PURPOSE: To enable execution of inspection by an image processing, by picking up an image of the external appearance of a can by a camera, although it is cylindrical.
CONSTITUTION: This apparatus is equipped with an inspection table 3 which is provided with a rotary stage 4 rotating a can 1, can conveying means 2 and 6 for supplying the can 1 and also sending it out, a camera 7 for inspecting an external appearance which picks up an image of the can 1 in divisions in the circumferential direction of the can for inspecting the external appearance thereof, a driving means 11 for controlling the rotation of the rotary stage 4 for the divided image pickup by the camera 7, and a mark detecting sensor 8 which detects a reference point mark printed beforehand on the can 1. Moreover, the apparatus is equipped with a control means 14 which delivers a trigger signal on the basis of detection of the reference point mark by the sensor 8 for driving the image pickup of the camera 7 and the driving means 11 and with an image processing-comparing means 15 which stores, as a reference image, the image of a good article picked up beforehand for each one divided in the circumferential direction of the can 1 by the camera 7 and compares an image obtained by inspection with it so as to make inspection as to whether the image is good or bad, and thus the inspection of the external appearance of the can 1 is enabled.
YANAGI SEIJI
KISHU AKIYOSHI
NIPPON NATL SEIKAN KK