Bag abnormality detection device and bag abnormality detection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9864096-B2
Application number	US-201715403557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2017
Priority date	Jan 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A bag abnormality detection device includes a synchronous sensor, a first bag detection sensor, a second bag detection sensor and a controller. When the synchronous sensor detects a change, at a first detection point, from a state in which the bag is absent to a state in which the bag is present and the detection result of the first bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at a second detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality. When the synchronous sensor detects a change, at the first detection point, from a state in which the bag is present to a state in which the bag is absent and the detection result of the second bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at a third detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bag abnormality detection device for detecting an abnormality of a bag that is transferred, the bag abnormality detection device comprising:
a synchronous sensor that detects presence or absence of the bag at a first detection point in a transfer path of the bag;
a first bag detection sensor that detects presence or absence of the bag at a second detection point in the transfer path, the second detection point being at a same position as the first detection point or on an upstream side of the first detection point in regard to a transfer direction of the bag;
a second bag detection sensor that detects presence or absence of the bag at a third detection point in the transfer path, the third detection point being at a same position as the first detection point or on a downstream side of the first detection point in regard to the transfer direction of the bag; and
a controller that controls the synchronous sensor, the first bag detection sensor and the second bag detection sensor, wherein
when the synchronous sensor detects a change from a state in which the bag is absent at the first detection point to a state in which the bag is present at the first detection point, the controller acquires a detection result of the first bag detection sensor regarding the presence or absence of the bag at the second detection point, and when the detection result of the first bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at the second detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality, and
when the synchronous sensor detects a change from a state in which the bag is present at the first detection point to a state in which the bag is absent at the first detection point, the controller acquires a detection result of the second bag detection sensor regarding the presence or absence of the bag at the third detection point, and when the detection result of the second bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at the third detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality.

2. The bag abnormality detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second detection point and the third detection point are arranged at positions different from the first detection point in regard to a direction which is perpendicular to the transfer direction of the bag and in which the bag extends.

3. The bag abnormality detection device according to claim 2 , wherein
the bag is transferred in a state where the bag extends in a vertical direction, and
the second detection point and the third detection point are arranged above the first detection point in regard to the vertical direction.

4. The bag abnormality detection device according to claim 2 , wherein
the bag is transferred in a state where the bag extends in a vertical direction, and
the second detection point and the third detection point are arranged below the first detection point in regard to the vertical direction.

5. The bag abnormality detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the synchronous sensor includes a first synchronous sub-sensor and a second synchronous sub-sensor,
the first detection point includes a first sub-detection point and a second sub-detection point in the transfer path of the bag,
the first synchronous sub-sensor detects presence or absence of the bag at the first sub-detection point,
the second synchronous sub-sensor detects presence or absence of the bag at the second sub-detection point,
the second detection point is situated at a same position as the first sub-detection point or on an upstream side of the first sub-detection point in regard to the transfer direction of the bag,
the third detection point is situated at a same position as the second sub-detection point or on a downstream side of the second sub-detection point in regard to the transfer direction of the bag,
when the first synchronous sub-sensor detects a change from a state in which the bag is absent at the first sub-detection point to a state in which the bag is present at the first sub-detection point, the controller acquires the detection result of the first bag detection sensor regarding the presence or absence of the bag at the second detection point, and when the detection result of the first bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at the second detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality, and
when the second synchronous sub-sensor detects a change from a state in which the bag is present at the second sub-detection point to a state in which the bag is absent at the second sub-detection point, the controller acquires the detection result of the second bag detection sensor regarding the presence or absence of the bag at the third detection point, and when the detection result of the second bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at the third detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality.

6. The bag abnormality detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the third detection point is situated in a range within 3 mm from the first detection point.

7. The bag abnormality detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the bag is transferred in a state where the bag is gripped by a gripper,
the first detection point is situated below, in a vertical direction, the gripper that grips the bag transferred in the transfer path, and
the second detection point and the third detection point are situated above, in the vertical direction, the gripper that grips the bag transferred in the transfer path.

8. A bag abnormality detection method of detecting an abnormality of a bag that is transferred, the bag abnormality detection method comprising the steps of:
causing a synchronous sensor to detect presence or absence of the bag at a first detection point in a transfer path of the bag;
causing a first bag detection sensor to detect presence or absence of the bag at a second detection point in the transfer path, the second detection point being at a same position as the first detection point or on an upstream side of the first detection point in regard to a transfer direction of the bag; and
causing a second bag detection sensor to detect presence or absence of the bag at a third detection point in the transfer path, the third detection point being at a same position as the first detection point or on a downstream side of the first detection point in regard to the transfer direction of the bag, wherein
when the synchronous sensor detects a change from a state in which the bag is absent at the first detection point to a state in which the bag is present at the first detection point, a detection result of the first bag detection sensor regarding the presence or absence of the bag at the second detection point is acquired, and when the detection result of the first bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at the second detection point, the bag is recognized to have an abnormality, and
when the synchronous sensor detects a change from a state in which the bag is present at the first detection point to a state in which the bag is absent at the first detection point, a detection result of the second bag detection sensor regarding the presence or absence of the bag at the third detection point is acquired, and when the detection result of the second bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at the third detection point, the bag is recognized to have an abnormality.

Assignees

• Toyo Jidoki Kk

Inventors

• Fujitomi Takehiro

Classifications

• B65B61/025

  for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging · CPC title

• G01B11/24

  for measuring contours or curvatures · CPC title

• G01V8/20 Primary

  using multiple transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• B65B57/04 Primary

  and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages · CPC title

• B65B43/60

  rotatable · CPC title