A,
21
A each capable of emitting and irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength and the light receiving units
4
,
7
,
10
,
22
respectively have light-receiving cut filters
17
,
18
,
19
,
24
for allowing transmission of a light in the predetermined wavelength and light receivers
4
A,
7
A,
10
A,
22
A for receiving the light transmitted through the respective light-receiving cut filters
17
,
18
,
19
,
24
corresponding thereto.
With this feature, the light emitting units respectively have light emitters each capable of emitting and irradiating a light in the predetermined wavelength and the light receiving units respectively have light-receiving cut filters for allowing transmission of light in the predetermined wavelength and light receivers for receiving the light transmitted through the respective light-receiving cut filters corresponding thereto. Therefore, there is no need of employing a special construction as the light receiving unit. As a result, the invention may be embodied, with using a light emitter, a light receiver and a cut filter which are relatively inexpensive.
According to the present invention, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
for example, at least one of said light emitting units
3
,
6
,
9
,
21
emits and irradiates near infrared light.
According to the present invention, at least one of said light receiving units
4
,
7
,
10
,
22
receives near infrared light.
With these features, at least one of said light emitting units emits and irradiates near infrared light or at least one of said light receiving units receives near infrared light. Therefore, it is possible to detect e.g. the filled amount of the liquid, regardless of the color of the container or the color of the liquid filled inside the container.
Namely, in case the detection of the filled amount of the liquid or presence/absence of any foreign substance in the liquid or in the container or in the container forming material is effected by way of im
Tamura Shigeki
Yamagishi Takahiro
Guadalupe Yaritza
Gutierrez Diego
Suntory Limited
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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